The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 10

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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 10
* * *
Father’s anger did not seem to subside easily after entering the Residence Quarter.
He paced restlessly through the chamber, eventually settling into a seat and opening a book, though he managed only a few pages before setting it aside.
“Has she always carried herself that way? No, never mind.”
Father placed a hand on my shoulder and spoke.
“Li-yeon, you mustn’t burden yourself with guilt over this matter. That child received punishment because she neglected her duties. Do you understand?”
Guilt?
An emotion I would never possess—yet I nodded earnestly nonetheless.
“From now on, let there be no such incidents….”
Father trailed off mid-sentence, then fell silent, studying me with a quiet gaze.
His eyes bore the weight of deep unease.
Just then, someone approached with careful steps.
“Forgive me… Young Master.”
It was Eon-du, Father’s personal attendant. He had served Father since long ago and was always at his side.
When all the servants of the Residence Quarter were punished, Eon-du had been with Father at the Central Hall and thus escaped involvement.
“I have completed the inventory of the gifts the Family Head bestowed. Where shall I place them?”
“The medicinal herbs in my Residence Quarter, and the rest in Li-yeon’s Residence Quarter… No, wait a moment.”
“Yes, sir.”
Eon-du seemed somewhat taken aback but withdrew without question. I too found myself puzzled and looked toward Father.
“Li-yeon.”
Father knelt on one knee, bringing our eyes to the same level.
“No matter how much I consider it, my heart finds no peace.”
The gravity of his tone made me tense with uncertainty. After studying me for a long moment, Father spoke with quiet resolve.
“Would you not live together with me in my Residence Quarter from now on?”
“…Pardon?”
“Of course, only if you are willing. I am not forcing you. My Residence Quarter is spacious—I can prepare a chamber for you at once. Ordinarily, children do not separate from their parents until around ten years of age, and even then they move to a different building. Though your Residence Quarter and mine are close, separated only by the Inner Courtyard, they are still distinct structures. At your age, it is proper to remain with both parents. However, when I first brought you here, I feared you would find my presence strange, so I deliberately requested a separate Residence Quarter for you.”
I opened my eyes wide, staring at Father.
What, is he rapping? Father speaking without pause like this was unprecedented.
And his words were far from finished.
“Yet the more I consider it, the more I believe it would be better for us to share the same Residence Quarter. The closer we are, the better I can look after you, and besides, your health is delicate….”
Gaping like a fool as I listened, I feared this would never end, so I hastily cut him off.
“I’d love to!”
“…You would?”
“Yes! I’d love to.”
What was there to be uneasy about? His nervous inquiry struck me as amusing, and laughter bubbled forth.
Father’s expression brightened gradually, and then he pulled me into an embrace.
In that warm embrace, I laughed freely.
* * *
An elderly noblewoman dressed in deep violet silk reclined at ease.
Before her stood a cute little girl in a fine crimson skirt, munching on snacks while playing with a young servant boy.
“Don’t eat too much. You’ll have no appetite for dinner.”
It was a sight that naturally brought peace to the heart.
Not long after, a voice called out from beyond the door.
“Madam, Miss Baek Li-ui-ran has arrived.”
“Li-ri, go out with your nanny for a while.”
At the elderly lady’s words, the nanny who had been watching over the child the entire time led both Li-ri and the servant boy out of the chamber.
The moment they left, Baek Li-ui-ran flew in as if on wings.
“Mother! Did you hear? Father gave a gift to that Baek Li-yeon girl!”
“I heard.”
“What on earth has gotten into Father lately? Why is he suddenly taking care of that girl!”
“Lower your voice.”
“He sent all sorts of precious things! Even the white sable fur I was hoping for went to that Baek Li-yeon girl! I even hinted to Go Chong-gwan about wanting it!”
The elderly lady calmly lifted her teacup.
“Isn’t it all because of you? If you hadn’t shown such behavior in front of the Central Hall, would that child have ever caught anyone’s eye?”
“But Mother…!”
Raising her hand to silence her daughter, the lady spoke.
“Now that Baek Li-ui-gang has returned, you should refrain from such foolish acts and conduct yourself properly.”
Baek Li-ui-ran pouted and asked.
“How long will he stay? Surely he’s not planning to remain here permanently?”
“Since his retainers haven’t arrived, he’ll likely leave again soon.”
