The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 330

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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 Episode 24
* * *
The year’s first snow fell in thick, fluffy clusters throughout the night, and by the time the sun rose, the entire world lay blanketed in pristine white.
And at that hour when most still slumbered—just as dawn began to break.
Crunch, crunch.
Two people, their hands clasped warmly together, traced footprints side by side across the pure white garden.
“It’s quiet and beautiful.”
“It truly is.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong and Baek Li-yeon strolled along in gentle conversation.
“The garden’s atmosphere changes so much when snow blankets it.”
“Isn’t it similar to when the pear blossoms bloomed in spring?”
“Not at all.”
“Come to think of it, have you never experienced winter at the Baek Li Estate before? Actually, you have once.”
“That was when you were fighting Cheon-ma and wouldn’t wake up afterward. How could I have had the mind to admire the garden?”
“I suppose so.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong regarded Baek Li-yeon with a look of displeasure.
“I suppose so? Do you have any idea how much I suffered back then…? Never mind.”
Baek Li-yeon laughed softly and linked her arm through his, nestling into his embrace.
Like a pair of mandarin ducks, the couple remained inseparably close as they continued their walk. The tranquil garden was silent, yet within that quietude, they found profound comfort.
“By the way, this is Hwa-a’s first snow. When we return, I should let her touch it.”
“Hwa-a’s hands will get cold.”
“Tactile play is important for brain development, they say. It’s good for sensory development too.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s expression shifted to one of familiar bewilderment at this strange world’s wisdom.
Baek Li-yeon continued.
“Oh, that’s right. And in that world, there’s a saying that if you make a wish when the first snow falls, it comes true.”
“I know. You told me that last winter.”
“Oh, you remembered? So did you make a wish?”
“No.”
The answer came swift and resolute, as if there was nothing to consider.
“Why not?”
“Wishes aren’t something others fulfill for you. I must forge my own path.”
…
Baek Li-yeon exhaled a deep sigh inwardly.
Good heavens, what utterly unromantic self-help book nonsense was this?
Then she felt his grip on her hand tighten. When she glanced at Namgung Ryu-cheong in confusion, his gaze met hers—deep and profound with emotion.
His voice, low and hushed, whispered softly.
“Because I’ve already achieved everything. There’s nothing left I desire.”
…
…
‘Who’s the one without romance now!’
Namgung Ryu-cheong tilted his head slightly and let out a soft cough, as if embarrassment were belatedly washing over him.
As if to change the subject, Namgung Ryu-cheong asked.
“What about you?”
“Hmm?”
“What wish did you make?”
“Me? I… Hmm? Father?”
A familiar presence appeared in the Residence Quarter, which had returned without notice.
Baek Li-yeon approached the window with soft footsteps crunching in the snow and pulled it open. Baek Li-ui-gang stood beside the sleeping quarters, gazing at Sehwa with kind eyes.
Namgung Ryu-cheong asked.
“When did you arrive?”
“Not long ago. Where did you two go, leaving Hwa-a behind?”
“It’s still early dawn. Hwa-a was sleeping soundly, so Ryu-cheong and I took a brief walk around the grounds. It seems Hwa-a has already woken up.”
Sehwa, who had seen Baek Li-yeon and Namgung Ryu-cheong through the window, spread her chubby palms wide in a wave before immediately turning her head away.
Some time had passed since she woke, and there was no trace of drowsiness on Sehwa’s face. Instead, her bright, sparkling eyes were captivated by something.
Baek Li-yeon checked what was in Sehwa’s arms and asked in surprise.
“Did Father make this for you?”
“Yes.”
In Sehwa’s arms was a snowman no larger than a palm.
Sehwa wanted to play with the snowman, but it was so cold that she repeatedly grasped it and released it, unable to decide. Her indecisiveness was utterly endearing.
Shortly after, Baek Li-ui-gang lifted Sehwa into his arms and placed the snowman on the windowsill.
“That’s enough now. Let’s stop here. Your hands are already turning red.”
Baek Li-ui-gang held Sehwa with one arm while firmly grasping her small hands with his other. Sehwa’s two hands fit perfectly within his large palm.
Baek Li-yeon, watching this with contentment, suddenly caught sight of the snowman standing alone on the windowsill and turned on her heel.
“Where are you going?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong followed Baek Li-yeon, and when they reappeared after briefly disappearing from view, the snowman on the windowsill was no longer alone.
Baek Li-ui-gang approached the window, still holding Sehwa in his arms.
“Hwa-a, look at this. Your mother has made a friend for you.”
“No, not a friend.”
