Chapter 18 …
I must have been reading it too hard, because the corners of the book were all bent…
“Hmmm.”
I tried really hard to figure out the reason for My Lord’s strange behavior.
No matter how much I thought about it, there was only one answer.
‘Is this… silent pressure?’
“I guess he was really upset that I said I didn’t have a gift for him, right?”
…Notsure.…Not sure.
“Sigh, then I have no choice!”
Well, I did want to give My Lord a gift anyway.
He’s the strongest person in the world, so there’s almost nothing dangerous for him—but it wouldn’t hurt to have something just in case!
And… My Lord is the person I’m most grateful to.
I’m able to live like this all because of him.
But I had no money, so after thinking a long time, I decided to make something myself.
“Ah, it’s a secret from My Lord! I’m making something!”
“Oh my.”
I wanted it to be a surprise—something that would make him happy since he seemed to want a present.
Sibi unni immediately understood and smiled warmly.
“The Lord is so lucky. I’m sure he’ll love it.”
“Heheh, really?”
“Of course.”
With a kind smile, Sibi clapped her hands and left the room, saying she’d bring some snacks for me while I worked.
“Well then, shall we start?”
I eagerly rolled up my sleeves.
After a long time choosing, I picked two colors of thread and unraveled them.
Black and white thread.
“These two are the safest choices.”
Simple is best!
I chose them to fit the cold, sharp feeling of his sword—and the charm already attached to it.
He said he and Lady Yeonhwa shared that charm, right?
When I carefully asked about the charm before, My Lord’s expression had changed slightly.
‘She suddenly showed up, and just tied it onto my sword however she pleased.’
He said that while fiddling with the charm, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
His expression looked painfully bittersweet—I couldn’t bring myself to pry any further.
Hmm. Something about it felt strangely familiar…
“Now… I just have to tie it?”
I twisted and knotted the thread as best as I could.
Tie here, loop there, twist around, cross it, then secure it…
“…Is this right?”
The result was disastrous.
I stared blankly at the charm I had made.
No. Absolutely not.
“What is this? It just looks like I rolled it in a mess!”
No,ifyoulookclosely…No, if you look closely…
Duri tried to give some comforting comment but couldn’t finish the sentence.
The silence dragged on.
In my head, I could practically hear leaves trembling.
“You don’t have to force yourself to comfort me…”
…Sorry.…Sorry.
I let out a deep sigh.
I didn’t think it’d be such a big deal, but trying it myself turned out to be ridiculously hard.
“Duri.”
Yeah?Yeah?
“You don’t happen to know a spell that ties knots by itself?”
Ofcoursenot.Of course not.
“Knew it…”
I held the awful charm in my hand, close to tears, when—
The door slid open.
“Young lady, why don’t you eat a snack while—”
Sibi walked in smiling with a tray of treats, but when she saw what I was holding, she froze.
“…Uh, w-wow!”
“You don’t have to pretend. It’s embarrassing.”
“Ah… yes…”
“Haaa…”
What do I do? Maybe making it myself is impossible?
My lips automatically stuck out in frustration.
“Don’t worry too much. If you practice slowly, you’ll improve. I’ll help you.”
“Really?”
“Of course! But first, let’s get some energy with snacks.”
Hearing someone with actual skill would help relieved me a little.
So, as she said, I used snacks to heal my wounded heart.
“Try this rice cake, young lady. I just made it, so it’s even tast— cough cough!”
“Ah! Are you okay? Are you sick?”
“I’m so sorry. Suddenly… cough cough! …ahem…”
She cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Recently, a lot of people inside the castle have been getting sick. I think I caught it.”
“Sick people?”
Worried that she might pass it to me, Sibi quickly stood up.
“Take medicine and rest a lot!”
I hurriedly placed a rice cake and a confection in each of her hands, telling her to eat and get energy.
Watching her hurry out while stifling coughs made me anxious.
“Maybe it’s because the weather’s cold?”
Suddenly a lot of sick people… and getting worse quickly?
Maybe a flu was going around?
Then Grandpa and my brother came to mind.
“I should go check!”
Probably nothing… but just in case!
I packed some snacks onto the tray and headed outside.
