Identity Revealed
That night, in I-hyeon's bedchamber, he and his bodyguards lay down once more to sleep. The uproar of the day had worn him out, and he was under almost at once.
Tomusa watched him with a look that said she found him unbearably cute. She meant only to keep an eye on him a little longer, then close her own eyes in peace.
But one person in that room was harboring entirely different thoughts.
'It's a little sooner than I planned, but I have to complete the rite. Once I do, the young master will have eyes for no one but me. The way he went on about that little kitten today—I was furious...! Still, it's all right. A honeymoon sweet as a dream is waiting for me.'
Myoryeong gathered into her palm the secret power she had kept hidden. The hand she slowly extended toward I-hyeon came to rest, at last, against his brow, and every trace of the energy in her hand flowed into him.
'Now the fun begins. Ah, I can hardly wait for tomorrow.'
I slept well...! But why, today of all days, did my heart ache like this?
I was the first one up, so for once I decided to take a morning walk before anything else. Careful not to wake Myoryeong or Tomusa, I slipped out of bed. Outside, first. Afraid the sound of my steps might rouse them, I rose onto my toes and crept along.
"A morning walk really is the best."
"I think so too."
"Gah?!"
I was taking the fresh morning wind full in the face when Myoryeong suddenly leaned in, her face far too close. For a second my heart dropped straight through the floor.
"What—when did you get up? I saw you sleeping when I left."
"I was already awake before you were, Young Master."
"Then why were you pretending to sleep?"
"Because the way you tiptoe around is especially cute."
"Wh... what is that, seriously...."
What was this? Myoryeong complimenting me left a strange, ticklish feeling under my skin.
"Young Master, what's the matter?"
She swept her hair back behind her ear and looked at me. Something about her was different. Had she always been this radiant?
"Uh... n-nothing! If Tomusa wakes up she might scold us, so let's just go back in!"
I managed to play it calm, but Myoryeong was watching me with a faintly wicked gleam in her eyes. It had to be my imagination. She was a little bit my type to begin with, and today she looked even more so.... Wait. Had my type always been someone like Myoryeong? What even was my type in my past life? My head was a mess.
"Young Master, are you all right?"
"Mm. My head's a mess. And my heart won't stop pounding...."
What was I doing, explaining all of this in such detail?
"Could you have a fever?"
Myoryeong bent at the waist and looked at me with worried eyes, then laid a hand on my forehead to check. She smelled good. And had she always been this bewitching....
"Young Master, why are you staring a hole through me?"
"I—I! When did I ever!!"
"You were just staring straight at my chest."
"I... I wasn't?"
She seized both my cheeks and forced my eyes to meet hers.
"Lying is bad, Young Master!"
If she stared at me like that, I was going to lose my mind...!
"Ugh... Tomusa!!"
In a panic I shouted for her. Tomusa came straight through the window and landed on the floor. My room was on the second floor—did that not hurt? I shook off Myoryeong's hands, ran to Tomusa, and threw myself into her arms.
"Tomusaaa~."
"What's wrong, Young Master? Did that one do something?"
"No, Myoryeong didn't exactly do anything...."
I hid behind Tomusa's leg and stole a glance at Myoryeong. The itchy, hazy feeling was still there.
"I don't know! Myoryeong's being weird—or am I the weird one....? Ugh... anyway, something's wrong!"
Tomusa looked from me to Myoryeong and back. Then, eyes fixed on Myoryeong, she dropped her voice.
"Watch yourself."
Even I could feel how lethal that was, and Myoryeong looked thrown.
"First, let's get you properly dressed and go eat."
"Yeah. We should."
And so a morning in which I had felt something toward Myoryeong came and went. As on any other day, I sat down to eat with the servants.
"But why is Myoryeong sitting here?"
"You always said you wished we could eat together, Young Master. So from now on, I will."
She only beamed at me, smile after smile.
"But why start today, of all days? Suspicious."
I narrowed my eyes and stared straight at her.
"Hm? Suspicious how?"
Myoryeong put on a face of perfect innocence. Cute—but she was definitely up to something.
"Anyway, Tomusa, you're not eating with us?"
"No. It's something like a personal creed."
"All right. Got it."