“Then what?”
“This tiniest snowman is Hwa-a. And this is Mother, this is Father, and this is Grandfather.”
Baek Li-ui-gang found himself at a loss for words.
At that moment, Namgung Ryu-cheong’s hand, which had been resting on the windowsill, reached out and gently enfolded Baek Li-yeon’s hand, which had flushed red from the cold.
“Your hands look frozen.”
“You helped make them too. Your hands are colder than mine right now.”
“Exactly. So if we hold hands together, we’ll both warm up.”
“Oh, that’s true. How clever. Should I ask the kitchen for some sesame seeds and beans?”
“To make eyes for the snowmen?”
“Yes. Don’t you think they’d be even cuter that way?”
“That sounds nice.”
Baek Li-ui-gang gazed upon the snowmen huddled together and the lovely daughter and granddaughter before them, as if etching the scene into his eyes.
Among days of happiness beyond measure, there were moments when Baek Li-ui-gang wished this instant could last forever.
* * *
When the snowman family by the window had melted away entirely, Sehwa’s first birthday celebration was held. If a noisy and boisterous affair was the measure of a successful banquet, then that day’s celebration was undoubtedly a triumph.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk wanted Sehwa’s first birthday celebration to be magnificent, and as a result, guests arrived in endless streams.
Seo Ha-ryeong and Ak Jung-hae, who had been staying in Muuhan where the Murim Alliance Headquarters was located due to Kirin Society matters, also attended, allowing for a long-awaited reunion.
After thanking them for coming and showing them to their seats, we exchanged pleasantries and toasts. Baek Li-yeon declined alcohol, citing her poor health, and Namgung Ryu-cheong had to work twice as hard in her stead.
Once the hectic reception of guests finally ended, Namgung Ryu-cheong whispered to the pale-faced Baek Li-yeon.
“If you’re not feeling well, go rest first.”
“No. I need to see this through.”
The dol-jabi, the most important event of the first birthday celebration, finally began.
The prepared dol-jabi table was revealed before the guests….
“Huh?”
“What on earth is that?”
Surprised exclamations and bewildered voices echoed from all directions. Baek Li-yeon herself doubted her own eyes.
She stared at the dol-jabi table with an incredulous expression, then leaned toward Namgung Ryu-cheong’s ear and whispered her question.
“Is this what a martial family’s dol-jabi table is normally supposed to look like?”
“…No.”
Upon the wide platform draped in red cloth sat an abundance of weapons of every conceivable type—spears, swords, sabers, bows, and more. Though the blades had been safely covered to prevent injury, it was difficult to tell whether this was a dol-jabi table or a weapons display.
Of course, tucked in one corner as if an afterthought were books, inkstones, brushes, rouge and powder, thread and dates. There was no need to wonder who had arranged the dol-jabi table this way.
When Baek Li Pae-hyuk at the head seat nodded, Yu-mo rose with Sehwa in her arms.
Dressed beautifully, Sehwa was so lovely that one might believe she had descended from the heavens. Those who had seen her before, as well as those seeing her for the first time, let out sighs of adoration.
Sehwa was too busy looking around curiously at the gathered crowd from within Yu-mo’s embrace.
Yu-mo, who had soon arrived before the dol-jabi table, tilted her body slightly to make it easier for the child to reach and said.
“Young lady, choose something that pleases you.”
Everyone craned their necks and watched Sehwa with delighted expressions.
Whether she understood the instruction to choose or not, Sehwa’s gaze surveying the table was quite serious.
After a long pause, Sehwa reached out with her chubby hand as if she had made her decision.
As the desired object seemed to be quite far away, Sehwa, cradled in Yu-mo’s arms, nearly crawled, pressing her left hand against the table while stretching out her right. When her hand still could not reach, Sehwa struggled and slipped out of Yu-mo’s embrace.
Though all the blades were safely secured, Namgung Ryu-cheong and Baek Li-yeon, worried nonetheless, half-rose from their seats, ready to rush forward at any moment.
Thus, as Sehwa slowly crawled across the platform, she reached out her hand and grasped the seven-stringed zither.
“Oh my.”
“Good heavens.”
“Hahahaha!”
Exclamations mingled with laughter erupting from all around.
Sehwa, pleased with what she held, plucked the zither strings with her other hand.
Baek Li-yeon shook her head in disbelief while looking at Baek Li Pae-hyuk. Sure enough, Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s complexion had grown rigid as if he were attending a funeral.
Yu-mo, catching sight of Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s expression, quickly coaxed the child back into her arms with keen perception.
“Young lady, shall we try once more?”
