"Who Brought Me to My Room?"
"Who brought me back to my room?"
"Young Master Namgung."
"......No issues, right?"
"Nope."
I let out a soft sigh and glanced down at my bandaged hand.
"Sorry to worry you. So, what happened was......"
I trailed off, pondering how to explain it, when Yahul spoke up.
"I heard everything."
"You heard?"
"Yeah. From Lady Seo."
"From Lady Seo? You......"
You barely exchange three words with her...
I shook my head and continued.
"No, never mind. You must be tired after staying up all night by my side. Go rest now."
"I'm not tired."
"What do you mean, not tired? You said you were here all night. You need to sleep."
Yahul cast his eyes down for a moment before nodding.
"Alright, then. I'll go when the maid comes back."
"Okay."
No sooner had he said that than the maid returned. But it was too quick for a trip to the physician in the annex.
She looked a bit troubled.
I asked her, "What happened?"
"Well...... Young Master Ryu-cheong is waiting outside."
The unexpected news made me blink a few times.
"Namgung's young master...... is here?"
"Yes."
"What's he want?"
"I don't know, miss. I didn't hear."
"I see."
I glanced at Yahul.
"Let him in for now. And Yahul, you step out for a bit."
"......"
The maid withdrew to relay the message.
But Yahul didn't budge.
I urged him, go on already.
"Yahul, what are you doing? Hurry up and go."
Finally, as he dawdled, Namgung Ryu-cheong entered the room.
As Namgung Ryu-cheong crossed the threshold with the maid holding back the door curtain, he spotted Yahul and froze.
"......"
"......"
The two glared at each other.
Not in my bedroom, you two!
I tapped the bedframe sharply.
"Don't you have business with me?"
Namgung Ryu-cheong snorted first and turned his head away.
I signaled Yahul to leave with my eyes.
Yahul bit his lip, clearly reluctant, but went out.
Soon after, the maid brought tea.
Namgung Ryu-cheong stopped her as she reached for the teapot and said, "I'll do it. You may go."
"Understood."
Namgung Ryu-cheong poured the tea impeccably, without a hint of sloppiness, and placed it before me.
Impressed inwardly, I looked at his face and frowned.
His cheek seemed faintly bruised, bluish around the edges.
"What happened to your face?"
He stiffened, then said firmly, "None of your concern."
"......"
Fine, then why'd you even come?
I knew as an adult I shouldn't get mad over something like this, but my words came out curt anyway.
"So, what did you come for?"
Namgung Ryu-cheong's fingertips twitched.
"Your face...... from sparring?"
"You got that bruised from sparring?"
A bruise like that meant he'd taken a solid hit.
But who could land a blow on the heir of the Namgung Clan?
Uncle Namgung Wan.
Looks like he'd given him a good thrashing under the guise of sparring.
In the novel, Ryu-cheong recalled getting disciplined like that by his father often as a child.
"You okay?"
"Ha! Who's worrying about who right now?"
"......"
It wasn't a bad question; I was just concerned.
I wanted to smack him just once.
I could understand Uncle Namgung Wan's urge to wallop him.
Then Namgung Ryu-cheong asked, "And you."
"Hm?"
"Your hand...... is it alright?"
His gaze pierced my right hand like arrows.
"My hand? It's fine."
"I heard they stitched it with eight needles. Be careful, or you could end up disabled."
"Wait, who told you that?"
I scratched my cheek and muttered unwittingly.
"Father."
I couldn't help but chuckle a little.
Namgung Ryu-cheong's brows shot up instantly.
"Why laugh?"
"No, it's just...... you're a bit too young to be calling him 'Father' yet......"
Too young!
Was it funny how seriously this kid took it?
Even as a child, Namgung Ryu-cheong was pretty and endearing, befitting his future handsome self.
Of course, his icy expression and blunt speech deducted major points, but he was still cute.
That childish face made it easy to overlook his rude words—probably 99% of it.
Namgung Ryu-cheong glared at me with an irritated face.
"Whether I call him Father isn't for you to mock."
I bit my lip to stifle the laugh.
"Sorry, sorry. I wasn't mocking."
I managed my expression and looked at him.
"So, why are you here?"
"I'll help...... until your hand heals."
"Help with what?"
"Your hand will be inconvenient."
What the heck is he saying?
"Help with what, exactly?"
"......"
"Huh? What are you gonna help with?"
Namgung Ryu-cheong clamped his lips shut, as if it was hard to say.
I thought for a moment and ventured, "You mean...... you'll attend to me personally?"
"......"
He stayed silent.
I breathed a sigh of relief unwittingly.
"Haha, yeah, no way that's what you meant. Phew."
"That's exactly it."
"......What?"
Gritting his teeth, he lifted his chin.
"I'll attend to you."
I was stunned.
Did I hear that right?
Really?
This Namgung Ryu-cheong?
Offering to attend to me?
Is he possessed?
"So, you'll stay in my room and wait on me...... that's what you mean?"
"Yes."
Namgung Ryu-cheong added, "I'll sleep in my own room, so don't worry."
Who'd worry about that!
That's a given!
Were you planning to sleep here?
I blurted out, "Why would you?"
"It's my fault."
"......"
"......"
Haha......
It was so absurd I laughed.
I'd wondered why he'd come so suddenly, and this was the twist.
Unlike my reeling head, Namgung Ryu-cheong looked relieved after saying it.
We're screwed.
If I were alone, I'd have welcomed this olive branch—his attempt at reconciliation or apology.
A chance for us to get closer, with him reaching out first.
But Yahul was here in my room.
I'd normally think positively, why not get along with both?
......But those two? No way.
At least, not until I dealt with Yahul's demonic arts somehow.
And they're already at each other's throats!
Like destined rivals with some past history, growling from the get-go.
I sipped the lukewarm tea to gather my thoughts.
As I set down the half-empty cup, Namgung Ryu-cheong refilled it promptly.
Seeing that made me feel even sorrier for what I had to say next.
I looked at him and opened my mouth.
"I get your intention."
"Then......"
"But I'll pass."
"What?"
He looked shocked, as if he'd assumed I'd accept.
Everyone he'd met had always tried to curry favor, so rejection must be new to him.
Namgung Ryu-cheong asked suspiciously, "Why?"
"It'd be uncomfortable."
He hesitated, then said cautiously, "......I'll make it as un-uncomfortable as possible."
"How? You've...... barely paid me any attention before."
Namgung Ryu-cheong's eye twitched as he lowered his gaze.
"I don't like sharing space with people I'm not close to. It's uncomfortable. I hardly use maids as is—what if you came? So, I'll just take your kind offer in spirit."
It was as good as saying, we're not close, so no thanks.
I saw his fists clench tight.
Sorry.
I didn't want to be this blunt.
One might think a gentle refusal would suffice, but the problem was him.
Stubborn as iron tendons, once he decided, he never backed down!
Even in the past life, I'd tried everything to avoid him, to cut ties, but it ended with me running away.
I didn't think his younger self was any less resolute.
"So, that's it, right?"
Thankfully, his child-sized pride was sky-high.
A little prodding, and he'd erupt and leave.
He was already holding back fury, eyes downcast.
I sipped my tea, about to issue the send-off.
Then Namgung Ryu-cheong muttered, "......We can just get close."
"What?"
Gritting his teeth, he said, "We can just become friends!"