The Day the Second Test Results Were Announced
Whispers full of vicious fabrications pierced her ears. “Did you see that? The way she was fawning all over Namgung Jin?” “Last time she tried to get close to Young Master Son. Can’t she live without a man or what?” “I’ve seen her calling boys over in the middle of the night. She’s seriously obsessed with men.”
Even on a day that should have made her heart flutter, those people remained unchanged. Jegal So-yeon kept her head bowed low as she walked past them. It was possible because she was small in stature with a faint presence. On top of that, the other girls were still young and lacked experience. They only noticed her when she drew right up to them, at which point they clamped their mouths shut.
“Hello…”
“Y-yes…”
“G-good morning, Lady Jegal.”
An awkward atmosphere settled over them. Everyone knew by now that So-yeon cared about what they called “that girl,” even if she wasn’t the direct target of the conversation. For a direct descendant of one of the Five Great Families, she was unusually timid, yet she persistently tried to speak with that girl. She was ignored every single time, but So-yeon never gave up. Thanks to that, not gossiping in front of her had become an unwritten rule.
But So-yeon was no fool. She had ears and eyes. She heard every word of it—the backbiting from Wi Won-ye’s close friends, the venom they spat at the girl they claimed to want as a friend.
“I noticed you left the testing grounds first last time, didn’t you?”
And among them, the only one not wearing an embarrassed face. The girl who had grown bold after realizing So-yeon wouldn’t push back. Yu Gyo-yeon. For some reason, this person gave off a similar feeling to Jegal Do-yeong.
“Is it really acceptable for someone from the Jegal Clan to behave that way?”
“Pardon…?”
“Oh, or does being from the Jegal Clan mean it doesn’t matter?”
“Um… what do you mean…?”
“Gyo-yeon, what’s gotten into you?”
“Why are you saying that to Lady Jegal?”
“I’m just worried. No matter if she’s from the Jegal Clan, I’m telling her she shouldn’t be so blatant about it.”
So-yeon’s mouth hung open. She knew this feeling all too well. As expected, Yu Gyo-yeon was exactly like Jegal Do-yeong.
“Hey, hey… are you insane?”
“So openly…?”
“Ah, was it supposed to be a secret? Oh my, I’m sorry. You were acting so bold that I thought—”
“Looks like everyone’s here.”
Yu Gyo-yeon had been smiling with a sly curl of her lips, about to say more, when Wi Won-ye approached. The moment she did, the girls closed their mouths as if nothing had happened and put on gentle expressions.
After spending several weeks around them, So-yeon had come to understand one thing. These girls followed Wi Won-ye, but an invisible wall stood between her and them. Wi Won-ye possessed extremely high self-esteem and maintained a firm personal boundary. The others did not.
“Are you keeping well, Lady Jegal?”
“Yes… hello.”
“What were you all talking about?”
Wi Won-ye was exceptionally warm toward So-yeon. She treated the other girls like fragile porcelain. Except for Yu Gyo-yeon, who reminded her of Jegal Do-yeong. At Wi Won-ye’s question, the girls’ faces stiffened. They shot So-yeon desperate looks, begging her to stay silent.
“We were talking about the previous test…”
Of course So-yeon had no intention of creating conflict with them. That would only make Ok-yeon suffer.
“Ah, perfect timing. I just came from checking the results. Congratulations, Lady Jegal.”
“Congratulations…?”
“You took first place. After seeing you leave first, I figured the questions must have been easy for you.”
“Y-yes, as expected!”
“You’re incredible, Lady Jegal!”
The others offered their belated congratulations. Yu Gyo-yeon, however, bit her lip and glared at So-yeon.
“If only I were from the Jegal Clan too…”
After parting with Wi Won-ye and the others, So-yeon received congratulations from many people. Some she had never spoken with before, while others had always been friendly toward her.
“Um…”
And that girl ignored her again today. It was likely because So-yeon had disregarded her request not to speak to her. If you act that way, then I’ll simply pretend you don’t exist. Something like that.
