Moyong Sohae turned out to have even worse stamina than I expected. Honestly, she was probably in about the same shape as I’d been when I first woke up in Moyong Yeonhwa’s body.
We’d barely walked a few steps before she was already breathing hard, muttering about feeling faint. It was pathetic.
“That’s why I told you to just take the damn palanquin.”
I clicked my tongue. Sohae wiped her sweat with all the frailty of a wilting flower, then leaned her weight into me. Honestly? It was a pain. Why did she have to cling like this?
“No, I couldn’t. I was the one who asked to come out with you, sister. How could I be the only one riding?”
“I told you, I don’t care.”
“The truth is, I felt terribly lonely all that time in the convent. I wanted to walk among people like this, by your side.”
She said it so earnestly, I couldn’t quite shove her off even though I badly wanted to.
I remembered living as Seol Danhae, holed up alone in some mountain cave for two months. Not out of romance—just to shake off some bastards who wouldn’t stop chasing after me.
I’d learned then how loud the mountains could be at night, and how crushingly lonely. Maybe this delicate young lady had felt something like that in the convent.
Who knows. But thinking of how this soft, sheltered girl had spent so long alone made me oddly sympathetic.
I was just starting to feel my heart soften when someone jabbed me hard in the side from behind.
“Which bastard—!”
“Kyaaah!”
Instinctively I reached for my waist—where there was no sword—and spun around. Standing there was Sahyeon, empty-handed, blinking at me with a dumb, startled look.
I ground my teeth.
“Ah, seemed like someone just laid a hand on me for no damn reason.”
“Wh-what? I—my apologies, my lady, I’m so sorry.”
Gods above. Even now, this bastard had to play stupid games. Unbelievable.
I swallowed my irritation and glanced over—only to find that I’d apparently shoved Sohae hard enough to redden her delicate hand. She was biting her lower lip.
Come to think of it, I did vaguely hear her shriek just now. Her maid hovered nearby, supporting her, looking completely lost. Never seen someone die from a smacked hand, but her loyalty was something else.
Was this the sort of situation where I should apologize? Or pretend nothing happened? After a second’s thought, I muttered,
“Uh, I didn’t mean to hit you. You know that, right?”
“…Of course, sister.”
Unintentional or not, once I’d pushed her off, Sohae didn’t try clinging to me again. Maybe that sneaky bastard Sahyeon had prodded me on purpose, to stop her. But why?
Just then, Moyong Muhyeok, who’d been a bit ahead checking the street, hurried over. Apparently even from that distance he’d noticed the little commotion.
“Is something the matter, Yeonhwa?”
“…No, I just mistook something. Don’t worry about it. Go back to whatever you were doing.”
I answered flatly. Muhyeok shook his head.
“I was only speaking to a few merchants. That business is done, so let’s look around together. If you see anything you want, just say so.”
“Alright.”
“…Ah, you too, Sohae.”
Sounded grudging, but at least he managed a polite little smile. Even if Moyong Pae and he openly hated each other, it wasn’t like he could treat Pae’s granddaughter with outright disdain.
“I need to buy some clothes for training.”
“Do you?”
At that, Moyong Muhyeok whipped out his coin pouch so fast it startled me. Shit—if he drew a sword at that speed, it’d be terrifying.
Not that he had any idea what was running through my head. He looked thrilled, like he’d been waiting for this very moment.
“I actually anticipated you’d want clothes and already sent word ahead to your usual tailor to prepare some selections.”
…This bastard’s surprisingly competent. Turns out the Moyong Clan has a lot of people who are unexpectedly good at their jobs. Hyangah, this guy, even Sahyeon—when he’s not acting like an idiot, he’s disturbingly sharp.
Maybe it’s because I’d once commanded my own people, but I couldn’t help feeling a spark of fondness for folks who worked hard. Really, just a smidgen.
And judging by all the hopeful looks aimed our way, plenty of others seemed fond of the Moyong Clan too. With every step, people came over to press baskets of homegrown vegetables, fruits, steamed buns into our hands.
Before, whenever I showed up, people would flee or frantically hide their stalls. Even as a kid, it was no different—shopkeepers would splash dirty water to keep beggars away.
But now, I couldn’t even get hungry. Food just kept landing in my arms. The best-looking bits, of course, Muhyeok offered first, asking if I’d like to try them. I couldn’t refuse.
Big clans who rooted themselves in a region were basically the local kings.
Granted, that only worked if they got along with the officials. But really, why wouldn’t a magistrate be pleased when knife-wielding maniacs kept order and stayed out of his turf?
The Moyong Clan was like an ideal king right now—everyone’s eyes shone with near worship.
I stared at the pile of food I couldn’t possibly eat and then handed a steamed bun to Sohae.
“You should have some too.”
She flinched. The merchant who’d given it was still watching us eagerly. Sohae stared at the steaming white bun, forced a smile, and reached for it.
“Oh my, thank you. I was just starting to feel hungry.”
But she didn’t actually eat it. Instead, she pulled out a handkerchief, wrapped the bun neatly, and flashed the merchant a dazzling smile.
