Chapter 8
— — —
A look of concern crossed Hong-seol's eyes.
‘To think my benefactor is suffering from that terrible illness.’
Insomnia.
It was a difficult word for a child, but Hong-seol knew its meaning precisely.
Because it was the illness her mother had developed.
And it was all because of Hong-seol herself.
---
Around the time she had just turned five.
After being judged unable to use internal energy, Hong-seol was locked away in a cold, secluded room.
“Get that thing out of my sight and into the side room at once.”
Her mother had clearly pointed at her and said those words right in front of her.
But even locked in the side room, young Hong-seol could not accept it.
“There must have been some misunderstanding. Mom would never abandon me.”
In the room, devoid of any warmth, Hong-seol wiped away her welling tears, hugged her knees tightly, and repeated the words to herself.
“That’s right, Mom only said that because she’s sick. She must be delirious with fever… she must have mistaken me for someone else.”
It was impossible that her mother would say such cruel things to her.
Her mother had always been so gentle with her until now.
‘If I go and tell her what happened, she’ll be shocked and apologize to me.’
She'll say she's sorry, that she mistook me for someone else.
And then she'll surely pull me into a tight hug, just like she always does.
It was as if her mother's familiar scent was already tickling her nose, and Hong-seol swallowed her tears and managed a small smile.
‘Then I should accept her apology maturely.’
I was a little upset, but I love Mom more than anyone in the world.
And so, in the corner of the side room, the little child comforted herself again and again.
It was Hong-seol's way of desperately suppressing the anxiety welling up inside her.
“Yes, I’m going to see Mom!”
She had made up her mind, but the opportunity rarely came. The door to the side room was always firmly locked.
The door opened only once a day, when the maid Cheong-ok brought a bowl of cold rice.
Creaak.
Just then, the old door to the room creaked open. Hong-seol did not miss her chance and cried out.
“Cheong-ok! I’m going to see Mom!”
It was then that Hong-seol bravely took a step outside.
The maid Cheong-ok shoved Hong-seol's shoulder— thump!
Yelp!
Hong-seol let out a small cry and tumbled to the floor.
Even as she sprawled on the ground, dazed, she couldn't believe it.
‘Cheong-ok… pushed me?’
The same Cheong-ok who had always treated her with such kindness and respect!
“Cheong-ok…?”
Looking up from the floor, Hong-seol saw an expression on Cheong-ok's face she had never seen before.
Her cold, sharp gaze was so unlike the friendly maid she knew that Hong-seol wondered if she was a spy from the Namgung Clan who had used the Art of Disguise.
“The Mistress does not wish to see you, Young Miss.”
This Cheong-ok, whose attitude had flipped like the back of a hand, was a complete stranger to Hong-seol. She could only blink, speechless.
“So don’t waste your energy. Just stay here and quietly eat the food you’re given.”
“…You’re lying!”
A beat later, a sorrowful cry burst out.
Hong-seol shook her head vigorously, her eyes brimming with tears.
‘There's no way Mom doesn't want to see me!’
At that, Cheong-ok's lips twisted into a smirk. It was a laugh of disbelief.
“Hah, it’s the truth, I tell you. Besides, the Mistress has been suffering from that terrible illness, insomnia, lately—all because of you. Do you really think she wants to see you?”
Insomnia?
Hong-seol froze as if she had broken down. The thought that her mother had contracted a terrible illness because of her sent a jolt of fear through her.
“What’s that?”
“It’s an illness where you can’t sleep. The Mistress is so frustrated because of you that she can’t get any sleep!”
Perhaps it was because she didn't want to believe the cruel reality.
Hong-seol's thoughts suddenly veered in an unexpected direction.
‘Maybe if Mom sees my face, her illness will be cured.’
Hong-seol's heart began to beat faster.
Her mother had always been like that. Even when she had a headache or a stomachache, she would give Hong-seol a bright smile.
“My Hong-seol’s face is a true cure-all.”
So surely, this time too…!
Hong-seol chewed on her dry lips with her small fingers, lost in thought.
Watching her, Cheong-ok muttered to herself, as if intending to be overheard.
“Honestly. What in the world is she thinking about? I don’t even have time to rest, I’m so busy pounding and drying Sun-Greeting Herb whenever I get a spare moment to cure the Mistress’s insomnia.”
Sun-Greeting Herb…?
Come to think of it, a sharp, grassy scent was coming from Cheong-ok.
Hong-seol knew what that herb was. A common plant with leaves shaped like a baby’s palm.
Though she hadn't known it was good for an illness called insomnia.
