Chapter 15: Winter is coming.

Baek Yeon’s shocking engagement declaration (made without any input from me) froze the air around us for a moment.

“Haha!”

But soon, the cross-dressing young master let out a hearty laugh and asked Baek Yeon in a teasing tone.

“Yeon, do you even know what engagement means?”

“Of course I do!”

…That’s not the face of someone who knows.

Baek Yeon rolled her eyes, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

“Uh, it’s like… what Mother and Father did, staying together forever, right?”

“Hm, that’s not entirely wrong.”

“See! I knew it!”

Emboldened by the young master’s response, Baek Yeon puffed out her chest proudly.

‘She’s totally being set up to be teased.’

By now, I could practically read the young master’s intentions.

I wiped Baek Yeon’s saliva from my lips, stepped back, and watched their verbal sparring unfold.

“But, Yeon.”

As expected, the young master raised the corner of her mouth and continued in a sly tone.

“You’re not old enough to get engaged, and besides, an engagement requires mutual agreement.”

“…We have an agreement! Right, Seoran?”

“No…?”

When did I ever…?

Sure, I’m Baek Yeon’s pet human, but I have no intention of being that kind of pet human.

‘Well, a kid’s still a kid.’

Her sudden kiss caught me off guard, but seeing her now, I didn’t think I needed to worry.

It was just a thoughtless act from a thirteen-year-old, after all.

“…”

“Hahaha!”

At my response, Baek Yeon looked… well, like her world had just crumbled.

As if I’d betrayed her or something.

And then.

“…Very well.”

Song Hwa, who’d been quiet amidst our commotion, slowly spoke.

“I won’t report this to the Young Master for now.”

“Hm.”

“But if I ever judge that my teachings can’t contain this child… I’ll report to the Young Master first.”

Her eyes were cold and resolute.

“So, don’t covet her, Young Master. I have no intention of handing her over to your filthy side.”

Oof…

That was harsh.

I only knew the rough outline of the situation, but what had they done to make the usually kind Song Hwa act like this?

‘…I’ll find out eventually.’

I stopped thinking about it.

Honestly, the aftereffects of my qi deviation were making me too tired to care.

Fighting off the creeping exhaustion was enough work.

“Well, then, I suppose we’re done here.”

Unfazed by Song Hwa’s sharp attitude, the young master nodded leisurely and turned to me.

A gentle smile graced her lips.

“See you later, Yeon.”

“…”

With that, she left, and Song Hwa let out a sigh, muttering.

“As expected… I can’t figure out what that guy’s thinking.”

…Well.

I rolled my eyes at her words.

I didn’t quite agree.

To me, her intentions seemed painfully obvious.

Anyway.

That aside…

‘…I can’t hold on.’

Thud!

“Seoran?”

—

Baek Yeon’s eyes widened as she stared at Seoran, who’d gone limp in her arms.

“Are you okay?”

Panicked, she tried to shake Seoran awake, but Song Hwa, who’d approached, stopped her.

“She’s just exhausted and passed out. It’s better not to wake her.”

“There’s… nothing wrong with her, right?”

“I believe so, but… just to be sure, I’ll check.”

Song Hwa took Seoran’s wrist and nodded.

“Her qi and blood are fully stabilized. The Young Master… handled it well.”

She didn’t like admitting it, but credit had to be given where it was due.

Song Hwa disliked Baek Taehyuk, but she acknowledged his skill.

Despite not yet being twenty, he’d reached the fourth level of the Baek Clan’s signature swordsmanship, Yuhyeon Heart Sword, and his inner energy rivaled the clan’s elite warriors.

Song Hwa’s raw martial prowess might surpass his, but Baek Taehyuk was superior in qi manipulation.

Even Song Hwa couldn’t have stabilized Seoran as perfectly.

His talent was remarkable, but… it only made Song Hwa more resentful.

Consumed by greed, he used his talent to seize power within the clan instead of reviving its glory.

That’s why Song Hwa truly disliked him.

“…Annoying.”

Baek Yeon felt the same, though her reasons were entirely different.

Carefully hugging the limp Seoran, she muttered.

“Why does that person keep targeting what’s mine…?”

