Chapter 16
It was an odd confrontation.
After a brief conversation, even though I showed clear signs that I no longer wanted to continue talking, Moyong Hye didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving.
‘What is she thinking?’
No matter how trivial the warm-up exercises were, being watched so openly like that made me feel somewhat uncomfortable.
But, I couldn’t just tell her to get lost to her face.
The best option was to ignore her and let her get bored on her own.
‘Actually, this is good.’
My master once told me that anyone can train in a secluded place without distractions. But true focus requires training in places filled with people.
The real immersion in training is when you can disregard the presence of others and the surrounding noises.
Of course, when my master made me practice in the middle of a bustling market, I considered quitting. It seemed like nonsense, but I obediently followed through anyway.
It was funny now that I think about it.
And it did help, so I couldn’t complain.
Thinking of it as similar to that made it easier to handle.
‘Just think of her as a rock, a rock.’
There’s a saying that one should view gold as mere stones. Even if the person staring at me was a breathtaking beauty, I just had to pretend she didn’t exist.
What I pictured in my mind was Namgung Hyuk’s punch as he beat down Moyong Chun.
I moved my body, recalling his perfect control of strength and rhythm.
“Is martial arts your specialty, Young Master?”
Suddenly, Moyong Hye, who had been silently watching, spoke up.
“If I had to choose, I’d say swordsmanship. Why do you ask?”
“You seem quite knowledgeable in martial arts as well.”
“Knowledgeable? I was just swinging my arms randomly.”
“Hmm, randomly, you say.”
What was she getting at?
Even though I responded curtly, Moyong Hye showed no reaction. It felt like throwing a pebble into a calm lake.
“I heard Moyong Chun came back beaten up, so I thought you specialized in martial arts.”
“……”
“It’s surprising that a son of the Moyong Family got defeated by a bare-handed swordsman…”
I knew she wasn’t on good terms with Moyong Chun, but why did she keep bringing it up in front of me?
“I’ve already discussed the matter with Lord Moyong.”
“Oh my. I didn’t mean to blame you for it. I hope there’s no misunderstanding.”
Tap.
As she spoke, Moyong Hye touched my shoulder.
What the—? Was she picking a fight?
Even after that, Moyong Hye kept circling around me, occasionally trying to engage in conversation.
“Young Master, have you ever strolled through a snowfield?”
“Not even once.”
“Wandering through snow-covered hills has its own charm.”
“I’m not fond of the cold.”
I couldn’t grasp her intentions.
She wasn’t here to argue over what happened with Moyong Chun, so why was she lingering around?
“It’s rare for Father to host a banquet. It seems you’ve made a good impression.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. You can tell just by looking at the estate, right? He prefers a simple lifestyle.”
She even shared unnecessary details about Moyong Guk.
If this keeps up, she’ll tell me the number of cupboards in the Moyong Family estate.
“Miss Moyong, how long are you going to keep watching me?”
“Have I been a bother?”
“To be honest, yes.”
“Oh my. Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
I thought I had already given enough hints.
Wasn’t she just trying to irritate me?
I almost suspected that she was only pretending to dislike Moyong Chun and using me as a form of petty revenge against him.
Otherwise, what reason did she have to hover around me like this?
“I’ll see you later.”
It wasn’t until I’d suffered for quite some time that I was finally able to send Moyong Hye away.
***
On the day news arrived that Moyong Chun had been beaten up for harassing Namgung Yeon-hee, Moyong Hye laughed more cheerfully than anyone else in the family.
‘Who would’ve thought he’d trip over his own feet?’
Moyong Chun was a thorn in her side.
He was trash, relying solely on the family’s prestige to throw his weight around.
How did a guy like him end up being born into our family?
‘He must never be allowed to become the next head of the family.’
There was no way she could let a scoundrel like Moyong Chun inherit the position of family head.
Although her father was a respectable man, he loved his children too much. Even when Moyong Chun caused all sorts of trouble, he would just laugh it off.
-“He’ll come to his senses someday.”
It was overly optimistic thinking.
If Moyong Chun ever became the family head, he would ruin the family within ten years. Moyong Hye was sure of it.
‘It’s time to get things in order.’
Because of the gravity of this incident, Moyong Chun had been sentenced to three years of seclusion training. It was more than enough time to sway the hearts of those who supported him.
It was time to reap the results of the groundwork she had been laying.
‘Was his name Lee Se-woong?’
At first, it was mere curiosity.
She wondered who had so thoroughly beaten Moyong Chun.
When she heard he was the son-in-law of the Namgung Family, she thought he might be useful.
‘He’s quite a valuable card.’
There was no harm in getting closer. The more allies she had, the better.
‘It’s easy.’
