Chapter 64
“Smart people become elders in the Hong family. But being smart has nothing to do with being flexible or having a good character.”
At this point, it was clear that the Hong family had messed up.
Just how obnoxious must they have been for a mere twelve-year-old to start talking about character?
“If I were to challenge for the position of family head, there would definitely be talk. Even just showing the slightest hint that I want to be a candidate would make them come down on me!”
I don’t want to work for such family members!
Give me freedom!
The little bird exclaimed indignantly, and I quickly handed over my share of the mooncakes.
“Oh, can I eat this?”
“Of course. There’s more. Eat as much as you want.”
“Thank you.”
Hongram’s face softened as she savored the sweet treat. She looked so cute I almost wanted to adopt her as a little sister right then and there.
“So, what are your plans from now on?”
“I have no intention of giving up.”
Gold bars and a first-place title were hers; she had no intention of yielding to the elder’s grandson.
“But twenty gold bars isn’t exactly a losing deal.”
Each gold bar was valuable.
In this world, the unit used to measure the weight of gold bars was called a kwan (貫).
One kwan converted to kilograms would be about 3.75 kg.
In other words, these gold bars were three times heavier and three times more expensive than in her previous life.
“You’re right, Hyeon,” the little bird nodded vigorously.
“You could buy a modest house on the outskirts of the capital for just two gold bars, so twenty would be more than enough for independence funds.”
Hongram had dreamed of independence so thoroughly that she even knew the real estate prices in the capital.
The sum was so enormous that she had no choice but to refuse the elder’s offer.
“They wouldn’t be able to give such a large sum immediately.”
“Are you saying they wouldn’t keep their promise?”
“They probably would have kept it.”
But it wouldn’t have been in the direction Hongram wanted.
“Take marriage as an example—everyone has their own standard for a good match.”
“Of course.”
“If they introduced someone from a good family but with bad behavior, would that really be a good match for me?”
A sharp observation.
There aren’t many people willing to take a scoundrel from a good family.
Even if one of these “extra” candidates was presented as a good match, it was hard to argue outright.
The standard of a good match literally varies from person to person.
“You also didn’t say exactly when the gold bars would be given.”
Brushing crumbs from her mouth, Hongram continued,
“Even if they said they’d give them, if they insisted I wait until their death as written in their will, I’d end up receiving nothing and be forced to give up.”
For a moment, I was speechless.
Who would have guessed that such a simple proposal would be filled with so many subtle, malicious traps? But Hongram tilted her teacup as if accustomed to it.
“When is the withdrawal deadline?”
For the elder’s proposal from the Hong family to go through, the gold bars and the marriage proposal had to arrive before Hongram withdrew.
“By tomorrow.”
But that was too short notice.
I understood why the little bird had flatly refused.
From the beginning, the elder had no intention of giving Hongram either gold or a proper marriage proposal.
“Hah.”
I let out a hollow laugh and sipped the now-cold tea.
No wonder Grandma always got upset whenever the Hong family came up. There was a reason.
She disliked how cleverly the smart little bird was being cunning.
More impressive, Hongram had seen through the elder’s hidden motives and decisively rejected them.
Our clever little bird probably wouldn’t be easily deceived in life.
“No matter what anyone says, I won’t give up.”
Since she had passed the special exam, she was determined to keep studying and aim for an official post.
I supported her and cautiously said,
“Let me know if finding a suitable match is difficult.”
“Eh! You’re going to help me?”
“Yes. Our Hyeon family has the most sons among the five great families.”
I had always heard about our family being rich in sons, but I didn’t realize there were so few girls.
Thus, our house was full of little black-haired boys.
“Would younger boys be okay?”
“Younger boys?”
I liked the little bird very much.
In our family, unless there was a special reason, we weren’t picky about conditions for choosing a spouse. What mattered was the character of the person.
Grandma always said that character was the hardest to find, and if someone had that, anyone was acceptable.
“If younger boys are okay and they don’t have to be from the Hyeon family, I have some cousins.”
Hongram would surely approve of my uncles and aunts. The children were still young, but the age difference with twelve-year-old Hongram wasn’t large.
Especially, my youngest uncle and aunt were doing well, so their children were consecutive—currently seven, six, and five years old.
The age difference with the little bird would be five, six, and seven!
Even my aunt’s son, Chi-chan, who was five, could fit in.
There was no rush; they could have an introduction properly later.
