The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 300

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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 300
As Gu-sa’s footsteps faded into the distance, Namgung Ryu-cheong wiped his face and turned to look at me.
“I’m sorry you had to hear such nonsense.”
“…It’s fine.”
“I’ll send Gu-sa back immediately. I had no idea he would be so disrespectful.”
“No, really, I’m fine.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong studied me for a moment before speaking.
“You heard everything, didn’t you?”
“Well, um….”
“I thought you’d tell me to leave….”
“But I’m not going to.”
“…Really?”
“Have I been deceived my whole life?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s expression was one of disbelief.
“I thought you’d tell me to go too, since the Jegal Family Head left.”
“How are you and Hwa-mu the same?”
“….”
Namgung Ryu-cheong wiped his flushed face once more.
In that moment, something struck me like lightning.
‘Now is the time.’
This was the moment to answer the confession I had postponed that day.
I knew Namgung Ryu-cheong was waiting for my response—the one I had promised to give once everything was over.
My heart was already decided. All I had to do was speak. I’m grateful you’re beside me. Please stay with me from now on. I like you too.
Hadn’t I been thinking it was awkward to bring up the subject again until now? This was the opportunity.
“I….”
I clenched both my hands tightly.
“I… still hurt.”
But what came out of my mouth was foolish.
“I’m not healed yet. So please… stay a little longer.”
My face burning crimson, I lowered my head and grasped his sleeve.
I was embarrassed by my own stupid words, and the awkwardness of the situation made me feel like I might die.
‘How on earth did I confess before I returned?’
If I had possessed even half the courage I’d had then, I wouldn’t have spoken like this.
Then Namgung Ryu-cheong sat me down on a wide rock in the back garden and said,
“I’ll call the physician right away.”
“….”
In that instant, the tension drained from my body. If I hadn’t been sitting, I would have collapsed.
I quickly grasped at Namgung Ryu-cheong’s sleeve as he tried to leave.
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked at me with concern.
“What’s wrong?”
I clenched my teeth before speaking.
“Can’t you stay beside me?”
“What?”
“Then it won’t hurt so much.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong gripped my hand tightly and stood.
“I’ll fetch the Physician right away.”
“….”
I released the hand I’d been holding.
‘Fine. Go, just go!’
He was usually so perceptive—why had he suddenly become dense here?
I watched Namgung Ryu-cheong’s retreating figure disappear from the Back Garden, then collapsed backward onto the ground.
I gazed at the brilliant blue sky as clouds drifted across it, but the brightness stung my eyes, so I closed them. Then I felt Namgung Ryu-cheong’s presence more distinctly.
I also sensed another presence entering the Back Garden. Soon after, Namgung Ryu-cheong’s aura and this new presence met. Then both fell still.
‘Hmm? Who is that?’
I sat up and looked toward Namgung Ryu-cheong. At the same moment, a piercing cry rang out.
“…Who do you think you are!”
It was Baek Li-ri’s voice.
It was a voice I hadn’t heard in a very long time.
In fact, since that last encounter at the Murim Alliance Headquarters, I had never once met Baek Li-ri. The same was true for Baek Li-myeong and Baek Li-ui-muk.
I hadn’t particularly sought them out either. My mind and spirit were far more at peace when I didn’t see them.
“I know everything! The Jegal Family Head even came to see you off today! Countless people saw you, sister. What, are you ill?”
“Lower your voice. And I have never spoken falsehoods.”
“Do you think I’d fall for that again? Move aside!”
“Is this your residence? Stop making a scene like a child and leave. I need to call someone….”
Crack!
It happened in the blink of an eye.
For a moment, silence fell. I froze in place, then immediately sprang to my feet.
Baek Li-ri’s cry rang out again.
“This is our house! Who are you to tell my sister who she can and cannot see…!”
As I pushed through the foliage and arrived, Baek Li-ri raised her hand to strike again, but Namgung Ryu-cheong seized her wrist and twisted it.
“Ahhhhh!”
“Young lady! Namgung Prince! What is the meaning of this!”
Baek Li-ri’s servant cried out urgently.
I rushed forward and shouted as well.
“What are you doing!”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s expression was stern, while Baek Li-ri looked at me as though I were her savior.
“Let go!”
At Baek Li-ri’s imperious cry, Namgung Ryu-cheong’s brow twitched slightly before he released her hand as if pushing her away. Her servant caught the stumbling Baek Li-ri.
“Sister!”
I ignored Baek Li-ri as she approached me and walked toward Namgung Ryu-cheong instead.
“Sister?”
Against the backdrop of Baek Li-ri’s flustered voice, I examined his cheek. A flush was rising across it.
I bit my lip hard.
“Baek Li-ri, what on earth is this situation? Explain yourself.”
“Sister! You saw it yourself—that bastard twisted my wrist!”
