Chapter 17: Let’s take it easy.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

As I stared blankly at Baek Yeon, she asked curiously.

“You’re… too pretty…”

“!”

I’m usually full of flattery for her, but this time, it was genuine, straight from my dantian.

Her eyes widened briefly at my honest reply.

“…Really?”

Her lips curled up, clearly pleased.

“Really.”

I nodded enthusiastically, beaming.

“If I were a guy, I’d definitely have fallen for you.”

I gave her the highest compliment I could muster.

What a shame I ended up as a girl.

But.

“…What?”

“Ha, wow…”

At my words, Baek Yeon’s face, which had been smiling, soured instantly.

Not just her—Song Hwa, standing beside her, let out a dry laugh.

…Did I say something wrong?

It was a compliment, wasn’t it?

…Wait a second.

‘Oh!’

I realized my mistake.

Yeah, that wasn’t the best thing to say to Baek Yeon.

She’s not someone who’ll ever deal with romance or marriage.

With her Nine Yin Severed Meridians, her health was deteriorating year by year, and she was fated to die around twenty, at the peak of her beauty.

She probably knows that better than anyone, so throwing around words like “guy” or “falling for you” in this context…

I made a huge blunder, unworthy of a servant.

“…Young Lady, I’m sorry.”

I approached her and grabbed her hand tightly.

“But don’t worry! You’ve got me!”

“…Yeah, thanks.”

Even with my apology, she couldn’t shake her uneasy expression.

I get it. A mere apology wouldn’t fix her mood.

To lighten the atmosphere, I searched for a new topic and noticed the blue flower hairpiece in her white hair.

The cheap trinket I’d given her when I first arrived.

“You went with this one today too?”

It had become her favorite accessory over the past few years.

“Yeah, you gave it to me.”

“It’s getting a bit old, though, isn’t it?”

I carefully touched the slightly faded hairpiece, making sure it stayed in place.

With so many prettier, more expensive options, the other maids must’ve protested.

“What’re they gonna do about it? I want to wear it.”

Of course, I knew our Young Lady wasn’t one to listen to others.

Her mood seemed to lift a bit as she gently brushed my face.

“You look cute today… but you should’ve worn the one I got you.”

“…Haha.”

It’s too old to wear…

The fact that she’s kept it in such good condition all these years is impressive.

But saying that outright would make me a failure at Baek Yeon-ology.

“I’m saving it. It’s too precious to wear.”

The same sentiment can sound completely different depending on how you phrase it!

I knew exactly how to cheer her up.

“…If it’s like that, I’ll let it slide.”

As expected, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she smiled faintly, tucking my hair behind my ear.

‘Phew, got through that.’

I sighed inwardly in relief, glancing at the blue hairpiece again.

Yeah, even if I dodged this, I should probably get her a new one.

I’ve saved up enough money now to buy something proper, not some cheap market trinket.

Once the banquet’s over and I have time, I’ll head to the market.

“By the way, we finished getting ready way too early. I could’ve slept more.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

I nodded in agreement at her grumbling.

The banquet starts in the late evening after sunset, so we had plenty of time.

But Baek Yeon’s not the type to go early and mingle with relatives, so we were left with nothing to do.

“Then, why don’t you rest until—”

I started to speak to soothe her growing irritation when—

Knock knock.

A sudden knock interrupted.

“Young Lady, may I come in?”

“…Come in.”

At her permission, the door slid open quickly.

It was Ga-yeong, one of the maids from Baekryu Hall, looking urgent.

She bowed quickly to Baek Yeon and got straight to the point.

“Young Lady, I’m sorry, but could we borrow Ran for a bit?”

Baek Yeon’s face twisted.

In the past, she’d have thrown a fit, but… she’s almost sixteen now.

“…Why Seoran?”

She had enough patience to suppress her anger and ask.

A huge step forward, you could say.

…Anyway.

Ga-yeong hesitated, her face full of apology.

“We’re short on fabric for the banquet preparations, so we need to go to the cloth shop… but we don’t have enough hands right now.”

A perfectly reasonable request, at least to me.

