Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Banquet Seduction
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The entire manor grounds were steeped in simplicity, so I figured the banquet would be modest. But Moyong Guk turned out to be even cooler than I'd imagined.
Every table was packed with the finest dishes, and rows of liquor bottles lined the center of the tables like soldiers.
It was a lavish banquet, as if flaunting the Moyong Family's wealth.
"There are always those fools who mistake the family's prestige for their own power. Even if we can't add to the legacy our ancestors built, we shouldn't tarnish it, right? And yet, there are those who abuse the family name for their own whims, giving me endless headaches. Even this time..."
The banquet kicked off with Moyong Guk's endless nagging. He recapped Moyong Cheon's fiasco and kept going.
"Even if it's my own son, there's no exception. All of you must strive not to disgrace the family name. I've droned on long enough, so I'll wrap it up. Drink and enjoy yourselves today!"
He seemed intent on using this chance to discipline the family by making an example of his son.
'Impressive.'
It was basically declaring to the whole family, "Moyong Cheon is an idiot." Wasn't he the eldest son?
'No point meddling in other people's family drama.'
It had nothing to do with me anyway. Might as well enjoy the spread they'd laid out.
"Young hero, how's the food suiting you?"
"Yes, Family Head. There are so many dishes I've never seen before—my chopsticks haven't rested once."
My seat was naturally right next to Moyong Guk. It felt burdensome at first glance, but for now, it was the best spot.
'What would I even talk about with the Moyong Family folks?'
Sure, Moyong Guk had apologized with 100% sincerity, but emotions were another matter. To me, Moyong Cheon was the world's biggest wastrel, but to his family, he was their precious heir.
"Glad to hear it. Here, have a drink."
"Yes."
And the head seat had its perks.
All the best food and liquor gravitated here.
I accepted the drink Moyong Guk poured me.
'So this is the famous Snow Plum Wine?'
Snow Plum Wine.
It was one of the Five Great Liquors, legendary among liquor enthusiasts.
True to its reputation, as soon as it hit the glass, a rich plum aroma wafted up. Just the scent had me anticipating.
"May your path ahead be filled only with good fortune."
"I wish you eternal peace as well, Family Head."
We exchanged pleasantries and tilted our glasses.
Gulp.
The plum scent tickled my palate. Regular plum wine usually hit with sharp sourness, but Snow Plum Wine had none of that messiness. The coolness it carried slid smoothly down my throat.
This stuff was the real deal.
"No wonder enthusiasts rave about Snow Plum Wine as one of the Five Greats. It lives up to the hype—no sourness overpowering the flavor, even with plums."
"I knew it from the moment I saw you. You clearly know your liquor. Here, another round!"
Moyong Guk kept pouring. Why refuse? Free top-shelf booze. As we matched drinks—he knocking them back like he was drowning his worries—my buzz started to build.
'Nice.'
I never dispersed the buzz with internal energy. That was my principle. Guys who brag about their tolerance by powering through with qi? To me, they were just posers. You drink to get drunk, not to endure it.
'This is the good life.'
I hadn't touched a drop while staying with the Namgung Family. Holding back had been torture. This was my reward.
"Father, aren't you drinking too much?"
"Oh, Hye-ah. I'm still fine—don't worry."
About four bottles down?
With my buzz nicely settled and Moyong Guk's face flushing red, I pondered slipping away.
Then Moyong Hye sat beside him and spoke.
"Didn't you pass out in the courtyard last time after this?"
"Hey, when did I...? Ah, right. Young hero, this is my eldest daughter. Hye-ah, say hello."
"Hello, young master. Nice to meet you. I'm Moyong Hye."
She greeted me with refined poise, acting like we'd never met. Ah, playing that angle?
"Pleased to meet you, miss. I'm Yi Se-woong."
I decided to play along with her game.
No upside to acting like we knew each other.
"Since we've met like this, it's fate. Let me pour you one."
"I won't refuse."
I quietly took the glass she poured. Our eyes met as she did, her expression still inscrutable.
"Do you drink much, young master?"
"I'm not great with liquor. But if you're pouring, I'll drink."
"Hye-ah, what're you saying? You're better than me... Urk!"
Moyong Guk started to say something, but he yelped suddenly, and I couldn't make out the words.
"Father, you seem pretty drunk. How about stepping out for some air?"
She handled it with practiced ease, like this was routine, and shooed Moyong Guk from the table. What was it with prestigious families? Family heads cowed by a single word from their daughters.
