Chapter 26
Tweet, chirp chirp, cheep-cheep.
With the birdsong, my eyes snapped open. The room was bright, sunlight streaming through the latticed window.
...Morning?
I'd clearly tossed and turned all night, drifting in and out of sleep. Yet...
Tsk.
I'd slept absurdly well. So soundly that I'd even drooled. Wiping my mouth, I pushed myself up from where I'd been sprawled face-down—and last night's memories flashed through my mind.
"Father! ...He's not here."
He always rose before dawn, so maybe it wasn't surprising. I shot to my feet, and my head spun.
Ugh, when will this wretched body recover?
Waiting out the dizziness, I rose slowly. Hearing the noise, Un-du hurried in with a basin of warm water for washing. After helping me wash up, changing my clothes, and neatly combing my hair, she left the room. I waited until her footsteps faded completely.
Confirming the outside had gone quiet, I darted to the dresser.
Finally, it's time to start.
Namgung Wan had finally arrived—the one I'd been waiting for. I'd worried endlessly that he might not show up in this lifetime. Pulling open the drawer revealed a thick stack of papers: my notes compiling everything I remembered from the future.
Finalize the plan one last time... Huh?
Heading to the desk with the papers in hand, I froze in place as if rooted to the spot.
Why is that here?
Sunlight from the window made the inlaid decorations sparkle dazzlingly. It was the box I'd handed over to Baek Ri-pyo. Drawn to it like a moth to flame, I approached and opened it.
Three peony blooms lay inside, pristine.
What...?
I stared at them for a long moment, then bolted from the room almost tumbling head over heels.
"Un-du! Un-du! Un-du!"
My frantic cries startled Un-du, who was stoking the decoction stove.
"Wh-what is it, little miss? Don't run!"
"Huff, huff."
Gasping for breath after dashing over, I finally managed to speak.
"Haah... Did Father go out last night? By any chance?"
"Eh? How did you know? Yes, he said he was just stepping out to see Physician Seok."
So Father had filled the box—and the flowers. How did he know?
A pang twisted in my chest. Just then, Un-du, who had been fidgeting awkwardly, bowed her head deeply.
"What are you doing?"
Startled, I grabbed her. She was bowing so low she nearly touched the ground—it was more like I ended up piggybacking on her.
"I'm so sorry, little miss. To think something like that happened while I stepped away... I have no face to show you. Young master So U-ak and young master Baek Ri-pyo were so rude... so rude..."
"Huh?"
A few questions pieced it together for me. After hearing the full story of last night's events from Un-du, I couldn't help but shout in disbelief.
"So Father and Uncle Namgung Wan fought again?"
"Well... it wasn't exactly a fight. More like a slight difference of opinion."
"That's the same thing."
Un-du slyly averted her eyes.
What's the point of stopping them from fighting over gifts...? They just pick something else...
If Un-du was putting it that way, the rumors had probably spread throughout the Baek clan household by now, leaving everyone fed up. Grabbing her arm, I pulled her to her feet and asked,
"Where's Father?"
"He's gone to the reception hall to greet a guest."
Namgung Wan? Right. Even if they'd fought and he stormed off, after a night to cool down, he'd come to his senses. I headed straight for the reception hall.
My quarters were tucked in a remote corner, so it took a good while just to get there. Hurrying along, I noticed the servants I passed reacting subtly differently from usual.
What's with them?
Some seemed frightened, others overly deferential. Brushing it off, I was almost there when I spotted a tidy young man in pale sky-blue silk robes in the distance.
"Father!"
I skipped toward him, and he caught me effortlessly as always.
"Up already? You should have slept more."
"I slept plenty. More importantly, Father..."
I was about to thank him for the peonies but hesitated.
...Why is he here?
Seok Ga-yak stood beside Father, staring at me with wide eyes. I blinked back and forth between them in bewilderment. The boy recovered first.
His clear, pure voice rang out.
"Hello."
