Chapter 7
This cannot go on.
I felt like I was gradually being absorbed into the Namgung family.
Namgung Hyeo had started inviting me to meals more frequently, and Grand Elder Namgung Hwan began requesting to play Go with me almost daily.
At this rate, I might end up settling down permanently in the Namgung household.
‘I need to provoke those who are against this engagement.’
Initially, there was no need for this.
It was enough to get only those who were already favourable towards me to oppose the engagement.
But now, after two failed attempts at recruiting them into an anti-engagement faction(?)…
‘I need to change my approach.’
Touching those who were either neutral or slightly favourable towards me had backfired.
That much had been confirmed by both Namgung Hyeo and Namgung Hwan.
So now, I needed to incite those who were already opposed to my engagement with Yeon-hee to act more fiercely!
The first person that came to mind was Namgung Sun.
Even if everything had been staged, he had openly opposed the engagement in front of the family head.
And as the eldest son, his influence was undoubtedly solid.
Just as I was gathering information on Namgung Sun, I noticed something suspicious.
‘The servants are avoiding me.’
Since the commotion in the family head’s quarters, I had been making a concerted effort to get closer to the Namgung family’s servants.
It wasn’t too difficult.
Just being kind and showing them warmth was enough to win their favour.
And slipping in some snacks or a drink on occasion was the cherry on top.
“Oh dear, if we’re caught accepting these, we’ll be in serious trouble!”
“Haha, who would see us here when it’s just you and me?”
Thanks to becoming friendly with a few servants, I was able to gather trivial yet insightful information about the Namgung family.
I would then cross-reference what I learned from them with what Yeon-hee told me, helping me understand the people of the Namgung family better…
“I apologize, but I must be going. I’m busy with work!”
One day, the servants suddenly started to avoid me.
It wasn’t as if they were hostile.
They just seemed to be on edge, as if they didn’t want to be seen interacting with me.
I sensed this even more clearly the next day.
“Gaga, isn’t the weather lovely today?”
“Indeed. Not a single cloud in the sky.”
It happened while I was taking a walk with Yeon-hee around the Namgung estate.
As expected of the most prestigious family among the Seven Great Sects, the estate was splendid and extravagant.
The pathway paved with polished marble stretched out, flanked by flowerbeds adorned with flowers of various colours.
“It’s always so splendid no matter how many times I see it.”
“My mother enjoys tending to the flowerbeds, so they always look beautiful, don’t they?”
“Yes, they do.”
Yeon-hee approached the flowerbed, leaning in to take in the scent of the flowers.
Watching her gently caress the flower buds with her slender fingers, I couldn’t tell which one was the real flower.
“Gaga?”
“Yes, why?”
“Why are you staring blankly at me?”
“It’s hard to find you amidst the flowers.”
“Oh, come on, saying things like that won’t get you anything!”
Yeon-hee waved her hand dismissively, as if she found my comment unbelievable.
I had only spoken the honest truth.
How amusing it was that she could flirt so brazenly, yet blush and act coy whenever I responded with just a single word.
That’s when it happened.
“You know, that guy is a notorious womanizer!”
“Is that true?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking at him? He looks like one of those pretty boys who seduce women and then leave them!”
I spotted some servants gossiping at the corner of the garden.
“Oh dear, what will happen to our lady if that’s true…”
“I heard he’s already bewitched the second young master. Who knows what kind of black magic he’s using!”
“Oh my… what should we do…”
It was the kind of rumour that gossip-loving people would relish.
It’s common to hear people slandering even the king behind his back.
Such nonsense didn’t bother me much, but Yeon-hee seemed to think otherwise.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Ah, Lady Yeon-hee!”
The servants, startled by Yeon-hee’s sudden appearance, were visibly flustered.
She pointed straight at the person who had been bad-mouthing me just moments earlier.
“Go on, continue with what you were saying.”
“M-Milady, it’s a misunderstanding!”
“Misunderstanding? Do I look like I’m in the mood for jokes?”
“N-no, that’s not it…”
“Don’t you have better things to do than gossiping?”
Yeon-hee’s tone showed no rise or fall. It was so cold that it made me think it would be better if she just lashed out furiously. She was unconsciously building up her momentum.
“Do you think you’re paid to gossip about the family?”
“M-Milady.”
The maid was gasping for breath, but Yeon-hee continued, indifferent to the maid’s pale complexion.
