I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 8

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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 8

Wicheonso indeed remembered me.

With this bright hair color I possessed, my identity was bound to be discovered.

“I’m not sure. I’ve lost my memory.”

I answered as emotionlessly as possible.

Wicheonso didn’t seem to take this seriously. He appeared to think I was lying.

“Then let me tell you. I am Wicheonso.”

He introduced himself with natural ease.

“I apologize to you, young lady. I didn’t expect that traitor to attack you as well.”

His eyes showed no sign of remorse whatsoever. Rather, he seemed intrigued.

“It’s fortunate that you’ve learned martial arts, young lady. Otherwise, you would have fallen victim to the life-absorption technique like the others.”

My heart sank with a thud.

He had discovered that I could use martial arts. Of all people, the third prince.

Quickly reviewing my battle with the Absorbent Sword Demon, I realized I hadn’t used any distinctive martial arts that would remind him of Sangteon-dang. That was at least fortunate.

“If you hadn’t helped me, young master, I would have ended up the same way.”

“Is that so? Well, you did lose consciousness at that time, so that could be possible.”

His suspicion of me was evident. Still, I pretended not to notice and responded composedly.

“Thank you for helping me, young master. If it’s alright with you, I’ll take my leave now.”

I tried to withdraw from him while acting as nonchalant as possible.

Rustle.

Red robes blocked my path.

Startled, I looked up to find Wicheonso had silently knelt on one knee before me. His approach without even a hint of presence left me breathless.

An unnaturally beautiful face loomed before me.

Cold sweat ran down my spine.

He was testing me again.

Mysterious eyes beneath thick eyelashes fixed on me.

Below his prominent nose, attractive lips curved in an arc.

“I’m quite curious about why the prospective bride of the Yeomhwa Family, who has been confined for 10 years, would venture outside.”

Though his lips curved gently, there was no trace of a smile in his eyes.

Fortunately, I had prepared an answer for this.

“I came out to prepare for the wedding. I got lost for a moment after being swept up in the crowd.”

I spoke as calmly as possible, but my throat was parched.

“I see. Then shall I carry you home in my arms like that day?”

“No, I’ll decline. My companions must be looking for me.”

My words didn’t seem like empty bravado, as a faint smile lingered on Wicheonso’s face.

Facing that expression made the muscles in my back tense up.

“Understood.”

I expected him to grab my throat like Yeonhopyeong, but surprisingly, he gave a compliant response.

As he rose, the hem of his red robe fluttered naturally.

I stood up while still keeping my head bowed.

Wicheonso picked up the blood-stained cloak from the table across from the chair and dropped it at my feet.

It meant he was permitting me to leave.

Just as I was about to quickly pick it up and depart.

“Wait.”

He called me to a stop.

“Young Lady Jeok. I have personally tended to you while you were unconscious. As a member of the martial world, you should naturally repay such kindness.”

He was tilting his head at an angle.

His shameless attitude made me involuntarily draw in a breath.

I had fallen into danger because he had let the Absorbent Sword Demon escape in the first place. Yet he was brazenly talking about repaying favors.

“As I said before, thank you for saving me, young master.”

Not wanting to give him even the slightest opening, I quickly bowed my head.

Wicheonso’s gaze remained fixed on me. It was truly burdensome.

What could be his reason for deliberately removing his mask and revealing himself to me?

A man who dressed flamboyantly like a peacock and went around executing traitors in his blood-crazed state. A figure notorious for allegedly killing his bride on their wedding night because she was too noisy.

Considering the various rumors about his eccentric behavior, his interest in me might also stem from his whims.

However, I don’t believe in coincidences.

He had deliberately taken his time to quietly observe me until I awakened.

From such behavior, I could tell.

Third Prince Wicheonso was merely disguising himself with flamboyance and capriciousness, while hiding his sharp perception.

So in this situation, to avoid getting entangled with him, I needed to maintain some distance.

“If there’s an opportunity to repay the favor, I will.”

I bowed my head and answered respectfully. There was some sincerity mixed in. Thanks to him saving Chung-rin, I was able to live.

“However, I’m just a powerless woman, so I’m not sure if I could be of help to you, young master.”

I was telling him not to expect much from me, confined as I was in the Yeomhwa Family.

“Being just a woman might actually make you helpful.”

It was a response whose meaning I couldn’t grasp.

Soon Wicheonso added.

“Since Cheonjeon has permitted the marriage between the young master of the Yeomhwa Family and Young Lady Jeok, you’ll soon become a member of the Yeomhwa Family.”