"Uh... hello?"
"Perfect timing. I was just stepping out because your friend came to visit. When did you make such a friend?"
On the way back to my quarters with Father, he overheard some servants whispering and excused himself, saying he had business elsewhere. Left with no choice, I headed back with Seok Ga-yak alone.
Well, not entirely alone—two attendants had come with him. I glanced at them. One carried something like a lidded jar draped in dark, jagged cloth. I couldn't even guess what it was.
Seating Seok Ga-yak in the side room, I waited, and soon Un-du arrived with a tray: teapot, cups, light snacks, and steaming herbal decoction—the very one she'd been brewing diligently before Father's visit.
"Little miss, drink up."
Un-du set down the tray and handed me the medicine bowl. When Father couldn't check if I'd taken it, she'd confirm and report to him.
Taking the bowl, I smiled at her.
"We have a guest, so you can go."
"But..."
She couldn't hide her suspicion. She'd caught me dumping half-finished doses a few times. But she couldn't press the issue in front of Seok Ga-yak, so she withdrew reluctantly. Once she was gone, I shoved the medicine aside and set teacups before us.
"The medicine?"
"...I'll drink it later."
"It'll be harder to stomach once it's cold."
Pretending not to notice, I changed the subject.
"What brings you here?"
"You're going to the Namgung clan, right?"
"Father already told you?"
"Yeah. Honestly, I think traveling is still too soon in your condition, but you must have a good reason."
His tone suggested he knew the trip wasn't the real goal. His insight was annoyingly sharp.
"So Physician Seok will examine me the day after tomorrow."
"Oh, I see. Thank you—please tell him that."
"Sure. So you should drink up now?"
Seok Ga-yak smiled, gazing steadily at the medicine.
"I'll drink it, I'll drink..."
Haha. Giving an awkward laugh, I resolutely grabbed the bowl and downed it in one go without pause. I thrust the empty bottom toward him with a sullen pout, as if to say, There, happy?
Seok Ga-yak tilted his head and giggled behind his hand. Wrinkling my nose, I rinsed my mouth with tea and finally asked what had been bothering me.
"So you came to tell me about the examination the day after tomorrow?"
In person? A servant could have relayed it just fine...
"Can't I visit because I missed you?"
"Huh?"
"You're my first friend, you know."
"..."
What is with this kid?
Since when were we such close friends? It was a huge question mark, but you don't spit in a smiling face, so I just laughed it off awkwardly.
Besides, Father seemed pleased to hear I had a friend... Fine, whatever.
As I smiled stiffly back, Seok Ga-yak beckoned, and his attendant whisked away the covering cloth.
"A gift for you."
"This is..."
"Baek young master came by late last night—I only heard this morning. He picked three pale pink peony blooms. It felt connected to you somehow, so I brought the whole potted sapling instead, so you can see it anytime."
"..."
I stared at the small pot with its delicate pale pink peony, at a loss for words. Grateful for Seok Ga-yak's thoughtfulness, yet troubled.
What do I do?
I could see this plant's future all too clearly. The twins had suffered such humiliation over peonies from Namgung Wan—they wouldn't leave this alone if they found out. And I was planning to leave soon anyway. But refusing such a heartfelt gift...
Seok Ga-yak watched me fiddle with the leaves and said,
"You don't look thrilled."
"Huh? Oh, no. I like it. It's great, just..."
I debated telling him the truth.
"Hmm, then how about this?"
"Hm? What's that?"
"Actually, I saw something interesting."
"What?"
"I ran into the Baek clan patriarch nearby. He looked extremely displeased."
"What? You saw Grandfather? No way—he was supposed to be away from the clan..."
The twins and Namgung Wan! He must have returned because of yesterday's fiasco. No wonder the servants' attitudes felt off on my way to the hall. That fearful vibe wasn't my imagination.
"Well? Isn't that intriguing news?"
His beaming smile gave nothing away. But... it was certainly helpful to me right now.