Chapter 43
Baek Ri clan's training ground.
One person occupied the vast expanse, swinging his sword without pause. It was Baek Ri-myeong.
After training for a good long while, Baek Ri-myeong finally stopped. He panted heavily, set down his sword, and flexed his fist open and closed. The corners of his mouth curved up involuntarily.
He had been beaten so badly that he couldn't even grip a sword for quite some time. Even after the visible swelling had gone down, his hand throbbed painfully whenever he tried. The physicians only said it would heal with time, that there was nothing to worry about.
Baek Ri-myeong had been terrified—what if it never healed? What if he could never hold a sword again? He'd even suspected the clan doctors of incompetence and visited Seok Tae-ui, but the answer was the same.
It wasn't until nearly two full months later that he could finally grip a sword without issue.
That was when it happened.
"Myeong hyung!"
A child's shout echoed through the quiet training ground. Baek Ri-myeong, who had been smiling in satisfaction, scowled. But when he turned to the voice's owner, his face lit up with a grin as if the frown had never been.
"Pyo. Where's Aki?"
The inseparable twins were alone today.
"What's up?"
"You know exactly what's up! Hyung, what did Grandfather say?"
"Grandfather?"
"You went to pay respects yesterday, right?"
When Baek Ri-paehyeok, patriarch of the Baek Ri clan, stayed at the main residence, everyone paid brief morning respects. But after the incident with Namgung Wan, he'd refused audiences with Baek Ri-myeong, Baek Ri-pyo, and So U-ak.
For Baek Ri-myeong, it was a call for self-reflection. For the other two, it meant deciding how to leave before coming back.
Baek Ri-myeong nodded. "Yeah, I saw Grandfather yesterday. So what?"
"So what?! How could you see Grandfather and not tell us?"
Should I brag about seeing him to kids who can't? Baek Ri-myeong felt a flicker of exasperation.
Baek Ri-pyo, oblivious, pressed on urgently. "Hyung, didn't Grandfather say anything about us?"
"About you guys?"
"Come on, if he's forgiven you, doesn't that mean he's forgiven us too?"
How are those the same? Baek Ri-myeong stifled his disbelief and said patiently, "Grandfather being mad at me and being mad at you are two different things."
"Why are they different?"
"..."
Lately, Baek Ri-myeong had found himself pitying the twins more and more.
Baek Ri-pyo bristled. "What's with that look?"
Baek Ri-myeong smoothed his expression. "Anyway, Grandfather didn't mention you at all."
"Then tomorrow, when you see Grandfather, tell him not to send us to Gokgyeam. Yeah? You're seeing him tomorrow too, right?"
"..."
Is he serious?
Grandfather was already furious over their aunt, his anger boiling over because she kept delaying the twins' departure to Gokgyeam. She shamelessly held out, leaving their father and mother to suffer through every audience like sitting on thorns.
If Baek Ri-myeong, who had just been granted audiences again, brought up the twins now, it would be tantamount to begging to be banished once more! He'd only regained the privilege by showing unwavering dedication to training, even skimping on sleep, despite the confinement order.
The order still stood. It meant not everyone had been forgiven.
"Pyo, you need to talk to Grandfather yourself about that."
"But I can't even see his face!"
"That's why I told you last time. You should've come pay respects regularly anyway."
"But Grandfather said not to come!"
"That was because you guys..."
...came barging in with Aunt and Aki, throwing a fit in front of the council hall. The words rose to his throat, but he swallowed them.
Baek Ri-myeong said coolly, "Still, you should've come for Aki's sake at least. He's your brother. And I told you before—your attitude matters most. For Aunt and Aki's sake, you need to show Grandfather sincere remorse..."
"Shut up! You're just scared of Grandfather yourself! Don't act all high and mighty, you coward!"
Baek Ri-pyo yelled and stormed out of the training ground.
A moment later.
Clang!
Baek Ri-myeong's wooden sword rolled across the ground. He beckoned, and his servant hurried over.
"Young master, you called?"
"Didn't I say no one enters?"
