Episode 84
People who had been deeply engaged in discussion for a while now wore somewhat uneasy expressions as they looked at the head of the household. However.
“Yes, well.”
“Let’s go with that.”
There was indeed no clear solution, and there was no need to confront the head of the household, the leader of Sacheondangmun.
Everyone nodded and gradually stepped back.
Yerin unconsciously narrowed her eyes.
‘…It felt like just now, something was blocking the discussion itself?’
Today, the head of the household seemed strange.
Without trying to control the atmosphere, unlike others who were flustered, she remained calm alone.
At first, Yerin thought it was an attempt not to show any signs of wavering as the leader of a prominent family, but…
‘It’s still suspicious.’
Yerin’s eyes narrowed.
* * *
And so, the somewhat haphazard meeting came to an end.
It was a late afternoon long past noon.
Stepping outside, the bright sunlight blinded the eyes.
Doyul, with tightly closed lips, wore a slightly displeased expression.
‘Why is he acting like that?’
Yerin tilted her head in confusion.
“Your Highness, why are you like that?”
“Yes?”
“Your expression seems dark.”
“Oh, um, well…”
Doyul awkwardly touched his own cheek with a hint of embarrassment.
His stiff, frozen lips were gently caressed.
“Well, that’s…”
Doyul, who had hesitated for a moment, let out a sigh and continued speaking.
“For someone who traveled such a long distance, it doesn’t seem to have yielded very productive results.”
“I see.”
Yerin nodded her head.
In truth, it was a valid point.
Considering the tremendous distance covered to reach Bukhaeseong and Hangju, there was little achievement.
How to find the Blood Covenant, and how to deal with it—no solutions had emerged.
‘Well, disappointment is understandable.’
Yerin herself had attended numerous meetings and discussions as the former leader of the Northern Ice Palace.
From that experience, it was evident that gathering esteemed individuals didn’t always lead to favorable solutions.
Instead, outcomes often got entangled based on each person’s interests and gains.
‘But this is Doyul’s first experience with this….’
As a gesture of encouragement, Yerin firmly held Doyul’s hand.
Doyul, looking down at the hand held by Yerin, smiled faintly.
“Are you comforting me now?”
“Well, yes. If not me, who else would comfort Your Highness?”
Yerin playfully shrugged her shoulders as if to say it was obvious.
But then.
“Excuse me.”
Someone called them.
Turning around, they saw two middle-aged men with neatly cropped hair standing behind them.
One was tall and thin, while the other was short and sturdy.
“Who are you?”
“Oh, my apologies. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Baekseon, a member of the Jongnampa.”
The taller one spoke first.
“I’m Yang Mujin, the head of the Shin Changyangga.”
The shorter one followed.
Then, with content expressions, they looked at Yerin and Doyul side by side.
“We received great help from the Ice Palace in the last auction.”
“Oh, nice to meet you.”
Yerin and Doyul also smiled back.
“We’ve heard the stories. Our lands are well protected by the Jongnampa and Shin Changyangga.”
“It’s nothing. The warriors dispatched from the Ice Palace are so excellent that our disciples don’t have much to do.”
So, the four exchanged pleasantries.
“There might not be much reason for you to come to the Central Plains, but wouldn’t it be better to stop by Sacheonsung when you have the chance?”
“If the opportunity arises, we’ll consider it.”
“Yes, that would be good. It wouldn’t hurt to see how the land is managed during times like these.”
But then.
“Lady Dangyeon.”
A chilly voice echoed – it was the head of the household.
“Is that so satisfying, Mu?”
“Father.”
“You seem quite content.”
Yerin met the head of the household’s gaze without a single raised eyebrow.
Looking at her daughter’s expressionless face, the head of the household felt a faint curiosity and freshness.
‘In the past, whenever she faced me, she used to tremble like a mouse in front of a cat….’
Now, there was no trace of that shrinking behavior.
The head of the household tested Yerin with her words.
“I know that you skillfully handled Yejun and uncovered the secrets of the Tangmun’s land.”
It was a blatant pressure, a pointed accusation of how the once daughter of Tangmun had taken away their land.
However.
“Yes, I thought you would know.”
Yerin responded casually, looking at the head of the household as if asking, ‘Why are you telling me this?’
The head of the household threw a questioning look with a strange glint in her eyes.
“Don’t you feel the need to apologize?”
“Why should I apologize?”
“Even though you may be the Gamora of the Northern Ice Palace now, you were once the daughter of Sacheondangmun, were you not?”
“My father has mentioned it himself.”
Yerin stared directly at the head of the household with clear, crystal-like eyes.
Fearless, without any hint of dread.
It was just a calm gaze without a flicker.
