Chapter 37
37
The first thing that changed was my residence.
I moved out of the maids' shared quarters and had a space all to myself.
"Am I really using this alone?"
"Are you asking the obvious? You are the Patriarch's daughter. Now that you've been registered, you should receive proper treatment."
Dang Jung shrugged as if I were saying something strange and opened the door to the detached residence.
I hesitantly followed Dang Jung.
Perhaps the previous owner of the detached residence valued practicality.
There wasn't a single tree or flower planted in the yard.
Instead, the entire backyard was paved with blue-green stones. Judging by the scratches on the metal in some places, it seemed to have been used as a training ground.
Dang Jung, who had been looking around the detached residence with his hands behind his back, opened his mouth.
"Geun-myeong."
"Yes, Elder."
Dang Geunmyeong appeared without a sound and bowed his head.
"Dig a pond in the front yard and move some carp there."
"Understood."
...Dig a pond? Now?
It was an absurd order, but Dang Geunmyeong didn't even question it and began to tamp down the pond site.
I, who had been watching, carefully asked.
"Grandfather? Why a pond?"
"What did I order you to do last winter?"
"Catch fish with coins?"
"That's right. You haven't been doing it lately because you're busy, have you?"
"...Yes."
"Then you'll have to do it until you get it right, won't you?"
"...Yes."
There was no room for argument. I swallowed a bitter smile and nodded.
The next thing that changed was my Bodyguard.
Like the other members of the family, I now had a Martial Artist Bodyguard.
"Introduce yourself. This is your Bodyguard."
The Bodyguard Dang Jung brought was a young woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties.
The slender and agile Bodyguard was wearing black Martial Arts attire.
Her sun-tanned skin gave a strong impression, which made her piercing eyes stand out even more.
"Nice to meet you, Young Miss. My name is Deokju."
"Hello."
"Please, speak informally, Young Miss. I am just a Bodyguard."
"Ah, yes. I mean, okay."
As I avoided her intense gaze, Dang Jung chuckled.
"She was a rising star in the Black Cloud Unit. Her skills are certain, so be sure to take her with you when you go out."
"Black Cloud Unit?"
"The Young Patriarch's direct unit. Why, didn't you see Bu-kyung before? He's the head of the Black Cloud Unit."
Who is Bu-kyung?
As I racked my brain, I remembered a middle-aged man with a pitiful face accepting a broom one day.
Ah, the uncle who cleaned the training ground for me before.
"There's no need to worry about her skills. Even though she looks like that, she was selected as the Young Patriarch's Bodyguard."
"The Young Patriarch's Bodyguard? How did you bring her here?"
"There's always a way."
"What? You didn't beat someone up or threaten them to bring her here, did you?"
"...What do you take this old man for? I brought her here because she was dismissed and had nothing to do."
Dang Jung, who glared at me with a disgruntled look, stroked his chin.
But even the Grand Elder was trying to kick your butt. I smacked my lips and asked.
"Dismissed? How did that happen?"
"That crazy bastard Youngho harassed his Bodyguard, and when she resisted, he kicked her out."
He harassed his Bodyguard? Is he crazy?
I couldn't help but gape at the unbelievable story.
"Wow. Shouldn't you have given him a good beating before bringing her here?"
Then Deokju replied calmly.
"It's alright. I beat him up."
"Huh?"
"I showed him what happens when you treat a Martial Artist like a woman from a brothel."
"She beat him up real good. I liked her feisty personality, so I picked her up."
Dang Jung said, looking at Deokju with a satisfied expression.
...Wow. This one's no ordinary character either.
Is a Bodyguard who has a history of beating up her master and getting fired a reliable Bodyguard? Of course, he deserved to be beaten, but still.
But she didn't seem like a bad person. Dang Jung wouldn't keep just anyone by his side, so it should be fine, right?
"She's a tight-lipped one, so it's safe to keep her by your side. At least she won't leak information to your stepmothers."
"I don't play spy."
"I know. If she were flexible, she wouldn't have been kicked out to the stables to shovel horse manure."
Dang Jung sighed and looked back and forth between me and Deokju.
"Deokju. I'm putting you here to stop So-hye from causing trouble. Don't cause trouble together."
"Yes, Elder."
"So-hye, the same goes for you. Don't add fuel to the fire if Deokju gets excited."
"I'll try. But, can I tell Deokju to beat up my first brother if we clash?"
"No."
Dang Jung cut me off firmly and pulled on my cheek.
"I told you not to cause trouble, but you're already thinking about causing trouble. Stay quiet if you don't want to be confined to the detached residence."
"Ow. I underhtand."
"There's a hierarchy even in cold water. Why would the youngest even think of picking a fight with her older brother? ...Unless it's a fair duel, that is."
Oh. Is that permission? It's okay if there's a justification?
As my eyes sparkled, Dang Jung sighed deeply.
"You're making me old. I keep getting gray hairs."
No, what did I do? You're at the age where you get white hair.
I felt wronged, but I didn't have the courage to argue with Dang Jung's grumpy face. As I pretended to listen politely with my hands gathered at my belly, Dang Jung chuckled.
"Geun-myeong has already moved all your luggage. Organize it as you see fit and take your time to look around."
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes. Come to my residence when you're settled. Let's have dinner together."
"Yes, I will. Ah, Grandfather! Wait a minute! I have something to give you!"
