I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 19

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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 19

Realizing that this was the inheritance left by my father, my heart swelled with emotion.

As I touched the books with trembling hands, I saw a letter and my eyes widened.

Since I received safe passage from Joa, my wife and I will complete our mission well and return.

Please take good care of Bia in the meantime.

‘Joa’ was the term used to refer to my younger brother Yeonjo.

I had heard that Minor Family Head Yeonjeok died from poison administered by warriors of the Heavenly Tiger Alliance while carrying out a mission.

But the fact that Daebuin had deliberately kept this letter among Yeonjeok’s belongings, and that she said there were things here for Yeonriri…

Could it be that the ‘safe passage’ mentioned in this letter was actually a trap that led Yeonjeok to his death?

Moreover, since it said that Yeonjo was the one who informed Yeonjeok of this ‘safe passage’, it was highly likely that Yeonjo was involved in Yeonjeok’s death.

‘Could it be that father… no, uncle killed his own older brother…?’

I recalled the image of Grandmother trembling with guilt and shedding tears.

Grandmother probably knew. She knew that Minor Family Head Yeonjeok had been deceived by his younger brother Yeonjo and ultimately met his death.

She must have grieved for her first son’s death while being unable to cast out her second son.

So she decided to bury that truth along with Mukheolam.

She was Yeonjeok’s mother, but she was also Yeonjo’s mother.

She chose to remain silent for the sake of the younger son who killed his older brother to become the family head.

“There’s no way that could really be true…”

Even as Yeonriri denied it alone, her hands trembled violently.

‘But if that’s not the reason, why has uncle prevented me from holding a sword until now? Why was he so reluctant when I said I wanted to learn advanced martial arts?’

The answer was obvious.

Because he didn’t want his older brother’s daughter, rather than his own son, to excel in martial arts.

Especially since she might become a threat to him in the future.

When her thoughts reached this point, Yeonriri felt everything before her eyes turn blood red.

Her violently pounding heart seemed ready to run wild beyond her control.

Now that she had realized her true identity and learned the truth, she didn’t want to lose everything from the shock.

Suddenly, the mental cultivation method she had learned from Chung-rin came to mind.

Along with deep breathing, she focused her consciousness on her dantian.

She had to maintain her center of gravity well so as not to be consumed by emotions.

It wasn’t easy. Even though she understood it mentally, her hands continued to tremble in the confusion.

She had to pull herself together.

She steeled herself, knowing she had to accept this enormous truth.

Because only then could she survive.

❖ ❖ ❖

Whoooosh.

Rain began to fall.

More than an hour had passed since Yeonriri left. Perhaps her return was delayed because of the heavy downpour.

‘Or perhaps it’s because she learned the truth.’

If I were Chung-rin, I would have definitely used incense to restore Daebuin’s mind, even if only temporarily.

The incense used when interrogating those who had lost their minds to torture.

Using that would make the mind clear like a final burst of clarity before death.

I didn’t know how much of the truth Daebuin Sobaek had revealed, but I would be able to tell from Yeonriri’s reaction today.

A moment later.

Yeonriri entered through the window.

Not only her hair but even her clothes were soaked through with rain.

Her face was pale, and her lips were tightly sealed. She looked as if she might collapse at any moment.

“Miss Yeon. Are you alright?”

I could sense a faint killing intent from her. That alone told me she had approached the truth.

I acted like someone who hadn’t noticed anything, taking a cotton cloth from Okxiang to wipe her wet face.

“It must have rained heavily. You might catch a cold if you’re not careful.”

Yeonriri’s eyes fixed on me.

Her lips moved slightly before closing tightly again.

She clearly wanted to say something but was restraining herself.

“You look very unwell. Okxiang, could you call the maids outside? And ask them to bring clothes for her to change into.”

Okxiang immediately moved according to my instructions.

When only Yeonriri and I remained in the guest room, she let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m fine.”

As she took deep breaths, she was gradually returning to her usual self.

“I just got a little wet from the rain.”

“Still. It would be troublesome if you caught a cold. You must be busy enough with wedding preparations.”

Yeonriri must be confused.

Yeonjo, whom she thought was her father, was actually her uncle, and the deceased uncle was actually her real father.

Moreover, Yeonjo had adopted Yeonriri as his daughter.

