The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 29

“…What did you say?”

 

The Prime Minister, caught off guard by the unexpected question, raised his eyebrows and showed a faint sign of surprise. 

 

But he quickly erased the emotion from his face and scolded him sternly.

 

 “Are you asking because you truly don’t know? Haven’t I told you dozens of times! It’s what’s needed to capture the traitor Kim Gangdu!” 

 

Kim Gangdu. 

 

The deposed crown prince, hailed as a hero.

 

He sent him to the battlefield, and in the meantime gathered troops and placed his younger brother—his own grandson—on the throne.

 

The problem was that his repeated victories in the long war against foreign powers were still talked about and celebrated by the people.

 

So the Prime Minister had to capture that man no matter what.

 

Because he was keenly aware of the political climate, he knew that as long as Kim Gangdu was alive, he would someday drag him down. 

 

‘For now, he’s evading pursuit by hiding in the mountains with his men, absurdly enough, becoming a bandit.’

 

But that’s unknown.

 

That demon-like man could put a blade to his throat at any time.

 

And, after a long time had passed, his whereabouts remained unknown, and they still couldn’t find him.

 

An unexpected opportunity arose.

 

“This is the strategy book written based on what Young Master Dohyul said when he was five years old.”

 

It turned out that his youngest son was a prodigy in strategy.

 

After recognizing his son’s talent, Jutaek changed his approach at home.

 

He personally took his son down to Jehan, known as a place where Kim Gangdu often appeared.

 

He assigned strong servants to investigate every corner of the terrain.

 

‘But suddenly, he looks me straight in the eyes and asks a question like this?’

 

From a young age, he had been gentle and obedient, often following his words without question.

 

So he never expected anything like this.

 

‘What… could have caused him to change?’

 

As the Prime Minister, carefully observing his son whose gaze had changed, caught his breath, Park Dohyul spoke again.

 

“Yes. I know very well that you are devising strategies to capture the traitor Kim Gangdu. However… I have heard that he distributes rice to the starving people.”

 

“What are you… saying?”

 

At Park Dohyul’s outrageous words, the Prime Minister’s fingertips trembled slightly.

 

“A question has arisen in my mind. Is killing that man truly the right way to save innocent people and protect the weak?”

 

The Prime Minister didn’t answer easily and pressed his lips tightly together.

 

Dohyul didn’t back down; he clenched his fists tightly and continued speaking.

 

“You said a strategy book was necessary to capture Kim Gangdu. I, too, thought about it all night. I believe I wrote it because I wanted it to become a strength that protects our people. But… I cannot help wondering whether capturing Kim Gangdu truly is protecting the people…”

 

Clang—!

 

Park Dohyul couldn’t continue.

 

A teacup hurled from the Prime Minister’s hand skimmed dangerously past his ear, struck the wall, and shattered into pieces.

 

He realized that if it had been just a little higher, it wouldn’t have been the cup that broke—it might have been his head.

 

Trembling…

 

Park Dohyul’s hands began to tremble uncontrollably. He tried to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he swallowed hard.

 

It was because his father sat across from him, staring with eyes full of fury.

 

“F, Father…” 

 

“Shut up. There’s no second chance.”

 

Click. The Prime Minister’s hand touched the inkstone. 

 

“Is it because of that girl? That’s why you’re doing something you’ve never done before?”

 

His sharp eyes scanned Dohyul thoroughly. 

 

“Yes? What do you mean…”

 

In a split second, he failed to maintain his expression. Ha, realizing the truth, the Prime Minister let out a suppressed laugh.

 

“We must find out whose daughter she is and make sure she is punished. For daring to fill the head of a son of the Anseong Park clan with nonsense! Bring me the servant who took the girl home!”

 

“Father! That child has done nothing wrong! She was just— just a one‑year‑old baby!”

 

Dohyul protested, his face drained of all color.

 

“Please reconsider…”

 

“This won’t do.”

 

Park Jutaek reached under the small table and lifted a birch rod.

 

“I’ll punish you first. Come here and roll up your trouser leg.”  

