Chapter: 779
Clang.
I turned around at the ear-piercing sound. I caught a glimpse of the broken debris on the floor.
Beyond that, a pair of beautiful shoes caught my eye.
I glanced up slowly at the owner of the legs.
It wasn’t long before our eyes met.
“…Madam.”
The owner was Madam Mi.
Why is Madam Mi here? Of all times, why now?
Did you hear what I just said? Damn, you had to have heard it. That reaction definitely confirms it.
That means… in one word.
‘This is fucked.’
It means it’s seriously fucked up.
‘What should I do?’
Cold sweat dripped down my body.
I sold my father out to survive, but if Madam Mi heard that, it changes the game entirely.
How does it change, you ask?
‘I really don’t want to imagine it.’
Whatever it is, I don’t want to dwell on it.
Ddoldol looks no older than ten.
If we just crunch the numbers, if he’s my father’s child…
‘No, even before we start calculating. The fact that he’s unknown to Madam Mi already seals my fate.’
No amount of calculations or excuses can change the fact—I’m doomed.
“That… Madam. That’s not what it looks like…”
A family breakdown hits harder than a whirlwind.
I’m standing at the edge of a cliff, feeling the winds of disaster.
What should I do? How do I untangle this mess?
Gulp.
I kept swallowing dry saliva, gradually sinking into a swamp of thoughts.
‘Damn.’
No matter how I spin it, there’s no escape.
Now it feels a bit late for a confession. If this goes on, I’d have to sell out my father and drag him into the abyss.
Should I survive?
Or should I turn my father into a shameless piece of trash?
It was an incredibly difficult dilemma.
Sure, I have responsibilities as a child, but this is pushing it…
“Madam… It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you… It’s just that my father has his circumstances, so this is really…”
Let’s sell my father out. That was the conclusion I reached after a brief internal debate.
He’s still doing fine; he should be able to handle this level of chaos.
Sure, if I get caught later, I’m probably in for a beating. But I’ll deal with that later. For now, it’s about my survival.
“First, can you please hear my side of the story?”
Just as I tried to think of excuses quickly,
Thud.
Madam Mi began to walk toward me with wide eyes.
As she approached, I flinched and subconsciously hunched my shoulders.
But.
Swish—!
Rather than coming toward me, Madam Mi walked past and continued forward.
She was headed towards Namgung Bi-ah, who was holding Ddoldol.
“…”
Madam Mi approached Namgung Bi-ah and finally said,
“…Ah.”
She uttered a short word and reached out her hand. I stiffened at the sight.
… Oh, is she going to slap Ddoldol?
That might actually happen.
She just confronted the existence of a child that isn’t her husband’s, but a child she wasn’t even aware of.
From her perspective, this is understandably a raging annoyance.
Especially since that dirty-looking fellow is the one involved; she might not hesitate to swing!
‘…Wait a minute.’
If we look at it that way, isn’t my situation not all that different?
‘The son of a concubine. That dirty-looking brat.’
Right now, I don’t see much of a difference between that guy and me.
It’s like someone is spitting on my face, and I feel a bit queasy.
Fortunately, I’ve never been slapped by a woman…
‘…Anyways.’
Shouldn’t we prevent any form of violence?
Or should I just let it slide since the situation is already bad? Just as those thoughts flickered through my mind.
Sweep.
Finally, Madam Mi’s fingertips touched Ddoldol.
But she didn’t touch his cheek.
“…Huh?”
Ddoldol raised his head at her touch.
Madam Mi was stroking his hair with a hesitant hand.
“…”
Unable to see his face, I couldn’t discern her expression.
Madam Mi was simply busy fidgeting with the child’s hair.
And amidst this confusion, I was lost, unsure of what was happening.
“You know…”
“Goodness! You startled me—!”
Suddenly, a voice startled my ear.
I had adjusted my heightened senses because they felt overwhelming, so I didn’t detect Madam Mi’s approach or anyone else coming near.
As I instinctively covered my ears and looked around, the newcomer was Baekryeongeom.
“…What, what is it?”
“No, it’s just that…”
Baekryeongeom approached with a somewhat hesitant expression and spoke carefully.
“…Then whose child is that?”
“…Huh?”
What…?
“Just looking at her… she doesn’t seem related to Miss Mi… judging by her looks, she seems like she could be your mother. But that can’t be, right?”
“…”
That must be what they meant.
“… That’s just it.”
“Then could she be from the Guild of Spirits?”
“…Huh?”
I frowned at Baekryeongeom’s words.
After the Guild of Spirits… Is he talking about the Plum Blossom Guild I know of?
“Senior. Why are you suddenly bringing up the Guild of Spirits…?”
“Huh? Oh. My nephew-in-law doesn’t know.”
“What’s this about a nephew-in-law…? No. What do you mean by that?”
“I’m saying you don’t know. Anyway, you say she’s not from the Guild of Spirits? Then… Is she from a noble family? If that’s the case, she must be connected… No, if she were trying to shin up the ladder, Miss Mi would have already thrown her out… So who could she possibly be? Could she be a girl from the Blood Palace? That seems odd; I heard she’s already engaged.”