‘But she won't need Sun-Greeting Herb anymore. Because I'm Mom's cure-all!’
I have to go to Mom quickly and cure her insomnia.
Hong-seol's tear-stained, grimy cheeks flushed pink with anticipation.
---
A day later.
Hong-seol seized the opportunity to escape when the maid Cheong-ok brought a bowl of watery white porridge.
“Ah, catch her!”
Patter-patter.
With Cheong-ok’s shouts behind her, Hong-seol ran with all her might until she reached Jegalseon’s chambers.
Slam.
As she opened the door, Hong-seol’s hand trembled finely.
“Mom!”
At the tearful voice, Jegalseon, who was lying on the bed, slowly turned her head.
Her hollow eyes met Hong-seol’s, which were brimming with tears.
“…”
Had she perhaps fallen while running here?
Hong-seol’s face was covered in scrapes.
Her cheeks were sunken, a clear sign she hadn’t eaten well for the past few days.
Her martial arts uniform, unchanged for days, was filthy and even torn in places.
And yet, as Jegalseon’s gaze swept over Hong-seol, there was no hint of emotion.
‘That's strange… Why isn't Mom calling me over to hug me?’
Her mother’s reaction was so different from what she had expected that Hong-seol grew restless.
In the end, an anxious Hong-seol had to be the one to call out to her first.
“Mom…”
A nasal sound came from her subdued throat. Hong-seol was bothered by it.
I want to seem mature.
I want to tell her clearly how worried I am about her.
But she couldn't muster the courage.
Because the face of her mother, seen after so long, was completely devoid of emotion.
Her gaze held only the cold indifference one might show a pebble on the roadside.
“My goodness, Young Miss!”
The maid Cheong-ok, arriving late, panted heavily.
“What are you doing here? Turn around and leave at once!”
Cheong-ok roughly grabbed Hong-seol’s wrist.
Smack!
Hong-seol bravely shook off her hand. Cheong-ok glared and shrieked.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
But Hong-seol didn't even hear Cheong-ok's voice. Her eyes were fixed only on her mother, Jegalseon.
Unlike the force with which she had thrown off Cheong-ok's hand, she couldn't bring herself to be reckless with her mother.
Hong-seol barely managed to squeeze out her voice.
“Mom…”
It's me.
It's Hong-seol.
You told me, didn't you?
You said my face was your cure-all…
So many words came to mind, but she couldn't find the courage to open her mouth again.
Just then, Jegalseon opened her mouth to speak to Hong-seol.
“Turn around.”
“What?”
Not understanding what she meant, Hong-seol blinked. Jegalseon spoke again in a monotone voice.
“Turn around and walk straight.”
“But that’s the door, Mom…”
“…”
Jegalseon said nothing.
It meant she wanted her to leave.
Hong-seol’s small body trembled with sorrow. But her mother never took back her words.
In the end, Hong-seol had to turn, cross the threshold, and rub her stinging eyes several times with her small fists.
The sound of the maid Cheong-ok and her mother whispering behind her made Hong-seol feel even more miserable.
“Who do you think is the reason I can’t sleep? For that child to come here on her own two feet… how shameless.”
“I know. Please don’t be too upset, Mistress. Lie down. I’ll burn an incense ball made from Sun-Greeting Herb for you. You’ll be able to fall asleep in no time.”
---
Recalling the painful memory, the corners of Hong-seol’s mouth turned down on their own. It looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
Misunderstanding Hong-seol’s tearful expression, the maid Maeran waved her hands.
“Insomnia isn’t a fatal illness, Young Miss! The Great-Grand Patriarch is healthy, so please don’t worry so much.”
“Did the physician come? Did he take his medicine?”
Forcing back her tears, Hong-seol asked in a rather mature tone. But she couldn't hide the nasal sound in her voice.
It was both pitiable and cute. Maeran replied with an expression that was somewhere between a smile and a frown.
“The Head of the Medicine Hall, who is currently away, left a very effective herbal decoction, but it seems he’s developed a tolerance to it recently, as it’s no longer working.”
“I see. Then my benefactor must be having a very hard time these days.”
Hong-seol’s face fell with worry. Her concern was genuine.
‘My benefactor is a truly good person.’
He brought me from Dae-chok Mountain and allowed me to stay here as a guest.
Not only that, he fed me until I was full and gave me silk clothes to wear.
To think that such a person is suffering from a terrible illness that keeps him from sleeping!
‘Is there any way I can help my benefactor?’
Lost in thought, Hong-seol clenched her small fists.
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