Chapter 23
With shaking eyes, Baek Ri-gang examined the command token before slowly lifting his head.
"This token... it doesn't belong to you, does it?"
"As expected, nothing escapes your keen eye. You're right. It belongs to my father."
Namgung Wan's father, Namgung Mu-cheol, the patriarch of the Namgung family, was one of the Ten Great Masters of the world.
"In that case..."
Namgung Wan raised a hand, cutting off Baek Ri-gang's words.
"No need to worry. I've already received Father's permission."
"......"
"Besides, when Manshin-ui vanished, I figured there'd be no occasion to use it. If the one we just found disappears again, when else could I possibly deploy it?"
Namgung Wan leaned forward over the table.
"Baek Ri-gang, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I ordered my subordinates to keep watch on Manshin-ui, but who knows when she'll slip away again."
"......"
Namgung Wan let out a sigh and straightened up.
"The choice is yours. I won't force you."
Baek Ri-gang's knuckles had turned white from gripping his fist so tightly on the table.
"And I have no intention of owing you a favor for this."
Baek Ri-gang looked at him questioningly.
"I have a request for you."
"A request?"
Namgung Wan took a deep breath, unconsciously pressing the outer corners of his eyebrows.
"It's about my son... Ryu-cheong."
"Has something happened to your son?"
Baek Ri-gang asked in surprise.
"No, nothing like that. If anything, it's the lack of anything happening that's the problem."
Baek Ri-gang eyed him with puzzlement at that.
That was when it happened.
"Young master, young master."
Baek Ri-gang's face hardened at the voice from outside the door.
"......What is it?"
"I apologize for interrupting, but... the lady has sent someone."
Baek Ri-gang's expression turned rigid. He'd explicitly told Un-du not to let anyone through. For Un-du to report it anyway meant the visitor had been exceptionally persistent and insistent.
Baek Ri-gang rose to his feet.
"I'll meet them outside. Tell them to wait."
"No need for that."
Namgung Wan, his face already back to its arrogant demeanor, leaned back and tilted his head.
"Let them in. Haha, I'm very curious what they have to say."
Children dressed in splendid silk robes strolled along leisurely. Everyone they passed bowed their heads hastily. Accustomed to such deference, the children chattered away among themselves.
"Ugh, I was seriously about to die of boredom. Why does Grandpa make us go to the academy?"
"Grandpa only told us to go because he cares about us."
Baek Ri-pyo shouted at Baek Ri-myeong's words.
"You hated it too, hyung!"
"Well, I didn't mind it that much."
"What? You traitor. Hyung Myeong! What're we doing now? I'm all itchy and restless—let's spar!"
A few days prior, sparring sessions and times between the twins and the Baek Ri clan disciples had been scheduled. At first, they'd thrown tantrums about who decided such things, but the moment they learned it was Baek Ri-gang's order, they'd tucked tail immediately.
Baek Ri-myeong smiled apologetically at the twins.
"I have to go see Ri-ri, so no."
"Again? How long is she gonna sulk like that?"
"Right? Hyung must be annoyed. I mean, making such a fuss over something so minor for days? If it were me, I'd just..."
"Pyo-ya."
"Tch. Fine."
"She's your little sister. Take care of her."
Baek Ri-myeong patted Baek Ri-pyo's shoulder with a gentle, affectionate expression. So U-ak snickered, lacing his hands behind his head as he muttered.
"Well, compared to that one, Ri-ri's cute."
"Ugh, why's Baek Ri-yeon suddenly everywhere lately? It's so annoying."
"She really thinks she's a real Baek Ri clan member or something. Insane. A good-for-nothing cripple who can't even circulate qi—where does she get off?"
"Exactly! Why does she even show up at the academy? Is she nuts? She hates being treated like family!"
"Pyo-ya. Ak-ya."
Baek Ri-myeong called out to the twins in warning, then subtly glanced around. Baek Ri-pyo clamped his mouth shut, startled, while So U-ak spoke up with a hint of concern.
"Hyung, the gatekeepers..."
"It's fine."
All the gatekeepers were Grandmother's people. So U-ak visibly relaxed at Baek Ri-myeong's reassurance. Baek Ri-myeong swallowed his pitying thoughts at the sight.
