Chapter 603: Making a Bet
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 603: Making a Bet
"How could even the Great Matriarch do such a thing!"
Tang Seo-yoon raised her voice, her expression painted with a deep sense of betrayal.
As the elders, they should have been setting an example. Instead, they had committed such a shameless act.
"I was just as sad to see Sun-woo go! But even so, I endured it! Because it wasn't my turn! So how could the two of you, who should be role models, do something so outrageous?"
Tang Seo-yoon poured out her heated speech as she glared at the two women.
The more she thought about it, the more her blood boiled.
"Um... excuse me..."
Just then, Kang Ha-yoon, who had been listening silently, tentatively raised her hand.
"What is it!"
"Actually... I did too..."
Kang Ha-yoon continued, her face flushing slightly with embarrassment.
"What?!"
Tang Seo-yoon asked back, her expression one of pure disbelief.
How could even she, who had only just arrived at the Tang Clan, do this?
"How... how could even you, Lady Ha-yoon..."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke as if she were in shock.
She had never imagined that even Ha-yoon would cut the line instead of waiting her turn.
'Wait.'
Suddenly, a suspicion flickered in Tang Seo-yoon's mind.
She slowly turned her gaze toward Yorang and Neung So-hwa.
The two were staring off into space, pretending to be preoccupied with nothing in particular.
They looked exactly like people who were hiding something.
'Suspicious.'
Tang Seo-yoon thought.
It was beyond suspicious.
Her turn in the bedroom had been stolen.
Yet these two fiery women were being far too quiet.
Yorang and Neung So-hwa were both the type to explode the moment they felt something was unfair.
And yet, they were silent.
Not only that, they were feigning ignorance.
How could she not be suspicious?
"Lady Yorang."
Tang Seo-yoon finally spoke, her voice slow and deliberate.
"...Yeeees?"
Yorang asked, putting on an expression of pure innocence.
"You did it too, didn't you?"
Tang Seo-yoon continued, her eyes sharp as she pinned Yorang down.
"Did... did what?"
Yorang stammered.
"You cut the line and slept with Sun-woo, didn't you?"
Seeing that reaction, Tang Seo-yoon stared at Yorang with eyes full of certainty.
"............"
Yorang couldn't answer.
She couldn't bring herself to tell a flat-out lie.
"How... even you, Lady Yorang..."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke, her face filled with disappointment.
"Sohwa did it too!"
Seeing the situation, Yorang quickly pointed a finger at Neung So-hwa beside her and shouted.
"Why are you dragging me into this!"
Neung So-hwa snapped, her voice rising in irritation.
If Yorang had just stayed quiet, they might have been able to let it slide, but now she was being dragged down by the collar.
"Were you going to pretend you didn't know? Where's your conscience?"
Yorang retorted spitefully.
"....It... it's not like that! I... I was going to answer if she asked..."
Neung So-hwa replied, her face turning slightly red with shame at Yorang's words.
"So if I hadn't asked, you would've just let it pass?"
Yorang looked at her as if she were being utterly contemptible.
"............"
Neung So-hwa fell silent at Yorang's pointed remark.
She had nothing to say because it wasn't exactly wrong.
"Seo-yoon! Scold her too! She's even worse!"
Yorang continued, pointing her finger at Neung So-hwa again.
"You are no different from me!"
"I confessed, didn't I?"
"How is that a confession? You just got caught!"
Neung So-hwa argued back, looking incredulous.
Yorang had been feigning ignorance just as much as she had, so how could she act like she was innocent now?
"I don't care, I don't care! I'm not getting scolded! Only you are!"
"You are incredibly selfish!"
"If you're pretty, you're allowed to be selfish!"
Yorang replied with a shameless expression.
"By that logic, I am also entitled to be selfish!"
"What's pretty about you? You look like you were dunked in chili powder!"
"What! Are you insulting me?!"
"Yeah, I am! What of it!"
Soon, harsh shouts began to fly back and forth between the two women.
"Enough."
Tang Seo-yoon, who had been watching the spectacle, finally spoke.
