A Dragon Lives In That Scholar's Deep Spring - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

It wasn’t a particularly difficult task. It was just a matter of focusing on one place instead of expressing your strength outward.

“Hey, Lady. You see…”

Sun-yi, confirming that there were no tangled areas, began to comb her hair with her little finger. Since it reminded her of her mother, combing her hair was a somewhat pleasant task. 

Farang was quite indulgent with Sun-yi.

“What is it?”

“Well, you see…”

Sun-yi, extending the end of her sentence, finally brought up what she had been pondering.

“Lady, are you going to be the owner of this estate?”

“What?”

“I heard you will soon become the lady of this house, and you will be the crown prince’s companion.”

Listening quietly, Farang corrected a few words in Sun-yi’s words.

“Not a crown princess but a lady, and not the crown prince’s companion but the future king.”

“…Really?”

Sun-yi, who had been diligently combing her hair, stopped abruptly. It felt like they were having different conversations.

“That’s the agreement with Choi Do-gyeom.”

It was quite annoying. There were always people who, once you gave them one thing, would want two or three more. Was Choi Do-gyeom the same? It was an agreed-upon condition, but it suddenly irritated her.

“Why do I have to become something here again?”

“Oh… no! I must have misunderstood.”

For some reason, Sun-yi’s voice and energy suddenly seemed to rise.

“Ah, okay then. There’s no way you came here for that! You’re supposed to put in the lucky charm.”

The spirited child hummed even a tune as she combed Farang’s hair. Then she made Farang wear the clothes she had roughly bought from the market.

Farang was able to go through the process of putting on clothes correctly because she remembered it accurately.

“Lady, if you don’t eat, how are you going to keep your health?”

“What should I make?”

“You hardly eat two meals a day, and I’m worried that you’re not taking care of yourself. What if you faint?”

It was true that she might collapse if she overexerted herself, but not if she didn’t eat the food of the land. Farang didn’t respond, just let it slide.

“It’s all done!”

Sun-yi, who had tied Farang’s hair firmly, held up a small mirror with a proud expression on her face.

“Look. Did I do a good job?”

Farang couldn’t judge if she did well because she didn’t know the standards.

“Well…”

“I paid more attention because the elders will see it.”

“Do you have to consider the shape of your hair based on who’s going to see it?”

“Yes?”

“Does it change depending on who the person is?”

Farang simply asked because she didn’t know, but Sun-yi, who looked embarrassed for some reason, scratched her cheek.

“No, it’s not always like that.”

“Then why did you pay more attention?”

“Ah… I’ll always pay attention from now on. Will that be okay?”

Why does it have to be that way? While Farang was trying to grasp the context, Sun-yi, who had tidied up the wooden comb, suddenly stood up and headed for the door.

“Well, then, go!”

She realized that during her stay here, it would be a continuous series of annoying tasks. It was tiresome, but a promise was a promise, so Farang reluctantly got up and headed for the door.

“He’s called a master in Haeju, right?”

“Yes?”

“The person I’m going to meet now. Choi Do-gyeom’s uncle.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What’s an uncle?”

“What? Um, well… “

Sun-yi hesitated and couldn’t easily answer. It seemed to be a complicated relationship that was difficult to explain. Just when Farang thought that the answer came from someone else.

“He is the brother of the late madam.”

It was Nam San-daek, who was carrying the meal to the kitchen.

“After the master’s parents and the family relationship ended in a tragedy, he was like a father to him for several years.”

This was unfamiliar to Farang, who had been alone ever since her parents’ relationship ended in ruin. She hadn’t had a relationship in her life, so it was strange to describe him as a father figure.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and go. They’ve been waiting for you.”

“Yes! I’m going!”

Sun-yi guided Farang toward the main building.

“If you go inside, I’ll bring some rice wine, and snacks that the lady likes. Don’t get too nervous.”

“Why should I be nervous?” 

Farang didn’t understand why she needed to enter. Choi Do-gyeom and the elder were in the Courtyard.

“That’s because you have to pay attention to every little thing when you see him. Especially the Lord from Haeju, he’s so strict… I’m scared!”

As Sun-yi was stepping through the main gate, she suddenly stumbled, and Farang grabbed her to prevent her from falling. Startled by the child’s cry, Do-gyeom, who had been walking through the gate first, turned around and widened his eyes.

Do-gyeom, who was surprised to see Farang, took a little longer to notice Sun-yi.

“Is… everything okay?”

Sun-yi seemed to hang in the air until Farang pulled her to her feet roughly. Farang lifted the child effortlessly with one arm, showing no emotion. Amid this, something strange happened: Sun-yi’s heart rate suddenly increased, and her body temperature rose.

“I should have just fallen over…”

“What?”

“Oh, no! Well, then, I’ll be going now. Please have your conversation.”

When Do-gyeom tried to approach, concerned, Sun-yi fled outside the main gate like a startled cat. When the noisy child disappeared, the Courtyard fell silent as if nothing had happened.

