Chapter 69
Namgung Ho, the culprit who had fed Hong-seol the most sweets, cleared his throat unnecessarily and asked.
“Ahem, is there a problem?”
The Immortal Physician of Ten Thousand Miles sighed.
“The child's teeth are on the verge of rotting.”
“...I will be careful.”
“I shall do the same.”
“Make sure to instruct the maids as well. You must not give her sweets after she has taken her medicinal decoction.”
Only after receiving assurances from both did the Immortal Physician of Ten Thousand Miles take his leave.
* * *
Meanwhile, Baek, Heuk, and Jeok were huddled together in Hong-seol’s quarters.
Having been denied entry for several days, they had finally managed to be by her side now that Hong-seol’s condition had improved.
“Sob, Sister. Sob...”
Namgung Heuk seemed quite annoyed by his younger brother, who was blubbering.
“Ah, Jeok, why are you crying again? It’s bad luck! They said the little one isn't going to die!”
“Hing, it’s because I’m relieved... But why won't Sister open her eyes?”
“They said she’s sleeping!”
“What if our sister never wakes up again!”
Jeok burst into a loud wail. At that, Heuk glanced toward his older brother.
It was always like this, but today, his brother hadn't even spared them a single glance.
‘He looks more like he’s about to die than the little one does.’
Come to think of it, he hadn't seen his brother take a single sip of water or a bite of food while Hong-seol had been lying there.
“...Ugh! Ugh!”
Namgung Jeok, who had been sobbing, suddenly had his mouth covered and twisted his body.
Namgung Heuk was covering his younger brother’s mouth and dragging him outside.
“Ugh! Why are you doing this!”
“Let’s go outside for a moment. If you make any more of a scene, I think Brother is going to give us a real beating.”
In the end, a drained Jeok was dragged out.
Namgung Baek, amidst the commotion, remained motionless in the chair by the bedside, staring intently at Hong-seol’s face.
* * *
Throughout her sleep, Hong-seol had been dreaming.
It was a dream of climbing Mount Daechok alone, facing a blizzard where her feet sank deep into the snow.
The mirror-like, tranquil lake and the snowflakes falling on her cheeks were as vivid as they had been in reality.
‘Strangely, I’m not cold this time.’
She didn't feel sorrowful, either. She didn't shed any tears.
‘Why am I like this?’
Even in her dream, Hong-seol found it curious.
Before she knew it, the clouds that had been scattering the blizzard cleared, and the blue sky peeked through the clear sunlight.
‘It’s the blue of the Namgung Clan!’
Just as Hong-seol was looking up at the sky in her dream, one hand shielding her forehead.
In reality, a breeze blew in, lifting the bamboo blind on the window slightly.
The gentle wind that leaked through the gap lightly stirred Hong-seol’s hair.
Yes, as if to wake her from her sleep.
At that moment, as if it were a lie, Hong-seol softly opened her eyes.
The first thing that entered Hong-seol’s vision was the silver-haired boy slumped over the blanket she was covered with.
“...Brother?”
At that voice, Namgung Baek slowly opened his eyes. Still slumped over, he repeated, as if he couldn't believe it.
“Seol-ah...?”
Hong-seol smiled weakly at him with hazy eyes.
“Brother, have you been there the whole time I was asleep?”
Namgung Baek, who had been slumped over Hong-seol’s blanket, finally lifted his head.
A single dried tear track remained on his fair cheek.
Seeing that, Hong-seol felt an infinitely pitiful and strange sensation.
“Because Brother was by my side the whole time... I wasn't cold at all, even on Mount Daechok.”
“Mount Daechok? What on earth are you talking about?”
Startled by her words, Namgung Baek peered closely at Hong-seol’s face.
His blue eyes, brimming with tears, were as beautiful as jewels.
In an instant, Hong-seol’s cheeks flushed bright red.
Seeing Hong-seol’s feverish state, Namgung Baek seemed deeply worried.
“It seems your mind has not yet fully returned. I will go and bring the adults.”
Namgung Baek tried to rise in a hurry, then hesitated.
Hong-seol’s small hand was clutching his lapel tightly.
“I, I am fine, Brother. And thank you.”
Hesitating at those words, Namgung Baek turned and sat back down by Hong-seol’s bedside.
