Chapter 9
It was the wife of my first uncle, Lady Jo, and the wife of my second uncle, Lady Yong.
“They’ve brought their attendants and servants with them.”
Hearing Hong-ah’s whisper, I entrusted Eun-ah to her nanny and headed straight to the reception room.
Inside, two elegant women with refined features were waiting for me while drinking tea.
Both Lady Jo and Lady Yong were in their forties, yet their faces and hands were so smooth that they didn’t look their age.
“Greetings, ladies.”
When I greeted them, they looked at me with expressions of pity, as if they couldn’t bear my situation.
“I heard the news that the body has been found. Seha, are you doing all right?”
“…I still seem to have nightmares,” I replied in a subdued voice.
The ladies showed gentle, compassionate expressions.
“Yes, it’s only natural that you’re unsettled. Don’t worry; leave the funeral arrangements to us. We’ll make sure your parents are properly sent off.”
Outwardly, they appeared to care for me, but I could easily see their true intentions.
‘Just like before, they plan to hold the funeral according to their own whims.’
It was almost amusing that they brought all their attendants and servants just to flaunt their influence, even in a situation like this.
“Seha, your face looks so pale you might collapse soon. Go and rest with your sister,” Lady Jo and Lady Yong chirped like birds in the morning.
In my past life, the funeral for the head of Baekho-dang had been so modest it was hard to call it a funeral at all.
It was probably to diminish my late father’s status while elevating their husbands’—the heads of Cheongryong-dang and Hyeonmu-dang.
After finishing their remarks, they gestured for their attendants to follow them back.
“Ladies,” I called out softly, stopping them.
“Even though Father has departed on a journey, he still prepared birthday gifts for my uncles and you, didn’t he?”
I let my gaze drift off as if recalling the past.
The two ladies exchanged slightly flustered looks and sighed.
“Yes… he did. And we intend to do what is proper as well.”
“Seha… we also want to help you, you know,” they said.
“Thank you. Though I meet you under sad circumstances, it’s good to see your faces after so long,” I responded calmly.
A hint of awkwardness appeared on their faces. The ladies had rarely visited Baekho-dang unless it suited them while my parents were alive.
“I can handle the funeral arrangements myself, but may I ask a favor?”
Hearing that I could manage on my own, they seemed to think it wasn’t a bad thing and exchanged glances again before cautiously asking,
“Really? What kind of favor is it?”
“Anything within our ability, and we’ll help,” they said.
Anything within their ability…
“I’ve heard that at Soju’s pharmacy there’s a medicinal elixir that could improve Eun-ah’s condition. If possible, could you acquire it?”
I lowered my head respectfully as I asked.
“Y-your… elixir?”
“Yes. I fear my parents would not have been able to rest if they knew Eun-ah was unwell. If you could show mercy, I would not forget your kindness.”
The two women clamped their mouths shut like clams, and the reception room fell silent.
“I know I can’t do it, but I thought perhaps the two of you could.”
They averted their gazes from me.
“I’d like to help your sister too, but the elixir is difficult to obtain…”
“Y-yes! But if it’s anything else, we’ll help in any way we can,” they said, their faces pale.
It was not only hard to get the elixir, but its price was unimaginably high. I hadn’t expected them to fulfill my request anyway. After all, even my deceased parents hadn’t been able to obtain it.
“I can manage the other matters myself, but please, I ask you to acquire the supreme elixir. It doesn’t have to be the one at Soju’s,” I insisted.
Their expressions darkened as I refused to back down.
“I-I’ll… try,” they said.
“As for other things…”
“Well, if anything else comes to mind, I’ll let you know later. Please make sure to attend the funeral,” I said.
Perhaps they had intended to hold the funeral as they pleased on behalf of a suddenly bereaved niece, but…
‘Since I have taken the initiative, they won’t be able to.’
In my previous life, I had been too immersed in grief to remember who had attended or how the ceremony had been carried out. This time, the funeral would be for my parents, not for my aunts.
‘There’s no problem in rejecting them anyway.’
In any case, my standing in the Pyo state was low. To them, Eun-ah and I were powerless individuals to be expelled for the sake of the Eunni Pyo state—not rivals to be wary of.
