CHAPTER 106: CHAPTER 106: I REALLY FORGOT THEY HATE ME

The moment Saar left to carry out the assignment, the atmosphere inside the carriage shifted. It was quiet, heavier, and Min-jae suddenly felt the slight drop in safety.

Saar’s presence always created a certain air of silent pressure. Without him, the carriage felt kind of quiet too.

But this was unavoidable.

If he went personally to the Amagi estate, the entire family would know immediately, and within two hours half the estate would whisper about it.

Every servant talked.

Every corridor had ears.

He would be spotted before the carriage even entered the gates.

So instead, he sent Saar.

The man could move without making a sound.

He could get in and out without detection.

He could speak to Robert without drawing suspicion.

It was the perfect solution.

But now Min-jae had a different task. One that should have been simple.

Find the perfect location for his perfume shop.

He needed a place with good foot traffic. A place that would have visibility. A place that would become the pride of the district.

He stared out the carriage window as they approached the commercial area. Rows of shops, crowded pathways, open stalls, scents drifting in the air. He even saw a few elegantly structured buildings with large windows, the type of appearance he wanted.

The carriage slowed to a stop.

The driver opened the door. "We have arrived, Sir.."

Min-jae stepped out.

He felt eyes follow him instantly.

But it was subtle at first, just glances from passing vendors, curious looks from children, quiet murmurs from shop owners leaning on their counters.

Then the whispers grew sharper.

"That is him..."

"Why is he walking around like nothing is happening?"

"He should be ashamed to show his face."

Min-jae closed the carriage door behind him and began walking down the row of available plots as if he could not hear a single insult.

He had learned long ago that acknowledging them only made it worse.

He paused in front of the first available plot.

The land was wide, the ground even, and already had the remnants of a demolished structure. It would be easy to build from scratch. But the smell of smoked fish from the vendor next door drifted over.

That wouldn’t work.

Perfume required a already nice smelling environment with no competing odors.

He moved to the next.

It was an older building. Structurally sound but the foundation showed a long crack. Repairs would take too long and too much money, not that it was an issue.

He walked toward the third plot.

This one felt perfect from a distance.

Good visibility from both ends of the street.

A clear pathway leading directly to its front.

The breeze moved cleanly through, and the storefront would be seen from the main road.

Min-jae smiled faintly. Yes. This one.

Then he realized the street had gone quiet.

Very quiet.

He turned slightly. People had stopped what they were doing. Many stared at him with hostility sharp enough to cut through air.

A single woman whispered loudly enough that half the area could hear her. "He is the one who ruined everything. He is the reason taxes went back up."

"That is what they say. The governor revoked the policies because of him."

"He bewitched the governor."

Min-jae inhaled slowly. He ignored it and kept walking. He wanted to inspect the plot at least.

Just as he stepped forward.

A fruit hit his shoulder.

He froze and looked down.

A tomato?

Half bruised.

Someone yelled, "Do not waste the good ones. Those cost money!"

"Use the rotten ones!"

Min-jae stared blankly at them. His fingers curled slightly but he kept his posture relaxed.

He had been insulted before.

He had been beaten before.

He had been hated before.

This was nothing he couldn’t endure.

Another tomato flew, narrowly missing his cheek and splattering on the ground behind him.

If Saar were here, none of this would have reached him.

But Saar wasn’t here.

And the people knew it, they knew he was alone.

Someone from the back shouted, "Throw more!"

The fruit barrage began.

Rotten apples

.

Wilted vegetables.

Soft pears.

They hit the ground around him, some brushing against his clothes. None of them made him move even once. Min-jae simply stood there, eyes fixed on the land plot as if he were observing it closely.

If he ran away now, Meical wouldn’t let him come out again until the whole issue had blown away.

The commotion continued until suddenly someone shouted "Stop wasting food!"

The fruit throwing came to a halt almost immediately.

Then came the shift.

A market man pointed to the stalls. "Use the things that are not worth selling."

People began looking around.

Not for fruit, now they were searching for objects.

Some found broken ceramic cups,dull wooden ladle, loose stones near the street, cracked tray.

-_-

Min-jae watched silently as the items began to gather in their hands. For the first time he truly understood the depth of resentment Kaizar had been carrying on his back for years.

But these were the people Meical went hungry to protect. These were the people he risked his life to defend.

And they spat on him the moment life became uncomfortable.

Min-jae looked toward the perfect land plot again.

He could build the perfect shop here.

But not today.

The first stone flew. It missed, hitting the ground by his feet. Another sailed toward him but bounced off the side of the carriage behind him. The driver shouted anxiously

but Min-jae lifted his hand to silence him.

Why should he run?

He didn’t want to hurry.

Min-jae walked calmly back toward the carriage while insults chased him.

"Cursed creature!"

"Go back to where you came from!"

"Do not drag the Governor down with you!"

"Monster!"

A small rock hit the side of his leg. He didn’t react.

His steps remained steady.

He reached the carriage and opened the door himself. The driver was trembling, unsure whether to help or hide. Min-jae stepped inside and sat down quietly.

"Take me home.." he said.

The driver nodded immediately and the carriage jolted into motion.

Outside, the crowd continued yelling but slowly faded behind him as the wheels carried him away.

He leaned back against the cushioned seat and closed his eyes.

"I really forgot.." he whispered. "I completely forgot how much they hate me."

Not him as a person, maybe the did too.

He inhaled deeply and let the anger settle somewhere deeper, quieter.

"They will regret it.." he said softly.

Not now, but eventually.

And he would make sure of that.