 

“She didn’t do anything to me! The water wasn’t spilled on purpose. We just—we just talked a little. That’s all!”

 

“Conversation? You’ve said it yourself then. What on earth did she say? That wretched little thing!”

 

For a brief moment, Dohyul considered keeping his mouth shut, but he soon concluded that it would be pointless.

 

‘Father already knows everything that happens in this household anyway. He’ll torture the slave if he has to, just to find out every word that passed between me and that child.’

 

He decided that it would be better to say it himself, thinking that doing so might lessen his father’s wrath.

 

Dohyul tried his best to emphasize that the child was blameless, and spoke again earnestly.

 

“T, they were meaningless words. Just the kind of things a child might say. She told me to live doing what I want… so I merely pondered it alone for a moment. I wondered whether what I’m doing is truly what I want. But that was solely my own thought.”

 

“She said to live doing what you want? That’s what she told you? A one-year-old baby who shouldn’t even be able to speak properly yet?”

 

“That’s…” 

 

While Dohyul hesitated, unable to give any answer.

 

A certain memory suddenly flashed through the Prime Minister’s mind.

 

“If I ever have a child of my own… I want them to live doing whatever they wish. And for that, I would do anything.”

 

A man who, despite being the Crown Prince destined to pass down the burden of the throne to his own child, indulged in such fanciful, unrealistic words.

 

He had a soft-hearted nature—one that believed he must always care for his people with sincerity and treat the citizens as if he were their parent. 

 

He even went so far as to read childcare books, saying it was for the sake of his soon-to-be-born child—acting more like a woman than a prince.

 

That man was none other than Kim Gangdu—the one the Prime Minister despised most in the world. 

 

But why?

 

The moment Kim Gangdu came to mind, the face of the child he had run into by chance in the marketplace just the other day also surfaced like a lie.

 

As if… the very child he had ordered to be killed long ago were still alive.

 

‘Impossible. I clearly gave the order for that child to be killed.’

 

An unbearable sense of unease and dread surged up inside him.

 

Asking Dohyul directly would be the surest way, but…

 

‘No. This boy cannot be trusted entirely right now.’

 

The Prime Minister suddenly raised his voice and called out to someone outside.

 

“Someone! Bring in Dohyul’s slaves immediately! There is something I must confirm personally!” 

 

“Yes, my lord. I will summon them immediately.”

 

Drrrk.

 

As soon as the order was given, Samyong stepped inside, as if he had been waiting the whole time.

 

“My lord…! My name is Samyong!”

 

Dohyul looked back and forth between Samyong and the Prime Minister, his face filled with anxiety.

 

It was because a wave of dread washed over him—fear that words might be exchanged which could bring harm to that child.

 

“One thing I must ask. I heard that the girl who came yesterday injured her ankle and had a physician treat her—is that true?”              

 

“Yes, that is correct! My lord!”

 

“Then… on the top of that child’s foot… was there anything unusual?”

 

Samyong furrowed his brow for a moment as if searching his memory, then suddenly recalled something and answered loudly.

 

“Yes! There was something! A star-shaped birthmark!”

 

“…!”

 

At that moment, Park Jutaek’s gaze changed sharply.    

 

He put down the birch rod he had been holding and sprang to his feet. 

 

“Are you certain? Dohyul, did you see it too?”

 

Though the aura was terrifying, Dohyul had the instinct that he shouldn’t tell the truth in that brief moment, so he spoke evasively.

 

“I… didn’t see it very clearly myself…”

 

“Then we can go and check immediately. Where does that girl live? Speak quickly!”

 

“It… it was the residence of Lord Im Daeseung, Fifth Rank Official.”

 

“Hey! Who’s outside?!”

 

Jump—!

 

The Prime Minister sprang up from his seat.

 

Seeing his father hurry as if it were an urgent matter, Dohyul staggered for a moment, then straightened the knees he had been kneeling on and quickly stood up.

 

“I’m going to see Im Daeseung immediately, so send a messenger and prepare the horse! Quickly!”

 

Lord Park Jutaek raised his voice and commanded as if he no longer cared about his son’s condition.