Chapter 48
Where Lord Yuseong pointed, there were twenty shallow wooden ladles and dozens of duck eggs piled up.
“This is a game where you place a duck egg on the ladle and carry it to the finish line without breaking it. The first one to complete a lap around the pond wins.”
How fun!
The children who had come forward beamed with excitement.
“And today’s prize is this.”
Lord Yuseong lifted the cloth covering the tray he had been holding, revealing a golden mouse.
“Isn’t this the Year of the Rat? I prepared this with hopes for a healthy and happy year.”
It was worth at least thirty nyang in monetary value.
The adults couldn’t help but show expressions of delight at Lord Yuseong’s generosity.
Hongseol felt the same.
“Wow, a sparkling golden mouse!”
The confusion that had clouded her eyes moments ago was gone. She blushed like a child, which made her look even more charming.
Namgungbaek, who was sitting next to her, glanced at her. A faint smile appeared on his usually impassive face.
Before the game started, the children began warming up individually.
Some children hopped lightly, while a few precocious ones sat cross-legged, performing a breathing and energy circulation exercise.
The boys seemed more tense than usual.
After all, this time it was Namgungbaek, the first young master of the prestigious Namgung family, who was participating.
The girls, however, were slightly different.
There was a glimmer of excitement in their eyes as if they were facing a worthy rival.
“Should I go talk to him?”
“Or maybe we should stand side by side at the starting line?”
All of them blushed, sneaking glances at Namgungbaek.
Especially Dung Soso, the only daughter of the Deung family head, had been staring at him from the pavilion for a long time.
She had prepared so carefully that the silver and silk hairpins made her head heavy.
It paid off, though; among the girls gathered today, Dung Soso’s beauty shone the brightest.
Her hair tied only at the ends glimmered, and her soft, peach-fuzz-like cheeks were captivating.
‘So this is the girl who sent a matchmaker to Namgungbaek-oppa.’
Hongseol looked at Dung Soso with a strange feeling.
‘If it’s the Deung family, they’re famous for acupoint techniques.’
She remembered hearing that from Namgung Uigyeol, the Grandmaster of Changcheon.
“The Deung family’s cherished only daughter, Dung Soso, is also famous for her talent in acupoint techniques.”
And on top of that, she was so charming.
‘Namgungbaek-oppa didn’t even glance at her from the pavilion.’
Namgungbaek was a person who built walls against everyone. But given Dung Soso’s obvious interest, even Hongseol thought he was a little cold.
“Jeok-a, what are you doing?”
Namgungheuk tapped Hongseol.
Startled from her thoughts, Hongseol jumped.
“Huh? N…Net!”
“Why so jumpy? Someone might think you’re that little kid at home.”
That little kid?
‘Ah! He means me.’
Hongseol tilted her head and nodded.
Clever Namgungheuk deliberately avoided saying her name, worried that the Miao family children might overhear.
“Don’t be nervous. The winner is already decided anyway.”
“Huh? Who is that?”
“You’re acting weird today. Of course, it’s that guy.”
Hongseol looked in the direction Namgungheuk gestured.
There, a silver-haired boy was leaning against the pavilion pillar, arms crossed.
Namgungbaek didn’t seem interested in looking toward Hongseol—or even Dung Soso.
‘Namgungbaek-oppa… who are you looking at?’
Following his gaze, Hongseol saw a pair of robust brothers.
‘Those kids…’
Her breath caught. They were Miao Jinmyeong and Miao Eunmyeong, the ones who had tormented her before.
Jinmyeong was already grumbling before the game began.
“Ah, what a boring game.”
“But we have to win, brother. If we let the Namgung family take the victory, Father will scold us harshly.”
“Cough, cough!”
Suddenly, Jinmyeong choked on his words. It seemed that Miao Jung-san had given them strict orders before coming here—they had to win and humiliate the Namgung family.
“How can we win easily?”
“Then we need to…”
As usual, cunning Eunmyeong whispered a plan to Jinmyeong with a sly grin.
“As soon as it starts, trip the kid running beside you. I’ll grab the other kid’s wrist with a grappling technique.”
This wasn’t just a race to see who ran fastest.
The rule was to safely carry the duck egg on the wooden ladle to the finish line.
It was allowed to use martial skills to prevent others from finishing.
“This isn’t a duel, but it’s still a test of martial arts,” Eunmyeong thought.
“You’re the brain, Eunmyeong! I’ll take care of at least five people, so don’t worry.”
“Good. Let’s start with the youngest of the Namgung heirs and teach him a lesson.”
“Got it!”
With that, Jinmyeong and Eunmyeong glared at Hongseol, disguised as their enemy.
“Ugh…”
Recalling the time she drank water with rotting weeds, Hongseol felt sudden nausea.
Namgungheuk glanced at her.
“Namgung Jeok! Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine.”
Hongseol forced herself to calm down and gave a faint smile.
“Everyone, pick up a wooden ladle and a duck egg and go to the starting line!”
Lord Yuseong shouted with authority. The children rushed forward, holding the ladles and eggs.
Heuk and Hongseol each selected sturdy-looking ones and stood at the starting line.
‘But why is Namgungbaek still over there?’
He didn’t seem interested in the game, still carefully picking his own egg from the remaining ones.
At that moment, Jinmyeong and Eunmyeong flanked Hongseol. Their intent was obvious.
“Let’s do our best, little one.”
They brushed against her shoulders, smiling wickedly.
“Ah!”
Hongseol’s body stiffened, forgetting even to breathe. Small in size and recalling past torment, she could only tremble silently.
Then someone rested a chin on her head.
“Move aside.”
The gentle touch belonged to a blue-eyed boy—Namgungbaek.
“I’ll stand here.”
“Huh? O…oppa?”
“Yes. This spot looks good.”
With that, Namgungbaek shot a glance at Jinmyeong and Eunmyeong.
It was brief but enough to send a chill down their spines.
“Yes, if oppa says so…”
Hongseol obediently moved and stood next to Namgungheuk.
When everyone held their ladles with eggs, Namgungbaek spoke to the tense brothers.
“Hey.”
It was rare for him to initiate conversation, so Jinmyeong and Eunmyeong waited, puzzled.
“Sometimes foolish kittens only learn after getting bitten, don’t you think?”
In that instant, they felt like prey facing a predator.
Though the same age, Namgungbaek radiated a dangerous aura.
Even his sharp fangs seemed to glint threateningly.
At that moment, Lord Yuseong blew his wooden whistle and waved his flag.
Namgungbaek smirked and walked past the frozen brothers.
“I’ll go first.”
Intimidated, Jinmyeong and Eunmyeong missed the starting signal.
“Damn it!”
“Run, brother!”
They scrambled forward, clutching their ladles with eggs.
