TYDS 18

Gwiheon’s gentle voice echoed throughout the meeting hall.

Reaching into his sleeve, he took out a small wooden box and placed it atop the Vice Hall Master’s desk.

“This is the poisonous herb we discovered at that time.”

The Poison Hall Master stepped forward alongside the Vice Hall Master.

He pinched one of the herbs from the box and placed it on his palm.

Then he began explaining the name of each herb one by one.

“…All of these are poisonous plants that induce hallucinations. With prolonged exposure, a person may completely lose their mind or even die.”

The hall stirred in shock.

Some people looked horrified upon hearing such things had been found in my room.

Apparently not everyone had known about the hallucinogenic herbs.

“As you know, our Tang Clan has no interest in mind-control techniques. In other words, these are not poisons handled within the clan.”

“Then are you saying there are no hallucinogenic herbs within the city?”

the Vice Hall Master asked.

“Yes. They cannot exist within the city.”

The Poison Hall Master nodded, then turned his gaze toward Gyogyo, who sat beside Tang Seo-o.

“Unless someone deliberately brought them in with malicious intent.”

Tang Seo-o glared fiercely at the Poison Hall Master while shielding Gyogyo behind him.

But he didn’t seem inclined to argue.

‘If anything, he looks like he’s waiting for the right moment.’

The gazes of both the Vice Hall Master and Father shifted toward Gyogyo as well.

Gwiheon stepped forward again, as though preparing to corner her further.

“I personally witnessed Gyogyo attempting to feed these poisonous herbs to my younger sister.”

His voice was firm and unwavering.

“This is an incident in which a daughter of the branch family attempted to harm the Clan Head’s only daughter, shaking the clan’s hierarchy itself. I ask that she be severely punished.”

As Gwiheon lowered his head, strands of his hair slid down over his shoulders.

The Vice Hall Master seemed deep in thought.

His glass-like eyes slid toward me.

Resting his chin on one hand while looking down at me, he then turned his gaze to Gyogyo and spoke.

“…Then perhaps the young lady herself would like to speak regarding this matter? Or Elder Tang may answer on her behalf.”

“N-no…”

Gyogyo replied in a tiny voice.

“I will speak for myself. My true feelings…”

Her shoulders were hunched tightly, and tears brimmed in her eyes.

‘There she goes acting again!’

At first it had only seemed ridiculous, but after seeing her put on such transparent performances over and over, now it was just irritating.

And the worst part was that everyone around her kept playing along with it.

“My child. Leave this to your grandfather. You don’t need to force yourself.”

Tang Seo-o spoke with a worried expression.

“No, Grandfather. This happened because I was lacking. I want to clear up the misunderstanding with Yeon too…”

Wearing a pitiful little smile, Gyogyo clasped Tang Seo-o’s hand.

‘Do I seriously have to sit here and watch this?’

Ugh. It was so sickening I could barely stand it.

As Gyogyo walked forward toward the Clan Head, Tang Seo-o gazed at her with affectionate eyes.

Like he was watching over a child standing at the edge of water.

Gyogyo stopped before Father with trembling shoulders.

Then she opened her mouth.

“Clan Head, I know nothing about those poisonous herbs.”

Looking up at Father with the purest expression imaginable, she continued,

“I simply found a pleasantly scented plant and made tea with it for Yeon. I only wanted her to regain some energy…”

Father gave no reaction whatsoever as Gyogyo continued her excuses.

It was an award-worthy performance.

She choked up at the right moments, wiped away tears, even held her breath as though overcome with emotion.

“I told her again and again that I truly knew nothing about it, but—hic!—Yeon refuses to believe me…”

Turning toward me, Gyogyo let pitiful tears fall from her eyes.

“Yeon-ah. Please believe me. No matter how much you dislike me…! Please don’t falsely accuse me like this.”

“Oh dear. How pitiful…”

“She’s looking down on her because she’s not a real sister.”

Tang Seo-o’s group whispered among themselves, completely fooled by her act.

‘…Wow.’

I nearly laughed out loud from sheer disbelief.

How could she lie so shamelessly in front of all the clan elders?

I barely stopped myself from scoffing.

‘If I react, then I’m just dancing along to her performance too.’

If she wanted to act, then I’d act too.

The moment my eyes met Gyogyo’s, I flinched dramatically and buried myself in Tang Rim’s arms.

“Uwaaaah…”

I even made sure to cry in a trembling voice on purpose.

