Chapter 64
Yahul held the brush with an unusually serious expression. Once he'd filled an entire sheet of paper, he showed it to me.
"That's well written. Hmm... uh, this stroke is missing."
I waved my hand at Yahul, who had picked up the brush again.
"Let's take a break now."
Yahul nodded and set the brush down. As I looked at his weary face, I spoke up.
"Don't you think it's about time you stopped staying up all night? How long are you planning to take turns with Si-bi guarding me?"
"No."
"Hmm, if you're worried, why not just tie my wrists loosely so I can't move much and get some sleep?"
It sounded pervy, but that wasn't what I meant. For days now, Yahul and Si-bi had been alternating nights, watching over me as I slept. They rested during the day, but it couldn't compare to a proper night's sleep.
Yahul hesitated before speaking cautiously.
"Your sleeping habits are... pretty bad."
"Really? How bad?"
"...You do a full roll..."
"No way, that's a lie."
"......"
"For real?"
Judging by Yahul's silence, it was true.
Me? My sleeping habits are that bad?
I was a little shocked. I'd always believed I slept quietly! And to think Si-bi and Yahul had been watching me every night!
Overwhelmed with embarrassment, I covered my face with one hand.
Just then, Si-bi's voice came from outside the door.
"Young Master Namgung has arrived."
"Tell him to come in."
The door opened, and Namgung Ryu-cheong entered, his blue robes fluttering.
In the end, I failed to chase Namgung Ryu-cheong away. Instead, we compromised. I'd accept his help for a short time during the day, and during that period, Yahul and Si-bi could rest. They still took turns guarding me at night. One or two days was manageable, but not every day. They needed at least some daytime rest, and Namgung Ryu-cheong would cover that time.
Honestly, I'd prefer just using Si-bi more...
How did it end up like this? I stared at Namgung Ryu-cheong and tilted my head.
"By the way, you're early today."
He'd arrived about one shichen (two hours) earlier than usual.
"My lessons got pushed to evening."
"Ah, so you came early and you're heading back?"
"Yeah."
"Well, whatever. I don't mind. What about you, Yahul?"
"It's fine."
Yahul had started tidying up the moment Si-bi announced Namgung Ryu-cheong's arrival. Once he'd cleared the desk area, he stood.
"I'll go."
"Yeah, rest up."
Thank goodness—or maybe not—Yahul hadn't picked fights with or teased Namgung Ryu-cheong since the day he apologized to me. In turn, Namgung Ryu-cheong had completely lost interest in Yahul.
Namgung Ryu-cheong glanced at the inkstone and brushes Yahul had set aside in one corner and asked,
"Need me to scribe something?"
My handwriting was terrible on a good day, and with my right hand injured, I couldn't even manage that.
"Ah, I do, but that's not what we're doing today."
"Then?"
"Yahul said he doesn't know how to read or write, so I've been teaching him."
He was from a pretty prominent righteous faction family, yet he didn't know letters at his age? I'd discovered it a few days ago when I recalled Seok Ga-yak's request to send a letter confirming his safe arrival at the Namgung Clan once he got there, and asked Yahul to scribe it for me. I'd even given him a few books to read during outings with Seo Ha-ryeong when I got bored. What thoughtless kindness.
"Teaching him letters? Who even is he?"
"Huh?"
He'd shown zero interest in Yahul until now?
Namgung Ryu-cheong asked as if it made no sense.
"Doesn't seem like a servant, but he sticks to your side all day."
"Hmm... yeah? I don't really know either."
At my words, Namgung Ryu-cheong raised an eyebrow.
"Don't wanna say? Then don't."
But I truly didn't know how to explain. Yahul was tangled up in the Heavenly Ghost Bird incident, my father had rescued him and brought him here... It was too personal a story to spell out.
Namgung Ryu-cheong nodded toward the items.
"What's the scribing for, then? I'll do it."
"No! You're not scribing today—we've got somewhere to go together!"
"Somewhere? Just rest in your quarters."
I ignored him and stood.
"My hand's hurt, not my legs. If you don't want to, just go home, I don't ca—"
"Ah, y-you. When did I say I didn't want to?"
Namgung Ryu-cheong ground his teeth as he spoke, his face flushed with barely contained irritation. I burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
He glared at me. I wasn't usually like this—why was teasing Namgung Ryu-cheong so fun? Deciding not to push it further, I said,
"Hehe, truth is, you're the only one I could ask to come with me."
His expression softened a bit.
"Where?"
"The Scripture Pavilion!"
The Namgung Clan's Scripture Pavilion. As an important place within the clan, skilled warriors guarded its entrance. Of course, inner energy wasn't everything in martial prowess.
The guard bowed politely to Namgung Ryu-cheong and asked,
"And this young lady...?"
"She's coming in with me."
"Understood."
With Namgung Ryu-cheong leading, I passed through. Inside the building, I removed the veil I'd worn the whole way. Shelves brimmed with books, scrolls, and bamboo slips. The clan's ancient history permeated the air.
As I looked around the pavilion, Namgung Ryu-cheong said,
"If you wanted to come here, you could've just asked Father for a pass."
"Yeah, I guess that would've worked."
The Scripture Pavilion was less a regular library and more an archive of documents. It housed rare books hard to find elsewhere alongside Namgung Clan records—a vital repository. Naturally, outsiders couldn't enter freely. If a guest wanted a specific book, they named it, and it was fetched for them. Even passes were granted sparingly, only to trusted close associates.
"Whoa, I did want to see it, but Seo Ha-ryeong visited every day, keeping me busy."
But once Namgung Ryu-cheong started lingering half the day in my quarters, her visits tapered off. Precisely, she stopped coming during the day and only showed up in the evenings after he left, to eat and hang out before going.
It was blatantly obvious she was avoiding him. I continued,
"I haven't learned to read for long. I figured it'd seem weird if I said I wanted to visit the pavilion."
Writing here was complex and took ages to learn. Namgung Wan knew I was a total beginner. Wouldn't it raise eyebrows if a kid who'd barely scratched the basics wanted into a room full of vital documents?
That's why I hadn't mentioned it.
But with Namgung Ryu-cheong? They'd just assume he was reading for me. That was why I'd brought him along.
Namgung Ryu-cheong asked,
"You haven't been literate long?"
"Yeah. A couple months, maybe?"
His confusion was plain on his face.
Well, yeah, it'd be weird for a clan kid not to have learned by age six.
But cutely, he didn't pry. He must've figured there was a story behind it.
With a stern look, Namgung Ryu-cheong said,
"So you want me to read books to you? Which ones?"
"Nah, no need to help."
"...?"
"It's a secret, but..."
I put on my most serious face while looking at him. His expression grew serious too.
"The truth is, I'm a genius. I can read everything without lessons. But that's too weird, so I had to keep it secret!"
Namgung Ryu-cheong stared at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Hahahaha!"
I clutched my stomach laughing for a good while, then quickly changed the subject before he got mad.
"Pull that book out for me. And the ones below it."
I crooked my finger, putting Namgung Ryu-cheong to work. It had felt awkward at first, but now it was habit. I settled into a nearby spot.
Soon, he brought the books over. With a serious face, I pressed a finger to my lips.
"By the way, me being good at reading is really a secret."
"Even if I buy every word,"
Namgung Ryu-cheong slammed the books down, his eyes full of doubt.
"What makes you think I'll keep your secret?"
"Then, spill it?"
"......No."
"See?"
I pressed on triumphantly.
"Young Master Namgung might not be the most popular, but you're a man of honor."
"......"
With Namgung Ryu-cheong silenced, I rummaged through the books we'd brought.