Munjeong - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

After driving for a while, a large lake appeared to the right of the well-paved road. A small dock with two fishermen sitting and fishing had a single rowboat tied to it. It seemed that the mist blanketing the area originated from there.

As soon as they entered Munjeong City, which was known as an eco-friendly city, the surroundings turned into a lush green haven. It was as though the entire city had been steeped in green dye. Despite it being the height of summer in broad daylight, the mist lingering here and there, combined with the thick canopy of trees overhead, gave the neighborhood an eerie yet mystical atmosphere.

Eventually, they entered a narrow road, passing several lavish mansions that looked like they belonged on the set of a drama or a movie. For Chaeon, who had grown up her entire life in modest neighborhoods where poor families were crammed together, this was an unfamiliar sight. She could swear she had never seen such a clean and beautiful neighborhood in her life.

When her mother had told her they were moving, she hadn’t thought much of it. But as they entered this area, her heart began to pound. To think she would be living in such a neighborhood, and not just in any house, but in the best house in the area.

The driver leaned forward slightly, pointing toward a hill visible through the front windshield.

“Do you see that? Up there. The blue roof on top of the hill.”

Beyond the driver’s outstretched finger was a house whose roof peeked out as though it were built on higher ground than the others. Aside from the roof, the house was completely surrounded by white walls, and Chaeon thought it resembled a fortress from a fairy tale.

“That’s the Jungwang family residence. Rumor has it that it’s an old house originally built for a French missionary and later renovated. That house has been there for over a hundred years.”

The driver rattled off unsolicited information, and soon they stopped in front of a large iron gate wide enough for vehicles to pass through. A staff member sitting in the guardhouse must have been notified in advance, as they checked the taxi’s license plate and opened the gate.

“Wow, this whole area must be private property.”

“It’s quite the sight, isn’t it?” The driver muttered quietly to himself. The spacious road ahead, which sloped upward, was lined on both sides with old Metasequoia trees that stretched endlessly like columns of a temple. The towering trees gave the impression of being sheltered from the outside world.

They drove along the dappled path of sunlight and shadows for quite some time before a large gate came into view.

The first thing that caught their eye was the golden lettering glinting on a luxurious brass nameplate.

“Songbaekwon…”

Chaeon murmured the name softly to herself.

Songbaekwon. That was the name of the beautiful fortress.

—

If Songbaekwon had seemed extraordinary from the outside, entering the property made its grandeur even more evident. Pine and cedar trees surrounded the area densely, as if to keep the place completely hidden from view. The sound of cicadas crying loudly filled the air in the green surroundings.

After walking for quite a while from the gate, the elegant mansion finally came into view.

“Wow…”

The main building, which stood in the center, was a three-story structure with a semi-basement, sprawling wide on both sides. The front alone had fourteen windows. According to Manager Kim, who came to greet them, the symmetrical buildings flanking the main house were a guest annex on the left and a staff quarters on the right.

“The women’s accommodations are on the second floor of the staff quarters, so you’ll each have a separate room there. Chaeon, your room is 202, and Ma’am, your room is 203. The staff should have already moved your belongings.”

“You’re giving me and my mom separate rooms?”

Surprised by the unexpected generosity, Chaeon hesitated as she accepted the keys. Manager Kim, scratching his cheek indifferently as if it were no big deal, added, “There are plenty of rooms, so why not? That’s how it is for the live-in staff. Some people commute if they live close by. A house this size has a lot to manage, so it’s easier for some to stay on-site.”

When Chaeon glanced worriedly at Heejung, Manager Kim waved his hand and elaborated.

“Oh, but the work isn’t particularly hard. We’ve got gardeners, three maintenance staff including me, and plenty of people sharing the housekeeping. Mrs. An, you just need to handle the tasks assigned to you.”

Despite his initially strict demeanor, Manager Kim’s smile made him seem quite approachable. Reassured by his words, Chaeon returned his smile, prompting him to look at the mother and daughter warmly.

“You two look very alike. Is it Chaeon? You’re as pretty as your mother. And ma’am, you’re quite the beauty yourself.”

