A Tie Without Words
They were now in a relationship so refreshingly undefined it wasn't even worth putting a label on—like soda.
Honor compelled them into a spar, and after a full month of preparation, it ended in a draw. There they sat side by side, words failing them utterly.
In the end, Ryeon couldn't bear the stifling silence any longer and broke the ice.
"Um, you were both amazing out there."
"……."
"……."
The air hung thick with awkwardness. Ryeon swallowed a sigh.
Ha. It should've ended decisively one way or the other...
Then at least one of them might've felt vindicated. Both Danmok Seong and Geum Jongha's eyes were red-rimmed with frustration, but sheer pride kept their tears at bay.
"Should I step aside?"
Geum Jongha couldn't fathom why she wanted to review the match with him included. But the moment he moved to stand, hands from both sides grabbed Ryeon tight.
They startled, releasing her in a fluster.
"……Okay, okay. I'm not going anywhere."
Ryeon settled back down. Danmok Seong stared at her with fierce intensity before dipping her head slightly.
Geum Jongha was a boy from outside, but Danmok Seong was her cousin—and after a month of training together for this spar, she'd grown rather fond of her. Ryeon patted her back first.
"Seongie, you worked so hard. You were incredible. Really."
"You won, though. I... I..."
Danmok Seong's voice quivered.
Ryeon scratched her cheek. Her cousin, fresh from bedrest, had held her own against Geum Jongha with just a crash course in swordplay. No doubt Danmok Seong had believed she had to beat him too.
"No, Seongie. I..."
"Well, of course you're good at it, Ryeon."
The sudden jab made Ryeon's vision swim for a moment. She whipped around to glare at Geum Jongha.
His eyes flew wide under her sharp gaze.
"W-Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something weird?"
"Just be quiet."
"No, obviously you're better, so I lost to you fair and square. It was impressive... to beat me of all people. You've got to be some kind of genius!"
Geum Jongha even clapped.
Ryeon's jaw dropped in shock. Faced with undeniable reality, he'd apparently settled on that conclusion. An idea no one else could've mustered.
Danmok Seong glanced back and forth between Ryeon and Geum Jongha, lips pressed tight, thoughts unreadable.
Then she murmured softly.
"Yeah. Ryeon... she's fragile, but even more than me..."
A month of training and studying together made it impossible to ignore Ryeon's skill. Geum Jongha's was obvious too. His loss to her was, as he said, down to her talent and prowess.
Even more than her own.
The moment Danmok Seong accepted the outcome, Geum Jongha tilted his head.
He'd latched onto "fragile, but."
"Right, after our match, you were swaying on your feet. My father was so worried. You okay now?"
Saying it aloud gave Geum Jongha a big-brother vibe, which lifted his spirits a bit.
Yeah. I'm two years older, after all.
"That was ages ago... Of course I'm fine."
Danmok Seong pondered deeply to herself before nodding as if reaching a decision.
"Alright. Got it."
"Huh? Got what, Seongie?"
Ryeon's question went unanswered as Danmok Seong stood before her, face set with resolve.
"S-Seongie?"
"What's with you two?"
Geum Jongha looked baffled, but the Danmok girls paid him no mind.
Danmok Seong gripped Ryeon's shoulders firmly.
"Ryeon, from now on, just trust in me."
"Huh? I... I always trust you."
"What are you two... what're you doing without me?"
Some misunderstanding was clearly brewing, but Ryeon had no clue what it was, so she couldn't correct it.
Danmok Seong flushed belatedly, shoving Ryeon away before sitting back down, her expression even more earnest and fired up.
Geum Jongha, gauging the mood between them, cleared his throat softly and shot Ryeon a sidelong glance.
"So, Ryeon, help us review the match?"
"You two fought it—you should review it yourselves."
"But you watched the whole thing."
"And you both did it yourselves."
Ryeon mimed gripping an invisible sword and flowing through a motion she'd glimpsed in the recent spar.
Geum Jongha's eyes lit up like lightning had struck right in front of him.
