Chapter 11
In his room, Tae snatched another armload of clothes from the wardrobe while his lordship, your grace Jungkook's words hammered painfully in his brain. Whining little BEGGAR... I don't want him here... Whining little BEGGAR... He hadn't found a new home at all, he thought hysterically. Fate had merely been playing a vicious joke on him. He stuffed the clothes into his bag. Standing up again he turned towards the wardrobe and let out a gasp of fright.
He choked, glaring at the tall forbidding figure lounging just inside the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. Angry with himself for letting the tall guy see his surprise, Tae put his chin up, absolutely determined not to let him intimidate him again.
Taehyung
"Someone should have taught you to knock before you enter a room."
Jeon Jungkook
"Knock?" Jungkook repeated with dry mockery.
Jeon Jungkook
"When the door is already open?"
He shifted his attention to his open luggage and raised his eyebrows.
Jeon Jungkook
Are you leaving?
Taehyung
"Obviously," Tae replied.
Taehyung
"Why?!" he burst in disbelief.
Taehyung
"Because I am not a whining little beggar, and for your information, I hate being a burden to anyone."
Instead of looking guilty because Tae had overheard his cutting remarks, he looked slightly amused.
Jeon Jungkook
"Didn't anyone ever teach you not to eavesdrop?"
Taehyung
"I was not eavesdropping," Tae retorted.
Taehyung
"You were assassinating my character in a voice that could be heard all the way to Seoul!"
Jeon Jungkook
"Where are you planning to go?" he asked, ignoring Tae's criticism.
Taehyung
"That's none of your business."
Jeon Jungkook
"Humor me!" Jungkook snapped, his manner suddenly turning cold and commanding.
Tae shot him a mutinous, measuring look. Leaning in the doorway, the tall guy looked dangerous and invincible. His shoulders were wide, his chest deep, and his white shirt-sleeves were rolled up, displaying darkly tanned, very muscular forearms whose strength he had already experienced when he carried him upstairs yesterday. He also knew he had a vile temper, and judging from the ominous look in his hard dark eyes, he was even now considering shaking the answer out of him. Rather than give him the satisfaction, Tae said frigidly,
Taehyung
"I have a little money. I'll find a place to live in the village."
Jeon Jungkook
"Really?" Jungkook drawled sarcastically
Jeon Jungkook
"Just out of curiosity, when your 'little money' runs out, how will you live?"
Tae informed him, trying to shatter the man's infuriating composure.
His dark brows shot up in sardonic amusement.
Jeon Jungkook
"What a novel idea. Tell me, what sort of work can you do?" His question snapped out like a whip.
Jeon Jungkook
Can you push a plow?
Jeon Jungkook
Can you drive a nail?
Jeon Jungkook
Can you milk a cow?
Jeon Jungkook
"Then you're useless to yourself and to anyone else, aren't you?" he pointed out mercilessly.
Taehyung
"I most certainly am not!" Tae denied with angry pride.
Taehyung
"I can do all sorts of things, I can cook, I can assist a doctor and -"
Jeon Jungkook
"And set all the villagers gossiping about what monsters the Jeons are for turning you out? Forget it," he said arrogantly.
Jeon Jungkook
"I won't permit it."
Taehyung
"I do not remember asking for your permission," Tae retorted defiantly.
Caught off guard, Jungkook stared hard at Tae. Grown men rarely dared to challenged him, yet here was this slip of a boy doing exactly that. If his annoyance hadn't matched his surprise, he would have patted the boy in his head and grinned at his courage.
Suppressing the unprecedented urge to be gentle his word, he said curtly.
Jeon Jungkook
"If you're so eager to earn your keep, which I doubt, you can do it here."
Taehyung
"I'm very sorry," the defiant young man announced coolly, "but that won't do."
Taehyung
"Because I simply cannot imagine myself bowing and scrapping and quaking with fear each time you pass, like the rest of your servants are expected to do. Why, that poor man with the sore tooth nearly collapsed this morning when you - "
Jeon Jungkook
"Who?" Jungkook demanded, his ire momentarily replaced by stupefaction.
Jeon Jungkook
"Who the hell is shone shi?" he bit out, controlling his temper with supreme effort.
