I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 37

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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 37

 

“Just remember it.”

 

I only gave this answer to the puzzled Yeonriri, without bothering to add any explanation.

 

With this incident, Yeonhopyeong would fall from grace and the position of heir would become vacant.

 

Yeon Ho-ryeong couldn’t take that position in his current state, so eventually a good opportunity would inevitably come to Yeonriri.

 

‘Though there are various variables, I’m ready to bring down Yeonhopyeong.’

 

If Yeonriri rose to the heir position through her own power, she would remain with the Yeomhwa Family even after the wedding.

 

After that happens, I would be able to bring down even Family Head Yeonjo without exerting my own strength.

 

I exchanged brief words with Yeonriri and bid farewell before returning to my residence.

 

But in the meantime, it seemed the family head’s orders had come down, as Sawol was moving about busily.

 

“Sawol, what are you doing?”

 

“The family head told me to pack only the essentials. It seems we’re moving our residence to the inner quarters.”

 

From what she said, it seemed Sawol hadn’t heard that we would be going to Cheonyanggung.

 

If Yeonriri hadn’t given me advance notice, I would have only found out tomorrow as well.

 

“I’ll rest for a moment, so continue with what you’re doing.”

 

“Yes, Miss.”

 

I left the packing to Sawol and Okxiang and entered the bedroom.

 

I closed the window and confirmed there was no one around.

 

“Come out.”

 

At my command, a figure emerged from the shadows.

 

His face was covered by a mask so I couldn’t see it clearly, but from his thick eyebrows and facial lines alone, I could tell he was a young man.

 

His build wasn’t particularly large, but his face was unnaturally featureless, suggesting he was using disguise techniques.

 

“I am called Hyeonjyo. My lord has commanded me to become Miss Chung-rin’s hands and feet.”

 

Wicheonso must have assigned this person to me as a spy.

 

Still, I needed people, and there were things that were awkward to ask Chung-rin about, so I decided to gratefully accept his gift.

 

“Then can I give you a task right now?”

 

“Please command me.”

 

Hyeonjyo bowed his head and spoke respectfully.

 

I took out a brush I had prepared and wrote a letter.

 

“Do as written here.”

 

When I whispered to Hyeonjyo, he nodded as if he understood.

 

Shortly after, he departed into the shadows.

 

I was sitting in a chair, thinking that my work at the Yeomhwa Family was almost finished.

 

Sawol’s voice came from outside the door.

 

“Miss, a guest has arrived.”

 

“A guest?”

 

“Well, they said they came from Seolsan.”

 

Someone sent from Seolsan Jeokga had come looking for me.

 

The variable I had been worried about had occurred.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

11 o’clock.

 

Yeonjo faced an unexpected guest.

 

“I’m a bit surprised by this unexpected visit. It would have been good if you had sent a letter in advance…”

 

A guest from the Jeok family, who hadn’t even sent letters to their blood relatives for the past 10 years, had come inside.

 

He was a man wearing ice-blue robes with light brown hair tied with a string.

 

His footsteps made no sound at all, and with each movement, a cold aura seemed to follow him.

 

“I received news of the wedding belatedly, so my contact was delayed. Would it be acceptable for this Jeokmu to attend the wedding ceremony in place of the family head?”

 

Yeonjo narrowed his eyes slightly.

 

“Since you’re the bride’s family, I’ll naturally allow it.”

 

The wedding would be held at Cheonyanggung within the main school. It was a heavily guarded place, so he wouldn’t be able to cause major problems.

 

“I’m grateful for Family Head Yeon’s generous treatment.”

 

He bowed respectfully, then placed a jade box the size of two palms on the table.

 

“This is our family’s secret treasure, the Red Snow Pill. I’ve brought it as Chung-rin’s dowry.”

 

The moment he saw it, Yeonjo’s eyes widened slightly.

 

The Red Snow Pill was made by gathering the energy of cold snow, a precious elixir that subdued boiling heat and balanced the body.

 

“May I deliver this to my sister personally?”

 

The man was still observing proper etiquette, but he subtly wasn’t giving Yeonjo proper attention.

 

This was also proof that the relationship between the Yeon and Jeok families was not good.

 

However, Yeonjo didn’t mind. Soon after the wedding ceremony, Chung-rin’s belongings would become his son Yeonhopyeong’s.

 

“Since it’s a sister you’re meeting after 10 years, you must feel affectionate, so go ahead.”

 

Yeonjo called a servant and allowed him to meet Chung-rin.

 

❖ ❖ ❖

 

A man with neat appearance entered my residence, guided by Sawol.

 

Before I knew it, cool air had settled in the garden.

 

I dismissed the maids and personally greeted him at the garden pavilion.

