Yunho PoV

«Has he arrived?»

«No, not yet.»

I sighed and dismissed my mother's servant, or rather his slave.

I had been back for two days, after a long journey from a distant village.

I went and I came back home with different precious fabrics and jewels.

In the Kingdom I was one of the richest and the most feared merchants. My generation was: my father, my grandfather, my grandfather's father .. Nobody had ever been underestimated and, most of the Kingdom's economy, went on thanks to the Jung family.

I was still waiting for what I was waiting for, at least the answer from some messenger or slave who came out for the city, but nothing, except for the return of my mother's slave, Kyuhun.

«My Lord, they have not heard anything yet. The slave merchant is delaying today. But if you wait- »

«It does not matter, go ahead.»

That was one of the things I did not really love. Jaejoong had promised me that he would find a slave suitable for me, only for me, but the days had passed and we were almost at the fourth day of rest.

Kyuhyun bowed and went out of my room, closing the door.

«Better if I go directly.»

I had also learned that if you want things to go well you have to take care of yourself and not the others.

My mother had insisted that one of her servants go there, since I was tired of her and could not say no.

I came out of my room, dressed and ready to go out, but I went to my mother first.

Since my father's disappearance, she did not leave home so much, except to go to the market and watch some business while I was away.

I stopped in front of her door and knocked.

Two shots.

«Come in.»

I went into her room. It was large and decorated with elegant. antique and luxury furniture.

She is standing in front of the large window that overlooked the garden full of flowers and roses, red and white roses. I approached and stopped a few steps away from her, making a small bow.

«Good morning, mother. Have you rested well?»

She was a woman of about fifty, but she was like forty-five of her beauty. Her face was small and white and her hair was black, gathered in a long, well-laid braid that came up behind her.

He looked at me, nodding a smile.

«From the blue dress I wear, I would say yes, my son.»

He had a blue dress with white embroidery on the collar and on the sleeves. Expensive dress that I gave her after one of my travels.

«It's enchanting on you.»

«Thank you. But why you are in my rooms?»

«I came to tell you that I'm going out. Jaejoong is late in finding what belongs to me and I prefer to go personally to see where the merchant is now.»

«You are tired. Go there tomorrow.»

«No, mother. Tomorrow there will not be, since it is usually today that shows his wares. And I would also like his to keep your word.»

Jaejoong was also a rich man, but he had had several problems with the law and I helped him. He had to return the favor.

«As you wish, son.»

she added no more, and after another bow, I took my leave and left the luxurious room.

The maids and some slaves bowed as I passed.

«I will escort you, my Lord.»

Kyun was always there and I could not say no. I agreed to accompany me, until another of my mother's slaves stopped me at the door before I left.

«My Lord, there's the shoemaker with his repaired shoes.»

«Tell my mother to pay for it and leave the shoes in my room.»

«My lord is right here and you could put back your favorite shoes. »

I sighed.

«Bring it here.»

The slave bowed and disappeared, reappearing shortly afterwards with a tall, handsome-looking boy. For a moment I thought it was the son of some soldier, but from how he walked and his rather awkward manner, they skip my think.

He stopped and looked at me, as if he had seen something new.

«Well?»

I said breaking that silence and making him look away. He came over and handed me my shoes that I had sent to repair. They were like new, an excellent job.

I tried not to appear surprised, after all it was nothing of that.

«Thank you, you did a great job.»

One of the servants took his shoes and placed them at my feet.

I took off what I had worn and put mine on. Perfect and I could only smile satisfied.

«My dearest compliments to the shoemaker.»

I nodded to Kyu who took a bag with some money and handed it to the boy.

He took them and bowed his head.

«Thank you, my lord, and I will report his words.»

«To you for the excellent job.»

I dismissed him and he left.

They were perfect, as if only expert hands could have repaired them, made them new, and I had never seen anyone succeeding like that, to perfection.

