Chapter 37
Just before the atmosphere could turn awkward—
Namgung Jeokmyeong stepped forward to defend Ye-il.
“Auntie, Soyo has been very ill these past few days.
Even coming out to greet you seems to have taken a lot of strength.
Wouldn’t it be better to save the important conversation for later?”
At the pity so evident in his voice, Danri Mukran nodded obediently.
“A frail body is a serious flaw. At this rate, she won’t even be able to bear a child properly. Go sit down.”
Namgung Heemyeong stood up at once and carefully led Ye-il back to her seat beside her. Then she whispered in Ye-il’s ear,
“Don’t let it bother you, Soyo. That’s just how she is.”
Ye-il already knew as much, thanks to Chang-ah.
[Lady Danri Mukran likes people who are polite and obedient.
Ever since the Grand Madam passed away, she’s been trying to act like the new matriarch whenever she visits the Namgung household.
So not only the maids but even the guards keep their distance.
She gathers all the servants, lecturing them on what’s proper and what’s not—saying it’s because the house is full of men.]
And when Chang-ah reached the juiciest part, she’d choked on a rice cracker and had to thump her chest for a while before continuing.
[She always brings along young ladies she’s connected to somehow.
So, my lady, be careful! I’m sure something bothersome will happen.]
Chang-ah might still be a young girl, but the information she’d gathered was proving quite reliable—judging from the fervent gaze Ye-il could feel from across the table.
She realized it immediately.
“So that man is the one Danri Mukran brought to set me up with.”
She brushed a fingertip along her nose bridge and glanced over.
As expected, among the three strangers sitting together, the only man was one who didn’t look much older than Ye-il.
First time meeting me, and she’s already talking marriage. She even brought the suitor along. I’ll give her that—she’s thorough.
“Um… I heard the second young master wasn’t feeling well,
so I brewed some medicine prescribed by a renowned physician.
Would you please see that it’s delivered to him?”
As one of the women passed a pouch of medicine through a maid,
Danri Mukran clapped her hands before Namgung Jeokmyeong could even thank her.
“Yes, yes. How lovely! So graceful and sensible!
A wise woman always carries a beautiful fragrance, don’t you agree, Jeokmyeong?”
“Haha, all women have their own fragrance, Auntie.
Thank you, miss. I’ll make sure it reaches Chumyeong.”
“You rascal! ‘All women have a fragrance,’ you say—
You’ve learned how to charm women, haven’t you? When did you grow up so fast?”
“Thank you for the compliment, Auntie. But is it potent?”
“…Pardon?”
Caught off guard by his sudden question, the woman stammered for a moment before replying shyly,
“O-of course. Our family physician is quite famous, you see.”
“Good to hear. Actually, Soyo has been suffering from an even stronger illness than Chumyeong.
Would it be alright if she shared a bit of this medicine?”
“Sh-shared? Oh, yes, of course.”
Her reluctant consent went unnoticed as Namgung Jeokmyeong’s face lit up.
“Did you hear that, Soyo? She says it’s fine!
I’ll set aside your portion along with Auntie’s medicine—make sure to drink it all without skipping, understood?”
“Yes, thank you for your kindness.”
Watching Ye-il bow her head politely, Danri Mukran sighed softly.
“…Such affection between siblings. What a beautiful sight.”
The compliment carried a faint trace of disapproval.
Affectionate siblings, huh. That might be what it looked like to others.
But Ye-il could see right through Namgung Jeokmyeong’s mind.
You can’t stand the fake taking what belongs to the real one, can you?
While everyone added their own comments about the siblings’ closeness,
Danri Mukran suddenly raised her voice.
“I’m getting tired after such a long journey…
Jeokmyeong, each of these children may belong to respectable families,
but it’s their first time visiting a great household like the Namgungs’.
They must all be terribly nervous.”
“I understand, Auntie.”
“They’re all distant relatives of mine, after all.
If it isn’t too much trouble, perhaps you or the others could show them around the inner quarters, just for a short while?”
All eyes turned toward him with hopeful anticipation.
Jeokmyeong chuckled awkwardly.
“Well… as you know, more than twenty relatives are arriving today alone.
Since I must stand in for Father, I may not have much time—but since you ask, Auntie, I’ll do my best.”
Before she could speak again, he added quickly,
“Then… let’s see. Perhaps Heemyeong could take them around?”
“Me? You mean me?”
Namgung Heemyeong might seem blunt and straightforward,
but she wasn’t the sort to flatly refuse an elder’s repeated request.
“…Fine. I can spare some time, but don’t expect much.”
“Haha, no one will mind. Don’t worry.”
She was probably grumbling inwardly that Jeokmyeong had dumped more work on her when she was already busy preparing for the martial arts tournament.
Just as things seemed to be wrapping up—
“Sangbaek, you help Soyo move around.”
At Danri Mukran’s order, a man’s calm voice replied,
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Soyo, did you hear that? Hehe… Remember that voice.
His name is Go Sangbaek. A fine, upstanding young man.
If you could see him, you’d surely…”
Whatever else Danri Mukran went on about hardly reached Ye-il’s ears.
She hadn’t come here to play along with a matchmaking scheme.
“Lady Namgung, if you’re feeling unwell—”
There was no point in remembering his face.
They wouldn’t see each other again in a few days anyway.
Instead of greeting the man, Ye-il turned her face toward the air and called out,
“Brother Jeokmyeong, are you there?”
Footsteps approached, and Jeokmyeong circled her playfully before stopping behind her.
“Of course. Your brother’s right here, Soyo. Is something wrong…?”
Something wrong? Oh, plenty.
“Human-skin mask.”
His breathing stopped.
On a languid summer day—
Ye-il remembered the way his eyes had turned icy cold, like midwinter,
and continued casually,
“Didn’t you promise to show me one back in Hubei Province?
I’ve always wondered how wax could so perfectly mimic human skin.
When might I finally see it?”
“…”
He studied her, trying to gauge why she would bring up something so dangerous in front of everyone.
But that was precisely what she wanted.
From the start, her goal had been to strike a nerve and send a signal—
in a place filled with too many eyes and ears.
“Ah! Don’t feel pressured. If it’s a bother, we can save it for next time.
Or perhaps I could ask Lord Chumyeong or Lady Heemyeong about it instead—”
Namgung Jeokmyeong grabbed her hand tightly and let out a deep sigh.
“…Understood. Come with me.”
