🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 17
“Since things have turned out like this, shall I at least be introduced to the guy who’s going to become my little sister’s husband?”
Yang Euijun spoke as if completely unaffected by the tense atmosphere dominating the surroundings.
“Later. As you can see, Young Master Yu isn’t in good condition right now.”
When Yeonhwa answered, Yang Euijun wrinkled the bridge of his nose.
“Ha… The kid who used to trail behind me with that ‘I want to marry you, oppa’ face has grown up and now stands beside another man, only caring about him and taking his side. Huh… this feels worse than I expected.”
Yang Euijun wasn’t wrong.
Since childhood, Yeonhwa had followed him the most among the Three Spirits.
Partly because he resembled her real older brother, Namgung Seonyu, the most—but also because the other two had personalities that were harder to approach.
Even now, she sometimes overlapped him with her brother Seonyu in her mind.
Seonyu had been the only person who loved Yeonhwa when she was practically neglected within the clan—the only adult she had.
Only after his death did Yeonhwa realize that even Seonyu had been too young to shoulder responsibility for someone else.
As she drew closer to the age at which he died, that truth carved deeper into her heart and pained her more.
It was also why she could not turn away from the ideals her brother and the Namgung clan had carried in their hearts—the stability of the Martial Alliance and peace across the world.
Had she been staring at Yang Euijun for too long?
“Ugh…”
A groan sounded from beside her.
When she turned, Yu Geonmyeong was clutching his side.
It seemed the pain from earlier had flared up now that the tension had eased.
As Yeonhwa focused on him, Yang Euijun let out a dry laugh.
Moyong Yunhwan’s evaluation was cold.
“So I thought that girl had brought some loyal mutt claiming to be her husband-to-be… but turns out he’s a sly fox pup.”
“Right. I figured it was just like taking on another subordinate—nothing would really change… but we were completely wrong.”
Tak Museong muttered. His stiff posture had relaxed, but his ominous expression remained.
Still, he didn’t attack Yu Geonmyeong again.
He had realized that Yu Geonmyeong wasn’t just another maid, guard, or friend he could break—he was someone who might become her family.
As the sharp tension faded, a suffocating silence spread.
“Let’s go, let’s go. This isn’t the atmosphere for more talking. We’ll arrange another meeting soon.”
Yang Euijun, who hated situations like this, waved his hand to break the heavy mood and left with Tak Museong and Moyong Yunhwan.
The others who had been tense quickly followed their respective masters and disappeared.
Only Yeonhwa and Yu Geonmyeong remained.
They looked at each other and let out long sighs.
Then, perhaps finding each other a little funny, they both chuckled at the same time.
But suddenly Yeonhwa’s face turned serious.
Yu Geonmyeong blinked in confusion.
“Wh… what is it?”
“You clearly said we should go together. I can easily imagine what kind of treatment you received at Namgung Manor.”
“All the more reason I had to handle it myself. What kind of half-wit goes to propose marriage while relying on the help of the very person he’s proposing to?”
Yeonhwa thought that real couples who intended to marry properly would handle things together—and that they themselves should proceed fairly according to their agreement—but she couldn’t say it aloud.
Partly because of where they were, and partly because she saw the bright anticipation shining in his eyes and the proud way he held himself.
After all, he had gone through hardship alone for her sake—how could she scold him instead of praising him?
Looking into his chestnut-colored eyes—moist like damp earth yet firm like a fresh tree trunk—she spoke.
“So… did it go well?”
“Of course! The Namgung clan accepted the marriage proposal between you and me! Now… now…”
He swallowed, cleared his throat, and continued,
“I am your fiancé.”
“I look forward to working with you, Young Master Yu.”
“You’re still calling me that?”
“Well…”
Didn’t he call her ‘Commander Hyeonmu’ most of the time, ‘Miss’ when he was sulking, and ‘you’ in a familiar tone when he wanted to show closeness in front of others?
She hesitated, about to say that none of those really sounded like how one would address a future fiancée.
Only then did she realize that each title he had used carried its own kind of affection.
As she hesitated, Yu Geonmyeong spoke first.
“From now on, please call me by my name. And… may I call you by yours?”
It wasn’t something she needed to think hard about, so Yeonhwa nodded.
“Still… let’s take time to get used to it gradually. It’s still too awkward, isn’t it?”
Yu Geonmyeong smiled brightly in agreement, then winced when a wound inside his mouth was irritated.
“Honestly…”
Seeing blood welling at the corner of his lips again, Yeonhwa looked at him with mild exasperation.
Yu Geonmyeong lowered his gaze and leaned his face forward.
“Do you not know where the blood is?”
He blinked in agreement when she asked.
When Yeonhwa asked for his handkerchief, he hid it behind his back.
Come to think of it, he had done the same earlier—wiping his wounds with his clothes instead of using it.
Did he treasure it that much?
It was odd, but Yu Geonmyeong did strange things all the time.
So Yeonhwa simply pressed his wound gently with her own sleeve and helped him stand.
“I’ll escort you.”
“You… will escort me?”
“You’re injured and I’m fine. Of course I should take you.”
He couldn’t argue with that and leaned on her as he stood.
Because of their difference in height and build, it looked as if she were the one leaning into him—but in terms of martial ability, Yu Geonmyeong was no match for her.
She supported him with ease.
“When we get back, I’ll announce to everyone that we’re engaged.”
As he said this, Yeonhwa agreed. She had been planning to address the issue herself.
“The three oppas will probably verify it with Namgung Manor as soon as they return to the Alliance.”
And the Namgung clan leader would surely try to use the situation once he realized the Three Spirits didn’t approve of their engagement.
“If you had met the Three Spirits before getting permission today, things would have become far more complicated.”
Yu Geonmyeong sighed in relief.
“The faster the rumor spreads and becomes a fait accompli, the fewer problems will remain.”
If everyone in the Martial Alliance knew, even the Three Spirits or the Namgung clan wouldn’t be able to easily bury their engagement.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it well.”
Yu Geonmyeong said confidently.
Yeonhwa silently supported him.
The reason he felt so light was probably because he was putting more weight on his other leg to avoid burdening her.
Is this what having a comrade feels like?
Maybe she might even gain a friend.
Even though nothing was certain yet…
Her heart fluttered with excitement—and unease—because she didn’t know whether she deserved something so precious.
“Kyaaaah!”
Crash! Bang!
“Kyaaaah!”
Boom! Bang! Smash!
Chaos erupted in the most luxurious pavilion of Namgung Manor—the residence of Namgung Hyeju, daughter of the Grand Elder.
“W-what do we do?”
“Y-you go in and stop her! The young lady likes you!”
“No! Last time I accidentally stained her clothes and nearly lost my hand! I’m too scared to go in. She said she’d sell me off if I annoyed her again!”
Though sobbing, everyone knew that Hongri—the head maid who served closest to the young lady—should go.
As all eyes turned to her, Hongri forced herself forward and spoke at the door.
“Y-young lady… it’s m-me, Hongri… I-is something wrong?”
The room fell silent for a moment.
Has she calmed down? Hongri hoped…
Bang!
The door burst open, and a woman with eyes raised like a furious ghost grabbed Hongri and threw her inside.
Without even closing the door, she began venting her rage on Hongri lying on the floor.
The maids outside could only tremble helplessly, unable to intervene.
Then Grand Elder Namgung Gyu arrived.
He gently reassured the bowing maids, thanking them for their efforts, and went into his daughter’s room.
Seeing the scene inside, his eyes twitched. He sent Hongri out, then closed the door behind him.