I leisurely sipped the remaining tea and felt the rhythmic vibrations of approaching footsteps toward the reception room.
‘Yesol, I see. From the steps, she’s about to enter.’
Even without using clairaudience, Yesol’s footsteps were unmistakable. And there was someone else with her.
“Miss, I’ve brought Director Jang,” Hong-ah whispered.
Director Jang entered alongside Yesol, bowing his head.
“Director Jang, I apologize for leaving you to handle things unexpectedly,” I said.
“You must have been shocked by the sudden passing. Are you alright now?”
“Yes, I’ve regained some composure,” I replied.
Director Jang had known me since my childhood, when I first came to the Eunni Pyo state. He seemed relieved to see me regain my composure after collapsing in grief.
“I’ve already informed the ladies, but I will personally oversee my parents’ funeral,” I said.
Though surprised, Director Jang quickly nodded calmly.
“Please tell me the budget, and I will prepare accordingly.”
“I will use the entire one-year budget allocated to our family,” I said.
Director Jang’s jaw dropped. Yesol also widened her eyes.
“You mean you want to hold an extravagant funeral?”
“Yes. And there’s one more thing. Anyone who mourns my parents will be welcome as a guest, regardless of rank or occupation.”
Director Jang’s pupils seemed to quake at the unexpected decision.
“…May I ask why?”
“Though the head of the house has passed, I want the world to recognize all that Baekho-dang has accomplished,” I said.
“Is this because of the late head’s reputation?”
“…Something like that,” I replied.
Director Jang’s expression deepened, as if he hadn’t expected such reasoning.
“Please open part of Baekho-dang for the guests, and request the key figures to accommodate them,” I instructed.
“Understood. I will confer with them and allocate the budget appropriately,” he said politely, his expression grave.
Before the formal proceedings began, I gathered the attendants.
“I will personally write all the announcements regarding my parents’ passing. From now on, please send the official notices.”
❖ ❖ ❖
By dawn, Eun-ah’s face regained color. It was proof that my blood had an effect on her illness.
“Today, Soeun isn’t in pain!”
Her bright eyes and gentle gaze looked like a young fawn. Seeing Eun-ah at ease brought tears to my own eyes.
I deliberately pinched her soft cheeks and pretended to be fine.
“Still, if it’s hard, speak up immediately and rest well.”
“Uuu, unnie, I knowww!”
Her response eased my mind considerably.
Dressed in a white hemp headscarf and sash, I headed to the funeral hall with Eun-ah. My grandfather and relatives also arrived on time.
“Hmm.”
Grandfather surveyed the funeral hall, which had been perfectly prepared with Director Jang’s help.
“It seems everything is well-prepared,” he said.
The aunts exchanged glances nervously.
“Director Jang worked hard on it,” I said politely. Eun-ah tightly held my hand as she looked up at my grandfather.
Grandfather regarded her sharply.
“Hic.”
Startled by his piercing gaze, Eun-ah hiccuped.
“Tsk.”
Seeing her so small and delicate for her age, he clicked his tongue.
“Hic, hic!”
As she hiccuped a few more times, I picked her up and gently patted her back.
By the time the relatives had found their places, Hong-ah whispered into my ear,
“Miss, Lord Baek Gyuho has arrived, and I’ve guided him to the guest quarters as instructed.”
Expecting Baek Gyuho’s arrival, I had already briefed Hong-ah.
“I need to speak with him outside briefly,” I whispered to Eun-ah.
“Can you stay with the nanny while I step out for a moment?”
“Mm-hmm!”
I handed Eun-ah to her nanny and walked to the guest quarters, pretending not to notice my grandfather’s glance.
“Seha.”
The moment Baek Gyuho spotted me in the guest quarters, concern appeared on his face.
“You look half-dead.”
“…Thank you for visiting,” I said.
“It’s only natural,” he replied.
In my past life, Baek Gyuho had always stayed by my side, observing the atmosphere of the Eunni Pyo state. He must have realized then how limited my influence was. Later, he had delayed our marriage for a long time and eventually betrayed me.
Since he was always going to betray me anyway, I decided to hasten the timing of events.
