Chapter 6
Noticing that the ends of Yoo Eunseol’s hair were slightly wet, Geum Seolha’s eyelids trembled.
Earlier, Geum Jugang said I had good instincts…
And he added that he had already given her a hint.
Seolha swallowed.
That reaction from Jugang… wasn’t a coincidence.
Meanwhile, Eunseol gently placed Seolha back onto the bed.
“Miss, did anything happen with Young Master Jugang?”
Seolha hesitated.
If she told the truth, Eunseol would worry.
As she delayed answering, Eunseol’s expression darkened—
“Nothing happened.”
“Ha,” Dowoon answered instead.
Eunseol relaxed.
Seolha looked at him.
Dowoon subtly shook his head.
Don’t say anything.
Seolha kept quiet.
Something definitely happened. I’ll ask him later.
For now, the situation is settled.
“Then that’s good. You should eat first so you can take your medicine.”
At Eunseol’s gesture, Dowoon set down the tray.
Seolha looked at the meal.
Her expression changed.
A bowl of plain porridge.
Two side dishes.
Simple.
Too simple.
“…Hey, Eunseol.”
“Yes?”
“Is the Geumrin Merchant Guild… actually poor?”
Eunseol blinked, then hurriedly shook her head.
“Of course not.”
“Then did you invest somewhere and tighten spending?”
Only then did Eunseol realize what she meant and give an awkward smile.
“It’s just… because you should eat something light for now.”
Her face darkened slightly.
Eunseol… You should at least hide that expression when you lie.
Seolha closed her eyes.
I thought I was from a rich family…
Of course.
Things were never that easy.
Figures.
She stirred the porridge.
The room and hallway didn’t look poor…
So—
They’re only stingy toward me?
That was worse.
She took a bite.
Her eyes sharpened.
Eunseol and Dowoon would never touch her share.
And they weren’t the type to tolerate such things.
So whoever did this is above them.
Considering the original Seolha’s personality—
It must be someone with status.
If I catch them, they’re dead.
She quickly finished eating.
“I’ll bring your medicine.”
Eunseol left.
Seolha grabbed Dowoon’s sleeve.
“Wait.”
He turned.
She rested her chin on her hand.
“We need to talk, don’t we?”
“Ask, and I will answer.”
“First—why did you tell Eunseol nothing happened?”
There was something strange.
Dowoon stayed silent under her sharp gaze.
“…In the past, there was an incident involving Young Master Jugang. You were in serious danger.”
“So that’s why?”
“But then why did you say I should stay near him if things get dangerous?”
That didn’t make sense.
“…It was a promise.”
“A promise? Between who?”
“After that incident… you said it yourself.”
“…Me?”
“She was crying, and you told her—”
“That although he’s unreliable and annoying, he keeps his promises. So he can be trusted.”
“So Eunseol trusts him because I said so?”
“Yes.”
Seolha tapped the table slowly.
Something’s there… but I can’t quite grasp it.
“Fine. Next.”
She would question Jugang later.
“Earlier—you stopped me from going to Eunseol.”
“…”
“What were you hiding?”
Silence.
“Does it have something to do with her clothes changing?”
Dowoon’s eyes flickered.
She didn’t miss it.
“She didn’t just change clothes… she had to wash too, right?”
“Miss…”
“The more I think about it, the worse it sounds.”
She was already certain.
“Like someone spilled something on her.”
Dowoon lowered his gaze.
“Stop making that face and explain.”
“It’s not something we can easily act on.”
“Deciding that isn’t your job. It’s mine.”
Her voice hardened.
“You’re my guard. She’s my attendant.”
“…”
“I don’t treat you poorly. So who dares treat you that way?”
Her eyes burned.
Dowoon sighed.
“If Eunseol finds out… there will be trouble.”
“If I hear it from someone else, it’ll be worse.”
He gave in.
“…It was likely the other maids.”
“Why?”
Eunseol wasn’t careless.
She wasn’t the type to provoke hostility.
“Do you know who manages the household here?”
“No. But… it should’ve been my mother’s role. So probably my aunt?”
“That’s the problem.”
Dowoon spoke bitterly.
“They can’t openly discriminate or act directly. So they do it like this.”
Seolha tilted her head.
“I understand who did it. But the important question is—”
“…”
“Why are they targeting me?”
She wasn’t asking for affection.
But this was harassment.
“The position of Young Master is still vacant.”
“…The successor of the guild?”
“Yes.”
Her brows furrowed.
“It’s still empty?”
Her father had died.
The position remained unfilled.
“Wait.”
She froze.
In the novel… I became the successor.
“There hasn’t even been proper discussion about the next successor?”
“After your parents passed, the master shut himself away.”
No one dared bring it up.
Seolha grabbed her head.
“So all this is because they see me as a candidate?”
“Yes.”
She let out a hollow laugh.
“So my dear uncles are that incompetent?”
“That they need to bully a child?”
She scoffed.
Inheritance systems existed for a reason.
She had an advantage just by being the direct heir.
“Plenty of time difference too.”
Dowoon spoke carefully.
“The Master loved your father deeply. So their concern isn’t entirely unreasonable.”
“Unreasonable? Does this look like I’m being cherished?”
She smiled crookedly.
“If he really cared, this wouldn’t happen.”
“…”
“So this is all because of my ‘beloved’ grandfather.”
She clicked her tongue.
“I guess he’s not taking care of me at all.”
He hadn’t visited her once.
“…Or maybe he thinks I should endure this?”
Either way—
She didn’t like it.
“What a mess of a family.”
She sighed.
Even here—
Her life wasn’t much different.
“So how do I deal with this properly?”
Dowoon blinked.
“…Pardon?”