They didn't even know whose people the gatekeepers were, yet they'd pulled that stunt?
After a moment's thought, Baek Ri-myeong asked as if something had just occurred to him.
"Do you know who that... hooded guard behind Yeon was?"
A single guard's loose lips wouldn't cause much trouble. Their actions had been blatant enough to refute anyway. Still, he asked to confirm.
"Not a guard."
"Yeah, probably not. Baek Ri-yeon came to the academy with one servant and her uncle."
"Oh? Then just a guest?"
"Some nobody, right?"
"Yeah. Didn't even seem to go inside."
"Got it."
Even if it was some insignificant guest, it was best to stay cautious. Baek Ri-myeong's head throbbed anew at the sight of the twins, wild as thunderclouds.
"Don't do that in front of others from now on. Got it?"
"As long as she stays out of my sight."
"Baek Ri-pyo."
Baek Ri-pyo pouted and dashed off alone. So U-ak yelled after him.
"Hey, where you going?!"
Baek Ri-myeong shook his head with a sigh. He extended his hand to the servant trailing behind.
"Give me that."
The servant carrying the twins' book bags held a black wooden box adorned with mother-of-pearl—the one Baek Ri-yeon had given Baek Ri-pyo. As the servant moved to hand it over, So U-ak snatched it midair.
Baek Ri-myeong frowned slightly at him. So U-ak flinched and explained.
"Come on, why bother carrying around trash like this? Better if I just take some toys to Ri-ri later myself."
"......Fine. Got it."
Baek Ri-myeong, who hadn't wanted to deliver it anyway, smiled as if resigned.
"Hey, throw this away."
Baek Ri-myeong turned away as So U-ak tossed the box to the following servant. Passing through a garden bursting with pear blossoms and white magnolias, he slipped through a round door in the white plastered wall.
A servant sweeping the stone steps before the ornate building spotted him and bowed deeply.
"Where's Mother?"
"She went to the Lady."
"And Ri-ri?"
"With her nursemaid and pageboy."
Baek Ri-myeong nodded and entered the building. The room he'd arrived at held a middle-aged lady and two young girls. The girl in fine clothes nestled in the lady's arms was too busy playing with her beads to even glance at the open door.
Only the middle-aged lady greeted him politely before turning to the child.
"Little miss, the young master is here."
"Ri-ri-ya."
No sooner had Baek Ri-myeong called her name than Baek Ri-ri whipped around. He let out a sigh.
"Ri-ri-ya. Oppa just got back from the academy—won't you even look at me?"
Baek Ri-ri pouted at him briefly before turning away again. Baek Ri-myeong spoke tenderly to the girl beside her.
"Ri-ri-ya, guess who Oppa saw at the academy today?"
"......"
"Hong-i, Yeong-yeong, oh, and Jo-a too."
Baek Ri-ri sneaked another peek at him. When he mentioned Jo-a, her closest friend, her eyes wavered.
But she soon puffed her cheeks and grumbled.
"S-still not going."
Baek Ri-ri had wailed for days, on the verge of running away, vowing never to go to the academy again. Baek Ri-myeong felt guilty for yelling at her that day, so he couldn't bring himself to push her. Nor could he let the commotion grow—lest it reach Grandfather's ears and put Ri-ri in an even worse spot.
But he couldn't let her keep skipping with excuses of illness forever. If Baek Ri-ri stayed away, wouldn't Baek Ri-yeon gain the upper hand?
After classes, Baek Ri-myeong met with his noble-born friends. Some had already taken interest in the much-rumored Baek Ri-yeon. True, she was a cripple of little note, but her little uncle Baek Ri-gang was a renowned figure.
He couldn't just stand by.
As Baek Ri-myeong coaxed Ri-ri for a good while, the middle-aged lady who'd stepped out briefly returned.
"Young master, little miss—the Grand Lady is asking for you."
"Grandmother?"
"Yes."
Baek Ri-myeong glanced at Baek Ri-ri, who turned away sharply.
"I'm not going."
"Ri-ri-ya."
"No! She'll just tell me to go there again. I'm not!"
Exhausted from the prolonged soothing, Baek Ri-myeong sighed and rose alone.
"Alright, I get it. See you later."