Chapter – 18
“…Yes, then.”
With a tense expression, Soran carefully picked up a single dasik. It was a chestnut hwangyul dasik, made from night chestnuts.
“!”
The moment she placed it in her mouth and took a bite, a gentle sweetness spread across her tongue.
It was the first time in her life she had tasted such a luxurious confection—dasik made by finely mashing chestnuts and kneading them with honey.
The nutty richness of the chestnuts and the sweetness of the honey blended together in perfect harmony. Could food this delicious really be allowed to exist in the world?
“Haah.”
Soran let out a satisfied sigh. When she took a sip of tea, its bitterness neatly washed away the lingering sweetness in her mouth.
Ah. So this is why people drink tea.
She felt she finally understood why tea was considered the culture of the aristocracy. Eating something sweet, then cleansing the palate with bitter tea—it was an indulgence in itself.
“It’s delicious.”
At her sincere admiration, Lady Jami’s eyes curved into thin crescents.
“Go on, finish it.”
“Yes.”
No longer holding back, Soran brought the remaining dasik to her mouth one by one.
Lady Jami watched her with evident satisfaction. It was only a single piece of dasik, yet one of Soran’s cheeks puffed out adorably.
Chew, chew. When her lips busied themselves, her dark eyes sparkled with contentment.
Lady Jami had never seen anyone eat dasik so deliciously. It was enough to make the onlooker feel cheerful.
Only after finishing the last piece did Soran seem to remember the reason she had come. She settled into a composed expression.
With both hands resting neatly on her thighs, she spoke demurely.
“I was thinking of going out for a short while.”
“Hm. You must be planning a trip to the market with Geohum.”
“Yes.”
“Silk and salt are limited in what’s released to the market. And among them, truly good-quality goods are extremely rare.”
Lady Jami spoke as though instructing her, then smiled bitterly as if she’d belatedly recalled whose daughter sat before her.
“Of course, merchants carrying the finest goods must be lining up at your in-laws’ front gate.”
“……”
Soran didn’t know what to say.
Strictly speaking, Lady Jami was right. Merchants were always lined up in front of the Jungseoryeong household.
Lady Munhyeon bought every new ornament that appeared, and Sehwa stockpiled more silk than she could ever wear.
So merchants wore down the threshold of that house with their comings and goings.
And yet, none of that had anything to do with Soran. While they indulged in such extravagance, she had been worrying about her next meal.
Interpreting her silence in her own way, Lady Jami continued calmly.
“Dealing with merchants may be the servants’ task, but the mistress of the house must know everything. Entrusting things knowingly and entrusting them unknowingly are worlds apart.”
“Yes.”
“When I had just married, my mother-in-law told me to go to the market with my husband. She said that a proper lady of the household shouldn’t merely pay the price, but see with her own eyes the shops—and the people who come and go through them.”
She paused, her expression turning wistful as she recalled the past.
“Looking back, I think she meant for us to spend some quiet time together as well. Just the two of us, away from our parents.”
“Ah…”
“I still remember how sweet the yeot candy we ate together was. It was nothing special, but it felt sweet enough to melt my tongue. So you, too—don’t linger too long on formalities. Go and enjoy a good time with Geohum.”
“Yes, thank you.”
As Soran rose from her seat, she stopped with a soft “Ah,” and turned back.
“Commander is not indifferent toward me.”
“Hm?”
“He takes good care of me—kindly, in many ways. I just didn’t want you to misunderstand.”
“Is that so?”
Lady Jami smiled once more.
Relieved that the misunderstanding had been cleared, Soran wore a pleased expression. She bent deeply at the waist, bowing respectfully.
“Then I’ll be off.”
The moment she said it, she felt something strange.
I’ll be back.
Returning here.
Never once had Soran thought of the Jungseoryeong household as her home.
She had stayed there from the moment she was born, for a very long time—but it never felt like her own.
There was no place for her there. No family.
Slowly straightening up, Soran gazed at Lady Jami. Their eyes met, and Lady Jami nodded.
