The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 61

As if inspecting homework from a son who never listened, I unfolded the letter with a careful expression.

 

[To my precious son.]

 

As expected, it was the same letter I had accidentally picked up and read before.

 

[I deeply regret how I treated you carelessly in the past.

 

As you know, it was something that happened because I could not defy His Highness’s will. As a subject, how could I dare raise opposition against the will of His Highness, who is like the heavens?

 

However, I hope you will not doubt that, as your father and mother, our hearts in caring for and cherishing you were sincere.]

 

Mm, right. Up to here, it was complete and utter nonsense, that much was clear.

 

I lowered my gaze and read the rest.

 

[We are aware that you are suffering from a food shortage due to the recent drought.

 

We cannot help you openly, but we wish to support you from behind the scenes.

 

Thus, if you inform us of the location of the mountain stronghold, we intend to steadily deliver twenty sacks of rice. If needed, we will provide funds as well.

 

Our support will surely be of great help.

 

We ask that you consider this proposal positively.]

 

‘I see.’

 

Only now did it begin to make sense.

 

Why Gaon, in the original story, had betrayed the Chief, whom he followed with such life-and-death loyalty. 

 

Without the variable that was me, the fortress likely hadn’t built a dam and would have been suffering from a much more severe food shortage than it was now.

 

If an offer like this had come in that situation, it would not have been strange for Gaon to waver.

 

“Are you done looking?”

 

“Yeah! Uncle, then what are you going to write back—”

 

“I was going to refuse.”

 

Flip.

 

Gaon unfolded another letter. There were not many words written on it.

 

[Thank you for your words, but I must decline.]

 

Just one line.

 

It was concise, exactly like Gaon.

 

‘You were going to refuse? Really?’

 

I blinked foolishly, unable to believe my eyes.

 

I rubbed them and looked again, but nothing changed.

 

“Are you satisfied now? It was nothing. I was going to refuse anyway, so it was a matter I could have settled on my own.” 

 

I couldn’t say anything for a moment. 

 

That was how overwhelmed and confused I was.

 

I knew the flow of the original story had already begun to change, little by little, ever since the chief started preparing for rebellion.

 

But I had never imagined even Gaon’s actions would change.

 

‘So… that’s why you were going to tell the chief.’

 

Only now did his behavior make sense.

 

“That’s a relief. It’s such a relief… really.”

 

I bit my lip hard and desperately held back my tears.

 

“Hey—wh, what’s wrong? Are you crying?!”

 

Startled, Gaon grabbed at me.

 

I shook my head back and forth and hurriedly wiped away the tears spilling over.

 

‘I don’t know why Gaon tried to refuse immediately this time instead of following the original story, but I’m truly relieved.’

 

If this was true, then we had gotten past a major crisis.

 

My throat tightened as fleeting memories of the times I had tried to prevent him from falling into a trap seemed to pass before my eyes.

 

Sniffling, I barely managed to speak.

 

“Hwaaah, I-I was worried…”

 

“Good grief, what are you so worried about? Such a little thing.”

 

“Sniff… anyway, you did good, Uncle. Don’t trust those people. They’re not your family anymore. They don’t deserve to be the family of someone as pretty and cool and amazing as you!”

 

Even while bawling, I said everything I had to say.

 

After a brief silence, Gaon asked quietly,

 

“Then earlier, in front of the chief… when you stopped me from speaking, was it because you were worried I might abandon the stronghold and run off to my family?”

 

‘Was she worried the Chief would lose a talent like me?’ Gaon muttered.

 

I couldn’t possibly stay still at that.

 

I lifted my head and looked up at him straight on.

 

“It wasn’t because of Dad! I was worried about you!”

 

“You? Worried about me? Why?”

 

“How can I not worry when we’re family?” 

 

“….”

 

A faint crack ran through Gaon’s expression, but I failed to notice.

 

I clung tightly to his leg like it was a big tree and kept chattering on.

 

“I really, really like you, Uncle. You’re strong, cool, and pretty. And you always protect Dad and me. You even clean our house when no one is looking… you try so hard to protect it. You’re secretly mindful and considerate of the feelings of the people around you. I know. Even if you look cold on the outside, you’re not really like that, Uncle Gaon.” 

 

I poured out my sincerity as desperately as I could. I just wanted to—because I was so proud of him, and so grateful!

 

And then…

 

With a small, lopsided smile, I buried my face deep against his leg.

 

“It’s okay, Uncle. It’s okay just like this. You don’t have to try to do more. You’re already enough as you are. So.”

