TIN 10

“…Hyung?”

I couldn’t help but repeat him, especially since Joo Do-hwa was nodding as if he had done me a great favor.

“In return, you’ll speak informally to me. How’s that?”

“You want me to speak informally?”

This was the most absurd condition yet. If I were to speak informally to Joo Do-hwa while he uses honorifics with me, I would be the one benefiting, not him. Of course, the content itself wasn’t exactly something I was eager about either, but at least he wouldn’t be gaining anything.

“And you have to call me by my name too. Call me Dohwa.”

The additional condition was just as bewildering. To casually call a name that others have never even heard of, as if we were friends. I had thought he might have some profound Confucian philosophy, but he hadn’t been using honorifics towards that young man earlier.

“Is my request too difficult?”

Joo Do-hwa asked gently, seeing me in silence. “You said you can do subtraction,” he added in a rather shameless and incredulous tone.

“No, it’s not difficult, it’s just…”

“Alright, it’s settled then.”

“Settled” what? I swallowed the words that were rising in my throat and furrowed my brow slightly. His request wasn’t difficult, but I needed to confirm if I had understood correctly.

“So, you’re saying that if you call me ‘Hyung,’ in return I should speak informally to you, Mr. Director?”

“I said to call me by my name, didn’t I?”

“Yes, to call you by your name as well.”

Joo Do-hwa nodded. As if I was being silly for asking when I already knew. But since I didn’t respond, he shrugged casually.

“Think of it as a kind of role-play. You’re the older brother(Hyung), and I’m the younger brother.”

There were no shortage of customers who had them do such things. Starting from ‘master,’ to ‘oppa,’ to all sorts of weird nicknames. So it wasn’t entirely new, and it did remind me of Theo’s words.

“There’s a rumor about people playing with dolls as if they’re human.”

So that’s what he meant. I had thought it was just an unfounded rumor, but apparently not. The problem was that it didn’t seem quite as innocent as just ‘doll-play.’

“It’s not that difficult, is it? You understand, right?”

Has he developed some kind of incestuous fetish as he grew up? Thinking that, I still nodded. It wasn’t an unreasonable request, and since my body had been sold anyway, I had no excuse to refuse.

“Alright, go ahead.”

“…Dohwa?”

I uttered it without any emotion, and a slight crease appeared on his delicate brow. That wasn’t it, I could tell. Reluctantly, I tried again with a bit more sincerity.

“Dohwa.”

His heavy-lidded eyes widened significantly. It was a subtle change that could be easily missed if one didn’t look closely, but Joo Do-hwa’s expressions were always vividly imprinted in my gaze.

He stared blankly for a moment, then gradually softened his expression.

“Yes, Hyung.”

His radiant smile blossomed like a flower. His eyes, glistening as if filled with honey, sparkled beautifully when he smiled. While I was momentarily lost in a hazy feeling, Joo Do-hwa suddenly checked the watch on his wrist.

“You must be tired, shall we continue the details tomorrow?”

More to discuss here? That question soon faded, as I realized the condition of me coming here was likely more than just this form of address.

“Henry.”

As Joo Do-hwa gestured, the man who had earlier taken his coat approached.

“Take him and fix up his face. It’s an eyesore looking at him like this.”

The way he naturally referred to me as “Hyung” made it seem like he did it quite often. Almost as if I were someone he addressed frequently.

“Also, give him a suitable room.”

“Yes, sir.”

Joo Do-hwa left immediately, seemingly heading to his own room. But Henry guided me in the opposite direction.

“This way, please.”

The place we arrived at was a secluded room on the third floor. It was quite far from the staircase and not in the best location. Apparently, it was one of the vacant guest rooms that he had been told to ‘suitably’ provide.

“Please stay in this room until the young master calls for you. The mansion is large, so you may get lost if you wander around outside.”

I just nodded in response. His words about ‘getting lost’ were just a polite way of telling me to obediently stay put in the room.

