The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 30

* * * 

 

“Prime Minister Park Jutaek has arrived!” 

 

From outside the door, a familiar name rang out loudly.

 

‘Why is he here?’

 

I was so shocked that I was completely at a loss for words!

 

An hour later. 

 

“The servant’s baby?”

 

“That is correct.”

 

In an instant, I had prepared to receive the guest, and there I was, sitting before a truly formidable villain.

 

Despite arriving without warning, the Prime Minister immediately ordered that I be brought to him.

 

The powerless Im Daeseung and Im Hyunsik had no choice but to comply.

 

‘Could it be….’

 

In my mind, I kept recalling how Dohyul had stared at my ankle before disappearing.

 

This birthmark on my foot is, of all things, a royal family’s mark. Park Jutaek would surely know this.

 

‘Dohyul seemed completely unaware when he saw this. I wasn’t worried, thinking he probably wouldn’t go out of his way to tell his father about it.’

 

Could it be that he came to make me take responsibility for the strategy book getting wet?

 

Whatever the case, it was clear that a crisis had arrived.

 

I sat on the soft cushion, staring fiercely at Lord Park Jutaek without looking away.

 

Recalling my days as a detective, interrogating dangerous criminals.

 

‘I may be outmatched in size, but I will never lose in a battle of wills!’

 

As I tensed every muscle in my body and held myself back.

 

“I have one request. If you allow me to check just this one thing, I will take my leave. May I remove the child’s sock?”

 

The minister suddenly made a request that nearly scared me out of my wits.

 

Startled, I instinctively tried to hide the top of my foot with my small hands.

 

Swoosh-!

 

Not knowing the significance of the mark on my foot, Im Hyunsik grabbed the end of my sock without a moment’s hesitation and yanked it off. Then, without mercy, he stripped it away. 

 

“Is that enough?”

 

“Abu…!”

 

I hurried to cover the top of my foot, but it was already too late.

 

The moment the sock came off, the Prime Minister had already seen the mark on the top of my foot!

 

‘He clearly came knowing something. This can’t be. How on earth…?’

 

Countless thoughts raced through my mind, when suddenly the Prime Minister lifted the corners of his mouth and gave a sly smile.

 

It was a wicked, utterly cunning smile.

 

“Yeah. That will do. However, I have just one more request.”

 

The Prime Minister glanced back and forth between Im Daeseung and Im Hyunsik, then suddenly spoke.

 

“Hand this child over to me. I will adopt her.”

 

In other words, an utterly shocking and unimaginable thing!

 

“Byah?! (Are you crazy?!)”

 

I was so surprised that my face heated up.

 

Absolutely not!

 

I know exactly what kind of person you are!

 

I tensed my entire body and firmly expressed my refusal.

 

I reached out in a rush and grabbed Grandfather’s robe, clutching it like a thin lifeline.

 

At the sight, Im Daeseung hesitated, then reluctantly spoke.

 

“My lord, what is the reason for suddenly wanting to take the child?”

 

“I heard that there is an exceptionally bright child, and I intend to take her in as my foster daughter, teach her myself, and raise her properly. Why? Do you think I am so untrustworthy?”

 

The Prime Minister sighed lightly, as if bothered, and spoke.

 

Im Daeseung calmly bowed his head once and said.   

 

“Yes, my lord, I am well aware that you take great interest in nurturing talented individuals. However, the child’s mother is here, and if you decide to adopt her, it would be little different from separating them for life. Perhaps I could understand if you intended to sponsor her, but how could you so easily sever the natural bond of kin, which is no less than heaven’s will?”

 

“Heaven’s will?!”

 

Ha. As if sensing a lie, Park Jutaek let out a hollow laugh.

 

“Yeah. You are right. How could one so easily go against the will of heaven?”

 

“Then….”

 

“Who is this maid you claim is the child’s mother? I’d like to see her face at least once.”

 

“What do you mean—” 

 

Putting on airs, the Prime Minister glanced at the servants who were standing trembling in the back. 

 

With no other choice, Im Daeseung gave a subtle nod, and the servant girl at the front, Eonnyeon, stepped forward and bowed deeply.

 

“I, I am Eonnyeon, the mother of this child, my Lord.”   

 

“Okay. Are you really this baby’s biological mother?”

 

“T, that’s true.” 

 

“Do you have a husband?”

 

“That’s….”

 

Eonnyeon’s eyes shook violently.

 

She bit her lip and spat out the hastily made lie again.

 

“Actually… I lost my husband due to an illness.”

 

“Thank goodness.”

 

“Yes?!”

 

“It saves me the trouble of moving twice.”

 

Slash—!

 

There was a short silence.

 

No one could say anything. Because something incredible happened in the room.

 

Tuk, tuk.

 

Her chest and back were pierced by a huge sword… and blood kept flowing onto the floor.

 

“K, keugh…” 

 

While everyone doubted their eyes, Eonnyeon suddenly vomited blood.

 

At that moment, the Prime Minister’s escort drew the sword that was lodged in [her] without the slightest hesitation.  

 

Soon after, Eonnyeon collapsed onto the floor lifelessly, like a wooden statue whose spark of life had gone out.

 

“Kyaaa… Euph!” 

 

The first to scream a heart-wrenching cry was Im Hyunsik’s wife, but it was silenced by Im Daeseung. 

 

“Ugh… Hgh… Heuph…!”

 

She could barely breathe, perhaps from hyperventilation.

 

Tears were already streaming endlessly from her reddened eyes.

 

“What on earth are you doing, Lord!”  

 

Only then did Im Hyunsik, who had arrived late, rush over frantically and hold me in his arms.

 

Swoosh—!

 

The Prime Minister, seeing us like that, personally pulled out the sword.

 

“Now.” 

 

With drops of blood splattered on his cheek, he walked around the room calmly. A rough voice murmured lowly.

 

“I just asked heaven carefully and listened to his will.”

 

“….”

“How could one dare go against the will of heaven?”

 

Unable to hold back any longer, Im Hyunsik spoke with a flushed, furious expression.

 

“I’ll report this to the authorities at once! You shameless…!”

 

His steps, as if he were about to approach the Prime Minister, came to a halt right there.

 

It was because a cold blade was immediately pressed against his neck.

 

It was the escort who had killed Eonnyeon who stepped forward.

 

‘I couldn’t even see him move. He’s an incredible expert.’

 

Held in Im Hyunsik’s arms, I swallowed hard. 

 

In my past life, I had met and faced countless powerful people, so I knew.

 

That no one present here could stand against this warrior.

 

The moment I realized that fact.

 

I noticed that my fingertips were trembling slightly. 

 

‘This…’

 

As expected, it seemed that a child’s mind couldn’t withstand it and was feeling fear.

 

And then.

 

Im Daeseung, an elderly man with graying hair, sprang up from his seat and rushed over. 

 

Swoosh—!

 

He shoved Im Hyunsik roughly backward and stood firmly between us and the warrior.

 

“Father…!” 

 

While a startled Im Hyunsik was left speechless, he turned his body and quickly took me into his arms.

 

“Here, take her with you!”

 

“….!”

 

“Please take care of this child, and I beg you to show mercy to my foolish eldest son, who has failed to understand your great will, sir.” 

 

Thump!

 

Im Daeseung knelt before the Prime Minister without the slightest hesitation. 

 

The pride of a nobleman was nowhere to be seen in him, who willingly laid down with his forehead on the cold floor to protect his family.

 

‘G, Grandfather…’

 

“….”

 

He glanced at me for a moment and then shed hot tears.