Chapter 44
44
Dang Ju-hee.
The Tang Clan's Young Miss, whose hobby was creating deadly poisons, was notorious among the maids.
It was because her mood fluctuated as easily as breathing.
It wasn't as if there were any Tang Clan Members with good personalities, but Dang Ju-hee was particularly severe.
'It's because she eats too much Poison. They say if Poison affects the head, a person becomes strange.'
Some said it was because of the Poison,
'No. She was born that way. Can't you tell by looking at the Young Patriarch's personality? The Madam is also very sensitive.'
Others said it was innate.
Either way, the fact that Dang Ju-hee was incredibly temperamental remained the same.
If Dang Young-ho was consistently terrible, Dang Ju-hee was like skipping across stepping stones, going from crazy to normal and back again.
The visit of the mad dog I had only heard about made my mouth dry.
I couldn't even guess what wind had blown this notorious Young Miss to me.
"What brings you here so early?"
"I have some business."
Isn't that what I asked, what that business was?
Dang Ju-hee remained unfazed even by my sour expression.
"I heard you're immune to all poisons?"
"Yes? Yes."
"Too bad. I had a pretty Poison that would have suited you perfectly, but I won't be able to feed it to you."
What nonsense. Poison is Poison, no matter how pretty it is.
The Council of Elders was like that too, why do these Tang Clan bastards like feeding Poison to others so much?
As Dang Ju-hee smacked her lips with a coy face, a pure white snake poked its head out from inside her sleeve.
"Eek!"
Songji, who screamed without realizing it, hurriedly covered her mouth. I also slowly backed away.
"T-There. Could you please put that snake away?"
"Baek-i doesn't bite."
It probably only doesn't bite you. Can't you see it hissing and looking for prey?
"Still. I don't like slimy things."
"Is that so? Baek-i. Go back in."
Upon my repeated request, Dang Ju-hee readily put the snake away.
She strode inside and looked around my detached residence with curious eyes.
"It's small."
"Yes, yes. It's small. Would you like a cup of tea?"
"I don't need it. You don't have any clothes, do you?"
"Pardon?"
"I heard you've been living as a Maid all this time. You don't have any clothes to wear."
...Wow. What's with her?
I was momentarily speechless. Judging by her expression, she didn't seem to have any malicious intent, but it was simply absurd from my perspective.
"No? I brought some in case you didn't have any."
"Yes?"
"Ah, perhaps you don't like clothes that others have worn? Should I only give you unworn clothes? I should do that."
She came to her own conclusion and clapped her hands towards the outside.
"So-so."
Then, a Maid entered, groaning as she carried a wooden chest.
"So-so. Pick out only the new clothes that haven't been worn."
"All twelve of them haven't been worn, Young Miss."
"Is that so? Then take them all out."
"Yes, Young Miss."
The Maid answered politely and began taking out silk clothes from the chest.
...What is she, really?
They say that when a person is too flustered, they can't think of anything, and it was true. I, who had been standing blankly, belatedly raised my voice.
"E-Excuse me? What is this..."
"Not 'excuse me,' but Ju-hee Unnie."
"Pardon?"
"You can call me Ju-hee Unnie. I like you."
"Why? We just met today?"
"You're pretty."
"..."
Is she really crazy?
The more I talked to Dang Ju-hee, the more confused I became. Dang Ju-hee was simply cheerful, even with my blank expression.
"White clothes would suit you well. Try this on."
"Unnie. I appreciate you taking care of me, but do you know what time it is? I haven't even washed my face yet?"
"Would you like to try this hair ornament? Butterflies are in fashion these days."
Hey. Are you listening to me? I said I haven't even washed my face yet.
Dang Ju-hee, who was very excited, forcibly changed my clothes. She braided and unbraided my hair, giggling as if I were a newly bought doll.
I gave up on everything and indulged in Dang Ju-hee's doll play.
"I couldn't dress up Cho-hee because she doesn't like being decorated. It's fun."
...That's right. As long as you're happy.
She doesn't seem like a bad kid, but her condition is a bit...
"Should I paint your nails too? Do you like red or black?"
"Unnie. Aren't you going to eat?"
"I'll paint them black? Oh my, your bracelet is Yangji White Jade? Pretty. It's got neurotoxin in it? Dragon Blood Poison is better if you really want to kill someone."
"Yes, yes."
"Don't you grow your nails? I have a lot of pretty nail guards too."
"What are those?"
"This."
Dang Ju-hee, who was painting my nails, raised her left pinky finger. It was a nail guard that fit perfectly over her finger.
The nail guard, adorned with jewels, was so flashy it hurt my eyes, but it kept reminding me of a familiar snack.
It looks like she's wearing a Bugle...
She seemed to think my strange gaze was interest in the nail guard and her eyes sparkled.
"Will you grow your nails? Should I give you a nail guard too? I'll give you a deadly Poison to put on the end of the nail guard. Let's learn the Nail Technique."
"Nail Technique? Don't you use Hidden Weapons, Unnie?"
"Sometimes? It's boring just throwing them from afar. I like hitting and bumping into things more."
"Ah, I see."
"And hitting with something in your hand hurts more than throwing it. If you hit them with Inner Energy infused in a jade ring, even the Black Cloud Squad Warriors cry in pain?"
