The Red Flower Falls
I spent the entire day glued to Yeon Minha, never leaving her side. As evening approached, we prepared once again to head to the same banquet hall from yesterday. The staff had already informed us that the head of the Red Fire family, fresh from his laboratory, would be joining us for dinner tonight.
In the dark guest room where every window was covered by heavy curtains and not a single mirror could be found, the only sound was a soft, repetitive rustling.
"Hair… neat… clothes look good… the scent suits you perfectly…"
After thoroughly inspecting my appearance herself for quite some time, Yeon Minha finally stepped back, having pressed her nose lightly against my chest one last time. She nodded with satisfaction, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as if she had applied makeup.
"What’s the point of all this when I have something like this on my face anyway?" I said, feeling the texture of the mask in my hands.
Yeon Minha shook her head vigorously.
"Still, we have to do what we have to do. You saw Mother yesterday, didn’t you? Our parents are incredibly strict. It’s better to look a little eccentric than to look shabby. Mages are very harsh toward the powerless, but they tend to be quite lenient toward eccentrics…"
She didn’t bother hiding her disappointed expression.
"It’s a shame… You really look perfect…"
"…I’m sorry."
There was still no way around the violent revulsion I felt whenever I caught even a glimpse of my reflection in a window or puddle of water.
"Mmm, no, it’s fine. Anyway, let’s go now. It looks like everything’s ready."
But Yeon Minha shook her head again and grabbed my sleeve. After one final check of my attire, I followed behind her.
Guided by the waiting staff, we walked down the same long corridor as yesterday and headed toward the banquet hall inside the main residence. As we passed a familiar section, I glanced sideways. The photograph of the man and woman who looked exactly like Yeon Minha was still hanging there.
When I looked forward again, a woman who might as well have stepped out of that photo was walking in step beside me, swallowing nervously.
This really feels strange.
The banquet hall we arrived at had a noticeably more lavish and lively atmosphere than yesterday. The luminous stones in the lamps cast bright light in every direction, and the staff preparing the hot meal bustled about busily.
After waiting a short while, a middle-aged man finally appeared, accompanied by several attendants.
Yeon Minha hurried over to him, bowed deeply, and greeted him.
"It’s been a long time, Father. Have you been well?"
The man made a gesture for her to rise, his voice dry as he replied.
"Yes. You look well too. It’s been three years already… My goodness."
When Yeon Minha lifted her head, the man’s eyes instantly filled with astonishment. He stopped mid-sentence and stared blankly for a moment.
"I knew you would have become a fine lady, but this is beyond my imagination. How can you resemble your mother so perfectly?"
"I am still far from reaching Mother’s level. I will continue to strive harder."
Though Yeon Minha maintained her disciplined posture, a hint of satisfaction flickered across her face.
My gaze naturally shifted to the area behind the man. There stood the mistress of Red Fire, the same woman who had greeted us yesterday. Despite her efforts to appear solemn under the bright lights, her face still clearly showed nervous, anxious tension.
She herself came from one of the 27 Magic Families and was now the lady of a prestigious household. I couldn’t begin to guess what could possibly make someone like her so anxious.
What confused me even more was Yeon Minha’s reaction when the man said she resembled her mother perfectly. For a split second, her face twisted as if she had heard the most horrific insult in the world.
I didn’t think her appearance particularly resembled her mother either, but… was it really appropriate for a child to make that kind of face when told she looked like her parent?
After greeting Yeon Minha, the man approached me where I stood behind her and offered a handshake.
"Welcome. I am the head of Red Fire, Yeon Jeong-mun."
"It’s an honor to meet you. My name is Yoo Jin-hyun."
I took his outstretched hand and met his gaze. If you turned Yeon Minha into a man and aged him considerably, this was what he might look like. Traces of the young boy from the photograph still lingered on his face, but time had slowly stolen his youth. His hair and skin looked dull and dry, and he wore thick glasses, perhaps because his eyesight had grown dim. His eyes appeared dark and lusterless at first glance, yet every now and then, some unknown spark—whether intelligence or madness—flickered deep within them.
Suddenly, I thought of the headmistress, who still retained the beauty of her youth. Even when this man attended the cradle, she must have looked just as young. They said that mages with truly exceptional talent could suppress aging and remain youthful until death. Did that mean this man had not reached that level?