“Go carefully. It’s cold, so make sure you dress warmly.”
“……”
Could this place be her home?
She didn’t know. Not yet.
These people knew nothing about her. Once they heard the rumors about her, they would surely come to dislike her, just like everyone else.
And yet, Soran earnestly wished for it. That this might be her home. That she might be able to put down roots in this solid ground.
But she soon shook her head. For someone whose lifelong wish amounted to nothing more than a bowl of scorched rice, it was far too extravagant a dream.
Soran offered Lady Jami a soft, fragile smile—like something that might crumble at a touch.
“Yes, Mother.”
***
“This way, young madam.”
Geutsun hurried ahead, taking the lead. Afraid of losing her, Soran walked while keeping her eyes fixed on the hem of Geutsun’s skirt.
Suddenly, everything felt unfamiliar. Stepping outside without people whispering. Without fingers pointing at her.
Perhaps—
Soran stopped and looked up at the vivid blue sky. The winter sky was so clear it almost stung.
Perhaps she could start a new life here. A life where no one called her cruel, and no one called her a premature child.
Was even that too much to hope for?
“Your legs must hurt. I told you, we should’ve come on horseback.”
Seeing Soran stop, Geutsun fretted anxiously. Soran resumed walking and replied calmly.
“I’m fine. This is nothing.”
“You look like you’d be blown away by a gust of wind, but you’re stronger than you seem.”
Soran wondered what kind of expression Geutsun would make if she told her she’d once spent entire days climbing mountains to gather wild greens.
Just then, Geutsun pointed to an old building.
“Ah, we’re here. That’s the place.”
A soldier standing at the gate cast them a curious glance. Geutsun stepped forward proudly.
“Let’s go, young madam.”
“I’ll stay here. You go and call Commander.”
“You’re not coming with me?”
“Yes.”
Soran nodded with a shy smile.
She was afraid someone might recognize her. Afraid she might become a blemish on Geohum’s name.
“Come on, don’t be like that. You should come. Commander would like it better that way.”
“No, I—”
As Soran waved her hands in refusal, Geutsun locked arms with her and dragged her along. She was so strong that Soran, bracing herself with all her might, was pulled helplessly forward.
Clearing her throat, Geutsun spoke proudly to the soldier.
“Please call Commander.”
“Which commander?”
“The commander who is the second son of General Mo’s household.”
“Oh, Commander Mo—”
The soldier trailed off and looked at Soran. She reflexively bowed her head.
“Ah, the one who was recently married…”
Chuckling awkwardly, the soldier bowed deeply to Soran.
“I’ll escort you inside.”
“No, I’ll just wait here—”
“Come on, young madam. Aren’t you curious to see how the young master works? You don’t get chances like this often.”
“……”
Come to think of it, she was curious. How did someone so gentle catch thieves and mete out punishment?
“True. How does someone so kind do such rough work?”
At her words, the soldier walking ahead stopped short. He turned back with a suspicious look.
“You did come to see Commander Mo, correct?”
“Yes.”
“You mean Commander Mo Geohum, second son of General Mo Jinpyeong?”
“Yes.”
Soran nodded vigorously.
Scratching his head, the soldier resumed walking.
“So kind…?” he muttered under his breath, the words carried away by the wind.
“He should be in the courtyard right now. Just a moment ago, the patrol officers brought in a murder suspect—ah, there he is.”
Before the soldier could finish speaking, Soran spotted Geohum.
He was a man with a striking presence—someone you could pick out instantly, even in a crowd.
Unlike usual, his brows were drawn together as he spoke coldly to the adjutant beside him.
“I set the table for them, and now they want me to spoon-feed them too.”
“…I have no excuse.”
Jaegwan bowed his head, stiff as a boulder.
Geohum’s gaze shifted to two men standing in the courtyard. Their eyes were wide as they watched him nervously.
Only then did Jaegwan lift his head slightly, recalling the conversation he’d had with Geohum that morning.
— The answer is right in front of you, yet you can’t see the thread? What do you even have eyes for? Decoration?
