Patter. Patter.
Yoo Gyeong forced her steps forward, thinking,
‘That’s why… people need to have kind hearts.’
Yoo Gyeong lamented.
The price of venting her anger on the ministers yesterday was now haunting her!
What did the ministers do wrong in today’s affairs? Not much, really. They had hurriedly come up with urgent project proposals based on the newly emerged budget and were simply arguing for their own justification.
One could say the ministers had diligently done their part.
‘I’m being punished…!’
If she had continued the governance with calm insights instead of venting her anger on the ministers, this time could have been pushed back by a couple of hours. In that case, Minister Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi would have received Hyeok Gi-rin’s wrath, and Yoo Gyeong might have encountered a calmer Hyeok Gi-rin.
The mere thought of using Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi as a shield was already far from having a kind heart, but unfortunately, there was no one around Yoo Gyeong to point that out.
Arriving at the palace, Yoo Gyeong felt like a cow being led to the slaughterhouse.
“Your Majesty, I will guide you to the Training Hall.”
“…The Training Hall… you say?”
Yoo Gyeong’s voice trembled involuntarily. Not a room, but the Training Hall?
“Cough! Waaa!”
As she was about to enter the Training Hall, the sounds of dying breaths and people rolling around echoed! The court lady guiding Yoo Gyeong halted in her tracks, as did Yoo Gyeong.
Gulp.
The court lady and Yoo Gyeong swallowed dryly and hurried their steps.
What Yoo Gyeong saw upon entering the Training Hall was the back of a standing Hyeok Gi-rin and the miserable form of a crumpled Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi sprawled on the floor.
The black uniform of the respected court officer, receiving gazes of envy and fear, had become covered in dust long ago! It indicated he hadn’t just rolled around once or twice.
“Have you come, Older Brother?”
Yoo Gyeong shivered at the icy tone of the younger sibling she had never heard before.
Gulp.
Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi, who was writhing on the ground, lifted his head to look at Yoo Gyeong.
Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi’s eyes were lifeless.
His mouth opened like a fish pulled out of water, voicelessly gasping. Yoo Gyeong, having never learned the art of poison, somehow understood what Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi wanted to convey.
“Es…cape…!”
Having left his last words, Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi, perhaps out of energy, lowered his head and fell silent.
Taking in the sight of Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi, Yoo Gyeong squeezed her eyes shut.
Ah, today I am dead!
“It’s a pity that Older Brother hasn’t mastered martial arts.”
Right, this brother hasn’t trained in martial arts. So why not use words instead of fists?
Seeing him constantly clench and unclench his fists, Yoo Gyeong thought silently, unable to voice it.
“You would have had a healthier mindset if you had sweated a lot. The minister must have become clearer in mind, but for you, Older Brother, that seems impossible.”
Hyeok Gi-rin, looking slightly refreshed from moving his body, gazed at Yoo Gyeong with a cool smile. Feeling that gaze, Yoo Gyeong couldn’t help but feel a shiver down her spine.
“What in the world were you thinking to cause this mess?”
“I… I’m sorry…”
“Why would you trap the Ho Martial Artist? What gain would that bring you, Older Brother? No matter how much you claim to be the ruler of this palace, disturbing the palace’s law…!”
Yoo Gyeong bowed her head deeply. The incident involving Ho Cheon-an was something she couldn’t even begin to discuss.
“That day, you spoke too positively about gambling. I wanted to show you how dangerous it can be…”
“Older Brother, I’m already well past my tender years. How long will you treat me like a child?”
“But…”
But it’s just that I worry like a parent about a child left unattended at the riverside. The very fact that she had given her heart to Ho Cheon-an was a source of anxiety for Yoo Gyeong.
“How on earth will I face Senior Ho starting tomorrow! What will I say? That you and the respected minister tried to ruin Ho Cheon-an to instill caution about gambling in me?”
“….”
“You complained about how busy you were with state affairs, yet you had time to come up and coax Senior Ho! And what were you doing last night? You claimed you needed rest due to exhaustion but went to watch Senior Ho get into trouble?”
Yoo Gyeong, with her head bowed and devoid of words. Hyeok Gi-rin, feeling furious, also felt his heart soften at her posture.
No matter how much he hated it, Older Brother was still Older Brother.
Just as Yoo Gyeong cared for Hyeok Gi-rin, so too did Hyeok Gi-rin care for Yoo Gyeong. If Hyeok Gi-rin truly didn’t care for her, he wouldn’t have thought about leaving the comfortable nest of the palace to live as a martial artist.
‘Last night, she must have had a hard time with Ho Martial Artist.’
Though she hadn’t heard the detailed story of yesterday, it was clear without seeing or hearing. It was Ho Cheon-an who dived into enemy territory to retrieve tons of gold, and regarding gambling, Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist could easily be deceived, but Ho Cheon-an was a match for Hyeong-gyeong Martial Artist.
Given that Yoo Gyeong had set up the gambling table, one could only imagine it was extravagant, but… It must have been Yoo Gyeong’s side that got wiped out, and Ho Cheon-an’s temperament surely wouldn’t let it go just like that.
“Older Brother.”
For now, let’s leave the scolding here. Having fought with Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi, she felt somewhat relieved. For Yoo Gyeong, resolving this mess would be a troublesome affair. That was punishment enough.
