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Chapter 14
“Me…?”
My older brother nodded. If it were just the two of us, I felt like I’d get flustered again. I hesitated, and he called me once more.
“Sojin.”
“Yes.”
“You’re coming, right?”
His gaze was so earnest that I couldn’t help but nod.
I walked down the corridor with Sohyeop. Where should I show him first? What was the most beautiful place in our home? Ah, I should probably start by offering congratulations. I turned my head.
“Um, Master Baek Muhwal, Sohyeop.”
“Han Sojin, madam.”
Ah, our voices overlapped. I quickly spoke up.
“You speak first, Sohyeop.”
“No, you speak first, madam.”
“Shall we do that, then?”
I spoke sincerely.
“I heard that you’ve been winning matches smoothly in the martial arts tournament. Congratulations.”
“It’s just been luck.”
“They say luck is also skill. I think you’ll advance to the finals without a hitch. When that happens, I’ll definitely come watch, no matter what.”
“You don’t have to push yourself. You don’t seem well.”
“…I look that bad?”
I had been relieved when my complexion improved earlier, but I guess I still looked unwell to others.
“There are chairs over there. Why don’t we rest for a moment?”
“I’m not tired at all, Sohyeop.”
I waved my hand.
“It’s just that I’m a little distracted because of the marriage arrangements.”
Sohyeop’s expression stiffened slightly.
“…Have you decided on a match?”
“I’d love that, but unfortunately, no. It’s actually the opposite.”
“Did something happen again?”
I answered immediately.
“No, nothing happened.”
“Yet your face looks like you’re about to cry.”
“Like I’m about to cry…?!”
I nearly fainted on the spot. Am I even in my right mind? I had been sitting there with a grim expression in front of such an important guest…! Since when had I stopped managing my expressions?
Today was just the worst in every way. I should’ve just stayed in my room. Even though I wasn’t feeling well, I had made all this fuss to entertain a guest.
‘Ah, this isn’t the time for this.’
First, I needed to cover my face. Flustered, I raised my sleeve to hide behind it.
“I have no face to meet Sohyeop. I never imagined my expression would look this serious.”
“I never said it was serious. I just said it looked like you were about to cry.”
“…I always wanted to show you my best side, Sohyeop.”
“Huh?”
Oops, my true feelings slipped out unconsciously. My body felt hotter. I quickly tried to explain.
“After the martial arts tournament, you’ll be leaving Anhui immediately. I just want you to leave with only good memories of this place.”
“…Good memories. Why do you say that?”
“Well, you’re remarkable, excellent, and admirable.”
‘Unlike me.’
I left the rest unsaid and slowly stepped back, but Sohyeop pierced right through me.
“Is that the real reason you want to spend time apart from me?”
“…Well…”
“Madam.”
Before I realized it, Sohyeop had come closer, speaking softly.
“Please answer while looking at me.”
“…I’m a mess right now.”
“That’s fine.”
Like the warm sun melting away a traveler’s cloak, I slowly lowered my arm. My face, surely red enough to look like it belonged in a gift box, was fully revealed.
But Sohyeop wasn’t surprised. He just looked at me quietly. I hid my trembling hands in my skirt and confessed my heart.
“You are someone so far above me that I dare not even look directly at you. That’s why, when I’m with you, I’m always nervous and make mistakes.”
‘And… I keep thinking that it would be wonderful to be married to you.’
But I could never say that. So I tried to skirt the topic.
“We’re at an age for marriage. Even if we grow closer here, it would only create rumors. No matter how much I meet with my brother and you, there are always people looking to cause trouble. I would never want my presence to block your path to marriage.”
“Is that so?”
Baek Muhwal, Sohyeop, murmured to himself.
“I would prefer that.”
His sudden change to half-formal speech made my head spin. But I gritted my teeth and endured it. I couldn’t afford to make a scene anymore.
And… “I would prefer that”? He can’t be saying he wants his path to marriage blocked because of me. That must be a hallucination. I must be feeling that unwell to hear it.
‘Should I go back to my room and rest now?’
I really thought I had imagined it—if not for what Sohyeop said next.
“Actually, it was my stubbornness that led me to invite you first.”
What does that mean? I blinked in surprise.
“My older brother… didn’t invite you first?”
“No, I asked that you be allowed to visit my home because I had something to say to you, madam.”
Sohyeop nodded. My heart started pounding. No, it can’t be. Someone like him wouldn’t take an interest in me. Yet my heart kept racing.
I had thought there was no chance for someone like Sohyeop to notice me. That his kindness was just due to his naturally gentle personality.
‘But… what if he liked me too…?’
I couldn’t hold back anymore. I mustered the courage to ask.
“What is it that you wanted to say?”
“……”
Sohyeop didn’t answer immediately. He just looked at me. Unlike my flushed face, his expression was calm and composed.
Why do I always become unnecessarily honest in front of him? I can deceive others without a flinch.
Then, Sohyeop finally spoke.
“I originally planned to say this after dinner, but now seems like the most appropriate moment.”
What is it? My eyes, burning with curiosity, could only see Sohyeop. Then, in his usual calm and polite manner, he spoke to me.
“Han Sojin, please marry me.”
Baek Muhwal, the “Black Dragon,” twenty-two years old, a martial arts master ranked among the top of his generation, wealthy, handsome, and renowned—the perfect man. Yet…
“All right.”
“Of course, we haven’t known each other long, so you might need time to think—but—yes?”
The sage who chose me…!
Until just moments ago, I thought there was no chance of this happening, that pursuing him would be a waste of time. I couldn’t believe this reality.
But I couldn’t let this miracle slip away.
With my heart for my family and my selfish wish to marry someone like Sohyeop, I grasped this lifeline—no, Sohyeop’s hand.
“Let’s spend a lifetime together!”
“……”
Sohyeop seemed slightly hesitant, as if he hadn’t expected me to accept immediately. But I was suspicious of him too, so it didn’t matter.
‘This is an opportunity I can’t let go. But… why? What did Sohyeop see in me to propose marriage?’
As I said, Sohyeop could have married someone far more suitable than me. He could even marry a daughter of a prominent family. Why me…? Perhaps Sohyeop likes someone like me.
‘Maybe the reason he was kind to me from the start was because he fell at first sight.’
Romantic as that sounds, such things do happen in reality.
‘Or maybe he thought if he married me, he wouldn’t have to live under his in-laws’ watchful eyes…?’
Marrying a daughter from a prestigious family would be great, but I’d have to live with them. Sohyeop has no extended family, so even more so.
‘What is the real reason?’
Lost in thought, Sohyeop spoke gently.
“Madam, perhaps you can let go of my hand now…?”
“Oh, sorry.”
I had been holding it without realizing. I quickly released his hand. But the expression of ‘I’m glad, but I don’t understand why you’re doing this’ remained.
“Are you curious why I proposed to you, madam?”
The effect was perfect. Sohyeop had spoken first. I nodded.
“Yes, I’m curious.”
“Then why did you accept immediately instead of asking why?”
‘Because of my desire to care for my family and my selfish wish to marry someone like Sohyeop.’
But I couldn’t say that. I gave another reason.
“I don’t think someone as wonderful as Sohyeop will appear again in my life. And… whatever the reason, it couldn’t be a bad one.”
“You seem to trust someone you’ve only known a short time too much.”
“In this dangerous world, if I can’t trust someone as righteous as Sohyeop, who can I trust?”
“……I suppose that’s true.”
“I still want you to tell me.”
I asked sincerely.
“The reason you want to take me as your wife.”
