THWCS 11

Chapter 11

At that moment, a polite voice suddenly called out from outside the main hall.

“Reporting. The servant who went to deliver the message to the head of the house has returned.”

A respectful voice echoed from outside the audience hall.

Yeongwon snapped out of her thoughts and turned around.

Outside the wide-open hall stood a young boy, looking so anxious that it seemed he must have committed some grave mistake.

“Where is the head of the house?”

When Elder Hwa saw the boy standing alone, he asked. Bowing his head, the boy replied timidly:

“H-he returned to Yeonggyeong Hall.”

“You… damn— no, I mean, what— is there something urgent in Yeonggyeong Hall?”

Elder Hwa, who had raised his voice in sudden irritation, glanced at Yeongwon and forcibly softened his tone.

“I sincerely apologize, but I do not know.”

When the boy finished speaking, the atmosphere of the hall instantly grew heavy.

It was Elder Mok who finally broke the oppressive silence.

“It seems the head of the house has urgent business. For now, let Lady Ha rest at the Guest Hall. We will summon the head again later.”

“Yes.”

Yeongwon folded the marriage document she had been holding and returned it to Elder Mok.

She, too, needed time to make sense of this situation, so she decided to take a step back.

As she offered a polite bow and left the hall, a maid waiting to the side approached to guide her.

Once they passed through the side gate of Seonwon Hall, she saw a quiet passage wide enough for carts to pass, running between the walls surrounding each courtyard of the Geom (黔) family estate.

“Miss…!”

Sorae, who had been crouching under a nearby wall, jumped to her feet the moment she saw Yeongwon and hurried over.

Her expression clearly showed she was dying to know what had happened inside, but Yeongwon quickly shook her head.

With a servant of the household right in front of them, speaking freely was not an option.

“The Guest Hall where visitors stay is this way.”

The maid, walking a few steps ahead, stood at the path that bent left and guided Yeongwon and Sorae.

Meanwhile, once Yeongwon left, the elders remaining in Hwachung Hall all wore dark, gloomy expressions.

They had barely managed to hold onto their dignity while she was present, but that did not mean they were pleased.

“How can he be the same for ten whole years! Not once! Not even once has he ever obediently done as he was told! That wretched brat!”

Elder Hwa immediately exploded in anger.

He was sixty-six this year, and originally he should have lived to eighty, but because of that brat called the Sword God, he felt he would die before seventy from sheer frustration.

“Is this a new problem? You’re harming your health—calm your anger.”

“Are you not anxious at all? That brat is already twenty-five! Now that the betrothal token has returned, shouldn’t we hurry and ensure the continuation of the Geom (黔) family line?”

“But didn’t the head of the house say five years ago that this engagement was annulled with the approval of the Ha family?”

At Elder Mok’s calm words, Elder Hwa snorted loudly and sat down.

“Even so, the marriage document still exists! If the engagement had truly been annulled, would not the jade token have been returned long ago, and the marriage document destroyed as well?”

“That’s true! Long ago, a girl who had been betrothed died suddenly from illness, and the jade token was returned the very next day.”

“Yes, that really happened!”

“But this is a broken engagement. There is no precedent for canceling one—who knows what is going on!”

At Elder Hwa’s relentless tirade, Elder Mok’s gaze deepened.

The Geom family possessed the unique ability to manage ghosts and spirits that harmed the world.

Because of that, their marriage documents were not ordinary.

Though they appeared to be nothing but old, yellowed paper, they could not be burned, soaked, or torn.

They were impervious to all external force.

“Is it possible that the engagement still exists, and only the head of the house considered it ended?”

“That is certainly possible.”

At Elder Mok’s heavy words, the elders slowly nodded one by one.

“But what if that brat keeps insisting it isn’t his engagement to begin with?”

“What does worrying accomplish? In the end, the groom written in the marriage document is that brat, and the one who must marry is also him.”

Not long after a few more exchanges, sighs spilled out from all around the hall.

Truthfully, when they saw Yeongwon enter the hall dressed like a beggar, they had inwardly rejoiced.

