Chapter 32 His illness would likely grow increasingly severe, until he claimed the need to leave the clan to personally seek out a renowned physician.
And after some time had passed, he would return wearing a new human mask. Having suffered a grave illness, even a slight change in appearance would invite no suspicion.
It was a rather antiquated method, yet he still adhered to it.
The likelihood that this is connected to Salmak increases.
The wound inside her throat could be healed easily by circulating her internal energy, but for now, she chose to leave it untreated.
Changa, who knew nothing of this, returned belatedly with warm tea, her face downcast.
"Miss… how arduous must the journey have been for your body to deteriorate to the point of coughing blood… Had you given me even a hint, I would have tried harder…."
Her body had not deteriorated at all. It was merely a means to drive Namgung Chu-myeong away.
Now that she chose to join hands with Namgung Jeok-myeong, any prolonged private meetings with Namgung Chu-myeong would invite unnecessary suspicion. For the time being, she had no intention of engaging him in close conversation.
Moreover, it was obvious that Namgung Chu-myeong would subtly probe what transpired during the journey to Hubei Province. It was simpler to cut off such nuisances in advance.
Yeo Il stroked Changa's head and whispered hoarsely,
"Do you truly think I am so broken? Coughing blood can be controlled."
"Controlled…? Coughing blood?"
As Changa stared in incomprehension, Seol-yeong gave a small snort and added,
"Changa, even if Miss coughs up a whole basin of blood someday, do not faint. It'll all be an act."
"...But you are healthy, aren't you? That's a relief, Miss!"
Changa brightened at once and threw herself into Yeo Il's arms.
"Did you escort Jin Cheong-ak properly?"
"Yes. He tried to wander off midway, but I caught him and delivered him to the Guardian Corps!"
"Well done."
The Guardian Corps was the organization within the Namgung Clan responsible for protective duties.
Since Namgung Jeok-myeong had not returned for two days, they first registered Namgung Hui-myeong as Jin Cheong-ak's recommender. To move freely within the clan, it was best to secure a position as soon as possible.
"But Miss. Shouldn't you press that Sogaju (Clan Heir) a little?"
Having heard the full account from Yeo Il, Seol-yeong thumped her chest in frustration.
"If you've agreed to board the same boat, shouldn't you be planning the next step without delay? What is this waste of time?"
"It's fine."
"Then send me to Giyeonru! I'll get an answer out of him somehow."
"It's fine. Enough."
Only when Yeo Il raised her hand to stop her did Seol-yeong calm down.
Namgung Jeok-myeong did not return the following day either.
Changa reported,
"He's been drinking at Giyeonru the whole time."
Seol-yeong's dissatisfaction grew, yet Yeo Il made no move to seek him out. To her, the reason he remained at Giyeonru was obvious.
He is likely avoiding Namgung Chu-myeong's eyes while preparing the next move.
And he would need time to prepare himself as well—for the cruel truth that the one he believed to be his blood brother was, in fact, an impostor for years.
Seated at an outdoor table, enjoying tea in the increasingly warm breeze, Yeo Il remarked casually,
"My bodyguard is later than expected."
At that, Seol-yeong, who polished her sword after training, lifted her head.
"Brother Ak? He may have slipped out of the clan already. He hates being tied down more than anything."
Changa looked up at Seol-yeong in puzzlement.
"Then why would someone like him want to become Miss's bodyguard?"
Seol-yeong stroked her chin with a complicated expression, then answered vaguely,
"Between a man and a woman, many things defy common sense. I don't know the reason either, Changa."
Blinking quietly, Changa suddenly flushed.
"Th-then Lord Jin Cheong-ak and Miss must be in, in love! I know these things. Long ago, Miss Soyo once gave her heart to someone."
"What? In love? Who with whom?"
Seol-yeong burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. Changa's face turned even redder.
"That's not it…?"
"Changa! When Brother Ak returns, you must repeat exactly what you just said. Understood? You must. Hahaha!"
Ignoring Seol-yeong's wheezing laughter, Yeo Il asked Changa,
"What do you mean by saying I gave my heart to someone?"
Changa startled.
"Ah! I'm sorry, Miss! You never did anything of the sort—I must have foolishly misunderstood…."
"I am not scolding you. I simply do not recall the past well. Could you tell me?"
There was someone she had in mind. She needed to confirm it.
Hesitating, Changa nibbled at a mooncake Yeo Il handed her and answered softly,
"Um… I only heard it from the older maids…."
"..."
"About twice a year, a peddler would come. He sold goods to Miss at low prices and kept her company. When it was near the time of his arrival, it was obvious Miss was waiting just for him."
"A peddler?"
"I served you for the shortest time and the timing never matched, so I've never seen him myself. But the items weren't strange—just things of very fine quality that hadn't sold for a long time and became burdens. Hair ornaments or small bells."
Once she began, the words came easily. Changa continued with growing enthusiasm.
"Because of your eyes, Miss never learned to read. But thanks to him, you learned to write a few characters—your own name, and the names of some of the other maids. He even gave you a large map and taught you about the shape of the land and its place names."
Gifts and instruction.
As I suspected.
That peddler must have been Namgung Jeok-myeong.
That was why Changa believed no one from the Namgung Clan had ever visited Namgung Soyo.
The image was difficult to picture. The heir of a prestigious clan disguising himself as a mere peddler to meet his half-sister?
Considering he clasped hands with me for Namgung Hui-myeong's sake, perhaps it is not so excessive.
It seemed Namgung Jeok-myeong truly regarded Namgung Soyo as his own younger sister, regardless of her birth.
He even intended to hide her against his father's will. The brotherly affection he showed Hui-myeong and the others was perhaps not an illusion.
"Hm. And how did you know Miss Soyo admired that peddler?"
At Seol-yeong's question, Changa swallowed and replied confidently,
"Her behavior! When it was near the time he would come, Miss dressed more carefully than usual, tended her hair, and practiced writing longer. She would send the older maids outside to see whether he was approaching… R-right, Miss?"
"Would a young lady of a great clan lose her heart to a mere peddler?"
"She would! They said he was incredibly handsome. Not only remarkable, but with a noble air flowing from him!"
"Miss cannot see. What use is handsomeness?"
"W-well, that's true… but! They said his voice was wonderful too! And his presence—just everything!"
As Changa heatedly defended her claim, a figure ambled into the women's quarters. It was Jin Cheong-ak.
He scooped Changa up and set her on the outdoor table, then took the vacant seat himself and, without permission, stuffed a pastry into his mouth.
"What kept you so long? The sun is nearly setting."
At Seol-yeong's question, Jin Cheong-ak chewed languidly and replied,
"Ah… well. Our youngest young master was being rather troublesome. It seems the Martial Alliance Leader will soon hold a martial arts tournament, and he insists he must not lose. He asked me to remake him into a new man."
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