Chapter 14
Tang!
The grandfather slammed the table, drawing everyone's eyes to him.
"Yeon-i is right! It's not the time for the academy. Yi-ran, go back and prepare Pyo and Aak-i for closed-door training."
"Father!"
"G-Grandfather."
The aunt jumped in alarm, while the twins' faces turned ashen.
"Father, how can the kids do closed-door training? They're at the age where they're growing—they can't just live off Wall Grain Pills."
"I did closed-door training at that age too!"
"……"
"And you, Yi-ran—as a mother, you need to think of your children's future first! Achieving a high realm even a year earlier is worth more than anything. There are no realms that come easy! It may be tough now, but this is an investment for their later years!"
The aunt had only barely broken through to the 3rd star at age twelve. It was average for the Baek Ri Clan, but she had her father by her side back then. Having been constantly compared to others as a child, she grew up unable to even serve as a point of comparison anymore.
Her eyes wavered as she looked at the twins under the weight of her father's advice.
Reading their mother's expression, the twins panicked and spoke up in unison.
"Grandfather, I want to go to the academy!"
"I'll go to the academy!"
'Did I stir up trouble unnecessarily?'Baek Ri-yeon wondered if it might have been better to just let the twins skip the academy altogether, then shook her head. Grandfather was the all-or-nothing type. Now that the topic was out, he'd either send them all or none—no half-measures, like sending one and not the other.
"Pyo, Aak-i—for your mother's sake, closed-door training isn't such a bad……"
"Mom!"
The aunt and twins devolved into a chaotic argument. It was quite the spectacle, like watching a fire from afar. And not just any fire—it was the kind that nearly burned down her own house before the sparks flew elsewhere.
Baek Ri-yeon picked up her chopsticks again.
'Sigh, time to eat. I was worried I'd have to leave half of it unfinished.'
She reached for the mountain of untouched food piled up from spectating. Just then, her father scooped some round braised meatballs onto her plate.
Popping one into her mouth, her eyes went wide.
"Delicious?"
She nodded vigorously, and her father smiled softly.
'Seafood? Not squid……'
She offered one to her father as well.
"Father, you try some too. It's so good."
"I've had plenty."
"What are they made of?"
"No idea."
"This feels like water dropwort. Did they use sea fish?"
Baek Ri-paehyeok watched the father-daughter exchange too—his own bickering daughter and grandsons on one side, contrasted sharply by his son and granddaughter offering each other bites.
An unbearable frustration welled up in his chest, mingled with an inexplicable irritation.
"Baek Ri-gang, are you starving the child?"
"Pfft."
Startled by grandfather's sudden grumpiness, Baek Ri-yeon choked and coughed. Her father patted her back, deftly weathering the old man's mood as usual.
"Yeon-i seems to like today's food."
"Yes, Grandfather. E-everything tastes amazing."
She'd thought he'd ignore them until the aunt's issue was settled, so why was he suddenly so prickly? Rolling her eyes, she flashed the cutest smile she could muster.
"Grandfather, you should try some too. It's delicious!"
"……Hmph. Bring it here. I need to see what makes it so special!"
* * *
In the end, they all decided to go to the academy. The twins' and aunt's faces—joy and despair crossing in an instant—were priceless. Haha, she'd be remembering those expressions for a while.
The day after that disastrous family dinner, writing supplies, a Thousand Character Classic book, and a batch of those delicious braised meatballs arrived at her quarters. The sender was, of course, Grandfather.
Even her father was impressed by the stationery set—a inkstone where the natural jade patterns blended into a striking pine tree motif!
'Giving this to a six-year-old is extravagant, way too extravagant.'
She still couldn't even read properly, after all. On top of that, Grandfather had instructed the teacher to let her join classes slowly once her health recovered.
'I'm already grateful just for sending me to the academy.'
He was the type to go all out once he set his mind to something—from premium gifts to the Myeonggeum Honhwan Pill and now the academy.
