Chapter 15
“Is that how you behave? No manners at all—must be because you grew up without discipline.”
But before he could scold her further, another voice cut through the air—cold and sharp as ice.
Sowol turned her head. Opposite Dokgo Cheonun sat a middle-aged woman with a stern, emotionless expression.
Yet Sowol could see the contempt lurking in her eyes.
She was Ryu Heerang—Dokgo Cheonun’s mother and the second wife of Dokgo Ildo.
Just as Dokgo Haeryang had described, she looked like someone who valued strict propriety and wouldn’t tolerate even the smallest slip-up.
“If you meet an elder, you should greet them first. Didn’t your mother teach you that?”
“She did.”
“Then why don’t you greet me?”
“I just don’t get why I should greet someone who says bad things about my mom.”
“…What?”
“If you’re my uncle, that means you’re my mom’s younger brother, right?”
Sowol turned her gaze to Dokgo Cheonun.
“Uncle Ryung called my mom ‘noona.’ Why don’t you call her that? Oh… were you actually older than her?”
“Dokgo Hwayoung stormed out of this family long ago. She’s not part of us anymore, so why would I call her that?”
“Then you’re not my mom’s brother either, are you?”
Dokgo Cheonun was momentarily at a loss for words.
“You’re not my uncle, and you’re not family with my mom. All you do is talk trash about her. So why should I greet you?”
His face turned red and then pale—if Dokgo Ildo hadn’t been there, a string of curses would’ve surely flown out.
Sowol knew full well this wasn’t how she should be behaving.
If she wanted to survive here, she needed to stay on their good side. But—
What’s the point of playing nice? As if these people would ever show me kindness just because they pity me.
A young master from a top-tier clan like this one had to be at least a martial master. There was no way they hadn’t sensed her presence when she arrived. They raised their voices on purpose, so she’d hear every word.
So why should she tiptoe around people who’d already made up their minds to hate her?
Whether I get hated quietly or loudly—it’s the same either way. I might as well go all in.
Let them be mad. It’s not like her fate rested in Cheonun’s hands—it was up to the clan head.
“Sowol.”
That cool voice from nearby told her the moment had come.
Just like when they first met in the main hall, Dokgo Ildo exuded a crushing, mountain-like presence.
If she said one wrong word, she’d feel as if he’d pass judgment on her right there.
“Still, these are the family members you’re meeting for the first time. How could you act so arrogant?”
“…”
“Whether you like it or not, they’re the people you’ll have to live with from now on. Apologize.”
Sowol turned her head under his commanding presence—and met nothing but cold, hostile stares.
How could anyone call this family?
Honestly, the pyo-sa uncles who had escorted her here over the last few days were far warmer.
“What does ‘family’ mean to you, Grandpa?”
Her question came in place of an apology, catching Dokgo Ildo off guard. One of his eyebrows twitched upward.
“I was taught that family is about spending happy times together, making memories, caring for each other, loving and being loved.”
Just sharing blood wasn’t enough to make someone family.
Living as strangers until now—then suddenly calling each other family just because of blood? That was laughable.
“These people don’t care about me. They don’t love me or cherish me. They badmouthed my mom right in front of me. To me, family is Mom and Unc—…”
She stopped mid-sentence, catching herself before saying Dokgo Ryung’s name.
“…Anyway. I’m not even sure if you count as family to me, Grandpa.”
“Ah, agi…!”
“You insolent brat…!”
Ryu Heerang and Dokgo Cheonun recoiled in disbelief at her boldness.
But Sowol never looked away from Dokgo Ildo.
“You’re saying we’re not family, even though you’re my granddaughter?”
“Do you even know what I like, Grandpa?”
Her sudden question stunned him. Of course, they’d only just met today.
“Do you know what I hate? What my favorite food is? Do you even know when my birthday is?”
No one spoke as her words piled on.
“See? You don’t know anything about me. And I don’t know anything about you, either. So how are we family?”
“I took you in because you’re my granddaughter. But if we’re not family, as you say, then it wouldn’t matter if I kicked you out, would it?”
“L-Lord… She’s just a child—she doesn’t understand. Please don’t be angry!”
Dokgo Haeryang stepped in, shielding Sowol and pleading with the clan head.
But—
“Yeah, that’s fine with me.”
Sowol nodded calmly, unfazed.
Those who’d scoffed at her earlier now looked at her differently.
They realized this wasn’t just childish defiance—her words came from a deeper place.
Even Dokgo Ildo frowned slightly, caught off guard by her response.
“If you walk out now, you’ll be alone. Hwayoung is gone. Dokgo Ryung is no longer here. You’re just five years old—how could you survive alone?”
“I can manage. This isn’t a mountain.”
The only reason she nearly starved after her mother’s death was because they lived deep in the mountains.
The nearest village was half a day’s walk for an adult, and wild animals roamed the area. A child couldn’t have survived alone.
By the time her mother fell seriously ill, they’d already run out of food.
She’d eaten bark and weeds just to stay alive. If Dokgo Ryung hadn’t shown up, she might’ve starved to death.
“I’m good at washing dishes, wiping floors, sweeping. I can count, too.”
She couldn’t read yet, but she was capable enough to take care of herself.
“I could work at an inn, or if that doesn’t work, I’ll beg.”
“Beg? Are you trying to shame the Dokgo clan’s name?”
“How does me begging shame your name?”
“Because you’re part of the Dokgo clan.”
“But no one else knows that. My surname isn’t Dokgo—it’s Eun. Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone my mom came from the Dokgo clan.”
Her words weren’t just about leaving—they were her last shred of pride.
And a way to escape the death shadow looming ahead.
In the original story, Eun Sowol died here, in the Dokgo clan. So she had to at least escape this place.
Didn’t she die from being bullied?
Maybe they starved her or tormented her behind the scenes.
Dokgo Ryung had been treated like less than human just for being illegitimate. Why should she expect better?
She’d rather risk the outside world than eat scraps in this place.
“Oh, but could I borrow a few coins? I’ll pay it back once I have money. I promise I won’t come crawling back here, so don’t worry.”
When she even offered to repay with interest, Dokgo Ildo’s expression twisted in disbelief.
As if thinking: Is this really something a five-year-old would say?
Worried he might reject her because she’d denied being family, Sowol quickly added:
“Not much! Just enough for seven days of food.”
“Seven days?”
“If that’s too much, then four days! No, three! But it has to be enough for three meals a day!”
She figured even eating once a day, she could stretch it to a week.
I’m good at going hungry.
Worried he might still say no, Sowol started to fidget.
For all her bravado, she was visibly anxious over just a few coins—leaving Dokgo Ildo speechless.
Then he suddenly noticed something: the heat radiating from her.
He placed a hand on her forehead.
Sowol looked unsure if she should shake him off or not.
“She has a fever.”
“She was fine just a while ago…”
Dokgo Haeryang approached and scooped her up. Sowol blinked in confusion.
“Feed her and get her medicine. She’s too weak.”
“Wait—hey! I said I’m leaving! Just give me the coins—”
“She’ll stay in the medicine hall until the fever breaks.”
“Yes, Clan Head.”
“No, wait, didn’t you hear me? I said I’m not staying! I’m leaving—!”
She struggled in vain, but Haeryang carried her off as the two men ignored her protests entirely.
