Chapter 10
10
I took a slow, deep breath. Although the darkness hid my expression, there was no point in revealing raw emotions.
Dang-un must also be a Martial Artist. Like those of high status, he might seem kind, but he could change his attitude at any moment. Hadn't Dang Jung been the same?
Forcing a smile, I squeezed out the most amiable voice I could muster.
"This is too much for me to receive. I'll gratefully accept your sentiment."
At my roundabout refusal, Dang-un's eyebrows drooped.
"So-hye, you haven't changed. Still, accept it. It pains me to have my brotherly affection rejected like this."
As if I'd eagerly accept such affection, knowing what it meant.
I didn't reply, but stared intently at Dang-un. He was suddenly claiming to be my brother, and it didn't seem wise to get close to him.
Wherever you go, the guys who call you 'bro' are the most suspicious.
"You refused last time too. Can't you even try wearing it in your hair? I bought it in Hubei."
"......"
"So-hye."
When I didn't hide my wariness, he gave a sorrowful smile and put the hairpin away.
"Did I make things difficult for you?"
His plaintive voice made me feel uneasy for no reason.
Dang-un's pale eyes held a sad light. I silently avoided his gaze.
If the Tang Clan Members I'd encountered so far were like black panthers or hyenas, this one resembled a pitiful deer. There was no venom in his eyes, so to speak.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make things difficult."
Seeing him apologize for knowing he was causing trouble, I wondered if he wasn't such a bad guy after all...
No. If he had any sense, he wouldn't have come looking for me at this hour. I almost fell for that face.
I slowly lowered my head.
"I apologize."
"No, it's not your fault, So-hye. This brother was thoughtless. I'll be going now, so get some rest."
"Yes."
"...So-hye."
"I'm listening."
He seemed to want to say something, his lips parting slightly, but then he let out a small sigh.
"No, never mind. I almost said something unnecessary."
Dang-un muttered, then gave a bitter smile and took a step back. His shoulders drooped like a wet puppy, which was quite pitiful.
I felt like I'd become the bad guy, even though I hadn't done anything wrong.
I steeled my eyes, determined not to be fooled by Dang-un's face. I might get bewitched otherwise.
"You know, right? If you ever have a hard time, come find me anytime."
He said gently, then rummaged through his sleeve with an elegant gesture. Then, he took out a small pouch.
"Are snacks alright? I just wanted to give you something."
"Thank you."
I bowed and accepted the pouch. It felt like I couldn't refuse this time.
"Rest well."
Dang-un smiled faintly and slowly walked away. He glanced back at me with a worried expression.
When our eyes met, he gestured for me to go inside. I forced the corners of my lips up and repeatedly bowed my head.
As soon as Dang-un disappeared, Songji, who had been waiting with bated breath, threw the door open.
"Hey, is he gone? What did he say?"
"I don't know. Why did he come?"
Shrugging, I opened the pouch and saw well-dried jerky.
It wasn't laced with anything weird, was it? Poison, perhaps? Poison? I couldn't trust the Tang Clan bastards.
I buried my nose in the jerky and sniffed, and Songji scolded me.
"It's because he cares about you. The Zhuge Family guests arrived less than an hour ago. He came to see you as soon as he arrived in Chengdu."
I tilted my head, unable to understand the connection. What did the Zhuge Family have to do with anything?
"Why did the Zhuge Family guests come with this Young Master?"
"Isn't it obvious? They're family on your mother's side, so they came together. What's wrong with you these days? Did you eat crow?"
Songji glared at me. So, my mother was a Zhuge. That beauty must have come from her mother's side.
"I guess so. Maybe it's because work is hard, but I'm getting forgetful. Sister, I'm tired, so let's go to sleep."
I quickly agreed and shoved a piece of jerky into Songji's mouth.
"Gheah. Chold. Ungh, ghet in bed."
Songji chuckled at my cheekiness, chewing on the jerky and waving her hand. She seemed to be enjoying it, so it probably wasn't laced with anything weird.
I quickly went inside and slammed the door shut.
I didn't care about Dang-un or the Zhuge Family; I just wanted to sleep.
* * *
Starting with the Zhuge Family, who arrived late at night, guests who had traveled from afar began to arrive one by one.
Everyone was busy attending to the guests and preparing for the gathering, but my daily life was peaceful.
That was because Dang Jung had confined me to my quarters.
"Your appearance is eye-catching. Don't wander around and get caught up in troublesome matters; stay here."
"Yes, Elder."
"I've told Geun-myeong, so no one will look for you."
That's good.
I obediently followed Dang Jung's wishes. It goes without saying, but I didn't want to work.
I'd been doing the most undesirable tasks, the ones the Maids avoided the most, day and night without a single day off, so I needed to slack off sometimes.
