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Chapter 16
Geum Seolha stepped closer to the man.
“Ugh…”
A groan escaped through his clenched teeth as the bandages wrapped around his body slowly turned red once more.
“Cough!”
As the man coughed up blood, Geum Seolha reached out instinctively. If she left him like this, his airway could become blocked and he might suffocate.
Carefully supporting his head, she turned his neck to the side. A thick clot of blood fell from his mouth, staining the pillow beneath him.
“What… am I supposed to do now?”
Geum Seolha looked down awkwardly at the man’s pale face.
It was easy enough to tell that this man was connected to Madam Baek.
“What exactly is your relationship with her?”
The injuries covering his body were anything but ordinary. Even to someone with no medical knowledge like Geum Seolha, he looked as though he could stop breathing at any moment.
“Can I really just leave him like this?”
A maid would probably arrive soon, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave immediately.
The image of Yoo Eunseol overlapped with the man’s labored breathing.
“I don’t have much choice.”
Giving up on leaving, Geum Seolha let out a deep sigh.
I’ll just keep an eye on him until someone comes.
Fortunately, after coughing up blood earlier, the man showed no further reaction.
Geum Seolha slowly looked around the room.
Several layers of thin curtains and bamboo blinds covered the windows.
Even if the windows were opened for ventilation, no one outside would be able to see in.
For a simple privacy measure, it seemed excessive.
“Judging by the circumstances… this seems to be the weak point.”
Lost in thought, she lightly tapped her knee with her fingers.
Even Eun Seokho, Madam Baek’s own nephew, only knew that she was ill. He had no idea another patient was being hidden here.
That meant Madam Baek had concealed this man completely—even from her own nephew.
“Just who is this man?”
She had come hoping to find a clue, only to gain another mystery instead.
“Hm?”
As she stared at the unconscious man, her gaze stopped.
Something was visible on the exposed skin just above the blood-soaked cloth wrapped around the wound on his chest.
“A moon hidden behind clouds?”
The design depicted a crescent moon partially veiled by clouds.
It was unusual.
Geum Seolha frowned.
She was certain she had never seen the symbol before, and yet it somehow felt strangely familiar.
She reached toward the tattoo.
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed from the distance.
“Tch.”
Clicking her tongue softly, Geum Seolha quickly stood up.
If she headed toward the door now, she might run into whoever was coming.
Making her decision in an instant, she moved to the window draped with layered bamboo blinds and climbed out.
Just then—
The door slid open with a rattling sound.
“Oh my goodness! He coughed up blood again!”
“Calm yourself.”
The panicked voice of a maid was followed by Yoo Wongang’s composed tone.
Holding her breath, Geum Seolha crouched against the wall outside the window.
“No one entered this room while I was gone, did they?”
“No, Physician Yoo.”
At the maid’s firm reply, Geum Seolha quietly exhaled in relief.
But the next words made her heart pound violently.
“Is there something unusual?”
“No. I’m simply worrying too much.”
Geum Seolha pressed a hand against her chest.
She had nearly thought she was caught.
Just endure a little longer.
If she could learn that man’s identity, it would surely prove useful.
She strained her ears toward the room, but only busy movements came from inside.
“Phew… that’s done.”
“He won’t have another attack for a while now, will he?”
“No. I’ll stay and watch over him for about one shijin. Go prepare his medicinal decoction.”
“Yes, Physician.”
Soon the door opened again, and the footsteps faded into the distance.
After waiting so long without gaining any useful information, Geum Seolha was finally about to stand.
Then—
Rustle.
The bamboo blinds covering the window were suddenly lifted.
Damn it!
She had been certain she hadn’t made a single sound.
The frozen Geum Seolha found herself staring directly into the eyes of Yoo Wongang, who had raised the blinds.
“Who goes th—… Young Lady?”
Her eyes darted around.
“Uh… I just took the wrong way.”
At her clumsy excuse, Yoo Wongang let out a deep sigh.
“You did well.”
“W-What?”
“I mean helping him instead of leaving him alone when he coughed up blood.”
Geum Seolha let out a groan.
From the sound of it, he had noticed her presence long ago.
She stood up.
“Why didn’t you say anything in front of the maid and waited until now?”
“…Since I do not know who you are allied with, it is only proper to proceed cautiously.”
