Chapter 10
The Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Clan Was Supposed to Be Hated
“……”
The moment Tang Gwiheon opened his mouth, the elder closed his lips tightly.
At the same time, the wind stopped. Only silence remained in the pavilion.
Then—like lightning striking—the atmosphere suddenly burst.
“Hahahahahaha!”
The elder burst into laughter, loud enough to feel like the roof might collapse.
Pointing at Tang Gwiheon with the lacquered tip of his cane, the elder bared his blackened teeth.
“So the clan leader is whining about missing his son—looks like he’s ready to throw everything aside and rush over here?”
Even just from his gleaming eyes, it was obvious what he was thinking.
“This is going to be the finest farce I’ve ever witnessed!”
He clearly had no expectation that the father would actually come.
Gwiheon bowed slightly and replied calmly.
“You may find it more entertaining than expected, Elder.”
The elder chuckled, stroking his beard.
“Kkukkuk… yes, yes. Even a man deserves to be a little childish now and then!”
He tapped his hunched back and grabbed Jiaoya’s arm.
“Let’s go, Jiaoya.”
“Yes, Grandfather…!”
I silently watched the two descend from the pavilion.
As they moved farther away, the sharp wind that had stung my skin gradually softened.
Just before turning the corner, Jiaoya looked back and smiled smugly once more.
‘I really want to hit her.’
I clenched my fist and held myself back.
Calm down. Calm down. I wouldn’t even get to her before someone stopped me anyway.
“Don’t worry. I’ll repay it in a way far bigger than a single hit.”
Huh? Did I say that out loud?
Or was it—
I glanced at Gwiheon. He tilted his head slightly, his hair sliding over his shoulder.
“Or am I wrong? That’s the face you were making.”
I blinked blankly.
Did my expression really show that much? Or was he born with the ability to read minds?
“I hope so.”
“Pardon?”
“You look like you’re wondering whether I have mind-reading eyes.”
“Gasp!”
He got it right again.
Is my face really that easy to read?
I unconsciously touched my cheeks.
Then Gwiheon smiled gently.
Unlike when he dealt with Jiaoya, there was no sharpness in it—just warmth.
“Brother,” I said.
I stepped closer and tugged lightly at his sleeve.
“Yes?”
When I pulled his long sleeve, he bent down slightly.
“That tea earlier… the poisonous one… it’s the same as the incense in my room, right?”
I tilted my head as I asked.
“Yes. You understood well.”
“That incense… Brother Tang Rim took it earlier, so then…”
“My younger brother asked me for a favor.”
“Ah.”
I see. That made sense.
Now that I thought about it, it had been unusually quiet.
If it were Tang Rim, he would’ve already been screaming about killing Jiaoya.
So Gwiheon, as meticulous as ever, must have been investigating quietly behind the scenes.
“Here.”
While I was thinking, something green suddenly appeared at the edge of my vision.
It was the jade hairpin Jiaoya had been wearing earlier.
“…Ah.”
I took it with both hands. It was surprisingly heavy.
‘So this was mine.’
A gift sent by Tang Gwiheon.
I had misunderstood all this time.
I thought it was meant for Jiaoya—not me.
And I even thought it was from my father, not Gwiheon.
What a ridiculous misunderstanding.
‘Father is in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains—how would he even send gifts?’
Jiaoya’s lies had been flimsy from the start.
If I had believed them, just how unstable had I been?
“The fabric was already used by Jiaoya to make clothes, so I’ll send you more.”
There had even been fabric?
So everything had been intercepted by Jiaoya… was Tang Seo-oh involved too?
“Do you like it?”
Gwiheon asked gently.
The kindness I hadn’t noticed before washed over me, making my heart feel ticklish.
“…Yes.”
I answered while gripping the hairpin tightly.
Then Gwiheon bent down, bringing his face to my level.
He looked like a deer—beautiful yet gentle.
‘Our brother… he won’t be easily deceived.’
Someone more beautiful than a mirror itself would naturally become immune to beauty tricks.
“Let’s hug once.”
Smiling softly, Gwiheon suddenly opened his arms.
I froze.
‘A hug?’
Right. In the past, I must have often been carried or held like this.
Even so, why did it feel a little awkward now?
Especially since I had hugged Tang Rim myself before.
“Hmm?” he prompted.
His raised brows made my ears heat up.
‘It’s not awkward… I’m just embarrassed.’
“Yes…”
Hesitantly, I also opened my arms.
Slowly, I was drawn into his broad embrace.
A strong sandalwood scent filled my senses.
“Wah?!”
Before I could even enjoy it, my body lifted off the ground.
He had picked me up.
One arm supported my hips, the other my back—so naturally it felt practiced.
“You’ve handled the incense burner well. I’ve been sending people to check on you every day because I was worried.”
He lowered his voice near my ear.
He had sent people?
I hadn’t noticed at all.
“From some point on, I didn’t even need to send them. Someone came on their own.”
At that, one person immediately came to mind.
‘Tang Rim.’
The only person who had been visiting my room like it was his own home lately.
Imagining him nervously watching me under Gwiheon’s pressure made me want to laugh.
A warm breeze swept through the pavilion again.
This time, it was gentle.
A strand of hair slipped loose from my tied-up hair.
“Ah.”
My hands were too small to fix it properly on my own.
Without hesitation, Gwiheon tucked the stray hair behind my ear.
“You’ve worked hard alone.”
As he said that, he gently patted my back.
“……”
His soft voice and warmth pressed something strangely deep in my chest.
For some reason, those words felt heavy.
As if they were meant for me—someone who had been left alone by my clan.
I held back the tears that threatened to come.
Gwiheon looked at me quietly, then suddenly flicked my nose.
“Chick.”
“Eep?”
I leaned back, holding my nose.
“Haha.”
He laughed, clearly amused.
He felt so different from when he spoke with the elder.
He hadn’t been intimidated at all earlier.
In fact, he had even said something outrageous with a straight face.
‘Using the gathering to summon Father?’
The elder had dismissed it as a joke—but if it worked, it would be perfect.
In my previous life, I once heard something after I ran away from home.
“The Sichuan Tang Clan has completely split.”
Internal conflict had grown beyond control.
The clan was like a severed snake.
The reason was obvious.
The absence of the clan leader.
Without the head of power to restrain the elders, factional forces naturally rose.
Father must have not returned for a very long time after that.
‘Did Tang Seo-oh’s faction take over and corrupt the clan?’
And if Father really returned now…
That future might change.
‘But…’
If Father came back, I would likely be forced to drink poison soon after.
Now that misunderstandings were finally being resolved, leaving again would hurt.
“You’re troubled.”
Gwiheon’s voice came.
“Hmm?”
When I looked up, we were already outside the pavilion.
He was walking through Cheongpung Garden, carrying me in his arms.
“Worry only increases suffering. That’s what monks say.”
At his casual words, I stared at him.
Despite the blooming flowers, he only looked ahead as he walked.
I rested my cheek against his chest.
“Brother… will Father really come?”
“Yes.”
A quick answer.
So certain.
“Did you already call him?”
“No. We will request his return now.”
I blinked.
He hadn’t even sent an official letter yet—so how could he be so sure?
“How?”
I asked skeptically.
Gwiheon gave a simple answer.
“Yeon-ah.”
Then—
“Can you hold a brush?”
