The Granddaughter of the Manhyang Escort Agency Hides Her Magic - Chapter 32

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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 32

Shin Ah covered her mouth with her hand, pretending to be surprised, and smiled slyly. Hyeokho had definitely heard Baekrim’s words.

The sound of angry footsteps could be heard, then the door of Wolhwa Hall burst open as if it might fall off its hinges.

Hyeokho appeared with Jang Mu in tow.

Then, as if he had never been angry, Baekrim put on a gentle expression and bowed his head.

“Father, you’ve come out. You must be very busy, so I’m sorry for causing you concern. Please leave the discipline of the servants to me and go inside to work comfortably.”

So Hyeokho’s eyes twitched.

“Are you trying to manage Wolhwa Hall now? Have you forgotten that I am the master of Wolhwa Hall, or are you ignoring me? And what did you say just now? That you would stop me even if I said I wanted to meet?”

“Ig-ignore you, Father! That’s preposterous. How could I dare to…”

“Shut that mouth! And So Shin Ah! What are you doing standing there? If you’re here, come in right now!”

Hyeokho, who had heard everything the gatekeeper and Baekrim said from inside, immediately gestured toward Shin Ah.

Shin Ah ran over as if she had been waiting, then hesitated in front of the wooden porch.

She thought only her clothes were dirty, but her shoes and socks were a mess too. If she walked around in this state, Wolhwa Hall would get dirty.

‘When I saw it last time, there wasn’t a speck of dust in Wolhwa Hall.’

Why was she only thinking of this now?

Considering Hyeokho’s fastidious personality, it would be better to come another time.

Shin Ah made a hesitant sound and wavered.

“What are you doing? Come up here quickly.”

Hyeokho spoke, seeing Shin Ah acting sluggishly.

“My feet are dirty.”

Shin Ah stuck one foot out of her shoe and wiggled her toes.

Sure enough.

Her feet were dirty as if she had fallen into a mud puddle.

“What on earth have you been doing?”

Hyeokho sighed deeply, came down from the wooden porch, and lifted Shin Ah up.

“Ah! Grandfather, your clothes will get dirty!”

Shin Ah’s condition was at the level of being covered in dirt all over her body.

At least Baekrim’s comment about her looking like a beggar was clearly factual.

“If you knew that, why did you come here? Clothes can just be washed, so stay still. If you struggle, you’ll scatter dust!”

Following Hyeokho’s words, Shin Ah answered “Yes” and relaxed her body, snuggling quietly against him.

Only then did Hyeokho step back onto the wooden porch.

Baekrim looked at Hyeokho with bewildered eyes.

Hyeokho, who had emphasized keeping one’s body and surroundings clean within the Escort Agency to the point of being obsessive-compulsive since escort missions inevitably made one dirty, was now holding Shin Ah who was no different from a lump of dirt.

And he was going straight into Wolhwa Hall like that.

As he stood there with a stunned expression, Hyeokho’s angry command fell.

“What are you still doing here? Not content with acting like the master of Wolhwa Hall, you’re ignoring my words too!”

Baekrim answered in shock.

“No, Father. This is a great misunderstanding. How could I dare to claim Wolhwa Hall…”

Hyeokho didn’t listen to more of what Baekrim was saying and turned around.

Since it would surely just be excuses anyway, there was no need to hear more.

“Ah, Father!”

Baekrim called out desperately, but Hyeokho didn’t answer.

And the door of Wolhwa Hall closed right in front of Baekrim’s nose, then immediately opened again.

Baekrim’s eyes widened with expectation.

‘Of course. Father wouldn’t coldly cast out his own son.’

Baekrim smiled, even his nostrils flaring. However, that smile didn’t last long.

It wasn’t Hyeokho who came out the door, but Jang Mu.

Jang Mu glanced at Baekrim and gave orders to the gatekeeper who was standing there dumbfounded.

“The family head said not to let anyone inside. No one at all, understand?”

It wasn’t only the gatekeeper who realized that he was included in that “no one.”

Baekrim, ignored by his father in front of a servant, trembled with shame.

* * *

“What is your father doing that he just lets you wander around in this state?”

So Hyeokho walked briskly down the corridor of Wolhwa Hall, carrying Shin Ah.

