Chapter 130
The head of the Dang Clan meticulously restructured the clan to ensure that power was concentrated entirely in his hands.
He had used even his own children like pieces on a chessboard, so it was only natural that he wouldn’t allow anyone else to approach power.
However, in the process, all the elders had either left or been purged.
‘Fortunately, only the clan head and Dang Yejun had direct dealings with the Blood Cult.’
That meant there was no one left to sort out the current situation.
“…I’ll have to handle it.”
Yerin sighed as she responded.
At that moment, Doyul became agitated.
“Why should you bear such a heavy responsibility?”
“Doyul.”
“You’ve already done enough for the Dang Clan.”
Doyul’s face was genuinely angry.
“They treated you terribly just because you were the daughter of a concubine.”
When he first met Yerin, the clear marks of bruises on her slender arms still lingered in his memory.
Was that all?
The head of the Dang Clan and the young master had looked down on her as if she were a mere insect, even in front of her husband, Doyul.
‘So why should you…’
Unable to suppress his rising anger and sympathy, Doyul’s voice began to rise.
“Those people didn’t show any respect to their family first, so why should you care for them?”
But Yerin remained calm.
“You know why.”
“…”
Trying to soothe him, Yerin smiled gently.
Doyul felt a surge of emotions welling up inside him.
“That’s…!”
In truth, Doyul knew in his heart.
Standing idly by while the Dang Clan fell apart wouldn’t help the righteous factions at all.
Yerin, as the only remaining blood relative of the Dang Clan, was the only person who could stabilize it.
‘Perhaps you’re feeling even more burdened than I realize.’
Yet, he couldn’t help but feel anger.
Yerin was already carrying so much weight.
It was frustrating that the current situation required her to take on even more responsibilities.
“You always sacrifice too much.”
Doyul clenched his teeth to suppress his frustration.
His voice was strained as he spoke.
“Of course, I understand your feelings, but…”
Doyul stood up abruptly, his lips moving but no words coming out.
“I think I need to clear my head.”
With those words, Doyul turned sharply.
“I’ll take a walk and come back, so you should rest.”
“My Lord!”
Hyuk Min-woo hastily tried to follow Doyul, but Yerin was quicker to call him.
“Great disciple, Hyuk Min-woo.”
As their eyes met, Yerin shook her head gently.
It was a sign not to follow.
“…Madam.”
“Just let him be. Palace Lord needs some time alone.”
Yerin’s face was complicated.
Her expression mixed gratitude, regret, and responsibility.
Hyuk Min-woo, who was quietly observing Yerin, suddenly spoke up.
“Madam, if I may, can I say something?”
“Speak freely.”
“Regarding this matter, I share the Palace Lord’s thoughts.”
“…”
Yerin met Hyuk Min-woo’s gaze silently without adding anything.
“Of course, I know you once had ties to the Dang Clan. But…”
Hyuk Min-woo hesitated for a moment as if gathering his thoughts.
“I believe that by simply granting rest to the clan head and the young master, you have already shown more than enough respect to your family.”
“…”
“Above all, you are now the mother of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, no longer a member of the Dang Clan.”
“Of course, that might be true if I only think of my position.”
But then, Yerin, who had remained silent for a while, finally responded.
Hyuk Min-woo’s eyes widened slightly.
“Pardon?”
“But do those who suffered at the hands of the Dang Clan think the same?”
Yerin asked calmly.
Hyuk Min-woo found himself unable to answer.
“Do you remember the workers we hired from the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the woman who was looking for her husband?”
“…How could I forget?”
“The people affected by this incident are mostly the powerless and the poor, like them.”
Yerin’s voice gained strength.
“No one will listen to their cries of injustice.”
“…”
“They might even turn a blind eye and pretend not to see. It would be much easier that way.”
It was a valid point.
The people who suffered in this incident were, after all, the powerless commoners who had been pushed to the fringes of society.
If they were to demand compensation, it would be an endless argument.
So, ignoring their suffering and silencing their pain would be a much easier and more convenient path.
“Therefore, I believe someone must take responsibility for this issue.”
Yerin concluded firmly, offering Hyuk Min-woo a faint smile.
