The Attendant in the Horror Game C21

Chapter 21

Perhaps that was why—reading fairy tales as an adult felt strangely entertaining.

In a deserted villa, there weren’t many storybooks to be found—barely five at most. As a result, Jade ended up reading the same books multiple times. Yet somehow, they were fun every time. Maybe it was because this was a fantasy world, but even the fairy tales felt different here.

Ian, however, didn’t seem particularly engaged. Still, the fact that he’d come to find Jade this late at night meant he didn’t dislike their reading routine either.

“Oh, you came just as I was about to go see you!”

“I wasn’t waiting.”

Ian fidgeted, tapping his toes lightly on the floor and twiddling his fingers. His words might have denied it, but his behavior said otherwise. After all, strong denial usually meant affirmation.

Even though he’d grown ten centimeters taller over the last two months, he was still adorably small, and Jade’s face broke into a bright smile.

“I’m just happy to see you come to my room, Young Master. Truly, I’m overjoyed.”

After spending two months together, Jade had begun to understand Ian a little better. Ian wasn’t good at expressing himself—he rarely showed it when he was pleased.

Carrying the book he’d chosen earlier, Jade walked with Ian into the next room. As always, Ian lay down neatly on the bed while Jade sat in the chair beside him and opened the book.

Just then, his eyes caught the sight of a thick volume lying on Ian’s bedside table. It looked like something taken from the library.

He remembered cleaning that library once—it had been left untouched for ages. There were a few children’s books like the one he held now, but most of the others were dense academic texts or old manuscripts. He’d tried reading one once but gave up after only a few pages.

“That book looks really difficult.”

And indeed, those difficult-looking books often ended up in Ian’s room. It amazed Jade how the boy could read such complicated material. He himself couldn’t understand a single word of them.

“Ah…”

Ian’s gaze wavered slightly. His eyes flicked between the heavy tome on his table and the storybook in Jade’s hands. His lips parted—a small, familiar hesitation he always showed when choosing his words.

“It’s good to read a variety of things.”

“Y-yeah.”

Ian seemed a little flustered, so Jade decided to change the subject on purpose.

“By the way, I don’t see Soondol tonight?”

“……”

“You two didn’t fight again, did you?”

“No.”

Ian shook his head. Indeed, as time passed, the quarrels between them had lessened.

To Jade, they actually seemed close now, though both vehemently denied it whenever he said so.

“Soondol may be a bit unruly, but he’s still young.”

“…Young?”

“Yes. He only hatched two months ago, remember?”

“Well, yes…”

“And he’s cute, too—so please be patient with him, Young Master.”

“……”

Jade tucked the blanket over Ian and opened the book. Ian was quiet by nature, but for some reason, whenever Jade talked about Soondol, he became even quieter than usual.

“Jade.”

“Yes?”

Ian, clutching the blanket up to his chin, called softly. But no further words came. It looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

“Ah, do you not like this book? I thought it seemed fun—it has talking mushrooms on the cover.”

Jade held up the storybook, pointing to the picture of the mushrooms on the front. Then again, they had eaten so many mushrooms lately that Ian might be sick of them. But Ian shook his head slowly.

“No, that’s not it…”

His cheeks flushed red, like ripe apples. What could he possibly be struggling to say? His face was pink and hesitant—like a bashful young groom on his wedding night. Jade’s curiosity grew.

“Would it… be okay if you called me by my name, too?”

After fidgeting for a long while, Ian finally spoke. His small hands clenched and loosened over the blanket, his expression soft and timid. It was the first time Jade had seen such a gentle look on his face—normally so distant and dry.

“Would that… be alright?”

Ian peeked up at Jade with nervous eyes, his ears now flushed as red as his cheeks. Realizing how red he must look, he pulled the blanket up to his nose. Only his golden eyes peeked out, blinking innocently.

“Hmm, my name?”

“Yes…”

“Why so suddenly? Don’t you like how I call you now? ‘Young Master’ sounds good, doesn’t it?”

Jade shrugged. There weren’t many titles as nice as that one. And not everyone could earn it either. He’d always envied the “young masters” in dramas—people born into noble homes, addressed with respect.

“I just… thought I’d like it better that way.”

When Jade didn’t seem too receptive, Ian dropped his gaze. After a brief moment of thought, Jade crossed his index fingers in an X.

