The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 80

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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 80
“Grandfather—the Namgung Family Head—already gave permission for me to enter Changung Pavilion. I thought you’d head straight there. Oh, did you come to see me before going in? …Why?”
I tried to make sense of it myself, but my conclusion kept circling back to: why? Why did she come to see me? Wasn’t she just obsessed with re-manifesting her sword technique?
Namgung Ryu-cheong fixed me with a bitter expression.
“…You’re telling me to take an interest in people?”
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then who should I take an interest in?”
“Well….”
I glanced around quickly and pointed to the servant standing behind Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“How about your closest attendant for starters?”
“Oh my, what are you saying!”
The servant waved his hands in alarm.
“Or what about Miss Seo Ha-ryeong?”
“What!”
This time, Seo Ha-ryeong jumped to her feet and glared at me. There was also Yalyu, but…I couldn’t bring myself to suggest he take an interest in Yalyu.
Yalyu, whose eyes met mine, smiled knowingly.
“….”
“….”
As I closed my mouth, silence descended over the courtyard. There were five people here—why was it so quiet!
I had no choice but to speak again.
“Does anyone have something to say? No one?”
“….”
“….”
As the silence stretched on, Yalyu opened his mouth.
“When are you leaving?”
“Ah.”
I turned to Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“Well, it’s unfortunate timing since you’ve come all this way. I have a prior engagement. Next time I’ll come to you—if you don’t refuse.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked between me and Seo Ha-ryeong and asked.
“Are you going out somewhere?”
“Yes. We’re going out to have some fun.”
“Going out…to have fun?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s expression twisted as though he’d just heard of some sinister plot to overturn the world.
I spoke defensively.
“I got permission….”
Wait, but why was I defending myself about this? As I pondered that, an unexpected voice came from beside me.
“Can I come with you?”
It was Seo Ha-ryeong. I turned my head sharply to look at her.
What’s gotten into her now?
My expression must have been far too transparent again.
Seo Ha-ryeong cupped her hand to my ear and whispered.
“I just remembered. Mother said that since the Namgung Young Master apologized, we should make up and get along well.”
Well, the Suhyang Munju’s initial goal had been for the Namgung Clan’s heir and Seo Ha-ryeong to become acquainted.
I smiled brightly and clapped once as if everything had worked out perfectly.
“Then why don’t the two of you go together? Just the two of you would be much more… Ow, ow, ow! That hurts, don’t pinch me. Fine, fine, I get it.”
I rubbed my forearm and made a pained expression. Yalyu glared at Seo Ha-ryeong and pressed close to me.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong furrowed his brow and spoke.
“I never said I was going.”
Yalyu glanced at Namgung Ryu-cheong and said.
“Let’s go quickly.”
Without him.
Everyone present understood that those unspoken words hung in the air.
‘Yalyu, that remark was worse than saying nothing at all….’
The moment I heard Yalyu’s words, I could predict Namgung Ryu-cheong’s next move. Namgung Ryu-cheong stared at Yalyu for a moment before speaking.
“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll go.”
“….”
Just as expected.
And so the four of us ended up heading out to the Back Alley together.
* * *
The Back Alley near noon was bustling with vitality, and the faces of merchants and passersby were free of shadows. It was immediately clear this was a pleasant place to live.
‘They’re staring quite a lot.’
I felt the gazes of people glancing our way.
‘Well, that’s only natural, isn’t it?’
To anyone’s eye, we looked like wealthy children out for a brief outing. Namgung Ryu-cheong was unmistakably a young master from a rich household. Seo Ha-ryeong appeared to be a young lady from an affluent family. Add to that Yalyu’s delicate beauty, rarely seen on the streets. And then there was a girl who appeared to be blind, her eyes covered.
We were an unavoidably striking combination.
“Which family’s children are those? Do you know?”
“I have no idea. Never seen them before.”
As I listened to the merchants’ conversation, I barely suppressed my laughter. They didn’t know? Right in front of the Namgung Clan, they didn’t recognize the face of the Namgung Young Master!
I couldn’t help but marvel at it.
How rarely must he venture out from home normally….
The merchant gestured toward Seo Ha-ryeong and spoke.
“I’ve seen that girl occasionally. She seems to stay at the Namgung Clan.”
“The Namgung Clan? Ah! Now that you mention it, I remember. That girl with her eyes covered next to him—wasn’t she the one the Namgung So Ga-ju brought back? What was it, the Baek Family or something?”
Even I could recognize myself….
The moment I shook my head while looking at Namgung Ryu-cheong, our eyes met. He shot me an arrogant glare as if asking why I’d shaken my head.
I smiled brightly and asked.
“Do you have any recommendations for places to visit?”