Tae rolled his eyes in disgust.
Taehyung
"You don't even know his name, do you? Shone shi is the footman who went for your breakfast, and his jaw is so swollen -
Jungkook turned on his heel.
Jeon Jungkook
"Seojoon wants you to stay here, and that's the end of it."
In the doorway, he stopped and turned, his threatening gaze pinning him to the spot.
Jeon Jungkook
"If you're thinking of leaving despite my orders, I'd advise you not to do it. You'll put me to the trouble of coming after you, and you won't like what happens when I find you, believe me."
Taehyung
"I am not frightened of you or your threats,"
Tae lied proudly, rapidly trying to sort through his alternatives. He didn't want to hurt Seojoon by leaving, but neither would his pride permit him to be a "beggar" in this man's home. Ignoring the ominous glitter in Jungkook's eyes, he said
Taehyung
"I'll stay, but I intend to work for my food and lodging here."
Jungkook snapped, feeling as if the young guy was somehow emerging the victor in this conflict. He turned to leave, but Tae's businesslike voice stopped him.
Taehyung
"May I ask what my wages will be?"
Jungkook sucked in a furious breath.
Jeon Jungkook
"Are you trying to irritate me?"
Taehyung
"Not at all. I merely wish to know what my wages will be, so I can plan for the day when I..."
His voice trailed off as Jungkook rudely walked out.
Seojoon sent up word asking him to join him for lunch, which turned out to be a very enjoyable meal, since Jungkook wasn't present. However, the rest of the afternoon dragged and in a fit of restlessness, Tae decided to stroll outside. The butler saw him coming downstairs and swept the front door open for him. Trying to show him he harbored no ill will about yesterday, Tee smiled at him.
Taehyung
"Thank you very much, ah - ?"
Jung
"Jung," he provided, his manner polite, his expression carefully blank.
Taehyung
"Jung?" Tae repeated, hoping to draw him into conversation.
Taehyung
"Is that your given name or your surname?"
Jung
His gaze slid to the boy, then away. "Er - my surname Sir."
Taehyung
"I see," Tae continued politely
Taehyung
"And how long have you worked here?"
Jung clasped his hands behind his back and rocked forward on the balls of his feet, looking solemn
Jung
"For nine generations, my family has been born and died in service to the Jeons, Sir. I expect to carry on that proud tradition."
Tae said, carefully suppressing a chuckle at the man's profound pride in holding a job that seemed to entail nothing more important than opening and closing doors for people.
As if he read his thoughts, he added stiffly,
Jung
"If you have any problems with the staff, Sir, bring them to me. As head of the household, I will endeavor to see that they are rectified immediately."
Taehyung
"I'm certain I won't need to do that. Everyone here is very efficient," Tae said kindly.
Too efficient, he thought as he wandered into the sunshine.
He walked across the front lawns, then shifted direction and went around the side of the house, intending to visit the stables to see the horses. With a half-formed idea of using apples to befriend them, Tae went round to the back and asked directions to the kitchen.
The gigantic kitchen was filled with frantically busy people who were rolling out dough on wooden tables, stirring kettles, and chopping vegetables. In the center of the bedlam, an enormous man in a spotless white apron the size of a tablecloth stood like a frenzied monarch, waving a long-handled spoon and shouting instructions in French and English.
Taehyung
"Excuse me," Tae said to the woman at the nearest table.
Taehyung
"May I have two apples and two carrots if you can spare them?"
The woman glanced uncertainly at the man in the white apron, who was glowering at Tae; then she disappeared into another room adjoining the kitchen, returning a minute later with the apples and carrots.
Taehyung
"Thank you, ah - ?" tae asked
Mrs Jung
"Mrs. Jung, Sir," the woman said uneasily.
Taehyung
"How nice," Tae replied with a sweet smile.
Taehyung
"I've already met your husband, the butler, but he didn't tell me you worked here, also."
Mrs Jung
"Jung hyung is my brother-in-law," she corrected.
Tae said, sensing the woman's reluctance to talk in front of the big moody man, who seemed to be in charge.
Taehyung
"Well, good day, Mrs.Jung."
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