Spoilers Some analysis, —guesses for future updates

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I’ve been reading through the comments, and I’ve noticed a few that note that Seungho’s appearance at the end of the 28th chapter could very well hint that there is murder upcoming.
A few note that this could mean that he very well could hurt Nakyum and Inheon as a result of their “escape.” (In quotations since there is still a possibility that it hasn’t happened.)
The reason why I think he wouldn’t hurt them (by this I mean kill since I believe that physical ramifications are still on the table) is the following:

-Seungho has shown before that he is attached to Nakyum in a way that he hasn’t been to anyone before
(1. “I can’t think about anything else [when talking about Nakyum’s paintings.] 2. “Is it the paintings he’s staring at or is it me?” [during the sex scenes] 3. “Why did he do that? He usually doesn’t go back on his word....” [when Nakyum didn’t get the straw mat beating])

-Seungho is also someone that shouldn’t be taken lightly because he is a lot more intelligent than people perceive him to be
(1. When he admits to the teacher that he was aware that the poem he’d given Nakyum was a bad plagiarization. 2. “Why would I keep books I haven’t read?” 3. When he didn’t hurt the red-haired young nobleman and instead took out his anger on the ‘amateur spy.’ (He is aware that there are ramifications for hurting someone of his equal or better status)

-Because of this, he is aware that Inheon is the key to Nakyum (time and time again, he’s threatened the learned man’s wellbeing for Nakyum’s subservience! Either by threatening his possibility of being on a government post to his life)

-He has a growing care/ affection/ obsession(????) with Nakyum
(1. When he first meets Nakyum, he’s surprised by his tears, and he wipes them away. 2. He changed his mind when Nakyum was about to get the straw mat beating. 3. He took it slowly with Nakyum after he asked him to during their first sex scene. (Even if he got ahead of himself after). He also accepted Nakyum’s fond words and caresses with that strange look in his eyes. 4. He told Nakyum to call him “lord” during their sex scene. (He seemed to not want Inheon’s title brought up during it) 5. He defended his ‘property’ after he found out the red-haired nobleman had played schemes. He also stopped him from hurting Nakyum further. 6. When he was in the pavillion with Nakyum, he notices that Nakyum isn’t breathing regularly and orders him to “breathe.” His eyes were very expressive when he noticed that Nakyum was not hard, only in pain. 7. He points out Nakyum’s “swollen eyes” tenderly as he caresses Nakyum’s face in the bath scene. 8. He’s prone to become jealous or incensed when Nakyum mentions his teacher. (Right after Nakyum hits him, Nakyum tells him that that night wouldn’t have happened if he weren’t drunk as those words were meant for his teacher. His reaction?: violence. (In fact, some of his most recent reactions towards Nakyum are physically violent but more on that later!!) 9. He is unhealthily obsessed with Nakyum’s pretty face (as some have seen from the ch 28 raws; he’s blushy)

-the last reason is: the story is far from over!!! If Inheon or Nakyum are killed prematurely, there is no more story!! This story is titled “Painter of the Night,” so, while we are getting the chance to see Seungho’s possible character development, it’s very likely that it will be Nakyum’s that will be the end goal. Inheon still also has a lot of potential as well—the author has made him a rising threat and we still have to see that threat grow.

Therefore, if Inheon and Nakyum have truly escaped, Nakyum will not be hurt in a permanent way.
However, notice that I did not say Inheon? The reason is, in the end, I do think that there will be repercussions. Why?
Because Seungho is not someone that talks lightly about threats. He’s been “nice” to Nakyum from his constant backing up on hurting Nakyum more permanently. But that doesn’t count Inheon. I do think that he will use Inheon again to manipulate Nakyum to keep him there and possess him entirely, but, because Inheon is Nakyum’s “want,” he will not get rid of him entirely.

In terms of story speech, I believe this story is an obsessive romance. Obsessive romances rarely end well. Obsessive romances rest primarily on a character’s/s’ physical desire for someone/ each other. These are ‘cautionary tales that show no deeper connection other than the physical/ psychological necessity of coupling’. While I do think that Seungho will become so attached to Nakyum that he will become possessive, I do not see Nakyum falling for him for various reasons. One of them being that Seungho has caused him a lot of pain, and he currently views him as a monster.

