Chapter 16: When did you grow up so much?

“There’s nothing for me to do there, so why do they keep calling me?”

Baek Yeon mumbled with an annoyed tone, burrowing deeper into my arms.

As I said, I’m now an expert at handling her!

“You still need to show your face once in a while.”

I casually responded to her complaints and gently pulled her up.

At my words, Baek Yeon gave a tired, self-deprecating smile.

“So they can see me now, since they won’t get the chance when I collapse later?”

“…”

Unlike before, Baek Yeon no longer threw tantrums or caused a scene like a child.

If anything, she’d become… detached.

She stopped caring about her surroundings and kept dropping hints about her ‘end’ like this.

“…Don’t say things like that.”

Maybe because I’d grown attached to her, hearing those words hurt me.

Living with that mindset? It’d only make her health—and her spirit—worse.

Seeing my face crumple, Baek Yeon let out a soft chuckle.

“Hehe, I was kidding.”

Chuu.

Quickly grabbing my chin, she planted a brief kiss on my lips before standing up.

“Ugh, so heavy.”

Then she stretched as if nothing happened.

I touched my lips, staring at her.

…Yeah, I think it’s time to say something.

“Young Lady.”

“Hm?”

“This… can you stop doing this?”

“What?”

She tilted her head, genuinely confused.

“The kissing. You’re not a kid anymore…”

Tomorrow, Baek Yeon turns sixteen.

In Korea, that’s around the age you’d graduate middle school.

Not fully grown, but old enough to know what’s appropriate.

Maybe because she’s never had a proper friend, her sense of boundaries is… off.

At first, I thought this was just how girls are.

But I’ve been living as a girl for nearly fourteen years now, and I’m about to turn fourteen.

I know now. Baek Yeon’s closeness with me… it’s not like typical girls.

She shrugged at my words, rolling her eyes.

“What, you don’t like it?”

“No, it’s not that I don’t like it…”

“Then you like it?”

“Well, it’s not exactly that either…”

At my wishy-washy response, she smiled faintly and turned to place a hand on my face.

“Then there’s no reason for me to stop.”

“But… people don’t usually do this, right?”

“Who cares about ‘usually’? We’re us.”

With that, she lightly tapped my lips with her slender finger.

“Seoran, figure out why I’m doing this and tell me. Then I’ll decide.”

“…”

What’s that supposed to mean…?

Her cryptic words made me furrow my brow.

As she’s grown older, she’s picked up this martial artist habit of speaking in circles.

The martial world is a tough place for someone with a simple mind.

Pouting in frustration, I noticed Baek Yeon smiling faintly, as if she found something amusing.

Her gaze felt like she was looking at something cute, which made me feel oddly unsettled.

A ticklish, indescribable sensation stirred in a corner of my heart.

Especially when she kissed me, that strange feeling grew, making my chest feel tight.

‘If I tell her this honestly, will she accept it…?’

She’d probably think it’s just an excuse.

Still, I was about to bring it up when—

Slide!

The door flew open without warning.

“…”

“Oh, you’re awake, Young Lady?”

There stood the head maid of Baekryu Hall, with a group of maids behind her, holding various tools.

They were smiling, but… it was a chilling smile.

That smile carried a ‘strong determination.’

The determination to perfectly dress up Baek Yeon for today’s event.

Surviving in a prestigious martial clan requires more than an ordinary personality.

That applies to the maids handling menial tasks too.

Apparently, Baek Yeon’s antics at the last banquet, where she refused to be dressed up, left them with a grudge.

“Ugh…”

Feeling their resolve, Baek Yeon let out a groan and stepped back.

The head maid beamed.

“You’re awake, so how can you dawdle? We have so much to prepare.”

“…”

“Come on, let’s go.”

“…H-Help, Seoran.”

The same Baek Yeon who’d just been so assertive shrank instantly, pleading for my help.

I subtly averted my gaze.

‘Sorry, Yeon.’

The head maid scares me a bit too…

“Good luck, Young Lady.”

