The Innocent Promise of a Younger Brother
Tang Suryeon was at a loss for words. It had only been a day since her daughters had left, and she had returned to her son’s room for a follow-up examination, only to find herself completely bewildered. While she didn't claim to be a divine healer, she prided herself on having medical knowledge far superior to the average physician. How could she, a woman who stood on equal footing with the Master of the Poison Medical Pavilion, have missed a problem in his upper Danjeon?
'There was clearly nothing wrong when I examined him. How strange.'
She had briefly wondered if Tang Hwi was putting on an act, but that thought vanished as quickly as it came.
"Mother, am I sick somewhere?"
"...No, you're fine."
"That's a relief!"
If he were acting, he wouldn't be able to produce such a bright, pure smile—the same innocent expression he wore when he was a young child. Even to her, a master in the Hyeon-gyeong realm, his reaction seemed entirely devoid of ulterior motives. It left her in a state of confusion. To be honest, the Tang Hwi she knew was a son who suffered from a deep sense of inferiority, largely due to her own lack of proper guidance. He had always been jealous of his sisters, Tang Ga-hui and Tang Ga-in, inheriting more of his father Namgung Bu-ryun’s insecure nature than her own.
Until recently, he had barely even visited Tang Ga-hui, who lived under the same roof, as if he didn't even consider her family because of the scars on her face. She had thought he was finally maturing, only for this disaster to occur. Tang Ga-hui, who had struck his vital point with a palm strike, was pacing anxiously, while Tang Ga-in was furrowing her brows, clearly confused by something.
"There doesn't seem to be any problem with your upper Danjeon. It appears to be temporary amnesia caused by the shock... In such cases, memories often return naturally as time passes. So, don't worry too much."
"Yes! Thank you, Mother. Hehe."
"......"
When she stroked his cheek to ease his worries, he giggled happily and rubbed his face against her palm. The gesture was so reminiscent of the innocent Tang Hwi from the past that Tang Suryeon was momentarily rendered speechless. How long had it been since she had received such pure, affectionate goodwill from her son? Discovering that she was secretly delighted by her son’s childish behavior, she realized that her maternal instincts were still very much alive. She offered a rare, soft smile and said, "Then, you should get some rest."
"Can't you stay a little longer?"
"...I'm afraid that's not possible."
Even though he had just passed his coming-of-age ceremony, his face was so soft and docile, and his pouting was devastatingly effective. Tang Suryeon, who had almost given in and agreed, barely managed to suppress the urge, settling for patting his head instead to soothe him.
"Instead, your sisters will stay with you. Ga-hui and Ga-in will take good care of you."
"My sisters and Ga-in?"
At Tang Suryeon’s words, Tang Hwi rolled his eyes. He scanned his room once and then asked, looking as if he couldn't understand, "Mother, where are those two?"
"...Hm?"
Only then did Tang Suryeon realize she hadn't told him what time it was. She had only mentioned that he was injured and being examined. Before she could explain, he spoke again.
"There's only Mom and some pretty sisters I've never seen before here."
"What? ...Pfft. I see. Pretty sisters, are they?"
Tang Suryeon smiled at the innocent and honest observation of the regressed Tang Hwi, and she glanced behind her to check her daughters' reactions. Tang Ga-hui, wearing her veil, looked awkward, and Tang Ga-in had turned her head away, though the redness of her neck suggested she was secretly pleased. If he continued to call his grown-up sisters "pretty sisters" even after his memories returned, it might become quite the spectacle.
'Come to think of it, I haven't changed much from ten years ago thanks to my metamorphosis.'
She had reached the Hyeon-gyeong realm ten years ago and undergone Hwangoltaltae. Her skin had improved, leaving her with the appearance of someone in her early thirties. Even if Tang Hwi had regressed fifteen years, he didn't look much different from his current self, so it was a distance where he could easily recognize her as "Mom." However, to be cared for by them, he would eventually need to understand his true identity and current situation to avoid any discord.
"Hwi, listen carefully."
Tang Suryeon explained the current situation to her son who had lost his memories. As he listened, Tang Hwi’s mouth gradually hung open, and he stared intently at Tang Ga-hui and Tang Ga-in. Finally, he managed to blurt out one sentence.
"G-Ga-in is a snot-nosed brat...?"
"......"
Thwack. The only result he got was a chestnut on the head from a furious Tang Ga-in, whose eyes had turned vicious.
Tang Ga-hui stared blankly at Tang Hwi, who had fainted again after being struck by her youngest sister. Tang Ga-in had been dragged away by Tang Suryeon, bombarded with nagging for flicking the forehead of a patient with a head injury, so only Tang Hwi and Tang Ga-hui remained in the room. The words her brother had uttered just moments ago suddenly surfaced in her mind.