 

“Arin. You’ve grown so much.”

 

His voice was as cold as the wind from Seolsan.

 

“Who are you?”

 

Except for some parts, almost no memories from Seolsan Jeokga remained.

 

Moreover, since there had been no contact for 10 years, I had no way of knowing who the man before me was.

 

“…”

 

The man’s gaze wavered for a moment. However, that subtle tremor quickly returned to its place.

 

“I am Jeokmu of Seolsan Jeokga. Your… older brother.”

 

He was speaking as if indifferent, but it felt like he was suppressing his emotions inside.

 

“Older brother? So I had an older brother.”

 

I raised the corner of my lips mockingly.

 

“You probably didn’t hear, but I lost my memory. So I’m only now learning for the first time that I had family?”

 

My somewhat blunt response was due to rebellious feelings.

 

I didn’t like how they had ignored Chung-rin all this time, only to appear now claiming to be family.

 

He seemed to catch his breath for a moment. I could feel an indescribable discomfort spreading beneath his calm expression.

 

“So that’s how it was.”

 

His murmured words, as if he had been paying attention to ‘Chung-rin’ all along, slightly twisted my feelings.

 

“Now that you’ve seen I’m living well, go back. Or is there something else I need to do for the Jeok family?”

 

This was meant to say that after being dragged here for the family and ending up in this state, what more did I need to do. I wanted to tell him that Chung-rin, their family member, had already left this world and disappeared, but I couldn’t.

 

Jeokmu paid no attention to my question and glanced around slightly.

 

The old pillars and walls of this place, the worn table seemed to catch his eye.

 

Watching him, I could sense that he didn’t like this place.

 

“Ten years ago, right after you entered Cheonsan… the Jeok family went into seclusion.”

 

That was their pathetic excuse for not even exchanging letters with me.

 

From my perspective, they were people who had abandoned just one daughter in a deadly place and went into seclusion to save only themselves.

 

Yet Chung-rin had longed for her family all along.

 

When I averted my gaze as if I wasn’t particularly interested, Jeokmu lowered his eyes.

 

“I will be attending the wedding ceremony in place of the family head. Keep that in mind.”

 

It was a unilateral notification.

 

Negative emotions surged up, but for now I pressed them down so they wouldn’t show.

 

What was the real reason that this proud bloodline, belonging neither to the Heavenly Tiger Alliance representing the orthodox faction, nor to the now-disbanded Sadopae, nor to Mageyo walking an independent path, had begun to move like this?

 

“This is something the family head prepared for you.”

 

He placed a jade box the size of two palms in front of me.

 

A cold and noble aura was slightly leaking out from the jade box.

 

Even without opening it, I could see what it was.

 

It was a spiritual medicine.

 

It was probably Jeokseolhwan, a spiritual medicine that only the Seolsan Jeokga could make.

 

“Soon Seolsan’s famous tea, silk, and ice jade will arrive, so accept them as your dowry.”

 

“Is this compensation for leaving me alone all this time? Or do you perhaps have something to ask of me?”

 

Jeokmoo didn’t answer my question.

 

“Since the wedding ceremony is approaching and you must be busy, I’ll take my leave now.”

 

For a reunion with family separated for so long, it was too dry.

 

He approached me and tapped my shoulder, then pressed something into my hand.

 

Then he left without even making eye contact.

 

I stared at the paper I felt at my fingertips.

 

Seolsan’s spring is short, but the magnificent seolwolhwa blooms.

 

Next year, I want to gaze at the seolwolhwa together with you.

 

My heart sank.

 

Seolwolhwa was a flower that could only be seen in Seolsan, and it was the ingredient used to make Jeokseolhwan.

 

‘Seolsan… they hadn’t abandoned Chung-rin after all.’

 

For the past ten years, the Seolsan clan had deliberately kept quiet.

 

On the surface, they appeared to fear Mageyo and chose to hide and survive.

 

However, they had been waiting for an opportunity to take Chung-rin back.

 

A corner of my heart grew warm. This must be Chung-rin’s emotion that had left this body.

 

‘Since I’ll be entering Cheonyanggung tomorrow, they must be planning to seize that opportunity.’

 

My feelings became complicated for a moment.

 

If it were Chung-rin, she would have said she’d return to Seolsan, but I wasn’t her.

 

Rather than returning to Seolsan, staying in Mageyo would be better for achieving my goals.

 

Moreover, I had made a contract marriage with Wicheonso and promised to help Chung-rin. So I had no intention of choosing Seolsan.

 

I set fire to that letter and placed it on a plate.

 

While the flames died down, I organized my thoughts.

 

The Seolsan clan must have devised a plan to prevent their blood relative from being sacrificed in a political marriage.

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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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