Chapter 010: The Blade (1)
Seul-i was now six years old. She was extraordinarily lovely, full of charm, and so endearing that anyone could not help but like her. From this point on, taking her along on outings occasionally would open many doors for her future.
Mak-ri furrowed her brow slightly.
But if this continues… the match grandmother had once chosen for Seul-i was a family of ordinary commoners. Could it be that now she has the Sa family in mind?
Yet, judging from the character of those she had observed firsthand, it was highly unlikely that they would take notice of such a modest merchant household. Or perhaps the grandmother simply intended to use the Sa family as a pretext to explore other options.
At that moment, Madam Joo seemed to recall something and spoke.
“Then Seol-rim would be left alone at home. Could it be…?”
“There’s no need to bring her along on the first visit,” the matriarch replied.
With a worried expression, she looked over her two granddaughters and shook her head after weighing the situation.
“In any case, you will visit the Sa household frequently from now on. There’s no reason to insist on this one occasion. Besides, the girl has her father and older brother. We should not meddle unnecessarily. Perhaps they have their own plans already.”
Stepping outside, the matriarch led her two granddaughters—both as lovely as flowers—to the carriage. Naturally, the maid Hong-ok followed closely behind.
As they passed through the second gate, Mak-ri turned her head and saw a pale-yellow sleeve brush against the shaded wall. She paused briefly, looked at the spot, then quietly withdrew her gaze and followed the matriarch.
Once the carriage disappeared from view, Seol-rim, who had been hiding behind the wall, cautiously emerged. She scanned her surroundings, ensuring no one noticed her, and tiptoed toward Seol Inang’s room.
“See? I was right. In the end, the matriarch only took her two granddaughters, leaving you out. Even your aunt isn’t capable of genuinely caring for you.”
Seol Inang had just finished a cup of apricot-almond drink (hangin-ro) and wiped her lips with a handkerchief. She snorted, and Seol-rim lowered her head silently.
Without pause, Seol Inang continued.
“You always act as if you’re a guest in someone else’s home, but you should know that your mother gave you a large sum when she sent you away. I saw it myself. Even if your aunt were to feed you for life, she wouldn’t even spend half of it! And look at her frail husband. If I hadn’t personally assisted with Noya, do you think she could have lived so comfortably? Hmph! She’s the type to begrudge even a few bolts of fabric that relatives occasionally bring. What gives her the right to act so self-important?”
Seol-rim quietly looked at Seol Inang.
“Brother said yesterday that uncle’s business hasn’t been doing well lately. Could you, aunt, perhaps check how much money he currently has when the opportunity arises?”
The matriarch’s carriage came to a halt before the grand gate of the Sa estate. As grandmother and granddaughters disembarked, A-seong guided the carriage carefully between the other ornate carriages.
The three women, following the guidance of the attendants, quietly entered through the main gate.
Although it was her first time entering today, Mak-ri did not find the estate unfamiliar.
In the past, when she had worked for Han-sado, Mak-ri had devoted herself to winning the favor of the Sa family’s noblewomen. She remembered meticulously noting their preferences and personal circumstances with great care.
Judging roughly… the current Sa household’s main branch likely received a separate title and established a sub-branch a few years ago, while the main residence still houses the second, third, and fourth branches together.
Even by rough calculation, there were easily twenty or more principal wives in the household.
Moreover, Mak-ri had witnessed countless stories of intrigue and revenge within this family. Whether the Sa family paid attention or not, and whether they accepted it sincerely or not, she could never allow Seol-i to become entangled with such a household.
Mak-ri glanced briefly at the matriarch, then turned her attention to Seol-i.
She heard the Sa matriarch teasing Seol-i with a smile.
“Seul-ah, do you like my house?”
Seol-i, awed by the grandeur of the mansion, was completely overwhelmed by the sight of the flower-adorned hall (hwacheong) and the rows of women and girls wearing sparkling jewelry. After entering, she said nothing beyond a polite greeting and carefully held the fruit offered by her maid, her round dark eyes looking up at the Sa matriarch obediently. Seeing this, the matriarch could not hide her delight at the child’s charm.
The girl, delicate and doll-like as if carved from white jade, was so lovely she seemed pinchable.
Seol-i did not answer immediately, glancing nervously between Mak-ri and the matriarch. When Mak-ri offered a gentle smile, she finally spoke in a soft voice.
“Grandmother Sa’s house… it’s really beautiful. There are so many people.”