It was necessary to maintain the balance of the world by resting like this once in a while.
Dang Jung, who was preparing to leave, seemed concerned about leaving me alone and kept reminding me.
"Do you understand? No matter who calls for you, don't go out; stay here. You can throw coins in the garden or something."
"Yes."
"Don't just say yes; don't leave the residence. The Family brats are all fools who can't grasp the situation and only rely on their bloodline, so I'm worried."
Elder, you're a Family Member too, though.
I nodded, pretending not to hear his scathing criticism, and Dang Jung continued to grumble.
"Old habits die hard; those who loosen their belts at the sight of a pretty Maid should all be castrated..."
I felt like I'd heard something I shouldn't have. I awkwardly rolled my eyes at his crude word choice.
Only then did I understand what Dang Jung was worried about. So-hye's face was pretty, so he was clearly concerned that flies would be attracted to her.
Saying it like this makes me sound like a narcissist. But it's true that So-hye is a beauty.
Her mother, Cho-ryeon, was also the most beautiful woman in Chengdu. As her daughter, it goes without saying.
Even in shabby clothes, she was eye-catching; if she had been born as a Young Miss from a noble family, she would have made quite a name for herself.
She might have been called something like the most beautiful woman in Sichuan.
Of course, it was a pointless assumption. In any era, pretty women are a hassle. Even if a Maid who does chores is pretty, her fate will only be more unfortunate.
Therefore, Dang Jung's judgment that she shouldn't stand out from the beginning was correct.
He said he would take me as a disciple, but he's looking after me in various ways.
While I was fidgeting, Dang Jung, who had finished preparing to leave, reminded me again.
"I'll be away for a few days to welcome the guests. If something happens, use my name no matter what, and if that doesn't work, insist on meeting Geun-myeong. Then Geun-myeong will take care of it."
"Yes, Elder. Have a safe tr... He's gone."
Then, he left before even hearing my reply.
Left alone in the residence, I slowly got up.
I should wipe the tea room once, have a light lunch, and then practice coin fishing.
I don't know if you can even call this fishing, though.
Shouldn't I change the name to coin throwing or coin skipping instead of coin fishing?
I smacked my lips and fiddled with the coins. The ice on the pond had melted long ago as the weather warmed up, but my coin fishing hadn't improved.
Rather, the movements of the carp, trained by my coin throwing, had only become nimbler. I didn't know if I was training or if the carp were training.
Ugh. I'll throw it once more and then go clean.
No, twice.
...It's not working even with three times.
I sighed deeply and threw a coin into the pond, and someone offered advice.
"Fish move in a streamlined way. You won't be able to hit them no matter how many times you throw it like that."
Who are you?
Startled, I looked up and saw a boy I'd never seen before.
Judging by his splendid clothes with clouds embroidered in blue silk, he wasn't a Tang Clan Member. He seemed to be a guest who had come to participate in this gathering.
I was torn between pointing out that he had entered Poison King Dang Jung's residence without permission, or politely greeting him like a Maid should.
In the meantime, the boy approached with long strides and spoke.
"Do you understand? You keep throwing it straight. You have to look at the fish's movements and throw it so that it at least grazes its scales."
"Excuse me?"
"You're so frustrating. You have to do it like this, you idiot."
The boy grumbled and grabbed my hand. What's this guy doing? Why is he holding a strange woman's hand?
Surprised, I stiffened, and the boy frowned and pulled my arm.
"Focus. This is how you do it."
Then, he grabbed my hand and swung my arm.
The coin, guided by the boy, lightly hit the carp's head and bounced off.
Seeing that, the boy proudly puffed out his chest.
"I was right, wasn't I?"
"Ah, yes."
It did graze it.
It doesn't seem much different from when I threw it.
The boy complained at my half-hearted reply.
"It did hit it."
"Yes, it did."
The boy raised his voice as if he didn't like my answer.
"Hey, I taught you myself, but aren't you being too rude?"
Rude? That's what I want to say.
You're the one who rudely grabbed the hand of a lady you've just met, and you're the one who's rudely barging around someone else's Clan's inner residence.
Right now, you're trespassing in the residence of the Tang Clan's Grand Elder. Jerk.
I quietly looked up at the boy. Then, the boy's face turned red.
"Do you know who I am to look at me like that?"
For those words, 'Do you know who I am,' to come out of such a young brat's mouth.
I spent some time deeply sympathizing with Dang Jung's words.
Elder, these guys are fools who only rely on their bloodline, just like you said.
I swallowed a sigh and opened my mouth.
"You must be a guest of the Tang Clan."
"I, I'm Namgung Hwi! The Young Patriarch of the Namgung Clan!"
His voice, revealing his identity, was filled with pride in his family and arrogance, implying that I should serve him accordingly.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
...Damn it. So, you're Namgung Hwi?