“Yes, I suppose after working here for seven years, you might feel like taking a break.”
“M-Milady?”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“M-Milady! I’m sorry! Please don’t throw me out….”
Yeon-hee was as sharp as she was the first time we met. Her demeanour was the complete opposite of the playful attitude she had shown just moments ago. Before the atmosphere grew more tense, I was about to step in and intervene.
“What’s all this commotion?”
It was Namgung Jin, the third son of Namgung Hyuk, who stormed in, shouting.
“Perfect timing, Brother.”
“Why are you harassing the servants for taking a break?”
“They’re being scolded because they’ve done something wrong, of course.”
“You lot, leave this place at once!”
Without listening to Yeon-hee, Namgung Jin commanded the servants, who promptly scurried away in groups. Now, only the three of us remained.
“Are you trying to spread rumours that the Namgung Family mistreats its subordinates?”
“Should I endure them insulting him?”
“Him? You dare bring in someone with no background….”
“What did you just say?”
“I don’t want to hear it anymore!”
He delivered his statement one-sidedly and left without waiting for a response. Even as he hurried away, he didn’t forget to glare at me.
‘What’s this?’
The way he lashed out at Yeon-hee seemed less like anger and more like he was trying to hide something and escape.
*
“Unbelievable!”
“Calm down, Yeon-hee.”
“How can I calm down now?”
The moment we returned to our room, Yeon-hee started fuming.
“Aren’t you angry?”
“What’s there to be angry about? It’s so ridiculous it’s almost funny.”
“Is it normal to fabricate such nonsense and slander someone?”
“Gossiping and exaggerating is what people do for fun, right?”
Having read countless tabloid-like articles in my past life, this level of fabrication was laughable.
“By the way, does the third brother dislike me?”
I brought up Namgung Jin, partly to change the subject and partly because something about him was bothering me.
“He did show signs of opposition from the beginning.”
“Really?”
“Yes. He spouted so much nonsense that I just ignored it.”
Nonsense, huh? Considering what he said about ‘background’ and ‘lineage,’ I could roughly guess.
“Does he put a lot of importance on social status and family?”
“No… Originally, he’s not one to have such prejudices, but strangely, he only acts so picky when it comes to you.”
“Hmmm….”
I think I know why. Namgung Jin is most likely a spitting image of his father—an overprotective parent.
“I’ll set up a meeting with him soon.”
“Do you have to?”
“We can’t avoid each other forever.”
This could be useful in some way.
*
Late at night, I quietly made contact with a servant.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“Now, don’t be so distant with me.”
“I have to wake up early in the morning. I’ll take my leave.”
Park Chun-sam. He was a servant I had put special effort into befriending.
“Oh, Chun-sam. How much did I slip into your pocket?”
“T-That kind of thing won’t work on me!”
“Work on you? Don’t say that. It hurts my feelings. I just want to have a little chat.”
I placed my hand on Park Chun-sam’s shoulder as I spoke.
“Lately, I’ve noticed the servants have been avoiding me more.”
“……”
“Did someone give them orders?”
“N-No, that’s not it.”
Not it, huh?
I could tell right away from his trembling voice. It was obvious from the way he hurriedly avoided eye contact.
“What? Did Brother Namgung Jin order it?”
“I-I never said anything like that!”
“Come on. I can tell just by looking at your face.”
As soon as I probed a little, Park Chun-sam gave himself away. He was an open book.
“If you keep denying it like that, I’ll go straight to him and confront him, saying, ‘Brother, Chun-sam already told me everything!’”
“Sir, please! If you do that, I’ll be kicked out!”
Park Chun-sam gasped in shock and protested.
“Oh dear, you really can’t lie, can you? Since it’s come to this, why not just be honest with me?”
“Sir, no matter what….”
“It’s a promise between men. I’ll never let on that you said a word to me.”
As I said that, I slipped some coins into Park Chun-sam’s hand.
“Let’s step aside and talk. You’ll get sweat on you!”
“Oh, don’t mind a little sweat from work.”
At my words, Park Chun-sam let out a deep sigh and then spoke as if he had resigned himself.
“Alright, fine. You’re right, sir. The third young master did give orders.”
“What exactly?”
“That’s….”
Through Park Chun-sam’s confession, I was able to grasp how things were really unfolding.
—
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