I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 12

“Miss Jeok. You shouldn’t waste Brother Ryeong’s time with such trivial matters. If you want to admire flowers in the future, please tell me.”

“…I will.”

My voice trembled slightly. It was a natural reaction since Huirin’s emotions still remained in my heart.

“Riri. I was just hoping that taking walks with Miss Jeok might help her memories return. Don’t scold Miss Jeok.”

“Brother, you have an important match coming up, so you should focus on training your martial arts. The Flame Demon Art makes people’s personalities rough, but I’m worried that you seem too gentle, Brother.”

Even within the family, the hierarchy of direct descendants was determined by martial arts.

Yeonriri was subtly pointing out that Yeonhopyeong’s martial arts were lacking.

“Miss. I’m sorry, but I have something to attend to, so I must take my leave now.”

Yeonhoryeong bid me farewell with a gentle face.

“Then I’ll see you next time.”

When I bowed in response, Yeonhoryeong left.

Then Yeonriri approached me.

“Miss Jeok. Did you really come here because of the flowers?”

I nodded.

“I thought it would be better if I could meet Miss Yeon while I was at it.”

“Does Brother Ryeong make you uncomfortable, Miss Jeok? I thought he was being kind to you…”

“I’m not sure either.”

I meant that I couldn’t remember well.

Yeonriri seemed unaware of why Yeonhoryeong was approaching Huirin.

It appeared that Yeonhoryeong hadn’t shown his interest in Huirin in front of others.

“…Thank you for helping me. I’ll be going now.”

Just as I was turning to leave, thinking this was just enough to plant seeds of doubt in Yeonriri’s mind.

“…Wait! Since you’re already here, would you like to have tea together before you go?”

Yeonriri hastily suggested to me.

“The Evergreen Magnolia viewed from my study is also beautiful.”

She invited me.

This was probably the first time since Huirin came to the Yeomhwa Family.

A moment later.

The tea table was filled with colorful refreshments.

Crispy sobyeong (layered pastries made crispy with oil) were spread out like flower petals, and transparent eungwa (pickles made from white or transparent ingredients) were as pretty as water droplets jumping over a pond.

Seeing the high-grade refreshments that were only given to those of Daejoo rank or higher even in the Heavenly Tiger Alliance, I could confirm once again that the Yeomhwa Family was a wealthy prestigious family.

Yeonriri’s maid set down a teacup shaped like a flower bud in front of me.

Yeonriri changed into casual clothes and returned to sit across from me.

“This is tea I cherish.”

It was Longjing tea.

It was probably brewed from tea leaves that were difficult to obtain.

As the subtle fragrance spread through my mouth, even my complicated mind seemed to become refreshed.

I drank tea while glancing around with the corner of my eye.

‘This is completely different from Huirin’s study.’

With bird and flower paintings hanging on the walls, flowering trees visible outside the window, and colorful flowers filling the bookshelves, Yeonriri seemed to lack nothing.

Nevertheless, documents with ink still wet were neatly stacked on her desk. She seemed to have been busy lately with many decisions to make for the wedding ceremony.

“Miss Yeon. If it’s not rude, may I ask you for one favor?”

I carefully opened my mouth.

“Please tell me.”

“When I came down from Seolsan, I heard there was a maid who came with me. Could you find out if the maid who was driven from my residence is doing well?”

Perhaps because Huirin’s emotions were involved, my voice trembled slightly.

“I should be able to confirm at least whether she’s alive or dead.”

“That’s enough. Thank you.”

When I smiled faintly, Yeonriri showed a surprised expression.

Then she carefully opened her mouth.

“May I also ask you for one favor?”

She then told me something unexpected.

“You heard from Okxiang that you’re scheduled to go out with me in three days, right?”

“Yes. You said you need to buy accessories for the wedding ceremony.”

I had wondered why she made such a proposal to me, who had been confined all this time, but it seemed there was another reason.

“Since Miss Jeok’s family isn’t here, I told Mother that I would do what they should do instead. That way we can maintain our family’s dignity too.”

In a typical wedding ceremony, the bride’s side prepares the trousseau, jewelry, wedding dress, and so on. But I had nothing.

