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Chapter 05
As soon as she tied off her train of thought, a problem she had been pushing aside resurfaced.
“But why is Eunseol taking so long? Does checking on meal preparations normally take this much time?”
Geum Seolha glanced toward the door, but everything remained silent, without even the faintest sign of movement.
Could something have happened?
Since there were only a handful of people she had actually spoken to and gotten to know since arriving here, she found herself worrying for no reason.
“Come to think of it, I’ve never seen any other attendants besides Eunseol.”
Whether it was bringing her meals or nursing her while she was bedridden, Yoo Eunseol had handled everything from start to finish.
“I don’t think this is normal.”
What had Geumrin Merchant Guild been described like in The Heavenly Martial Emperor?
“It wasn’t the greatest merchant guild under heaven, but it was prominent enough to be mentioned fairly often.”
By modern standards, it would definitely be comparable to a chaebol family. That was how the original story described it.
“And yet Eunseol is the only one taking care of me? Does that make any sense?”
Yoo Eunseol didn’t just wait on her. She personally carried, organized, and managed everything herself, as though there was no one else to share the work.
The moment that thought occurred to her, a bad feeling crept into her mind.
“Wasn’t I supposed to be the daughter of a wealthy family?”
Both the information she had gleaned from pretending to have lost her memory and the contents of The Heavenly Martial Emperor made it clear that Geum Seolha came from a rich household.
“Something’s definitely strange.”
Muttering to herself, Geum Seolha pushed herself off the bed. The moment her feet touched the floor, the ankle secured with a splint throbbed painfully, but it was still manageable.
She slipped on the robe hanging in one corner of the room and approached the door.
“Do you require something?”
The low voice from outside was familiar.
“Dowoon?”
“Yes, Miss.”
When she opened the door, Ha Dowoon froze slightly at the sight of her.
“Are you planning to go outside?”
“Eunseol’s been gone for a long time. I was worried something might have happened.”
“Nothing has probably happened.”
Unlike his firm words, unease flickered across his face.
This was suspicious.
“Of course nothing should have happened. So did she go that way?”
“That path leads to the annex.”
“Good. Then it must be this way.”
Geum Seolha quickly figured out the direction Yoo Eunseol had gone.
Just as she was about to set off in search of her, Ha Dowoon stepped in front of her.
“You haven’t fully recovered yet. I’ll go instead.”
“My body’s fine.”
“But Eunseol told me that…”
“That’s only because I forgot everything.”
Her casual response made Ha Dowoon flinch.
“I figured pretending to be sick would be a better excuse if I wanted to avoid dealing with outsiders.”
Geum Seolha lightly tapped him and gestured toward the room.
“If I were really in bad shape, would I be sitting around studying the Thousand Character Classic?”
As if asking whether he didn’t already know that, she watched him.
After looking troubled for a moment, Ha Dowoon finally let out a deep sigh.
“You may hear unpleasant things. And if you happen to run into your cousins, you could find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.”
The unexpected warning made Geum Seolha blink.
“This is my residence. They come all the way here? I heard they avoid me after that fight.”
“There were occasions when they came.”
Judging by his honest expression, he wasn’t lying.
“And I just sat there and let them do whatever they wanted?”
Geum Seolha asked skeptically.
As far as she remembered, Geum Seolha in The Heavenly Martial Emperor wasn’t the type of character to meekly endure abuse.
“Must you really hear about it? It won’t be a pleasant story.”
“Yes. I really do.”
At her firm answer, Ha Dowoon squeezed his eyes shut.
“You sneered at them and warned them never to come here again.”
That didn’t sound too bad.
Geum Seolha looked puzzled.
“That’s all?”
Wearing an expression of despair, Ha Dowoon continued under her sharp stare.
“You threw books at them. And when the young masters and young ladies rushed at you… you grabbed their hair and fought.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Geum Seolha understand why he had been reluctant to bring it up.
“Not only me, but the original Geum Seolha had quite a temper too.”
No wonder nobody had reacted much when she argued with Hwang at the market.
“So that’s why.”
“The first one to charge at you was Young Miss Yulhee. You grabbed her hair and wouldn’t let go, so the other young masters…”
As Ha Dowoon hesitated, struggling to continue, someone interrupted him.
“They ran away. It was hilarious.”
The bright voice made Geum Seolha spin around in surprise.
A young boy was walking toward them.