“…Haha.”

Song Hwa couldn’t help but chuckle at what she found to be cute jealousy.

To think the Young Lady could say such things.

Seoran’s presence was clearly having a positive effect on Baek Yeon.

Thinking of Baek Yeon’s behavior before Seoran arrived… well, yeah.

‘Let’s not think about that…’

Song Hwa held her tongue.

Anyway.

Watching Baek Yeon hold Seoran like a precious treasure, Song Hwa said.

“You really care for Ran, don’t you, Young Lady?”

“Of course, she’s mine.”

Song Hwa smiled faintly at the simple reply.

That’s right—girls her age often have stronger, stickier friendships than boys.

Since this was Baek Yeon’s first real friend, her possessiveness was probably normal.

“She’s mine forever now…”

“…”

…That’s normal, right?

Hearing the ominous muttering, Song Hwa hesitated but decided to pretend she didn’t hear it.

Still, she couldn’t entirely dismiss Baek Yeon’s feelings.

Seoran was… that extraordinary.

She sensed qi faster than Baek Taehyuk, the so-called greatest prodigy.

Song Hwa couldn’t even predict how far Seoran could go.

So, she was curious.

What impact would this child have on the clan’s bloody power struggle?

But at the same time, she had a wish.

If possible, she hoped Seoran could live peacefully, untouched by this dirty fight.

Song Hwa gave a bitter smile, knowing that was impossible.

“…Cough.”

Baek Yeon’s small cough snapped Song Hwa out of her thoughts.

She gently wrapped an arm around Baek Yeon’s shoulder.

“The air’s getting chilly. Let’s head somewhere warm.”

“…Yeah. Winter’s coming, I guess.”

Nodding at Baek Yeon’s words, Song Hwa looked up at the sky and murmured.

“You’re right. Winter… is coming.”

The late autumn sky was vast and empty.

—

“Haa…”

Ugh, it’s cold.

I blew on my hands, trying to warm my red, frozen fingers.

‘Shouldn’t have offered to help.’

What a pain, what a pain.

Despite sweeping the courtyard for hours since early morning, piles of snow still remained.

But what could I do? I’d already said I’d help…

Plus, with the current shortage of hands, sitting idle while Baek Yeon was still asleep made me feel a bit guilty.

I’d spent months here playing carefree, but just lazing around started to feel uncomfortable.

“Hey, Ran.”

Another maid sweeping snow nearby called out, as if remembering something.

“It’s about time for the Young Lady to wake up. Go get her.”

“Oh, sure!”

Yes, escape!

I quickly trudged through the snow to Baek Yeon’s room.

It’d been two years since I came to the Baek Clan.

Waking Baek Yeon up had become my job.

Slide!

“Time to wake up, Young Lady.”

In other words, I’d become an expert at handling her morning grumpiness.

Pulling back the screen, I approached her bed and gently shook her.

“…Cold. Hug me.”

Buried in thick cotton blankets, Baek Yeon mumbled.

She’s almost sixteen and still getting clingier…

Sighing, I shook my head.

I couldn’t give in here…

“…No?”

Damn it.

“…Just for a bit.”

How am I supposed to say no to those eyes?

Smacking my lips, I slipped under the blankets and hugged her tightly.

Baek Yeon snuggled right into my arms.

Here’s the change over the past two years.

I’m slightly taller than her now!

…Though the cross-dressing young master once passed by and said it’s like comparing acorns.

Anyway.

“Cough, cough…”

Baek Yeon started coughing lightly in my arms.

‘Tch…’

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

Her constant sickness makes me feel bad for being happy about outgrowing her.

I hugged her tighter, and she nestled into me familiarly.

They said she’d gotten a bit better since meeting me, but she wasn’t exactly healthy.

If anything, she was worse than when we first met.

That’s what makes Nine Yin Severed Meridians so terrifying.

It slowly eats away at the body, wasting the person away.

So, in winter, we usually let her sleep in and not wake her…

“…You really need to get up now, Young Lady.”

Not today.

“You have to get ready for the banquet.”

Today, the Baek Clan was holding a grand event to celebrate the New Year.