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Chapter 32
“Exactly. Madam Baek doesn’t know this.”
Although her conscience pricked at her repeatedly, Geum Seolha’s decision did not change. Since that man belonged to the Apostate Alliance, this was the right thing to do.
He wouldn’t want Madam Baek to get dragged into this and die a pointless death either.
While diligently rationalizing her actions, Geum Seolha turned her head and froze.
Ha Dowoon, who had been watching her elaborate scam unfold, was looking at her with a reproachful gaze. Geum Seolha deliberately ignored him. In any case, it wasn’t exactly a lie.
“So you’re saying that child must be sent away.”
Watching Madam Baek murmur thoughtfully, Geum Seolha parted her lips.
“Don’t worry. I’m not saying I’ll send him away immediately. I’ll keep him with me.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll hide him in my residence where Madam Moyong and Madam Hong won’t be able to touch him.”
Madam Baek blinked slowly before frowning. Her own quarters and Geum Seolha’s quarters were not all that different. If those women truly decided to search, they could turn either place upside down with ease.
As she pondered the matter, a ripple crossed Madam Baek’s eyes.
“Miss, surely you don’t mean by hiding him in your residence…”
“You figured it out already?”
Geum Seolha clicked her tongue.
“I’m going to hide him in the secret chamber.”
“That place is not something anyone outside the Geum family should know about!”
At Madam Baek’s intense reaction, Geum Seolha scratched her cheek.
In , she told Yeon Socheon about it, so I thought it was allowed.
Apparently, it was more important than she had realized.
“He’s unconscious. It’s not as if he’ll remember the place. Besides, I’ll personally come and go to look after him.”
That way, no one else would learn about the secret chamber.
Despite Geum Seolha’s repeated attempts to persuade her, Madam Baek hesitated.
“But…”
“Think carefully, Madam Baek. That man is your weakness, but he’s also mine. So I’d appreciate your cooperation.”
Looking at Geum Seolha, who clearly had no intention of backing down, Madam Baek wore a complicated expression.
“Miss… I have received a kindness I can never repay.”
“I’m going to collect every bit of repayment, so don’t get too emotional.”
Madam Baek smiled faintly at the joking remark.
“Please take good care of my younger brother.”
Geum Seolha’s eyes widened.
She had assumed they were family, but she never expected he was her younger brother. They looked far enough apart in age that she had never considered they might be siblings.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him.”
That night, from Madam Baek’s annex thick with the scent of medicinal decoctions, one person disappeared without anyone noticing.
The Geum family estate was divided into the outer court and inner court. In the eastern section of the inner court, accessible only to blood relatives, stood Peony Pavilion, the residence of the second son of the Geum family patriarch and his wife.
Moyong Huisa, the mistress of the residence filled with blooming peonies, turned her gaze from the refreshments before her toward Hong Yeongryeong.
“Yeongryeong.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“It seems things have been rather noisy lately.”
At Moyong Huisa’s words, Hong Yeongryeong’s lips stiffened. She quickly forced a smile.
“It seems the servants have been speaking too freely. I shall deal with them severely.”
“That would be best.”
Moyong Huisa sipped her tea while keeping her eyes fixed on the peonies outside.
“I heard there was some commotion involving that child.”
The corner of Hong Yeongryeong’s eye twitched as she bowed respectfully. Just thinking about that incident made her blood boil.
“I was merely trying to discipline a maidservant, but…”
“Do not clash with that child.”
“…”
“If a conflict is unavoidable, then make her fully aware of her place. If you retreat like this, how am I supposed to maintain my authority?”
A cold gaze, as though looking down from above, fell upon her. Hong Yeongryeong swallowed hard.
“I will keep that in mind, Madam.”
“You would do well not to disappoint me.”
At the repeated warning, Hong Yeongryeong nodded stiffly.
Behind Moyong Huisa, the maids standing in attendance wore smug expressions. The sight only made Hong Yeongryeong even angrier.
“More importantly, your hands seem lighter today.”
At the subtle question, Hong Yeongryeong hurriedly shook her head.
“Not at all, Madam. How could I possibly dare?”
Madam Hong signaled to Dan Suryeon, the maid standing behind her. She stepped forward and opened a box.
The box was filled with gold ingots.
For the first time throughout the meeting, the coldness left Moyong Huisa’s face.
“I was somewhat concerned because of all the commotion, but it seems there was nothing to worry about.”
“Of course, Madam.”
Knowing Moyong Huisa’s ruthless nature all too well, Hong Yeongryeong lowered herself even further, cold sweat running down her back.