“Father is busy. I heard he was given a new job. A very proud and wonderful job.”

Hyeokho looked back at Jang Mu. He didn’t know what Shin Ah was talking about.

But the answer came from Shin Ah’s mouth, not Jang Mu’s.

“You appointed him as an instructor at Bogukgak! Thank you, Grandfather!”

Shin Ah hung onto Hyeokho’s neck.

The child who had been avoiding contact because she was dirty was now hugging him first, which was bewildering, but it didn’t feel bad. No, it actually felt good.

When was the last time he had received affection from such a small, warm living being?

The memory was distant.

“You’re making a fuss over nothing.”

His tone was gruff, but the corners of Hyeokho’s mouth twitched upward.

‘He seems to be in quite a good mood, should I try saying it now?’

Shin Ah’s lips protruded like a duck’s as she fell into deep thought.

Jang Mu, who was watching from the side, felt his raised eye corners soften.

It was because she looked so cute appearing like a dirty puppy and pouting her lips.

Feeling Jang Mu’s gaze, Hyeokho cleared his throat and shifted Shin Ah to his other arm.

Shin Ah naturally moved out of Jang Mu’s line of sight.

‘Now is definitely the time.’

Shin Ah, absorbed in her own thoughts without knowing what Jang Mu and So Hyeokho were thinking, made her decision.

Even if Hyeokho became upset after hearing her words, it would be fine.

She had prepared a secret weapon that would instantly improve his mood.

For dramatic effect, Shin Ah lowered her head deeply.

She could feel Hyeokho’s gaze near her round crown.

“It’s not nothing. I was so upset that Father couldn’t work as an escort warrior at the Escort Agency and had to stay only at Biwongak.”

“Hm? You were upset instead of happy to be with your father?”

“Yes. I was happy, but it wouldn’t have been good for Father.”

“Why do you think that?”

They had already reached the bedroom deep inside Hyeokho’s private quarters.

A servant standing nearby pulled the doors open to both sides.

He passed through the door while still holding Shin Ah and sat on the silk brocade bedding.

Shin Ah naturally ended up sitting on his lap.

“I’ll sit on the floor, Grandfather.”

“You’ve already dirtied my clothes enough. But that’s not an answer to my question. Hurry up and answer.”

The impatient So Hyeokho urged for an answer.

Shin Ah fidgeted with her fingers in So Hyeokho’s embrace before opening her mouth.

“I heard what the servant girls were saying. They said you called anyone who can’t earn their keep parasites. Earning one’s keep at the So Family Estate means doing the work that you, as family head and Escort Agency master, assign. But since you don’t give Father work because of me, the servant girls…”

Shin Ah deliberately trailed off.

Hyeokho would surely understand what she meant just from hearing this much.

Shin Ah glanced around, gauging Hyeokho’s reaction.

‘Now, let’s see how Grandfather responds.’

Hyeokho was silent for a while.

Just from his expression, it was impossible to tell whether he was good at controlling his emotions or if he was angry.

‘Should I have saved the part about the servant girls gossiping about Father for later? I thought their relationship had improved since he put Father in charge of Bogukgak, but maybe not yet?’

Judging that now was the right time to bring out the ring, Shin Ah rummaged through her clothes.

Just then, she heard the sound of teeth grinding from above her head.

“Who… dares to spout such nonsense.”

It worked perfectly.

While Shin Ah smiled inwardly, So Hyeokho trembled his beard and called for Jang Mu.

“Jang Mu!”

“Yes, did you call for me?”

“Among those who receive salaries from the So Family and Manhyang Express, find and arrest all those who dared insult the master of Secret Garden Pavilion.”

“What shall we do after capturing them?”

“They must pay dearly for the crime of disgracing their superior.”

“I will carry out your orders.”

Jang Mu rushed out like an arrow.

Shin Ah, who hadn’t expected much from Hyeokho, was secretly impressed.

‘Oh my, I knew grandfather had a fiery temper, but I didn’t expect him to immediately order an investigation and arrests. But wait, he’s believing my words without question?’

Shin Ah had expected Hyeokho to at least ask once if he had heard her correctly.

But he moved Jang Mu into action without asking or questioning anything.

‘His trust in me is incredible!’

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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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