DRP 20

chapter 20

As time went on, the adults fell into silence.

They had gone through every scroll and record, but couldn’t find a groom better than the one from the Baek family that Grandmother had mentioned.

“Once you raise your standards, it’s hard to lower them again, isn’t it?”

“Please, don’t tease me.”

My uncle gave her a light rebuke, but Grandmother’s sharp tongue didn’t stop.

“Other families start sending marriage proposals to the best households they can find, regardless of the outcome. Why are you hesitating?”

“Phew.”

My father sighed as he roughly tidied up the messy study.

He had been through a lot lately — troubles piling up one after another — and now he leaned wearily against my mother, who sat upright beside him.

“Because it’s that Baek family, after all.”

“So what?”

“If they didn’t insist on staying on Homyeokdo, they’d practically be a royal family already. Do you really think they’d accept a marriage proposal from us? Those people are more tightly bound together than our own clan.”

Father listed off every reason why approaching them was difficult.

Grandmother, who had been listening silently, asked offhandedly:

“And what if they do accept?”

“…”

“Answer me.”

If Father had been in his beast form, his ears would have drooped right then.

“They’d be a flawless match.”

The heir of the Baek family was ten years old this year — the same age as the crown prince.

And since tigerfolk had long lifespans, the age difference between us wouldn’t be bad at all.

“They also live close by.”

Indeed, the Baek family governed Homyeokdo, which was just north of Seolgokdo, where our Hyun family resided.

In short, it was a convenient distance — easy to visit. For my parents, who liked to see their daughter often, that was a huge advantage.

“What do you think, sweetheart?”

Since Father was too busy groaning over the logistics, Mother turned to ask me.

All the adults looked toward me, sitting in my chair.

I folded my short arms across my chest and thought deeply.

Honestly… I didn’t know.

The idea of having to settle a marriage match at my age was just absurd.

Still — the fact that the other side were tigers made me curious.

Would he be big?

Would he be even bigger than Mom or Dad? I kind of hoped so!

“My granddaughter,”

Grandmother murmured, clearly amused by the way I had spoken my thoughts out loud again,

“has much firmer preferences than I expected.”

For some reason, the adults’ expressions turned strangely complicated.

“Shall I write the marriage proposal, Mother?”

“No. As head of the house, I should write it myself.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Those people are all shamans. They’ll check the spiritual compatibility first, no doubt. Yeoryeom, gather Hyeon’s saju (birth chart).”

“Yes, understood.”

After assigning tasks to my parents, Grandmother turned to my uncle.

“Then I’ll select the messenger to send to the Baek household.”

Quick-witted as always, my uncle immediately volunteered.

“Good. That’s your job then, Dokyeong.”

At first, it had sounded like they weren’t sure whether to even send the proposal — but before I knew it, the adults had coordinated everything smoothly, down to when the proposal would be sent.

“If this one doesn’t work out, look into the bearfolk next.”

“Yes.”

Well, bears were known to be huge.

I felt oddly embarrassed that Grandmother seemed to have figured out my “ideal type” so precisely.

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

*******

When the meeting ended, the adults dispersed.

I alone stayed behind in the study — Grandmother said she wanted to speak with me.

“Come, walk with your old grandma for a bit.”

“Okay!”

She put on an outer coat and opened her arms toward me.

As soon as I jumped up, I was lifted high into the air.

“My, you’ve gotten heavier.”

“Heehee.”

That was thanks to catching that “bad guy.”

I never wanted to smell something that awful again — but if catching evil things helped me grow like others, then I’d have to do it again someday.

I rubbed my poor, overworked nose gently.

“You’re not upset, are you?”

“About what?”

Still holding me, Grandmother walked down the cool corridor filled with autumn wind.

I was starting to get drowsy from her swaying steps, but I forced my eyes open.

“About me deciding your marriage partner without asking.”

Ah. So that’s what she was worried about.

“Didn’t you say it yourself, Grandma? Finding a good match is the guardian’s duty — but choosing the spouse is my choice.”

The adults had worked hard to pick the candidate, so I’d at least do my part and meet him properly.

“If I don’t like him, I can just kick him away, right?”

“What?”

Yeah — if I didn’t like him, I’d kick him away, just like Auntie did!

Even if the imperial palace was scary, I couldn’t just take marriage lightly — not for someone I’d spend my whole life with.

“How cheeky!”

