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Chapter 15
“You’re quick to catch on.”
A glint appeared in Geum Seolha’s eyes.
“I grew up watching it.”
“Watching what?”
“You didn’t know? Lady Baek is my aunt.”
At those words, Geum Seolha whipped her head around. The look in her eyes clearly asked whether it was true, and So Yeongyeong nodded.
“So I wasted my effort trying to ask indirectly.”
Clicking his tongue lightly, Geum Seolha stepped right up to Eun Seokho.
“How long does Lady Baek intend to keep turning a blind eye to Lady Hong’s arrogance?”
“…I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Not sure? You said yourself that you grew up watching it.”
Geum Seolha smirked, and Eun Seokho looked as though he had been struck where it hurt.
“Or has she been blackmailed?”
“…As if that could be the case.”
Despite the firm denial, there was something unconvincing about Eun Seokho’s answer.
He won’t answer easily.
Then it would be better to investigate separately. Organizing her thoughts, Geum Seolha asked another question.
“Let’s move on. What do you know about Lady Hong’s misconduct?”
“What I know is probably no more than what you already know, Miss.”
Geum Seolha’s fingertips tapped lightly against her skirt.
“Is there any clear evidence? If not, even rumors will do. Anything that could corner her.”
“You’d get a more definite answer by asking the maids. Yet you ask me.”
“Everyone who knows anything is aware that Lady Baek took especially good care of the Hwangryongdae.”
The implication that you are the hidden reason for that, aren’t you? made Eun Seokho let out a sigh.
“To embezzle on that scale, she would have kept a separate ledger.”
“A ledger…”
Disappointment flickered across Geum Seolha’s face. Dan Suryeon had promised to steal it, but she couldn’t stake everything on that alone.
I need another plan as well.
As Geum Seolha fell into thought, Eun Seokho stared at her and suddenly asked,
“What exactly are you planning?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Haven’t you spent all this time keeping quiet and staying out of sight?”
With those sharp eyes fixed on her as if trying to scrutinize her, Geum Seolha folded her arms.
“Yes, I did.”
“Do you understand how your current actions look to others?”
“How could I not?”
“Before drawing your sword, things are one matter. But once you draw it, everything changes.”
The message was clear: if her resolve was half-hearted, she should stop now.
Oddly enough, Geum Seolha sensed concern in his words.
Concern? From that ice-cold face?
Rejecting her own impression, she let out a dry laugh.
“So what, then? Should I just stay quiet whenever I’m stepped on or pushed around?”
“…”
“Well, maybe I could.”
If they hadn’t tested her by targeting Eunsul and Dowoon, she might have continued living that way.
“But if that’s what they wanted, they should have stayed within the line.”
Her eyes gleamed sharply, sending a chill through the air.
“I’m not the type who can endure being beaten down.”
If they insisted on tormenting her without reason, then she would give them a reason. And if they dared touch her people, she would make sure they learned exactly how unpleasant that could become.
“You’ve changed.”
“You say that as though you know me well.”
Leaning casually onto one leg, Geum Seolha looked at Eun Seokho.
“I’m sure you have many questions about my aunt as well, but I truly know nothing.”
“Is that so?”
“She’s been in poor health, and she won’t even allow me to visit her.”
A spark flashed in Geum Seolha’s eyes. That was unexpected information. She had never heard that Lady Baek was ill.
“Where is Lady Baek staying?”
“You know the detached residences granted to retainers. She’s there. Though even if you go, you won’t be allowed to see her.”
“How long has it been since anyone saw her?”
“It’s been about seven weeks.”
At Eun Seokho’s confirmation, Geum Seolha began piecing together the scattered clues in her mind.
I think I need to see her for myself.
If her suspicions were correct, Lady Baek had definitely been blackmailed by either Hong Yeongryeong or Moyonghwa.
The problem was—
I heard she’s incorruptible.
Her intuition told her it wasn’t a matter of money. But if not that, no obvious weakness came to mind.
Geum Seolha stared at Eun Seokho.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’ve never been involved in corruption or done anything that could seriously be used against you, have you?”
“No.”
A vein bulged on his forehead, apparently offended by the question. Geum Seolha nodded absentmindedly.
“Then that’s fine.”
She had learned everything worth learning for now.
“Thank you. You’ve been a great help.”
As Geum Seolha turned and walked away, Eun Seokho hesitated before calling out.
“Miss.”
“What is it?”
“Are you confident?”