The bun was pretty big. Maybe it was awkward to open your mouth wide like that in public. Not that I cared.
In the past, I never would’ve touched food given by strangers. But no one knew I was Seol Danhae now. Who’d try to poison me—right in front of the Young Master, no less?
“Tasty?”
Muhyeok watched me stuffing my face and smiled like he was looking at a puppy happily burying its nose in a bowl. I gave a small nod.
“Ah!”
Just then, Sohae let out a soft gasp. She’d dropped the bun by accident. The once-snowy bread and handkerchief were instantly ruined, covered in dirt.
“Ah, what a waste.”
I stared at it, genuinely regretful. Maybe if I brushed it off quick enough, it’d still be good? I started to bend down but Sohae wrinkled her pretty brow.
“Throw it away,” she told her servant.
Neither item was kept. Incredible. Seriously, she could’ve washed the handkerchief and reused it.
Awkwardly, I straightened back up. Her maid cleared the mess with practiced ease. Rich girls’ brains were still a mystery to me.
Sohae clapped her hands suddenly, beaming like nothing had happened.
“Sister, when you’re picking out your clothes, could you also choose one for me?”
“Sure.”
She clapped again, delighted. Wasn’t like she was asking me to buy it—just to pick it out. Easy enough to grab whatever.
My opinion that the Young Master was surprisingly capable vanished the moment we entered the shop. There were far too many clothes supposedly tailored to my measurements. At a glance, there had to be a hundred outfits. Fucking hell.
Wait, what was that pale pink thing? Who did they expect to wear that—someone hoping to become a living target?
“The lady herself was coming, so I prepared only the finest. Please pick whatever pleases you. Or shall we, as last time, prepare them all?”
Pretty sure the Moyong Clan was getting fleeced by this place. Maybe that’s why we’d been welcomed so extravagantly on the way here. Extremely reasonable suspicion.
I left Muhyeok and Sohae behind and slowly approached the owner, who was smiling like an idiot. When I gestured, he leaned in eagerly, expecting some new order.
I whispered in his ear.
“Cut the crap. Pick the twenty best and bring them over.”
He stared at me, stunned, then went white as a sheet and nodded frantically. As he scrambled through the racks, I added sweetly,
“Make sure they’re practical and comfortable. None of that excessive drapery.”
So I ended up with a solid haul: twenty genuinely useful outfits. Some were skirts with hidden pants, others were straightforward training clothes, plus a thick winter cloak.
Colors? Best to keep it dark and hard to stain. Fancy silk that felt like clouds? Lovely, but impractical. I chose pieces lined with sturdy cotton.
As I inspected each one, Muhyeok muttered behind me.
“Our Ahwa’s taste has changed so suddenly, it’s startling.”
When I glanced over, he fumbled and quickly added,
“Ah, but of course it’s good to try new styles! There’s nothing that wouldn’t suit you.”
…What the hell. I turned away, unimpressed. Then I remembered Sohae had asked me to pick something for her. She’d spent the whole time idly flicking through other outfits, saying nothing.
I called the shopkeeper back and had him pile up bright, fancy gowns more suited to a typical young lady.
Only then did Sohae show interest, drifting over. I carefully held a few under her chin and picked the one that stood out most.
“How about this?”
Maybe it was my imagination, but—
A weird silence fell. It felt like no one here knew quite how to react.
I reflexively looked at Sahyeon. He’d lowered his head, shoulders shaking faintly. Great. That bastard was clearly trying not to laugh—meaning I’d fucked up somehow.
Muhyeok cleared his throat.
“As expected, our Yeonhwa has a keen eye. Truly, wearing that, you’d stand out in any crowd… I mean, it’s quite striking. Very traditional—these peacock patterns were once all the rage. The elder ladies will especially love it.”
Huh. So he did have some taste.
But as he spoke, Sohae’s expression grew even gloomier, and Sahyeon’s shoulders shook harder. Even Hyangah was struggling not to laugh.
I couldn’t understand any of it.
“Do you not like it?”
I asked carefully. Now her face was beyond sour—practically purple.
The dress I’d chosen was a vivid jade robe, ringed at the neck with pink feathers. A giant peacock was embroidered in silver across the entire skirt, which ended in a thick ruffle of white cloth.
Sure, it’d be a pain to move in, but she seemed to like riding palanquins anyway.
“This is plenty flashy, isn’t it? You’d definitely catch everyone’s eye.”
I said it confidently because I genuinely couldn’t see the problem. Sohae forced a trembling smile.
“It certainly would draw attention… I’m sure all eyes would be on me.”
“Right?”
“But… does this truly suit me, sister?”
“Of course.”
I’d been around the market enough to know how to pick out clothes, right? Maybe I was surprisingly good at this.
But then Sohae gently pushed the dress back toward me.
“Yet I, unlike you, lack outstanding beauty. I don’t think I could pull off such a showy outfit. I’d far rather see you wear it. Please, allow me to gift it to you.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes. I very much want to give this to you. You’ll accept it, won’t you?”
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