Chapter 54
“Are you all right? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
As soon as we were out of Dang Pae-jin’s sight, Father lifted me up into his arms. Then he carefully looked me over from head to toe.
“Your sleeve looks a little dirty. Did your uncle push you or hit you…?”
“He didn’t.”
“Then?”
“He gave me a mooncake, but I didn’t want to eat it, so I dropped it on the ground. That’s when my sleeve got dirty.”
“You were clever—my daughter, through and through.”
“I threw it into the pond on the way back, but… do you think there was something inside it?”
I tilted my head.
“The koi won’t die from it, right?”
“He wouldn’t dare put something like that in it in broad daylight. Even he must have some sense.”
“Haah…”
He doesn’t have sense, actually…
But there was no need to say that much.
Still in Father’s arms, I hugged his neck tightly and murmured with my head lowered.
“Are you really better now? You’re not in pain anymore?”
“Yes.”
Father’s large hand stroked my back.
“You must have been frightened.”
“Terribly…! You have no idea.”
“I’m fine now, really. They said I should rest a bit longer, so I was taking it easy…”
“I asked the maid in Yongyeonjeon to find Young Master and bring him to you.”
Without a sound, Choyo appeared beside us and looked up at me. Her eyes sparkled.
“He didn’t want to come at first, so I thought—if I tell him that the lady’s been taken, he’ll come right away.”
“Indeed. I came as soon as I heard. You did well.”
Father turned to Choyo and nodded.
“You did very well.”
At the praise, Choyo’s cheeks turned a little pink, and then—just like that—she vanished again.
She’s really fast.
I looked toward where she had disappeared.
She probably hadn’t gone far. She was likely still nearby, watching me.
And next time I was in danger, she would come to my aid—or bring Father, just as she had now.
That thought made me feel safe.
“Bi-ya.”
Father began walking slowly toward our quarters, still holding me.
“I’m sorry you had to hear such unpleasant things.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Father.”
“Still, it was my failure. I should have protected you better from my brother. I’m your guardian.”
“I won’t follow Uncle anymore…”
I said, pouting a little. Father replied gently,
“When an elder tells you to come, how could you refuse?”
“But still…”
“You only acted politely. You did nothing wrong.”
He whispered,
“Try not to take what you heard today too much to heart.”
“Yes, but Father…”
I hugged his neck a little tighter.
“If you ever wish to remarry, you don’t have to worry about me…”
“That will never happen.”
Father cut me off firmly.
“I would never do such a thing while you are here. Don’t trouble yourself with that. And this time, I will make it known to the world that you are my daughter. Once that is done, no one will dare to harbor any foolish ideas.”
“You’ll make it known?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“There’s the Namgung Clan’s 80th birthday celebration soon. Taegang and Cheonghyeon came to deliver the invitation.”
“Gasp…”
“And your grandfather wants to take you with him.”
“…Me?”
I stared at him, wide-eyed.
“Grandfather wants to take me to the celebration?”
“He’s proud of his late-blooming disciple—and his granddaughter. Oh, careful now. Don’t wriggle so much, or you’ll fall.”
I was speechless.
To go to the Namgung Clan’s eightieth birthday celebration…!
That wasn’t just a simple “Yay, an outing!” kind of event.
Grandfather’s going to introduce me to the martial world!
That meant he no longer intended to keep me confined within the Dang family’s estate.
In the martial world, introducing someone publicly before one’s peers was the same as saying: Please take care of this child in the future.
“Then… Uncle-in-law…”
“Yes, him.”
“So that’s the good news he was talking about…”
“He told you already?”
“Not exactly. He said you would tell me yourself, Father. But he also said to tell you he was sorry for bringing it up early.”
I grabbed Father’s sleeve suddenly.
“Ah—Father, you’re coming too, right?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re coming with me, aren’t you? You’re not just sending me to Hefei alone, are you?”
“I thought my little girl had grown up, but you’re still such a child.”
He laughed brightly and adjusted his grip so I wouldn’t slip.
“Of course I’m coming.”
“Wow…”
“A child should always have a guardian. Wherever you go, I’ll be there with you.”
He sounded almost cheerful as he said it.
It was hard to believe this was the same man who, only moments ago, had threatened Dang Pae-jin with icy fury.
“Grandfather!”
I burst into Yongyeonjeon, where Grandfather was staying.
“Good heavens, child! You’ll hurt yourself!”
Grandfather caught me expertly and lifted me up high.
It felt like my feet spent more time in the air than on the ground these days—but that didn’t matter right now.
“Grandfather, Father told me everything! I’m going to Hefei too, right?”
“So that’s why you came running so fast?”
“Of course!”
I couldn’t hide my excitement.
“I’ve only just started walking around the Dang estate, and now I get to see the Namgung residence in Anhui! It feels like a dream.”
To them, I’d only spent eight years confined to the women’s quarters.
But for me, it’s been fifteen.
Fifteen long years behind walls.
To me, stepping beyond them was truly like stepping into a dream.
“If you’re that happy, I’ll have to take you out more often.”
“Really? You promise?”
“To grow into someone great and worthy, you must see a wider world.”
He patted my head.
“But you’re still young. For now, you must see the world safely from the protection of your elders. Until you’re grown, I’ll take you with me.”
“When I’m grown up… can I go out alone?”
“When you’re strong enough.”
Grandfather frowned slightly, as if thinking deeply.
“But I wonder if Jin-hyeon—that fool of a man—will let you go out on your own…”
“By then, Father will be all right again!”
“He will. You’re already looking forward to it, aren’t you?”
“Yes! Of course!”
I wriggled playfully in his arms.
“Actually, I was really happy to meet Cheonghyeon this time, but I was sad when I heard he was leaving in two days…”
“And?”
“But now, I can see him again when we go to Anhui! Actually… he told me before that I should come visit the Namgung Clan with you for the birthday celebration.”
Once I started talking, the words wouldn’t stop.
I chattered on and on.
“I couldn’t say yes back then, since the Dang family doesn’t let girls go out… But now I can tell him I’ll really be there! I’m so happy!”
“The Dang family doesn’t forbid girls from leaving entirely,” Grandfather said, resting his chin gently atop my head.
“They do place restrictions, yes, but not as severe as that. And you, my dear, will be freer still.”
“How so?”
“Because you’re my disciple.”
He smiled.
“The direct disciple of the head of the family cannot be restricted within the clan. No proper household would dare.”
He took my small hand and placed it atop his large one.
His hand was three times the size of mine.
“So you will be freer than anyone. And I’ll help make sure of it.”
“Grandfather…”
“But remember—freedom always comes with responsibility!”
He tightened his grip around my hand.
“!”
“Have all your injuries healed?”
