Chapter 8
* * *
Facing the clan lord, Soha noticed something new: he looked very much like Geum Ihwan—especially the shining gold hair.
In Haeran, most people had black hair. She’d heard a few with special power were born with unusual colors, but she’d never seen it herself.
“Do you understand the curse of Hyupundo?”
“Yes.”
The clan lord had everyone leave the room and gave a long, careful explanation—much like what Ihwan had told her.
Soha was quick and sharp; she understood.
Not just life and death—the body’s pain and the mind’s suffering are shared too. What a strange relic…
The Black Tortoise clan owned many relics and tools, but nothing this strong.
“We plan to treat you,” he said.
“Yes.”
“It may be painful.”
“I’ll be fine.”
Soha also learned that Geum Ihwan was the clan’s only direct heir.
That meant the Phoenix clan had no choice but to save the girl whose fate was tied to him.
Maybe this was heaven’s favor.
At least this time, she thought, she wouldn’t die uselessly.
“My wife says you’re an orphan,” he said.
“Yes. My parents died during a Night Parade of a Hundred Demons a few years ago.”
“…You’ve suffered something terrible.”
Geum Heemun, the clan lord, studied her.
Most children Ihwan’s age would be overwhelmed by talk of death. Crying would be normal.
But Soha only nodded or answered firmly. No fuss.
A different kind of child, Heemun thought—and wished his son had even half of her calm.
For a week, Ihwan had run in and out of Heemun’s office like it was his own, reporting Soha’s condition and whining about the cold.
“If there’s anyone who needs to know where you are, tell me. I’ll send word at once.”
“…I don’t want to tell anyone. In fact, I must not.”
Even without parents, she might have relatives. He asked just in case. Her hard answer made him pause. Whatever put a child alone in the Polar Night couldn’t be simple.
Soha spoke again. “Can the curse be broken?”
“There’s a sage who knows Hyupundo well. I’ll seek help from him.”
“Do you believe it’s possible?”
Heemun guessed this child wasn’t fooled by soothing words. She didn’t trust “It’ll be fine,” just because an adult said so.
He liked that.
“I think no problem is truly without an answer,” he said. “I could be wrong. But two lives are at stake, so I’ll be careful above all.”
He didn’t sugarcoat it. He spoke honestly.
“You’re quick; you know what this means. To keep my son alive, I have to protect you. Everyone in this clan understands that. While you’re here, be at ease.”
Soha accepted that—and nodded. Realistic words comforted her more than a hundred sweet promises.
“For now…” Heemun’s eyes moved from her head to her toes.
“You need to gain weight.”
He remembered her as a fluffy little fox; as a girl she was thin and fragile.
“Medicine is like this: no matter how good it is, if the body is too weak to accept it, it’s useless.”
“I see.”
“I promise you all the finest medicines. You promise me you’ll eat every meal.”
Soha thought it was a very uneven deal—but nodded. “Yes.”
“From today, treat this place as your home. If anyone troubles you, tell me at once.”
“Yes.”
“And if that brat Ihwan bothers you, tell me too.”
“…Pardon? …Yes.”
She didn’t understand why Ihwan would be a bother, but she nodded. Heemun kept looking at her, silent for a while, then added:
“Well, you can come see me sometimes even without a reason.”
Strangely, he had already grown fond of her.
For the next two days, only the doctor and Unseon visited to help her recover. Today was different.
“Hello, miss. I’m Rangi.”
“Rangi?”
“Yes. I’ll be serving you.”
Rangi was fifteen, in her first year working for the Phoenix clan. Lady Cheon Unseon—whom she admired most—had asked her to take special care of Soha, and she was determined to do it well.
“I don’t really need…” Soha began, uncomfortable with someone assigned just for her.
But Rangi smiled like she expected that answer.
“Hwachon Palace is over 2,000 pyeong (very large). Twenty-two buildings, ninety-nine rooms, and four wells. The walls make it a maze. Can a nine-year-old really manage alone?”
“…”
“And nine-year-old girls are supposed to be cared for. That’s normal here.”
“I understand.”
“Please speak comfortably. I’m your hands and feet,” Rangi said.
“I’m fine like this,” Soha replied.
“Well, if you insist. Shall we air the room first?”
Rangi was bright and playful—the kind of person everyone liked.
Unseon had chosen her for exactly that.
“Lady Cheon is bringing vegetable porridge. One moment—oh! I almost forgot this.”
She hurried back from the window with a blanket.
“Red Pine Ridge is warm, but outside air still bites.”
She wrapped Soha neatly in the blanket, pleased, then went back to airing the room.
Kind, Soha thought.
Everyone in the Phoenix household was kind. It felt unreal.
Even if half the world were good and half bad, this still seemed unlikely.
“I hope you’re well enough to go outside soon. There’s a lovely pond in front of Unjoru, your building. Birds love to rest there,” Rangi said.
Soha looked out the window at the green trees and grass.
If the view from a small window was this pretty, how beautiful would it be up close?
“Goodness!” Rangi clutched her chest—startled.
In the window frame, Ihwan was peeking in with only his eyes showing.
“Young master!” she yelped.
The door opened; Unseon came in with a tray—porridge and mushroom pancakes.
“So he’s sneaking a look again,” Unseon sighed. She had told him many times to take care of himself instead.
“I nearly died of fright!” Rangi scolded, arms crossed.
Ihwan pouted. “My life is somewhere else—how could I not check on it?”
“Even so, remember Soha is not only a patient—she’s a young girl, my son.”
“Mother, you send a servant with my meals, but you bring hers in person?”
“Are you jealous?” Unseon chuckled, moving to Soha’s side. Rangi quickly set a small table on the bed and placed the porridge and pancakes on it.
“And there were no mushroom pancakes on my table!”
“They’re rare mushrooms from the western kingdom,” Unseon said.
“Then you should have given them to me more!”
“Hehe.”
Unseon let his grumbling slide; Soha thought they were a very unusual mother and son.
“Your color is better than yesterday. The physician says the medicine is working,” Unseon said.
“That’s good.”
“How about a light walk starting tomorrow?”
“Oh! I just told her how beautiful Hwachon Palace is,” Rangi added.
Soha felt her energy settling day by day.
A short walk should be fine, she thought, and nodded. Unseon and Rangi shared a pleased look.
“I’ll guide you!” Ihwan shouted from the window.
“You’re still here?” Unseon asked. He pressed closer to the frame.
“I was born and raised here! I’ve played hide-and-seek a hundred times. No one knows this place better than me!”
“That may be, but you’re a handful for most people. I’m not sure Soha can handle you…”
“Mother!”
He was whining like a child now. Unseon put a spoon in Soha’s hand, waited a beat, then offered a solution.
“Then Jisong will go with you too.”
“Cousin Jisong?”
“Yes. The two of you together should be fine.”
“You really don’t trust your son, do you?”
“If you don’t like it, forget it. I can take her myself…”
“I’ll do it! I’ll do it! I’ll go tell Cousin Jisong right now!”
Afraid she might change her mind, Ihwan leapt from the window and ran to the annex where his cousin stayed.
“Young master is sick too, isn’t he?” Rangi whispered.
“…I’m not sure,” Unseon said, shaking her head.