“Thank goodness. I hope he leaves quickly without causing more trouble. Oh, that’s right! I heard Baek Li-ui-gang made that Baek Li-yeon girl’s servant kneel as an example today—what was he thinking?”
Baek Li-ui-gang was known to be lenient with servants.
A punishment directly handed down by such a man. Moreover, it happened when many eyes were still watching due to the family head’s recent whims.
News of Baek Li-ui-gang’s actions spread throughout the Baek Li Estate in less than an hour.
“Mother already punished her days ago, and now he’s punishing her again? It’s infuriating. He’s completely tarnishing Mother’s reputation!”
Whispers were already beginning to circulate—questioning how inadequate the mistress’s own education must have been if Baek Li-ui-gang felt compelled to reprimand the servant again.
“Mother, will you just leave it as is?”
“Baek Li-ui-gang hasn’t said anything about it. Are you asking me to step forward first?”
The elderly lady cast a disapproving glance at Baek Li-ui-ran.
“Besides, he neither struck nor expelled her. He merely made an ill-mannered servant kneel. If I intervene, it will only become a laughingstock.”
It was far too trivial a matter to address directly.
It would have been better to simply dismiss such a servant from her daughter’s service, then criticize her for failing to properly educate her attendants and send a new, foolish and greedy one in her place.
But Baek Li-ui-gang left that servant as she was and took only his daughter to his own Residence Quarter.
His excuse was perfect. Since Baek Li-yeon’s health was still poor, he would personally care for her.
There was nothing to be done when a father insisted on personally nursing his ailing daughter. Especially when the child was only six years old.
Had she been even slightly older, I could have forced independence of her quarters under the pretext of cultivating self-reliance, but that too was impossible.
“So you’ll just leave it? Because of that wretched girl, I’m scolded in the Central Hall, my reputation is ruined, and Father ignores me these days!”
“Didn’t I tell you to be careful in front of others? You’ve already borne two children—why do you still conduct yourself so recklessly?”
Baek Li-ui-ran bit her lip at the rebuke and leaned closer to the elderly lady.
“Still, Mother, we can’t just sit idle like this, can we? Please do something about it.”
“….”
The elderly lady, who had been lost in thought while gazing down at the table, finally spoke.
“Bring Pyo and Ak-i here.”
“The children?”
“Yes.”
“But it hasn’t been long since we sent them to the in-laws’ house….”
“It can’t be helped. Still, he will preserve your dignity as their mother in front of the children.”
“Do you really think Father will do that?”
The elderly lady lifted her teacup and smiled serenely.
“And once those children are here, he’ll soon forget about a useless cripple who can’t even learn martial arts.”
* * *
Nestled in Father’s arms, I admired the flowers blooming brilliantly in the Garden.
Beneath the clear sky, a cool breeze swept across my forehead. I hung loosely around Father’s neck, my feet merely dangling.
‘Come to think of it, when was the last time I walked on my own feet?’
Ever since I collapsed in the Central Hall, Father had been so overprotective that my feet barely touched the ground.
‘Though it’s not quite that extreme.’
The moment Father’s shadow and mine appeared by the Pond, crucian carp came swarming over. I pulled out a paper packet from my sleeve and began unwrapping it eagerly.
“Eat plenty!”
I scattered the fish food evenly for them to share. It was the only thing I did these days in my rather lazy existence.
Father watched me with an expression that was not pleased but rather very serious—in other words, exactly as usual.
I turned my gaze from Father’s serious expression toward the beautiful Garden.
This Garden, harmonizing with the Pond, was among the most beautiful places in the Baek Li Estate. Yet in my previous life, I had never set foot near here. This Garden was far too close to my aunt’s Residence Quarter. But….
‘Father is the best.’
I hugged Father’s neck tightly.
“Why are you doing that? Are you cold?”
“No! I just like it.”
Father’s expression hardened to a degree that, if anyone saw it, they might say he was angry. But from my experience so far, I knew it was an expression he made to hide his embarrassment.
That was when it happened.
“What, already falling behind? Is the Baek Li Family only this pathetic?”
“Next! Anyone come out! What’s this, why isn’t anyone coming out? Don’t you have anyone?”
The boisterous voices of boys carried over the tile-roofed wall.
I startled at that moment and looked toward the direction of the voices. These were voices that shouldn’t have been heard at this point in time.

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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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