At the training grounds, even in midwinter, soldiers were training hard.
With only thin clothing, they were running laps around the wide field.
Some had even taken off their shirts, running bare-bodied.
Wow. Steam is literally rising off them.
As they completed half a lap and came my way, the soldiers spotted me.
“Greetings, young lady!”
“Young lady? Where?”
“She’s right there!”
“Oh! It’s been a while!”
“Hey! Don’t run up to the young lady with your shirt off! That’s disgusting!”
“You’re more disgusting! Where are your sleeves? You’re just wearing the torso part! You look like some pervert!”
They bickered amongst themselves but still smiled brightly at me.
“Ahahaha, hello.”
I greeted them with a polite smile.
“Ah, are you here to see the Lord? He’s inside the sword training hall!”
“Master Ho-hyun is there too!”
They pointed toward the inner grounds and jogged off.
Just as they said, when I went inside, I saw them.
My brother was swinging his sword, and beside him, My Lord pointed things out here and there.
“My Lord!”
He looked over, raising an eyebrow with a slight smile.
“Oh? What brings you here?”
“Hehe, just because.”
I unpacked the snacks and looked around.
Grandpa’s not here?
My brother’s eyes sparkled as soon as he saw the food. He must have been starving.
“Tada! I brought these just for you. Eat while training!”
“I was starving. You’re the best!”
He rushed over and popped a confection into his mouth.
“You’re being cute again.”
My Lord ruffled my hair and picked up a rice cake.
“Oh ho, my granddaughter is here.”
At that moment, Grandpa came out from a small building next to the training grounds.
“Hello!”
“Grandpa, have some snacks!”
“Yeong brought them just for us.”
“Really? Our kid is so thoughtful. Who did she take after, I wonder.”
Grandpa chuckled and patted my head.
Hmm. Everyone looked fine.
“Father, after we finish eating, spar with me for real!”
“We’ll see.”
“I’ve gotten way better since last time! I really want to win a tournament next year!”
While my brother whined, I popped a rice cake into my mouth, when one of the soldiers from earlier suddenly ran over.
“My Lord!”
“Hm?”
“I think… we should stop training.”
“What? Why?”
My Lord frowned.
The soldier spoke nervously.
“Some soldiers suddenly started coughing badly during training, and two of them collapsed.”
“…Collapsed?”
My Lord’s brows tightened.
My eyes widened.
Just a while ago, everyone looked completely fine.
“Yes. They were talking and joking like normal just a moment ago.”
The soldier’s eyes trembled with confusion.
“People collapsing out of nowhere… If this is a plague…”
Hearing that, both My Lord and Grandpa’s expressions hardened.
A plague?
Something felt wrong.
I remembered Sibi saying a lot of people were getting sick lately.
And she was perfectly fine at first, until she suddenly began coughing…
Healthy people suddenly deteriorating.
That almost never happens.
One possibility flashed through my mind.
Perhaps…
“…Stop training. Anyone showing symptoms should be isolated. Everyone else, cover their mouth and nose with a clean cloth and wait.”
“You all should head back to your rooms. I’ll take you.”
Both My Lord and Grandpa spoke gravely.
It seemed they were thinking the same thing I was.
This wasn’t normal.
It could be a guimul—an evil spirit.
More specifically…
A plague-bearing yeok-gwi.
Just like last time.
I bit my lip without realizing.
At that moment—
Thud—
“Hyun-ah!”
“…!”
I whipped my head around.
Grandpa had caught my brother in his arms.
The boy lay limp, unconscious.
“Brother!”
“Hyun-ah!”
My Lord rushed over and shook him urgently, but there was no response.
Both Grandpa and My Lord’s faces went pale.
“…We must move him to a room.”
“I’ll send for the physician immediately. We should notify my mother as well.”
“Do it.”
Grandpa lifted my brother with one arm and hurried out of the training grounds.
“Yeong-ah.”
My Lord turned around sharply and lifted me into his arms.
“I’ll take you to your room. Don’t come out. It’s dangerous. Understand?”
“My Lord, my brother—”
“He’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
His steps were quick.
Held tightly against his chest, I clenched his clothes in both fists.
My brother collapsed.
Without any warning.