With that thought, Hyeok Gi-rin was about to wrap up this encounter when he frowned seeing Yoo Gyeong’s lack of response.
“…Are you listening, Older Brother?”
“I find it… so hard to think.”
“What do you mean?”
“To accept someone like Ho Cheon-an as a brother-in-law.”
Hyeok Gi-rin froze with his arms crossed.
Just… what did Older Brother just say?
While Hyeok Gi-rin was left stunned by words he couldn’t even imagine, Yoo Gyeong lifted her head.
The whole conversation had already reached Hyeok Gi-rin’s ears. If so, was there any need to secretly evaluate Ho Cheon-an? Instead, let’s lay everything on the table and talk to Hyeok Gi-rin.
“To be honest, I never liked Ho Cheon-an as a match for you! Not his background! Not his martial arts level! Not the things he’s doing now! Not even the fact that he enjoys gambling! Hence, what happened yesterday!”
“What, what…”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s face turned red as a ripe persimmon. What on earth is Older Brother saying?
“I witnessed Ho Cheon-an gambling yesterday. Seeing that scene, I couldn’t see him as just a worthless outcast who only gambles. So, starting today, I’ve decided to observe him!”
“Older Brother! What on earth are you talking about?”
“Listen! I won’t yield on this point!”
“No..!”
What is Older Brother saying right now? Who likes who? And a brother-in-law? Since when did you think we were in a relationship!?
Hyeok Gi-rin couldn’t suppress the rising shame and stomped her feet. However, Yoo Gyeong, unbothered by Hyeok Gi-rin’s attitude, continued her fervent speech.
“I know saying this right after causing an incident like yesterday may seem insincere, but I’m genuinely worried whether you can be truly happy if you and that person get together!”
Yoo Gyeong nodded while delivering her impassioned plea. Yes, this was right. After all, what was the fundamental reason for trying to trap Ho Cheon-an in the gambling trap? It was because she feared that Ho Cheon-an would lead Hyeok Gi-rin to unhappiness.
But was that judgment accurate? Not at all. She was merely unable to accept that her sister was getting involved with someone, so she latched onto the person’s flaws and tried to forcefully widen those cracks.
However, Yoo Gyeong also felt wronged.
If only it were someone decent she liked, that would be one thing. But of all people, an outcast, a top-level martial artist, and a gambling addict, no, a gambling expert?
Sure, I recognize that Ho Cheon-an’s gambling skills are world-class. But…
If only he were the best farmer in the world or the best chef instead. Why, of all things, be the best gambler!
It was something so embarrassing that she couldn’t even bring it up. For a moment, Yoo Gyeong envisioned a future where Ho Cheon-an and Hyeok Gi-rin were together, and Ho Cheon-an’s prowess was revealed.
[Your future husband is said to possess the best gambling skills in the world?]
[Don’t even mention it; they say not even a hundred gamblers can compete with him! Truly, he is a one-man army!]
[I heard he can change the cards so skillfully; I wish to witness that talent someday. Hahaha!]
Just imagining those conversations was dizzying!
How could one easily accept such a reality? The fact that Hyeok Gi-rin had someone in her heart was shocking enough, but the identity of that person being Ho Cheon-an was even more shocking…
“Give me time and opportunity to accept Ho Cheon-an’s existence! This time, I want to see whether his nature and character will truly lead to your happiness when you both come together! Maybe my insistence is foolish…! But this is my true feeling!”
Yoo Gyeong needed time to come to terms with Ho Cheon-an as a person.
She looked at Hyeok Gi-rin, who was stomping his feet and muttering angrily.
“Are you crazy! Older Brother! Ho Senior is not that kind of person to me!”
For a moment, Yoo Gyeong wore a baffled expression. Now, of all times… saying such things? Seeing that expression, Hyeok Gi-rin stomped his feet angrily.
“What’s with that expression right now!”
“I mean… you just tried to trap my fiancé and beat up Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi…”
“Of course! That was only natural! How could I let that happen to a guest who came with me!”
“So you’re saying you did it out of love…?”
Seeing Yoo Gyeong respond in a dazed tone, Hyeok Gi-rin felt an intense rush of embarrassment. Older Brother was saying such strange things! For a moment, Ho Cheon-an appeared in those fantasies, but she had just thought he might be good to the kids!
But that was merely a passing fancy.
“What do you know to say such things!”
Hyeok Gi-rin glared at Yoo Gyeong, eyes full of fire. Thinking back, it was indeed Yoo Gyeong who brought up the topic of marriage that had led to these strange thoughts about Ho Cheon-an.
The very person who entangled her in worries now claimed to have taken the initiative in making Ho Cheon-an a fact that they would be marrying? Rage surged within her like a tidal wave.
“I truly hate you, Older Brother!”
“What… what did you say…?”
“I said I really hate you! I don’t want to see you ever again!!”
Hyeok Gi-rin delivered the finishing blow to the flabbergasted Yoo Gyeong.
“Don’t come near the palace for a while!!”
And with that, he stormed off.
Yoo Gyeong froze in place like a statue.
Did I… say I hated him? That I never wanted to see him again? That he shouldn’t come find me…?
Whooooosh.
A breeze swept through, stirring the frozen Yoo Gyeong and the fainted Sa Ma Gyeong-hwi.