Of course, So-yeon didn’t give up. She was, after all, a very persistent person—like someone she knew well.
“Hello!”
Only when she raised her voice did the girl finally turn around.
“…”
She had only looked back in surprise before turning away without answering. But that was fine. She could take things one step at a time. Hadn’t Ok-yeon done the same? She had told her that if it was So-yeon, she could manage it.
She had heard the third and final test would be taken in teams. The teams were to be formed voluntarily by the candidates. When the time came, she would ask the girl to join her. Then she would have no choice but to accept.
“Yeah.”
She had confirmed the girl had no close friends. She also kept walls up against the instructors. The only group she interacted with was Wi Won-ye’s circle. As for Wi Won-ye herself, she seemed to have given up and now only glared at her since she kept sticking around. On the other hand, when Wi Won-ye was absent, Yu Gyo-yeon would step forward and harass her just as before. The more it happened, the more the girl shrank into herself, keeping silent and doing nothing.
“My only friend…”
She wasn’t a friend yet. But it felt like she soon would be. A bright smile spread across So-yeon’s face. This would be her first friend. Once she decided on something, she followed through. Since Ok-yeon had given permission, there was no such thing as denial.
“Ah…”
Thinking of something, So-yeon ran after the girl who was walking away and blocked her path.
“Hah…”
“P-please tell me your name…!”
“Aren’t you tired of this yet?”
She had spoken casually at first. Now she was using polite speech. It didn’t matter. As long as they became friends.
“Besides, you already know my name. It’s not like I haven’t been called out a few times.”
“I didn’t hear it from you, my lady!”
“This is unbelievable.”
“Please tell me…”
After days of persistent pestering, the other party looked exhausted. The sharp reactions from the beginning had long since faded, leaving only annoyance. Indeed, even Wi Won-ye must have realized there was no point in her continued indifference and had distanced herself early. The real threat had vanished.
“Wi Won-hyang. Satisfied?”
After giving her name, Wi Won-hyang left without looking back. The words she had spoken while rejecting So-yeon came to mind—the part about a family that was a public enemy of the murim world. Yet the name Wi Won-hyang shared the same surname and generation character as Wi Won-ye. It couldn’t be a coincidence. But the two didn’t resemble each other at all. And the family of the Murim Alliance Leader could hardly be a public enemy of the murim world. If so…
“A relative, or…”
She had thought the same when she first heard it, but something felt off.
“An adopted child.”
That would explain why someone so kind to others was treated so coldly by Wi Won-ye. If she wasn’t real family and came from a background Wi Won-ye despised… No, even blood sisters could act that way. After all, it was something So-yeon had experienced her entire life.
“Sigh…”
“Why are you sighing?”
“…!”
She had been wondering how to break through Wi Won-hyang’s walls when the voice reached her. So-yeon froze in instinctive fear.
“C-Clan Head…”
“…”
His face was ice-cold. So-yeon felt tears spring to her eyes. Even after several months, her father was still only terrifying. Beside Jegal Hyun stood a face she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“It’s been a while.”
Jegal Hyun’s eldest daughter, Jegal Do-hwa. She had married into the distant Moyong Clan. At least she reacted like a human being. Of course, there had never been any sisterly affection. It had been the same when she still lived in the family. She was the type who only cared about her own matters. She treated others with basic human decency precisely because she was indifferent. It was a contradictory thing.
“Y-yes…”
She had thought she had improved somewhat over the past six months. But facing the people of the Jegal Clan again turned her mind completely blank. Her body unconsciously leaned toward the absent Ok-yeon.
“You’re the same as ever. So utterly frustrating.”
“Ugh…”
But this was a situation she had longed for. The situation in which Jegal Hyun came to see her directly. How long had she waited for a day like today? She had to summon courage.
“Clan Head…!”
“What is it?”
“I-I… this time… first place…”
“I know.”
He knew. Her face brightened. But then—
“So?”