Is it a knuckle? More than that, why are you going around hitting the Black Cloud Squad Warriors?
"I heard you're learning Martial Arts Technique from Grandfather too. What did you learn? Did you learn Fist and Kick Arts? Learn it quickly and let's have a sparring match."
"No, thank you."
"Why? Is Fist and Kick Arts not your thing? Then shall we spar with Hidden Weapons Techniques?"
"No. I just don't like sparring."
It sounds nice to call it sparring, but it's just saying let's fight. Why does it always end with sparring?
Dang Ju-hee tilted her head as if she found my answer strange.
"Why? What's more fun than sparring?"
"Do you find sparring fun, Unnie?"
"Yeah. The feeling of boiling blood is thrilling. And I can beat up Dang Young-ho. You don't get scolded for hitting people during sparring."
Dang Ju-hee seemed more belligerent than she looked. She may like to dress up, but the blood of a Martial Artist flows in her veins, and that doesn't change.
More than that, I think I heard something strange just now.
"Pardon? Who do you beat up?"
I asked back, doubting my ears, and Dang Ju-hee blew on my nails and replied.
"Don't you know Dang Young-ho? Our family's eldest. Haven't you seen him yet? There's a fool who became the Heir Apparent just because he was lucky enough to be born early."
I heard correctly.
At this point, I feel sorry for Dang Young-ho.
If being ignored by everyone like this is a talent, then it's a talent. Maybe he became twisted because he was ignored so much.
Dang Ju-hee, who had painted all ten of my fingers while chatting, put down the brush with a proud face.
"Tell me if it peels off. I'll paint it again. I can put Poison on the end of your nails too."
"Did you put Poison on them?"
"No. I didn't put any on."
"Really?"
"Actually, I put a little on."
"Pardon?"
"Just kidding."
...I don't think she's kidding. Should I go wash my hands?
As I looked down at my hands with a suspicious face, I heard a familiar voice.
"I didn't expect Ju-hee to be here. Are you two already close? That's good to see."
"Dang-un Orabeoni!"
Dang Ju-hee, who jumped up, ran and hugged Dang-un. Dang-un, who staggered greatly, patted Dang Ju-hee's back.
"Ouch. Ju-hee is getting stronger and stronger. This Orabeoni won't be able to handle you anymore."
"Orabeoni, look. I got the youngest clothes. Aren't they pretty?"
Dang Ju-hee, who let go of Dang-un, pointed at me brightly. Her black eyes sparkled like a child expecting praise.
Dang-un also smiled and indulged his younger sister's childishness.
"Really? Our Ju-hee is so kind."
"Oh, Orabeoni. I! Yesterday..."
Dang Ju-hee chattered on and on, telling him everything that he didn't even ask about.
Dang Young-ho was a fool, and Dang-un was Orabeoni.
I recalled Dang Young-ho's vaguely remembered face and soon understood Dang Ju-hee's differential treatment.
If there's a flat flounder and a flower deer together, I'd choose the deer too. Dang-un is pretty. Uncomparably pretty.
She suddenly showed me affection, and it seemed that Dang Ju-hee judged people by their faces.
"Okay. Ju-hee, let's go eat now. So-hye, come here too."
Dang-un, who had accepted Dang Ju-hee's chatter without showing any signs of displeasure, reached out to me as well.
I went to the Clan Head Hall, caught between the two.
* * *
In fact, what I was most worried about was whether I would be able to sit face to face with Dang Mu-hyeok and eat.
Eating while looking at that face felt like I would get a canker sore on my tongue.
But the old man wasn't a big problem.
The real problem was with my blood relatives.
I had to try my best to maintain a smile as I sat at the table following Dang-un.
That guy who's reeking of alcohol and burping since morning is the eldest, Dang Young-ho.
The crazy person who's squeezing the Poison out of a snake's head in front of the table is the fourth, Dang Ju-hee.
The guy who's playing the flute next to her as if he's doing a King Cobra show is...
"Orabeoni. Who is that person?"
"You mean Juyeop?"
That's the fifth, Dang Juyeop.
His skills were so bad that he would be stoned if he played on the street, but his expression was that of an artist himself.
...I really want to go home.
Dang-un, who chuckled at my colorful expression, said.
"Just because you were born in a Martial Family doesn't mean you have to devote yourself to Martial Arts. Knowing how to enjoy the arts is also a wonderful attitude to life. Don't you think so?"
Orabeoni. That sounds like you're saying that that bastard is a loafer who doesn't do the training he's supposed to do and just goes around playing, but he's always been like that, so just leave him alone.
It was a mess, but everyone except me seemed used to this eccentricity and didn't seem to care.
Looking at the state of the assembled brothers, I had a strong feeling that the three who hadn't arrived yet wouldn't be normal either.
Regardless of my feelings for the old man, I felt a little sorry for him.
How can there not be a single normal person? What a disastrous harvest of children.
As if reading my burning heart, Dang-un handed me a teacup. It was green tea cold-brewed with ice.
"Would you like some cold tea? They took out the ice from Gwan Ga Won because summer is approaching."
"...Thank you. Orabeoni."
I drank the cold tea in one gulp and crunched on the ice, hoping this time would pass quickly.