Grandmother burst into such loud laughter that people passing by jumped in surprise.

“Still, when you meet Sobaeksan, you’ll at least like his looks.”

“His name is Sobaeksan?”

“No. Sobaeksan is a title for the Baek family’s heir.”

Homyeokdo, where the Baek family lived, was a land filled with mountains — much like our Seolgokdo.

The tallest of them was Mount Baek (Baeksan). Because of that, the Baek family’s head was called Baeksan, and his heir Sobaeksan — “Little Baek Mountain.”

*******

“Then what’s his real name?”

“Baek Hwirak.”

“Baek Hwirak…”

“It’s written with hwi (輝, to shine) and rak (祿, blessing).”

A good name.

It sounded like one his parents had thought about carefully.

“But apparently, everyone who’s met Sobaeksan asks why the hwi in his name doesn’t mean ‘beautiful.’”

“…”

Somehow, the only thing people seemed to talk about was his looks.

What about his personality? His talents? His nature?

Still… seeing Grandmother’s confident expression stirred my curiosity.

Just how handsome was this boy, to make my grandmother — whose standards were sky-high — talk like that?

I’d seen a portrait once of my grandfather, who was said to be one of the three most handsome men in the empire.

And honestly, it was true.

If my father was a man chiseled from black obsidian, my grandfather, with his slender features and white hair, looked like a sunlit rock in a summer valley — pale, smooth, and serene, as if he melted into the landscape itself.

So if he was the one my grandmother had married, and she vouched for this boy’s looks…

“Grandma?”

“Yes?”

“Is he really that handsome?”

I couldn’t help but be curious.

She patted my back and smiled.

“You can look forward to it.”

And since I wasn’t shy, only curious, I decided I definitely would.

*******

A few days after choosing an auspicious date and sending the proposal, the Baek family replied — with a favorable answer.

The letter said they’d like to let the children meet first.

Apparently, every other proposal that had gone to Sobaeksan before had been rejected instantly, without a second thought.

So my father rubbed his eyes over and over to make sure he’d read correctly, while my uncle went through a whole verification process to confirm the letter was real.

When it was confirmed to indeed be from the Baek family, the whole house erupted.

“My word, are we really about to become in-laws with the Baeks?”

“It’s not settled yet — just a meeting.”

“Still, incredible.”

No one was more surprised than me — the one actually going to the meeting.

Because the moment the news spread, the flood of other marriage proposals dropped by half!

Even the matchmakers who had worn down our doorstep stopped coming entirely once the weather turned cold in November.

The meeting was scheduled for two weeks later — the Baek family would come to us.

“That’s rather proactive of them,” Father said.

But Grandmother shook her head.

“It’s just more efficient this way.”

While dragonkin commanded lightning, the Baek family’s tigerfolk specialized in wind magic — meaning they were incredibly fast travelers.

“If guests come here, we must host them properly. But if they travel themselves, they handle their own timing — no need to fuss.”

Besides, the rumor that I was a frail, sickly little puppy had probably helped convince them to spare me the trip.

Either way, I was relieved not to have to go far.

With that settled, I focused on preparing for the meeting: picking my outfit, shoes, and practicing greetings.

Time flew by.

And then—

The day arrived.

“Huuuwaaahm.”

I woke up after a long, satisfying sleep.

The room was hot from the underfloor heating, so I cracked the window open — and a sharp, chilly wind slapped my cheeks.

“Hyeon-ah, breakfast.”

“Okay!”

Father came in carrying a tray.

Mother had gone out early to consult with Grandmother about last-minute preparations.

“You remember what time the meeting is?”

“At noon!”

They’d said the Baek family would arrive before lunch, riding the wind itself.

Since there was still time, I thought I’d eat a good meal and take a little walk to help digestion.

Father nodded approvingly.

“Don’t go too far.”

“Yes!”

After quickly finishing a bowl piled high with rice, I transformed into my puppy form.

Rain or snow, it didn’t matter —

A walk was sacred business for a dog.

*******

But rain or snow wasn’t the problem.

Whoooosh!

A fierce wind howled outside.

I squinted my eyes as I trotted around the rear garden, which was separated from the annex by a low wall. The wind was so strong I could barely keep my eyes open.

Flutter, flutter!

And my fur — good grief, my fur!

All the fluffy hair I’d grown to stay warm was now tangled and tossed around wildly by the wind, making me look twice my size.

In short, I looked like a total mess.