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Chapter 9
For a while, things were peaceful.
Spending time with Tang Rim who came to my quarters, or visiting the nursemaid when she was ill—that was my entire daily routine.
Today as well, Tang Rim had been lounging in my room and only got ready to leave after lunch had passed.
“I should head back now.”
He jumped down from the bed and pulled something out from inside his collar.
“Here.”
He placed a small pouch into my hand and leapt out the window.
“Eat it sparingly.”
With the ripple of wind, Tang Rim disappeared.
I opened the pouch slightly, and neatly cut candy pieces shimmered under the sunlight.
‘He must’ve cut them so they’d be easier to eat.’
I couldn’t hide my smile.
He always complained and acted rough, crying at the slightest poke—but he was still a kind older brother.
“……”
That’s why it felt so strange.
Even though I had been too busy dealing with immediate dangers to think about it, Tang Rim would eventually become a public enemy of the martial world and die.
That future clashed so sharply with the warmth of the candy in my hands.
‘This Tang Rim… is supposed to have persecuted a lesser poison sect and allied with the demonic cult?’
Impossible. If I told him that, he would probably laugh it off.
‘And Mother was killed by remnants of the demonic cult too…’
I bit my lip tightly, pulling the pouch string.
Just a few days here was enough to understand.
Tang Rim, my family—they weren’t like that.
Which meant…
‘Something must happen to them soon.’
I needed the truth.
If Tang Rim and the nursemaid were destined to be caught up in something and die, I couldn’t just stand by.
Maybe uncovering the truth behind the hallucination herb would lead me there.
‘I did entrust that to Tang Rim, but…’
There was still no news from him. Not very promising.
I’d have to move myself.
“Come to think of it, the time is about right.”
The incense burner had been out since yesterday.
They must have judged that they could no longer control me with it.
Then soon, they would try something else.
For example…
“Yeon-ah.”
Sending Tang Gyogyo.
“Are you inside?”
Gyogyo’s gentle voice came from outside.
I quickly hid the pouch and ran to the door.
“Unnie?”
When I opened it, Gyogyo smiled softly.
“Hello. The flowers around Cheongpung Garden are in full bloom. Would you like to go see them?”
She had completely forgotten how she had snapped at me the last time we met.
As always, she wore that kind, gentle smile.
“Wow!”
I acted as if I had forgotten too, my eyes sparkling. I clapped my hands happily.
“Yes, unnie!”
I wondered what she was planning.
I hoped it would be something big enough to leave solid evidence.
Garden Pavilion
In the middle of a lake filled with white and red blossoms, a pavilion stood quietly.
I sat across from Gyogyo, scanning my surroundings with both tension and anticipation.
No incense burner in sight.
At least, none I could clearly identify due to my height.
‘Then… flowers?’
Some flowers could affect the mind.
No… that shouldn’t be it.
These flowers were ones my mother had loved in life.
There was no way they would be dangerous.
As I stared at the blossoms, Gyogyo spoke.
“You like flowers, don’t you?”
I nodded brightly.
“Yes. I like anything with a scent.”
“I do too.”
A maid soon brought a tea table.
On it were only a tray of sweets and two covered teacups.
“I brought good tea for us. Here.”
Without hesitation, Gyogyo handed me the yellow cup.
“Thank you!”
I carefully opened it.
Steam rose up, carrying a familiar scent.
‘Silent Guest.’
So this was it—the other method meant to drive me insane.
The tea was strong. If I drank it all…
‘I’d probably lose my mind on the spot.’
Gyogyo quickly drank from her pink cup, savoring it dramatically.
It looked like normal tea.
She had likely used the covered cups to hide the difference in color.
How was I supposed to avoid this?
If I refused, she’d cry and accuse me of rejecting her kindness.
Or worse, she might realize I saw through her plan and try to silence me.
And I couldn’t drink it either…
Ah.
I had an idea.
I suddenly stood up and pointed at the sky.
“Unnie, look! A big bird!”
There wasn’t a single bird in sight.
But I acted completely seriously.
“Wow, it’s huge!”
I clung to a pillar and stared upward.
“A bird? I don’t see anything.”
Gyogyo frowned and approached, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“You’re still not well, so sit down. The tea will get cold.”
She dragged me back and forced me to sit.
“Now. Drink it.”
She smiled as she pushed the cup forward.
Her lips were trembling slightly.
She really wanted me to drink this.
I looked at the cup. The steam had already disappeared.
It was cold now.
That meant enough time had passed.
At this point, I should at least pretend to drink it.
“Okay. I’ll drink it!”
I smiled brightly and lifted the cup.
Gyogyo’s eyes lit up.
I brought it to my lips—
And then—
“ACHOOOOOO!”
I sneezed loudly.
Half the tea splashed onto Gyogyo’s face.
“KYAAAH!”
She frantically wiped her face, horrified.
“Sorry! Must be pollen!”
I apologized innocently.
But she wasn’t listening.
She wiped her face furiously, spitting and gagging as if she had swallowed poison.
“Did something… get put in this?”
I asked quietly.
Gyogyo froze.
“……!”
I gasped dramatically.
“It was a joke! I didn’t mean it!”
Her fists clenched, trembling.
“You little…!”
She stood up abruptly and ordered her maid.
“Clean it up!”
The maid quickly began clearing everything—untouched food, both cups, and even mine, which would have been evidence.
“No! Don’t take it!”
I hugged my cup tightly.
The maid tried to pull it away and shoved me—
“Ah!”
I fell back—
But didn’t hit the ground.
Someone caught me from behind.
“We should all get along.”
A calm voice.
Sandalwood scent.
I looked up.
Tang Gwiheon.
He steadied me and then walked toward Gyogyo.
The pressure in his back was unmistakable.
“G-Grand Brother…?”
Gyogyo stammered, pale.
Gwiheon smiled faintly.
“Gyogyo.”
His voice was soft.
But cold.
“Tell me. What’s in the tea?”