“There’s a bathroom inside, so please make sure to shower at least once a day. Don’t forget to wash your ears, neck, and between your legs. If it’s difficult, I can assign someone to assist you.”

So they’re going to treat me like an idiot who can’t even bathe himself. The subtle contempt towards the lower class was woven into his calm voice. While it was true that many couldn’t afford to bathe regularly, it didn’t apply to Oceans employees.

“You must always be ready to come out immediately when the young master calls for you. Maintain a clean and hygienic state at all times.”

Well, I already knew the reason behind the constant emphasis on cleanliness wasn’t just because they were worried I wouldn’t know how to shower properly. There were a few reasons why people were purchased, and in this situation, there was only one thing Joo Do-hwa would be looking to ‘choose’ from me. Surely, he didn’t spend a substantial sum just because he wanted a “Hyung.”

“And…”

As he finished the brief guidance, Henry slowly continued, his voice trailing off. I wondered why the man who had been speaking so mechanically was now hesitating, and he stared intently at my face, carefully moving his lips.

“Didn’t we meet somewhere before?”

“…?” 

The question sounded like a cheap pickup line, even though the man asking it didn’t seem to have any interest in me. Of course, there were only a few answers I could give.

“I’m afraid I can’t remember all the customers’ faces.”

“……”

His lips clamped shut. As if mulling over my response, a displeased expression soon appeared on his refined face. It was obvious he was offended, having been mistaken for a customer from a certain place.

“That was unnecessary. It’s best not to show too much experience in front of a young master. And you mustn’t touch the young master’s body until he gives permission.”

Two more things were added to the list of what I shouldn’t do. The part about not showing too much experience was unexpected, but if the young master had a preference for innocence, that might make sense. In that case, the boss might have intentionally selected me for this.

“If you have any questions, please ask.”

Graciously, he even gave me the opportunity to ask questions. The presence of a bed in the room was quite unusual, and this level of polite treatment was quite decent. Of course, the fact that he didn’t let me wait too long was also characteristic of him.

“If you have none, then let’s wrap this up. I’m Henry Mark, the young master’s attendant.”

Perhaps the name that should have been mentioned first finally came up. He had a family surname. Realizing this, I suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity and couldn’t help but ask.

“…Mark?”

“Mark is my surname.”

Unlike those with ambiguous origins like Theo or Lingling, those born with a proper bloodline would have a family surname. Apparently, Henry thought I lacked even that basic knowledge, so he kindly explained his name.

Sadly, that wasn’t what surprised me.

‘I am Logan Mark.’

The image of a kind-looking man bowing flashed through my mind. He was always by the young master’s side, and had been very kind to me when I was a child. I had heard he had a son around my age, who was sickly and a source of concern.

“I’ve told you my name, but there’s no need to call me by it. Just address me as the attendant.”

It didn’t take long to realize this man was that very son. As my buried memories resurfaced, his appearance also bore a strong resemblance to Logan’s – the greenish tint in his eyes, the sharp nose, and so on.

Logan’s son had grown up this much. He no longer looked sickly at all. His illness must have healed, and he had now become the young master’s attendant.

‘Didn’t we meet somewhere before?’

But… where on earth had this man seen me? I had no recollection of him from my childhood.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“No, nothing.”

I shook my head when Henry asked, as if implying he was up to something. There was no need to bring up the past, and asking about his father’s well-being would be strange, since the young master didn’t recognize me.

“Then go wash up. I’ll apply some medication for you.”

Intending to keep his promise about fixing my face, Henry calmly gestured to the bathroom inside. His movements were polite, but it was clear he wanted me to get out of his sight as soon as possible. I wasn’t that dirty, but this irritable man must have some sort of obsession with cleanliness.

“Should I put on the same clothes again?”

“I’ll leave them by the door.”

When I asked just in case, Henry frowned, as if warning me not to even think about wearing those worn-out clothes again. Good thing I didn’t bring any luggage. Thinking this to myself, I headed to the bathroom.