Chapter 25
Baek Ri-ran and Baek Ri-muk locked eyes. Suddenly, Namgung Wan's mood plummeted, which struck everyone as odd. Seeing his rigid expression, Baek Ri-ran stepped forward with a smile.
"I've heard the young lord of the Namgung family has a son named Namgung Ryu-cheong, right? He's already making waves as a prodigy. It would've been nice if he'd met my kids—they could've made friends his age!"
"Well... Ryu-cheong only associates with children on his level."
Baek Ri-ran's smile froze at the implication that her sons weren't up to par. Everyone stared at Namgung Wan in shock, but he calmly lifted his teacup. Trembling at the corners of her eyes, Baek Ri-ran forced herself to continue.
"Ah... haha, Ryu-cheong must really be something. You must be so proud."
"Something like that."
"My boys, Pyo and Ak, are working so hard at their martial arts training—they're about to reach the third star of Mu Baek Shin Gong soon."
But it was a remark better left unsaid. Namgung Wan glanced pointedly at the twins and let out a scoff. Baek Ri-ran's face flushed red at the blatant disdain. Even Jang Seok-ryang, standing off to one side of the pavilion, squeezed his eyes shut in secondhand embarrassment.
Baek Ri-muk jumped in quickly to salvage the situation. "At your age, having surpassed the peak realm and made a name for yourself, Master Namgung Wan, our boys must seem lacking. Haha. Still, they're sincere about the sword. If you could offer them some advice, it would mean the world."
Baek Ri-muk shot a glance at Baek Ri-myeong. The young man shot to his feet, cupping his fists in a formal bow toward Namgung Wan.
"If Senior imparts any wisdom, I will engrave it in my heart."
"......"
Namgung Wan stared at him for a long moment before suddenly turning to Baek Ri-gang. "Shouldn't you be watching over Yeon-i?"
"......What do you mean by that all of a sudden?"
"I've never seen you touch your chopsticks. If you're that worried, why don't you head back first?"
Baek Ri-gang's plate was spotless, not a trace of food left. As he opened his mouth to protest, Baek Ri-muk intervened.
"I failed to consider the marquis's concerns. I'll keep a close eye on things here, so don't worry—just stay by Yeon-i's side."
After a few more exchanges, Baek Ri-gang was all but shoved from his seat. Once he had fully departed, Namgung Wan finally spoke, his voice measured.
"I've encountered situations like this quite often."
He glanced at Baek Ri-myeong and the twins. "And they all wanted the same thing. The backing of the Namgung family. Is that what you seek?"
"......"
Caught off guard, Baek Ri-muk fell silent. Watching this unfold, Jang Seok-ryang spoke up in warning. "Young Lord Namgung."
Namgung Wan chuckled softly and turned his gaze to the little girl clinging tightly to Baek Ri-myeong. "Baek Ri-ri, was it?"
"Y-Yes? Yes."
"Just one question."
"Y-Yes......"
Baek Ri-ri glanced nervously at those around her before answering. She didn't fully grasp the situation, but she knew Namgung Wan was an important guest she couldn't afford to offend.
"Did you receive the flowers nicely?"
"......Pardon?"
Color drained from Baek Ri-myeong's face in an instant. He hurriedly interjected. "We did, thank you. They were lovely peonies, weren't they, Ri-ri?"
"Huh? Oh... y-yes."
Under Baek Ri-myeong's sharp urging, Baek Ri-ri mumbled in confusion. Then, a chilling aura washed over him, making him shudder as he met Namgung Wan's eyes. His legs trembled, cold sweat trickling down his back. He dared not interrupt again.
Namgung Wan kept his eyes on Baek Ri-ri. "Let me ask one more thing. What color were the peonies you received?"
Baek Ri-ri blinked blankly between her father, brother, and Namgung Wan before replying. "Peonies are white, right?"
Namgung Wan let out a hollow laugh and rose to his feet. Baek Ri-myeong couldn't bring himself to look at him. Turning to the twins, Namgung Wan asked slowly, "Didn't you say you were bringing them for your sick little sister?"
"......"
Feeling the weight of his gaze, the twins finally pieced it together. Their faces turned ashen as they exchanged panicked looks, unsure what to do. Sensing something amiss, Baek Ri-muk stepped in.
"What on earth is this about? Please, calm down."
"Calm down? I'm trying, but it's just too absurd. Baek Ri-myeong, right? I've heard a bit about you—the Baek clan's promising eldest grandson, sharp and capable. Haha, what a joke."
Namgung Wan bowed politely to Jang Seok-ryang, his posture impeccable. "My apologies for the rudeness, Chief Jang. But you should tighten the reins at home first. If the Baek clan shows this face to the world, it stains the clan head's reputation, doesn't it?"
"......"
As Namgung Wan strode toward the pavilion exit, he paused before the twins. "Can't even deliver a single flower properly, and you think you can wield a sword? Can you even hold one?"