Her voice was as hard and cold as a slab of rock.
"............"
"............"
The two women shut their mouths instantly.
They realized that the tone of her voice was anything but ordinary.
".......So... I'm the only one who didn't get to?"
Tang Seo-yoon continued, her cold gaze sweeping across the room.
Flinch.
The women sitting there all flinched in unison.
With the exception of Un Ga-ryeo, they were all masters who had reached a realm beyond the Transcendent Realm, yet not a single one of them failed to tremble.
They were completely overwhelmed by the sheer momentum of Tang Seo-yoon's grudge.
".......I will be monopolizing him for the next week."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke slowly.
".......Any objections?"
"........A week is a bit... Mmph!"
Yorang tried to protest.
She wanted to say that a week was far too long.
But Neung So-hwa's hand immediately clamped over her small mouth, cutting her off.
She made sure Yorang couldn't say another word.
".................."
A heavy silence descended upon the room.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
Tang Seo-yoon said in a flat tone.
Her attitude was stiff and uncompromising.
"That's all for today's meeting. If there are further instructions, I'll send word."
Tang Seo-yoon looked at them as she spoke.
"If you'll excuse me."
Having finished her piece, Tang Seo-yoon stood up immediately.
Click, clack.
She began to walk out of the conference room with brisk steps.
An unseasonable chill seemed to radiate from her.
The women in the room silently watched her retreating back.
Slam!
Tang Seo-yoon slammed the door shut as she left.
Seeing that, the women knew.
Tang Seo-yoon wasn't just angry; she was absolutely livid.
And they began to think.
They needed to find a way to appease her wrath.
The faces of the women in the conference room became incredibly solemn.
"Sun-woo, please try some of this."
Lee Gi-yeon picked up a slice of peach and held it to the mouth of Sun-woo, who was currently resting his head on her lap.
"Ahhh."
Sun-woo opened his mouth without hesitation and took the peach.
Crunch, crunch.
With every bite, the characteristic sweetness of the fruit filled his mouth.
"Sun-woo, try this one too."
Lee So-ran, who was right next to him, held up a slice of apple and poked it into Sun-woo's mouth.
"Ahhh."
Sun-woo ate the apple she offered with a relaxed expression.
Crunch, crunch.
The sweetness of the apple spread through his mouth.
It must have been a high-quality apple, as it was exceptionally sweet.
"This is nice."
Sun-woo spoke with a leisurely expression.
This peaceful moment wasn't bad at all.
"Um... Sun-woo."
Just then, Lee Ye-seol, who was sitting nearby, called out to him hesitantly.
"Yeah?"
Sun-woo asked, curious.
"Is it really okay to be this relaxed?"
Lee Ye-seol spoke in a worried tone.
She was concerned.
They had no idea what kind of schemes Lee Jae-won might be cooking up right now.
In such a situation, seeing him so carefree, just eating fruit, couldn't help but make her feel anxious.
"It's fine, it's fine," Sun-woo replied, his expression still relaxed.
"Do you have some kind of plan?"
At his words, Lee Ye-seol's intelligent eyes sparkled as she spoke.
"No, not really."
Sun-woo shook his head slightly.
There was no plan.
"Then how can you say it's fine!"
Lee Ye-seol raised her voice slightly.
She couldn't understand how he could be so endlessly relaxed without any sort of plan.
"I don't need to move."
Sun-woo spoke with a calm expression.
"Huh?"
What on earth did that mean?
"Because they're going to come to me on their own."
"They are?"
Lee Ye-seol asked, looking puzzled.
"Ye-seol, how many days has it been since I announced the start of the Great War of Righteousness and Demons?"
Sun-woo asked her.
"It's been about a week."
"Then it's about time he showed up."
A small smile played on Sun-woo's lips.
"Who?"
Lee Ye-seol asked, still not following.
Who would suddenly be coming to see them?
"Lee Jae-won."
Sun-woo spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
"What?!?!!"
Upon hearing that name, Lee Ye-seol's eyes went wide and she let out a shout.
It was a name she hadn't expected at all.
