Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 21
5. Guests of the Five Great Families Gathering
After much back-and-forth, the first day of the Five Great Families Gathering had arrived.
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and pinned my hair up into a bun hairstyle.
It wasn’t a style I favored, but I had no choice. To avoid drawing attention, I needed to look like the other maidservants.
Why did they all wear their hair like this? Was it the fashion?
As I fussed with the green hair ribbon, Song Ji hurried me along.
“Hey, are you ready? We need to go.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.”
I groaned like a cow being dragged to slaughter and forced myself to prepare.
Until now, I’d used Dang Jung’s name to slip away, but on a day when hands were this short, I couldn’t afford to disappear.
They were so busy they’d take help from anyone, and if I vanished entirely, I’d earn resentment.
To blend in quietly among the servants, I had to show my face, even if just for a moment.
As I stepped outside my quarters, I saw servants rushing about beneath the dim dawn sky.
White smoke rose from the direction of the kitchen where the cooks worked. Clearly, meal preparations had already begun.
“This way.”
Song Ji grabbed me as I looked around aimlessly. I followed her without thinking, but then something felt off.
I’d thought we were going to the storehouse to fetch banquet supplies, yet somehow we’d arrived at the Inner Palace.
“Sister, where are we going?”
“The Banquet Hall. Lady Dang asked for you specifically.”
What? I stopped dead in my tracks, bewildered.
“What? Why?”
“She says they need more maidservants to attend the guests. I think she wants to put you in that role because you’re pretty.”
That’s insane. Just have me carry things. I can’t afford to be noticed.
As my face went pale, Song Ji laughed and tugged at my sleeve.
“You’re something else. Why are you so nervous? Lady Dang was thinking of you kindly. Look on the bright side—if you’re lucky, you might even marry a charming young master.”
Song Ji’s cheerful words gave me a headache.
I don’t need a charming young master. And if I leave the Dang Family, my limbs and meridians will be in danger.
Hell. What do I do?
I wanted to run right then, but that would put Song Ji in an awkward position.
Yet if I went to the banquet hall, I’d see that bastard’s face—Dang Muhyeok—staring at me like I was an insect.
I could ignore Dang Muhyeok’s gaze easily enough. But if my identity was revealed in front of the Five Great Families Gathering guests, I’d be on a one-way ticket to hell.
Would anyone recognize me? With the same bun hairstyle as everyone else and identical maidservant clothes, maybe no one would. Should I run away right now?
When I didn’t budge, Song Ji urged me again.
“I’m telling you it’s fine. Come on, stop standing there and let’s go. Lady Dang will be waiting.”
“Well, sister… wouldn’t it be better if you went instead? I’ve only ever done cleaning and tidying. I’ve never worked as a maidservant before. What if I make a mistake?”
Song Ji shrugged as if to say I was worrying over nothing.
“It’s no big deal. Just stand beside the guests and keep their teacups filled. You serve Elder Dang Jung well enough—why are you being so difficult? Let’s go.”
With that, she grabbed my arm and dragged me along by force.
I’m going to lose my mind.
* * *
The banquet hall was fully prepared. The seats, arranged according to the number of guests, had been polished since dawn until they gleamed.
Silk flowers adorned the tables, and beside them sat silver tableware.
The silver tableware signified that the guests would be treated as distinguished visitors of the Dang Family.
In plain terms, it meant: “No poison in the rice, so eat without worry.”
The fact that they displayed silver tableware at all told me what kind of reputation the Dang Family had outside.
There were other curious things too—lanterns carved into dragon shapes with a knife. As I looked around the banquet hall in wonder, someone spoke to me.
“Lady Dang is over there.”
“Ah, thank you.”
I must have looked like I was searching for her. When I turned, I spotted Lady Dang directing Sim Yang to do something.
Lady Dang, her hair arranged neatly, moved about the banquet hall checking that the preparations were flawless.
When she noticed me, Lady Dang pointed to a seat by the left window.
“You—Sohye—will serve the guests from the Morong Family. Attend them from this spot.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I bowed respectfully and looked up, but Lady Dang had already left to give other orders. In her place, Sim Yang stood staring at me with narrowed eyes.
What’s her problem? Why is she glaring?
I met her gaze directly without flinching, and Sim Yang bit her lip before abruptly turning her head away.
I wondered what her issue was, but I had no time to worry about Sim Yang’s mood. I needed to find a position where I could avoid Dang Muhyeok’s sight.
I glanced sideways at where Dang Muhyeok would be seated and calculated what angle would conceal me.
If I stand here, maybe I won’t be as visible. I should really position myself behind a pillar.
About half an hour had passed when people began trickling into the Banquet Hall.
Dang Woon, who’d arrived early, shot me a playful glance before moving on.
The way he made no show of familiarity suggested he understood that concealing our connection suited me just fine.
Once Dang Woon settled into his seat, a beauty in crimson silk draped herself against his side.
“Brother Woon. However did you manage to come all this way? I do hope you’re feeling better?”
“Thanks to your concern, I’ve recovered quite well.”
“You’re such a tease. Hehe.”