Though young, Seol-i vaguely understood what she could say and what she should refrain from.
Yet, being a child, she could not speak insincerely. After a brief pause, she finally managed to speak, her voice clear and moist like that of a newborn. It was so fresh it seemed as though water might drip from it.
“Hoho…”
The Sa matriarch, eyes narrowing to thin slits with laughter, held Seul-i’s hand.
“Seul-ah, will you be my grandson’s wife? Then you can live here at grandmother’s house from now on.”
Mak-ri was startled and glanced at the matriarch. The matriarch hurriedly smiled and deflected.
“Oh my, what luck Seul-i would have!”
However, it was impossible to avoid the gazes of the other wives.
The matriarch smiled, though a trace of discomfort was visible. That the Sa matriarch could speak so openly in front of everyone—even jokingly—clearly implied a subtle condescension.
Having lived half a lifetime in a prestigious family, she is different from before.
She sighed inwardly. The stubborn yet principled girl she had once befriended was gone.
Mak-ri then subtly observed the expressions of the Sa family’s daughters-in-law.
The first to furrow her brow was the third wife, Lady Wi. She had only one son, whose age made him the most suitable match for Seol-i. Lady Wi’s startled reaction at the matriarch’s words was evident.
Next to her, Lady Jeon, the Sa matriarch’s second wife, sneered, glancing at Lady Wi. She had been married for over three years without a child, and secretly felt some satisfaction at this turn of events.
The second wife, Lady Eom, paled the most. None of her sons were of appropriate age, yet her face had nearly turned white.
The other women also harbored thoughts, but outwardly, they offered only perfunctory words and quietly let the moment pass.
Mak-ri inwardly scoffed, withdrawing her gaze. Seeing Seul-ah unaware of everything was frustrating. She should not have brought Seul-i today. The Sa household was far too treacherous.
The play she had carefully prepared had not yet begun, yet the smell of smoke was already in the air.
Seol-i did not fully understand the Sa matriarch’s words, but she sensed that the gaze directed at her had shifted.
Frightened by this alone, she seized the moment while a maid whispered to the matriarch and quietly approached Mak-ri. Hesitant, she murmured, moving her lips.
“Why?” Mak-ri asked, leaning in.
“Sister… I, I… need to go to the bathroom…”
Seol-i pressed her lips close to Mak-ri’s ear, speaking in a voice so soft it trembled like a young leaf.
Mak-ri paused for a moment, then smiled, took her hand, and said to the matriarch:
“Grandmother, Seul-ah drank too much tea this morning. I’ll take her with me.”
The Sa matriarch, having nearly finished her conversation with the maid, immediately nodded and instructed the maid to guide them.
“Return before too long; we’ll set a banquet in the garden soon.”
“Yes, Grandmother Sa.”
Yi Wol-ah should almost be here by now. When we return with Seul-ah, Lady Yang should arrive just in time.
As Mak-ri led Seol-i toward the main hall, they saw a stately woman in elaborate silk with a head adorned in beads, accompanied by a neat young scholar, entering from outside.
It was Lady Yang and her son, Yang-myeong.
The moment their eyes met, Lady Yang stopped abruptly, as if she had seen a ghost. She scanned Mak-ri up and down, her expression hardening.
“What are you doing here?”
Her tone carried clear displeasure, as if it were inconceivable that such a humble girl could appear in the Sa matriarch’s hall.
She is always so arrogant, trying to win by any means.
Lady Yang’s rudeness had partly caused Mak-ri’s mother to remain bedridden for so long.
Mak-ri smiled faintly, lifting the corner of her mouth.
“Today is the Sa matriarch’s celebration. Grandmother was personally invited by the Sa matriarch.”
The Sa matriarch invited them?
Lady Yang’s chest tightened. She wanted to ask more, but with the Sa estate’s maids moving about, she had to hold her tongue. Any slip could cause her to lose face.
Pressing her lips together, Lady Yang forced a disdainful look while entering the hall, all the while her mind racing.
Since when have the Macks been coming here? What have they been saying? The Macks had no connection to the Sa family… did they use some other method? But that doesn’t justify inviting them here!
Yang-myeong, following behind, never expected to encounter Mak-ri here either.
Seeing his long-unseen fiancée, his mind went blank. He had known Mak-ri was beautiful, but after two years of witnessing talented peers and courtesans, his sense of admiration had dulled.
Yet today, faced with her again, Mak-ri appeared more beautiful than ever.
