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Chapter 18
“Let’s go.”
“Where are you trying to go?”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
Geum Seolha smiled confidently and took the lead. Unlike before, when she had constantly followed behind So Yeongyeong, she now strode forward as if she knew exactly where she was going. Hurrying after her, So Yeongyeong suddenly stopped when the path became familiar.
“Miss, could it be that this road—”
“It leads to the Medical Hall.”
“You startled me.”
So Yeongyeong had naturally assumed Geum Seolha was planning to visit Yu Eunseol and Ha Dowoon, and she was just sighing in relief when—
“I’m not going to see Yu Eunseol or Ha Dowoon.”
“Huh?”
Then who are you going to see?
The question was written plainly across her face, and the corners of Geum Seolha’s lips curled upward.
“Someone who works at the Medical Hall.”
Geum Seolha shrugged as if it were nothing.
“There’s one thing that’s been bothering me.”
Unlike her casual tone, her eyes darkened.
Geum Jugang was certain that Yu Eunseol would be in the lower ward.
Yet Yu Eunseol had been in the Medical Hall’s central ward, and Yu Wongang himself had personally examined her condition.
It’s true that Yu Eunseol is someone special to me.
But not to everyone else. It was strange that a girl like her had been placed in the central ward of the Medical Hall and attended by Yu Wongang himself rather than an ordinary physician.
“Are you perhaps trying to meet Physician Yu?”
At So Yeongyeong’s cautious question, Geum Seolha let out a quiet laugh.
“No. Someone else.”
She recalled the unfamiliar man she had seen.
The sleeve of the young girl who had been running around searching for Yu Wongang had borne the embroidered character Ui (醫), identifying her as a maid of the Medical Hall.
“Physician Yu is a bit difficult for me too.”
He didn’t seem like someone who would easily hand over the information she wanted.
That left her with no choice.
“You’ll have to help me again, Yeongyeong.”
“Just tell me what you need.”
“I want to meet one of the Medical Hall maids, but I’ve only seen her once. Can you find her for me?”
“You don’t know her name?”
“No. I only remember what she looks like.”
At Geum Seolha’s answer, So Yeongyeong groaned in frustration before clenching her fists.
“I’ll try. First, tell me what she looks like.”
“She had droopy eyes and a round, gentle face. She looked about your age and was around your height too.”
Geum Seolha described the maid she had seen at Madam Baek’s residence.
So Yeongyeong thought hard.
“Hmm… is there anything more distinctive?”
“She’s probably been absent from the Medical Hall a lot recently. Not just coming and going—she may have been away for long stretches at a time.”
At the mention of extended absences, So Yeongyeong’s eyes brightened.
“I think I might know who you mean. I’ll go look for her.”
“Thank you, Yeongyeong.”
“If I find her, should I bring her to where Eunseol is?”
“You’ll be waiting there, right?”
Geum Seolha nodded.
After giving a respectful bow, So Yeongyeong hurried toward the quarters where the Medical Hall maids stayed.
Watching her retreating figure, Geum Seolha started walking with heavy steps.
Even after arriving outside Yu Eunseol’s room, she couldn’t bring herself to open the door.
“Haah…”
In the end, she slid down and sat outside the door instead.
“…The floor is cold, Miss.”
The voice came from behind the door.
Geum Seolha chuckled.
“So what if it’s cold?”
“If Eunseol knew, she’d be furious.”
“I wish she would get angry.”
Because if she got angry, it would mean she was completely recovered.
Being unusually sentimental, Geum Seolha noticed Ha Dowoon moving to open the door and spoke first.
“Did they bring you straight to the central ward from the beginning?”
“Yes.”
“I see. So they did.”
A sharp glint flashed through Geum Seolha’s eyes in the darkness.
At this point, her hypothesis was solid enough.
Now all that remained was confirmation.
Hearing approaching footsteps from a distance, Geum Seolha slowly rose and brushed off her clothes.
“What, does she think I’m going to eat her or something?”
“But, Yeongyeong—”
“I told you, you only have to help with one small thing.”
Apparently So Yeongyeong had coaxed the girl into coming.
Geum Seolha smiled faintly.
She had already thought the girl was capable, but this proved she was far from ordinary.
The maid standing beside So Yeongyeong met eyes with Geum Seolha, who was leaning against the door with her arms crossed.
Geum Seolha lazily raised a hand and waved.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we? Ah, perhaps only from my perspective?”
“What…?”
The startled maid suddenly noticed the golden robe Geum Seolha was wearing and sucked in a breath.
“M-Miss!”
