As the Red Flower Falls (8)
Don't worry. I have that much sense, at least.
The contract had only ever been a tool to keep Yeon Minha under perfect control. She was the sort of person who could leap in any direction without warning. I had never intended to use it for threats or unfair gain. Besides, the way she had been treating me lately made the original purpose of that document feel almost meaningless now.
"That's a relief. We're bound together more intimately than anyone could imagine, but if an outsider learned the truth, they might form a terrible misunderstanding about you."
"Senior. Please stop fiddling with my tie. How many times is this now? I told you it's tied properly. And with this mask covering my face, what difference does it even make…"
"S-stay still…! Of course it makes a difference! At least if you look neat, my parents might view you a little more favorably…!"
I couldn't hold back any longer and asked, but Yeon Minha turned the tables and scolded me instead. The conversation kept veering off in strange directions. Only after tying and untying the knot two or three times did she finally release me. Her expression still carried traces of dissatisfaction, but I refused to endure any more. Even then, her questions continued right until the end.
"By the way… your in-laws… No, what are your parents like…?"
"In-laws…? What did you say? You mumbled it, so I couldn't hear."
"Ah, it's nothing!! I just asked what your parents are like…"
She had asked so casually, yet she reacted as if she'd been harassed, flying into a frenzy.
"Why are you asking that…"
"N-no special reason… It's just better to prepare in advance…"
My once-bright mood sank a little, as if rain had begun to fall on a sunny day. I didn't know exactly what kind of preparation she had in mind, but there was no chance Yeon Minha would ever meet my parents. Of course, this sorrow belonged entirely to me. There was no reason or need to burden her with it. Her question had come from pure curiosity, not malice. Even so, I felt she deserved the truth. If I brushed it off vaguely, the same topic would surely surface again.
I opened my mouth, trying to sound as indifferent as possible.
"There's no need for you to concern yourself with that."
"Why not…? Do they dislike me, or something…"
"It's not that. Both of them passed away long ago."
"What…?"
"My father died when I was very young, so I don't even remember him. My mother was killed two years ago during the demon invasion."
Her crimson-tinged pupils widened in shock. Yeon Minha murmured as if something had just occurred to her.
"Then… the fact that you owe your life to Sa Jaehyuk…"
"That's correct. I nearly lost my life in the aftermath of that same incident. The Commander and the sisters from the unit were the ones who took me in."
"Ah, I see… I'm… sorry…"
Yeon Minha suddenly shrank, barely able to speak. She trembled as though she had committed some terrible sin, constantly watching my expression.
"It's fine."
"I… didn't mean to…"
Her apologetic heart was touching, but I wished she would simply acknowledge the facts without emotional theatrics. Disliking the gloomy atmosphere, I steered the conversation elsewhere.
"You really don't need to worry about it. By the way, what are your parents like, senior?"
"…Father is blunt, but he has a deep sense of duty and a remarkable passion for learning. Mother is strict, yet she possesses the dignity to match."
Yeon Minha paused briefly before answering. A faint shadow seemed to cross her face. I had already heard from the principal that the Yeon family had a notorious reputation for deeply flawed personalities across generations. It was the result of innate arrogance mixed with mental pollution. Yeon Minha had been especially extreme among them. I had worried her parents might be no different, but from what she described, it seemed they weren't quite that bad.
"I see. They sound like good people."
"Yes. So there's no need to worry at all. They'll definitely praise you highly for helping me. Ah, it looks like we've nearly arrived…"
I turned to look out the window, following her gaze. After leaving the city streets and winding along a twisting mountain road, a wide-open vista spread out in every direction. In the distance, an enormous mansion revealed itself.
The main building blended traditional and modern architecture in elegant harmony. Smaller structures that appeared to be warehouses and living facilities surrounded the main gate like a protective formation. When the vehicle stopped before the massive iron gates and the driver opened the door, servants lined the path in perfect rows, bowing deeply in a grand welcome for the young lady.
