The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 329

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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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Side Story: Chapter 23
Baek Li-yeon found the situation utterly absurd.
But what could she do when the child was being so insistent?
After pondering for a while, Baek Li-yeon caught sight of the gentle stream flowing beyond the window and her eyes sparkled with inspiration.
After receiving Baek Li-yeon’s whispered instructions, Namgung Ryu-cheong left the guest room, and shortly after, the boat began to sway gently as if caught in a breeze.
Baek Li-yeon waited calmly, and the moment the boat’s tilt aligned with the direction and force of the child’s rolling attempt, she gave the infant a subtle push using natural momentum.
“…!”
At last, the child succeeded in rolling over.
Clap, clap, clap!
The nursemaid applauded enthusiastically.
“Young miss, you’ve done it!”
“Oh my, finally!”
Baek Li-yeon quickly scooped up Sehwa into her arms.
“There, there, you did so well. You did wonderfully. My, our Sehwa is amazing. Shall we go get some milk now, hmm?”
Sehwa’s small features betrayed her thoughts clearly—a vague, uncertain expression as if something wasn’t quite right.
Baek Li-yeon hastily handed the child to the nursemaid before she could cry again. Fortunately, the infant was hungry and began feeding when offered milk.
Baek Li-yeon watched for a moment, then emerged from the inner chamber of the guest room. Namgung Ryu-cheong had already returned to the room.
Seeing Baek Li-yeon sitting on the sleeping quarters, Namgung Ryu-cheong let out a deep sigh.
She hadn’t noticed before, but his appearance was a complete mess. His clothes were wrinkled, and his hair stood on end in disarray. And he’d gone out on deck looking like that.
Baek Li-yeon approached and tidied his hair as she spoke.
“You worked hard.”
“I’ve done many things in my life, but shaking a boat… truly….”
“What if this happens again?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s complexion turned pale in an instant.
A moment later, with a stiffened expression, he murmured softly.
“…I must show greater filial devotion to my mother when we return.”
Baek Li-yeon laughed softly and leaned her head against Namgung Ryu-cheong. So this was something he too could not escape—the truth that parents understand only after having children.
* * *
By the time the child had mastered rolling over freely and begun crawling bit by bit, they entered the city where the Baek Li Family Estate stood.
As Baek Li-yeon opened the carriage window, the cool breeze of early autumn flowed in. The bustling streets beneath the clear sky remained unchanged.
Baek Li-yeon spoke to Sehwa, who sat on Namgung Ryu-cheong’s lap.
“This is where your mother lived.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong continued.
“It’s where you’ll live in the future.”
“Why are you saying such things already?”
“It’s good to know in advance.”
“Besides, does Hwa-a even understand what you’re saying?”
The child sat quietly, gazing out the window as if comprehending something.
Baek Li-yeon also rested her arms on the window frame and propped her chin up, following Sehwa’s gaze.
It was then that Jin-jin, riding on horseback, held something up before the window.
“I bought them from the confectionery shop that the young lady favored.”
“Oh. Thank you!”
“It’s nothing.”
As I unwrapped the package, familiar sweets emerged. Baek Li-yeon immediately popped one into her mouth. The confection melted on her tongue.
“Mm, yes—this is the taste I remembered.”
Though the kitchen staff of the Namgung Clan and the confectioneries nearby were skilled, their sweets tasted different from these.
Namgung Ryu-cheong asked.
“Is it delicious?”
Baek Li-yeon nodded and reached for another sweet. “Would you like to try one?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
Baek Li-yeon’s eyes widened.
“You said it’s your favorite, didn’t you? Let me see what it tastes like.”
As Baek Li-yeon blinked, Namgung Ryu-cheong looked away slightly, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face. “…Perhaps I might be able to make them myself someday.”
“…”
Baek Li-yeon stared blankly for a moment before burying her face in Namgung Ryu-cheong’s neck and murmuring softly.
“Thank you.”
Warmth bloomed naturally in my chest.
I lifted my head with a soft murmur, and my eyes met Namgung Ryu-cheong’s gaze as he looked down at me.
In the depths of his eyes, our breathing drew closer, and just as our sweet breaths mingled—
“Baa!”
The sudden sound startled us both, and we sprang apart.
From the sudden movement, Sehwa, who had been sitting on Namgung Ryu-cheong’s lap, nearly tumbled to the side, but Baek Li-yeon caught her in alarm.
“Boo!”
Sehwa made a disgruntled sound.
Namgung Ryu-cheong and Baek Li-yeon both flushed deeply and cleared their throats awkwardly. Once Sehwa had settled back into a stable position, she reached toward the sweets as if demanding her own share.
The child, now with her front teeth coming in and eating soft foods, was at the stage where she put everything within her grasp into her mouth.