“T-Thank you for looking favorably on this…”
Hongram seemed flustered, perhaps not expecting me to offer a cousin.
“If you prefer a larger race, I can ask my fiancé.”
Unlike the petty proposal from the other family, this wasn’t empty talk.
Once I became an adult, I would become the head lady of the Baek family, and arranging marriages would be one of my major responsibilities.
Finding a suitable spouse for the little bird would be a piece of cake.
Realizing I was serious, Hongram politely requested,
“Could you put your offer in writing?”
“Of course.”
The little bird was so smart and composed, I found her increasingly admirable.
Hongram said she didn’t need a spouse immediately; her goal was to become an official first.
Once she succeeded, she would ask me for help.
I licked my lips, thinking that maybe I could get a cousin as a future daughter-in-law.
Shion, who had briefly appeared, sighed upon hearing my plan.
“What a shame. It would have been better if our child had been born earlier.”
“Definitely tempting, right?”
“A smart and wise spouse is priceless.”
Shion, trusting my judgment, also licked his lips.
“How are the children?”
“They’re healthy. But all three are mixed-race, so we might need a doctor regularly.”
A little later, Huilok returned home with a letter.
“Welcome back!”
I waved, and Huilok’s face softened like a spring breeze before breaking into a blooming smile.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because I’m happy.”
He lifted me up.
He had never liked seeing me walk on my own, it seemed.
“When you were young, I wanted to take you to Homekdo quickly.”
“You did?”
“Now, anywhere is fine.”
In his blue eyes, I was reflected.
“Anywhere with you is my home.”
It seemed I was all he saw. I tried cooling my flushed cheeks with my hand but failed, so I grabbed Huilok’s cheeks and said,
“Turn into a tiger quickly.”
“Huh?”
“Quickly.”
Curious, Huilok obediently transformed into a huge white tiger. I became a puppy and bit his soft tiger cheeks.
I wanted to take his head into my mouth, but I was too small; this was my limit.
Knowing this was a Lanngzok-style expression of affection, Huilok purred happily.
Affection must be shown in the moment.
I let go of his cheeks with a satisfied look, and Huilok looked at me intently before returning to human form.
“I was scared I’d swallow you as a tiger.”
He picked me up as a puppy and gently bit my head with his lips—not painfully—but it was still absurd.
“Ha ha!”
I looked at him with a weird expression, and Huilok collapsed laughing while holding me. He didn’t stop until he had placed dozens of kisses on my face.
“Stop!”
Too many kisses!
I protested, asking if he couldn’t see how messy his fur was, and he laughed again.
Phew. He’s too cute to stay mad.
Sitting down and sighing, another kiss landed on me.
I blocked his lips with my paws, but then he tried to put his paw in my mouth, so I turned around.
“Oh, sorry.”
I’m sulking.
“Hyeon, look at this, okay?”
Once he promised not to do it again, I returned to my original position.
With the mood settled, Huilok showed me the letter he brought.
“It’s a letter from the palace.”
“Huh?”
The letter mentioned holding a second selection banquet for Crown Princess candidates, coinciding with the awards ceremony for the special exam.
Were they serious about finding a Crown Princess?
I had thought it was just for strengthening the royal authority last time, so my eyes widened. Huilok smiled awkwardly.
“You were indifferent all along, but after meeting us last time, I guess he got serious.”
It also couldn’t be postponed.
Even dragons with long lifespans need to start finding mates eventually.
Events like this, where young ladies gather in one place, were rare. The royal family sincerely wanted to find a Crown Princess candidate, so they sent court ladies and judges to screen out unsuitable candidates last time.
About fifty candidates remained.
They would be invited to the second banquet.
The candidates’ parents and relatives would also attend. They would judge not only the candidates but the families as well.
Moreover, since the emperor would attend, ministers and nobles would flock, making it even more grand than last time. Huilok blocked my line of sight as he spoke.
What secret was he trying to tell me?
Hesitant, Huilok finally dropped a bombshell.
“Hyeon, His Highness has a special request for you this time.”
“Huh?”
“He wants you to use Haetae’s abilities to distinguish the good from the bad.”
My jaw dropped.
Huilok carefully lifted my chin with his finger and apologized.
“Sorry. His Highness personally requested the Emperor, and a secret order was issued.”
A secret order?
Looking at the scroll Huilok cautiously handed me, my jaw dropped again.
