Editor : VCubed
Chapter 95
The coldness between the father and daughter was so extreme that it was hardly believable.
Then, Seo Pyeong-oh intervened with a smiling face.
“I apologize for visiting so early in the morning.”
“… “
Yerin stared silently at Seo Pyeong-oh.
Seo Pyeong-oh.
Other than being the brother of Seo Hwaryeon, there wasn’t much information known about him.
Even in the original work, he was barely mentioned, almost nonexistent.
Seo Pyeong-oh spoke politely.
“I heard that my younger sister was rude to Lady Yerin and Lady Yeongju yesterday, so I came to apologize.”
“Rude? It was I who…”
“Hwaryeon, can’t you stay quiet?”
Hwaryeon, who was about to explode, pressed her lips tightly at Seo Pyeong-oh’s scolding.
After that, Seo Pyeong-oh looked at the clan head with gratitude in his eyes.
“Although it must have been troublesome, I’m truly grateful that the clan head of Dang could connect me to Lady Yerin and Lady Youngju.”
“… “
Yerin’s eyes turned cold instantly.
‘Connected by the clan head of Dang?’
The clan head Yerin knew wasn’t someone who intervened in matters that didn’t benefit him.
So, it was unlikely that the clan head acted out of affection for his daughter.
Until Yerin left for the Northern Ice Palace, she had been subjected to all sorts of insults for being a lowly girl.
‘If that’s the case, there must be an ulterior motive.’
Just then, Seo Pyeong-oh stood up and bowed to Yerin.
“I’m truly sorry.”
“I accept your apology.”
Although she didn’t want to accept apologies like this, this wasn’t the Northern Ice Palace but the Jo Yangpyo Kingdom.
Considering Master Jo Ha-seong and Lady Youngju, it would be better to accept the apology roughly and move on.
Seo Pyeong-oh scolded Hwaryeon.
“Hwaryeon, apologize to Lady Yerin and Lady Youngju immediately.”
“… “
“Quickly!”
With that scolding, Hwaryeon reluctantly stood up.
“I’m sorry, Lady Yerin. And Lady Youngju…”
Unable to overcome her embarrassment, Hwaryeon bit her lip.
“… I’m sorry.”
“Well, um…”
Lady Youngju seemed to share Yerin’s sentiments.
She had no intention of accepting apologies, but at the same time, she couldn’t ignore the clan head of Dang who had arranged this meeting.
“Okay.”
Lady Youngju nodded with a troubled expression.
Then Master Dang casually joined the conversation.
“By the way, Yerin, your skills are rumored to be excellent even in the Central Plains.”
“… “
What’s going on?
Suddenly, why such unexpected praise?
Moreover, I can’t understand why that topic suddenly came up.
Yerin stared at her father with a wary look in her eyes.
At the same time, Master Dang smirked subtly.
“I’ve heard that Seo Pyeong-oh’s skills are also considerable?”
“It’s an exaggeration.”
Seo Pyeong-oh clapped his hands for no reason.
But receiving praise from the clan head, of all people, clearly lifted his spirits.
“Well, sometimes being too humble isn’t good either.”
Master Dang tilted his head as if he knew everything.
“I know everything. Seo Pyeong-oh is said to be one of the top martial artists in Hangju.”
Then he briefly turned his head and looked at Yerin with a snake-like gaze.
“What do you say, how about a match with our Yerin this time?”
“… “
“… “
Silence fell.
Then Seo Pyeong-oh awkwardly smiled.
“No, how could I compete in martial arts with Lady Yerin?”
Upon hearing that, the clan head let out a sigh as if he expected it.
“I see, I’m probably too indulgent as a father.”
“Huh? Indulgent father, what…”
“I’ve been busy managing the clan, so I haven’t really seen how much my daughter has grown.”
Daughter? Daughter??
Yerin had to make an effort to hide her shocked expression.
Doyul also had a troubled expression.
Whether to say anything or not, the clan head spoke with a resigned voice.
“I’ve only heard occasional rumors about my daughter from afar.”
“Oh, I see.”
Seo Pyeong-oh, unaware of the situation, had a pitiful expression.
“But now that I see Seo Pyeong-oh like this, I can’t help but feel ambitious as a father.”
“Ambitious? In what way?”
“I’m thinking, wouldn’t it be nice if Seo Pyeong-oh could teach my daughter?”
Yerin felt a chill run down her spine.
