Episode 6
A brief silence settled between them.
Startled, Haena’s moonlit eyes met Seowan’s indifferent blue gaze.
“Ho—how…?”
She muttered unconsciously, and Seowan extended a hand.
Only then did Haena realize she had fallen to the ground. She quickly scrambled up.
Brushing the dirt off her skirt with firm little pats, she bowed politely.
Instead of blurting words like before, she asked properly,
“Ah, hello. What brings you here?”
Seowan looked between the tense child and his own outstretched hand, then withdrew it.
“You called for me, so I came.”
“I did?”
Haena’s eyes widened.
Seowan pointed toward the pond.
“All water within the Kingdom of Cheonmang is connected to me. Wherever water flows, I can sense it roughly. If it’s close enough, I can see and hear it as clearly as if I were there.”
Haena’s mouth slowly opened.
As she carefully processed the explanation, her face turned bright red.
So that meant… everything she had said while talking to the pond—calling her “unnie”—had been heard!
“What did you call me for?”
Seowan, who had kindly come all the way over at her summons, asked.
Haena hesitated, then finally answered.
“Well… I was just… practicing. I wanted to call you ‘unnie’ if I ever met you… I didn’t mean to bother you or come looking for you or anything.”
She had intended to stay as quiet and unobtrusive as possible—but on the very first day, she had caused a huge incident.
“I’m sorry…”
Haena lowered her head, hands clasped together, looking dejected.
Seowan looked down at her and asked,
“Did you want to meet me?”
Haena slowly lifted her gaze.
She nodded without hesitation.
Seowan frowned slightly.
“Why?”
Why? Did there need to be a grand reason?
Haena hesitated.
But no matter how she racked her brain, no answer came. So she spoke carefully.
“Just… because?”
It was an honest reply.
But Seowan’s brow furrowed even deeper.
“Do you want something from me?”
“Pardon?”
“Are you dissatisfied with something? Or are you planning to ask for a reward?”
“No!”
Haena flailed her hands in alarm. She already had more than enough.
“Then there’s no reason for you to want to see me.”
Seowan still looked as though this made absolutely no sense.
Haena felt a little, just a little, frustrated.
“Because we’re family…”
she mumbled softly.
“Because you’re my sister, I wanted to see you. I—I never meant to bother you.”
At those words, Seowan made an expression Haena had never seen before.
It looked like surprise… and perhaps shock.
She stared at Haena as though she were some incomprehensible creature.
Then she spoke flatly.
“I abandoned you.”
Even after such blunt words, Haena did not cry or break.
She simply answered in a small but clear voice.
“No, you didn’t.”
“I did. With my own hands.”
Seowan replied coldly, without the slightest hesitation.
“You grew up in the Yeon family for eight years because I left you there. You cannot deny that.”
Haena’s lips pouted slightly.
Seowan’s tone was too firm, and it frightened her a little—but she could not accept it.
“But you came back for me…”
she murmured at last.
“Hah.”
A sigh of disbelief escaped Seowan.
‘I thought she was timid and obedient.’
Unexpectedly, she said everything she wanted to say quite clearly. She even seemed rather stubborn.
Noticing Seowan’s gaze, Haena flinched and lowered her head deeply.
‘I’m going to get scolded.’
She knew from experience.
She had often been scolded in the Yeon household for speaking like this.
“If you’re going to be like that, just do as you’re told. Why are you talking so much?”
“Just follow orders!”
The servants of the Yeon household had always told her that.
Each time, Haena would press her lips shut—then eventually say one more thing and get scolded again.
“Sir Seo listened to me…”
Haena had always been a child with many questions.
Sir Seo had never gotten angry at her curiosity, nor told her to simply obey because she was young. He always listened and answered her questions.
But after Sir Seo died, there was no one in the Yeon family who listened to her anymore.
Her sister was not Sir Seo.
Haena liked Seowan, but she knew Seowan did not particularly welcome her.
“Is that all you wanted to say?”
Seowan’s voice came from above her head.
“There seems to be more. If you have something to say, say it. I’ll listen.”
Haena quickly lifted her head.
Seowan’s expression was the same as before.
Still cold—but not particularly angry.
Haena’s face brightened instantly, her smile soft like afternoon sunlight.
“Thank you. And… and I…”
“….”
“I… I like that you’re my sister.”
Seowan could not understand it at all. What was there to like about someone like her?
“C-can I ask you something too?”
Haena asked, cheeks slightly flushed. There was no malice in her expression.
People either feared Seowan, despised her, or desired her.
This was the first time someone had shown her such pure affection.
Unsure how to respond, Seowan slowly nodded.
Haena’s face brightened even more.
Taking a careful step closer, she began to chatter.
“Do you have any favorite foods? I mean… like meals.”
“I don’t have particular dislikes. I don’t especially enjoy sweets.”
“There are so many flowers in the garden. Did you choose them yourself? What flowers do you like the most?”
“The gardener chose them. As for flowers… I prefer trees.”
As they exchanged questions and answers, Seowan found herself in an unfamiliar state of mind.
Even her own preferences were things she was hearing for the first time.
Haena continued asking more questions, and Seowan quietly answered each one.
Haena smiled brightly, delighted by each response, while Seowan simply watched her face, unsure what to do.
A week after their sudden encounter.
That morning—
‘Today’s the day…!’
Haena opened her eyes wide and immediately sat up. She clenched her fists determinedly.
After her first casual conversation with her sister, she had learned many things.
Her sister’s unknown preferences—and the fact that she did not seem to hate her as much as she had thought.
That realization made her incredibly happy and relieved.
Encouraged, Haena decided to visit Seowan.
It had taken a full week to prepare.
She had asked the cook to prepare food Seowan liked, and even inquired with Cheongyeon about Seowan’s morning routine.
With everything ready, today she planned to invite Seowan to have breakfast together.
‘She’s busy at lunch, and she prefers simple dinners alone.’
Breakfast was perfect.
If she hurried, she would arrive right on time for Seowan’s morning meal.
Just as Haena swung her legs off the bed, she heard footsteps beyond the sliding door.
“Young lady. Are you awake?”
“Yes!”
Cheongyeon entered with a gentle laugh.
She was one of the few who knew Haena’s plan—and her reliable helper.
Knowing how much Haena had been waiting for this day, Cheongyeon brought a specially prepared outfit.
A light lavender skirt paired with a white blouse embroidered with butterflies fit Haena perfectly.
“I’m sure the master will be very pleased.”
Cheongyeon patted Haena’s tense shoulders and whispered.
“I hope so…”
If she seemed bothered, she would leave immediately.
Steeling her resolve one last time, Haena stepped out.
Her room in the annex was quite far from Seowan’s in the main building.
As she crossed the garden quickly, a noisy commotion came from the main gate.
‘What is that?’
Just as she turned her head, Cheongyeon smoothly blocked her view.
“Come now, young lady. We should hurry. We’ll be late.”
“Ah, yes!”
Fortunately, Haena quickly lost interest.
After a brisk walk, she finally arrived in front of Seowan’s room and swallowed nervously.
“Master, the young lady has arrived.”
Before Haena could even prepare herself, Cheongyeon announced her presence.
The door opened immediately.
Seowan stood there, already dressed, her hair tied up.
“What is it?”
Her ash-black hair was pulled neatly back as she asked.
Flustered, Haena hurriedly spoke the words she had prepared.
“I-I thought maybe… it would be nice if you had breakfast with me… I mean, together… I think it would be good… for me, I mean…”
Ugh.
Her words tangled hopelessly.
Tears welled in her large eyes.
Sniff.
Cheongyeon couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
And so—
the moment hung in the air.