His tone suggested that since I wasn’t yet a member of the Yeomhwa Family, it was acceptable to extract something from me.

It was a meaningful statement, but I didn’t ask further. Getting more entangled in conversation would be troublesome.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“May you return safely.”

Wicheonso didn’t stop me as I departed.

❖ ❖ ❖

Pulling the blood-stained cloak over my head, I emerged into the corridor where Wicheonso’s subordinate guided me outside.

From various places beyond the corridor came boisterous sounds. It was the noise of people drinking and carousing through the night.

As I came outside, I confirmed this place was an inn.

The sky outside the window was dark, and the lanterns that had illuminated Bukhangnyo were extinguished. It seemed to still be dawn.

In front of the inn, there was a carriage waiting.

A familiar woman got out of the carriage and greeted me.

“Young Lady Jeok. Are you feeling alright?”

She looked familiar. She was one of the maids who had been beside Yeonriri, the one who had delivered Chung-rin’s note.

‘Chung-rin kept his promise.’

Thanks to Chung-rin sending this maid, Wicheonso had let me go without resistance.

I climbed the carriage steps with the maid’s support.

As the carriage began to move, the gaze that had been clinging to me disappeared.

Only after the carriage had moved away from Bukhangnyo did I ask the maid.

“Are you also from Sangteon-dang?”

The maid, who had been wearing a gentle expression, hardened her face and nodded.

“My name is Okxiang. I received orders to safely escort Young Lady Jeok home. Please take this.”

Okxiang handed me a rather thick letter.

Inside was a letter written by Chung-rin in code.

Young Lady Jeok, this is the information you wanted.

Burn it immediately after reading.

The thick letter would contain information about the current state of the martial world and Mageyo, as well as about Third Prince Wicheonso.

If there’s information to convey to you in the future, it will be through Okxiang.

Holding the letter in my hand, I looked at Okxiang and asked.

“How long will it take to reach the Yeomhwa Family?”

“We should be able to return within the hour of the Tiger (3-5 AM). I’ll escort you to your residence then.”

Next to Okxiang lay maid’s clothing. It seemed she planned to disguise me as a maid before taking me inside.

I nodded in understanding, then carefully unfolded the letter to check its contents.

As expected, the letter contained a brief summary of the martial world’s political situation over the past 10 years.

[The collapse of the Evil Faction.]

Among the Orthodox, Evil, and Demonic factions that divided the martial world, the Evil Faction had been destroyed,

[The confrontation between the Heavenly Tiger Alliance and Mageyo.]

The Heavenly Tiger Alliance and Mageyo had split the martial world between them.

[Due to the fierce battle between the Alliance Leader and the Heavenly Demon, the Alliance Leader died. At this time, the Heavenly Demon also lost momentum.]

In the process, both sides seemed to have experienced cracks and changes.

[The Heavenly Tiger Alliance appointed a new leader.]

The Heavenly Tiger Alliance would have put forward a new face.

‘Quite a lot happened while I was gone.’

Ten years seemed to have been quite a long time.

As I suppressed my bitter feelings and turned to the next page, my body stiffened.

[The name of the new Alliance Leader is—]

The moment I saw that name, my breath stopped.

Ashen rage filled my lungs, and my heart pounded as if it would burst through my ribs.

The one who sent assassins to kill my disciple Baekah and me.

That bastard had become the leader of the Heavenly Tiger Alliance.

My breath caught and strength entered each joint of my fingers.

My fingertips turned pale white.

I couldn’t rage like this. Right now, I had to swallow this emotion.

If I showed weakness in front of Okxiang, this fact would reach Chung-rin’s ears, and he would wonder why I was expressing anger at this news.

Though confused, I pulled myself together and took a deep breath.

I managed to suppress my anger and successfully turn to the next page.

‘Let me put everything in my head for now. I need to destroy this letter before entering the Yeomhwa Family.’

Taking a deep breath and turning to the next page, I saw information about Wicheonso.

To completely escape from my anger, I focused on the following information.

❖ ❖ ❖

“My lord. Miss Chung has boarded the carriage with her maid. I kept watch but there were no suspicious signs. Shall I continue surveillance?”

“There’s no need for that.”

Wicheonso’s gaze was fixed on the bed where Chung-rin had stayed. 

When she collapsed on the street, Wicheonso had identified her at a glance. It was because her hood had come off, scattering her light wheat-colored hair.

‘The prospective bride of the Yeomhwa Family, Chung-rin.’

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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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