Chapter – 26
Looking back, from the very first day until now, the colors of her clothes had always been dull. As if she were deliberately trying to erase her own presence.
Madam Munhyeon rose from her seat.
“You’re leaving already? Without even having a meal?”
“Meal…….”
Gyohum, who had been about to ask, Shall we eat before we go?, closed his mouth instead. Soran’s face had gone noticeably pale.
Was it just her imagination? Otherwise, there was no way to explain it.
This was the place where Soran had been born and raised. Her natal home—somewhere she had always wanted to return to.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll be heading back now. I still have things to take care of. I’ll visit again next time.”
“It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. Take care on your way.”
“Yes. Then.”
Gyohum bowed toward them and extended his hand to Soran.
At the sight, Sehwa puckered her lips, and Madam Munhyeon poked her in the side. Sehwa immediately broke into a bright smile.
“See you again, Soran.”
Gyohum quietly shifted only his gaze toward Sehwa. Still smiling with her eyes, Sehwa responded to his look with a meaningful smile.
“……”
Unable to meet her gaze, Soran instead stared down at Gyohum’s palm.
“Come visit often. It feels lonely not seeing you after seeing you every day.”
“Yes, un—”
The word unnie died in her mouth. Gyohum glanced between the two women and whispered in a sweet voice,
“Let’s go, Madam.”
He still smelled of medicinal decoctions. That bitter scent covered up the foul odor beneath it.
Soran quietly inhaled. Her lungs, which had shrunk tight, slowly expanded.
Before she realized it, she could breathe comfortably again, just like usual.
“Madam?”
Slowly, Soran reached out. She placed her hand atop Gyohum’s palm.
She didn’t know why he treated her so gently. Still, the medicinal scent lingering around him wasn’t as unpleasant as she’d expected.
In fact, she was almost grateful for that strong scent—it was thick enough to mask all other foul odors.
Then suddenly, Soran’s eyes clouded.
Would the bitter scent of medicine, as time passed, turn into something rancid like Madam Munhyeon’s?
That would be sad.
No—very sad.
At that moment, Gyohum took a step forward. Guided by his hand, Soran moved as well.
The two of them crossed the corridor side by side, neither ahead nor behind.
And after their shadows finally disappeared beyond the doorway—
“Haa.”
Sehwa let out the breath she’d been holding and muttered resentfully toward Madam Munhyeon.
“Mother, you must find me a husband more handsome than that wretched man.”
Madam Munhyeon frowned.
“You can’t live by eating someone’s face……”
Before she could continue scolding, Sehwa quickly cut in.
“I don’t want the eldest son of the Woo clan in Sangsi. Everyone says his face is scarred!”
“Sehwa.”
“Promise me. If you bring me a man uglier than that wretch, I won’t even show up at my wedding!”
“When will you ever grow up?”
“He has to be at least that tall, and built like that too. Understood?”
Shaking her head, Madam Munhyeon left the room. Left alone, Sehwa pouted and glared at the spot where Soran had stood just moments ago.
“So annoying.”
The image of the two of them holding hands gently remained vividly in her mind. At last, she grabbed the teacup within reach and hurled it.
Crash. The cup shattered against the wall, sharp fragments scattering in all directions.
Soran held a tray in one hand and opened the door with the other.
By now, sharing tea and snacks with Madam Jami had become part of her daily routine.
“You’re bringing it yourself again.”
“I was curious what kind of dasik was prepared today, so I stopped by the kitchen and brought it along.”
At that, Madam Jami smiled warmly. She smelled of black sesame dasik—the kind you never grew tired of eating.
“So, what kind of dasik is it today?”
“Black sesame dasik.”
Perhaps the scent came not from Madam Jami, but from the tray itself.
Soran set the tea down neatly before Madam Jami, then slid the plate of dasik toward her.
After taking a bite, Madam Jami nodded in satisfaction.
“Nutty.”
“Is it?”
Soran’s eyes sparkled. Though it was the same dasik she always ate, she felt excited and expectant every time, as if it were new.
Madam Jami’s gaze softened as well. Somehow, even familiar dasik tasted better when she looked at Soran.