So that’s Dang Juhee.
I stole glances at this half-sister I’d never met before.
Dang Juhee bore no resemblance whatsoever to either Dang Woon or me—which made perfect sense, given we all had different mothers.
She had the pointed eyes of Dang Muhyeok, though without his cold severity. How to describe it—she had the air of a temperamental, spoiled girl.
Seated beside Dang Woon, Dang Juhee chattered incessantly. She seemed quite fond of her older half-brother.
I watched the two siblings enjoy each other’s company for a moment, then looked away.
This wasn’t the time to be distracted. Guests were pouring in steadily.
Just as I wiped the nervous sweat from my palms, someone tugged at my sleeve.
“Older sister. Is it all right if I sit here?”
When I lowered my head toward that childish voice, I found a little girl with golden hair and blue eyes.
I quickly pulled out a chair for the child.
“Yes, miss. Please, sit here.”
“Thank you, sister.”
With a nod, the girl approached and climbed into the chair herself, her short legs dangling uselessly above the floor.
A smile bloomed unbidden at her spirited manner. Yet I wasn’t the only one admiring the child.
“Soye. Why won’t you accept Father’s help?”
“Father. I’m eight years old. An eight-year-old can sit in a chair by herself.”
“You’re right. This father was mistaken. Soye is certainly old enough to sit in a chair alone. Of course she is.”
A middle-aged man stood before the child, his eyes dripping with honey-sweet affection. I had to bite back my laughter.
Was she a late-born child? Or perhaps an only daughter?
Unlike the girl’s lustrous golden hair, the middle-aged man’s was black—yet his eyes, which sparkled like jewels, were the same brilliant blue, proof of their father-daughter bond.
I’d heard that the Morong Family, carrying foreign blood, often bore children with golden hair and blue eyes. This must be such a case.
To the man’s words, the girl pouted her lips and said primly:
“Sister. Would you tell my father that my name is Morong Soye, not Soye?”
Me?
As my eyes widened, Morong Soye’s bright blue eyes gleamed as she spoke again.
“Hurry. Tell him my name is Morong Soye, not Soye.”
“I—yes. Miss Morong Soye says that is so, sir.”
“Soye. Does calling you by your childhood name truly displease you so?”
“Yes. I hate it. This isn’t home, is it? What will people think of Father? They’ll call him a pampered fool.”
Does this little girl even know what that means? She’s got spine, I’ll give her that.
Faced with his daughter’s resolute will, the middle-aged man’s eyebrows drooped. I had to pinch my thigh to keep from laughing outright.
Apparently, the man was Morong Gi, the patriarch of the Morong Family, who doted on his only daughter born in his later years, treasuring her like gold and jade itself.
Perhaps that was why every word and gesture of Morong Gi’s overflowed with affection toward his child.
That’s how a parent should be. Unlike some people I know.
I cursed the biological father in my thoughts and turned my gaze toward the entrance.
At that moment, Namgung Hwi, who’d entered with the Namgung Family contingent, spotted me and waved cheerfully. He moved to approach with a radiant smile.
No. Don’t be familiar with me. You can’t.
I shook my head urgently, and Namgung Hwi froze mid-step. He then backed away and took his seat at the place reserved for the Namgung Family.
Fortunately, he was quick enough to read the room.
With hands clasped respectfully, I scanned the Banquet Hall. Nearly every seat was now occupied.
Save for two seats for the Habuk Peng Family and one for the Dang Family, all the guests were seated.
As I wondered who might claim those empty seats, I realized I hadn’t seen Dang Jung.
Hadn’t the elder arrived?
While glancing toward the entrance, my eyes met those of Dang Jung, who’d arrived late.
Upon seeing me, Dang Jung’s brow furrowed.
I didn’t need to hear the words to understand his look: What are you doing rolling in here?
It wasn’t my choice, Elder.
[What are you doing here again? You never listen to a word Grandfather says, do you?]
Before I could even frame a silent excuse, Dang Jung’s gruff voice stabbed into my ear. My body trembled. It was like someone hammering thoughts directly into my skull.
My eyes widened in shock, and Dang Jung spoke again.
[That’s what we call Spiritual Transmission. Don’t answer; just listen. You, Sohe—stay put at that spot until the banquet ends. Don’t let Muhyeok catch sight of you.]
Wow. So this is what Spiritual Transmission is.
I touched my ear and nodded slightly. It was remarkable that we could converse without speaking aloud.
[Don’t answer me back.]
Yes, yes. I understand, so please stop talking too.
In that moment, Morong Soye slammed her hand on the table and shot to her feet.
The child stood up on her chair and made her announcement.
“Father. I want to get married.”
Morong Gi blinked at the abrupt declaration.
“What? What are you saying all of a sudden, Soye?”
“I want to marry that Dang cousin.”
Silence fell over the room. Everyone stared in bewilderment at the direction Morong Soye was pointing.
At the tip of Morong Soye’s index finger stood Dang Jung, hands clasped behind his back.
Feeling all eyes turn toward him, Dang Jung raised one eyebrow.
……What?

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