Chapter 6: So, are you mine?

I stared at the sprawled-out Baek Yeon with a flustered expression.

But panicking and lowering myself here would be the mark of an amateur.

Recalling a famous child psychologist from my original world, I closed the distance with Baek Yeon.

“What’s troubling our little treasure… I mean, Young Lady?”

“…”

Baek Yeon didn’t respond, but I didn’t rush her. I stayed by her side, making my presence known, patiently waiting.

About ten minutes passed.

“…What you did earlier. It was all because Father told you to, wasn’t it? Saying I’m pretty, all that… it was all lies, right?”

Finally, a clue to the situation came mumbled from Baek Yeon’s lips.

“Saying this hair is pretty? It’s not. I… sniff. I don’t play with liars.”

Oh, so that’s what this was about.

Realizing the reason, I felt a wave of relief. Sure, I’d lied to get her to drink the medicine, but I hadn’t lied about that.

I scooted closer and spoke gently.

“That was before the Young Master told me to work for you, Young Lady.”

Sure, my eleven-year-old voice sounded a bit childish, but the meaning was what mattered, so let’s move past that.

“When the Young Master called me earlier, that’s when he suggested I work for you.”

I reached out and brushed her hair.

Her white locks, clearly well-maintained, were as soft and fine as silk.

Saying her hair was pretty was one hundred percent sincere.

Ugh, I should’ve read more books back then.

“It’s as beautiful as a snowy winter.”

Pouring as much sincerity as I could into my limited vocabulary, Baek Yeon’s face slowly turned toward me.

“…Really?”

“Really.”

“It’s not… gross?”

…Huh?

I tilted my head.

“Gross? Who said that?”

“…”

That kind of comment usually comes from something someone else said.

Sure, I knew white hair was rare in this world.

But for someone to call the only daughter of the Baek Clan’s Young Master gross? They’d need at least half a dozen lives to dare say that.

I looked at Baek Yeon, expecting an answer, but this time, she showed no sign of responding.

‘Hmm…’

For now, I let it slide.

I spoke lightly, as if joking.

“If you told the Young Master someone called your hair gross, he’d probably half-kill them himself.”

…Or maybe actually kill them?

Given his level of daughter-obsession, it wouldn’t be surprising if he did.

I was seriously considering that when.

Baek Yeon said curtly.

“Father probably doesn’t even care about me.”

…?

What kind of nonsense is that?

“Pardon?”

“I’m done being a burden to him. If I say anything, it’ll just annoy him…”

…What did I just hear?

I was dumbfounded.

Her words directly contradicted the half-hour of daughter-praising I’d heard from the Young Master earlier.

A burden? That man would probably faint with joy if Baek Yeon so much as visited him. Why was she thinking like this?

I looked at her, but she just chewed her lip and averted her gaze, showing no intention of explaining.

It felt like there were still things she wasn’t ready to tell me.

‘Ugh, gotta manage my expression.’

But that was that. On the outside, I flashed a bright smile.

The mood had tanked twice because of missteps.

Time to smooth things over with some praise.

“They’re just jealous.”

I brushed her hair again as I spoke.

“Not everyone can have hair like this. That’s why they say those things.”

Even in the modern world, getting pure white hair like this requires scalp-destroying bleaching, and maintaining it is a nightmare.

To be born with natural white hair? Honestly, it’s freaking cool.

“…”

Baek Yeon, staring at me, slowly sat up.

Her pillow, where she’d been lying, was stained with tears and drool in the shape of her face.

‘Oh, sht.’

A meme I’d seen online flashed in my mind, and I barely held back a laugh.

“So…”

“Cough, yes?”

Baek Yeon crawled closer and suddenly leaned in.

‘…Huh?’

Slightly taller than me, her presence felt oddly overwhelming, and I instinctively leaned back.

But she didn’t care, staring straight into my eyes as she asked.

“Are you mine?”

“?”

Hmm, her phrasing’s a bit off.

Sure, I’m employed by the Baek Clan, but saying I’m “hers” doesn’t quite fit. I’m my own person, not anyone’s possession.

Still, considering her age and somewhat limited vocabulary…

‘She’s probably just asking if I’m her person.’

That makes sense.

In a clan like this, it’s important to know whether servants like maids or attendants are “your people” or someone else’s.

I laughed and nodded.

“Of course, you’re my master, Young Lady.”

“…”

Swoosh.

Suddenly, Baek Yeon reached out and hugged me tightly.

She wasn’t big herself, but compared to my scrawny frame—undernourished from childhood—she completely enveloped me.

More than that, though, was the chilling cold that hit me in that moment.

‘…She’s so cold.’

Thinking about how she’s lived with this condition since childhood made me feel a pang of pity.

With that in mind, I hugged her back, gently patting her.

“…Mine.”

“Huh? What was that?”

“…”

Did she just say something?

…Nah, I probably misheard.

It didn’t seem important, so I let it slide.

Soon, perhaps due to the medicine taking effect, Baek Yeon started dozing off.

She looked sleepy, so I was about to let her rest and leave, but maybe because she’d accepted me as her person?

“Stay by my side.”

Her firm command left me no choice but to sit quietly by her side until she fell fully asleep.

As I sat there, I sank into thought.

She seemed… really starved for affection.

‘That’s so weird.’

Her father’s such a doting parent, yet…

And thinking she’s gross? The more I learned, the more questions piled up.

Well, I’ll be living here for a while, so I’ll probably figure out what’s going on eventually.

Soon, Baek Yeon fell into a deep sleep, breathing evenly.

I tucked the blanket up to her chin and carefully tiptoed to the door to avoid waking her.

“Yawn.”

This eleven-year-old body, sitting idly while a kid fell asleep, was starting to feel drowsy…

Creak.

“You’re out.”

“!”

Oh, sh*t. That scared me.

The moment I opened the door, that menacing face startled me awake.

‘Phew, thank goodness.’

My mind wasn’t so foggy that I’d curse out loud in front of the Young Master’s face—no disaster there.

“Greetings, Young Master!”

“…It hasn’t even been an hour since we last met. That’s not quite the greeting for the occasion.”

“It’s a rough world, isn’t it? Who knows what could happen in a single hour?”

At my playful words, the Young Master let out a dry chuckle.

“You’re quite different from how you were with Yeon. You sound like a street merchant.”

Maybe because he’s a powerful martial artist, he seemed to have heard our entire hushed conversation inside.

But I’d channeled a child psychologist to be kind to the Young Lady, so I had nothing to feel guilty about.

“It’s only natural to adjust my attitude depending on the person, hehe.”

“Knowing your place is a fine trait.”

My demeanor didn’t seem to offend him, as he nodded with a faint smile.

Though, given his naturally intimidating face, it didn’t exactly feel friendly… Still, a servant’s virtue is not saying unnecessary things.

“The Young Lady just fell asleep. Did you come to see her?”

“Hm, no. Song Hwa said there might be trouble, so I came to check.”

“Oh.”

I glanced at Song Hwa, standing behind the Young Master.

She was looking at me with a flustered expression.

It seemed she’d been worried Baek Yeon might harm me and had brought the Young Master.

I appreciated the concern, but I’m a pro at handling kids, so there was no need to worry.

As I thought that.

The Young Master stroked his beard with a bittersweet expression.

“And if I went to see Yeon, she’d probably feel burdened… so it’s better I don’t.”

“…Pardon?”