…But unfortunately, it didn’t sit well with Baek Yeon.

Her face turned cold, her voice dripping with frost.

“You should’ve prepared in advance. Why are you dragging Seoran into this because of your poor planning?”

“…I-I’m sorry, Young Lady.”

“Does ‘sorry’ fix everything?”

…Oh boy, why’s she acting up again?

She’s all dressed up so prettily today—if she throws a tantrum, it’ll all get messed up.

And it was my duty to calm her down.

I quickly stepped between them.

“Perfect timing, I was planning to go to the market anyway. I’ll grab what you need while I’m there.”

“…Oh! Th-Thank you, Ran.”

Her expression softened slightly at my words.

“You’re going out? Then I’m coming too.”

“…Young Lady.”

Song Hwa stepped in to stop her.

I agreed with her this time.

It’s the middle of winter. If Baek Yeon goes out in this weather, she’ll be bedridden for days.

I sat her back down on the bed.

“It’s too cold. Stay here and wait.”

“…But you’re mine. You’re supposed to stay by my side.”

Ugh, how long is she gonna milk that line…

But I’ve got my tricks now.

“Then how about this?”

Quickly coming up with an excuse, I reached out and gently brushed her hair.

“I was actually going to the market to get you a new hairpiece.”

“…A new hairpiece?”

“Yeah, this one’s getting old, so I thought you’d need a new one.”

I smiled brightly.

“Guess what I’ll bring back—it’ll keep you from feeling lonely, right?”

“…”

She chewed her lip, thinking it over.

I nudged her again.

“You’ll let me go, right?”

“…Just this once.”

She turned her head sharply.

…Phew, success.

I’m definitely a master of Baek Yeon-ology.

Feeling an odd sense of pride, I stood up.

But.

“I’ll be back. Just tell me what to get… What’s wrong?”

Ga-yeong and Song Hwa’s expressions were strange.

“Oh my, Ran, you’re too much.”

“Ran, how can you act so thoughtlessly?”

Their words left me dumbfounded.

…What?

What did I do to deserve those trash-staring looks?

—

The cold winter breeze brushed past my nose.

“Hm.”

Unlike Baek Yeon, I quite liked winter, so I couldn’t help but hum.

It’d been a while since I went out alone.

Baek Yeon’s lack of friends made her a bit possessive, so she rarely let me go out to have fun by myself.

This alone time was rare.

I wanted to take my time and explore, but…

‘It’s a busy day, so I’ll just grab what I need and head back.’

With limited time, I hurried to the cloth shop.

“Just give me what’s on this list.”

“Sure, hold on a moment.”

The cloth shop didn’t take long since I only needed what was listed.

Carrying the fabric over my shoulder, I kept moving.

‘What color gem would suit Yeon best…?’

Blue, probably. Or maybe red would be nice… Or should I try something completely different this time?

Lost in thought, I headed toward the jewelry shop.

Boom!

“You wench, how dare you resist!”

…What’s with those guys?

A commotion in the middle of the street caught my eye.

A group of men was surrounding a woman wearing a veil.

It looked like… they were trying to drag her away.

“Come quietly if you don’t want a blade in your neck!”

Yup, definitely trying to drag her off.

Fourteen years in the martial world, and I could tell at a glance.

“Is it okay to just leave that alone?”

“Ugh, get involved and you’ll end up stabbed.”

Nearby merchants and passersby whispered fearfully, but no one dared step in.

In the martial world, acting out of righteousness could easily get you killed.

But.

I couldn’t just walk away.

“Those idiots must be crazy, causing trouble in Baek Clan territory…”

I’m a member of the Baek Clan, after all.

‘Good thing I brought it, just in case.’

Readjusting the fabric on my shoulder, I approached them.

They were grown men, much bigger than me, and outnumbered me, but I wasn’t scared.

Troublemakers in Baek Clan territory were usually just brainless thugs.

And they looked the part—bulky muscles, but no real presence.

In other words, small fry I could handle.

Shing!

I drew the sword at my waist, the cold sensation wrapping around my hand.

‘Alright, let’s do this quick.’

The feeling of a blade, now second nature to me.