With Grandfather showing such care, she felt compelled to give something in return, however modest.
But what could she offer a man who had everything?
After much deliberation, the result was nothing fancy. Staring at the handkerchief, she let out a hollow chuckle.
'No, this is fine. It's the thought that counts. Good job.'
Even if the embroidery was a rabbit-ish blob instead of flowers and butterflies……
She'd originally planned to stitch Grandfather's name, but that was impossible with her skills—inevitable, really.
And then came the next hurdle.
'I've made it, but how do I deliver it?'
She trusted the servants about as much as a rabbit hopping across the room. Meeting Grandfather directly was out too.
'He's been kinder lately, sure, but I can't overstep.'
It was all because of Father, after all—not true acceptance of her.
After agonizing, she decided……
"Hello."
The guard at Su-baek-dang, Grandfather's residence, wore a clear look of bewilderment: 'Why is this kid talking to me?'
"I think I left something behind when I stayed at Su-baek-dang last time. Could I go in and look for it?"
She stated it boldly.
'Straight through the front door, of course.'
The guard couldn't quite process the composed little girl's demeanor. He glanced at his fellow guard, but the other was just as baffled. Normally, he'd dismiss her until the family head returned.
But the rumors lately? The talk swirling around this girl was no joke. Sending her away felt off, and who knew when the master would return from his morning outing?
"I'll escort you."
After a quick huddle, one guard volunteered to guide—and watch—her.
At the door to the room she'd stayed in, she blocked him from entering with her.
"Ah, can I look alone?"
"Pardon?"
"It's something a bit private……"
The tiny girl, barely reaching his waist, looked so earnest it was both absurd and amusing. The guard relented easily.
"I'll wait by the door. Come out as soon as you find it. The family head is away—don't cause a fuss."
"Yes!"
Once inside safely, she shut the door and scanned the room. It was back to pristine condition from her first visit. Spotless, despite being empty—clearly well-maintained.
'Where to put it?'
She couldn't just toss the handkerchief anywhere. The guard would peek after she left, so it needed to be somewhere he'd overlook but a cleaning servant would spot quickly.
'Drawer might take too long to notice…… Under the candle? No, that'd leave marks. Yes! There.'
She approached the bed.
Bedding needed regular airing in the sun. Perfect. She muttered contentedly.
"Good, good."
"What's good?"
"Eeeeeek!"
A scream dangled at the edge of her throat before she swallowed it. Clutching her chest as she staggered, a firm hand steadied her.
"You scared me! What are you so jumpy about?"
Grandfather glared at her with a pouty frown.
"I-I thought you were a ghost."
"Should I be clomping around in my own quarters? You're the one sneaking in like a thief!"
She bowed her head hastily.
"S-sorry."
"……"
"……"
"Ahem. Find your thing? Is that it?"
Grandfather pointed at what she held.
"Ah, this is, um……"
She hadn't anticipated bumping into him like this. As she hesitated, his gaze sharpened again.
'No choice.'
She politely offered the handkerchief and accompanying letter.
"Actually, I brought it to give to you, Grandfather."
He looked at her like he'd misheard.
"To me?"
"……Yes."
He took them, unfolding the letter first. He stared at the crooked handwriting for a long while.
'Can he read it……? I've been practicing.'
As the silence dragged, her confidence plummeted, and she bit her lip anxiously.
Fortunately, he glanced at the handkerchief and spoke.
"You embroidered this?"
"Yes!"
"Not some servant?"
He eyed the stitching suspiciously.
'Grandfather, if a servant did this, they'd be fired……'
She gestured indignantly.
"I made it myself. See, here's the rabbit."
Wait. Wrong word. It was supposed to be flowers and butterflies!
"No, I mean, it's not a rabbit……"
Seeing doubt cloud his eyes at her backpedal, she rushed on.
"The rabbit…… it's super cute, right?"
Ah! Was there anything dumber she could say? Grandfather looked utterly baffled too.