Chapter 21: What competition is being held?

How did she even smell that?

“…T-The market was so crowded! I must’ve brushed against people and picked up their scent.”

I almost asked out loud but quickly caught myself, blurting out an excuse.

“Hmm…”

Baek Yeon didn’t seem convinced.

Why am I even explaining this…?

I felt a bit wronged, but what could I do? She hates it when I hang out with others.

Not like I could admit I ran into Baek Tae-rin.

I subtly avoided her piercing gaze.

After a long, tense standoff—

“Haa.”

Baek Yeon sighed, grabbed my arm, and pulled me toward the bed.

Thud.

She hugged me tightly and flopped onto the bed.

“Y-Young Lady, you’ll mess up your clothes…”

“We’ll fix them before we leave. You messed up, so just stay quiet.”

…Yes, ma’am.

I shut my mouth, and she burrowed deeper into my arms.

“I don’t like it. I’m gonna cover you with my scent.”

“…”

What kind of crazy talk is this…?

‘Kids who don’t know any better are the worst.’

Her innocent, oblivious words were dangerously bold, but she just hugged me tighter, unaware.

‘This is… kinda embarrassing.’

Feeling her cling to me, my heart felt ticklish and tight…

Wait a second.

I snapped out of it.

…What kind of messed-up thoughts am I having about a minor?

I immediately slapped my cheek—lightly, not hard.

Baek Yeon looked up at me, confused.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing.”

Just preserving my dignity as a human.

Feeling guilty, I quickly changed the subject to shift the mood.

“Oh, right! About tonight’s banquet…”

“What about it? What’s the competition this time? Last time it was archery—heard anything?”

The Baek Clan often held special contests during big banquets.

Who’s the best archer, who can hunt the finest game… small competitions like that, with prizes for the winner.

She responded dully.

“Not interested. Doesn’t concern me.”

“It’s kinda fun to watch, though.”

“Meh.”

She burrowed deeper, her voice slurring as if she were getting sleepy.

“Being with you like this is the most fun…”

“…”

…My heart skipped a beat.

‘…Should I slap myself again?’

But, it’s not entirely my fault.

How could anyone not feel something when such a cute girl says stuff like that?

…Right?

I’m not… like that.

Unaware of my inner turmoil, Baek Yeon mumbled sleepily.

“Ran, why don’t we just… run off to somewhere warm? For your health. Then we wouldn’t have to deal with these events…”

“Hm, the Young Master would be pretty upset, don’t you think?”

“Oh.”

She blinked slowly.

…She totally forgot about the Young Master just now.

He’d be pretty hurt if he heard, but I’ll keep quiet.

“Yeah, I need to spend more time with Father…”

Her eyes gradually closed as she kept talking.

‘She’s been sleeping more lately.’

I gently patted her back to keep her from waking.

How much time passed?

Knock knock.

“Young Lady, it’s time to head out.”

Song Hwa’s voice.

Already?

I carefully shook Baek Yeon.

“Young Lady, time to get up.”

“…Ugh.”

Thankfully, she hadn’t fallen too deep asleep. She groaned and slowly opened her eyes.

Waking up from a light nap often makes you more tired.

Her voice was half-irritated, half-sleepy.

“Haa… Here we go. Just thinking about seeing those people makes me exhausted.”

Yeah, fair.

Family banquets sound nice, but not here.

The Baek Clan’s family gatherings… no swords drawn, but it’s a battlefield nonetheless.

‘Today’s gonna be rough…’

Ugh.

I sighed, already dreading what was coming.

—

Leaving Baekryu Hall and heading to the grand banquet hall.

As one of the Eight Great Clans of the Central Plains, the Baek Clan’s estate was vast and maze-like, so it took a while to reach the hall.

By maze-like, I mean there’s only one path to any given destination…

“Well, well, Yeon. It’s been a while.”

Which makes it highly likely you’ll run into someone heading the same way.

Baek Yeon’s face crumpled at the voice calling her.

“…Ugh, so annoying.”

