Chapter 6 ….
“Oh my! Look at the chicks!”
“Chicks? Where?”
At the appearance of the fluffy, adorable chicks, Eonnyeon clasped her hands together and cheered.
Choa, too, showed interest in the chicks, her mouth opening in awe as she wiggled her little hands and leaned forward.
“Huh? Chicks?”
“Do you want to play with the chicks, our little lady?”
Choa hesitated in front of the chicks she had never seen before, only watching.
Bokhee took a piece of rice ball and placed it near Choa’s feet, and the chicks began to approach her.
Choa gently pushed a few grains of rice toward the chicks with her tiny hands.
The chicks immediately flocked, pecking at the rice, while a few hopped up onto Choa’s knees and even her shoulders.
“Eek!”
Suddenly, Choa was covered with tiny, soft yellow chicks, and she laughed, waving her arms and legs in delight.
“Oh my… I have to capture this adorable scene in a drawing…”
“Ah! There should be something in the little lady’s grain pouch that the chicks can eat. Just a moment.”
Bokhee opened the grain pouch and placed a few grains of millet and other seeds into Choa’s palm.
Amazingly, Choa, with her tiny fern-like hands, carefully picked just a few grains and offered them to the chicks.
Even more remarkably, the chicks only ate the grains Choa selected.
She had been extraordinary even when sorting bean sprouts, and this time, too, Choa skillfully picked only the good grains.
At that moment, a voice called from afar.
“Have you seen any chicks?”
A man, looking worn-out, ran up and stopped in astonishment at the sight of Choa and the chicks.
“Well… the little lady… it’s as if she’s built a tower of chicks!”
Bokhee smiled and said,
“They must be here because the little lady gave them something to eat.”
“Oh? Is this the little lady from the rumored annex?”
“You know her?”
“Of course. She’s the youngest daughter of Elder Gang Je-seung, isn’t she? I’m Goh Jeong-hyeok, a shepherd working nearby. Nice to meet you.”
The shepherd, Goh Jeong-hyeok, introduced himself, and Bokhee slightly bowed.
“Yes. Hello. We came to the fields to celebrate the little lady’s birthday.”
Then, Eonnyeon suddenly handed him a rice ball, her face glowing with pride.
“This rice ball was made by our little lady herself. Please try it!”
Goh Jeong-hyeok took a bite and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Incredible! This is delicious! And this little lady made it herself? Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Don’t lie. No matter what, how could a child make something like this?”
Bokhee spoke with conviction, as if urging him to believe.
“I swear it on the heavens—it’s true. Our little lady has extraordinary skill.”
“It tastes even better than what Bokhee makes. How is that?”
Eonnyeon teased from the side, and Bokhee laughed, hugging Choa tightly.
“Of course, now I’ll assist. Our little lady Choa is the true master of our kitchen.”
“Hehehe! I love cooking! It makes me happy to make delicious food! I’ll make everything!”
“Oh my! I can’t wait to see that!”
“Hahaha!”
Everyone burst into laughter, and the three of them, along with Goh Jeong-hyeok, continued chatting quietly with the flock of chicks nearby.
Rustle—!
And there was someone quietly watching from behind a tree.
Another maid from Elder Gang Je-seung’s household, Malja.
She scowled, then cautiously turned away.
“Without my permission, they’re out in the fields playing? And the child even made the rice balls herself?”
Having returned and heard Malja’s report, Okdan Eomeom’s eyes narrowed.
“How could such a young child make rice balls…”
Her gaze sharpened.
‘Could it be that child…’
A foreboding thought crossed her mind.
“No. It’s too early to jump to conclusions.”
Having organized her thoughts, Okdan Eomeom tossed a coin to Malja.
“Go. And report to me if anything happens in the future.”
“Th-thank you! Thank you, Okdan Eomeom!”
Once Malja left, Okdan Eomeom fell into thought with a sharp glare.
‘What am I going to do with them…’
With the authority of the matriarch behind her, she wielded immense power among the servants.
Those insolent subordinates who dared to deceive her were utterly outrageous.
‘But I cannot recklessly expel those who have been caring for the little lady all this time. If I want to cover my tracks later, I need a solid justification.’
Okdan Eomeom nervously bit her nails.
‘And just in case, I should make sure the child doesn’t enter the kitchen.’
Having resolved this in her mind, she rose and walked quietly toward the main building where Elder Gang was staying.
“Cough! Cough!”
Recently, Elder Gang Je-seung’s illness had worsened, and he lay helplessly in bed.
Though spring sunlight streamed through the window, his face remained pale and shadowed.
“Elder, please take the decoction. I’ve prepared it myself.”
Okdan Eomeom hurried in and offered the medicine.
Elder Gang drank it without hesitation.
The medicine eased his cough, and his gaze grew hazy.
“Is Choa… doing well?”
Even in his semi-conscious state, he struggled to sit up and ask. Okdan Eomeom quickly stepped forward and attended to him.
“Yes, Elder. The little lady is safe. She has Schon with her, so why worry? Please just take care of yourself.”
“But… today is… Choa’s birthday, isn’t it?”
Okdan Eomeom shook her head firmly.
“You know. The physician said if this illness spreads to the child, it could be fatal. So please wait a little longer.”
Elder Gang furrowed his brow in silence, then asked,
“Does the child… perhaps seek me?”
His complexion, darkened from battling illness, reflected longing and pain.
Except for glimpses of Choa smiling through the window every four days or so, he had never truly held his daughter.
Okdan Eomeom gently held his hand and reassured him.
“Do not worry. The little lady is not seeking you and is very well. She is still too young to understand much. You must recover soon to restore the family.”
Elder Gang finally closed his eyes and nodded weakly.
‘Now.’
Seeing him compliant, Okdan Eomeom’s eyes shone as she spoke the plan she had been contemplating before coming.
“By the way… Elder, I have something to report.”
“What is it?”
“The scorched rice candy I served earlier… actually, the recipe was created by an outside cook.”
“An outside cook?”
“Yes, indeed.”
Of course, this was a lie fabricated by Okdan Eomeom.
But no matter.
‘I’ll bring my person in… and I’ll get rid of those insolent servants who disobey me.’
If someone is in the way, it is acceptable to lie to remove them.
“There is a cook who prepared a dessert to please your taste. I propose to call them, and gradually dismiss the kitchen servants you traditionally employ. What do you think?”
“The cook who made the scorched rice candy…! I must have them. Do it.”
Even in his hazy mind, Elder Gang approved immediately, seeing no need for further deliberation.
The memory of the candy’s taste made him happy.
“Thank you, Elder.”
By lying about the candy he loved so much, Okdan Eomeom achieved the answer she wanted, bowing in satisfaction as she stepped back.
‘I’ll show them clearly what happens if they defy me in this household.’
Her eyes glinted sharply as she bowed.
