Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Operation: Brother-in-Law is Too Much
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It was just as I expected.
The full story I'd heard from Park Chun-sam.
For some time now, the servants of the Namgung Family had been summoned one by one by Namgoong Jin and given a single order.
'Keep your distance from Yi Se-woong. If you're seen associating with him, you'll be punished.'
It was an out-of-left-field command, but the servants had no choice but to obey.
Even if he was the prospective son-in-law, the engagement ceremony hadn't been held yet.
"What could we do? The master feeds us and pays us."
At that point, Chun-sam paused for a moment and slyly gauged my reaction. A hint that there was more to it.
This guy's not the type to starve on the streets.
I slipped him a few more coins.
"Some of the maids were called in separately and given additional orders."
It was also Namgoong Jin who'd instructed them to spread rumors about me.
Interesting.
Namgoong Jin was laying the groundwork for a public opinion campaign from the shadows.
Given the scale of the Namgung Family, there were no small number of servants.
His calculation must have been that if I was branded as the world's biggest bastard among them, it would eventually reach the ears of the family elders.
All my efforts so far to escape the Namgung Family had been misguided. The easy path had been right here.
To think I had such staunch allies in places I never knew about!
Is this the affection of the wife's family for the prospective brother-in-law? (No.)
But the scale is a bit lacking.
I had to give him high marks for the meticulous preparation.
But how long would it take to achieve his goal this way?
For a scion of the Namgung Family, his ambitions were too small.
But thanks to him, I realized something.
I need to target Namgoong Jin.
His aversion to me was still at a vague level, which was why he'd chosen such a half-hearted approach.
If I egged him on, I could grow the faction opposing the engagement!
After parting ways with Park Chun-sam, I pondered in bed for a long while before a suitable plan came to mind.
Operation name: Brother-in-Law is Too Much.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ My grand plan hit a snag from the very start.
Because Namgoong Jin had no intention of meeting me at all.
If the day was sunny, it was too hot; if cloudy, too humid; if neither, he wasn't feeling well.
He had excuses for every occasion.
This is going south.
Namgoong Jin just kept putting off the meeting date.
He wasn't outright refusing, just dragging his feet.
I had no choice but to come up with a special countermeasure.
I'll exploit the Namgung Family's henpecked DNA.
You could tell just by looking at Namgoong Hyeok and Namgoong Hyu.
The men in this family were firmly under their wives' thumbs.
Thank goodness Yeonhui got along well with her new sisters-in-law.
"Yeonhui, how do you get prettier every day?"
"Not as much as you, Sister. Let me introduce him. This is my husband-to-be."
"Greetings, Madam."
"We saw each other at the meeting, right? It was so romantic."
"Haha, I fall short."
"Ahem!"
Namgoong Jin cleared his throat in displeasure, along with his wife, Jo Simhyang.
Unlike her gruff husband, she was a woman with a gentle impression.
"Come sit down. I especially asked the head chef to go all out today, so look forward to it."
"Thank you."
We headed to the table following Jo Simhyang's guidance.
Before sitting, I stretched out my arm to block Yeonhui and pulled out her chair first.
Tak tak.
I patted the cushion, and Yeonhui sat down with a dazed look on her face.
"Oh my, how sweet. You should learn from him, dear."
"You're overdoing it."
"Darling?"
"Ahem!"
Jo Simhyang smiled warmly, like watching children play house.
In contrast, Namgoong Jin looked displeased, as if he'd seen something he shouldn't have.
Just as planned.
After a short wait, the servants brought out the food one by one.
It wasn't piled like a mountain as with Namgoong Hyu, but it was still a lavish spread that could break the table legs.
I picked up a piece of dongpo pork and brought it to Yeonhui's lips.
"?"
Yeonhui tilted her head, her face full of confusion.
"Yeonhui, ah~"
"H-Hubby! This is embarrassing, what are you doing!"
"Ah~"
"Really, I won't!"
Though she grumbled, Yeonhui obediently accepted the food I offered.
Her attempt to hide her flushed face by turning away sharply was adorable.
She really had no resistance to this kind of thing.
If you act like that, it embarrasses me too!
This was supposed to be accepted naturally so neither of us felt awkward.
"Don't you know any table manners?"
"What's wrong with it? It looks nice."
"......"
It was a good thing Jo Simhyang was here.
If it were just Namgoong Jin, he might have flipped the table right then.
That increasingly furrowed gaze staring at me—I'd seen it before.
Like father, like son.
Namgoong Hyeok, who hadn't liked me from the start.
Namgoong Jin's eyes now resembled his.
The look of someone glaring at a sticky kid clinging to their precious little sister!
This is just the beginning, Namgoong Jin.
From the information I'd gathered so far.