“…”
Names kept popping up. Powerful names that felt somewhat familiar. But why are these names surfacing now?
No way.
‘…You’re trying to find out who her mother is?’
Does that mean all of those names are tied to my father?
If that’s the case, it’s utterly absurd.
‘Father, you’ve been wilder than I thought…?’
It’s not just one or two people; there are quite a few.
A man should have principles. I feel disappointed.
Meanwhile, Baekryeongeom’s serious expression as he brought this up was eerily serious.
Seeing her expression, I sighed deeply.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I myself don’t know much either.”
“If so, then there must be an opportunity, right? Those damned ones can climb onto rooftops like it’s nothing. So I can’t, either?”
“Senior? What do you mean…?”
“Oh, our son. Do you have something to say? Speak freely.”
“…Why am I suddenly your son?”
“Such things can happen in life; it’s nothing to fret about. Just don’t overthink it. Or you might go bald!”
“What kind of life do you lead to think that way?”
As always, talking with Baekryeongeom felt like losing my mind.
It’s already complicated enough; I don’t have time for whimsical banter with a lady!
Sigh.
In the corner, Madam Mi continued stroking Ddoldol’s head.
Everyone around seemed to hold their breath at the sight of her.
The child is not mine, but our father’s hidden child.
As soon as I thought of this, the presence of my father’s wife, Madam Mi, emerged.
It’s a situation that could make anyone’s stomach turn just hearing it, so who would dare to breathe?
Certainly not Dang So-yeol or Wi Seol-ah…
‘Where did that uncle go?’
Now that I look, Gwooseon has already vanished. He must have bolted out of here quickly.
Even the usually stoic Mo Yong-hee had gone pale, covering her mouth.
As tension filled the room, making everyone wonder what kind of hell was about to break loose.
“…Do you want to hold… him…?”
“…!”
“…Huh.”
“…!!”
Those were the words of Namgung Bi-ah, who was holding Ddoldol.
Those words prompted everyone around to inhale sharply.
They looked as if they were thinking, what insane comment was that?
The problem was.
“…”
Madam Mi stopped stroking Ddoldol immediately upon hearing that.
Is she mad at such nonsense?
This is truly an infuriating situation, and I’d have no defense!
“…”
Proving my point, Madam Mi offered no response.
She stood still, simply staring at Namgung Bi-ah and Ddoldol.
‘Huh?’
For some reason, I felt that Madam Mi was hesitating.
…No way.
‘Are you really thinking of holding him?’
It seemed like Namgung Bi-ah’s inquiry prompted some contemplation on her part.
‘Hah. That can’t be true.’
This has to be a misunderstanding. There’s no way Madam Mi would entertain that.
To reinforce my belief, after a lengthy silence, Madam Mi finally offered the expected reply.
“No. It’s alright.”
Just as I thought, she declined. It’s impossible to imagine any woman wanting to cradle her husband’s hidden child.
The only good thing here is that Madam Mi didn’t fly off the handle.
‘I can’t believe someone can be this rational.’
It’s astonishing.
If it were me, I’d have turned the surroundings into chaos.
Though she was surprised, her demeanor remained composed.
As I marveled at this amazing woman’s calmness…
“Prince.”
“…!”
Her voice made me jump.
“Yes, yes…”
My response barely came out before Madam Mi turned to meet my gaze.
Her expression was as composed as always.
It’s hard to tell what thoughts were swirling in her mind.
My back was already slick with cold sweat.
I made every effort not to reveal it.
Thanks to that, I could barely manage my breath right at that moment.
Madam Mi then spoke to me.
“I believe we have something to discuss.”
“…”
“Please follow me for a moment.”
“…Yes, yes.”
With that, Madam Mi stepped forward.
Watching her, I promptly moved my legs to follow suit.
This was the most nerve-wracking experience I’d had all year.
It takes a little while to traverse from the god’s shrine to where Madam Mi resides.
Especially since Madam Mi is an ordinary person; her pace is not particularly quick.
I had to walk a distance equivalent to half a kilometer instead of sprinting directly there; keeping in pace with her was a chore.
Do you know what was genuinely taxing?
‘We didn’t say a single word while walking.’
Madam Mi walked ahead in silence, while I trailed behind, unable to even swallow saliva in the discomforting quiet.
Eventually, we arrived at none other than Madam Mi’s residence.
This was a first for me.
Normally, if I wanted to see Madam Mi, I’d either go searching for her in the upper room or wait until she came for me.
I couldn’t recall ever being in the location where she stayed.
‘Did it grow this large?’
Upon seeing it, I was utterly astonished.
The residence was immensely bigger than what I expected.
I thought my own living quarters were sizable, but this was an entirely different scale.
While it wasn’t quite double the size, the difference was indeed remarkable.
Delicately landscaped gardens and walking paths decorated the surroundings beautifully.
The place we entered also exuded a neat appearance.
“Have a seat.”
“…Sure.”
Upon her command, I promptly sat down in front of her.
A teacup was already placed on the table.
It didn’t seem like Madam Mi had personally prepared it; likely, the servant who reported to her had set it up.
