IBMMA 7

 Chapter 7

What kind of disgrace is this…!

My face felt so hot with shame that I thought it would burn to ashes.

I looked around at the suddenly quiet surroundings. Everyone was staring at us with admiration in their eyes. Just thinking that they had seen my embarrassing scene made me want to run away.

This was the most important time in my life to be careful, yet I had physical contact with a man who wasn’t related to me…!

Even a small bump between a man and a woman could create rumors. This situation couldn’t be denied at all. People who already didn’t like me would happily gossip about it.

They would say I pretended to fall on purpose to catch Young Hero Baek Mu-wol’s attention.

Still, like always, I would manage to fix it somehow. Just thinking about the aftermath made me tired, but right now my brother was more important. I quickly greeted him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Young Hero. My name is Han Sojin. I am the younger sister of the inn’s owner. I apologize for my rudeness upon our first meeting.”

“Oh, so you have a younger sister, Young Master. My name is Baek Mu-wol.”

I couldn’t stop my voice from trembling. What is wrong with me today? Even monkeys fall from trees, and that was exactly how I felt. I carefully watched his reaction.

He was still smiling gently. Thankfully, he seemed to think I was just nervous because it was our first meeting. Feeling relieved, I spoke again.

“My brother didn’t mention me?”

“No, he mostly talked about your parents.”

I knew it. If he hadn’t talked about the family at all, that would be one thing—but to leave only me out again? Was I really that embarrassing?

His answer felt like pouring rain over my already gloomy mood from yesterday’s events. I was trying to hold back my rising sadness when—

“Wait, come to think of it…”

Baek Mu-wol looked as if he had just remembered something.

“Ah, no. He did mention you just before we parted, but I forgot for a moment.”

“What?”

With an awkward expression, he said, “I’m sorry. We talked about so many things…”

My eyes slowly widened. I stared at him blankly before lowering my head.

“I see. So my brother did talk about me.”

“Yes, he certainly did. But may I ask why you were looking for me?”

“My brother disappeared. After the meal, do you know where he went?”

“I’m not sure.”

“I see…”

Just as my last hope was about to vanish, he added,

“However, after the meal, I saw him receive a letter from someone and leave the inn in a hurry. He looked uneasy. I was slightly worried.”

“Was he holding the letter?”

“Yes, in his right hand.”

My head felt like it would explode from worry and confusion. He left so suddenly without telling anyone—did something bad happen?

I decided it would be better to search myself. I was about to rush out when—

“…Are you listening, Young Master?!”

“…Yes, I am listening.”

My brother, who now looked half-dead, entered the inn alongside a man wearing a bamboo hat. When I saw him, I shouted without thinking.

“Brother!”

He looked at me with hollow eyes and simply nodded. He had always been calm compared to my energetic greetings, but today he was too calm. Anyone would think we were strangers.

What happened to make him look so exhausted? Was it because of that man?

The man was clinging to my brother and talking nonstop. But something felt strange. Though he was speaking to my brother, his gaze was directed over my shoulder. It gave me chills.

Then he suddenly turned his body.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“Y-yes… please, take care.”

Without properly receiving my brother’s farewell, the man left the inn quickly. The moment he left, I ran to my brother.

“Brother!”

“Ugh.”

…He gagged at the sound of my voice?

Shocked, I froze. He sincerely pleaded,

“Don’t come closer.”

“Brother…”

He staggered upstairs. After he disappeared, I glanced at Baek Mu-wol. He had been watching the direction the man left, then said kindly,

“You should go to him quickly.”

“Thank you for helping me look for my brother, Young Hero. I’ll take my leave.”

After bowing, I hurried upstairs to the room my brother used for resting.

As soon as I entered, I saw him collapsed on the bed. My heart jumped, and I quickly checked if he was breathing properly. He stretched out his arms and legs and muttered,

“Ah, I finally feel like I can live again.”

“What on earth happened? And who was that man?”

“Close the door first.”

I shut the door. He leaned against the wall, rubbing his eyes.

