**Chapter 118**
“…young lord?”
Yerin called out to Dang Yejun in a disapproving tone.
“Gah!”
Dang Yejun, startled, immediately glared at Yerin with a suspicious look.
“Do you not know where you are wandering? The main residence is a place only members of the family are allowed to enter…!”
“Well, you know that the Dang Clan Lord has already acknowledged me as a member of the family, don’t you?”
Yerin faced Dang Yejun with a disturbingly bright smile.
Since there were no prying eyes, she dropped all pretense of politeness.
“Are you speaking so disrespectfully to me?”
Naturally, Dang Yejun was incensed.
“A mere half-blood girl, and you’re acting so proud just because my father has shown you some favor!”
“Proud? I’m just stating the facts.”
At her words, Dang Yejun’s eyes flared with anger.
“Do you really think you’re the young lord just because some of the fools in the family follow you?”
Dang Yejun clenched his fists, unable to contain his frustration.
“Why does my father show favor to someone like you, a half-blood girl?”
His voice trembled with agitation.
“The young lord of the Dang Clan is me! It’s me!”
“…”
Yerin looked at the enraged Dang Yejun with a detached expression.
His obsession with the title of young lord seemed pitiable, yet somehow it felt a bit pathetic.
‘In the end, to the Dang Clan Lord, both you and I are just expendable parts.’
And once we’re of no use, we’re discarded without hesitation.
“Don’t look at me with those eyes! Do you think I’ll tolerate being pitied by someone like you?”
Dang Yejun lashed out angrily.
“Just you wait and see if I’ll just stand by and accept this!”
“No, it was you who first picked a fight with me…”
“Quiet! Never come near this place again, you lowly thing!”
Dang Yejun ignored Yerin’s words and blocked the entrance to the garden.
He was determined not to move until they left.
‘Well, there’s no need to clash with Yejun…’
Yerin decided not to argue further and took a step back.
Creating a disturbance and attracting the Dang Clan Lord’s attention would only cause more trouble.
As they were heading back to their quarters.
‘But.’
Yerin suddenly felt a faint suspicion cross her mind.
‘…Why is Dang Yejun here in the garden?’
At this late hour.
Of course, he could be out for a walk or something.
But considering Dang Yejun’s usual habits, it was indeed odd.
After all, Dang Yejun preferred having a drink at the tavern over a leisurely stroll.
Moreover, Dang Yejun now seemed…
‘As if he’s guarding the garden so no one else can enter.’
A chilling feeling swept down her spine.
Just then, Doyul murmured softly.
“Madam, although it might be my mistake…”
“Yes?”
“It seems like the young lord isn’t too pleased with us being here. What do you think, Madam?”
…So it wasn’t just me who felt that way.
Yerin nodded in agreement.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“If Madam also feels that way, then my senses weren’t completely off.”
Doyul’s eyes had grown cold.
“There’s something unsettling about this place. It feels ominous for some reason…”
Just then.
“Madam, and Miss.”
A servant was standing in front of their quarters.
Having waited for them, the servant’s face brightened upon seeing them.
“Where have you been?”
“We just went out for a walk because the night breeze was pleasant.”
Yerin tilted her head.
“What’s the matter?”
“The young lord is asking for you, Madam.”
“For me?”
Yerin’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What does he want?”
“I’m not sure of the details. All I know is that the Dang Clan Lord wants to have a private meeting with you.”
“Then what about Doyul…?”
Yerin glanced back at Doyul absentmindedly.
When their eyes met, Doyul gave her a gentle smile.
“Well, sometimes it’s necessary for a father and daughter to have a private chat.”
Doyul encouraged her once more.
“I’ll return to my quarters first, so please go ahead.”
“…Alright, if you insist, I’ll go.”
Yerin’s response made the servant visibly relieved.
Their good relationship was well-known.
‘If Madam insists on accompanying the Dang Clan Lord…’
Fearing Yerin’s decision might change, the servant hurriedly led Yerin ahead.
“I’ll guide you.”
“Understood.”
Yerin followed the servant willingly.
As she was leaving, her and Doyul’s gazes intersected.
[I’ll go take a look.]