Gaining the favour of men was an easy task for Moyong Hye.
With her natural beauty and figure, just a soft smile was enough to make men half-fall for her.
It wasn’t like she was giving them anything, either.
That’s why Moyong Hye assumed it wouldn’t require much effort this time as well.
With such thoughts, she headed to the training grounds.
However, when she saw Lee Se-woong training for the first time, she found herself unable to think at all.
‘?’
It was an unfamiliar feeling.
It was like the first time she had stepped on snow as a child.
Having always walked on firm ground, it was a completely new sensation.
She recalled how she had delightedly wandered through the snow-covered fields, enthralled by the crunching sound beneath her feet.
‘Strange.’
It felt like something was weighing down on her chest.
She had originally planned out everything.
What she would say first, how she would approach him, and what expressions to use.
It was all part of her strategy to bring Lee Se-woong to her side.
But now, everything went blank.
Moyong Hye could only stare at Lee Se-woong absentmindedly, completely lost in thought.
‘What is this?’
She couldn’t take her eyes off him.
It was a feeling she had never experienced before.
What could it be? Fun?
Could a person’s face be fun?
As he moved swiftly, his body was already drenched in sweat. Watching the sweat glisten on his flushed upper arms, Moyong Hye unconsciously gulped.
Clap, clap.
While observing his seamless movements, she found herself clapping without even realizing it.
“Well done.”
Words that slipped out without thinking.
All the many things I had planned to say in my head vanished in an instant.
‘Get a grip!’
Moyong Hye barely managed to collect herself.
The reason she had come all the way here.
Yes, it was to make this man her ally.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard of someone receiving a reward after beating up a family member.”
Feigning composure, she continued to talk, but the conversation didn’t flow.
No matter what she said, Lee Se-woong only responded curtly. Even when Moyong Chun was brought up, there was no noticeable reaction.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
Of course, watching someone train could be unpleasant.
But Lee Se-woong’s attitude was overly cold.
Colder than the weather in the snowy plains, perhaps.
‘Why?’
It felt unfamiliar.
This was the first time she had experienced something like this.
Men usually went out of their way to strike up a conversation with her, no matter what.
‘Is it because he has a fiancée?’
I heard they hadn’t even held the ceremony yet.
Namgung Yeon-hee.
She had seen her once at a meeting of the Seven Great Families.
A beauty that seemed to have walked straight out of a painting.
‘I’m not that lacking compared to her, am I?’
A surge of annoyance rose within her.
She didn’t like the way Lee Se-woong acted as if he wasn’t interested at all.
I’m Moyong Hye.
There are countless scions of prestigious families lining up just to have a cup of tea with me.
‘How can I get him to pay attention to me?’
No matter how much she racked her brain, it was no use.
She’d never had to act coquettish with a man before.
Men just flocked to her as long as she smiled.
‘Men are weak to compliments.’
Oh, right. She remembered.
The words Jegal Yeong had said during the last meeting.
-“Hye, you know absolutely nothing about men. Keep this up, and you’ll end up shedding tears of blood one day.”
-“Sister, I’m not interested in men.”
-“That’s why you’re such a fool. What’s the point of being smart if you don’t know what truly matters?”
-“……”
-“I’m telling you this for your own good, so listen carefully. When it comes to men…”
Jegal Yeong had drunkenly thrown advice at her. Moyong Hye had brushed it off as pointless babbling and left the spot back then.
But now, that memory felt crucial.
“Are martial arts your specialty, Young Master?”
So, she complimented him.
But what’s this? His reaction wasn’t favourable.
Was it because she brought up Moyong Chun?
Lee Se-woong’s reply was sharper than a blade.
“Oh, I wasn’t blaming you by mentioning that. I hope you didn’t misunderstand.”
Tap.
She gently patted his shoulder.
Sister, what’s going on here?
Didn’t you say men like this?
His expression just got even more severe…
‘Do I really have to go this far?’
As the atmosphere grew colder, Moyong Hye thought to herself.
No man had ever disregarded her like this before.
Was there any need to cling to him like this?
‘No, I have to make him my ally!’
She remembered her initial goal.
Yes, all of this was to recruit Lee Se-woong.
It’s not because I have any other intentions.
Justifying herself like that, Moyong Hye lingered around Lee Se-woong.
‘I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore.’
What followed was pure gibberish.
As she watched Lee Se-woong’s expression harden, Moyong Hye realized that she had no idea what she was talking about.
Even her brilliant mind, which was said to rival Jegal Yeong’s, was of no use right now.
In the end, after receiving a clear rejection from Lee Se-woong, Moyong Hye had no choice but to leave.
Sister, none of your advice worked at all!
Her heart was filled with resentment towards Jegal Yeong.
—
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