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s expression hardened as he swept the confection far out of her reach.
“No, this won’t do. It’s far too sweet. This is yours instead.”
He then retrieved a small basket from the corner of the carriage and opened its lid. Inside lay pale, luminous rice cakes.
These soft rice cakes were Sehwa’s particular favorite, and he had prepared several, offering them to her whenever she grew bored. Though they were so delicate that more crumbled in her palm than she actually consumed.
I had tasted them once myself, and they were so bland to my palate that I could barely discern any flavor at all.
When the confection moved away, Sehwa whimpered and sniffled as though she might burst into tears at any moment. Seeing this beginning again, Baek Li-yeon’s face went pale.
Meanwhile, Namgung Ryu-cheong watched Sehwa intently, as if contemplating something. Just before she could cry out, he reached into the basket and retrieved a rice cake.
Receiving Baek Li-yeon’s questioning gaze, Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke.
“Hwa-a, you won’t eat this? Then Father will have to eat all of it.”
With those words, a rice cake disappeared into Namgung Ryu-cheong’s mouth. Sehwa’s eyes widened in shock.
As Namgung Ryu-cheong reached toward the basket again, Sehwa’s bottom began bouncing frantically.
Along with those words, a rice cake disappeared into Namgung Ryu-cheong’s mouth. Then Sehwa’s eyes widened as if she had received a great shock.
As Namgung Ryu-cheong reached toward the basket again, Sehwa wiggled her buttocks frantically.
“Waaah.”
Just as Sehwa was about to cry again, Namgung Ryu-cheong handed her a basket. She clutched it to her chest as though terrified someone might snatch it away.
“What is this…? Well, heh.”
Baek Li-yeon found it absurd and let out a hearty laugh, her amusement soon growing so loud that even those outside the carriage could hear it.
She laughed so hard that tears eventually gathered at the corners of her eyes.
“You’re a complete master at this.”
“There’s always a way.”
So a stubborn person understands another stubborn person’s heart?
As we laughed and chattered, the carriage arrived before the Baek Li Estate. The warrior holding a spear at the main gate was someone I recognized quite well.
Yu Chang. He was one of the children Baek Li-ui-gang had rescued from Heukssi.
Jin-jin exchanged warm greetings with Yu Chang.
Of all the children from Heukssi, only three could become warriors. Jin-jin became a disciple of Baek Geom Danju, Yu Chang became a gate guard. And the remaining one became a warrior protecting the Baek Li Family Estate in another region.
The other children became servants of the Baek Li Family, managed the Baek Li Family shops, or left this place through marriage. They all found their own place in the world.
Soon the carriage passed through the main gate and finally came to a stop. I had returned to my own place after being away for a time.
Baek Li-yeon descended from the carriage and rushed toward the people waiting for her.
“Father! Grandfather!”
* * *
Unlike last year, this year’s Chuseok celebration at the Baek Li Estate was quite lively.
Sehwa had shown great interest in music even in the womb, and now she seemed fascinated by the musicians’ melodies during this Chuseok.
Watching her, Baek Li-yeon thought it was time to begin teaching the child to speak.
I had expected her to learn quickly given her usually capable nature, but…
“Maa~maa~.”
“…”
“Maa~maa~.”
“…”
“Sehwa, say mother!”
The child, who could now sit up on her own and even stand, merely stared with wide, bright eyes.
Her lips remained firmly sealed, showing no sign of opening.
In fact, once I began teaching her to speak, Sehwa stopped making the short, random sounds she had been uttering before.
Baek Li-yeon spoke with concern in her voice.
“Children usually start speaking around this age.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had been watching, opened his mouth.
“Hwa-a.”
Sehwa looked at Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“Mother.”
Then she looked at Baek Li-yeon.
“Father.”
She looked back at Namgung Ryu-cheong again.
Baek Li-yeon spoke.
“She seems to understand… but why won’t she speak? Hwa-a, try repeating after me. Say mother~.”
“….”
“…Don’t worry so much. The physician said there was nothing wrong with her.”
“I’m not worried. It’s just….”
There truly was nothing wrong, technically speaking.
Two days ago, when Baek Li-yeon was in the midst of her martial arts training, Baek Li-ui-gang had been watching over Sehwa. At that moment, Sehwa called out “Grandfather” to Baek Li-ui-gang—a fact corroborated not only by Baek Li-ui-gang himself but by all the servants present.
Baek Li-yeon spoke with a dejected expression.
“I wanted to hear it too. Why does Grandfather get to hear it first!”
Baek Li-ui-gang beamed with pride and boasted everywhere that Sehwa was a genius. But she felt only sorrow and indignation.
Why… is she my daughter… when “Mother” is so much easier to say than “Grandfather”…! Does she prefer Grandfather to Mother, my dear?!

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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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