The people crowding around Seol Danhae tended to reek of sweat — not that it was on purpose. It was just that the ones holding swords or power were usually men. That’s how it went.
And the women who did learn martial arts mostly belonged to big sects or prestigious clans.
Which was just another way of saying: it was rare to come across women like this, who smelled so pleasant. Especially rare were elegant women of noble birth.
So, yeah — I found Lady Eon difficult to deal with. And now, Moyong Sohae too. Yet here I was, stuck drinking tea with both of them.
Sitting at this round table, sipping fragrant tea together like this, it honestly made me think…
“I want to fucking escape.”
“Mm? What was that, Yeonhwa?”
“Ah, nothing.”
Shit, I’d actually said that out loud. I quickly waved it off, shooing away their attention like batting at flies.
Thankfully, Lady Eon only turned her gentle smile back on Sohae.
“Of course, you must be exhausted, having returned after such a long hardship.”
“It was hardly a hardship. How could praying for our clan’s good fortune be considered suffering? In truth, I wanted to stay several more years. But when Grandfather wrote that his health was failing, I grew worried and came back sooner.”
Grandfather, obviously, meant Moyong Pae. Just picturing that old bastard screaming himself hoarse a few days ago, practically bouncing off the walls after gobbling up a small fortune’s worth of rare elixirs, nearly made me snort out loud. Lady Eon shot me a look and quickly cleared her throat.
“Hm. Well, Elder Pae is getting on in years. It’ll be good for him to have you close by.”
“That’s what I hope as well. If Grandfather’s health improves, I plan to return to the temple and complete the full three-year prayer offering. It weighs on me, having left before the term was finished.”
I studied Moyong Sohae.
She really was beautiful. Her features were delicate and neat, her long sloped eyes graceful — the perfect classical beauty. Her voice was calm, her enunciation clear.
So that’s how noble daughters spoke. Made me wonder if the soft, pitiful speech I’d used that night was weird in hindsight. Did it matter? Probably not.
“It would be a waste for such a lovely young woman to spend all her best years shut away in a temple. You’ll need to find a good match before long,” Lady Eon said with gentle concern.
Which was reasonable. Moyong Sohae was of marriageable age. She couldn’t hide away forever, praying for the clan’s prosperity.
Sohae only smiled softly and shook her head.
“Thank you for your kind concern, madam. But if a good match truly exists for me, surely we’ll find each other no matter where I am, or in what situation. The truth always lies deepest, after all.”
God. Maybe it was the temple’s influence, but even her words seemed to give off a flowery scent.
I just sat there, vacant. I was the last person who should say anything — busy trying to break off my engagement, with memories of destroying this whole clan in a past life.
And frankly, despite Sahyeon’s warnings, Sohae didn’t seem particularly cunning. Maybe he’d only said that to spare me embarrassment, seeing how rough I was by comparison.
Hard to believe she was Moyong Gyeom’s sister. Seriously, how did that happen?
Then Moyong Sohae suddenly turned to me.
“And truly, isn’t it right and proper for my elder sister Yeonhwa to marry first?”
What? That abrupt turn of attention made me uncomfortable.
“Oh, I don’t care either way.”
I meant it. Who gave a damn about the order people married in? You didn’t even die in order, so what was the point?
Sohae’s expression was strangely sorrowful as she smiled and reached out to take my hand. Her grip was warm, her skin so soft it seemed like it had never grasped anything rough.
“Don’t trouble yourself over people’s idle speculation, sister. Who but the two of you knows why your wedding has been so delayed? The truth is always hidden deepest, isn’t it?”
But then Lady Eon’s face darkened for a moment. I just blinked, clueless.
There was a brief awkward silence before Lady Eon smiled faintly, touched her brow, and spoke.
“Yes… Well, in any case, you must be tired today, Sohae. I shouldn’t keep you. I really only called you here to see your face. I’ve made sure everything’s arranged so you’ll be comfortable — get plenty of rest. We’ll meet again soon.”
Sohae lowered her head graciously.
“You take such care of me that I hardly know what to say. Then, if you’ll excuse me…”
“Go on.”
Somehow, I ended up rising to my feet with her. Lady Eon gestured for me to sit back down.
I wanted to pretend I hadn’t noticed, but our eyes met. Damn it. I awkwardly dropped back into my seat.
Lady Eon pushed aside her now-cold teacup and fell silent. Seemed she was waiting for Sohae to be well out of earshot.