I couldn't close my mouth at the continuous spectacle. Had I not been wearing the mask, everyone would have witnessed my foolish expression. I had known intellectually that people lived in an entirely different world from mine. Yet seeing it with my own eyes delivered a visceral shock on a completely different level. The Commander and the sisters lived with a simplicity barely different from ordinary people, and at the Cradle—where uniform dress and meritocracy were the guiding principles—students' backgrounds were naturally diluted. Suddenly, a children's story I had read long ago came to mind. The scene before me didn't seem so different from the lavish lives of those big-nosed Western princes and princesses who ruled inside their palaces.
To think I had become connected to such people. It made me understand why the Commander had fought so hard to send me to the Cradle…
Unlike me, Yeon Minha moved through the scene with absolute natural authority. She walked confidently between the bowing figures. Yet her expression remained subtly tense the entire time. She scanned her surroundings with questioning eyes, tilting her head slightly. When she saw the servant who stepped forward to greet them, her suspicion only deepened.
"Welcome home, my lady. We are honored by your return to the main house after so long."
"…I don't recognize your face. Was there a personnel change while I was away?"
"Yes. The previous steward retired due to advanced age, so I have served in that position for the past two years. At the family head's command, the servants have also been largely replaced with new faces. Though my abilities are humble, I will devote myself fully to the Red Fire family."
"What are those surrounding buildings? The layout wasn't like this before. It looks like several new ones have been added as well."
"There were some adjustments to the arrangement while renovating the outdated facilities. I will explain everything at your leisure later. For now, please go inside with your guest."
"…I see. Very well. Hey, let's go."
Though she still looked suspicious, Yeon Minha nodded. I followed her into the grand mansion.
"Senior. It seems it's been quite a while since you last returned to the main house."
"The terrain here creates high particle density, so many wild spirits live in the area. They say it can accelerate mental pollution… That's why, after enrolling at the Cradle, I never came back. I stayed at the family mansion in the capital's central district instead…"
"I see. Did it help at all?"
"…Not in the slightest. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have even considered returning this time. In fact, I might not have been alive at all…"
When she heard my question, Yeon Minha shook her head and whispered softly in return.
"But I never expected it to have changed this much… sudden renovations and a large-scale personnel overhaul…"
At first I hadn't thought much of it, but seeing her reaction, I too began to sense a strange atmosphere. Those sidelong glances seemed like they were observing us—or like people hiding something. Of course, if this was simply the solemn, exclusive air typical of prestigious families, I had nothing to say… but in that case, was there any need to direct such looks at Yeon Minha? She was a member of the same family and the person they would one day have to serve.
Lost in these thoughts, we soon reached the high stairs before the entrance. From above came a cold voice that clashed completely with any sense of welcome.
"It's been a while."
"I've returned, Mother. Have you been well all this time?"
Yeon Minha bowed gracefully toward the top of the stairs. At the summit stood a woman in elegant indoor attire. She appeared somewhat aged, yet she had maintained considerable beauty. Still, for a mother greeting her daughter after a long absence, her attitude felt excessively sharp and indifferent. The sense of stability one usually associated with the matriarch of a great house was noticeably absent. Her gaze was irritable, and her face clearly showed traces of fatigue and tension.
"What could possibly happen? You look quite well yourself."
"Um… where is Father…?"
"He's in his laboratory. As always. Isn't it about time you stopped needing to ask?"
"I-I see…"
The woman's shrill voice made Yeon Minha murmur, unable to hide her disappointment.
"I heard we would have a guest… but this is quite unexpected."
Yet the woman did not stop there. She turned her irritable nature toward me as well.
"Didn't I clearly tell you to be careful with your conduct the more time you spend outside? Yet not only that, you bring a strange man into the house. And what is that thing on his face… Good heavens, where are your manners…"
"Mother. I explained everything in my letter. He is not a stranger; he is my junior. The mask is for certain reasons. And he is a recommended entrant from the Black Lotus."
When Yeon Minha stepped in front of me and protested, the woman finally looked at me with slightly surprised eyes and murmured.
"…From the Black Lotus? Then the one from the rumors…"
"That's right. If it weren't for this junior, I wouldn't have received the Golden Star Military Merit Medal either…"
The woman who had remained above finally descended the stairs and met my gaze. The displeased look had vanished, but she still tossed out a curt remark in a blunt voice.