“You were the one who came to the cave to save me, weren't you, Brother?”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because Brother has always protected me.”
Whether it was from the hands of Eun-myeong during the <Anhui River Crossing>, or from the hands of Namgung Do, a young master of the branch family, in the past.
And, though it was a distant memory now, even during the trouble Namgung Jong-woo caused on the day of the duel.
“...”
Meanwhile, Namgung Baek wore an expression as if he were suppressing something.
Before long, he spoke in a heavy voice.
“Promise me you will not do that again.”
“Yes?”
“That you will not throw your life away for others as you did this time. That you will put yourself first in any situation.”
“But, as a martial artist, one must live for Justice and Chivalry...”
“Justice and Chivalry, my foot!”
When Namgung Baek flared up, Hong-seol shrank her shoulders and smiled weakly.
If it had been before, or if it had been someone other than Namgung Baek, she would have been terrified, but it was different now. Because Hong-seol knew he wasn't raising his voice to scare her.
“It’s infuriating. Hurry and promise me!”
Hong-seol stared blankly at the spot where Namgung Baek had been slumped just a moment ago.
‘Brother was crying, and it was all because of me...’
The tear stain on the blanket was both funny and sad.
And so, Hong-seol could not bring herself to defy Namgung Baek’s words.
“I won't do as I please anymore. I promise.”
* * *
“Ah, please let us in!”
An unusual scuffle broke out in front of the Namgung Clan estate.
It was because a scruffy beggar boy was insisting on going inside.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Yang Do-jin, who had tried to force his way in, was blocked by a guard and tumbled backward.
The guard, who had been put through the wringer, clicked his tongue.
“Between the old beggar from last time and now, why are there so many strange beggars lately?”
“I’m not a strange beggar. I’m a friend of the young lady of this house!”
The beggar boy stiffened his neck and shouted.
“Kid, I’ve been working as a guard for the Namgung Clan for ten years now. In all that time, there has never been a young master of this house who made a kid like you their friend.”
Just then, a shrill girl’s voice was heard.
“He’s telling the truth!”
“Soso, I told you not to stick your head out of the carriage!”
Creak.
As soon as the carriage stopped, a tiny girl jumped out with a determined expression.
“Oh my, this child really!”
Despite the angry voice of the middle-aged woman, Deng Soso reached the gate in one go and blocked the beggar boy’s front.
She even had her hands on her hips.
“I am Deng Soso, the only daughter of the Master of the Deng Clan!”
The beggar boy, who had tumbled backward, stood up. Deng Soso pointed at him vigorously with her finger.
“And this is Yang Do-jin of the Beggars' Clan!”
Deng Soso thumped her own chest vigorously.
“We are Hong-seol’s friends. Very close ones, at that. You know? Hong-seol. The one staying at the Azure Sky Pavilion.”
The guard stood there awkwardly, looking flustered.
The high-quality attire of the child named Deng Soso was clearly that of a martial family, but he couldn't just let them in without verifying their identities.
Just as the guard was at a loss, a woman spoke up.
“It is truly causing a nuisance. You recognize my face, do you not?”
“Ah, yes! Of course. You are the Mistress of the Deng Clan.”
The guard bowed his head immediately. He was familiar with Lady Wi of the Deng Clan.
“I will personally vouch for the identity of the boy, Yang Do-jin, as well.”
“If you say so, Madam...”
Clank.
The firmly closed gate of the Namgung Clan estate opened.
“Waaaaah!”
Excited, Deng Soso ran inside. Yang Do-jin looked resentful for a moment, then passed the guard with a confident stride.
“Hey, Soso!”
Lady Wi called out as if to stop her, but Deng Soso was already far ahead.
Lady Wi sighed.
“Really, is she that fond of that child named Hong-seol?”
* * *
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Hong-seol was sitting in the pavilion in the rear garden with Deng Soso and Yang Do-jin.
Lady Wi of the Deng Clan had gone to the Medicine Hall to meet Bing Yuhwa.
Deng Soso suddenly shouted.
“I brought you a gift!”
“A gift?”
Hong-seol, filled with anticipation, clasped her hands over her chest.
She had already received many gifts since she began living in the Namgung Clan, but this was the first time she had received one from a ‘friend she met outside.’
Her heart couldn't help but flutter.
“Wait a moment... Here!”
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