Doyul sent a message through a subtle gesture, pointing towards the direction of the hidden garden.
‘Doyul?’
Yerin narrowed her eyes slightly but eventually gave a faint nod.
[Alright. But don’t enter alone; consult with me before taking any action.]
[Of course, do you think I would act recklessly?]
With a sharp reply, Yerin shot Doyul a sideways glance.
She then added one more thing.
[And take Somi with you.]
Doyul made a face of disgust but knew that having the Somi might make the investigation easier.
In the end, Doyul responded sullenly.
[…Understood.]
* * *
Waiting for Yerin to leave, Doyul entered his quarters.
The Somi was curled up and fast asleep on a silk cushion.
– ‘There are too many meatballs… I can’t eat anymore…’
Doyul, looking disdainfully at the Somi mumbling in its sleep, reluctantly shook the spirit awake.
“Hey, wake up.”
“Wung-yang-wung…”
“Come on, wake up quickly! It’s urgent!”
After several attempts to wake the spirit, Doyul’s patience ran out, and he grabbed the spirit by the scruff of its neck.
“Yap!”
The startled Somi flailed around in his grasp.
– ‘What, what is it!’
As the Somi recognized Doyul, its face scrunched up in irritation.
– ‘What is it? How long have I been deeply asleep, and you, Miss, can’t even show some consideration!’
“I need to find something.”
– ‘…Find something? What?’
The unexpected statement made the Somi blink in surprise.
– ‘That means you need my help, doesn’t it?’
“…”
– ‘That’s right!’
With Doyul’s silence, the Somi grew emboldened.
– ‘Then I won’t ask politely! Where did you learn to grab a sleeping spirit by the neck like this?’
“Who was it that wouldn’t wake up no matter how many times I tried?”
– ‘Ah, noisy!’
Ignoring Doyul’s words, the Somi proudly puffed up its nose.
– ‘Well then, considering my contract with you, I’ll extend my grace and help you. Be grateful for my benevolence.’
This is really frustrating…
Doyul struggled to suppress the words rising to his throat.
“There’s a place where a formation is suspected to be laid out. It’s so intricately arranged that I might have trouble pinpointing its exact location on my own.”
– ‘So you want me to help find the location of the formation?’
The Somi straightened its tail in satisfaction.
– ‘Very well. Who else but the great spirit like me could sense such disturbed energy?’
“Just find it, no matter what…”
While Doyul tuned out the Somi’s endless self-praise, he sharpened his focus.
“Let’s go.”
Doyul and the Somi began to move stealthily in the darkness.
Their destination was the garden of the main residence.
* * *
Yerin walked for quite a while following the servant.
When they arrived at their destination.
“Oh, this place.”
Yerin’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at the grand building before her.
It was the Jeongbeobdang.
While the main residence was where the Dang Clan Lord and the family lived, the Jeongbeobdang was where the Dang Clan Lord conducted various affairs.
It housed the Head’s office and was the place where most administrative work took place.
It could be considered the heart of the Dang Clan.
Also…
‘Until I left for the North Sea Ice Palace, I wasn’t allowed anywhere near this place.’
Yerin smirked briefly.
“This way.”
The servant walked cautiously in front of Yerin.
After some time, the servant stopped in front of a magnificent door.
Bowing his head toward Yerin, the servant straightened up and announced to the office.
“Dang Clan Lord, the Madam has arrived.”
“Let her in.”
The Dang Clan Lord responded.
Creeeak-.
The sliding door opened.
The servant, who had opened the door, silently stepped back.
Yerin took a step into the office.
The first thing that caught her eye was the bright moonlight streaming in through the open window.
The Dang Clan Lord, leaning against the window and gazing outside, turned around and smiled warmly.
The shadowed face looked grotesque.
“Welcome.”
The Dang Clan Lord greeted Yerin with an affable demeanor.
“I apologize for calling you at this late hour.”
“It’s alright. What is it that you wanted to discuss?”
“Does a father need a specific reason to see his daughter’s face?”
With that sentimental reply, Yerin swallowed down the rising disgust.
‘The most un-fatherly person in the world is saying something about being a father’s love.’