"That! How did you just do that? That's my family's sword style, right?"
Overwhelmed by his intensity, Ryeon leaned back, glancing at Danmok Seong.
She was barely maintaining her composure, but her face betrayed desperate curiosity about what she'd just seen.
Ryeon's lips twitched before she gave in to the eager boy and girl before her.
They're both so sharp—my luck stat's gonna skyrocket... Fine, great. Perfect.
"Okay, alright. Let's review it together. Starting from your first clash..."
"Lady Wijicheong, it's been far too long, hasn't it?"
"Indeed. I'll make sure to visit more often from now on."
"Ahem."
"Hrm."
As Wijicheong and Song Yeongnang clasped hands warmly, Danmok Hyeon-yo and Geum Jeokgeol exchanged awkward coughs in silence.
Setting aside Danmok Seong's match, they were rivals over Hangzhou itself—not to mention both had fiery tempers. They weren't about to show how baffling it felt to smile at each other now.
The ladies' gentle smiles prompted Geum Jeokgeol to speak up.
"Your two young ladies of the Danmok Clan are so exceptionally talented. Must be gratifying."
"This is the bare minimum for the Danmok Clan."
Danmok Hyeon-yo, who'd been gushing over Danmok Seong moments before, lifted her chin coolly.
Geum Jeokgeol's brow twitched as Song Yeongnang sighed openly, hiding none of her disappointment.
"Still, Jongha's been called the best around since he was over ten. How did things turn out like this?"
"Dear."
"Sigh. You know it's true, my lord. I heard the young lady Seong only started sword training a month ago?"
A faint pride bloomed on Danmok Hyeon-yo's face. But Song Yeongnang's next words hardened it.
"So she's fully committed to the sword now? With your clan's renowned experts, she'd thrive there too."
"Well..."
Just half a month ago, Danmok Hyeon-yo would've flatly declared Seong would spar your son once more and drop the sword. But now, she couldn't say it.
Geum Jeokgeol, sensing her unease, smoothly changed the subject.
"Speaking of, your children will attend next year's Kyunghang Yunryeon too, I presume."
"Yes, likely. Bi's still too young, so he'll stay at the estate. And Geum Clan plans to bring young master Geum?"
"Don't remind me. I said I'd leave him if he lost. But with this draw... what choice do I have? He'll whine, 'You should've said draws don't count!' or 'How could I help her talent?' To keep him quiet, I have to take him."
"I hear Lady Song's family hails from Namjiknyeongseong. A visit there would delight them all."
"Who knows. I'm too blunt for my own good—half my family adores me, half can't stand me."
Danmok Hyeon-yo stifled a laugh with a cough, turning away. The frankness of airing her son's loss before his victors' families made it easy to picture home life.
"Truth be told, my husband was in the 'can't stand' camp at first too."
"Dear!"
Geum Jeokgeol called softly in mild panic, more flustered than scolding.
Song Yeongnang chuckled.
"But young Ryeon and Seong—they're so mature and composed. Humble too."
"Hrm."
Danmok Hyeon-yo coughed lightly, glancing at Wijicheong.
"Ryeon's taken after our inner lady, I suppose. Seong... favors her father."
"Ah! Master Seok Ban-an, your outer lady's husband? I've heard the rumors. Lines formed outside his home just to glimpse him in Jiangnan, they say?"
"No one ever won his heart, though."
Danmok Hyeon-yo spoke without thinking, then flushed as three pairs of eyes turned to her.
Back at the estate in the carriage, the children—exhausted—leaned on each other, fast asleep with steady breaths.
It had been an eventful day.
The kids who'd insisted on reviewing the match alone emerged looking utterly wrecked, fresh clothes ruined beyond salvage. Only Danmok Ryeon was pristine.
Danmok Hyeon-yo was equal parts exasperated and irked by Geum Jeokgeol's knowing look—like he had some idea what they'd been up to—but she held her tongue.
Afterward, they received gifts from the Geum Clan, prepared for the spar. Peering into the hamper, Danmok Hyeon-yo nearly toppled over backward.