“Even though I left the Dang Clan when I was young, everything I wore and ate at that time came from them.”
Her smile deepened a bit more.
“If I enjoyed those rights, I must also bear the corresponding obligations.”
“…Madam.”
“So I, too, must take responsibility for that.”
Yerin’s expression was simply that of someone doing what was right.
Hyuk Min-woo felt a lump in his throat as he instinctively bit his lip.
‘If only the Dang Clan had had the minimal sense of responsibility required of a family that governs its people…’
Things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.
But the reality was grim.
The Dang Clan, which should have taken care of the people, had instead exploited them for their own ends.
Only Yerin, the discarded daughter of the Dang Clan, was trying her best to listen to and care for the people’s voices.
In stark contrast, Hyuk Min-woo felt bitterness in his mouth.
But understanding why Yerin made such a decision, he nodded quietly.
“I understand.”
Hyuk Min-woo silently affirmed her words with a nod.
Meanwhile, Millennium Ice Crystal, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the two, slipped outside quietly.
—
The full moon hung high in the dark night sky.
In stark contrast to the turmoil in Doyul’s heart, the scenery before his eyes was remarkably peaceful.
“…”
Doyul clenched his teeth as he glared at the moon.
If he didn’t, he felt like he would scream out in frustration.
– ‘Hmph.’
Millennium Ice Crystal, who had been approaching Doyul from behind with quick steps, narrowed his eyes.
‘It seems that Young Palace Lord is really troubled.’
After all, Doyul had his fists clenched tightly.
The bones on the back of Doyul’s hand were prominently white.
Millennium Ice Crystal came to a halt.
‘Should I just turn back?’
To be honest, it didn’t understand why it had followed the Palace Lord this far.
‘He’s not even a contractor; why do I need to care this much?’
Narrowing its eyes, Millennium Ice Crystal concluded, ‘Well, sorting out emotions is something he should handle himself.’
Just as it was about to turn back, Doyul’s fierce voice rang out.
“What is it?”
He must have sensed Millennium Ice Crystal’s presence already.
And judging by his tense demeanor, it seemed that Doyul was really in a mess…
‘Sigh, I suppose the kind and benevolent me should lend a helping hand.’
With a deep sigh, Millennium Ice Crystal asked in a gruff voice,
– ‘So, did you win a staring contest with the moon?’
“What?”
Finally realizing what was happening, Doyul turned to look at Millennium Ice Crystal with an incredulous expression.
Millennium Ice Crystal responded shamelessly.
– ‘You’ve been glaring at the moon with intensity since earlier.’
“…”
Doyul was caught off guard by the direct hit.
He averted his gaze subtly.
Millennium Ice Crystal, watching his back, furrowed his brow.
‘Honestly, I’m just too kind-hearted for my own good.’
Doyul clearly expressed, ‘I’m hurt,’ making it hard for Millennium Ice Crystal to ignore him.
With a stern expression, he spoke again.
– ‘By the way, my contractor has gone too far this time, hasn’t she?’
At that moment, Doyul doubted his ears.
‘Is that really Millennium Ice Crystal?’
The Millennium Ice Crystal he knew was a beastly creature that openly favored Yerin while mercilessly criticizing him.
Regardless, Millennium Ice Crystal continued to voice his thoughts.
– ‘Honestly, what kind of person has such a stubborn personality? Who does she take after?’
“Um, that’s…”
– ‘Right? Those people treated the contractor so poorly.”’
Millennium Ice Crystal clicked its tongue.
– ‘Nobody asked her to take responsibility, yet here she is, insisting on it.’
“…”
– ‘She can’t be so meddlesome in other people’s affairs. She has to take care of her own plate first.’
Doyul’s expression changed from surprise to displeasure as the criticisms flowed from Millennium Ice Crystal.
“Even so, I think you’re being a bit harsh, Somi.”
Of course, Doyul was upset with Yerin.
But regardless, he didn’t want to hear negative comments about her.
– ‘Why? Did I say something I shouldn’t have?’
Millennium Ice Crystal looked up at Doyul with wide, innocent eyes.