Though Madam Jami usually had a small appetite and could manage only two pieces, thanks to Soran she’d come to enjoy flavors she normally wouldn’t touch.
“I’ve had enough. You eat too.”
“Yes.”
Only then did Soran reach for the dasik.
The moment she put the jet-black piece into her mouth, her eyes widened. One cheek puffed out instantly, and her small lips moved busily.
“Didn’t you say there’s a gathering of the Jungnangjang’s wives?”
At that, Soran’s expression visibly dimmed. Her chewing slowed noticeably.
“Yes…”
“Why aren’t you eating more?”
“……It’s nothing.”
As if she’d lost her appetite, Soran only sipped the tea she disliked. Seeing such an uncharacteristic 모습, Madam Jami guessed the reason and asked gently,
“Is there something worrying you?”
“I’m afraid my lack of learning might tarnish my husband’s reputation……”
“What nonsense. How could the daughter of the Chief State Councilor worry about such things?”
Madam Jami likely thought Soran was exaggerating.
Soran gave a bitter smile. Every time she faced such misunderstandings about herself, a heavy guilt pressed down on her chest.
To them, Soran was a beloved daughter raised carefully by a powerful man. But in truth, she was a concubine’s daughter—lower even than a maid.
Before her thoughts could sink further, Soran shook her head. Now was not the time for such thoughts.
Something more important awaited her.
What kind of conversations would the wives of the Jungnangjang have? Just thinking about it made her chest feel tight, like indigestion.
“No. Truly, I don’t know anything.”
“It must be that your father cherished you like gold and jade. How could that be a flaw? As the daughter of the Chief State Councilor, even if you make mistakes, no one would dare criticize you.”
“They won’t say anything to my face, but behind my back they’ll speak ill of my husband.”
Madam Jami smiled faintly.
“Then let me give you a few pieces of advice.”
“!”
Soran’s eyes flew open. Why hadn’t she thought of this?
Madam Jami was a woman who had long since walked the path Soran was about to take. She must have attended countless such gatherings.
Soran quickly straightened her posture.
“I’ll take it to heart.”
“Let’s see.”
Madam Jami slowly looked Soran up and down.
“First, you should work on that expression of yours.”
“My expression…?”
Soran’s eyes widened again. Madam Jami reflexively softened her gaze.
“Showing your emotions openly isn’t always the best choice. When women of similar rank gather, competition naturally arises. After all, the number of people who can rise is limited.”
After a brief pause, she added in a lighter tone,
“In that sense, gatherings where hierarchy is clear can be more comfortable. Though, of course, those have their own difficulties too.”
Soran nodded and stiffened her face, as if trying not to look easy to deal with. She put strength into her eyes.
At that sight, Madam Jami chuckled softly.
“There’s no need to look so stern. Just keep a gentle smile.”
“A gentle smile…? Yes.”
Tilting her head with a troubled look, Soran tugged lightly at the corners of her mouth.
“Well done.”
“!”
Soran forgot all the advice she’d just received and widened her eyes once more. It was the first time in her life she’d ever been told she’d done well.
To Madam Munhyeon, Soran had always been a lacking child. If she wasn’t being scolded, that alone was a relief.
Yet Madam Jami praised her for something as small as a smile.
“Hehe.”
Lowering her gaze, Soran smiled shyly. The scent of black sesame grew stronger—surely not from the dasik.
She stole a glance at Madam Jami.
Madam Jami always smelled warm. Sometimes like grass, sometimes like earth, sometimes like sunlight.
That was why Soran liked her. Because she didn’t give off the suffocating stench that Madam Munhyeon did.
No—more than just her. Everything in this house was good.
The simple yet not shabby decorations, the pillars worn smooth by time, the people who lived here.
Here, she could breathe freely. She could inhale deeply and exhale without restraint.
Ah—belatedly remembering herself, Soran erased her shy expression and put on a gentle smile again.
The wrinkles at the corners of Madam Jami’s eyes deepened.
“And don’t stuff your mouth until your cheeks puff out.”
“!”
Soran looked startled yet again. As her face flushed red, Madam Jami quickly waved her hand.
“I like watching you eat that way.”
Soran lowered her head, her expression turning sulky.