As I tried to slip away with those words of encouragement—

“Oh, where are you going?”

The head maid grabbed my arm.

“…Huh?”

“Come along. Song Hwa ordered us to dress you up too.”

My eyes widened.

Why me…?

I stared at her in disbelief, but she just smiled brightly.

“Isn’t it great? It’s been so hard watching you run around like a wild child.”

As if she’d been waiting for this day.

—

Slide.

“Ugh…”

I stumbled out of the room.

– Oh, this color suits you too. Let’s try it on.

– When… when will this end…?

– Hold on, kid. This hairpiece looks nice too, right? Let’s try them all.

– …Please, spare me.

For two whole hours, I was a doll for the other maids, decked out in accessories and changed into different outfits repeatedly.

Feeling empty, like I’d lost my human rights and more, I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

‘It’s… pretty, I guess.’

Honestly, I did look cute all dressed up.

How could a fourteen-year-old not look cute when dolled up like this?

But I still felt a bit of resistance to this appearance.

I’ve been living as a girl in this martial world for about fourteen years.

Not a short time, but… this still feels unfamiliar.

Probably because I lived longer as a man.

‘Will I ever get used to this…?’

If I did, that’d feel strange in its own way.

Lost in those odd thoughts, I kept staring at the mirror.

“Wow, you look cute today.”

A familiar voice came from behind.

“Song Hwa.”

There stood Song Hwa, dressed more neatly than usual, smiling brightly.

‘She’s having fun, huh.’

While I’m stuck in this weird mood…

“Why’d you make me get dressed up?”

I grumbled, trying to show my displeasure, but she just laughed and patted my head, unfazed.

“You’ll be by the Young Lady’s side the whole banquet. After seeing you at the Clan Leader’s birthday banquet, I thought you could use some sprucing up.”

“Who’d care about me…”

“You’d be surprised.”

No way.

Her expression turned odd when I said that.

“Well, with the Young Lady by your side… Never mind.”

“Huh?”

Why’d she stop mid-sentence? That’s suspicious.

I glared at her with narrowed eyes, but she awkwardly smiled and changed the subject.

“Anyway, you really look cute today. The Young Lady will love it.”

“Oh, speaking of her…”

I lowered my voice, and Song Hwa tilted her head, leaning in.

“Don’t you think the Young Lady needs some… you know, education on boundaries?”

“…Huh?”

She blinked, confused.

“Like, she’s too… you know? I get that we’re close, but she’s not a kid anymore. Shouldn’t she tone down those kinds of gestures?”

I figured Baek Yeon acted this way because she didn’t understand what kissing meant.

If she knew, she’d probably stop, right?

That’s what I thought.

“Hm… Haha.”

But Song Hwa just gave an ambiguous smile.

“…What?”

“Nothing. But don’t you think you need some education too?”

“Pfft, I’m fine. I know everything.”

I waved her off.

Between my past life and this one, I’m old enough—why would I need that?

She giggled and shook her head.

“The Young Lady’s got it rough.”

“Why’s she got it rough? I’m the one suffering here.”

“Right, right.”

Despite my protests, she just nodded dismissively.

‘Ugh, this is so unfair.’

No one appreciates my struggles, groveling like a dog and losing my dignity!

I grabbed her sleeve to argue further when—

Slide.

“Ugh, finally done…”

A tired mumble came from behind.

Baek Yeon’s familiar voice.

“Oh, Young Lady, you’re—”

…Huh?

“What were you two talking about?”

Baek Yeon approached us slowly.

But I couldn’t respond right away.

The moment I saw her, my thoughts froze.

Her white hair was adorned with the blue flower hairpiece I’d bought her at the night market, along with other ornate accessories. Her luxurious silk dress was embroidered with intricate patterns.

Everything looked like it was made just for her, perfectly harmonious.

I knew it wasn’t something to say about a sixteen-year-old, but…

“Seoran? What’s wrong?”

“…”

She looked… enchanting.

I swallowed hard without realizing it.

…When did she grow up like this?