“Shh. It’s late.”
Placing a finger against her lips, Geum Seolha spoke casually.
The maid looked completely bewildered, unable to grasp the situation.
Geum Seolha opened the door she had been leaning against.
“I have something to discuss.”
“With me?”
“I was going to have Yeongyeong do it, but I think you’d know better.”
At Geum Seolha’s words, the maid stiffened and took a step back.
So Yeongyeong immediately grabbed hold of her.
“The Miss isn’t going to hurt you or anything, so don’t be afraid.”
The maid shot So Yeongyeong a resentful look before finally stepping into the room at Geum Seolha’s gesture.
“I’ll wait outside.”
Quick-witted as ever, So Yeongyeong didn’t follow them in and instead closed the door.
The maid looked at Geum Seolha anxiously.
“Um… what exactly is it that you wanted to discuss with me?”
“I want to meet Madam Baek.”
“…Pardon?”
The maid jerked her head up in shock.
Meeting her eyes, Geum Seolha parted her lips.
“So you’ll have to deliver a message for me.”
“Miss, I’m sorry, but I don’t really understand what you mean.”
“You don’t need to understand. You only need to pass on the message.”
The indifferent gaze piercing through the maid made it clear that Geum Seolha neither wanted explanations nor understanding.
“Tell her that I can suggest a way to protect her precious concern more safely.”
The maid’s eyes trembled.
After a moment, she licked her dry lips.
“Madam Baek is unwell and bedridden, so how could I possibly—”
“I’m not interested in that either.”
Geum Seolha cut her off.
“Tell her that. Nothing more.”
“…”
“You may also mention the word repayment of a favor.”
The maid stared at Geum Seolha, who seemed to be speaking in riddles, then slowly lowered her head.
“I’ll be going now.”
As the maid stepped backward and reached for the door, Geum Seolha spoke in a quieter voice.
“Oh. And tell her this as well.”
The maid paused.
“Tell her I know a way to cut away the snare that has bound her ankle.”
The maid froze for a moment before finally opening the door and leaving.
Through the crack, Geum Seolha met So Yeongyeong’s eyes and signaled for her to go as well.
So Yeongyeong bowed respectfully.
Soon the door closed, and silence settled over the room.
Geum Seolha slowly turned around.
“Have you eaten?”
“I believe that’s what I should be asking you.”
Geum Seolha clicked her tongue at Ha Dowoon and sat beside Yu Eunseol.
“And Eunseol?”
“They say she has passed the critical stage, but she still hasn’t regained consciousness.”
“Nothing else happened?”
“Nothing.”
“…”
“Nothing happened to us.”
His unwavering gaze settled on Geum Seolha.
“So now, Miss, please tell me.”
It was rare to see Ha Dowoon’s face hardened like this.
“What happened that the smell of blood on you is so strong?”
The completely unexpected remark made Geum Seolha’s eyes widen.
She raised her sleeve and buried her nose in it.
“I don’t smell anything.”
“I do.”
The firmness in his tone made it clear he wouldn’t let her change the subject.
Geum Seolha let out an exclamation.
“Is it because you’re a martial artist? Vice Captain Eun said the same thing.”
“Miss.”
Ha Dowoon’s expression only grew more severe.
Geum Seolha quickly spoke.
“It’s not my blood.”
“Something happened that left you carrying this much blood scent?”
Seeing his reaction become increasingly serious, she hurriedly shook her head.
“I wasn’t caught up in anything dangerous, so stop looking like that.”
She waved her arms around, trying to prove she was perfectly fine.
Yet Ha Dowoon’s expression didn’t improve at all.
“To me—and to Eunseol as well—your safety is always the highest priority.”
There was only one reason he had been able to trust So Yeongyeong and let Geum Seolha leave.
Because he had believed there was no way Geum Seolha could come to harm within the Geum family estate.
But that certainty had been shattered.
“Miss, besides the smell of blood…”
Ha Dowoon hesitated briefly.
“I can also detect a faint scent of poison.”
“…What?”
Geum Seolha, who had been trying to come up with a convenient excuse, froze.
“A scent of poison?”
She asked again.
“What do you mean by that?”
The bewilderment on her face seemed entirely genuine.
Ha Dowoon sighed.
“So you weren’t threatened.”
“I told you I wasn’t. Now explain the poison part again.”
Pressed by Geum Seolha, Ha Dowoon finally elaborated.
“The blood scent clinging to you carries traces of poison.”
“…”
“Did you happen to get covered in the blood of someone who had been poisoned?”
Ha Dowoon’s eyes flashed sharply.