“That was Young Master Namgung Yuhan of the Namgung Clan.”

“…Namgung Yuhan?”

“Sorry for staying out without notice. I didn’t have the time to inform you.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Yuhan was the second son of the Namgung Clan leader. I had heard his martial arts skills were excellent, though not as outstanding as his older brother’s.

“Was he the one who sent the letter?”

“Yes.”

So that’s why he rushed out immediately after reading it. But why would someone like him seek out my brother?

“Is it because of me?”

“Yes. Grandfather heard about you and, for the first time, wanted to meet someone based only on others’ words. He was so curious that Yuhan came to check.”

“…Grandfather?”

“They say he came secretly, prepared to face Grandfather’s anger. My heart is still pounding.”

My brother buried his face into the bed.

“Ah, this is driving me crazy.”

My heart was racing too.

“The one who wants to meet me is the Namgung Clan leader’s father?”

If that man was personally moving, then surely he was searching for a bride for the direct heir of the clan. It was such an overwhelming thought that I could barely stand still.

“Sojin.”

My brother called softly.

“Please ask one question at a time. My head feels like it’s splitting.”

“Then why do you look so terrible?”

“…I drank all the alcohol I’ll ever drink in my life last night.”

“You drank with Young Master Yuhan?”

“Yes. He said he wanted to get closer to me.”

Anyone could tell that was a lie. He must have wanted to get me drunk and gather information about you.

“At first it was fine, but no matter how much time passed, he wouldn’t get drunk. So he brought out stronger liquor… Ugh.”

Just then, someone shouted loudly outside. My brother gagged again.

“Are you okay?”

“Every time there’s a loud noise, my head pounds…”

Poor thing. He was suffering from a hangover and loud noises too. I sat beside the bed.

“He even used such a method. He must have been very curious about what kind of person I am.”

“…Yes.”

“So you had no choice but to talk about me this time, right? What did you say?”

He looked embarrassed.

“I just kept saying how highly others think of you. That you’re kind, pretty… things like that.”

“…Your mental strength is impressive. Anyone else would have slipped up by then.”

“Even if I praised you sincerely, they wouldn’t believe it.”

“That’s true, but…”

Hearing that he still hadn’t revealed anything about me left me feeling deflated.

After he calmed down a little, I asked again,

“What else did you talk about?”

“Nothing. Since I kept repeating myself, he eventually gave up and just bragged about his older brother. Until dawn.”

My brother shuddered.

“Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.”

“Is that really all?”

“…Leave it. Let me rest. And don’t tell our parents about today.”

“…Alright. Rest well.”

I covered him with a blanket and quietly walked out. As I reached the door, he called me again.

“Sojin.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t be too hurt.”

So something did happen after all.

I left the room, my heart still pounding.

Maybe this was something too big for me to handle.

I wanted to consult our parents, but my brother told me to keep it secret. Feeling just as unsteady as he had been, I stepped outside the inn.

“Wait a moment, Miss.”

As I stepped into a quiet street, I slowly turned around. The man in the bamboo hat was standing there.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Under the hat, his face was cold and stiff. The cheerful man from earlier was gone.

“As Young Master Jinhan must have told you, I am Namgung Yuhan of the Namgung Clan.”

“…I am Han Sojin.”

He approached slowly.

“I came to see you, prepared to sever ties with my grandfather. I don’t think this is right.”

“Young Master.”

I lowered my head.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t fully understand what this situation is or what you mean.”

It was true that his grandfather wanted to meet me. But—

“Nothing has been decided yet.”

“Exactly. That makes it easier to end.”

“What do you—”

He pulled out a heavy silk pouch and held it out to me.

“This is a gift to apologize for taking your precious time. It’s small, but please accept it.”

“…What?”

He continued coldly.

“Soon, my grandfather will send a letter to Clan Leader Han, saying this matter should be considered as if it never happened.”

My eyes slowly widened.

“Because you are not suitable to become a member of the Namgung Clan.”