My throat felt parched, and I wanted to drink tea first, but…
“Did you say that child is the Lord’s child?”
“…Uh.”
I couldn’t even take a sip after that question.
I froze and set the teacup down, surveying Madam Mi.
She was gazing at me with her hands clasped and piercingly clear eyes.
Was that a look asking for an explanation?
What should I do now?
‘What do I do? I need to come up with an excuse first.’
At this point, it was far too late to retreat.
It was time to initiate a conversation with anything I could muster.
“That… That is… it…”
Since the wait hadn’t been too short, I had already concocted something to say in my mind.
Just as I was about to leverage this to explain my situation to Madam Mi.
“I know it’s not.”
“…!”
The words sliced through the air, sealing my lips again.
You know it’s false?
What that implies is that you know my words are a lie.
As I stood there, shocked by the unexpected words, Madam Mi added,
“What is that…?”
“If you say so, does that make sense?”
“…”
Her gaze was unwavering.
Should I admit to something that would lead me to a less than optimal excuse?
For a fleeting moment, I contemplated if that would be better.
“…No, that’s not true.”
Eventually, I admitted my untruth.
Madam Mi’s tone had already woven conviction into it, and strikingly, staring into her eyes made me incapable of uttering a lie.
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
As I apologized, instead of responding, Madam Mi chose to sip her tea.
I didn’t hear any sound of her drinking.
Thud.
I only heard the brief sound of the teacups clinking together.
“…Madam.”
“Speak.”
“I know it might be a bit odd to ask now, but… how did you figure it out?”
How on earth did she know? I couldn’t for the life of me understand.
Should I even think of posing such a question in this atmosphere? For a split second, Madam Mi looked at me as if taken aback.
I thought that would guarantee I wouldn’t get a response.
“Initially, I entertained the thought that it might be possible.”
Madam Mi started explaining, despite her earlier expression of disbelief.
“It would be too much of a likeness to dismiss.”
“…”
“To pinpoint it accurately… he resembles you more than the Lord, but by no means could it be your child. Perhaps, perhaps it could truly be the Lord’s child. I thought for a moment.”
“…But what made you conclude otherwise?”
“That’s an easy question to answer.”
Was it merely a figment of my imagination, or did Madam Mi seem to smile slightly?
Then came the answer.
“Your father wouldn’t do that.”
“…!”
That response was utterly unforeseen.
It struck me speechless.
“Your father is an individual shrouded in secrecy. He cannot speak of it and prefers to keep things to himself whenever possible.”
“…”
That much was evident.
I had a creeping suspicion my father barely uttered beyond a hundred words in a year.
“However, even if he managed to hide other matters, there’s no way he would conceal something like this.”
“…That’s true.”
“Moreover, even if he tried to keep it hidden, I was bound to know. I am the head of the White Flower Clan.”
“…”
Gulp.
Honestly, I can’t identify with what she said earlier, but her last point was crystal clear.
I am indeed the head of the White Flower Clan.
The pride and assurance that radiated from it were astounding.
“So, I wanted to ask. Who is that child?”
“…Would you believe me if I said that child is mine?”
“I would not.”
“…What?”
You wouldn’t believe me that easily? That response caught me completely off guard.
“Believing is not something that’s difficult. If you can handle it, then do what you must.”
“…”
Madam Mi’s disbelief was clear to me.
She was aware that the child was not my father’s.
If I told her to believe me, she’d just accept it as a matter of course.
Yet, she inquired if I could bear the weight of that responsibility.
‘Can you bear full accountability for this belief?’
It had far greater implications than flat-out disbelief.
So what could I possibly do about this?
A thousand thoughts raced through my mind.
“Alternatively, you may choose not to ask at all.”
My eyes widened slightly at Madam Mi’s follow-up.
“What do you mean by that…?”
You mean to say I shouldn’t ask?
“I mean it quite literally. I won’t ask who he might be. Additionally, it means I won’t scold you for deceiving about your father’s lineage.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, if I had to frame it in some way…”
Tap, tap. A curious sound emerged from the teacup Madam Mi held.
“Simply put, it’s because you need it—just that reason.”
“…”
“If it’s necessary, then go ahead. Should you need a cover story, I can easily concoct one.”
“…Why on earth are you going this far?”
“Condition.”
When I attempted to voice my bewilderment, Madam Mi raised her finger in a decisive manner.
“There’s one condition.”
“What is that condition?”
“Indeed, one singular condition.”
To implicitly allow this without understanding the underlying reason.
I could overlook the need to sacrifice my family for expediency, but there had to be a condition attached.
Having listened, I bit my lip inwardly.
‘Of course.’
It turned out nothing came for free.
Where exactly does something like this come as a complimentary gift?
Curiosity had prompted me to sacrifice my father’s reputation, and naturally, there would be significant conditions to consider.
I couldn’t even fathom what she might demand.
“…What are the conditions?”
Regardless, I could not refuse.
First and foremost, I needed to hear this.
With tension brimming, I awaited her words.
Seconds ticked away like small eternities.
“I will take that child.”
“…What?”
“That is my condition.”
“…?”
I thought I heard her correctly…
But my brain couldn’t quite register it.
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