“I was only the daughter of Tangmun in the past. Now, I am the Gamora of the Northern Ice Palace.”
She folded her eyes in a slightly mocking manner.
“There’s a saying about leaving one’s hometown.”
“….”
“So, I am no longer a person of Tangmun.”
It struck a nerve.
The former habit of the head of the household was clear.
‘What meaning is there in teaching martial arts to a woman? Once she gets married into another family, she is no longer a woman of Tangmun.’
… So it was believed.
At that moment, Doyul interjected with a cool expression.
“The lady is correct.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The lady is a person of the Ice Palace, not Tangmun.”
At that instant, the head of the household recalled the time when the two had just held the wedding ceremony.
Back then, even though Doyul had married her, he continued to refer to Yerin as the ‘soldier Yerin’ and maintained a certain distance.
“Tsk.”
The head of the household clicked her tongue briefly.
‘… If only Yejun had been as assertive as that child.’
A belated sense of regret left a bitter taste in her mouth.
The exploits of Yerin were well-known.
She had discovered the secret recipe for the Bi-Geup containing the manufacturing method of the Thousand-Year Snow Flower and restored the elixir.
Was that all?
Didn’t she show extraordinary talent in martial arts as well?
Not long after entering martial arts, she had subdued Dang Yejun.
“Rumors have it that her current skills are unmatched, even against the Lord of the Ice Palace.”
In contrast, what about Yejun?
“How can Dang Yerin, that woman, dare to draw my blood!”
Rather than feeling ashamed of being transfused with Yerin’s blood, he didn’t devote himself to training but lived like a libertine, indulging in alcohol and women.
“If only I had recognized her talent from the beginning….”
It was intensely regrettable.
The head of the household unintentionally pursed her lips.
If she had realized Yerin’s talent early on, it would have greatly contributed to the prosperity of the family.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
“….”
The head of the household, who seemed about to say something more, sealed her lips.
There was nothing.
After all, the relationship between the head of the household and Yerin was not warm enough for a long conversation.
Yerin, as if expecting such a response, spoke calmly.
“It seems you have nothing.”
“Yerin….”
“Well then, we’ll go ahead. We’ll see you next time, Baekseon and Lady Yang.”
Yerin politely bid farewell, and without needing to add more words, she distanced herself from the somewhat vexed head of the household.
Doyul, who had been observing the head of the household with an awkward expression, quickly followed Yerin after offering his respects to everyone.
* * *
“Even after all these years, Lady Dangyeon, it seems there hasn’t been any change in you.”
Throughout the walk, Doyul seemed visibly angered.
“How long will you continue pressuring the Lady….”
Surprisingly, Yerin remained calm compared to Doyul.
“I’m fine.”
“No, it’s not fine. This is clearly unreasonable!”
Doyul frowned.
But Yerin was sincere.
“I would rather be a person of the Northern Ice Palace than of Tangmun.”
“….”
At that peculiar answer, Doyul was left speechless.
Yerin genuinely seemed content with her choice.
“Lady, you mentioned that I am a person of the Northern Ice Palace, didn’t you?”
“…Madam.”
“Moreover, you are already expressing anger on my behalf. So, it’s enough.”
Yerin smiled gently at Doyul.
While looking at that smile, Doyul felt a sudden warmth in his face.
However, the excitement was brief.
“Madam, Lady.”
Martial arts disciples from the Wulin League had come looking for them.
“People have arrived from the Jongyang Trading Country.”
“…Jongyang Trading Country?”
Doyul’s face contorted with surprise.
No, they had only separated for a day, and now people from Jongyang Trading Country were visiting his wife?
* * *
Regardless of Doyul’s mood, considering that someone had been sent directly from Jongyang Trading Country, they couldn’t ignore it.
Reluctantly, Doyul followed the envoy from the trading country.
As they went deep into the heart of Hangju, a massive mansion appeared in the distance.
It was Jongyang Trading Country.
Known for its well-established transportation industry, the trading country was one of the wealthiest in the entire Central Plains. The buildings sparkled prominently, reflecting the prosperity.
‘Wow.’
Yerin marveled internally.
‘It’s as if someone planned for it to be the residence of the female lead.’
Situated in the center of Hangju, with luxurious buildings, it exuded a sense of affluence.
Although Northern Ice Palace had undergone several reconstructions and now presented a decent appearance, it couldn’t quite compare to Jongyang Trading Country.
‘Honestly, it’s incomparable to Jongyang Trading Country… No, how about we appreciate our own Ice Palace!’
Yerin clenched her fists.
‘Let’s not be intimidated!’
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is Sid. I hope you liked it<3
Next post will be released on February, 5.
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