Chapter 38 Forcing composure into his voice, Namgung Jeok-myeong bowed to Danri Muk-ran.
"My apologies, Aunt. As an elder brother, how could I ignore my younger sister's charming curiosity? Regrettably, Soyo and I must excuse ourselves first. Hui-myeong, I leave the guests to you."
He strode out of Bukcheong with forceful steps.
The way he dragged Yeo Il by the hand was rough enough to nearly fling her to the ground—until he seemed to remember she was blind and abruptly slowed.
Sensing the need to calm him, Yeo Il pretended to misstep and pitched forward.
"Soyo!"
Instead of snapping in irritation, Namgung Jeok-myeong startled and caught her.
"Are you hurt? I was too—… Let me see if you're injured."
There should have been. She fell hard enough to tear skin open.
Yet her body was sturdier than it appeared. A simple fall would not easily leave a deep wound.
Lifting the hem of her skirt slightly to her left knee, Namgung Jeok-myeong exhaled in relief.
"Only a light scrape. It may bruise. Show it to a maid later."
"Yes."
"...Can you walk?"
For a moment she considered exaggerating further and asking to be carried, but dismissed the thought. She nodded and limped conspicuously.
He led her to a secluded spot by a stone wall where few passed. After a moment of silence, he let out a long sigh and rebuked her.
"You were determined to ruin everything. What scheme are you playing now?"
"I believe it is you, Brother Jeok-myeong, who plays schemes. I have not slept well these past days, fearing I may have been cast aside."
The words flowed smoothly, as though she waited for this moment. He looked faintly taken aback.
"...You were quiet. I thought you understood my situation."
"Brother."
"..."
"I did not follow you to hear excuses. I can turn and leave this place at once. I can strip the impostor's human mask in your stead if you insist on dragging matters out."
"..."
"Can you persuade me to stay?"
Namgung Jeok-myeong crossed his arms and remained silent.
He did not speak further, but this was the final opportunity she offered him. She needed his information, yes—but that same information could also be obtained through Namgung Chu-myeong.
"The reason I mistook you for Salmak—"
When he finally spoke, he revealed something startling.
"The one who brought Soyo, no different from an infant, into the clan… was none other than Salmak."
This was new.
But there was no reason to find it strange.
Salmak did not share missions.
Its assassins knew only which targets had been eliminated through the Killing Register that reached them. They never knew which assassin carried out which method.
And if the mission was not assassination but something else—as in this case—they would know even less.
"I apologize for making you wait. I only wished to confirm the secrets I knew before sharing them. I harbored no other intent."
An excuse or the truth?
It mattered little. So long as they cooperated—and used one another.
"...It seems I failed to consider that information gathered slowly and secretly over years might feel unbearably sluggish to others."
"It's not slow. It's excruciatingly slow."
"That may be. Ever since meeting you, time has felt absurdly fleeting. Too many events and truths have erupted in too short a span."
He spoke without truly listening, stubborn in his own way.
An infant delivered by Salmak.
Delivered from elsewhere—not taken elsewhere?
"Brother… does that mean I am not even Father's daughter—"
At once he clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Mind your words, Soyo. I remain cautious, but who knows who may be listening—"
"Ugh."
She bit his palm. He recoiled.
"I am sufficiently cautious. Please step back."
"...I understand what you wish to know. But I do not yet intend to say more. You have proven how lightly you can speak."
"Very well. I will not press that matter. So what is this secret that has turned you into such an infuriating slowpoke?"
"Before I answer, I have a question. What was written on the paper in that bamboo tube?"
So he worried she was colluding with outsiders.
Unfortunate. She had no intention of revealing it.
"It is information worth eight hundred nyang. If you wish to know, pay first."
"...Eight hundred nyang? Is this a jest?"
The answer came from above her head.
"It is."
A weight settled upon her shoulders.
A tall, shameless man leaned against her, his tone cloying.
"If you desire more detailed information, please seek this young lady ♡."
"..."
"...The letter was filled, line after line, with passionate confession and fervent pursuit directed at our Miss Namgung. One might call it a love letter, Sogaju (Clan Heir)."
Jin Cheong-ak had neither shame nor decorum.
Yeo Il tilted her head back to dislodge him, but he did not budge. Too weary to push him away, she rested her head lightly against his arm instead.
Watching them, Namgung Jeok-myeong finally frowned.
"'Seek this young lady'?"
"Does love require a specific gender? You are more rigid than you appear, Sogaju (Clan Heir)."
She ignored Jin Cheong-ak's whisper of "Isn't that right?"
"...So your mention of Yu Rim was entirely false. If backlash follows, how will you manage?"
"Yu Rim is not as rigid as you. As my lifesaver, she will indulge me briefly. And if she refuses? Then I must flee far away, leaving our Miss Namgung behind. I would quite enjoy that."
After a beat, he added, "Ah, of course, I mean our Miss Namgung."
For the third time, Namgung Jeok-myeong sighed and turned to Yeo Il.
"Can he be trusted?"
He meant: may he speak secrets before this man?
But Jin Cheong-ak answered first.
"Proceed comfortably. I have pledged my life and loyalty to our Miss Namgung as her guard. Betrayal is not even a dream."
Yeo Il nodded calmly.
"He can be trusted."
Namgung Jeok-myeong hesitated only briefly.
"Do you know of Yonghwang Yuse?"
"I do not know them well, but I have heard the name."
"Then this will be simpler. The ones standing behind the impostor are Yonghwang Yuse. And their predecessor… put simply, is Salmak."
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