I did not divulge myself much in those thoughts, at each his work and, once outside, climbed into the carriage, followed by Kyu.

The horses were encouraged to leave and marched towards the center of the village. People took their jobs as the minutes passed.

The perfumes that invaded the carriage were many and familiar. Kyu was by my side and kept his head slightly low, looking occasionally out.

He had been bought too, not out of pity, not out of goodness, but only to do his job: to serve the most powerful.

«Did you see something?»

I asked without looking and fiddling with a bag of coins.

He held his face down, but his eyes were on my face, I felt it.

«No, my Lord, nothing.»

Who knows if he regretted his old social status, if he regretted his family who had never looked for him.

«Good.»

I said, returning to my observer silence.

______________________________________

The market was swarming with people of all ages and high voices exposing their wares.

That place was a place where the poor bought or exchanged goods with their fellow men.

I pulled up the hood, wrapped in a light cloak, flanked by Kyu who, at that moment, had his eyes lost on the goods on the stalls.

Raw "Jewels", Handmade clothes but with shoddy cloth, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables. These were the assets that this place had.

I walked without paying much attention to the stalls and dodged a small group of children running screaming and happy, avoiding their mothers.

I turned an alley and found myself in another street, full of stalls, but with the usual things.

Further on, there was a small enclosed hut with a large wooden carriage that was used to carry the animals.

That was where I had to go.

I looked around before entering, followed by Kyu and the door closed behind us.

The place was full of moans and the corridor was flanked by small cells on both sides.

Prisoners of war, debts, girls and boys sold by their own family to repay accumulated debts.

I showed no interest in them as they approached the wooden bars asking for help and pity. Kyu looked nervous, but it was also obvious, he had been there.

I arrived at the end of the corridor and knocked on the closed wooden door.

«COME IN!»

Kyu opened the door and bowed, letting me go first.

That room was not very furnished: a desk, a small cupboard and two armchairs near which there was a table with a bottle of red wine.

Jaejoong was sitting in the chair, a pipe in his mouth and his hair tied in a long tail. He had a long blue dress like the night.

Anyone who had seen it would have mistaken it for a noblewoman, a woman.

His eyes rested on us as I advanced and stopped in front of the table, flanked by Kyu.

He threw out a little smoke and then put his lit pipe on the desk and greet me with a wide smile.

«Yunho! My old friend! I knew you missed me and you are kind to come here to visit me.»

He approached, looking at Kyu. He almost looked at him, his eyes full of malice that he never hid.

It was rumored that some slaves were raped by him, only for the sake of fun and, as he said, to put them "in line" and make them understand who was in charge.

«Jae. I think that what I miss you already know. You have long since disappeared, after the last help I gave you. You have a debt and I hope you repay it.»

«Kyuhyun, look a bit like you have become ... attractive. The Jung family treats you well to what I see.»

Jae did not count me and raised a hand, caressing Kyu's cheek, which remained motionless, though I noticed he was trembling slightly.

I raised my hand and took Jae's wrist, lowering it.

«Did you listen to me?»

I was serious, while Jae's gaze rested on my face.

«Yes, I have listened and you know I will repay my debt, but ...»

«But ...?»

I left her wrist and did not look away from his, waiting for it to continue.

«But I'm sorry to say that ...»

Jaejoong was interrupted by the violent opening of a door from which emerged a young and badly placed boy who, running away from some of Jae's slaves, ended up on me.

It was almost clinging to me and, those shreds, barely covered the body slanted and tall, slender .. sinuous.

His eyes met mine, big and frightened, like those of a fawn trying to escape from the hunters, but ending in the jaws of a wolf.

Time seemed to stop, at that moment when his eyes pleaded for help, where Jae's torturers also came in, barking with whips in hand waving them around the room and Kyu stepped back, frightened by those two big men, while Jae remained amazed and surprised by that interruption.

«... You're sorry, because he arrived before you took him in my home.»

I finished, looking at the young fawn arrived and clasping it with my arm to my body.