“And what of it?”
“What?”
“If you hadn’t slapped his cheek first, wouldn’t Ryu-cheong have had good reason to do what he did?”
Baek Li-ri drew in a sharp breath, then cried out as though deeply wronged.
“I… I only said that because he kept blocking me, and I couldn’t see your face all this time. He said it hurt, said it wouldn’t work, and I believed him—but if he’s well enough to do this…!”
I cut off Baek Li-ri’s words.
“Does that give you reason to slap Ryu-cheong’s cheek now?”
“Yes! Why shouldn’t I? What am I to you! Why are you taking his side? I’m your blood relative! What exactly is my relationship to you!”
“…”
For a moment, I couldn’t answer. Though I had awakened and naturally spent time with him, we had never explicitly discussed what our relationship was. But that wasn’t the important matter now.
“Baek Li-ri, if you wish to complain, take it to Father. It was Father who entrusted full authority over my medical care to Namgung Ryu-cheong while I was unconscious.”
While I lay unconscious, Father too had suffered greatly from exhausting his true energy to the dregs, leaving his body in an extremely poor state. Since Father also needed to focus on his recovery, he had entrusted full authority over my medical care to Namgung Ryu-cheong during this time.
I lifted the corners of my mouth as I spoke.
“By your own words, you are my blood relative. But if you were truly trustworthy, why would Father have entrusted my medical care to Namgung Ryu-cheong instead of you?”
“…”
Baek Li-ri stared at me with an expression full of shock and sorrow.
“That’s… why are you taking his side? You’re my sister!”
“Yes, I am your sister. But if you weren’t my sister, would you ever dare to raise your hand against Namgung Ryu-cheong, the sole heir of the Namgung Clan?”
Tears glistened in Baek Li-ri’s eyes at some point.
I spoke coldly.
“Apologize.”
Baek Li-ri clenched his teeth, then spun around and ran. The Female Servant hurried after him in alarm.
“Young master!”
The sound of footsteps grew steadily distant.
I glared after them without turning, and only after they had completely vanished from sight did I spin around.
Namgung Ryu-cheong wore a somewhat foolish expression.
“Why did you let yourself get hit!”
Certainly, he had ‘let’ himself be hit. There was no way Namgung Ryu-cheong couldn’t have dodged Baek Li-ri’s strike. Her skill was pathetically inadequate.
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke as though it were nothing.
“It was bothersome to avoid.”
“Bothersome to avoid?”
Upon seeing my expression, Namgung Ryu-cheong flinched in surprise and hastily added more.
“…Ah, well, it’s easier for me to act if she strikes first.”
“So you deliberately took the hit?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke with a pitiful tone.
“She’s your sister, after all. At the very least, we were close enough to call ourselves sisters….”
“Sigh.”
I exhaled deeply and buried my face in both hands.
I felt bitter. If it weren’t for me, she would never have experienced this.
‘Baek Li-ri, I knew you were thoughtless, but has your mind truly gone that far?’
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke.
“…Are you crying?”
“What good would crying do!”
I dropped my hands sharply. There were no tears.
“Don’t do that again. Ryu-cheong, you matter to me far more than Baek Li-ri does.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong, visibly relieved by my composed demeanor, seemed oddly pleased.
I furrowed my brow and asked.
“You… look happy?”
“Yes. You noticed.”
“….”
I was genuinely concerned about Namgung Ryu-cheong’s sanity.
“I’ll apply medicine for you. Let’s go.”
* * *
The next day, Baek Li-myeong came to visit.
“I have come to apologize on behalf of Li-ri for yesterday’s incident.”
I remained in my chamber, leaning against the wall at an angle, listening to their conversation. The thin wooden walls provided no soundproofing whatsoever, so I could hear their exchange clearly.
“Li-ri simply lacks maturity. I beg you to exercise forbearance and show a generous heart….”
“So it is acceptable to strike someone across the face if they lack maturity? Is that what the Baek Li Family teaches?”
“….”
“Moreover, I understand she is only one year older than Yeon. Pray tell, at what age does one finally acquire maturity?”
I let out a quiet laugh and picked up my teacup. Namgung Ryu-cheong’s voice continued.
“I see now why she lacks maturity. With a brother like you, a prince, there was no need for her to develop any. I accept your apology. Keep the gift—I have no need for it.”
The sound of someone rising echoed, and Namgung Ryu-cheong issued his dismissal in an icy tone.
“Is there anything else you wish to say? If not, you may take your leave.”
Baek Li-myeong, who had been hesitating for some time, finally spoke.
“That is… how is Yeon faring? Is she well?”
“Yes.”
A curt reply that showed no desire to continue the conversation.
In the end, Baek Li-myeong sighed and rose to his feet. After offering one final apology, he departed from the Residence Quarter.

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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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