But no matter how many times they tried, the result remained the same.
Unable to bear watching any longer, Baek Li Pae-hyuk suddenly stood up and took Sehwa from Yu-mo’s arms. The nanny, who had been breaking into a cold sweat, quickly retreated.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk drew the ornate sword from his waist and held it up for the child to see.
“Look at this. Isn’t it beautiful? Hmm?”
Baek Li-ui-gang’s ears flushed crimson as he muttered softly.
“…Father, have some dignity…”
Even Namgung Ryu-cheong burst into laughter, while Baek Li-yeon beside him laughed so hard she nearly slid from her chair.
Then Sehwa, her expression stubborn, opened her mouth.
“Grandfather.”
“…!”
Baek Li-yeon’s laughter ceased abruptly.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s rigid expression brightened, and a radiant smile bloomed across his face. His joy was so profound that his eyes curved into crescents, the pupils disappearing entirely.
Baek Li-yeon cried out.
“She called you grandfather again! Why! Hwa-a!”
“C-calm yourself. There are many watching.”
“How can I calm down!”
Then Sehwa spoke again. Her words came slowly, but each syllable was pronounced with perfect clarity.
“Grandfather.”
“Yes, yes, grandfather, grandfather!”
“Hate.”
“…!”
“Grandfather. Hate.”
Silence fell over the banquet hall for a moment before it erupted in uproarious laughter.
The complexion of this supreme martial master, who would remain unmoved even if lightning struck beside him, seemed worse than if the heavens themselves were collapsing.
Baek Li-yeon leaped to her feet and rushed toward Sehwa, pleading desperately.
“Hwa-a, Hwa-a, say it again. What did you say? Hmm?”
But despite her mother’s pleas, Sehwa merely turned her head away stubbornly, her expression unmoved.
“Hwa-a, say it again. Hmm?”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk, stunned into silence, blinked rapidly and grew indignant.
“Say it again for what! That’s right! I’m not grandfather! She was talking about that fellow!”
Baek Li-ui-gang, suddenly pointed at without warning, spoke in a rare tone of grievance.
“How is a one-year-old child supposed to distinguish between grandfather and great-grandfather? She hasn’t even learned to say mother and father yet.”
Now it was Baek Li-yeon’s turn to be unexpectedly attacked. She staggered and cried out with wounded eyes.
“Father!”
“Hmph, hmph.”
“Ugh, you’re both so loud!”
Baek Li-yeon opened her mouth to respond to Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s outburst, then suddenly covered her own lips with her palm.
At this, Baek Li Pae-hyuk raised his eyebrows.
“What, now you’re covering your mouth and protesting because I’m loud? Huh?!”
Baek Li-yeon waved her other hand, indicating that wasn’t it at all.
Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had drawn near, gripped Baek Li-yeon’s shoulder, while Baek Li-ui-gang asked with concern in his voice.
“What’s wrong? You said you weren’t feeling well today—is that the reason?”
Baek Li-yeon lowered her hand and exhaled a long, measured breath.
“It was nothing, really.”
“Are you truly certain you’re alright?”
“I’m fine. Truly fine.”
Baek Li-yeon offered a reassuring smile to those watching her, then extended her hand toward Sehwa.
“Hwa-a, come to Mother… ugh, ugh.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
The three men surrounding Baek Li-yeon exchanged glances. Without uttering a word, they all understood they shared the same thought.
The Banquet Hall, which had fallen silent, suddenly erupted with murmurs.
Baek Li-yeon, her hand pressed to her mouth as she suppressed her nausea several times, finally lifted her head with a sigh.
“Ah, I cannot hide this any longer.”
Baek Li-ui-gang asked with a bewildered expression.
“Why suddenly? And what do you mean you cannot hide it? What are you talking about?”
“Well, you see…”
Baek Li-yeon spoke with an endearing scrunch of her eyes.
“I was planning to tell you after the first birthday celebration, but… I’m carrying another child. It seems to be about a month along now… I’m fairly certain of it.”
The three men stood motionless with identical expressions of shock. Then Baek Li Pae-hyuk was the first to erupt in fury, jumping about indignantly.
“Why are you only telling us now!”
“You rascal!”
“Father-in-law, let us settle this properly. The Physician should examine her first!”
“Yes, that’s right! Fetch the Physician at once!”
“You truly are with child?”
“A second child! My lady, congratulations!”
“Miss, congratulations!”
“Yeon, congratulations!”
On that spring day when flowers bloomed in profusion, a new bond and the hopeful beginning of a radiant future had taken root.
【Side Story 2 – End】

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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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