Thank you!
This manhwa is really fascinating. I also thought of that kind of mindset for SH but not to the extent of what you said tho. I guess things will really become more and more interesting.
I can't wait. The level of skill this writer/artist has is very exciting.
Even when giving me something I thought was coming it is unexpected and add to another level.
I caught in the draws the maids telling him that everyone hates him because he does nothing. But the. I used Google Lens.
Yeah, I get that the servants aren't treated the best. I remember that beating SH gave them after NK ran off. And I get it isn't much better for them.
But NK was minding his own business, drinking himself to an early grave when SH decided to sequester him.
Then SH decided to honor NK with his D. I think they are so used to getting a bad deal, where they see NK as getting it good. They give zero fs and hold no sympathy for NK's plight which I think does a great job in showing you how mercenary people's attitudes were long, long ago.
He is getting food, a nice room, doesn't obey the lord and isn't beaten to near death. So what if he is forced to sleep with him. At least, he gets to sleep all day after. They are hardcore.
Still some would actually consider NK a trademan/craftman which would still be a level higher than servant.
Spoilers
(*no translation though, just thoughts on raw 38)
Nakyum is showing himself to at least be learning in one aspect of things - in regards to that Jackass Sir.
When I looked at the raws for chap38 and how Sir rushed to Nakyum's room to get the 411 on Seungho, I saw the number of response dialogue bubbles from Nakyum and his demeanor and thought: Nakyum knows Sir is digging and seems to be keeping quiet about Seungho's business.
And some kind soul, who translated some of the chapter in the comments, confirmed that Nakyum lied to Sir and kept Seungho's conversation to his brother private.
Nakyum started to see through Sir after the bastard didn't bother to inquire after Nakyum well-being after Seungho dragged him away and while he was dangerously ill soon after.
That jerk uses people but doesn't lay the groundwork so that they don't feel like they are being used in the first place. Inquiring casually about Nakyum's well being once or twice would have been enough to keep Nakyum's fervent devotion and wouldn't have taken anything from Sir's time.
Also, Sir knows Nakyum likes him and he manipulates him, by playing the earnest, out of his league Sir but upping the level physical contact and closeness to Nakyum. I hate that jerk.
When it comes to Seungho, NK is getting more layers exposed to him. He can't read him so that scares him but he has been tempted by him. He didn't have any hang ups about his sexuality, and could read NK like a book (except when jealous - to terrible results)
I also thought that NK may be starting to manipulate Seungho, but if he is what he is uttering at the moment is sincere. I really think that part of Seungho's intense attraction to Nakyum has to be due to Nakyum's unfailing sincerity and earnestness.
He can tell when Nakyum lies to him, choose to confront it or let it slide.
But when Nakyum is earnest, whether about Sir's "virtues" while insulting SH in the process or when he utters something to get out of a dangerous situation with SH like on Chap 34 when Sh wants him in the room and NK is like: "Not today, Satan!" Nk counters SH not by protesting but by sincerely uttering that he is leaving so that SH could sleep, SH is taken aback.
Unlike some, I interpret some of SH initial actions as often being what they looked like from the get go.
When SH made to kiss NK on Chap 34, he just wanted a kiss. It was spontaneous after NK said he was leaving so SH could sleep. SH didn't want him to leave to make his illness worse just because SH had returned. He wanted NK to stay because he was unwell and because SH room was the warmest.
When SH approached NK on Chap 36, and said he wanted NK to sit closer to him, he wanted NK to sit closer to him.
But he has a horrid response to NK's rejection. It is like the man is missing an internal set of brakes. I noticed that he acts the worst when his initial intentions are misread. It is like he tells himself: Oh, you expect the worse from me? I'll show you how bad I can be then.
When he took advantage of Nakyum while drunk, he made multiple attempts to burst Nakyum's delusion that he was with Sir and was ready to play the cad, and SH failed spectacularly.
When he made NK perform oral sex on him (emphasis on made), he became aggressive when he saw Nakyum's tears (again NK's justified rejection of him). He wouldn't restrain it and decided that since NK thought the worse of him, had proof of it at this point, he would just have him by force.
I'll take a guess now and say that that response has direct ties to his father and SH has been cultivating it for 10 years now.
"You think I'm the worse? I'll level up to 9000."