"Young master, why'd you act like that earlier?"
"Like what?"
"Like we were strangers."
"Does it matter?"
"Fine, if you don't want to say."
I'd just responded honestly, but Moyong Hye looked displeased and continued.
"Young men and women meeting is prime gossip fodder. You have a fiancée, after all."
"No need to worry about that. We're not involved."
"Right, of course. Sorry for the hassle."
Her reply felt stiff somehow.
What did I do wrong?
"Just drink."
"Didn't you say you can't hold your liquor?"
"I feel like getting drunk tonight!"
Ah, should've just drunk moderately with Moyong Guk and bounced.
The Snow Plum Wine's allure had snared me.
Despite sitting down, Moyong Hye just silently downed glasses for a while.
"It's a bit hot out, isn't it?"
Hot?
She's drunk, drunk.
This was the northlands. Snow fell even in midsummer. It felt like AC blasting right now.
Moyong Hye kept fanning her collar, claiming it was hot. The fabric parted slightly, revealing her irresistible curves without filter. Nowhere safe to look.
'What's this?'
For a prestigious family daughter, it was overly brazen.
Her movements felt awkwardly choppy.
Something was off.
And she kept doing weird, inexplicable things.
"Your hands are so big, young master."
"Really? I think they're average."
"Let me see."
Suddenly comparing hand sizes.
"The elders seem really into it. Their voices are so loud, aren't they?"
Claiming she couldn't hear me and plopping down next to me.
"Oh, come on!"
Bursting into laughter at trivial comments and tapping my thigh repeatedly.
'Is she trying to seduce me?'
At first, I chalked it up to bad drinking habits. But as time passed, her words and actions grew suspiciously overt.
'Textbook vixen moves.'
Once I dropped the bias that she wouldn't, it all clicked.
Echoing my words back, constant eye contact, subtly closing the distance.
When she asked me to open a bottle because the cap was too tight, I was certain.
No doubt.
This was deliberate seduction.
Awkward enough to notice, though.
'Why?'
What was the reason?
Love at first sight? Good thing I wasn't drunk enough for that nonsense.
If she was downing liquor she couldn't handle just to do this...
'No way?'
I recalled how she'd hovered excessively since we met. And Moyong Guk leaving right after she spoke, like he'd been waiting. A prestigious daughter hitting on a man with a fiancée—what reason?
'Setting me up?'
It made sense that way.
If everything from our first meeting was orchestrated.
Even mocking Moyong Cheon was an act?
Planning to make me pay for messing with the Moyong Family!
'She could ruin me without lifting a finger.'
"He flirted with our daughter after we sent him to negotiate." "Cheated on his fiancée."
Spread rumors like that, and the Namgung Family would crush me.
-If you cheat, I die, and so do you.
Why was Yeonhui's parting warning echoing now?
I'd done nothing wrong, yet here I was, on the verge of being branded a criminal.
'The Moyong Family—black-hearted bastards!'
Lucky for me, Moyong Hye had no talent for acting. I wouldn't fall for it anyway, but I couldn't give even a shred of pretext.
"I think I drank too fast. Feeling dizzy... Shall we take a walk?"
"Ahh, drunk. So drunk!"
Oh boy, now openly suggesting a stroll.
I pretended not to hear, acting the sloppy drunk as I shot to my feet.
"Wha—where's my room? That way?"
I shrugged my shoulders excitedly, dragged my feet like I was stumbling, zigzagging in a "之" pattern. Key was the wobble.
"Ah, right. This ain't the Namgung Family place. Heh."
Drunk trait: Talking to yourself.
Pretending to be lost was perfect.
Moyong Hye.
This is acting.
"I'll head in now!"
I bowed exaggeratedly, nearly folding at the waist, then bolted to my quarters.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'How long did I sleep?'
I slept like a rock for once.
Even in a righteous orthodox sect, they wouldn't pull anything while I slept. No way they'd send assassins just to frame one guy.
Buzzed and weary from travel, I'd hit the sack early.
But.
Squish.
As I shifted, my elbow hit something odd.
'?'
Soft. But too springy for a blanket.
"Sleep well, young master?"
Moyong Hye, lying beside me, gazing up lazily.
Thankfully, her clothes were intact.
What the hell?
"What are you doing?"
"I heard... men like this sort of thing."
"What'd you say?"
"Oh, they don't?"
An assassin had infiltrated last night.