“Oh, no, no. That wouldn’t be right. A servant shouldn’t call the person they serve by name.”

Even if he didn’t know all the customs of this world, he knew that much. You didn’t just call your boss by their name—any worker who did that would get fired, even back home.

So Jade firmly refused. Ian’s fingers fidgeted on the blanket as he looked away, lips pressed together.

“Actually…”

After a while, Ian spoke again. His gaze lifted toward Jade, this time full of sadness—a look so pitiful and fragile it softened Jade’s heart instantly.

“There’s… no one who calls me by my name.”

His lips trembled faintly as he looked down. The golden lashes shadowing his cheeks quivered, making him look heartbreakingly lonely.

“Well, that’s because…”

“Jade calls Soondol by name. But not me.”

His voice sounded small and desolate, and Jade’s heart twisted. So that’s what this was about. He wasn’t angry—just lonely. The boy looked like a puppy about to be abandoned, and Jade suddenly felt like he’d done something terribly wrong.

“I’ll call you by name…!”

Grasping Ian’s hand tightly, Jade declared with conviction. How could anyone refuse such a sweet, sorrowful request from an angelic face like that?

He must have been weak to adorable things—especially small, pitiful ones.

And come to think of it, Ian was right. In this entire villa, the only living beings were Ian, Jade, Soondol, and the mop ghost. Of them, only Jade could speak. Soondol and the ghost couldn’t, and Jade himself always called Ian “Young Master.”

No one ever said his name aloud. Even animals grew uneasy when not addressed—how lonely must this boy have felt? How much must he have longed to simply hear his name spoken?

The thought made Ian seem all the more fragile, all the more precious.

“Of course, I’ll call you by your name! I can say it a hundred times if you want.”

“Really…?”

Ian’s eyes shimmered like dewy forget-me-nots. His gaze was pure, untainted—astonishingly gentle. Who would’ve thought Ian could make such an expression?

“Of course. I’ll call you anytime you like, Ian.”

“Yes.”

At last, Ian got the answer he wanted. Then, as if nothing had happened, his demeanor cooled again. He smoothly withdrew his hand from Jade’s grasp and tucked it back under the blanket, his expression composed and distant once more.

The sudden change left Jade blinking in confusion. Where had that tender, tearful boy from a moment ago gone?

Still, Jade let it go—he knew Ian was shy and awkward at expressing himself.

He’s just embarrassed, that’s all.

Even so, Jade was pleased. It was nice to see this new side of him.

“Then, this book is fine?”

“Yes, I like it.”

“Alright then. Ian, let’s read The Mushroom Village Fairy Tale tonight!”

Jade’s eyes gleamed with mock seriousness as he opened the first page.

“Yes…”

Ian nodded, then glanced down at the hands holding the book. Those same hands had held his earlier—long, steady fingers.

What was I thinking…

A wave of embarrassment washed over him. His earlier behavior felt unlike him. But how could he not be irritated when Jade kept calling a century-old creature “young” and “cute”? Hearing him speak so affectionately to Soondol had, for some reason, bothered him.

Jade was kind—warm and gentle to everyone equally. And Ian hated that fairness.

Still…

There was one advantage. Jade was particularly weak to pitiful, childlike gestures. Just like tonight—when Ian had acted a little sad and teary, and Jade had immediately agreed to his request.

“In the striped mushroom village, there lived a bright yellow mushroom…”

Jade’s calm voice filled the room, unaware of Ian’s little act. Ian listened silently, not even daring to swallow for fear of disturbing him.

In truth, the content of the fairy tale didn’t matter. They all felt similar anyway.

This was the fifth time Jade had read this particular story. When he’d first started reading to Ian, his tone had been flat, emotionless—but recently, his voice had gained warmth and inflection.

By the middle of the story, he was fully immersed—his soft eyes shining with emotion during touching scenes, his brows furrowing fiercely when villains appeared.

Even the most ordinary fairy tales sounded fresh when read in his soothing, expressive voice. Ian could’ve listened forever.

“The yellow mushroom had an unusually large cap…”

Jade’s gentle tone carried through the air, and Ian’s eyelids began to droop. He hadn’t been sleepy at all moments ago, but now he felt drowsy and comfortable. And just like that, another peaceful night between them quietly slipped by.