“……?!”
It was an entirely unexpected reaction.
Father had always felt sorry that I had been forced to take on the family’s responsibilities in his place. So I was certain he would let this matter slide easily this time as well…….
Unable to find the words, Yeon So-taek lowered his head and took a moment to steady his breathing.
“I thought you would acknowledge your fault and apologize for failing to properly look after Ryeong-hwa because you were tied up with the affairs of the family, rather than making excuses first. If you had done that, I was prepared to let this matter go just this once.”
“Father, I—”
“Silence!”
At the harsh shout, the air inside the room instantly froze.
“I ordered you to pay particular attention to Ryeong-hwa!”
Yeon So-taek could no longer bring himself to speak easily.
Yeon Baek-yu looked down at his son with cold, sunken eyes.
“There is an even greater problem.”
Yeon Baek-yu slowly leaned forward. His gaze was so cold that it felt like frost itself.
“You have absolutely no idea why Ryeong-hwa’s condition has improved. No. You simply have no interest in it.”
Damn.
Yeon So-taek’s pupils trembled.
The very first thing he should have done was determine why Ryeong-hwa’s condition had changed.
That was what he, as her attending physician, was supposed to do.
“Do you know what I was before I was your father?”
His low voice settled heavily over the room.
“A physician.”
“……”
“And you are also a physician before you are my son.”
At those words, Yeon So-taek’s face stiffened.
Yeon Baek-yu set down the teacup he had been holding.
Clink.
The sound of porcelain striking the table rang out unusually loudly.
“Yeon So-taek.”
“……Yes, Father.”
“I am removing you as Ryeong-hwa’s attending physician.”
The color drained from Yeon So-taek’s face.
“You no longer have the qualifications to look after Ryeong-hwa.”
Yeon So-taek’s jaw clenched hard. But Yeon Baek-yu did not waver in the slightest.
“From this day forward, none of your people are to enter Ryeong-hwa’s quarters. Replace all of the servants, and no one is to enter the detached residence without my permission.”
“Father!”
At those words, Yeon So-taek finally raised his head. His shock and anger could no longer be concealed.
“You cannot simply cast me aside this easily. What will the people below think?!”
“You disobeyed the head of the family’s orders. You deserve disciplinary confinement. However, considering all the work you have done for the family, I have taken that into account.”
Yeon Baek-yu’s voice turned cold.
“Do you want me to punish you accordingly?”
“……No. I will obey your orders.”
Yeon So-taek’s lips trembled.
It looked as though he might spit something out at any moment, but Yeon Baek-yu’s stern gaze made it impossible for him to continue.
“Leave. I do not wish to see your face any longer today.”
Only then did Yeon So-taek grit his teeth and lower his head.
His bow was still perfectly respectful, but the face hidden beneath it was horribly distorted.
***
“P-please, save me. It hurts so much. It hurts…… so, so much….”
I scratched at the tightly shut door with my fingernails and screamed.
In my hazy consciousness, visions of my family flickered before my eyes.
“Father, Grandfather, B-brother……! Uncle…… Aunt……! Don’t go! I’m here. Ryeong-hwa is right here……!”
The tiny me in the vision clung desperately to their clothes.
Begging them not to leave me behind.
But not a single one of them stopped walking.
Desperately searching for something that could ease the pain, I frantically rummaged through the medicinal herbs scattered around the room.
“I have to get better…… I have to…… Then they’ll look at me.”
Even though my body hurt so badly that standing was difficult, I desperately prepared the herbs with my tiny hands.
Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my cheeks.
“Goodbye, Ryeong-hwa.”
Then, suddenly, a voice reached me.
A voice that was both ominous and strangely gentle.
I raised my head.
There stood Jeok Yeon-hu, smiling sweetly with an unreadable expression.
It was the face I had once believed was nothing but kind and gentle.
But that face changed in an instant.
“I killed your father.”
“N-No…… No……!”
I screamed and struggled desperately to escape him.
Whoosh—!
But black energy stretched toward me as though it had a life of its own, wrapping itself around my entire body.
“No……!”
I screamed and abruptly sat upright.
“Hah…… Hah……!”
Fortunately, I had managed to claw my way out of the nightmare.
I wiped away the cold sweat and tears with my sleeve before pressing a hand against my chest.
My heart, which had been beating like mad, gradually began to calm.