A smile spread across Geum Seolha’s lips, as though the question itself were pointless.
“I already told you. I’m not the type who can take a beating and stay quiet.”
No matter what methods it took, she would find the answer.
“I sincerely hope you achieve what you set out to do.”
“Thanks for the encouragement.”
Leaving Eun Seokho behind, Geum Seolha strode away while So Yeongyeong chattered beside her.
“Wow, I never knew Warrior Eun was capable of saying something like that.”
“He talked quite a lot.”
“He’s usually extremely quiet.”
At So Yeongyeong’s amazed reaction, Geum Seolha murmured,
“It seems he felt something was off too.”
That was probably why he had shared so much despite it being out of character.
If he was going to help, he could have been a little more proactive.
Still, new information was new information.
Geum Seolha glanced up at the sky. Perhaps because she had spent so much time wandering around, the sun was already setting.
Once night fell—
“It’ll be much easier to move around secretly.”
“Pardon?”
“You have to return to your quarters tonight, right, Yeongyeong?”
“No. Do you have more tasks for me?”
“Good. Let’s have dinner together and then move.”
At that moment, So Yeongyeong had no idea what Geum Seolha was planning. After dinner, however, the situation she found herself in left her horrified.
“M-Miss, what exactly is this…?”
“There’s no helping it.”
Security was tighter than expected, and So Yeongyeong’s friendliness alone wasn’t enough to get them through the gate. In that case, there was only one answer.
“You stay here.”
“M-Miss! What if the guards catch you and something terrible happens?”
“That’s why I came properly dressed this time.”
Beneath the servant clothes of the medical hall, the worn golden robe gleamed faintly.
“B-But still! What if you get hurt? That wall is so high!”
“Then could you at least give me a boost? I’ll be back in no time!”
So Yeongyeong froze with her mouth hanging open. Even someone as quick-witted and adaptable as her had never imagined a situation like this.
“If you won’t help me, I’ll just climb it alone.”
Geum Seolha planted a foot against the wall and stretched upward, only to slide right back down.
“Ah! No! I’ll do it! I’ll help!”
Panicking, So Yeongyeong offered her shoulder.
“I’m coming with you.”
“No. If things go wrong, I can get out easily. You don’t have the status to do that.”
“B-But! We don’t know what dangers are waiting inside. How can I let you go alone?”
“I’ll come back safely.”
Faced with Geum Seolha’s stubborn determination, So Yeongyeong looked on the verge of tears. Geum Seolha skillfully stepped onto her shoulder and climbed onto the wall. Their eyes met.
“Haa… If anything seems wrong, reveal your identity immediately and come back out. If you return to the wall and call for me, I’ll be waiting here. Understood? Promise me.”
“Got it. Don’t worry.”
Waving her hand dismissively, Geum Seolha leaped over the wall and disappeared from sight. So Yeongyeong paced anxiously in front of the wall.
At the same time, Geum Seolha successfully entered the residence where Lady Baek was staying and quickly hid herself in the darkness beyond the reach of the torchlight.
“We need more medicine.”
“That’s becoming difficult…”
“Then I suppose I should inform Lady Baek of the situation.”
“W-Wait! I’ll provide it! I’ll provide it!”
The elderly physician’s voice sounded familiar. Geum Seolha stared.
Physician Yu?
It seemed Yu Wongang was also responsible for examining Lady Baek.
Something feels strange.
The stubbornness of Physician Yu was one thing, but the behavior of the goateed man, who had been acting arrogantly only to break into a cold sweat, was unusual.
“You’d better be careful, all the same.”
“I am only fulfilling my duty.”
“Hah. Acting like the good guy all by yourself. Tch!”
The man spat on the ground, kicked the dirt irritably, and stormed away. Yu Wongang was just about to leave when a maid came running from the distance, clutching her skirts.
“Physician Yu! That person is coughing up blood again!”
“What? Then I must stop by the medical hall. Don’t let anyone enter the room!”
Yu Wongang hurried out of the residence, and the maid rushed off somewhere else. Geum Seolha followed her.
A short while later, the maid emerged from a room carrying an armful of bloodstained cloths.
Watching silently, Geum Seolha checked her surroundings before slipping inside.
“That’s not Lady Baek.”
She stopped dead in her tracks.
The man before her had blood smeared around his mouth, and his entire body was wrapped in bandages.
At a glance, it was obvious he had suffered a grievous, near-fatal injury.
“What…” Geum Seolha muttered. “That’s not Lady Baek at all.”