"…Nice to meet you. I am Gang Jagyeong, matriarch of the Red Fire family."
"It's an honor to meet you. My name is Lee Hyun."
"Since you mentioned being a recommended student from the Black Lotus, have you heard of Aurora Bio? It's a small pharmaceutical company operated by my maternal family."
I might not have known her surname, but I had certainly heard of Aurora Bio. It was no small company but one of the leading conglomerates. The Eritin and Lexa I had used effectively in the south were products made there.
"How could I not know? We receive a great deal of help from them regularly."
The woman finally seemed somewhat mollified and gave a small nod.
"Our Aurora Bio also maintains a good relationship with the Black Lotus's S&C division. Welcome. Please enjoy your stay comfortably."
Having said only what she wished, the woman vanished with cold, swift steps. She neither spoke to nor looked at her daughter again.
Yeon Minha, who had been standing there blankly, smiled weakly when our eyes met.
"…Sorry. Were you very surprised…?"
"I'm fine. More importantly, about you, senior…"
"She's not usually like that. She must be feeling a little unwell today."
She spoke those words, but disappointment filled her face. I hadn't expected a warm welcome, but I had never imagined such a desolate atmosphere. It seemed what Yeon Minha had said about her parents earlier had been considerably embellished. Her child had survived a life-threatening crisis and even achieved a great merit that honored the family, yet there was no interest whatsoever. I didn't know what research he was conducting, but did it make sense for the family head not to show his face when his daughter returned home for the first time in two years? Even my own mother would praise me for catching a frog. Moreover, Yeon Minha's complexion had improved considerably now that she was somewhat free from mental pollution, yet the woman had not mentioned it at all. Was this what the bond between parent and child was supposed to be?
"…Still, she is a good person. She helped arrange treatment for my mental pollution through her connections on Mother's side."
"I see…"
"Yes. Maybe tomorrow she'll greet us with more smiles. Let's go for now. Aren't you hungry…?"
The sun had already begun to set when we arrived, so we followed the steward to the banquet hall for dinner. Only the two of us sat at the table. Her family did not show themselves at all. The enormous table felt painfully empty as a result. An extravagant feast—far beyond military rations or anything served at the Cradle—was laid out, yet the atmosphere robbed it of any real flavor. It tasted worse than the protein bars I used to split with the sisters on the battlefield.
Yeon Minha tried not to show her agitation, but faint tremors of emotion leaked from her eyes.
"…How does it taste?"
"It's truly delicious. I've never eaten anything like this before."
As if trying to resolve her unease through me, Yeon Minha brightened further and kept pushing dishes in my direction.
"R-really? That's good. Try this too. And this one… If it's difficult to eat, I can remove the bones for you…"
"…I'll manage by myself. You should eat quickly too, senior."
"I-I'm not very hungry today… You eat plenty, at least…"
It was quite a torment for me as well. But when Yeon Minha smiled so brightly at my fabricated reactions, I couldn't bring myself to stop her. I endured my unsettled stomach and forced down everything she offered.
"…You'll probably be able to meet Father around tomorrow evening. They said he'll come out of the laboratory by then. We'll be leaving the morning after next."
The meal—during which I barely registered what I was eating—finally ended. Yeon Minha and I sat together and talked for a while longer.
"I see. Then what about my mentoring experience paperwork…?"
"You don't need to worry about that. I'll compile the materials appropriately. You just need to stay with me until it's time to return…"
"…Understood."
The earnest note in her voice left me no choice but to agree.
As darkness settled outside the windows, a servant approached Yeon Minha and spoke in a gentle voice.
"My lady. It is time for your evening bath and then to retire to your chambers."
"Already…? Very well."
Yeon Minha wore a regretful expression as she rose from her seat. The steward from earlier also approached me.
"I will show the guest to his room as well. Please follow me this way."
"Understood."
I stood and followed him. But a single thought suddenly flashed through my mind. What about Yeon Minha's sleep then? When I turned my head, our eyes met—she seemed to be thinking the same thing. After a brief hesitation, she mouthed the words carefully so only I could understand.
She bowed her head deeply, then turned abruptly and disappeared down the corridor after the servant.