🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 30
Geum Seolha looked at the men in black with a conflicted expression. She imagined this was exactly how Hado-un must have felt when he looked at her and asked if climbing over a wall was really that difficult.
“If you want to openly spread rumors everywhere that you’re planning something suspicious, then go ahead.”
“…”
“Wow, but if the Odocmun notices that, wouldn’t that be really interesting?”
“Th-that…”
“They’ll wonder what could possibly be so important for you to make such a fuss over it. Then they’ll definitely uncover whatever you’ve been desperately hiding.”
Letting out an exaggerated sigh for everyone to hear, Geum Seolha continued nonchalantly,
“Someone barely managed to save a life by going to meet a person they swore they would never see again for the rest of their life.”
“…”
“And now we’ve got some unbelievable bastards here who want to expose everything?”
The eyes of the men in black shook violently. Among them, only their leader, who had understood all of Geum Seolha’s words properly, had veins bulging on his forehead.
“However—”
“Enough with the ‘however.’ If I tell you not to do it, then don’t. Not only your master, but other people will also end up in danger.”
Unlike before, Geum Seolha met his gaze with a coldly cynical expression.
“Starting with the Hao Sect, the internal affairs of the Geumrin Merchant Guild, and now even you people have become entangled in this. Do you think your master’s head will be the only one rolling if one side happens to make a wrong move?”
It didn’t seem like they were incapable of understanding, but they simply couldn’t let go. Geum Seolha looked at him disapprovingly.
“As for me, whether I’m treated coldly or looked down upon, I’m still a blood relative of Geumrin, so I’ll be safe.”
That wasn’t bravado—it was simply the truth.
“But the owner of that sachet won’t be.”
Contrary to her languid voice, her gaze was sharpened like a blade of frost as she forced them to make a choice.
“So if you’re going to choose a side, choose properly.”
Geum Seolha declared firmly.
“If you’re going to take my hand, then abandon any thoughts of doing something foolish. If you do that, I’ll make sure your master leaves Geumrin safely somehow.”
Realizing that his suspicions had been correct, the leader of the men in black hesitated before finally speaking after a long silence.
“Then I would like to assign someone to you.”
“What?”
The corner of Geum Seolha’s eyes lifted. Just when she thought she had secured the upper hand, she found it irritating that he was casually dropping formalities.
“…I would like to assign someone.”
“No.”
Geum Seolha immediately cut him off.
“I’m already in a position where I’m treated poorly in this household. If an unfamiliar person starts hanging around me, people will become suspicious right away.”
A strange light flickered across the faces of the usually expressionless men in black.
“You don’t seem like someone who would be in that kind of position.”
Geum Seolha’s eyebrow twitched. So that was what had been bothering them?
“I tend to behave quietly as long as no one provokes me.”
Following the men in black, even Hado-un’s expression became subtle. The meaning behind those faces was painfully obvious.
No matter how you looked at it, that didn’t seem right.
Veins bulged on Geum Seolha’s forehead as she read their expressions.
What do these people take me for?!
“Fine, fine.”
It was better for someone as generous as herself to simply endure it.
An even stranger atmosphere settled over the group, but Geum Seolha paid it no mind. The problem she had devoted days of effort to had finally been resolved.
Now all that remained was to overturn Geumrin’s internal affairs.
“That took longer than expected.”
Patience was long, and its fruits were sweet.
The harvest was not far away.
Geum Seolha’s golden eyes gleamed brightly. After returning from her unexpected outing, she headed toward Yu Eunseol’s quarters.
“I’m back, Eunseol.”
Geum Seolha gently brushed Yu Eunseol’s hair by her bedside. Thanks to Yu Wonkang monitoring her condition as requested by Madam Baek, Yu Eunseol appeared much more stable.
“Nothing unusual happened.”
“That’s a relief.”
Geum Seolha let out a sigh of relief. Her gaze shifted toward the maid. Understanding her intent, Yu Wonkang instructed the maid to prepare medicine and sent her away.
“Do you have something to discuss?”
Geum Seolha glanced at Hado-un. As if to confirm there were no listening ears nearby, Hado-un nodded.
“Please give this to Madam Baek.”
Geum Seolha took out the box she had received from the men in black.
“This is…”
“It is something to be used on that person. And once their condition stabilizes, you must inform us.”