Lee Jae-won was Sun-woo's sworn enemy, the man whose arm Sun-woo had cut off.
Why would such a man come to find him?
"Is... is it an attack?!"
She asked, her eyes trembling uncontrollably as she looked at Sun-woo.
The thought of him coming triggered a surge of anxiety.
"No."
Sun-woo shook his head.
"Then why on earth...?"
She asked, completely lost.
She couldn't think of any reason for Lee Jae-won to come other than to attack.
"He's coming to apologize."
"That's impossible!"
Lee Ye-seol raised her voice, looking at Sun-woo with an expression full of disbelief.
The idea seemed utterly absurd to her.
Lee Jae-won was a man of immense pride, authoritative, and obsessed with formalities.
There was no way such a man would come to apologize to a junior much younger than himself.
Especially not to the junior who was the enemy that had cut off his arm and made him a cripple.
"My father is a proud and authoritative man. He is not the kind of person who would ever come to apologize."
Lee Ye-seol spoke with a firm expression.
"Want to bet?"
Sun-woo grinned as he looked at her.
"I'll take that bet! Because there's absolutely no way!"
Lee Ye-seol declared confidently.
She was certain.
Certain that she wouldn't lose.
"Alright, then let's do this."
Sun-woo continued, looking amused.
"If Lee Jae-won comes to apologize, you have to grant me a wish. Anything at all."
"....Anything?"
"Yes. No matter how shameful or difficult it is, you have to do it to the best of your ability. How about it?"
"..............."
Lee Ye-seol looked thoughtful for a moment.
His proposal made her feel a slight twinge of unease.
"And if it's the other way around?"
She finally asked for the counter-condition.
"In that case, I'll grant you a wish. No matter what it is."
"Really?!"
Lee Ye-seol asked back, her face brightening.
It was a very tempting offer.
"Of course. I'm not the kind of person who goes back on his word."
Sun-woo nodded, giving her his assurance.
He claimed to be a truthful man who never uttered a lie.
"Fine! Then let's bet!"
Lee Ye-seol accepted the bet.
The conditions were quite good, and she was convinced she couldn't lose.
'There's no way Father would come. He's a bastard!'
Lee Ye-seol was certain.
Certain of her victory.
'What should I wish for? Should I ask him to take me as his official wife? Or ask him to hug me once a day? Or ask him to get me pregnant?'
Her mind began to race.
She was trying to find a legitimate wish that wouldn't seem too arrogant but was still worth granting.
Sun-woo watched her with an amused expression.
Knock, knock, knock, knock.
Suddenly, someone began to knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
Sun-woo asked calmly.
"Sun-woo! Something's happened!"
Joo So-yang's urgent voice came from outside.
"What is it?"
Sun-woo asked, maintaining his relaxed demeanor.
"Lee Jae-won! Lee Jae-won is here!"
"Looks like he's finally arrived."
A deep smile spread across Sun-woo's face.
"I believe I've won."
He then looked at Lee Ye-seol beside him and spoke.
"We... we don't know what his business is yet..."
"Then do you want to come along?"
"With you?"
She asked, looking surprised.
"The more spectators, the better."
Sun-woo said with a thick smile.
He then slowly stood up from his seat.
"Gi-yeon, So-ran, you two stay here and wait quietly. It'll get complicated if he finds out you're with me."
He spoke to the two women sitting on the bed.
""Yes, sir!""
The two women answered energetically.
Chuckles.
Sun-woo smiled at the sight.
The sight of the two women, who were so lively and cute—unlike their father—brought a natural smile to his face.
"Ye-seol, you come with me."
"Am I... allowed to follow?"
She asked Sun-woo, looking uneasy.
"Publicly, you and I are allies. It won't be seen as strange if you and Joo So-yang are with me."
"I understand."
Lee Ye-seol nodded at his words.
"Then let's go."
Sun-woo began to walk slowly toward the door.
"To hear the apology of the Cheonmu Alliance Leader."
Sun-woo's eyes flashed with a cold light as he walked.
And Lee Ye-seol began to follow closely behind him.