A disciple who looked older than his master…
As I observed the man, he studied me in return. His gaze felt as though it could pierce straight through my mask. Beside me, Yeon Minha watched with clear tension in her eyes.
However, his sharp stare swept over me in an instant and vanished just as quickly.
"I was delayed by an important research project, so my greeting is late. I have been rude to a guest who has come after such a long time. Please forgive me with a generous heart."
"Oh, not at all. Thanks to the consideration from Senior… from you, sir, I have been living here without the slightest discomfort. On the contrary, I have received far more hospitality than I deserve."
It seemed I needed to adjust how I addressed him in front of her parents. Still, his unexpectedly kind attitude toward me was surprising. Wasn’t the Red Fire family notorious for the ferocious temperament caused by mental pollution across generations? No matter how much of it was feigned politeness, Yeon Minha herself hadn’t even shown this much courtesy when we first met. Perhaps she had inherited her mother’s personality rather than her appearance. In that case, was that earlier comment not actually a compliment?
It was all so confusing that I couldn’t quite get a read on it.
"I’m glad you see it that way. Now, let’s not stand here like this. Please, take a seat."
He gestured toward the chairs arranged at the table. The moment he turned, I thought I heard a faint metallic clink. Around the head of Red Fire’s neck hung an ornament that resembled a religious symbol, like a necklace. Unlike an ordinary cross, the upper part looked strangely elongated. At a glance, it almost seemed as if the cross was hanging upside down.
The necklace that had briefly been revealed soon disappeared beneath his collar. Since I knew absolutely nothing about religion, I didn’t pay it any further attention. However, I still remembered hearing that his face noticeably brightened after he began consulting with a nun every month. Could counseling with a religious figure really be that effective? Enough to alleviate mental pollution to some degree and even smooth out his personality? If so, I might seriously consider converting.
At the man’s gesture, we all took our seats one by one. Soft music began to play as the staff brought out the food.
"Yes. I heard long ago that you received the Golden Star Military Merit Medal. And that you took first place at the cradle by defeating the Destroyer Heaven."
"Yes, Father."
At Yeon Minha’s confirmation, the man nodded slowly, looking satisfied.
"That is exactly how the successor of Red Fire should be. How could I show my face if you fell behind those rat-like Destroyer Heaven bastards? It was a little late, but you did well. Continue to build on that achievement."
"Thank you, Father. I will strive even harder."
Though his voice was dry, Yeon Minha, seated beside him, looked overjoyed. Similar conversations continued afterward. But as the strange sense of unease grew stronger, I tilted my head in confusion.
He only repeated the same praises like a parrot—honor gained from the Golden Star Military Merit Medal and the achievement of defeating Destroyer Heaven. He showed zero interest in her mental pollution or the near-death crisis she had faced in the south. Just like her mother, who sat silently across from us, continuously drinking from her wine glass.
Yeon Minha seemed to interpret even that as praise directed at her, displaying only a happy expression…
"…This is also thanks to the sincere help I received from my junior here. Without this child, I would have struggled considerably by now."
"…I see. So he’s the recommended entrant from the Black Lotus."
At Yeon Minha’s gesture, the man turned his gaze back to me.
"I’ve been so absorbed in my research that I’ve paid no attention to outside affairs, but I think I’ve heard that story. The first recommended entrant from Black Lotus in seventeen years. Was it the young lady’s recommendation? Those people have shown no interest in external activities for a long time."
"That is correct."
I nodded at his words.
"He seems rather unique, but his skills appear solid. Our Red Fire has maintained a close relationship with Black Lotus across generations. We also share a common enemy in those vermin from Destroyer Heaven."
Once again, his gaze turned toward my mask.
"Though he is not a direct descendant, I am very satisfied that this connection continues. Please continue to serve my daughter well. Black Lotus is certainly a prestigious family, but it falls short compared to the long and deep history of our Red Fire. Moreover, those arrogant Destroyer Heaven fools will soon be driven into the ground…"
"…"
Serve? Was it just my imagination, or were some of those words strangely grating?
When I subtly turned my head to the side, Yeon Minha was fidgeting anxiously, glancing back and forth between me and her father. It seemed I hadn’t misheard after all.