Chapter 5
After organizing her thoughts, the problem she had been putting off resurfaced.
“…But why is Eunseol taking so long? Does checking on a meal really take this much time?”
Seolha glanced toward the door.
There was no sound at all.
Not even the slightest presence.
Did something happen?
She hadn’t spoken to many people since coming here, so she felt uneasy.
“Come to think of it… I’ve never seen any servants other than Eunseol.”
Bringing meals, nursing her—everything had been handled entirely by Yoo Eunseol.
“That doesn’t seem normal.”
In Heavenly Martial Emperor, how was the Geumrin Merchant Guild described?
“Not the absolute best, but still one of the top merchant groups in the world.”
In modern terms, it would be like a chaebol family.
“But even so… how can Eunseol be the only one taking care of me?”
She handled everything herself.
As if there were no one else to share the work.
A bad feeling crept in.
“I’m supposed to be from a wealthy family…”
From both what Eunseol told her and what she remembered from the novel, that was true.
“Something’s off.”
She got out of bed.
Her ankle throbbed, but she could still walk.
After putting on a robe, she approached the door—
“Did you need something?”
A familiar low voice came from outside.
“Downoon?”
“Yes, Miss.”
Ha, Dowoon opened the door and paused when he saw her.
“Are you planning to go out?”
“Eunseol hasn’t come back for a while. I’m worried.”
“She’s probably fine.”
His words were firm, but his expression flickered with unease.
Suspicious.
“She should be fine. Which way did she go?”
“That direction leads to the annex.”
“Then it must be this way.”
She figured it out quickly and tried to leave.
Dowoon blocked her.
“You’re not fully recovered yet. I’ll go instead.”
“I’m fine.”
“But Eunseol said—”
“That’s just because I’m pretending.”
He flinched.
“It’s better to act sick to avoid outsiders.”
She gestured inside.
“If I were really that sick, would I be studying?”
He sighed.
“You might hear unpleasant things… or run into your cousins.”
She blinked.
“This is my residence. They come here?”
“Sometimes.”
He didn’t look like he was lying.
“…And I just endured it?”
“That wasn’t… a pleasant experience. Are you sure you want to hear it?”
“Yes.”
After a pause, he spoke.
“You laughed at them and warned them not to come again.”
“…That’s it?”
He hesitated.
“You threw books at them. And when they rushed at you… You grabbed their hair and fought.”
“…Ah.”
Now she understood.
So the original me had quite the temper too…
“No wonder no one said anything when I fought that man at the market.”
“The first one to attack was Miss Yulhee… and when you grabbed her hair, the others—”
“They ran away. It was pretty funny.”
A bright voice cut in.
Seolha turned.
A boy was walking toward them.
“Yulhee hates you but is scared of you too. That’s probably why.”
Dowoon stepped in front of her.
“Young Master, the miss is not fully recovered.”
“She looks fine to me. Unless it’s her head that’s the problem.”
The boy tapped his temple and smirked.
Seolha frowned.
What is this guy?
“So the rumors weren’t completely false, huh?”
Her eyebrow twitched.
Dowoon blocked him.
“I don’t know what you mean. Please leave.”
The boy stepped closer anyway.
Their eyes met.
“Yah!”
He ducked under Dowoon’s arm and stood in front of her.
“So you’re not actually a fool. That scary look is still there.”
Seolha smirked.
“Dowoon, I don’t remember inviting anyone.”
Dowoon responded immediately.
“Young Master Jugang, please leave.”
So this is Geum Jugang.
Eunseol had described him as… strange.
And oddly reliable in dangerous situations.
“You’re being too obvious, Dowoon.”
Jugang casually leaned on Dowoon’s shoulder.
“Did you forget me too?”
Seolha crossed her arms.
“Do I have any reason to remember you?”
Jugang grinned.
“There are plenty. My looks, my talent—aren’t those enough?”
What nonsense.
Her eyes turned cold.
“…Are you really pretending to have amnesia?”
Then he smiled again.
“Still, you should welcome me a bit more, noona.”
Why would I?
He reached out and fixed her clothes.
Unlike his lazy attitude, his hands were precise.
“I can take you anywhere you want to go.”
“…”
“And deal with annoying idiots for you.”
He smiled.
“So? Useful enough?”
He held out his hand.
After a moment—
She grabbed it.
“Fine. Lead the way.”
He laughed brightly.
“Where to?”
“To Eunseol.”
“…Ah, that maid.”
He hesitated.
“You probably shouldn’t go right now.”
Her eyes sharpened.
“Why?”
“Well…”
He avoided answering.
She stepped closer, cornering him against the wall.
“Tell me.”
“…I know something.”
“Then talk.”
She pressed her hand against the wall beside his face.
“Or this won’t be fun for you.”
He burst out laughing.
“Hahaha!”
She looked at Dowoon.
Is he always like this?
Dowoon nodded silently.
“…Figures.”
She sighed.
“Don’t test me.”
“Alright, alright. I surrender.”
He wiped tears from his eyes.
“I should’ve gotten closer to you earlier. You’re fun.”
“Just explain.”
“…It’s better if you hear it from the person herself.”
He gestured.
Seolha turned—
“…Eunseol?”
Eunseol stood there, holding a tray.
“I just arrived.”
Her voice felt colder than usual.
“I see.”
Eunseol sighed and handed the tray to Dowoon.
Then approached Seolha.
“You shouldn’t be walking around like this.”
Seolha flinched.
“I was just worried… and it felt stuffy inside.”
“Once you recover, you can go out. For now, eat first.”
Jugang watched with interest.
“…I can’t even take your side now.”
Eunseol stepped forward protectively.
“Why does everyone treat me like a thug?”
Jugang shrugged.
“If you keep looking at me like that, I might actually act like one.”
Seolha scoffed.
“Don’t push it.”
Jugang’s eyes flickered.
“You came empty-handed to visit me. That’s already rude.”
“Oh?”
“But acting disrespectfully to my people in my space? That’s different.”
She tilted her head.
“If you’re done, leave.”
“…Cold, aren’t you?”
He clicked his tongue but stepped back.
“Still sharp as ever.”
“What?”
“I gave you a hint. I’ll go now.”
“Hey—!”
“See you next time.”
He waved and left.
Seolha frowned.
“What’s his deal?”
She kicked the ground—
“Ugh!”
Pain shot through her ankle.
“I told you.”
Eunseol sighed and picked her up.
“I can walk—”
“Not yet.”
Seolha gave up and leaned into her.
Then—
She paused.
…Wait.
The usual scent was gone.
And her clothes changed.
That shouldn’t happen just from checking a meal.
Something’s wrong.
One by one—
Suspicious details began to stand out.