“I’m scared, Oppa…”

With my face buried against Tang Rim’s chest, I glared fiercely at Gyogyo.

Gyogyo’s lips stiffened, clearly displeased by my own performance.

‘…Hm? But there’s an even fiercer glare than mine…’

Feeling a burning gaze above my head, I looked up.

Tang Rim was staring at Gyogyo with murderous intensity.

“Eek!”

Startled, Gyogyo quickly looked away.

Apparently she realized that if she pushed her ridiculous act any further, Tang Rim might actually hit her.

“Clan Head. Please believe me.”

As Gyogyo pleaded once more, the Vice Hall Master, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.

“So she claims. Young Master Yi, can you provide proof that this child committed the crime?”

Gwiheon nodded.

Throughout the preparation for this assembly, Gwiheon and Tang Rim had likely prepared for this exact moment.

Perhaps that was why Gwiheon’s face was filled with confidence.

The confidence of someone certain victory was within reach.

“Every night, hallucinogenic herbs were burned within my younger sister’s chambers. We captured the culprit and interrogated them, and they confessed that Gyogyo had ordered it.”

At Gwiheon’s words, the Vice Hall Master gave a small nod.

“Bring the culprit forward.”

The Vice Hall Master ordered it.

Gwiheon turned toward the rear door, saying they would arrive shortly.

And so everyone waited for the door to open.

For quite a long while.

‘…They’re not coming.’

What happened?

I looked up at Gwiheon.

Joman was whispering something into his ear.

As soon as Joman finished speaking, Gwiheon’s expression visibly hardened.

Slowly, he raised his head toward the Vice Hall Master and said,

“…That will not be possible.”

The Vice Hall Master narrowed his eyes.

“And why is that?”

“The culprit we secured has died.”

A wave of murmuring spread through the hall.

Even Tang Rim looked shocked.

“We definitely hid them thoroughly…”

Tang Rim’s muttering was drowned out by Tang Seo-o’s mocking voice.

“There’s no need to be surprised. Simply provide other evidence. Surely you weren’t so confident while relying on only that single piece of proof?”

Seeing Tang Seo-o’s confident expression made it obvious.

He had killed them.

And he was probably responsible for hiding all the other evidence too.

‘He killed someone…’

But thinking about it, maybe it wasn’t so strange.

If I hadn’t escaped in my previous life, I probably would have died from poisoning too.

So that was why Tang Seo-o had looked so relaxed even after the assembly began.

I looked pitifully at Gwiheon clenching his fists tightly.

‘Is this really the end?’

Technically the outcome of the assembly depended on Father’s judgment, but realistically even he couldn’t act completely unilaterally.

The elders held enormous influence, and if accusations of unfairness arose, the very purpose of the clan assembly would lose meaning.

‘If Gyogyo gets away with this…’

Ah. Did that mean I’d have to keep seeing that irritating face?

“Gyo-ah.”

The noisy hall instantly fell silent.

Father had finally spoken.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward him at the highest seat.

“I have several questions for you.”

Gyogyo’s lips parted.

She looked startled for a moment, but quickly answered,

“No matter what you ask, I will answer sincerely.”

I blinked.

The first person Father spoke to after returning… was Gyogyo.

That realization left an unpleasant feeling in my chest.

“How have things been between you and my daughter?”

Father asked.

Even though he wasn’t looking at me, my shoulders stiffened instinctively.

Gyogyo hesitated while pretending to glance nervously at me.

“……Well…”

“Speak honestly.”

Father said gently, almost coaxing her.

Without realizing it, my lips puffed out in dissatisfaction.

Why was he asking Gyogyo first instead of me?

It didn’t feel good.

Was I… hurt?

“To be honest, I think Yeon dislikes me.”

Gyogyo began in a gloomy voice.

“That’s probably why she’s falsely accusing me like this to drive me away… But this all happened because I’m lacking, so please don’t scold Yeon too harshly…”

At Gyogyo’s words, Father’s eyes narrowed.

His deep, sunken gaze slowly shifted toward me.

I flinched instinctively.

Was he doubting me?

Father?

‘No. I decided to trust him.’

Father came back after reading the letter I sent him.

That meant he loved me.

He loved me.

I repeated it endlessly in my mind, as though my desperate wish might someday reach the heavens.

“One more question.”

Father’s gaze moved away from me.

Tilting his head back, he let out a long breath.

Pressing a finger against his temple, he continued,

“Do you know why I brought you into this clan?”

“!”

Gyogyo’s eyes widened dramatically.