 

“……”

 

“Just stay as my Uncle Gaon. Always.”

 

When I lifted my head again, eyes shining brightly, I noticed that Gaon’s expression had turned cold and rigid, as if something weighed heavily on his mind.

 

“Family? Family, you say? You?”

 

“Uh-huh!”

 

At my cheerful answer, Gaon wordlessly pried me off.

 

He stared at the ground for a long time before fixing his gaze on me.

 

“I’m sorry, but we can’t be family.”

 

“Ah…?”

 

“When I think about what your real father did to my mother, I….”

 

It felt as if ice-cold water had been poured over my head.

 

Had he realized that I knew about my biological father?

 

“Even now… every time I look at you, I remember that day….”

 

Gaon’s voice, spitting out each word, trembled with pain.

 

“You know, don’t you?”

 

“Kn-know what…?”

 

“Don’t pretend. You’re not like an ordinary child. You remember everything, don’t you?”

 

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about at all….”

 

As I tried to avert my gaze, feigning ignorance in my fluster, Gaon spoke flatly.

 

“I’m talking about the fact that your real father is the Former King.”

 

“…!”

 

All this time, I had desperately pretended not to know.

 

Because it felt like there would be no turning back once it was spoken aloud.

 

‘…But for it to come out like this.’

 

When I couldn’t say anything, Gaon let out a short, humorless laugh, as if he had expected as much.

 

“So you did know.”

 

“I….”

 

“That’s enough. Then… don’t act like we’re family anymore. Don’t cross the line.”

 

As I stood there looking at him, hesitating and not knowing what to do, Gaon let out a short sigh.

 

Then he gently placed his hand on the crown of my head.

 

“I’m not saying it’s your fault. And… for stopping me from telling the Chief, not because of the Chief, but because you were worried about me.”

 

With a faint sigh, he murmured softly,

 

“Thank you.”

 

“…!”

 

“I’ll repay you. And.”

 

Plop.

 

Gaon flung the two letters into the stream.

 

As I stared blankly at them sinking into the water, he added shortly,

 

“Refusal or not, I don’t plan on getting entangled with them again.”

 

Gaon spoke confidently with a smirk.

 

“It’s because it pisses me off to be treated like a suspicious person just like you, over something like that.”

 

Ah, don’t tell me.

 

“It was you who called me suspicious. But you’re the one acting suspicious now.”

 

Did that comment really hurt his feelings?

 

At Gaon’s teasing tone, I finally forgot the tension and puffed out my cheeks.

 

“No, I mean, you’re saying you don’t like being treated the same as me—!”

 

Gaon smiled faintly, as if reassured.

 

“Yeah. You seem to like me for a lot of reasons—strong, cool, pretty, and all that—but I don’t like you quite that much yet.”

 

“Whhaaaat!” 

 

As I glared at him, huffing, Gaon reached out with his typical nonchalant expression and flicked my forehead with his thumb and forefinger.

 

“Try harder, shorty.”

 

“That hurts!!”

 

“Stop exaggerating.” 

 

With those words, Gaon walked past me. Then he looked back at me once. 

 

“Aren’t you coming down? I’m leaving you behind.”

 

“….”

 

I glared at him, but eventually, I followed along like a little chick.

 

‘So… you’re not sending a reply to the letter, right?’

 

Keeping pace at his side, I stole a glance at him.

 

Phew. I felt so relieved my legs might give out beneath me.

 

I placed a hand over my pounding heart, still thumping from shock.

 

‘He really is impossible to read….’

 

No matter how coldly he spoke and tried to draw a line, in the end he had listened to me.

 

…For now, that alone was enough.

 

I didn’t even dare hope that Kim Gaon would grow fond of me.

 

All I had wanted was to persuade him not to send that letter. Nothing more.

 

I placed my hand on my chest and suppressed the lump in my throat.

 

‘…Right. I changed the original story! I did it!’

 

I had finally achieved my goal. 

 

I turned back briefly, glancing toward the stream where Gaon had thrown the letters.

 

The letters had already sunk into the water, completely losing their shape.

 

‘Still, setting a trap to deceive Gaon with food as bait… that must have been Park Dohyul’s strategy.’

 

The male lead, Park Dohyul.

 

When I imagined how much agony he must have endured before devising such a strategy, my heart ached sharply.

 

‘Once our forces grow… I have to go save Park Dohyul.’

 

With that thought, my mind a little lighter, I made my way toward where Gaon had gone.

 

Rustle—!

 

Completely unaware that someone had been hiding among the bushes.