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Chapter : 26
“Unni, what are you doing here?”
At Yeonhwa’s question, Namgung Hyeju stretched her lips sideways into a long grin.
“It’s the day of the engagement ceremony. Since there’s no lady of the house to oversee the event, it’s only natural that I, as your senior sister, step in.”
Then, as she entered the room uninvited, she noticed Hongri sitting down hesitantly and raised her eyes in surprise.
“Eek!”
Hongri curled up small like a frightened caterpillar.
She looked so fragile that a gentle poke on her back might make her roll right out of the room—it was almost cute.
But she couldn’t stay like that forever, so Yeonhwa grabbed Hongri by the nape and lightly set her on a chair.
Once Hongri sat, trembling, Yeonhwa tapped the top of her head lightly with her fingertips, then turned to look at Namgung Hyeju.
Namgung Hyeju, on one hand, mocked Yeonhwa for picking up and reusing what she had discarded…
But at the same time, seeing something that had once been hers doing much better under someone else’s care irritated her.
‘It almost feels like I didn’t do enough!’
It’s not like she hadn’t fed her or clothed her!
How much more could she have done for a lowly girl who only served her?
Hyeju snorted in annoyance, but when her eyes met Yeonhwa’s, her expression shifted.
“I happened to overhear outside—you said you didn’t have anything red for the engagement ceremony, right? That’s not just a token; it’s practically a display of one’s status. The rarer it is, the better, and if not, at least it should have some deep meaning so it won’t become a laughingstock.”
Then, scolding Yeonhwa for trusting someone else to prepare such an important thing, she revealed that she liked red gemstones and had a few nice ones to lend her, emerging triumphantly.
‘Hmm.’
Yeonhwa had never hidden the fact that she lacked red items, so it wasn’t surprising that Namgung Hyeju came knowing and looking for them.
But judging by how unusually clingy she was this time, it seemed like she had quite a big favor to ask.
“Really, what is it you want?”
“Well…”
“If you’re going to say again that it’s only natural for a senior sister to help, I’ll assume you don’t have anything urgent.”
Though the person came to exploit a weakness on someone else’s engagement morning, Yeonhwa didn’t see it as a weakness—but even dealing with her this much was more than fair.
When Yeonhwa cut her off sharply, Namgung Hyeju bit her lip.
Then, as if she had no choice, she spoke.
“After the engagement ceremony, Yeonhwa, you won’t be able to focus only on the family affairs as before. So I thought I’d help with some of the tasks you used to handle.”
“……”
“Nothing major. You organize various matters needed by the family and report them to Samryeong, right? I wanted to do that on your behalf.”
“……”
When no response came, Namgung Hyeju’s anxiety reached its peak.
“You didn’t like that role anyway. Even when the head of the household asked you to pass a message, you resisted, saying it would seem like pleading to Samryeong!”
In her heart, Hyeju was more irritated because she didn’t believe Yeonhwa truly disliked the task—but what could she do?
“Yeonhwa, what you dislike, I’ll do instead. It’s good for you, good for me. Everyone benefits—what reason is there not to?”
Finishing her statement, Namgung Hyeju watched Yeonhwa’s reaction.
Yeonhwa, having listened silently, shrugged.
“Very well.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. That’s your decision, isn’t it, unni?”
“What? Are you saying you won’t help me now?”
Yeonhwa almost wanted to ask since when they had been on such good terms, but she let it go.
Whatever she said, Namgung Hyeju would erupt, so she decided to just say what needed to be said and leave.
“How can I help with that? It’s up to Samryeong—go to them and speak.”
“Yaaah! Namgung Yeonhwa, you! You’re deliberately refusing to help me! Because the elders of the family support Hyechan oppa, you plan to do the same? Honestly, don’t you think I’m better than Hyechan oppa?”
“Why would you have such a misconception? To me, both are the same.”
Namgung Hyeju grew furious at Yeonhwa’s calm, tilted expression, feeling her chest tighten.
Just as Hyeju was about to completely lose her composure and rampage, a loud voice came from outside.