What she said next was not what I expected. It wasn’t about marriages, or Moyong Sohae, or even the business with Moyong Gyeom.
“How is your training going?”
That caught me off guard in a weirdly tender way. She was the first person to acknowledge that I was seriously learning swordsmanship — and of all people, it was Lady Eon, who I found so difficult.
I hesitated, then nodded.
“Yes. Slower than I’d like — I mean, it’s frustrating — but I’m working hard.”
Lady Eon gave a light laugh.
“Everyone always said you couldn’t stick with anything, Yeonhwa. But I thought differently. I always believed that once you found what you loved, you’d show more focus than anyone.”
“…Ah…”
“And after all, you did quietly nurse that love for Young Hero Dang for so many years, didn’t you?”
“Ah! T-that was…!”
Definitely a joke, though it had a bit of an edge. Maybe Lady Eon was more playful than she let on.
She chuckled again, then said,
“Whatever you choose to do, whatever path you take, know that I’ll support you. Just be careful not to make choices you’ll regret. Some regrets will shadow you for a lifetime.”
She let me go after that. I left the room in a daze, standing just outside for a long moment staring blankly ahead. The sun was already sinking low.
Lady Eon still intimidated the hell out of me. But maybe… she wasn’t so bad.
Anyway, I decided to skip training and head back to my rooms. I could just sleep in my training clothes and be out again at dawn.
But in my chambers was an unexpected guest. Moyong Sohae, again. What was she doing here? Had we gotten that close all of a sudden?
“What is it now?”
Hyangah rushed up to whisper in my ear.
“I tried telling her to leave a message, my lady, but she insisted on waiting for you.”
Hyangah didn’t seem very fond of Sohae. Actually, it was more like she downright disliked her.
I walked over and flopped down across from Sohae. Her face lit up.
I didn’t drop my guard.
“You’ve only just left me. What is it this time?”
“My sister, I felt I’d been remiss, knowing you must have so many worries these days. Seeing you dressed so modestly pains me.”
Worries? What worries?
She was staring at my training outfit. I followed her gaze.
Ah. Sohae was a sheltered rich girl who probably didn’t even know what real thrift was. This was actually made from some pretty damn good fabric.
I answered with smug pride.
“This is sturdier and nicer than it looks.”
“Ah…”
Her expression was oddly caught between laughter and tears. It was so weirdly pretty it reminded me why people say a frowning beauty makes everyone else frown too.
Just then she gripped my hand tighter. My palms were actually starting to sweat.
“I was hoping we could go to the market tomorrow, to pick out some new clothes together.”
“Clothes? I’ve got plenty.”
“I’ve been away so long myself, I’m sure my taste is quite out of step. Please help me choose, sister.”
Her sweet voice was like a songbird’s. I nodded solemnly.
“Ah, so you’re bad at picking clothes. It happens.”
“…Yes, compared to your special and truly unique taste, mine is nothing at all.”
She put suspicious emphasis on “special,” then gave a polite little cough and smiled. Her eyes were still locked on my training clothes.
Well, yeah, I was special. Even I could admit that.
Maybe she wanted a training outfit like this. But I didn’t have many — plus she seemed like the type to prefer flowy, elaborate stuff.
Then a brilliant idea hit me. I smacked the table with excitement.
“Ah! Better yet, I’ve got a great idea.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve got loads of dresses I don’t wear. Take them all. I pretty much live in these training clothes anyway.”
Genius. They were practically new, too. This way I’d save money — not that it was my money, but still. Win-win.
But for some reason, Sohae’s face started turning red. She was still smiling, but it looked kind of forced.
Then she gently pulled her hand away.
“How could I possibly wear your old dresses? I’d look utterly ridiculous.”
“Eh? I don’t think so.”
“It’s a bit mortifying to be teased like this. You must not really want to go to the market. I’ll ask another time.”
Sohae stood, bowed demurely, and left in a whirl of skirts. I just sat there blinking.
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
“…Thank you for your… generosity, sister.”
She dipped her head again, then swept off. Hyangah came racing up the instant the door closed.
“Wow, my lady…”
She clapped for me like she couldn’t even find the words. I accepted it as applause. Why not?
“Why? My generosity was pretty damn impressive, huh?”
Hyangah kept clapping, slowly, then shook her head.
“My lady, you’re a devil.”
Me? Come on, it’s not like I tried to give her rags — those dresses were basically new.
I glanced over. Even Sahyeon was trying not to laugh, shaking his head.
…Had I actually done something wrong?