He shot a cold glare at the trembling twins and departed. "Don't let me see you again, you worthless lot."
Baek Ri-ran stared blankly after him before slamming the table and leaping up. Dishes shattered, scattering cold food across the elegant pavilion floor.
"Th-that madman! Who does he think he is?!"
Baek Ri-muk shot his son a withering glare. "Baek Ri-myeong, come with me now."
Jang Seok-ryang rubbed his temples and quietly withdrew from the pavilion. Gesturing into the air, a subordinate suddenly appeared. He barked orders at the bowing man.
"Find out exactly what happened between Namgung Wan and the children... and contact the clan head immediately."
"What should I say?"
"What else? That it's a total mess!"
Jang Seok-ryang bellowed, then clutched his forehead with a pained groan. "Damn it. I'm dead meat with the clan head......"
* * *
When your body doesn't feel right, even sleep evades you. Exhausted from the day's outing and the aftereffects of absorbing Namgung Wan's inner energy, I drifted in and out of shallow slumber, waking nearly a dozen times. On one such awakening, the faint moonlight filtering through the window lattice told me dawn was still far off.
As I sat up in bed, a massive shadow in the corner startled me back down. The shadow picked up the teapot and handed me a cup.
"......Father?"
"Did I scare you?"
"What... what time is it? Didn't you say you were going to the banquet?"
"Around midnight."
It felt like I'd slept for ages, yet only that much time had passed. Then a strange thought struck me. "What about Uncle Namgung Wan?"
"......"
"Father?"
"He's... staying at an inn."
"Pardon?"
Abandoning the vast Baek estate for an inn? Father sighed heavily and sat on the bed's edge. The air suggested he didn't want to talk about Namgung Wan.
He asked cautiously, "How's your body feeling?"
"I'm fine."
"You always say that."
His low, sunken voice startled me into looking at him. But in the dimness, I could make out only his silhouette.
'No smell of alcohol, though......'
Sensing his anger, I gauged his mood carefully.
'If I'm fine, why say otherwise? It'd just worry him more.'
Compared to my worst days, this was nothing. Silence stretched until Father reached out. Lost in thought, I flinched away instinctively.
Seeing him pause, I stammered an excuse. "A bug... I thought there was a bug."
"A bug?"
Rustling sounds followed, and the room brightened suddenly. Father approached with a lit lantern.
"Doesn't seem to be any bugs."
"......Must've been my imagination."
As the large figure raised his hand, I startled again without thinking.
'I thought I'd broken that habit......'
In the dark, unable to see clearly, it had been reflexive. Oblivious, Father set down the lantern and gently stroked my hair. Guilt washed over me; I couldn't meet his eyes.
"Yeon-i."
"Yes."
"Something's come up. We need to go to the Namgung family."
I clenched my fist out of sight. Finally...! The Namgung family. More precisely, Manshin-ui. Father wouldn't casually mention it to his young daughter. He'd frame it as a trip to the Namgung estate, stopping by Manshin-ui first.
'Just like last time.'
But in my previous life, I'd let this golden opportunity slip away right in front of me. Not this time.
Turning to him expectantly, I froze. Father's face looked unwell.
'What's wrong?'
He wasn't openly frowning, but like when I'd first heard his voice... he seemed furious.
"It'll take time to prepare. Packing, checking your condition, greeting your grandfather—it'll be a few days at least. Go back to sleep now. I didn't mean to wake you."
With that, Father rose from the bed. "What's wrong?"
His gaze fell on the hem of his robe clutched in my hand. I panicked—it had been pure reflex.
'But his face......'
He looked like he was barely suppressing his rage. It had been so long since I'd seen that expression. Somehow, I couldn't let him go like this.
"Yeon-i?"
Having grabbed him, I had to say something... I opened and closed my mouth several times before blurting it out.
"Sl-sleep with me."
"Hm?"
Hesitating, I squeezed my eyes shut and forced the words out like spitting blood. "I-I'm scared to sleep alone......"
"......"
I buried my face. 'Argh, argh, argh!' Screaming inwardly, I wished I could crawl into a hole. It was as mortifying as the first time I'd begged Father to hold me.
The silence dragged on until I heard something unbelievable—a chuckle.
"Pfft, ha, haha, hahaha."
His clear laughter made my eyes fly open. In a voice still laced with mirth, warm and gentle, Father said, "Scared to sleep alone?"
"Yes! I hate it."
"I was the same at your age."
"You were, Father?"
"Of course. Alright, shall we lie down together?"
Father settled beside me. I'd thought sharing a bed after so long would be awkward, but it wasn't bad at all.
'Actually... it feels reassuring somehow......'
Squirming in his arms, I drifted off without realizing. As sleep claimed me, Father's voice reached my ear faintly.
"......No matter what it takes, I'll make you better."