“Yulhee hates you, but she’s scared of you too. That incident probably had a lot to do with it.”
“…”
“You probably never noticed because you were happy not having annoying people around.”
Unlike Geum Seolha, Ha Dowoon wasn’t surprised.
He stepped in front of her protectively.
“Miss Seolha is still recovering, Young Master.”
“From the looks of it, she’s completely recovered. Unless the problem is up here.”
The boy tapped his temple with a grin.
Geum Seolha frowned.
What was this brat’s problem?
“I thought the rumors were nonsense, but judging by your reaction, maybe they weren’t entirely false.”
Though his tone was playful, his words subtly scraped against her nerves.
Geum Seolha’s eyebrow twitched.
Oh?
Sensing her mood, Ha Dowoon stretched out an arm to block her.
“I’m not sure what you mean. Miss Seolha still needs rest. Please leave.”
“Plenty of rest and recovery, huh?”
The boy strode forward, placing a hand on Ha Dowoon’s shoulder and rising onto his toes.
Their eyes met.
Then he slipped beneath Ha Dowoon’s arm with surprising agility.
“Yah!”
Standing directly before Geum Seolha, he tilted his head.
“What? I heard you turned into an idiot, but you seem perfectly fine. You’ve still got the same scary glare.”
The corner of Geum Seolha’s mouth curled upward.
The nerve of him, evaluating her to her face.
“Dowoon, I don’t recall inviting anyone.”
Her voice turned cold.
Understanding immediately, Ha Dowoon responded.
“Young Master Jugang, you’ll have to leave.”
Only then did Geum Seolha realize who he was.
“So this is Geum Jugang.”
Yoo Eunseol had spoken unfavorably about all of Geum Seolha’s cousins.
Yet Geum Jugang had been the one exception.
Even while expressing dislike for him, Eunseol had strangely advised her to seek Geum Jugang out if she ever found herself in danger among her cousins.
“That explanation was a little too obvious, Dowoon.”
Geum Jugang draped an arm over Ha Dowoon’s shoulder.
“I’m glad to see your murderous expression and those eyes haven’t changed. But did you really forget me too?”
There was certainty in his voice.
Crossing her arms, Geum Seolha looked him up and down.
“Is there some reason I should remember you?”
Eunseol had rated Geum Jugang more favorably than the others, but that was largely because the comparison was so terrible.
She clearly still preferred that Geum Seolha avoid him whenever possible.
So there was no reason to be polite.
Especially after he had started this.
“There are plenty of reasons.”
At her questioning look, Geum Jugang smiled proudly.
“My handsome appearance and exceptional talents, for one. Aren’t those more than enough?”
What nonsense.
Geum Seolha’s eyes turned icy.
He flinched.
“Are you sure the memory loss isn’t fake? You seem exactly the same.”
A strange mix of relief and amusement crossed his face.
“But wouldn’t it be nice if you welcomed me a little more warmly, Cousin?”
Why would I?
Her expression answered for her.
Geum Jugang reached out and straightened her clothing.
“That stiff warrior Ha would stop you from going out looking like this.”
Despite his carefree attitude, his hands were surprisingly deft.
He adjusted her robe so the medical garment beneath was completely hidden.
Geum Seolha looked at him with newfound interest.
“I, on the other hand, can take you wherever you want without saying a word.”
“…”
“And I can teach some idiots a proper lesson too.”
Meeting her gaze, Geum Jugang smiled.
“So? Aren’t I pretty useful?”
He waved a hand invitingly.
After glaring at him for a moment, Geum Seolha grabbed it.
“Fine. Lead the way.”
Geum Jugang looked genuinely surprised before breaking into a broad grin.
“As you wish. Just tell me the destination.”
He bowed dramatically like a servant.
Geum Seolha pretended not to notice Ha Dowoon sighing.
“Take me to Eunseol.”
“Eunseol? Ah, the maid.”
Realization dawned on Geum Jugang’s face.
Then he quietly studied her expression.
“You probably shouldn’t go looking for her right now.”
Geum Seolha narrowed her eyes.
“Why?”
“Well… you see…”
He hesitated.
The longer he stalled, the sharper her gaze became.
“Hey.”
“Hm?”
“You know something, don’t you?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I know nothing.”
His evasive answer made her step closer.
As she advanced, Geum Jugang instinctively retreated until his back hit the wall.
Planting a hand beside his face, Geum Seolha cornered him.
