Chapter 29
“…Yes, I told Hongseol to wear that outfit.”
Namgungon’s hand, resting on the table, trembled. He barely managed to squeeze out his words through his tightening throat.
“Why would you do such a thing?”
“I wanted you to finally get a hold of yourself.”
Namgungho looked at his son with eyes full of pity.
“Three years have already passed. How long will you keep cherishing a silk outfit without an owner, thinking of a lost child?”
At those words, Namgungon’s lips twitched.
He understood that his father spoke out of concern for him, but his own wounds had not yet healed enough to accept it.
“Think about the people who remain in this house. From taking care of Baekyi’s health to restoring relations with Yuhwa, there is much for you to do here.”
His father spoke out of concern, wishing to prevent him from running away to escape painful memories.
Yet at that moment, an inexplicable heat surged within Namgungon.
‘And yet, Father, you still miss Mother, don’t you!’
Just as he was about to shout, he paused.
He sensed the presence of a small child outside the door, accompanied by Wisa.
‘So, that child Hongseol has arrived.’
If he shouted now, the child would surely jump in fright.
“Ha…”
Namgungon suppressed his anger as best he could.
Seeing this, Namgungho’s expression turned bitter.
‘As expected, he’s kind.’
His son had inherited his wife’s gentle nature. That kindness, combined with his prudence, was why Namgungon had been chosen as the head of the family.
‘Although Yeol surpasses On in martial prowess…’
Even though they were brothers born of the same mother, Namgung Yeol’s hands were unusually cruel.
He was infamous for using any means necessary to win a duel. At official duels against the scions of prestigious martial families, he was slightly restrained, but in street fights, he would even throw sand into his opponent’s eyes to secure victory.
Against those without backing, he would utterly crush them, cutting off limbs or tongues, effectively destroying their martial ability.
Not only that, even minor disputes at taverns would lead him to punish even young children as collective responsibility.
‘I cannot leave the Namgung family in Yeol’s hands.’
Namgungon had hoped that his exceptional strategy could compensate for his lack of martial skill.
However, the elders seemed to think differently.
Especially after seeing him lose to Namgung Yeol year after year in martial contests, complaints grew louder.
‘Did I make a mistake?’
People valued what was visible more than they realized. Losing a duel overshadowed any merit of defeating multiple opponents.
“Come in.”
Creak.
As Hongseol stepped inside, she nearly jumped from surprise.
Namgungon’s black eyes were fixed squarely on her, and the emotions they carried could not be called friendly.
‘So this is the head of the Namgung family!’
Her tiny hands clutched her dress as they trembled.
Before she could even greet him, Namgungho’s puzzled voice rang out.
“No, Seol-ah… you…”
Hongseol was wearing worn-out clothes, not the silk outfit she usually wore.
They were a gift she had recently received from Elder Namgung Muyeong.
“Why… never mind. First, pay your formal respects.”
At Namgungho’s call, Hongseol timidly approached. Her hands were neatly folded, and she looked visibly nervous.
“I am Ho, Hongseol.”
Her eyes rolled slightly as she thought about how to properly greet the head of the Namgung family.
But having grown up outside her parents’ guidance, what Hongseol had learned at the Namgung household was limited…
“It is an honor to meet you, Head of the Family!”
She clasped her small fists together, one hand covering the other, and bowed deeply.
It was the famed Namgung family martial salute.
Namgungon was dumbfounded.
‘Young girls rarely perform this kind of greeting.’
It was clear she had imitated what she had seen from warriors, not something formally taught.
‘A child who knows nothing.’
Realizing he had been angry at such a child, Namgungon felt ashamed and his tension melted away.
In a slightly softer tone, he asked,
“Why are you wearing these clothes?”
At a first formal greeting, it was customary to wear one’s finest attire.
“Th-That is…”
His tone was not reproachful, but Hongseol, startled by the question, bowed deeply. Even her toes curled inside her shoes.
“The silk clothes given by Grandfather are not truly mine.”
“What?”
“I just learned today.”
Hongseol murmured, her head bowed, her small shoulders slumping.
“There was a child who was the original owner of that silk outfit…”
Though she could no longer wear it,
“If I had known earlier, I would never have worn it. I-I’m sorry.”
Namgungon paused, staring blankly.
‘What am I so fixated on…?’
The silk clothes had been a gift from his father, Namgungho.
And yet, to scold the child simply for wearing them…
‘…How foolish of me.’
He had already heard of the child’s pitiful circumstances through letters.
The living child now had to tiptoe around because of the shadow of the deceased child.
Namgungon squeezed out a voice to console her.
“Thank you for telling me that.”
He let out a soft sigh and continued.
“That is enough of a greeting for now. You may step back.”
Despite being dismissed, Hongseol hesitated, unable to move her feet.
“Do you have a question?”
“Y-Yes. Um… may I remain at Changcheon Pavilion?”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard that the Head of the Namgung family is the highest-ranking elder. I was afraid that wearing the silk outfit might make you dislike me… then I would no longer be able to stay here…”
Even as she spoke cautiously, her gaze avoided his.
Seeing how long she must have agonized over this, Namgungon felt a pang in his chest.
“Why would you think that?”
“…Because I feel sorry.”
“Sorry to whom?”
Namgungon asked, voice soft with emotion, though both of them already knew the answer.
To the child who had died unseen by the world.
“I felt sorry for them. That child should have worn the silk and been happy… but I felt like I took their place…”
She even felt that staying at Changcheon Pavilion was taking the deceased child’s share.
Clear, crystal-like tears fell from Hongseol’s eyes.
“….”
Namgungon remained silent for a moment, then gently patted her, sighing.
“You are a guest of the former Grand Head. I will never drive you from Changcheon Pavilion.”
Hongseol seemed to calm a little. Watching her, Namgungon added absentmindedly,
“As long as you are not an enemy of our family.”
At those words, Hongseol’s face turned pale.
“Hic!”
Her sudden hiccups would not stop.
Namgungho called Sibi Maeran, who was standing outside the door.
“Take Seol-ah and calm her down.”
Namgungon couldn’t take his eyes off Hongseol as she followed Sibi outside.
It was only much later that she noticed Namgungho’s gaze still on him.
“You startled me. Why are you staring like that, Father?”
“How do you feel seeing Seol-ah?”
After a brief silence, Namgungon spoke.
“…She is a pitiable child. But you must teach her etiquette again. To come and pay respects in such worn clothes…”
“I didn’t properly check her clothing. And those were no ordinary rags.”
“Pardon?”
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