Just by looking at Master Dang’s gloomy expression, it was clear that he was not just a doting father.
Meanwhile, the clan head continued to coax Seo Pyeong-oh without hesitation.
“Then I can know how much my daughter has grown, and my daughter can gain great knowledge, right?”
Then he smiled as if he were benevolent.
“Oh, of course, I’ll remember how much effort Seo Pyeong-oh has put in for us.”
… So that’s what he was aiming for.
Yerin felt her heart grow cold as if she had swallowed a huge chunk of ice.
The clan head made that proposal to gauge Yerin’s abilities.
On the other hand, Seo Pyeong-oh, who knew nothing, blossomed with a single smile on his face.
From his perspective, there couldn’t be a better opportunity to help the lord of the four gates and seize a chance to make an impression.
“Understood. I’m fine with it, but…”
Seo Pyeong-oh glanced briefly at Yerin.
“What about Lady Yerin?”
“Oh, me…”
Just as Yerin was about to refuse, Master Dang called out to her, raising his eyebrows.
“Yerin.”
“… “
“I know this father has been indifferent until now. But…”
It was an earnest voice that seemed like it could even melt a piece of hardened soybean paste.
“Still, can’t you understand this father’s desire to see his daughter’s growth with his own eyes, even just a little?”
“… Father.”
“I won’t bother you again, alright? Hmm?”
…I never expected my father to humble himself like this.
Yerin bit her lip slightly.
Something was definitely off about the situation.
If she refused here, she felt like she would become a stubborn daughter who coldly rejected her father’s plea.
In the end, Yerin nodded her head.
“Understood.”
“Great!”
Seo Pyeong-oh clenched his fists tightly.
“To have the opportunity to spar with Lady Yerin of the Northern Ice Palace, isn’t this also a fortunate event?”
Haha!
As Seo Pyeong-oh’s loud laughter echoed in her ears,
Yerin gazed at Master Dang with a sinking feeling in her eyes.
Master Dang’s eyes curved like crescent moons as he looked at his daughter.
“Thank you.”
Facing that smile, Yerin’s mood worsened significantly.
It felt as if she had witnessed a large snake preparing to strike in the dark.
—
Even though it was a diplomatic country, Jo Yangpyo Kingdom had a peculiar training ground.
“It seems the guards also need a space to practice martial arts.”
Master Jo Ha-seong chuckled modestly.
“Fortunately, everyone is using it well.”
The training ground wasn’t large, but it was well-maintained.
It seemed like the guards used it frequently.
Yerin inwardly admired it.
‘As expected of Master Jo Ha-seong.’
His broad perspective that encompassed not only himself but also those around him.
Perhaps such qualities also contributed to Master Jo Haseong becoming a renowned guard even in the Central Plains.
“As for weapons…”
“Oh, there are training wooden swords prepared over there.”
Master Jo Ha-seong gestured to a corner of the training ground.
“Feel free to use them as you wish.”
“Thank you.”
Seo Pyeong-oh picked up a wooden sword first, followed by Yerin.
While Seo Pyeong-oh carefully examined the weapons, Yerin picked up a noticeable wooden sword.
Opening his mouth as if to lecture her, Seo Pyeong-oh said,
“It’s not right to choose a weapon so easily.”
“Huh?”
“If you’re going to wield a weapon, shouldn’t you pay attention to the one you choose?”
Seo Pyeong-oh suggested to Yerin with concern.
“Take a closer look.”
Ah, Yerin chuckled briefly.
Even though Seo Pyeong-oh was addressing her, her gaze was directed towards Master Dang.
The act of glancing at him revealed his underlying intention to leave a good impression on him.
‘What confidence.’
Initially, Yerin had chosen the wooden sword considering how much it had been used in sparring, judging by the slight dirt on its handle.
But…
“Well, they say a craftsman doesn’t blame his tools.”
Yerin replied somewhat tartly, feeling annoyed by the need to explain.
Then Seo Pyeong-oh, who was watching Master Dang’s reaction, turned to Yerin.
“Huh?”
“Never mind. If you’ve made your choice, shall we go to the training ground?”
Yerin stepped onto the training ground ahead.
Seo Pyeong-oh followed behind with a troubled expression.
As Yerin stood on the training ground, she glanced briefly at her father.
‘What should I do?’
Master Dang’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
His intention to probe Yerin’s skills was evident.
‘Revealing my true abilities outright would be foolish.’