I, personally do not see this story becoming a courtship story (where there is commitment between two characters for ‘fidelity, honesty, and servitude above all others’ and where the characters improve themselves for each other.)
Why is that? Because I believe that these characters will become darker versions of themselves.
There is a dark, enchanting attraction between Nakyum and Seungho that, for the moment is being held back by Nakyum’s affection for Inheon, his morals, and his unwillingness to fall into debauchery for Inheon’s sake (he cares a lot about what his teacher thinks of him).
As I see it right now, Nakyum’s wants and needs are still opposing.
Nakyum’s want: Please his teacher and have him accept his love.
His need: embrace his inner darkness and sexuality.

I’ve also noticed that most of Seungho’s violent moments come when he feels undermined, humiliated, or when his rank is contested.
Inheon reacts very adamantly when Nakyum badmouths Seungho and he basically tells him to “know his place.”
Seungho is someone that always gets what he wants. Nakyum is someone that intrigues him from his unwillingness and contrasting actions, as we’ve seen from his various musings to himself (1. “How can someone so adamant on lying who refuses to draw make such a lewd painting?” 2. Another is when Nakyum badmouths SH and tells him that his teacher is better than him. SH questions his actions as NK is usually scared of him but is suddenly so willing to defend his teacher)

The society in this story is marked very plainly by rank. The top knots is one of those examples, which people can clearly see marks social status.
SH is used to getting what he wants because of his rank and the power he owns. He has spies and people that do the work for him. He has servants and noblemen that fall on their knees to have a night with him.
NK is the first person to challenge that. (As we know of for now.)
Every time NK does challenge that, there is a consequence:
1. NK tries to snatch his poem back from SH and his hat falls backwards. Reaction: SH pushes him backwards to the floor.
2. SH thinks that NK poured water on his painting. RCT: SH almost has him beat but changes his mind.
3. NK rejects his advances and hits him, leaving a mark on his unblemished face. RCT: “Have you gone crazy?” SH reacts three-fold.
4. SH is tender when he notices NK’s swollen eyes. NK hits his hand away. RCT: SH holds on to NK’s face harder, roughly.

NK’s reactions are all normal to the readers, who are aware that people are people regardless of rank. But, to anyone else in that era, his actions are rude and unaware.
What does the old man tell him? Not to escape but to just lay low. SH is constantly incensed by NK’s rejection, but I do believe that this is because he’s used to getting what he wants.

Future Guesses:
-it’s likely that there will be a punishment for NK if he’s really escaped. Either some servants will die and/or Inheon will be hurt to show NK that his actions have consequences. SH will show NK again that he can find him no matter where he goes.
-it’s likely that once he gets him back, things will go as originally planned with the mirror and the drawings
-NK might be hurt in a way that has SH realize that he has deeper feelings than he thought
-SH’s jealousy will either make him create a mistake or will make him realize his feelings

As you can see, I had too much time in my hands!!!

Edit:
As of ch. 28, Nakyum is still a means to an end for SH. He has yet to understand why someone who is underneath him is so easily able to dismiss and challenge him. His obsessive feelings are still in the budding stage, as he’s barely starting to notice that the catalyst for a lot of his interest is NK.

We’re in stage one still, as he hasn’t realized his feelings. He’s aware that NK’s presence causes him a physical reaction, and he’s constantly keeping an eye on him to see what he’s up to.
Stage 1 shows his interest. The last stage would show that obsession growing into full-fledged yearning for possession, regardless of NK’s will.
Therefore, for his character growth, he needs to understand NK and where he’s coming from (but it’s debatable if he ever will). I believe that’s why the red-haired nobleman and Inheon are conflicts. At this point, they both want to see SH fall, and if NK does as well, it’s even better for them.

I hold a hypothesis that they will succeed in hurting SH’s status as a nobleman to an extent, and how NK reacts could very well define how their relationship develops. SH is also someone who doesn’t submissively accept downfall, so I expect that he’ll be fighting the whole way through.