Tomusa wasn't eating, so if Myoryeong made a suspicious move, she would catch it right away. Wouldn't she?
"Young Master, please eat. Everyone is waiting."
"Uuugh, fine."
Suspicious or not, I couldn't skip a meal. Tomusa was here. It would be fine. Even so, I kept my eyes on Myoryeong and refused to let my guard down.
"I'll enjoy this."
Today, as ever, I launched into the meal like it was a battle. Only something was different....
"Young Master, open up. Aaah~"
Myoryeong, right beside me, was feeding me.
"Mm! This is good!"
"Isn't it? I thought you'd like it."
How did she know exactly what I liked? It wasn't bad. It was suspicious.
"Young Master, try these two together. Aaah~"
"Mm! They're even better together."
"See!"
Every time I happily accepted a bite, Myoryeong looked delighted. And since it wasn't unpleasant, I kept letting her feed me. Oh no—this was how I got wrapped around her finger! By the time I realized it, the meal was already over.
"Thank you for the meal."
I thought it had been a rare, leisurely, pleasant breakfast, but the servants wore unsatisfied looks, as if something had been left wanting. Hmm... why? I had definitely enjoyed the food they prepared today.
"Is something wrong with everyone?"
"Not at all! We're fine!"
"We were just staring blankly, watching the young lord eat so happily!"
"That's right! You don't need to worry about us."
Hmm.... If they insisted that much, it couldn't be anything serious.
"All right. Then everyone, enjoy your meal."
I left the dining hall behind the servants still insisting they were fine. If they said so themselves, it really couldn't be much.
"First, I should go see Mother and Father."
Following the day's routine, I headed for the Clan Lord's residence. The door rattled open under my hand.
"Father! Mother!"
I flung open the office where they were and called out.
"So. Did you eat well?"
Mother greeted me with a gentle smile.
"Yes, it was delicious. But where's Father?"
"He had business in town and stepped out for a little while. He'll be back soon."
It felt empty without Father beside her. They always went everywhere together, and he had gone out alone....
"Speaking of which, I distinctly told you to reflect yesterday, and yet I heard quite a commotion. Did you reflect properly?"
Mother's lecture began without warning. She had to mean the racket over Myoryeong.
"Come on, I reflected properly. That noise was just Tomusa scolding me the way she should."
Mm! Even I thought I had covered that well. But contrary to my hopes, Mother let out a short, incredulous laugh.
"Well. To hand down the same punishment two days in a row would be excessive. I shall let it pass."
"Then I can play today?"
"Yes. Spend the day as you please."
Yes! I could finally test the Hapgeok Formation.
"Ah. Hayeong, remain a moment. I have something to say."
Ack. Without Tomusa I was uneasy. I couldn't handle Myoryeong's suspicious movements on my own.
"May I listen too?"
"No. You will withdraw."
No!
"Then we should head back, Young Master."
Myoryeong smiled with her eyes and lifted me up.
"Tomusa, come out quick! I'll hold out as long as I can!"
I shouted as she carried me out of the room.
"Really. What has gotten into him. He has grown so spoiled."
Yu Dan-a let out a long breath.
"Clan Lord, you said you had something to tell me. What on earth...."
Yu Dan-a's manner turned markedly grave.
"I have learned the identity of the one behind the kidnapping."
At the single word kidnapping, Tomusa felt rage boil up inside her.
"Who?"
She forced herself to stay calm and waited for Dan-a's answer.
"Then you're saying the kidnapper is with the young master right now!"
"Compose yourself. I judged that no immediate harm would come to I-hyeon, which is why I left them together."
"Clan Lord, even so...! Even so...!!"
Tomusa clenched her fists harder than she ever had. Yu Dan-a understood, and set a hand on her shoulder.
"My husband is laying a heaven-cast net outside the clan. But it still needs time."
"How long must we wait? I could kill her this very moment."
"No. I-hyeon could be badly shocked. It would wound that child deeply. This must be done in secret."
Tomusa swallowed the words she wanted to say.
"How long do we wait?"
"Tonight. After I-hyeon is asleep, we take the enemy alive. Your role will be vital."
"...Yes. I understand."
And so time began to move.