“Uncle, this is her.”

Do-gyeom introduced Farang to Shim Oh-gyun, a person with an anxious expression on his face. Farang felt the same way.

“Greet him. He’s my elder uncle, the one they mentioned in Haeju.”

“……”

“……”

Farang just stood there dumbfounded. Greet him? She had never done that before. 

She had only blinked her eyes at the man who was silently staring at her. Seemingly frustrated, Shim Oh-gyun, who had stared at her in silence for a long time, finally cleared his throat.

“What an unruly child.”

“I apologize. She doesn’t know the proper manners yet.”

“What? Is it even possible to bring a child who doesn’t even know the basics? You could have easily taught her the very basics even while preparing.”

“I deeply apologize to you, Uncle. We didn’t have enough time to prepare. Also, I didn’t want to teach her even a simple greeting hastily.”

“Why?”

“I was reluctant to teach her in a clumsy way to avoid unnecessary situations, fearing that she might develop bad habits. Although we committed a significant breach of etiquette today…”

Do-gyeom’s unwavering gaze fell upon Farang.

“She’s a quick learner. I can guarantee that she will not bring any shame to the Shim family.”

Despite Do-gyeom’s assurance, Shim Oh-gyun continued to scrutinize Farang with suspicion, his eyes narrowed as he examined her.

“…You didn’t bring her here just because she’s clever, did you?”

“She is intelligent and resourceful, with a strong and unwavering character. She knows how to protect herself, even in dangerous situations. She is likely more capable than most commoners.”

“Is this an attempt to impress me with words? Claiming she’s better than most commoners. If this is an attempt to make me change my mind, it’s better to remain silent.”

“No, it’s not… “

Do-gyeom seemed frustrated and didn’t reveal Farang’s true identity. Farang, who didn’t know who her interlocutor was, also chose not to speak.

“Very well. Since you know her intentions, you’ve probably chosen a good seed.”

“Since you’ve graciously agreed to be the adoptive father, this is my first and last opportunity to show her true nature. Apart from Uncle, no one will see her true self in the future.”

“Even so…”

Reluctantly, Shim Oh-gyun continued to gaze at Farang.

“She must be kept from wandering recklessly outside, especially. The more she’s exposed, the more trouble may arise.”

“Trouble?”

Farang, who couldn’t understand what was being said, was left to Do-gyeom, who seemed to deeply understand the situation. He promised confidently.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Very well. We will properly receive introductions with other people next time. I will explain things to them.”

“I’ll make sure not to cause any trouble.”

“Good. Well, I have to go now.”

Shim Oh-gyun turned towards the courtyard, with Do-gyeom following him.

“You’ve come a long way, but it would be good to rest even for a short while.”

“No. Haeju is a place where I can’t afford to let my guard down for even a moment.”

Even as he turned to leave, Shim Oh-gyun offered various pieces of advice to Do-gyeom.

“You should educate someone from Haeju or bring that child to Haeju and provide proper education. How can she not even perform a simple greeting correctly, no matter how inadequate she is?”

“The person in charge of her education has already been designated. There’s no better choice than her.”

“Is that the only thing I have to do?”

“You’ve already done enough, haven’t you?”

This time, Do-gyeom gestured for Farang to follow him, showing her real self. Farang silently followed him.

“Take care on your way.”

Standing in front of the main gate, Do-gyeom bowed to send off Shim Oh-gyun. Farang, who had never bowed her head in thousands of years, awkwardly inclined her upper body to mimic the gesture, even though her hands were not visible.

Then, she silently followed Do-gyeom, and when he stopped, she tilted her upper body in a manner resembling a bow, even though her hands remained hidden.

“Prepare yourself and follow me.”

“Yes.”

As the horsemen, who had been brought out from Do-gyeom’s stable, were busily replacing the tired horses with fresh ones, Farang, standing behind Do-gyeom, observed him. In all her years, she had never once bowed her head. But now, as she watched Do-gyeom’s back, she imitated the gesture, even though it was awkward.

Her hands remained invisible, and she did not attempt to reveal them, fearing that they might give her away. Thanks to this, the horses had no idea she was there and continued to neigh and frolic, unaware of her presence.

“…When you are ready, follow me.”

“Yes.”

Do-gyeom led the way, and the horsemen followed. They had never seen someone who had never bowed in thousands of years, but they didn’t ask any questions and simply carried out their work.

At the main gate, Do-gyeom bowed deeply as a sign of respect before leaving. Farang, who had been standing behind him, watched his action. Although she couldn’t see her own hands, she attempted to mimic the gesture by tilting her upper body. The effort was somewhat awkward, but it was her way of showing respect.

Do-gyeom turned and saw her, and with a faint smile, he placed his hand on her head.

“You can stand up now.”

Farang swiftly straightened up, and the sight of her doing so made Do-gyeom smile even more.

“If you had been given a little instruction, you could have done it perfectly.”

“I understand.”