Chapter 18
Seok Ga-yak gazed quietly at the pale blue hair tie in his hand. It was a simple ribbon adorned with a bit of embroidery and a small ornament—nothing fancy, just the sort a child from a good family might wear.
"Did she go?"
"Yes."
"That was careless of you. With the young master of Uigang here, and you bring your daughter along?"
"You're right. I guess I didn't think it through. I was really startled when she asked about it passing the stables."
His face showed no sign of surprise as he chuckled—quite the opposite. He looked positively amused. It was the first spark of energy from the boy who'd spent every day since arriving here as quiet as a mouse.
"......I'll explain things properly to the young master of Uigang for now. Be more careful in the future."
Seok Tae-ui let out a sigh and added offhandedly,
"Poor mother and daughter."
"Didn't know you had a heart, Seok Tae-ui."
Seok Ga-yak's words cut deep, and Seok Tae-ui pressed his lips into a thin line.
Seok Ga-yak had been there from the start, watching Baek Ri-yeon keep an eye on the twins. The girl looked gaunt and sickly. She frowned as if displeased by their behavior, but in the end, she said nothing and left.
'Daughter of Baek Ri-gang, my foot. Nothing special.' That was his thought as he headed to see his teacher.
Suddenly, Master Gi's servant herded the students from the courtyard into the classroom. With plenty of break time left, the move felt abrupt. Suspicious, Seok Ga-yak lingered to watch the yard.
Soon enough, the girl who'd slipped away returned to the now-quiet courtyard—her hair, neatly tied when she left the school, now loose.
That's when he understood. She'd sent the servant in with the students. She'd given him the hair tie and asked him to deliver it.
And then......
"She'll die without it. Poor thing."
Her tone brimmed with sympathy, on the verge of tears, but her eyes were bone-dry.
"......You seem taken with her."
"Yeah. She's fun."
Clatter-clatter.
In the jostling carriage, Undu spoke to me as I dozed off from exhaustion, eyes closed.
"Miss, isn't the baby heavy? Let me hold it."
"No, it's fine."
I let out a long yawn. In my arms was a single box—a lavish blackwood case inlaid with mother-of-pearl butterflies and peonies.
One to decorate Father's study first...
It was sparse, which wasn't bad, but a single flower would add some elegance.
One for my room, and one dried for a sachet. Perfect.
These were the flowers Seok Ga-yak had picked for me to take. He'd even prepared a box so they wouldn't wilt on the way. They were so large and vibrant that three filled the case to the brim.
Suspicious kid, but... doesn't seem bad.
The carriage soon arrived at the Baek Ri Clan estate. As I descended slowly, a commotion drew my eyes to the main gate.
"Ah, I said no!"
"Check properly."
"Ah, checking won't help! You're so persistent."
"......Is this how the Baek Ri Clan welcomes guests?"
"What guest? You're nobody without proof of identity. Get lost while I'm asking nicely!"
What lunatic was making a scene in front of the Baek Ri Clan?
The estate saw countless visitors daily, but disturbances were rare. The gatekeepers were all warriors trained in martial arts by the clan.
"Miss, should we go around the side?"
Undu, ever cautious about his young lady getting tangled with crazies, glanced back and startled. His charge had already headed toward the noise.
"Get out before I drag you!"
"Try it if you can."
The man gripped his sword, wrapped in cloth. The gatekeeper sneered, twisting his spear in a tense standoff.
Then a child's voice—calm to the point of nonchalance—cut through.
"What's going on?"
The man and gatekeeper turned to me in unison. The gatekeeper scowled upon recognizing me; the man's face was unreadable.
He wore drab traveler's robes, his sword swaddled in cloth, revealing nothing of his status. A hood pulled low over his brow hid half his face, leaving only his deep, dark eyes visible.
He screamed "I'm a highly suspicious person" from a mile away.
But the moment I saw those eyes, I knew.
Father's closest friend.
Yet the one whose actions led to Father's death.
Heir to one of the Ten Great Clans, the Namgung Clan—father of this novel's male lead, Namgung Ryu-cheong: Namgung Wan!
Why is he making a fuss here?
If I recognized him, Undu—Father's servant—certainly would. He rushed after me, eyes wide.
"Nam...!"
Whatever he meant to shout died on his lips. He froze, then clamped his mouth shut, eyes darting wildly.
"Undu? What's wrong?"
"Uh, th-that... Miss, it's..."
Undu kept stealing glances at Namgung Wan. I pieced it together.
Namgung Wan used sound transmission.
Sound transmission was a martial art using internal energy to send private words unheard by others. Most at a certain realm could use it.
Even without sound, you could tell by the mouth shape or throat movement—mimicking speech was necessary.
Namgung Wan's hood obscured his mouth and throat, so it wasn't certain. But if not for that, there'd be no reason for Undu to look desperate to speak yet hold back.
Anyway, I don't know Namgung Wan yet.
I blinked innocently, feigning surprise at the stranger.
"I heard the commotion and came to see. What's the problem? If I can help, I will."
"And you are?"
I clasped my hands politely and bowed.
"Baek Ri-yeon of the Baek Ri Clan."
I saw Namgung Wan's brow furrow deeply beneath his hood. The gatekeeper cut in.
"This doesn't concern you, Miss. You, scram already!"
Namgung Wan glared sharply at the gatekeeper, who flinched but jutted his chin defiantly—as if daring him.
This was the Baek Ri Clan's outer grounds. He knew a clan warrior like himself was untouchable.
He's gonna regret that later...
Namgung Wan, gripping his scabbard as if to draw, glanced at me and exhaled heavily. A low, steady voice emerged from under the hood, explaining calmly.
The story was absurd.
As his attire suggested, Namgung Wan sought entry without revealing his identity. He'd tried proving himself with Father's invitation letter instead of his clan token.
The snag: Gatekeepers couldn't confirm it was Father's letter and blocked him.
Maddening that they couldn't recognize Father's handwriting or seal—but fine, maybe. They should've fetched someone inside to verify.
Instead, they just yelled at him to leave.
"......And that's how it came to this."
I stared at the gatekeepers in disbelief. They averted their eyes, pretending ignorance.
"Let me see the letter."
"You?"
Namgung Wan's eyes narrowed. I nodded reassuringly.
"Yes. I know Father's handwriting."
In my previous life, he'd visited around this time too.
But I never heard about this commotion...
Was I holed up in my room and missed it?
I examined the letter closely. Father's script, for sure. A simple invitation, recipient anonymous, but the seal was genuine. Such letters were common for guests preferring anonymity.
For some reason, watching this serious little head scrutinize the letter made me want to laugh.
I folded it neatly and handed it back.
"It's Father's handwriting and seal. Let's go in."
As I stepped forward to lead, the gatekeeper blocked me.
"No."
Why again!?