“Uh…”
“It’s only natural if you carry the Jegal name.”
She hadn’t been hoping for praise. To say otherwise would be a lie. Yes, even if he wasn’t truly happy, couldn’t he at least offer a few empty words? Once again tears— but they didn’t fall. For some reason her head grew hot instead.
“Where is that woman?”
“Sister Ok-yeon is… at the merchant guild…”
“She claims to be your protector, yet she’s absent at a moment like this.”
He even sneered at Ok-yeon. Now her mouth itched and her chest felt tight.
“Hmm…?”
Jegal Hyun twitched an eyebrow at the look in So-yeon’s eyes. Soon he wore an amused expression.
“In just a few months you’ve learned to make a face worth seeing.”
At those words she hurriedly touched her face. But touching it wouldn’t let her see her own expression. So-yeon gave up and lowered her head.
“How is it?”
“It seems fine. Leaving the house really was the right answer. I almost felt disappointed thinking you were still the same.”
“…?”
Was that praise? It sounded like praise, yet it didn’t quite feel like it.
“At best it’s basic refinement, but I hear people saying you’re worthy of the Jegal name. Yes, I think we can proceed.”
“Let’s do that.”
The two of them had decided something between themselves. Only then did Jegal Do-hwa’s eyes meet So-yeon’s. Until now, Jegal Do-hwa had never even glanced at her youngest sister’s face.
“I’ll call for you soon, so dress nicely and come out.”
“Me…?”
“Who else is here besides you?”
“…”
“It’s not a bad story for you either, so do as you’re told.”
“Yes…”
“Really…”
After listening to So-yeon’s story, Ok-yeon didn’t even get angry. She was already someone with no room left for disappointment when it came to Jegal Hyun.
“Sister…?”
“Just ignore that man.”
“Is that really okay…?”
“Do you still have lingering attachments to the Jegal Clan, So-yeon?”
“Um…”
So-yeon looked conflicted. It was only natural. She had lived there her entire life. No matter how poorly she had been treated, to her the Jegal Clan had been her whole world. Ok-yeon tried her best to give her love, but she often had to leave her alone due to things she needed to do, and she wasn’t her real sister. She knew it was impossible to completely win her heart in only half a year.
“What do you want to do, So-yeon?”
“That is…”
“It’s all right. Do whatever you want. I’ll always support you.”
So-yeon hemmed and hawed, unable to give a clear answer. At this point it was already an answer. There was no need to force her.
“Then shall we go out?”
“Is it… okay?”
It wasn’t truly a question. It was a tone seeking confirmation.
“Of course. Didn’t I say? I’ll always support you. You can do anything you want, So-yeon. You don’t have to follow my way.”
Just because she personally couldn’t understand it was no reason to interfere. So-yeon had her own way of doing things. Perhaps she dreamed of being acknowledged by the Jegal Clan. It might be her own form of repayment, or even revenge. She didn’t want her to face disappointment from the Jegal Clan again. She held not the slightest selfish desire for that. Of course, she was certain So-yeon would regret going there.
It doesn’t seem like Jegal Hyun would suddenly develop a father’s heart for his daughter at this point.
Dress nicely and come out. What else could that mean?
Is he trying to arrange a marriage meeting? He really never gets tired of it.
Since it concerned the Murim Alliance, he would have said he was simply returning it to them. But it seemed Jegal Hyun still considered So-yeon a member of the Jegal Clan. More precisely, as something he could handle however he pleased. In his own mind, he might even believe he was treating her better than before. After all, he hadn’t dragged her away by force. Perhaps the prospective marriage partner was of high status. And he could gauge her preferences on the spot. However, that was nothing more than him watching his step around Ok-yeon and the Murim Alliance. That must be his own arrogant way of showing respect—barely considering the other party’s wishes at all.
“Shall we go to the fabric shop together?”
“Yes…!”
Whatever the case, she hoped it would be something that pleased So-yeon’s heart. If so, how could she not support her?