Since he was someone who killed his own brother for the position of family head, it wouldn’t have been an action born from guilt.

‘It must be to pass the family head position to Yeonhopyeong or Yeomnhoryeong.’

Yeonjeok, who had been the minor family head, was more outstanding than Yeonjo and also had exceptional potential for controlling the Flame Demon Art.

Soon the maids entered and removed Yeonriri’s rain cloak.

Inside the rain cloak were books and a sword. The sword had a well-forged blade, but there were subtle wear marks on the handle as if from frequent gripping.

“Miss, these items are…”

“They’re precious belongings. I’ll take them back with me, so please handle them carefully so they don’t get wet.”

“Understood.”

The maids moved to attend to Yeonriri.

‘Those books must be the inheritance left by Yeonjeok. I heard he was genius enough to apply the Flame Demon Art.’

The period when Yeonriri’s father Yeonjeok was active didn’t overlap with the time I was active at Sangteon-dang.

These were facts I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t read all of Sangteon-dang’s secret records.

People usually never forget the hand extended to them in their moment of weakness.

“Miss Yeon. I’ve ordered warm tea to be brought. It would be better to stay here a bit longer and warm yourself up.”

“I’ll just drink the tea and then go back. I’ve been away from my place for too long.”

Her voice was low, but there was still trembling within it.

She had been out for a long time and it had been delayed. She seemed to think she needed to return to avoid suspicion.

I reached out to her and grasped her collar.

“Miss Yeon needs to rest now. Let’s say I fell asleep here because I was tired.”

I gently pressed her shoulder as if to calm her.

Seeing that her eyes were reddish, she had definitely been crying.

“Going back in this state would be like announcing that something happened.”

Yeonriri’s shoulder flinched.

I hoped she would regain her composure as much as possible. Only then could I strangle the Yeomhwa Family more certainly.

“Alright.”

Yeonriri eventually agreed to my words.

She drank the calming tea and took deep breaths.

“Tell me when you want to talk. I won’t say anything until then. Miss Yeon looks very complicated right now.”

Various negative thoughts were probably going through her mind.

Perhaps she was in a state where she couldn’t figure out what to do next.

Instead of answering, she remained silent.

She would look at me, then gaze out the window where rain was falling.

There was no one in the Yeomhwa Family who could understand Yeonriri’s heart.

The home that had been comfortable until just moments ago had surely become enemy territory, so her mind must be in turmoil.

“Young Master Jeok.”

Yeonriri raised her head and looked at me.

“Didn’t you hate me?”

Her eyes wavered with anxiety.

“I am… the daughter of Yeonjo, who threatened your family and imprisoned you in this place…”

She was in confusion.

The truth she encountered at Mukheolam today had clearly moved her heart.

As she said this, she bit her lips for a moment.

It seemed her heart had lost its way because of what she experienced today. I could tell just from her saying such things to me.

“Well. Since I lost my memory, it would be difficult to answer accurately.”

Disappointment and relief simultaneously appeared on Yeonriri’s face.

What kind of answer had she wanted to hear from me?

So for a moment, I tried to think from the perspective of Chung-rin, who had already disappeared.

Would Chung-rin have hated Yeonriri?

Probably so.

But that would have been due to her rejection of the Yeomhwa Family itself, rather than personal feelings toward her.

“I probably hated you. Having been confined here for so long, that hatred must have grown.”

When I carefully began, Yeonriri bit her lower lip slightly. As if she had expected as much.

“But Miss Yeon doesn’t seem that different from me either.”

When I added this, Yeonriri’s eyes widened.

It was because my words went against her expectation of receiving criticism.

“You train alone every day. The family head doesn’t seem particularly interested in Miss Yeon either. It seems like a similar situation to mine, being confined in this residence.”

When I carefully added this, Yeonriri’s chest rose slightly. She must have tensed at some part of what I said.

“So for now, don’t worry about other people’s opinions and just think about yourself.”

Yeonriri’s expression softened a little.

Perhaps she had regained some peace after hearing the words I gave her.

“How strange. You are, Miss Jeok.”

Yeonriri’s breathing felt much more comfortable.

“Maybe because you lost your memory, but you seem like a different person. You’re clearly younger than me, yet you seem more mature.”

“Is that so.”

“If I had known it would be like this, I should have met you more often. Actually, I was somewhat envious of you, Miss Jeok.”

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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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