Thank goodness this was enough.
This was money she had painstakingly saved over many years, planning for the day she would retire and return to her hometown.
If those damned bastards hadn’t suddenly started making ridiculous excuses and refusing to pay me!
Had she continued receiving kickbacks from the merchants who traded with the Geum family, she would never have had to touch these precious savings.
But she had no choice.
If I fail to offer goods or money to Madam Moyong on time, I’ll be thrown out.
Hong Yeongryeong ground her teeth internally.
She also needed to hand money to the maids under her command, but her purse was completely empty.
The merchants she had always extorted were now making one excuse after another to avoid paying.
Yet she could not pressure them recklessly.
I still haven’t fully taken over the duties Madam Baek used to handle.
For now, she could not simply throw those insolent merchants out.
Just wait a little longer.
Imagining her future rise to power and the revenge she would inflict on the merchants who had refused to pay her, Hong Yeongryeong steadied herself.
“That’s enough. You may go now.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“Oh, and I heard Hyeongun received the highest evaluation at the academy this time.”
The remark seemed sudden, but Hong Yeongryeong immediately understood what Moyong Huisa meant.
“Compared to someone who cannot even properly attend the academy that every Geum blood relative should attend, it is truly an admirable achievement. As expected of the Young Master.”
“Indeed.”
Moyong Huisa smiled in satisfaction.
“Everyone in the Geum family will soon realize Young Master Hyeongun’s brilliance.”
As she left the room, Hong Yeongryeong knew exactly what she had to do first.
She would spread stories about Moyong Huisa’s son’s intelligence and, by contrast, Geum Seolha’s inadequacies.
No matter how much that little thing struggles, it won’t matter.
Moyong Huisa stood behind Hong Yeongryeong, while nobody stood behind Geum Seolha.
A triumphant smile spread across Hong Yeongryeong’s face.
At last, she had a chance to repay the humiliation she had suffered.
“You remember what I just said, don’t you?”
“Pardon? Yes!”
As Hong Yeongryeong’s gaze grew increasingly fierce, Dan Suryeon swallowed nervously.
“Spread rumors about that fool. And about the brilliant Young Master as well.”
“By ‘that fool,’ you mean…”
Hong Yeongryeong frowned at Dan Suryeon’s inability to understand.
“Geum Seolha!”
Only then did Dan Suryeon seem to understand. Hong Yeongryeong glared sharply at her.
“Come to think of it, she’s been rather quiet lately.”
She had seemed to possess quite the temper.
“Well, perhaps she’s finally learned her place.”
“If you mean Miss Geum Seolha, there is one rather strange rumor going around lately.”
Dan Suryeon cautiously tested the waters. Hong Yeongryeong signaled for her to continue.
“I heard that because the maid who used to attend her hasn’t recovered her senses, she’s been using other servants instead.”
Remembering the incident that had damaged her dignity, Hong Yeongryeong’s face darkened as she glared at Dan Suryeon. Frightened by the murderous look, Dan Suryeon hurriedly explained.
“She’s supposedly giving those servants valuable items!”
“What?”
Hong Yeongryeong frowned deeply and tilted her head.
“Valuable items? Where would she get something like that?”
Suspicion and greed flashed across her face.
The funds and allowances that should have gone to Geum Seolha had long since been embezzled by Hong Yeongryeong herself.
If Geum Seolha had possessed anything valuable, her maid would never have been reduced to begging for food in such a pitiful manner.
“That certainly sounds suspicious.”
It was less that she truly found it suspicious and more that she needed a convenient excuse.
A sinister gleam appeared in Hong Yeongryeong’s eyes.
“It would be worth investigating. Who told you this rumor?”
In response, Dan Suryeon thoroughly repeated everything So Yeongyeong had told her.
Half a day later, So Yeongyeong—the source of the rumor—was summoned before Hong Yeongryeong.
Standing before Madam Hong with a tense expression, So Yeongyeong spoke.
“May I ask why you summoned me, Madam?”
Seeing So Yeongyeong looking nervous and cautious, Hong Yeongryeong smiled.
“There’s no need to be so frightened.”
“…”
“As long as you tell me everything you know truthfully, there won’t be any problem.”
Keeping her head lowered as if terrified, countless emotions crossed So Yeongyeong’s face.
Everything was happening exactly as Geum Seolha had predicted.
Sweat dampened her palms from nervousness.
Clenching her fists tightly, So Yeongyeong raised her head while maintaining a frightened expression.
“What would you like to know?”