There had been men who made advances toward Heejung, now a widow, but this time the compliment was genuinely devoid of any ulterior motive. When Chaeon awkwardly lowered her head, Manager Kim suddenly grew serious, hesitated briefly, and then spoke.

“And…”

Pausing for a moment, he added belatedly, “The annex is connected to the main house, but try not to go near the main house after midnight.”

“…?”

“Even if you hear strange noises late at night or in the early hours, just ignore them. Don’t go out of your room to check.”

The words sounded so strange that both Heejung and Chaeon missed the chance to respond. It felt like one of those warnings you’d hear before entering a creepy mansion in a horror movie. They wanted to ask why, but whether the reason was trivial or not, it still sent shivers down their spines.

Feeling an inexplicable unease, Chaeon slowly rubbed her goosebump-covered arms despite the sweltering heat. After some hesitation, Manager Kim lowered his voice to a whisper.

“It’s because… the lady of the house has a severe case of sleepwalking.”

With that, he casually added that it was just a precautionary notice. He then left Chaeon momentarily by the main building and entered with Heejung to guide her further inside.

Standing in front of the main building, Chaeon slowly looked around, feeling as if she were standing in an old foreign museum or art gallery she had only read about in books. When she spotted the intricately crafted fountain in the distance, spurting streams of water into the air, she almost let out a laugh in disbelief.

So, places like this really do exist. The scent of immense wealth lingered heavily in every corner. It was a surreal feeling, suddenly finding herself thrust into the world of people who lived lives entirely different from her own right from the starting line. And now, to think she would be living here from now on.

As she slowly took in the unreal scenery, cloaked in greenery, she felt the sensation of being watched and turned her head.

“…Huh?”

It seemed like a woman dressed in white had been standing by a second-floor window. She was sure she had glimpsed such a figure just before turning her head, but when she looked again, there was no one there.

Did I imagine it? Despite the bright daylight, the strange chill that ran through her made Chaeon instinctively rub the back of her neck. Trying to shake off the unsettling feeling, she tapped the tip of her sneaker on the ground a couple of times, when suddenly—

“You’re a bit late, Chaeon.”

“Oh, Manager.”

“Your mother is already with Mrs. Kwon, who has been working here for some time. She’ll hear what she needs to and head to her room. You can—oh, young master, you’ve returned.”

Wiping sweat from his forehead as he stepped out, Manager Kim abruptly stopped and bowed his head upon noticing someone approaching behind Chaeon. Curious, she turned around and froze.

A man in a black shirt rolled up to his elbows and sleek slacks was crossing the garden, heading toward the main building. His towering height was intimidating, and as he got closer, her heartbeat quickened.

“Manager Kim.”

The man, who approached gracefully, acknowledged Manager Kim with a smooth, low voice. He didn’t glance at Chaeon even once, but she recognized him instantly due to the unforgettable impression he had left.

“Loud, clueless about your place… pathetic.”

Those arrogant, lazy eyes and the face that seemed to regard everything in the world as insignificant. It was the man from the funeral. Startled, Chaeon instinctively took a step back, and the crunch of a leaf underfoot made the man turn his head. He raised an eyebrow as if to ask, “You were standing there?”

Though he didn’t show any overt hostility, there was something dangerous about him. Perhaps it was his black outfit, so stark in the oppressive heat, or the heavy, murky atmosphere that clung to him like a cloud of cigarette smoke. Her chest felt tight. Just as it had when she first met him, her throat grew dry.

His gaze slowly traveled down Chaeon, eventually landing near her feet.

“…”

Though it wasn’t visible, she felt as if he could see her bare feet. Her toes curled instinctively inside her sneakers. As she watched him frown slightly, the memory of wearing old, worn socks just days ago flashed through her mind. Flustered, she hurriedly glanced down to check her shoes.

Thankfully, aside from a bit of dirt on the toe, her sneakers, freshly washed just a few days ago, were clean and white. Feeling a mix of embarrassment and relief, she lifted her gaze back up, only to find that he was already looking at her face again.

His eyes narrowed slightly as they locked onto hers.

“She’s young. Quite young.”