Another nightmare.
By now, I was fairly accustomed to them.
Ever since I began regressing, these nightmares had become an everyday occurrence.
Knock, knock.
Just as I was wiping my cheeks with a dry cloth, I heard a knock on the door, followed by a servant’s voice.
“Lady, the head of the family has summoned you.”
At last, the moment had come.
This had never happened in my previous life.
Back then, my illness had become so severe that I could not even properly meet or speak with my grandfather.
This time, I absolutely have to win Grandfather’s heart.
With my eyes cold and composed, I straightened my clothes and rose from my seat.
***
A short while later.
“Ryeong-hwa. Your health isn’t good, so why are you standing like that? Come and sit.”
I was facing my grandfather, Yeon Baek-yu, who had come to the detached residence as soon as dawn broke.
According to the servant guarding the door, Grandfather had also come to check on me last night, but had left after hearing that I was asleep.
The room was small enough that having someone as large as Grandfather inside made it feel cramped almost immediately.
Watching him carefully, I sat neatly across from him with my knees together.
Thank goodness. Since I took my medicine beforehand, I’m fine for now.
If I had met Grandfather while I was in poor condition without any preparation and made even one mistake, it could have been disastrous.
“How are you feeling?”
Grandfather cleared his throat awkwardly before asking casually.
“I’m okay! I don’t have a fever, either! And my throat doesn’t hurt!”
I cheerfully nodded and listed off my condition like a child.
“And…… I’m sorry for surprising you all of a sudden, Grandfather.”
“That’s enough.”
Grandfather pushed the medicine bowl on the tea table toward me.
Huh……?
It was a dark brown herbal decoction.
The familiar bitter scent pricked my nose.
“Drink it. I personally brewed it using medicinal ingredients bestowed by the Imperial Family.”
My heart sank.
Medicine prepared by the head of the Yeon family was extremely precious.
In particular, medicine brewed from ingredients bestowed by the Imperial Family could not be casually consumed even by direct descendants without the head of the family’s permission.
But why is he giving this to me?
After everything I had done to shake the family to its core, there was no way I could be someone he willingly cared about when the family always came first to him.
“…But, Grandfather.”
Seeing me hesitate, Grandfather spoke in an even tone.
“You intend to let the medicine cool, I suppose.”
He raised an eyebrow and added casually,
“It will become even more bitter once it cools. I don’t mind if you happen to like bitter things.”
Startled, I quickly took the bowl in both hands.
Then I drank the medicine in one gulp.
“Kh, cough!”
I choked on it, and Grandfather clicked his tongue before patting my back.
“I didn’t tell you to drink it so quickly!”
In the end, he scolded me.
Strangely, though, I wasn’t as afraid as I had been before.
“Open your mouth once you’ve finished.”
“Pardon……?”
“Hurry.”
Without thinking, I opened my mouth.
Plop.
Something sweet rolled into my mouth.
I know this taste…… I’m sure I do.
“It’s a honey pill.”
My eyes widened in surprise.
“Haha! Yes, Ryeong-hwa. The medicine is quite bitter, isn’t it? Try this.”
“What is it?”
“A honey pill. It’s a snack made by combining grains and soaking them in honey.”
An old, forgotten memory suddenly came rushing back.
“This is a special honey pill made by the Imperial Family. It was quite difficult to obtain.”
Even Grandfather had trouble getting this.
Before my uncle seized control of the family.
The honey pill was a snack my father had given me together with the herbal medicine before he left Hyeonmu-ryeong.
It was the first—and last—snack I had ever eaten.
For that moment alone, I had felt like I was truly alive.
There was no doubt that Father had once cared for me, at least for a time.
But in the end, I became a burden to him……
And Father eventually died resenting me.
Drip.
“……!”
I was startled when a tear unconsciously rolled down my cheek.
No. I can’t cry……! Adults don’t like crying children.
I hurriedly raised my hand to wipe away the tears.
Swipe.
But before I could, the touch of a clean cloth brushed against my cheek.
To my surprise, Grandfather was wiping away my tears.
When our eyes met, he hurriedly lowered his hand as though he had touched something he shouldn’t have.
Grandfather clenched and unclenched his fist several times, seemingly deep in thought.
Then—
“…I’m sorry.”
At the sudden apology, my eyes widened in surprise.
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