It was even questionable whether the Seolsan Jeokga knew that my wedding ceremony was being held.

So the Yeomhwa Family would probably plan to adequately fill in my accessories to maintain appearances.

“I’m planning to step away briefly that day. If anyone asks, please say that Miss Jeok was with me the entire time.”

It meant she had somewhere to go secretly.

For her to make such a request to me, an outsider, it must be something she didn’t want even her parents to know about.

“Understood.”

She gazed at me carefully with eyes that held complex emotions.

“Aren’t you going to ask why?”

Yeonriri’s voice was trembling slightly.

It felt as if she was asking whether I resented her.

“I lost my memory, so I wouldn’t understand much even if I heard it.”

“…Ah.”

Yeonriri’s lips trembled slightly.

She hadn’t tormented Huirin like Yeonhoryeong or Yeonhopyeong, but she hadn’t openly helped either. So she must have felt some guilt.

“Since I received one favor, I should help with one too.”

Perhaps deflated by my answer, Yeonriri burst into laughter.

“We’re just like allies.”

Her complicated expression disappeared and she looked a bit more comfortable.

“Let’s have tea at a tea house when we go out.”

“What? Why suddenly…”

“I heard there’s a tea house where you can rent a room and leisurely drink tea. I heard you can admire beautiful flowers and listen to music too – how about we stay comfortably together, just the two of us?”

This was a secret signal I was sending to Yeonriri.

A subtle suggestion to sneak out and take care of her business while staying at the tea house.

Then Yeonriri’s eyebrows shot up.

“Understood. I’ll make a reservation at a good place.”

She understood the signal I sent well.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

I finished my tea and stood up from my seat.

When Yeonriri gestured, her maid handed a wooden basket to Sawol, who was waiting outside. It contained colorful refreshments.

“Eat them when you return to your residence. Come again next time.”

After parting with Yeonriri, I returned to my residence with Sawol.

Okxiang had already finished her errands and was waiting for us.

“I received refreshments from Miss Yeon – shall we eat them with tea?”

“Wow, great! I’ll brew some tea.”

Sawol left, and I exchanged glances with Okxiang.

She seemed to have handled the letter I gave her well.

A moment later, we spread out the colorful refreshments on the tea table and shared them with Sawol and Okxiang.

“This is the first time I’ve eaten something so delicious. It’s really sweet.”

Sawol showed an ecstatic expression.

“I’ve tasted sobyeong at Miss Riri’s residence before, but this is my first time eating eungwa.”

Okxiang couldn’t help but admire the flavor of the luxurious refreshments.

Watching these two people’s expressions, I suddenly remembered the jeon I used to eat with Baekah.

‘Baekah always used to share half of everything with me.’

When I asked why, he answered like this.

“Eating together is much more delicious than eating alone.”

At the time, I thought it was because Baekah was kind, but now I see that Baekah was right.

Eating together like this with others is more delicious than eating alone.

My tongue was sweet, but my taste was bitter. It was because longing for Baekah had settled heavily in my heart.

“But Young Master Ryeong returned earlier than expected today.”

“Does he usually stay at the residence for a long time?”

“Yes. I remember hearing that on nice days, he would bring books to recommend, and on cold days, he would bring charcoal for the young lady. Oh, and I heard he would share meals together each time too?”

‘No wonder there were popular novels in the study besides the etiquette books for calligraphy practice.’

So those were things Yeon Ho-ryeong had brought.

“Since they’re going to be family, he must think of the young lady like a younger sister,”

Sawol said this while chewing on a small rice cake.

‘A younger sister? Absolutely not.’

Yeon Ho-ryeong regarded me as a woman. Though it wasn’t a gaze of passionate admiration.

‘What could Yeon Ho-ryeong want to gain from me using Yuhwa as bait?’

If Huirin’s memories were intact, I could have known the reason, but now I could only speculate.

If Yeonriri told me about Yuhwa’s life or death, I would be able to grasp the outline of the truth.

For now, informing Yeonriri about the Yeomhwa Family’s secrets came first.

‘Chung-rin needs to move without delay.’

I put the silver cake in my mouth and turned my gaze toward Okxiang.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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