Hado-un explained in Geum Seolha’s stead.
“Could this be an antidote?”
“It isn’t a complete antidote. I heard it’s more of a neutralizing agent… but considering they’ve survived this long, this alone might function as an antidote.”
Yu Wonkang’s hands trembled at Geum Seolha’s words. He didn’t know where she had obtained such a thing, but she had no reason to lie.
“Doctor Yu occasionally checked on Madam Baek’s condition, and during the rest of the time, he was occupied taking care of the maid at my request. Understood?”
As if reaffirming their understanding, Geum Seolha repeated herself in a whisper. Yu Wonkang’s gaze deepened.
“That goes without saying.”
“I can trust that your answer won’t change no matter who asks?”
“You need not worry.”
Yu Wonkang slowly nodded.
Only then did Geum Seolha’s lips curl into a relaxed smile.
Soon after, the maid returned with the medicine, and Yu Wonkang left to deliver it to Madam Baek. Even then, Geum Seolha remained seated by Yu Eunseol’s side for quite some time.
Only after Yu Wonkang returned did Geum Seolha head back to her own quarters with Hado-un.
“We should make proper preparations here as well.”
“Are you truly certain about this?”
“I told you before, Hado-un. I’m going to become the master of Geumrin.”
Geum Seolha laughed softly.
“It’s only a matter of timing. Those people were destined to become my enemies eventually.”
So it didn’t matter if things happened a little sooner.
“Besides, some opportunities arrive together with opposition.”
She still hadn’t fully grasped the personalities of all her uncles.
‘The greater the risk, the greater the chance of success.’
That had always been Geum Seolha’s specialty—finding opportunities amidst danger.
“Let them come.”
She would turn all of it into her opportunity.
Geum Seolha and Hado-un arranged medicinal herbs, bowls of decoctions, white bandages, and medicine boxes throughout the room.
“The smell is fainter than I expected. Should I just spill it directly onto the bed?”
As Geum Seolha pondered while holding the medicine, Hado-un shook his head.
“Wouldn’t it be more suspicious if the soaked bedding wasn’t washed?”
“That’s true too.”
Though disappointed, Geum Seolha relented.
A short while later, someone knocked on the door to Geum Seolha’s quarters.
“I heard you needed my help, Miss.”
“Come in, Yeongyeong.”
Geum Seolha welcomed So Yeongyeong. At last, all the pieces she had prepared for her game board had gathered.
After hearing Geum Seolha’s explanation, So Yeongyeong’s expression became grave.
“Will you really be alright, Miss?”
“Don’t worry.”
“But…”
“I don’t fight battles I’m destined to lose.”
Even after hearing Geum Seolha’s words, So Yeongyeong still seemed uneasy. However, she soon steeled her resolve.
“Understood, Miss. I’ll do as you instructed. I just need to spread those words among those children, right?”
As So Yeongyeong repeated the names to herself so she wouldn’t forget them, Geum Seolha’s eyes curved into crescents. They were the people who had been present that day.
‘I said I wouldn’t forget.’
Now it was time to keep that promise.
“That’s right.”
At Geum Seolha’s firm response, So Yeongyeong nodded vigorously.
“I’ll carry it out properly.”
She spoke while touching the necklace adorned with a jade ornament that Geum Seolha had given her for this task.
Geum Seolha looked outside. Darkness had begun to spread across the sky as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon.
“Are you coming along this time as well?”
“Now that I know Geumrin isn’t safe either, I would appreciate it if you stopped trying to stop me.”
Hado-un’s somewhat sullen response reflected the fact that he now knew the full extent of what had happened.
“I was going to tell you everything.”
“Even if it was something that could have been resolved without telling me?”
“…Of course.”
“Your answer was delayed.”
Geum Seolha flinched and shrank back.
“Are you angry?”
“I’m not angry. I’m worried.”
Startled, frustrated, concerned. If Yu Eunseol had been here, she would have conveyed those emotions far more smoothly, but for him, it wasn’t easy.
Geum Seolha reached out and held his hand.
“It’s okay. Everything will work out.”
“I hope so as well.”
A complicated expression crossed Hado-un’s face.
That night, Geum Seolha and Hado-un met Madam Baek, who had tears welling in her eyes, after the two of them became equally filthy while crawling through a hole in the wall tucked away in a corner of the Geum household.
