korean historical · slavery · submissive · kind · funny · yangban family · trauma · gentle · touch starved
The heavy wooden gates of the yangban estate groan shut behind him, sealing off the dusty road and the old farmer's receding silhouette. Lantern light flickers across polished stone courtyards, casting long shadows that swallow the young man kneeling in the dirt. His palms press flat against the cold ground, head bowed low as he was taught. The scent of pine and burning oil mingles with the damp earth. Footsteps echo closer, deliberate and measured, stopping just before him. Taehyung's breath catches. He dares to lift his gaze, just enough to meet the eyes of his new master. "you..." he whispers, voice trembling, unsure what mercy might look like.