That arrogant, reckless wretch who sat upon the sacred seat of the Geom family head and treated their glorious history and mission like worthless dung— having such a person as his destined bride?

Thinking about how displeased Ishin would be when he learned this was immensely satisfying.

But then they remembered she was the precious daughter of Ha Sunyang, a wealthy merchant of Hansung.

No matter how she appeared now, she was not a common beggar.

“…So, does anyone have a clever solution?”

Elder Mok swept his gaze across the hall, but only weary, lifeless eyes returned his look.

What they wished for was simply that the ancient Geom family would continue to prosper.

Because of the peculiarity of their lineage, the family had always had few heirs—

So Ishin, as head of the family, marrying and having children was crucial.

Yet what had they done wrong to end up with a disaster like the Sword God as the family head?

Not only did he imprison vicious criminals in Jejado—beautiful enough to be called a celestial paradise—
but he occasionally committed banditry, harmed lives, was lazy, violent, ignorant…

The only tolerable thing about him was that demonic, ridiculously handsome face.

The elders let out a deep sigh toward the heavens, asking once again the question they pondered several times every day.

Geom Family Guest Hall – Plum Courtyard

The Guest Hall was divided into four courtyards—Plum, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, and Bamboo. Yeongwon and Sorae were guided to the Plum Courtyard.

As soon as they arrived, Yeongwon asked the servant for water to wash with. After nearly a month, she finally scrubbed away all the grime from her body and felt refreshed.

Changing into one of the simple outfits the maid had brought, she stepped out of the washroom and finally had a moment to look around.

The square inner courtyard had neatly tended grass, and the plum trees planted along the walls were in full bloom, catching the eye.

A small pavilion on the left held chairs and a table—perfect for admiring the blossoms. Vines draped gracefully over the wall, adding to the charm.

She was quietly admiring the beautifully maintained courtyard when—

“Miss!”

Sorae burst through the side gate of the Plum Courtyard, wearing the same pearl-colored jacket and persimmon-colored skirt as the household maids.

“Did you wash?”

Yeongwon looked at Sorae’s face as she hurried closer.

Her healthy wheat-colored skin, single eyelids, and dark eyes like ripe grapes, along with the freckles on her cheeks and nose, were all adorably familiar.

Seeing this face again after so long brought a faint smile to Yeongwon’s lips.

And Sorae seemed to feel the same.

“Miss! I missed you so much!”

“Am I not right here in front of you?”

Sorae suddenly exclaimed with a sigh, leaving Yeongwon confused.

Even in the dimming twilight, Yeongwon’s jade-like skin shone, her round apricot-like eyes glimmered with moist clarity, and her straight back, slender shoulders, and long neck looked transcendent and elegant. Her silk-like hair fluttered lightly with a fragrant breeze.

The moon-white jacket and peach-colored skirt provided by the Geom family gleamed faintly, making her look like the goddess Chang’e of the Moon Palace.

“No, I mean—you’re so beautiful like this. Prettier than any maiden I’ve ever seen.”

Sorae beamed, studying her face as if examining a precious jewel.

Yeongwon pushed Sorae’s forehead lightly in exasperation.

But she couldn’t really blame her.

Sorae had adored her since childhood—too much, even.

“That’s enough. My face will wear out under your staring.”

Unable to endure Sorae’s increasingly heated gaze, Yeongwon scolded her lightly.

But Sorae didn’t look away—in fact, she only smiled more brightly.

“Aren’t you curious about what happened with those elders in the hall?”

“Ah! Please tell me!”

Drawing her attention away, Yeongwon gently smiled and briefly recounted what had happened at Seonwon Hall.

“Miss, then… does that mean it really was the betrothal jade token?”

“Yes. They even showed me the marriage document. It was clearly my father’s handwriting and seal.”

“Had the master never mentioned it before?”

“I had no idea. Why didn’t Father ever tell me that jade token was a betrothal token?”

Remembering the matter brought frustration back into her voice.

“Then what will you do now? You originally planned to return the jade token and ask for the ransom. But if that token is the actual betrothal token… what do we do?”

At Sorae’s question, Yeongwon gave a bitter smile.

“I don’t know yet. I need time to think.”