His answer narrowed Geum Seolha’s eyes.
“Are you going to tell others that I came here?”
“Would you prefer that I remain silent?”
“If Physician Yoo keeps his mouth shut, then mine has no reason to open either.”
Geum Seolha shrugged.
Madam Baek had hidden this matter even from her own nephew, yet she had allowed Physician Yoo to be involved.
That could only mean one thing.
Either Physician Yoo is Madam Baek’s trusted confidant, or he’s someone whose discretion can be absolutely trusted.
At the same time, it showed just how careful Madam Baek was regarding this secret.
Despite the heavy security outside, there were surprisingly few people within.
Most likely, that too was to preserve secrecy.
“I do not know what you’re thinking, Young Lady, but you would do well to be careful.”
Geum Seolha blinked.
Rather than a threat, she sensed genuine concern in his words.
“Be careful? Of whom?”
“…”
“Madam Hong? Or Aunt Moyong?”
Even at her casual response, Yoo Wongang’s expression did not waver.
“Do not worry. Whatever happens, I have no intention of quietly enduring it like before.”
Shrugging, Geum Seolha added casually,
“You should station more guards by the outer wall.”
“…So you climbed over the wall.”
“The security was far too tight.”
Yoo Wongang looked at her with deepened eyes.
“Please return safely.”
“Thank you, Physician Yoo.”
Giving him a small nod, Geum Seolha walked away before suddenly turning back.
“Oh, Physician Yoo.”
Their eyes met.
“Madam Baek… she’s healthy, isn’t she?”
“Yes.”
Hearing that answer, Geum Seolha nodded.
“That’s a relief.”
As she turned away again, countless theories formed and scattered through her mind.
Lost in thought, she walked until the wall she had climbed earlier appeared before her.
She called softly,
“Yeongyeong.”
“I thought you’d been caught, Young Lady!”
The hushed reply was filled with anxiety.
Geum Seolha chuckled softly before gripping the stones in the wall.
“I told you I’d come back safely. Hup!”
Putting strength into her arms, she climbed up the wall and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
“I’m back.”
Below the wall stood So Yeongyeong, nervously hopping from foot to foot.
“You must be careful climbing down too, understood?”
At her repeated warning, Geum Seolha waved her hand dismissively and carefully began descending.
“Hm?”
Her foot suddenly slipped off the stone.
Even the hand she desperately reached out with found nothing to grab.
Her face twisted.
This was bad.
If a commotion broke out here, everything would be exposed.
Just as Geum Seolha clenched her teeth, someone caught her firmly in their arms.
“I’ve never heard that the Young Lady was this much of a troublemaker.”
The dry voice was accompanied by a familiar face wearing an expression of utter exasperation.
“Eun Seokho?”
Geum Seolha’s eyes widened.
“I was uneasy after our conversation earlier today, so I came to check. I never imagined I’d find you like this.”
After letting out several deep sighs, Eun Seokho carefully set her back on the ground.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Still frozen in shock, So Yeongyeong quickly came to her senses and rushed over to Geum Seolha.
Seeing that only her hands had been scraped by the stones while her torn and dirty clothes hid any serious injuries, So Yeongyeong sighed with relief.
“Thank goodness it’s nothing serious.”
Watching So Yeongyeong clutch her hand while patting her own chest in relief, Geum Seolha smiled awkwardly.
Yeongyeong… I don’t think that’s the biggest issue right now.
Standing behind them with folded arms was Eun Seokho, wearing an extremely serious expression.
“Please explain, Young Lady.”
“…What exactly do you want to ask?”
Seeing her defensive attitude, a complicated emotion crossed Eun Seokho’s face.
“Do you know how strong the smell of blood on you is right now?”
“Ah… that’s…”
“Is… my aunt very ill?”
At his hesitant question, Geum Seolha fell silent.
He had guessed surprisingly close to the truth, but in entirely the wrong direction.
If I tell him it’s not his aunt but some strange man who’s injured, there’ll be absolute chaos.
Besides, she and Yoo Wongang had just silently agreed to keep the secret.
As Geum Seolha hesitated,
“I’ve prepared myself mentally, so please tell me honestly.”
His face was so dark that it looked as though he believed Madam Baek had already received a death sentence.
I suppose I have no choice.
Geum Seolha let out a long sigh.