“Master, the chief has arrived and asks if preparations are complete. The engagement ceremony is about to begin.”
It was Jiwonhyeong, now known as Yeonhwa’s direct subordinate rather than a general under the Hyunmu platform.
“Understood. I’ll be out soon.”
Yeonhwa checked her ceremonial robe one last time—pale blue with a different textured silver border—then headed to the door. Namgung Hyeju called out.
“I’ll lend you a really nice red item, no, I’ll just give it to you! I don’t want anything big. Just say a word to Samryeong, okay? Okay?”
Hyeju tried to cling to her as expected, but Yeonhwa had anticipated it.
“No, that won’t do, Miss!”
Hongri, curled up like a caterpillar, rolled out and blocked her, completely surprising Hyeju even as she tried to grab her.
Yeonhwa frowned, glancing at the two trailing behind her like shadows.
Jiwonhyeong, seeing the scene from the half-open door, paused.
Meanwhile, Yeonhwa flung the door open and passed him, stepping outside.
“Yeonhwa!”
“Miss!”
Dropping the pair lightly behind her, Yeonhwa looked at Jiwonhyeong.
He had been about to take something out, but was so startled he dropped it.
Yeonhwa looked down, intending to reach for it herself—it was wrapped carefully in silk, something clearly precious.
She handed it to Jiwonhyeong.
He hesitated before taking it, and then a familiar voice came.
“Yeonhwa!”
It was Yu Geonmyeong.
Yeonhwa quickly handed what she held to Jiwonhyeong and turned away.
The hem of her pale blue ceremonial robe fluttered as she walked off.
From the opposite side, a fresh young man wearing a robe of the same color approached.
“I’m sorry, truly sorry.”
Yu Geonmyeong kept apologizing in front of Yeonhwa.
On the day he had quarreled with another member of Baekho Unit and fought heavily with Muryeong, he had returned to his quarters and started feeling unwell.
He could still move, but it was only enough to manage his condition quietly, reaching his quarters under his own power.
‘At least he woke up late last night. Otherwise, the engagement ceremony wouldn’t have been possible.’
He had spent the night discreetly covering his injuries and taking medicinal baths, cursing Muryeong for what he assumed was intentional.
“By the way… you almost came every day, but suddenly disappeared without a word. Didn’t you worry?”
It was one thing to feel sorry, but Yeonhwa had been too busy to contact him. The Daejeong Trading Group people couldn’t inform outsiders without approval, so that was understandable.
But Yeonhwa had never sought him out first, which left him feeling a little hurt.
Especially since there was something she had promised to prepare.
Given Yeonhwa, she likely wouldn’t have changed what she said to anyone else without notice.
‘He probably waited for me without preparing a spare. That must have made him anxious.’
Yu Geonmyeong looked at Yeonhwa silently.
She replied calmly,
“I thought you were busy. I also heard many guests visited Daejeong Trading Group, so they would need to be attended to.”
Her jet-black eyes were clear, showing no trace of anxiety.
Yu Geonmyeong’s mouth drooped, feeling a bit foolish for having worried alone.
But still, it was right to give her what he had promised.
He took a small box from his bosom and handed it to her.
Yeonhwa examined it silently, then reached out.
With a click, the lid opened to reveal a pair of earrings.
The red was so deep and radiant that it was clearly a valuable item.
“I’m glad I placed the order with the trading group in advance. Otherwise, if I had suddenly fallen ill, I wouldn’t have been able to get it in time.”
Whether Yeonhwa knew he had been injured by Muryeong or not, Yu Geonmyeong only described his absence as a minor illness.
“That would have been regrettable.”
Yeonhwa’s words made his face light up.
“Do you really think so? Really? I have a good eye, then?”
He stepped closer to her, holding the box near her ear, showing his teeth in a smile.
“Actually, I originally thought of something else. There was a rumored gem I wanted to find, but it disappeared. Would you have preferred that one if I had gotten it?”
You.
Yu Geonmyeong asked, and Yeonhwa shook her head.
She felt this was enough and reached for the earrings in the box.