At my shout, Dang Jung's eyes narrowed.
"What is it?"
"I was originally going to give it to you yesterday, but I was too out of it. Just wait a moment."
I hurriedly ran into the detached residence before Dang Jung left.
"Hey, hey! You'll fall if you do that. Take it easy."
"It's okay, ack!"
As I stumbled and fell forward, Deokju, who had already approached, lifted me up in a flash.
Wow. Bodyguard's the best.
Deokju gently placed me on the stone step and quietly took a step back.
"Thank you."
"How can I make this one into a person? Deokju, you'll have to keep a close eye on her."
Dang Jung clicked his tongue. It was purely treating me like a newborn foal.
I pretended not to hear and smiled sheepishly as I rummaged through my luggage.
"I put it somewhere here... Ah, I found it!"
It was here. I hope it hasn't gone bad.
"Grandfather, this is mung bean jelly. I heard it's good to eat with tea, so I bought it at the night market. I'll throw it away if it doesn't suit your taste."
I quickly ran over and placed the bamboo container in Dang Jung's hand, and Dang Jung looked back and forth between me and the bamboo container with a strange expression.
Doesn't he like it? I asked hesitantly, watching Dang Jung's expression.
"Should I throw it away?"
"...No. I'm just a little surprised. It's been a long time since someone gave me something. They've all been trying to take from this old man."
Dang Jung replied nonchalantly and opened the bamboo container. As a sweet smell wafted out, he chuckled.
"How much allowance do you have to buy snacks for your grandfather? You eat it."
"I bought it because I thought of you, Grandfather."
Dang Jung stroked my head as if I were adorable and took out a piece of mung bean jelly and put it in my mouth.
Then he took out a new piece of mung bean jelly and took a bite. His brow furrowed fiercely.
...That's right. He hates sweets.
I realized it too late, but Dang Jung had already swallowed the snack in his mouth.
He closed the lid of the bamboo container with a reluctant face, as if he couldn't manage his expression.
"It's delicious."
You look like you're about to throw up.
"I'll save the rest for later."
No. You don't have to eat it. Just throw it away.
Dang Jung, who rubbed his lips roughly as if to erase the sweetness, put the bamboo container inside his sleeve.
It was definitely a gift that was worse than not giving anything.
I made a resolution. I should never buy sweets again.
* * *
After Dang Jung left, I stayed cooped up inside the detached residence. It was because I was worried about Dang Geunmyeong digging the pond outside.
Thump! Thump! Crack!
...I can't hear it. I can't hear it.
I tried to ignore the sound of something breaking and looked at Deokju.
My Bodyguard was standing on one side of the reception room, motionless like a stone statue.
"Deokju, would you like some tea?"
"It's alright, Young Miss."
"Then would you like to sit next to me? Your legs will hurt if you keep standing."
"It's alright, Young Miss."
Her blunt response made me sigh involuntarily. I was going to see her face every day from now on, and I was at a loss as to how to treat her.
As I rubbed my eyes and tried to speak again, someone peeked their face through the door of the reception room.
"Hey!"
"Sister, you're here?"
It was Songji.
I jumped up from my seat at the sight of her welcome face. Songji also waved her hand and ran over with quick steps.
"Why didn't you come in last night? I was worried. So-hye, are you going to keep staying out? If you're going to stay out, tell me. Oh, did you hear? Apparently, there was a illegitimate child of the Patriarch among the maids. I heard she was officially registered this time?"
Yeah. That's me.
"No matter how much I think about it, I don't know who it is. Who looked like the Patriarch? Do you know, So-hye? Why did he call us of all people? Well, living in the detached residence won't be so bad. Anything is better than the laundry."
It's me.
Songji, who had been chattering without taking a breath, tilted her head.
"Huh? But So-hye, your clothes..."
"Show respect to the Young Miss."
Deokju, who had approached in the blink of an eye, separated me and Songji. Songji, who was startled, stepped back hesitantly.
"Y-Young Miss? Who? Hiek, could it be...?"
Songji, who met my eyes, fell backward on her butt. I helped Songji up and smiled awkwardly.
"It just turned out that way. Sister."
"You're the Young Miss? Really? No joke? The illegitimate child who was registered this time is really you? You were a Dang?"
Thump!
As soon as Songji finished speaking, something fell with a thud.
When I turned my head, I saw Kyung-ah trembling with a bundle dropped in front of the door.
"So, So, So-hye is... the Young Miss...?"
Yeah. Kyung-ah, you're here.
"Th-This is... What... So, So-hye is... the Young Miss is... my master...? Th-Then... I... What, what should I do...?"
"Is this for real? No, then I've been cleaning and doing laundry with the direct Young Miss every day? Kyung-ah, you didn't know either?"
"I'm, I'm hearing this for the first time..."
"Ahaha, you two, unpack your luggage first. I'll go to the restroom."
I laughed awkwardly at the accusing atmosphere and left the scene.
As I hurriedly came out of the detached residence, Deokju also followed me. It was good that she was faithful to her duty as a Bodyguard, but there was a problem with this one too.
"Hey, Deokju."
"Yes, Young Miss."
"Can't you not follow me when I go to the restroom?"
"I cannot."
"Then go a little further away. About ten steps."
"I cannot go more than five steps."
...I'm going crazy.
I rubbed my face.
I had a feeling that living with these three wouldn't be easy.