It didn’t seem like she came out very often, but I decided to ask just in case.
“Any recommendations?”
“Well, you live here. This is my first time coming out.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong hesitated before speaking.
“…I don’t know either.”
“But this is where you live?”
“I’m also coming out for the first time today.”
“What?”
I looked at him in utter shock.
“Your first time?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve never been out here before?”
“That’s right.”
“Wow.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked at me with slightly irritated eyes.
“Is it really that surprising?”
“Yes.”
I nodded firmly.
“This is the area around your home. You should pay attention to what happens here and what kind of place it is. You’re going to lead the Namgung Clan someday, aren’t you?”
“…”
“There are things you can only understand by seeing them with your own eyes…”
Just then, I felt Yalyu tugging at my sleeve. I stopped speaking and turned around.
“Yalyu, what is it?”
When I looked at where Yalyu was pointing, I saw red candied fruit skewers. Every time I came to the Namgung Clan, I would buy them without fail.
I grabbed Seo Ha-ryeong who was walking ahead.
“I want to eat that!”
Seo Ha-ryeong glanced at the candied fruit skewers and shook her head, dragging me along.
“No way!”
“Why?”
This was an unexpected objection.
“We have to go eat dumplings!”
“Dumplings?”
“There’s a dumpling place here that you absolutely must eat at!”
Seo Ha-ryeong led us forward without hesitation.
“You seem familiar with this place?”
“Of course. I’ve come out here occasionally with Sa-jeo and my older brothers. Unlike the Namgung young master!”
What’s with that look in her eyes, as if asking for praise?
“Oh? Um. That’s… impressive. Wow! You’re really something, Ha-ryeong!”
Clap clap clap!
Seo Ha-ryeong shrugged her shoulders proudly. Namgung Ryu-cheong looked at this with disdain.
“Wow, that’s impressive. So where are we going?”
“Over there!”
“Huh?”
I looked at where Seo Ha-ryeong was pointing and furrowed my brow.
“Don’t tell me that entire line is for it?”
“Yes! This place always has crowds, so the line gets long. Since we’re here, we have to eat their dumplings!”
Well… a long line means it’s a good restaurant.
I followed Seo Ha-ryeong to the back of the line and took my place.
Namgung Ryu-cheong seemed displeased by the bustling crowd and spoke while looking around.
“Do we really have to go through all this just to eat?”
“Because it’s delicious.”
“Tch, they’re just dumplings.”
“Ryu-cheong, broaden your perspective. The mind expands when you eat delicious food. Confucius saw the world as narrow because he never tasted good food. Remember that well.”
“Why do you keep calling me by my name? And stop spouting nonsense.”
“Then you call me by mine.”
“No.”
“Fine.”
…
Namgung Ryu-cheong turned his head away with an exasperated expression.
Why was I like this? Whenever I saw Namgung Ryu-cheong, something wicked within me awakened. I was desperate to crack that rigid expression of his.
‘Just because my body became young, did my mind regress too, Baek Li-yeon?’
Seo Ha-ryeong, who had been chuckling at our exchange, suddenly widened her eyes.
“Oh, that’s right! Sa-jeo asked me to buy some fragrant oil!”
“Fragrant oil? Let’s eat the dumplings first.”
“No! That fragrant oil sells out really early. And they only come once every five days! If we wait until after eating, it’ll be too late! Let’s go! You two wait here!”
I asked in surprise.
“You’re going to leave just Yalyu and Ryu-cheong here alone?”
“Yes. Why?”
“…That doesn’t seem right. Let’s all go together and then come back and——”
I was about to suggest we rejoin the line, but there was already quite a long queue behind us. If we left and came back, we’d have to wait at least twice as long as our current position. It seemed like lunch hour had drawn quite a crowd.
Understanding my concern, Seo Ha-ryeong exclaimed.
“Start the line all over from the beginning? That’s ridiculous!”
“But…”
“Then let’s leave one person to hold our place and the three of us will go.”
“Should we? Then I’ll go with Yalyu and——”
The moment I said that, Namgung Ryu-cheong glared at me. I hesitated briefly, then opened my mouth again.
“Then I’ll go with Ryu-cheong and——”
Yalyu took my hand and stared at me intently. Then he and Namgung Ryu-cheong glared at each other.
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked down at Yalyu and spoke.
“You stay.”
Of course, Yalyu wasn’t an easy child to deal with.
“I don’t want to.”
I gazed up at the sky. Though the brightness was blinding, I quickly shut my eyes.
“Fine. Then I’ll stay, and the three of us—”
“I don’t want to!”
“I don’t want to.”
“I don’t want to.”
I looked up at the sky again.

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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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