Her mutter was loud enough to hear.

Not because she’s that rude (though she kinda is), but because of who was speaking.

“Truly, it’s been too long.”

Her uncle and aunt—the ones gunning for the Young Master’s position and gaslighting Baek Tae-rin in real-time.

We left late on purpose, yet we still ran into them.

‘Talk about bad luck.’

I was as irritated as Yeon, but I couldn’t voice it like her, so I swallowed it.

“You rarely come out, so it’s hard to see your face.”

“…”

Step. Step.

Baek Yeon ignored her uncle’s words, keeping her pace.

But he didn’t care, tossing out more comments.

“How’s your health? I heard medicine isn’t working well lately. Should I find you a good physician?”

“…Haa.”

Finally, Yeon sighed in frustration and shot him a cold glare.

“Seems like there’s a dog in Baekryu Hall. My business keeps leaking out.”

“Oh, Yeon. You must be mistaken due to your lack of education. The term is ‘rat,’ not ‘dog.’”

“The one leaking my business is no better than a dog, so ‘dog’ fits just fine.”

Oh…

‘She’s got some bite.’

As expected of Yeon.

Her sharp tongue was unmatched in this clan.

“…Haha. You sure have a way with words, Yeon.”

Her uncle’s lips twitched as he forced a laugh.

I was barely holding back a grin behind her when—

“You. Seoran, was it? Been a while.”

He shifted his target to me.

“Quite ambitious for a kid, sticking by Yeon’s side all this time.”

“…Yeah, sure.”

I replied half-heartedly.

He’s implying I’m hanging around Yeon for scraps.

I’ve heard it so much it doesn’t even sting anymore.

But.

“You must have some talent for Brother to keep you around. Can’t wait to see it tonight.”

“…?”

What’s he talking about? Is he senile?

As I tilted my head in confusion—

“Ran isn’t participating in the competition today.”

Song Hwa, who’d been quiet behind us, cut in.

She doesn’t stay silent because she’s scared—she’s afraid she’ll curse them out if she opens her mouth.

Her uncle gasped dramatically at her words.

“What? After all this time training in Baek Clan martial arts, her skills are too lacking to show off?”

“…”

“Tch, this is why you shouldn’t pick up riffraff.”

Yeah, whatever.

I was about to let it slide when—

“Yeon, keeping someone like this around will only drag you down.”

“…Hah.”

I couldn’t help but scoff.

Why drag Yeon into this nonsense?

He scoffed back, as if appalled.

“You’re laughing? A mere maid daring to mock me?”

“…”

“Ignoring me now? Whose bad habits did you pick up—”

He kept digging into me, as if he’d found an opening.

But.

“That’s enough.”

Fortunately, we had a strong ally.

‘A bit late today.’

He usually shows up before they can even start.

I bowed to the Young Master, who’d appeared behind us.

“Nothing’s more pathetic than taking your frustrations out on a child.”

“…Brother, pathetic? That’s a bit—”

“Not ‘Brother.’”

The Young Master stepped past us, standing in front of his sibling, looking down.

“Young Master. Get the title right.”

“…”

“Stop your nonsense and go inside. Taehyuk’s waiting.”

Yes! That’s our boss!

‘Dripping with authority.’

Shutting them down in an instant.

“…See you later.”

Her uncle bowed once and scurried off.

‘Petty jerk.’

He didn’t even say “Young Master.” Too stubborn to admit defeat.

How does a clan this grand produce such a small-minded person? It’s baffling.

Baek Yeon, her face slightly flushed, approached the Young Master.

“…Father.”

“Yes, Yeon. You did well holding back. You too, Ran.”

He patted her head, clicking his tongue.

“If we go in now, we’ll run into them again. Let’s talk here for a bit.”

Wise words.

I didn’t want to breathe the same air as them any longer than necessary.

…Oh, right.

“Young Master.”

“Hm?”

I tilted my head, voicing a question from earlier.

“What’s the competition at the banquet tonight?”

From what her uncle said, it sounded like I was involved somehow.