Chapter 80
Grandfather gave permission for you to enter the Changgung Pavilion, didn't he? I thought you'd head straight there. Oh, did you come to see me first? ······Why?
I tried to rationalize it to myself, but it all boiled down to why? Why on earth would this guy come to see me? Wasn't he supposed to be obsessed with manifesting his sword aura again?
Namgung Ryu-cheong shot me a sour look, his face twisted in annoyance.
"······Didn't you tell me to take an interest in people?"
I scratched my cheek, flustered. "I didn't mean me."
"Then who should I take an interest in?"
"Um······."
I glanced around and pointed at the servant standing behind him. "Your servant, for starters? The closest one?"
"Ugh, what kind of nonsense is that!" The servant waved his hands in horror.
"Or how about Seo Sojeo?"
"What!" Seo Ha-ryeong jumped up, glaring daggers at me.
Yahul was the last option, but I couldn't exactly suggest him.
Our eyes met, and Yahul flashed a sly smile.
"······."
"······."
Silence fell over the courtyard as I clamped my mouth shut. Five people here, and it's dead quiet? What gives!
No choice but to speak up. "Anyone have something to say? No?"
"······."
"······."
As the quiet dragged on, Yahul finally broke it. "When are you going?"
"Ah."
I turned to Namgung Ryu-cheong. "Well, you came all this way, but bad timing. I've got prior plans. Next time, I'll come to you—if you don't refuse, that is."
Namgung Ryu-cheong glanced between me and Seo Ha-ryeong. "Going out somewhere?"
"Yeah, out to have some fun."
"Out to... play?"
His face contorted like he'd heard some nefarious plot to conquer the world.
I defended myself. "I got permission······."
Wait, why am I even explaining this to him?
Then, out of nowhere, an unexpected voice piped up beside me. "Want to come with?"
It was Seo Ha-ryeong. I whipped my head around to stare at her. What's gotten into her now?
My expression must've been too obvious. She cupped her hands around my ear and whispered, "Just thought of it. Mom said since the Namgung young master apologized, we should make up and get along."
True, her mother's initial goal had been to build ties between the Namgung heir and Seo Ha-ryeong.
I beamed and clapped once, like it was perfect. "Then why don't you two go? Just the two of you would be way······ Ow ow ow! That hurts—don't pinch! Fine, fine, I get it."
I rubbed my arm, grimacing. Yahul glared at Seo Ha-ryeong and scooted closer to me. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
Namgung Ryu-cheong furrowed his brow. "I never said I was going."
Yahul glanced at him sidelong. "Let's go quick."
Without you, everyone could hear the unspoken words.
Yahul, sometimes silence is golden······
I knew exactly what Namgung Ryu-cheong would do next. He glared at Yahul for a beat, then declared, "Changed my mind. I'll go."
"······."
Called it.
And just like that, the four of us ended up heading to the market together.
The market near noon buzzed with energy, faces of merchants and passersby free of any shadow. You could tell right away it was a good place to live.
We're getting stared at a ton.
I felt the sidelong glances.
Well, duh. Can't blame 'em.
We looked every bit the rich kids out for a stroll. Namgung Ryu-cheong screamed young master of a wealthy house. Seo Ha-ryeong had that refined lady vibe. Then Yahul's striking beauty, not your everyday street sight. And topping it off, a blindfolded little girl.
A combo that turned heads.
"Kids from which house? You recognize 'em?"
"No clue. First time seeing them."
I overheard the merchants and barely stifled a laugh. Don't know? Right in front of the Namgung estate, and they don't recognize the young master! Impressive.
How cooped up was he usually?
The merchant nodded toward Seo Ha-ryeong. "Seen that girl around sometimes. Stays with the Namgung clan, I think."
"Namgung? Oh yeah, now I remember. The blindfolded one next to her—that's the daughter from some Baek house the young lord brought back last time, right?"
Even they figured it out······.
I shook my head at Namgung Ryu-cheong, and our eyes met. He stared back imperiously, like why the head shake?
I grinned. "Any recommendations?"
He didn't seem like a regular, but worth asking. "Recommendations?"
"Yeah. You're local, right? First time out for me today."
He paused, then muttered, "······No idea."
"You live here!"
"First time for me too."
"What?"
I gawked. "Like, ever?"
"Yeah."
"Whoa."
He eyed me with mild irritation. "That big a deal?"
"Yes."
I nodded firmly. "This is right by your house. You should care about what's going on, what kind of place it is. You're gonna lead the Namgung clan someday."
"······."
"Some things you only learn by seeing for yourself···."
Then I felt Yahul tugging my sleeve. I stopped and turned. "Yahul, what?"
He pointed. Red tanghulu skewers gleamed there.
I grabbed the passing Seo Ha-ryeong. "I want some of that!"
She glanced and yanked me along, shaking her head. "No!"
"Why?"
Unexpected veto.
"We gotta get dumplings!"
"Dumplings?"
"There's this must-eat dumpling spot when you come here!"
Seo Ha-ryeong led the charge without hesitation.
"You seem familiar with it?"
"Of course! I come with my little uncle and senior brothers sometimes. Not like some people!"
What was with that praise me look?
"Uh? Yeah. Impressive. Wow, you're the best, Ha-ryeong!"
Clap clap clap!
She puffed up her shoulders. Namgung Ryu-cheong eyed her pitifully.
"So cool. Where we headed?"
"There!"
"Huh?"
I followed her point and frowned. "No way—that's the line?"
"Yep! Always packed. If you're out, you have to eat here!"
Fair enough—long line means good eats.
We followed her to the end and joined the queue.
"Worth this hassle just for dumplings?" Namgung Ryu-cheong grumbled.
"They're delicious."
"Tch, dumplings."
"Ryu-cheong, broaden your horizons. Good food opens the mind. That's why your world's so narrow—you skip the tasty stuff. Remember that."
"Why do you keep calling me by name? And quit the nonsense."
"Call me by name too, then."
"No."
"Got it."
"······."
He turned away, face screaming I fell for it.
Why did picking on him feel so fun? Something wicked stirred whenever I saw that stiff expression. I just had to crack it.
Did turning young regress my mental age too, Baek Ri-yeon?
Seo Ha-ryeong, who'd been chuckling at our banter, suddenly widened her eyes. "Oh right! Little uncle asked me to grab some perfume!"
"Perfume? After dumplings."
"No! It sells out early, and they only restock every five days! We'll be too late after eating. Come on! You two wait here!"
I blinked. "Leaving Yahul and Ryu-cheong alone?"
"Yeah."
"······Probably not. We could all go and line up again···."
But the line behind us was already long. Re-queuing would double our wait—lunch rush.
She caught on. "Start over? No way!"
"But···."
"One holds the spot, three go."
"Maybe? Yahul and I could···."
Namgung Ryu-cheong glared. I faltered. "Or Ryu-cheong and I···."
Yahul grabbed my hand, staring silently. Then they glared at each other.
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked down at him. "You stay."
Yahul wasn't one to back down. "Don't wanna."
I gazed at the sky. Too bright—eyes shut quick.
"Fine. I'll stay, you three go···."
"No!"
"No."
"No."
I looked up at the sky again.