SMCM 33

In an instant, the Mountain Lord returned to Gyuhojeo and threw Daom into the bedchamber.

“You’ve returned, my lord! Shall I bring your meal right away?”

Bihyung, who had been following along meekly, suddenly screamed.

“Eek!”

The poor goblin was turned back into a broom without even knowing his crime and dropped to the floor with a dull thud.

“Sit properly.”

The Mountain Lord locked the door with divine power and strode toward the bed.

“Sit.”

Daom, who had been tossed roughly into the corner of the bed, hastily corrected her posture and sat upright.

Was he going to scold her? Or get angry?

Every hair on her body sensed the god’s wrath. As he came close, his hand reached out toward her.

Maybe he’s going to hit me—Daom thought, squeezing her eyes shut.

But instead of striking her, the Mountain Lord grabbed both her cheeks and stared into her eyes, sharp and blazing.

His eyes were as cold as if he were looking at Yoonjeong.

“So, now you understand.”

He muttered words she couldn’t make sense of.

“All that fuss, and in the end, it meant nothing.”

“……”

“And to think I even agonized over it—how ridiculous of me!”

Daom couldn’t focus on what he was saying.

His cold hand slid down from her face to her neck and collarbone, gripping her shoulder. The chill in his fingers made it feel as if he could crush her life at any moment.

“Listen well.”

Terror wrapped tightly around Daom’s heart—she thought he might really tear her apart.

The one standing before her, white hair fluttering, was a god—a being who could never truly close the gap with humanity.

“You are a human offered to me.”

The Mountain Lord’s words seemed to pierce straight into her mind.

“So I have priority over you. Over your body…”

And your heart.

He didn’t finish the thought aloud.

“At least, for the next ten years.”

Then, gripping her jaw, he suddenly forced her mouth open.

“And yet, after I gave you a bit of freedom, you dare try to lie with that Crown Prince?”

He leaned down, so close that his lips nearly brushed hers.

His gaze was invasive and relentless, as though examining a wound for infection.

“Why are you crying?”

Feeling the wetness trailing down his fingers, he drew back slightly. Rubbing her tears between his thumb and forefinger, he whispered darkly,

“Kissing a man is fine, but you hate when I so much as look at you?”

Daom didn’t even know how to face him anymore. She couldn’t tell what exactly he was angry about.

But truthfully, neither could the Mountain Lord.

Irritation boiled in him. The faint trace of the Crown Prince’s scent on her small body filled him with violent rage.

Watching her tears fall like beads, he abruptly turned away.

“Leave.”

“……”

“I said leave!”

At that moment, the spell that had bound Daom’s tongue was lifted. Feeling it, she quickly knelt down by the bed.

“I was wrong.”

He hadn’t intended to release her from the silence spell. His divine power had slipped out of control, driven by anger he couldn’t contain.

“You don’t even know what you did wrong.”

Or maybe, she hadn’t done anything wrong at all—perhaps it was all because of his heart.

That thought twisted his insides like a knotted rope.

“Go. I won’t say it again.”

“Mountain Lord, I have done wrong.”

“Bihyungrang!”

A fierce wind howled, and the chamber doors rattled open. The broom on the floor transformed back into Bihyung, who hurried in.

“What—what happened?”

Seeing Daom kneeling on the floor, Bihyung’s face paled.

“A servant who does nothing but displease me—get her out! Throw her past the front gate!”

“Wh—what?”

In all his centuries of service, Bihyung had never seen such a thing.

“Not outside the chamber—the main gate? But the palace attendants will see her there!”

“If you don’t throw her out immediately, you’ll go with her!”

At that thunderous command, Daom rose of her own accord. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and bowed deeply.

“I will wait outside. If you need me, please call for me at any time.”

“There’ll be no such time!”

After bowing once more, she left the room. Bihyung, torn between them, shouted desperately,

“What is wrong with you! You were in such a good mood when you left this morning!”

The Mountain Lord twisted his lips—and the roof beam of the bedchamber bent with a groan before the entire roof caved in.

“Ahh!”

Only the bed where the Mountain Lord sat remained intact. Bihyung groaned, staring at the wreckage.

“First you destroy the servants’ quarters, now your own?”

He was irritated by the goblin’s backtalk but didn’t turn him into a broom this time—he needed at least one servant left, since he’d driven Daom out in a fit of rage.

“Ever since the new attendant came, there’s been nothing but storms.”

Clicking his tongue, Bihyung slipped out of the collapsed chamber.

The Mountain Lord sat motionless for a while, then pulled the blanket over his head.

“Who’s the one being devoured here, me or her? And why was she crying?”

Fine. Whatever happens, happens. He shut his eyes tight.

Yet even behind those closed lids, he could still see the glimmer of Daom’s sorrowful tears.

“Lady Attendant!”

Outside, Bihyung quickly caught up to Daom.

“Are you really going to leave?”

She was nearly at the front gate.

“The Mountain Lord’s tantrums aren’t anything new. Just wait a little while.”

Bihyung was practically frantic.

“Once he cools down, he’ll definitely call you back!”

But he didn’t know what Daom had just endured as a woman before he’d arrived.

“If you keep following me, you’ll end up expelled too, Bihyungrang.”

She murmured softly, hand on the gate handle.

“I don’t know what happened between you two, but if you both keep being this stubborn, Gyuhojeo itself won’t survive it.”

The Mountain Lord had destroyed countless servants’ quarters before—but never his own.

And he had never cast a servant beyond the main gate. Even Yoo Jagyeom, who had offended him gravely, hadn’t suffered that.

“If he asks for me, please let me know.”

Her heart hadn’t changed—she didn’t want to anger him further. If he told her to leave, then leaving was best.

“There’s medicine he must take after his meal.”

“Is that what you’re worried about right now?!”

Ignoring the panicking goblin, Daom calmly explained how to brew the tonic. Then she truly stepped beyond the gate.

“……”

Once she crossed, Bihyung’s voice could no longer reach her. A barrier separated inside from out.

Within, it was autumn. Beyond, it was spring. The difference in air was striking.

At least it’s warmer here. Maybe it’ll be easier to get through the night.

Thinking so, Daom stood facing the gate.

There was nowhere to sit, and she didn’t want to look like a beggar to any passing court attendants.

Meanwhile, Bihyung squeezed back through the wreckage of the fallen bedchamber.

“What did you say?”

The Mountain Lord’s anger flared again.

“She’s actually outside the main gate?”

He let out a sharp, disbelieving sigh.

“Please, my lord, bring her back in. If she stands there, Gyuhojeo will become a laughingstock!”

“Why should I?”

The Mountain Lord glared.

“Let her stand there for a thousand years! Whether it rains or snows, let her stay until she turns to stone!”

He spat out curses he didn’t mean, then turned his back on the world.

“Why are you both like this?”

Bihyung could only clutch his head in despair.

Just then, something brushed against the Mountain Lord’s arm. Reaching into his sleeve, he found a small jar of ointment.

“Ugh!”

He hurled it straight at Bihyung.

“Ah!”

The goblin yelped as it hit his head and clattered to the floor.

“What’s this?”

“How should I know!”

After that, the Mountain Lord said nothing more.