Namgoong Jin was taciturn and conservative.
In vulgar terms, a Confucian boy.
No one had ever seen him express affection to his wife, either.
How does it feel? Are you trembling with rage?
That was why I'd prepared this plan.
To flirt with Yeonhui right in front of him.
A guy he already disliked rubbing it in his face up close?
He couldn't stand that.
"Yeonhui."
"Yes?"
"You should feed me too. Ah~"
"Ah, ah~"
Yeonhui's hands trembled, but she couldn't refuse.
Jo Simhyang watched on contentedly, acting as our cheerleader.
This is my strategy.
Provoke Namgoong Jin with the help of these two allies.
I was prepared to do whatever it took.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Namgoong Jin loved his family.
Born into a great house, raised with love.
He was grateful for his fortunate, happy life.
Among them, his affection for his youngest sister, Namgoong Yeonhui, was particularly profound.
He, who had always been cared for by his older brothers, had finally found someone he could look after.
He cherished his sister as much as the love he'd received.
His long-standing headache was the men approaching his little sister.
It was inevitable, really.
The World's Greatest Beauty.
His youngest sister's appearance, inherited from their elegant mother, was outstanding—too outstanding.
And with the backing of the Namgung Family.
Flies are swarming her.
There were plenty of guys trying to hitch themselves to Namgoong Yeonhui for a life reversal.
The fortunate part was that all the suitors were flashy nothings, and Yeonhui ignored them completely.
Someday Yeonhui will marry too. But!
His father said he wouldn't give her to just anyone, but Namgoong Jin thought differently.
Marry a proper young man from a good family and live happily.
That was his one wish for Yeonhui.
But a gatekeeper?
He couldn't believe his father had approved.
Realizing that his mother, second brother, and even grandfather had all fallen for the guy felt like a dream.
The man was obviously after the Namgung Family's prestige.
He resented his family for being swayed by that gigolo face.
I have to protect Yeonhui myself!
So he took action.
Starting with inciting the servants to spread slander about Yi Se-woong.
His goal was to gradually erode the guy's position within the family.
And he shows up here?
What a brazen punk.
Despite all the hints every time they met, Yi Se-woong would act all nice, smiling and greeting him.
He must have ulterior motives!
It was even more suspicious that he didn't show any displeasure.
Thus, Namgoong Jin kept his eyes peeled to find some flaw.
"By the way, how did you two meet?"
"Ah, it's a bit of a long story. It started when..."
"Wait, Hubby! Let me tell it!"
"It was the day Yeonhui came to the east gate without raising the alert."
"Oh come on, really!"
Watching the three chat amiably made him feel oddly left out.
"She asked to be taught swordsmanship, but just stared blankly at my face. That's when I knew. Ah, she likes me."
"Oh my, oh my."
"When did I ever do that!"
At first, he thought the guy was making a fuss.
But as time passed.
The mischievous smile while watching his embarrassed sister.
Listening attentively whenever she spoke during the meal.
The nostalgic look recounting their first meeting.
He couldn't sense any falsehood in any of it.
Have I fallen for his sorcery too?
No.
He could feel it without even focusing his inner energy.
The pure, surging inner power in Yi Se-woong's dantian.
Then what was this?
Yi Se-woong's gaze toward Yeonhui.
Undeniable love dwelled there.
Just like when a young Namgoong Jin had locked eyes with his wife.
Was I wrong?
He'd thought himself different from his doting father.
But had his love for his sister blinded him, leading him to belittle a fine young man?
What does background matter?
He'd heard the guy withstood ten exchanges with Father.
At that age, achieving such a feat meant in ten years he'd be a talent known throughout the world.
Namgoong Jin was disgusted with himself for thinking in such calculating terms first.
As long as they like each other, that's enough.
Yeonhui giggling and patting Yi Se-woong's shoulder.
It reminded him of his sister as a child pretending to dislike a toy she wanted, and Namgoong Jin unwittingly smiled.
"You."
"Yes, Brother-in-Law."
"To be honest, I don't like you."
"......"
Namgoong Jin had been sullenly silent for a long while.
When he suddenly spoke, Yi Se-woong felt like the moment had finally arrived.
Whew. I was wondering how long you'd hold out, Namgoong Jin!
To draw out Namgoong Jin's reaction, Yi Se-woong had endured embarrassment playing the doting lover.
Every time he spat out cringeworthy lines, Jo Simhyang's cheers nearly gave him internal injuries.
After the long wait.
Now it was time for his reward.
"But a mere commoner can't stand in the way of young love."
"?"
"I can see how much you care for Yeonhui."
"???"
"Can you continue to cherish my sister from now on?"
At that moment, Yi Se-woong's time stopped.
"......Yes."
He couldn't very well say no.