“Tell me everything while I’m asking nicely.”
Her eyes gleamed dangerously.
“Otherwise this is going to get very unfun.”
Geum Jugang looked between her face and the arm blocking his escape.
Then he burst out laughing.
“Ahahaha!”
The loud laughter showed no signs of stopping.
Geum Seolha’s expression soured.
She glanced toward Ha Dowoon.
Was he always this insane?
Understanding her silent question, Ha Dowoon nodded.
So he was always like this.
Geum Seolha looked down at the cousin trapped between her and the wall.
Maybe she should stop relying on him after all.
“If you keep looking at me like that, my feelings are going to get hurt, Cousin.”
“Want me to hurt something else instead?”
The threat made Geum Jugang raise both hands.
“Fine, I surrender. I can’t remember the last time I laughed this hard.”
Wiping tears from his eyes, he met her gaze.
“If I’d known my dear cousin was this entertaining, I would’ve tried harder to become friends sooner.”
“Enough. Tell me what you know.”
“Alright.”
His immediate agreement only made her more suspicious.
“You know, it hurts when you look at me like I’m obviously plotting something.”
Clutching his chest dramatically, he pretended to cry.
Geum Seolha looked thoroughly fed up.
“Just explain.”
“Hmm. But wouldn’t it be better if the person involved explained it themselves?”
With a playful wink, Geum Jugang gestured with his chin.
What kind of stunt was this now?
Reluctantly, Geum Seolha turned in the direction he indicated.
Then she froze.
“Uh… when did you get here, Eunseol?”
Yoo Eunseol stood behind them holding a tray.
“Just now.”
The voice that was usually as gentle as a spring breeze sounded strangely cold.
“I-I see?”
Geum Seolha’s voice trembled without her meaning it to.
After watching her silently, Yoo Eunseol sighed.
Handing the tray to Ha Dowoon, she approached.
“Your ankle is still in a splint. Why would you come outside?”
The concern in her voice made Geum Seolha flinch.
“Well… you were gone so long that I got worried. And staying inside all day was making me feel suffocated.”
Geum Jugang watched with fascination.
The same Geum Seolha who had been confidently intimidating him was now fumbling helplessly in front of Yoo Eunseol.
“When you’re feeling a little better, we’ll take a walk then. For now, you need to eat first.”
As Yoo Eunseol calmly soothed her, Geum Jugang smiled crookedly.
She was acting as though he didn’t exist.
“Now I can’t even take your side.”
Had she heard him?
Yoo Eunseol stepped forward protectively, like a mother bird shielding her chick.
“I don’t know why everyone looks at me like I’m some kind of thug.”
Geum Jugang shrugged shamelessly.
“If people keep looking at me that way, I might start feeling pressured to live up to their expectations.”
Though he was smiling, there was a hidden edge to his words.
Geum Seolha snorted.
Who was he threatening?
“Cut it out.”
The warning was unmistakable.
Something flashed in Geum Jugang’s eyes.
“I can forgive you for visiting me empty-handed.”
“Oh?”
“But acting disrespectfully toward my people in my own residence is a different matter.”
Crossing her arms, Geum Seolha tilted her head.
“If you’ve satisfied your curiosity, then leave.”
“Isn’t that a little cold, Cousin?”
Despite his complaint, Geum Jugang obediently backed away.
“Still, your instincts are as sharp as ever.”
The random comment drew a puzzled look from Geum Seolha.
He grinned.
“Anyway, I gave you a hint. Since I’ve been officially kicked out, I’d better get going.”
“Hey! Hey!”
“See you next time.”
Waving cheerfully, he disappeared into the distance.
Geum Seolha glared after him.
“What exactly is wrong with that guy?”
Irritated, she kicked at the ground.
Pain immediately shot through her ankle.
“Urgh.”
“See?”
With a sigh, Yoo Eunseol scooped her into her arms.
“Eunseol, I can walk on my own.”
“Once you’re fully healed, you can.”
Her tone was completely uncompromising.
Giving up, Geum Seolha relaxed against her.
Hm?
She suddenly paused.
The faint fragrance that always lingered around Yoo Eunseol was gone.
Her eyes sharpened.
She changed clothes.
The colors were similar enough that she hadn’t noticed immediately.
But would someone really need to change clothes just because they went to check on a meal?
No.
The moment she realized it, more suspicious details began revealing themselves one after another.
