Yeo-il remained silent.
Even with her eyes closed, she could feel Namgung Jeok-myeong's gaze on her. It was as if he were trying to decipher her.
For a moment, Yeo-il reviewed everything she had done since arriving at the Namgung estate.
Had she done anything to make them suspect her true identity?
She certainly had.
'But there's no way he could've brought up Salmak because of that.'
Why Salmak? Why that name? Could it be related to the Salmak death list they supposedly possess?
Yeo-il remained quiet and slowly rose. She walked very slowly to the paper door, and a shadow suddenly fell across it.
She could sense the guards on the other side of the thin door. The atmosphere was tense, as if they would jump her the moment she opened it.
"Scared?" His voice was laced with laughter.
"Or just shy? Haha. What is there to be shy about with your big brother? Soyo, don't worry, I won't stop you if you walk out. If you were embarrassed, I was going to apolo—"
Yeo-il began to undress. Swish. The thin top fell to the floor, revealing her undergarments. Without hesitation, she untied her skirt, preparing to remove her jeogori.
The room fell deathly silent, as if time had stopped. Yeo-il turned her bare back and shoulders to Namgung Jeok-myeong and said...
"If you're still unsure, come closer and check."
She heard a chair scrape and footsteps approaching.
"Still unsure, even this close? You can touch me."
He was completely silent; she couldn't even hear him breathing.
Namgung Jeok-myeong's eyes remained fixed on her shoulders and back. She couldn't see him, so she had no idea what he was thinking.
"...Nah, it's okay. I'm not such a scumbag that I'd do something that messed up to my own sister."
After a moment, he muttered to himself, very quietly.
"Nothing."
His footsteps receded.
"Cho-hong, help Soyo get dressed."
The door opened slowly, letting in a bit of fresh air.
"Excuse me, miss."
Cho-hong bowed her head and, very quietly, lifted Yeo-il's skirt.
Namgung Jeok-myeong had acted as if she were some woman he'd picked up, but Cho-hong was nothing but respectful.
Cho-hong's hands were soft, gentle, and fragrant.
"I've been blind for over ten years. I can dress myself."
But before Cho-hong could even touch her shoulder, Yeo-il had already adjusted her clothes, smoothly and easily.
There was a moment of silence.
Namgung Jeok-myeong finally answered, sounding indifferent.
"What's the big deal about being waited on?"
"If it weren't for that nameless fighter, I would have arrived here as a corpse."
Yeo-il, fully dressed again, gave Namgung Jeok-myeong a small bow.
"I'm still afraid of strangers touching me. Please try to understand, Namgung Jeok-myeong-nim."
"Your big brother wasn't thinking. I'll keep that in mind."
"And don't forget your promise."
"Yeah, yeah. No need to nag. I'll definitely tell Father about your situation."
As if nothing had happened, Namgung Jeok-myeong laughed, loudly and carefree, and called out to her.
"Come on, come here and sit down, Soyo. Did you eat? Was the food okay? The food here is pretty damn good. Want to eat some more with your big brother before you go?"
Yeo-il offered a small smile, playing along, and shook her head.
"Thank you, but I'm not feeling too well. If it's okay with Namgung Jeok-myeong-nim, I'd like to head back."
"Haha. Why ask permission? If you want to go home, go home. It's too bad you're not feeling well, but what can you do?"
The sound of a cup being filled with liquor rang out.
"Anyway, there are people waiting for you downstairs. Go on back before it gets too late."
"Thank you."
"Yeah... Don't you worry about a thing. Your big brother will be watching you from here."
When she left Giyeonlou with the guards, it had started to drizzle outside.
Yeo-il felt a shadow over her head and looked up.
"Seol-yeong?"
"Yeah, it's me. I don't trust those bastards one bit. Chang-a and I came to get you, so don't yell at us."
"Yeah! Me too! We'll get you back to your room safely, Soyo-agassi!"
Chang-a, holding Yeo-il's hand, walked quickly down the wet path. The umbrella was huge, so even her sleeves remained dry.
Over the sound of the rain, Yeo-il asked.
"Is Namgung Jeok-myeong still watching me?"
Seol-yeong looked back at Giyeonlou and said quietly, "Yes."
"And is there a woman with him?"
"Yes. She's very beautiful. Is that Giyeonlou's famous Cho-hong?"
Yeo-il smiled slightly and answered, walking slowly.
"Yes, she's not just any woman. Don't let your guard down if you encounter her."
"Not just any woman? You mean, like, an assassin?"
"Something like that."
"Huh? Seriously?"
Yeo-il remembered Cho-hong's fingertips brushing her skin, just for a moment.
She moved smoothly, like water, but her fingertips felt strange. Especially when she subtly tried to touch Yeo-il's back.
'She was trying to check with the back of her hand, not her fingers.'
That's what female assassins who learned, you know, intimate techniques, did. To hide their rough hands, like a fighter's.
"He's supposed to be some kind of perverted loser, but he's more than that. What's the deal with Namgung Jeok-myeong?"
"Well, he suspects my true identity."
Chang-a was the most shocked, not Seol-yeong.
"What? H-how...? Already? Isn't that, like, super dangerous? What are we going to do?"
"Don't worry about it yet, Chang-a. He can't just kick me out on suspicion; he needs proof."
"Okay, that makes me feel a little better."
But still, Yeo-il had completely changed her opinion of Namgung Jeok-myeong.
Namgung Jeok-myeong said the head of the family was once attacked by Salmak and suffered a severe wound that never healed.
Yeo-il used to be with Salmak, but she couldn't confirm if that was true. She didn't know every name on the death list.
'If that's true... then the one who most likely killed Namgung Soyo is the eldest son.'
Otherwise, he wouldn't be so certain in doubting Namgung Soyo's identity.
The family head, severely injured by Salmak. And Namgung Jeok-myeong, who suspects Yeo-il is a Salmak assassin without even realizing it.
'Perhaps... the rumor about a death list being left behind isn't just a rumor after all.'
"..............."
The next morning.
A second, unexpected visitor arrived.
"Soyo, are you doing okay? Sorry I'm late. Things have been crazy around here; I've been losing my mind."
It was Namgung Chu-myeong, the second son.