"But it was your brother..."
Slap! The servant bowed his head swiftly.
"I'm sorry."
Baek Ri-myeong glanced at his palm and smirked faintly. "Definitely healed now."
Then, to the servant: "From now on, when I say no one, that includes Baek Ri-pyo and So U-ak. Got it?"
Though irked, Baek Ri-myeong trained until the end of his allotted time before dragging his weary body back to his quarters. He had to pass his father's residence on the way.
There, he spotted Bang-ssi, the old servant who had long attended his grandmother, standing outside. His expression hardened. Grandmother must have come regarding his aunt again.
Already exhausted, now with a headache brewing, Baek Ri-myeong tried to slip past unnoticed—but then turned back toward his father's quarters.
Bang-ssi smiled upon seeing him. "Young master, back from training?"
"Yes. I was heading to my room, but seeing you here means Grandmother's come. I should pay respects."
From inside came his father's slightly agitated voice. "Mother, when Father is set on this, what can I say? We can't delay Ui-ran's matter any longer...!"
Bang-ssi hurried in to announce. "Young master is here!"
"...Myeong? Come in."
Baek Ri-myeong entered to find his grandmother and his father, who looked somewhat uncomfortable, waiting.
Pretending he hadn't overheard, Baek Ri-myeong greeted them brightly. "I stopped by to pay respects on my way."
"I heard from Ui-muk you'd gone training. Don't tire yourself out on this old woman's account without even washing up."
"It's fine. Just my daily routine. Duty is duty, tired or not."
"Such a reliable boy. You're the pillar of our house."
Baek Ri-myeong smiled and noted only two teacups on the table. "Where's Mother? I meant to greet her too."
Grandmother cleared her throat quietly and sipped her tea. His father answered instead. "Your mother's... gone to nurse her sick sister Ui-ran!"
"Ui-muk, caring for her sister-in-law is her duty."
"One day it's a headache, the next chest pains. The physician's examined her multiple times—nothing wrong!"
"Ui-muk."
"Call Seok Tae-ui, and she fears her feigned illness will be exposed! Some nursing that is!"
"Enough! Is that how you speak of your ailing sister?"
Grandmother scowled and slammed her teacup down. His father clamped his mouth shut, looking displeased. The room's mood plummeted.
Baek Ri-myeong gauged the tension and spoke carefully. "Aunt must be suffering from a deep emotional wound."
"Ha!"
His father's incredulous scoff drew a glare from Grandmother. "Only you truly care for Ui-ran, Myeong."
"It's nothing, haha."
Baek Ri-myeong chuckled awkwardly, then ventured, "Grandmother, I saw Grandfather today."
"Yes, I heard. Good for you. The patriarch's softened toward you now."
"He seemed very angry still. About Aunt not deciding yet."
"Did he?"
Grandmother replied calmly, but her eyes wavered.
"Grandmother, wouldn't it be better to just send the twins to Gokgyeam?"
Grandmother and his father looked stunned.
"What nonsense is that? Send them there?"
"Grandmother, please hear me out."
"..."
"If Aunt keeps stalling and Grandfather gets angrier, he might tell us all to leave."
"Hmph! By whose authority? As long as I live, that won't happen!"
"But if it escalates, people will gossip about the Baek Ri clan."
Say Baek Ri-ui-muk lacks the ability to lead properly. Expectations might shift back to Baek Ri-gang. That was unacceptable.
Baek Ri-myeong continued. "Gokgyeam is strict, but sending Pyo and Aki together means they'll support each other. Grandfather might hesitate to send all the children away."
"..."
"But if Aki stays with Aunt and the So family, it's just him going where he belongs—Grandfather won't fuss."
Grandmother set down her cup with a sigh.
"So, you're saying treat Aki and Pyo more harshly to earn Father's pity?"
"That's how it'll play out."
Baek Ri-myeong nodded, eyes gleaming. "If Pyo and Aki go to Gokgyeam themselves and vow to reflect, Grandfather will think even more highly of them. It all depends on what's in his heart."