'He said I was pretty. ...Since I'm wearing a veil, he must have only evaluated me based on my figure.'
Tang Ga-hui, who lacked confidence, thought this subconsciously. It was inevitable; if Tang Hwi was back to his younger self, it meant he was before he had matured. Before he had matured, hadn't he looked at the scars on her face, called her grotesque, and treated her like a stranger? He hadn't come to eat with her like he did now, nor had he teased her or played with her like in the old days. Therefore, the possibility of receiving that look of disgust from Tang Hwi again was a source of terror for her.
She had finally gathered the courage to leave her room, only to fear that her own mistake would lead her brother to treat her that way again. Just imagining it made her shiver, and a sense of hopelessness that made her feel as if her breath would stop washed over her. Still, she couldn't push her brother away. Even her father treated her as if she were something repulsive... Tang Hwi was the only family member left, a man who acknowledged her despite her being a woman.
"S-Sister...?"
"Ah, Hwi. Are you awake?"
"I... I'm thirsty. Give me some water..."
"Yes. I'll bring it right away, so just wait a moment."
Tang Ga-hui hurriedly filled a cup with water and brought it to him. Her speed was swift, as befitted someone who had learned martial arts. She tilted the cup to the lips of her younger brother, who was opening his mouth like a baby bird, and let him drink. Since he had suffered internal injuries in various meridians, he had difficulty moving, so he needed help even with something as simple as drinking water. It probably wouldn't take long for him to become mobile again, but for now, she had to help him with even the smallest things.
"Gulp. Gulp. ...Phew. I survived thanks to you, Sister."
"You're being quite dramatic."
"I'm not! It was a thirst that felt like my throat was burning!"
"Fufu. Yes, yes."
Tang Hwi bristled at Tang Ga-hui, who treated him as if he were cute, his mind regressed and his patience as thin as a child's. He made a sullen expression and asked abruptly, "But why are you covering your face, Sister? Did you catch a cold?"
"......"
She had wondered when that question would come up. As expected, her brother didn't know what was behind the veil. Naturally, she had expected him to be curious. But even if one prepares their heart in advance, few people can do everything without hesitation. Tang Ga-hui was one of those people, and she remained silent for a long time, not knowing how to answer. Tang Hwi also stared at her for a long time. During the long silence, he silently watched Tang Ga-hui’s face, waiting for an answer.
Eventually, her hand slowly rose to her shoulder. Her hand touched her face and slowly untied the strings holding the veil in place. As she lowered the veil, her dark, discolored skin was revealed. It looked as if she had been burned; nearly half of her face had turned dark and mottled, giving off an almost inhuman atmosphere. In an era where even the Southern Barbarians, who lived in the tropical forests of Yunnan and burned their skin in the sun, were discriminated against for their dark skin, the fact that a woman once called the "First Beauty of Sichuan" like Tang Ga-hui had a scarred face was a perfect excuse to tear her down. Thus, Tang Hwi could vaguely guess how much she had suffered and how much her heart had ached.
"Sister."
"Yes."
"It looks grotesque."
"...Is that so?"
She had expected it, but it still hurt. Tang Ga-hui felt a stinging pain, as if an invisible awl were gouging her heart. Was this the moment people fell into a Heart Demon and died from Qi Deviation...?
"So, you... marry me!"
"......Huh?"
He had said it looked grotesque, so what did he mean by telling her to marry him? She was stunned, unable to understand his words, so Tang Hwi shouted again with a grumpy expression.
"When I grow up later, marry me! Since your face is scarred, no one else will want to take you, right? So... so I'll take you!"
Tang Ga-hui finally understood the situation a little. 'Ah. Is that it? Like how children shout that they'll marry their parents when they grow up.'
Children are more transparent and sensitive to emotions than people think. It's not for nothing that people say children are mirrors of their parents. Therefore, children who grow up receiving the true love of their parents often blurt out, "I'm going to marry ○○ when I grow up!" to repay that love. Tang Hwi was doing the same right now. He was worried about his sister's marriage and was offering a worthless blank check, saying he would take responsibility for her. It was truly a common, childish act of consideration, but... why did it make her heart feel so warm?
As if winter had passed and spring had arrived, the sorrow that had been gnawing at her heart melted away. A warm smile, as if all her lingering regrets had cleanly vanished, was already resting on her lips.
"Fufu. Yes. Then, if there's really no suitable place for me to marry later, I'll marry our Hwi."
A promise made while returning to childhood innocence. Because it was a promise with no validity or binding force, Tang Ga-hui had said it casually, but...
"S-Sister... My, my little brother is hurting..."
"......"
Tang Ga-hui, who had just thought that perhaps it might actually be kept, broke out in a cold sweat.