Chapter 10
“Speak your mind.”
Hyeokho opened his mouth. Shina, as if she had been waiting for this, immediately began.
“I am your granddaughter, Head of the So family, but I will also one day be a member of the Manyang Bureau.”
“That remains to be seen. Don’t give long-winded explanations—just tell me what you stole.”
As expected, Hyeokho was no easy opponent.
Shina took a deep breath before speaking.
“Everything in the So family and the Manyang Bureau belongs to you, Grandfather. The land, the halls, even the roof tiles. So I should have paid a toll to you. Normally, it wouldn’t matter if no one demanded it, but since Brother Mando said I should pay, I didn’t.”
Hyeokho nodded briefly.
“But I didn’t pay. By doing so, I caused you a loss. I am sorry.”
Shina wished she could bite her tongue for speaking so stubbornly.
By her logic, every other member of the Bureau would also be guilty of theft.
‘It’s absurd.’
But that didn’t matter now. To move forward, she had to push her case.
‘I’m only ten. I can cry and throw a tantrum if I need to.’
Hyeokho would see through her reasoning.
‘He’s letting me speak to see how far I’ll go, whether out of curiosity or amusement.’
Shina resolved not to back down as long as Hyeokho didn’t end it himself.
So she knelt immediately and bowed her head in apology.
Hyeokho’s gaze fell on her small, curled frame, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.
“You truly are a thief. You stole my future benefit.”
“But—”
Shina raised her head slightly, still not finished.
Hyeokho gestured for her to continue.
“This was the only time, Grandfather. Only this once.”
Shina emphasized that it was a single incident.
“You mean… you did pay the toll before?”
“Yes, Grandfather. I remember exactly. Three times I paid. You received it, didn’t you?”
Hyeokho’s eyes twitched slightly.
Of course, he had never received it. Today, he realized how petty Mando had been in demanding Shina pay.
“Could it be… you didn’t receive it, Grandfather?”
Shina’s eyes widened in disbelief.
‘Not bad,’ Hyeokho thought.
He had already seen through Shina’s strategy.
‘She wants to make sure Mando can’t escape blame.’
This time, he didn’t end it quickly, even though he might usually advise moderation for children’s quarrels. He was curious how she would handle it and played along.
“Jangmu.”
“Yes, Bureau Chief.”
“Bring Mando here.”
At that moment, Hyeokho noticed Shina’s eyes glinting with determination.
Mando knelt before Hyeokho and bowed his head.
“I am sorry, Grandfather! I overstepped in trying to guide my sister properly!”
He recited the words he had practiced, just as Ilbi had taught him.
‘Grandfather is angry, so admit fault no matter what!’
Of course, there was not a shred of sincerity in his apology.
“Anything more to say?”
Mando hesitated.
‘What else did I do wrong?’
Hyeokho clicked his tongue inwardly at Mando’s naive look.
‘I expected someone skilled with a blade, but he only knows how to use his body.’
Even Baeklim wasn’t particularly skilled in martial arts, so relying on Mando gave the Bureau’s future a grim outlook.
“G-Grandfather, I still have much to learn. Just as I taught Shina, please teach me, and I will study diligently.”
Mando tried to frame his violence as “teaching,” unaware that Shina had already forgiven him in part.
Hyeokho, annoyed at seeing his eldest grandson’s incompetence, closed his eyes.
“Shina, tell me. What is Mando’s crime?”
“Repeated theft,” Shina said calmly.
Mando whirled around in shock.
“Are you insane?”
“Somando!”
Hyeokho snapped at Mando’s outburst.
“Grandfather! It’s unfair! Repeated theft? That’s absurd! I don’t covet others’ property! Why would I steal? Theft is for beggars! Shina…”
Mando quickly swallowed his words. He didn’t dare call Shina a thief in front of Hyeokho.
Shina interjected.
“Brother, I paid the toll.”
“What?”
“To Grandfather?”
A chill ran down Mando’s spine. Only now did he understand what Shina meant by “theft.”
“T-That…”
Mando’s face turned pale, his cheeks trembling as he shook his head.
“Grandfather, the toll was only for teaching Shina. It wasn’t out of greed. Please believe me. I received only three silver coins from her.”
“Only three?”
Hyeokho’s disappointment in Mando deepened on two counts.
First, Shina, four years younger, was willing to take responsibility, while Mando avoided blame.
Second, he had treated money as trivial. One silver coin equaled a month’s living expenses for a family of four.
‘And this child is the most likely heir of the Bureau…’
He could not hide his frustration.
“Grandfather,” Shina raised her small hand, seizing the moment.
“I have committed another wrongdoing. I failed to protect your property.”
Hyeokho’s deep frown softened.
“What is that?”
His voice was gentle, markedly different from how he spoke to Mando.
“All the family servants belong to you, Grandfather. I failed to protect them when they were injured.”
Shina laid the groundwork for defending the innocent.
A master may discipline their servants; thus, Mando punishing Mu-gyeol, a servant, wasn’t technically a crime.
But strictly speaking, Mu-gyeol was a servant of the So household, not Mando personally—he was Hyeokho’s property.
Mando had no right to discipline him, and in this case, he had damaged Hyeokho’s property.
‘Grandfather won’t let this slide. He’s always been sensitive to loss.’
This was the real reason Shina stepped forward, invoking Hyeokho’s property and promising to take responsibility.
“And?”
“I’ll restore everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll make up for your loss, Grandfather.”
Shina spoke clearly.
“Loss?”
“Yes. Please allow me to bring Mu-gyeol to Biwon Pavilion so I can take care of him.”
Shina spoke with determination. Mando grabbed her sleeve, trying to pull her back.
“Hey, stop that! What nonsense are you doing?”
Even pleading wouldn’t suffice, yet Shina volunteered to accept punishment herself—she must be crazy.
Shina shook off his hand.
Mando clenched his fist in frustration, but froze when their eyes met.
The flash of lightning in her gaze reminded him of the earlier incident.
Shina silently mouthed to him:
‘You’re the one who shouldn’t act up. Want another taste of lightning?’
Mando felt a surge of emotion but held it back, recalling Baeklim’s earlier advice:
‘She used a protective technique to save a servant. Whatever secret method she learned, don’t confront her. You’ll only get hurt.’
Mando looked away, thinking she would scoff at his fear.
Shina, however, finished her statement without hesitation.
“Since I failed to protect Grandfather’s property, I will restore it. The cost that Brother Mando should bear directly can be collected by Grandfather himself.”
It was bitter to treat Mu-gyeol as property, but Shina spoke without flinching. She needed a reason to care for and heal him.
“What did you say?”
“Please allow me to treat the injured servant at Biwon Pavilion.”
Hyeokho’s eyes narrowed.
‘So she’s willing to protect a single servant to the end… That must be why she spoke of restitution.’
He became curious about the servant Shina wanted to protect, but he asked no further.
The girl’s face was growing paler, so it was time to end the conversation.
Yet Shina had one last request.
“And please give me a chance to repay my debt to Grandfather.”
“What?”
“I will become a Bureau Scribe.”
