TLSWF 06

Chapter: 06

For a moment, silence lingered.

The surprised sunset-colored eyes met the indifferent blue eyes.

“H-how?”

At the words that slipped out unconsciously, Seowan held out her hand.

Only then did Haena realize that she had collapsed onto the ground. She hurriedly got back up.

After brushing the dirt off her skirt with a determined expression, Haena bowed politely.

Then, instead of her usual clipped words, she asked respectfully.

“H-hello. What brings you here?”

Seowan looked back and forth between the child, who was visibly tense, and her hand that no longer had anywhere to go before slowly withdrawing it.

“You called for me, so I came.”

“I did?”

The child’s eyes widened. Seowan then pointed toward the pond.

“All the water within Cheonmang Kingdom is connected to me. If there is water flowing somewhere, I can roughly sense it. If it is a close distance, it is as clear as if I were seeing and hearing it myself.”

Haena’s mouth opened slightly.

As she slowly understood the explanation, the child’s face turned bright red.

That meant she had heard everything when Haena had called out “older sister” toward the pond!

“What was the reason you called me?”

Seowan had kindly come running all the way here, and she asked that.

Haena fidgeted before barely managing to answer.

“That was… I was just practicing…… I wanted to call you ‘older sister’ if we happened to meet. I-I wasn’t planning to bother you by coming to find you. I wasn’t planning to call you out either.”

She had intended to quietly stay out of the way and not cause any trouble, but she had already made a huge mistake on her first day.

“I’m sorry……”

With both hands clasped together, Haena lowered her head sadly.

Looking down at the child, Seowan asked.

“Did you want to meet me?”

At that, Haena carefully raised her gaze.

Her head nodded without hesitation, causing Seowan’s brow to furrow.

“Why?”

Why?

Did she need some grand reason?

Haena hesitated.

But no matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn’t come up with an answer, so the child cautiously opened her mouth.

“Just because……?”

It was an honest answer.

But Seowan’s frown only deepened.

“Is there something you want?”

“Huh?”

“Are you dissatisfied with something? Or did you come here intending to ask for a new reward?”

“No!”

Haena waved her hands in alarm. What she had already received was more than enough.

“Then there should be no reason why you wanted to see me.”

Seowan still looked as if she truly could not understand.

Because of that, Haena felt a little—just a little—frustrated.

“Because we’re family……”

Haena murmured softly.

“Because you’re my older sister, I wanted to see you. I-I never intended to bother you.”

At those words, Seowan made a face Haena had never seen before.

She looked surprised, perhaps even shocked.

For a long while, she stared down at Haena as if looking at some incomprehensible creature.

Then she spoke bluntly.

“I abandoned you.”

Even at such a direct statement, Haena did not cry or look shocked.

She simply answered in a small voice, but clearly.

“You didn’t.”

“I did. With my own hands.”

Seowan replied coldly. Her voice left no room for argument.

“The reason you grew up in Yeonga for eight years was because I left you in front of them. I cannot deny that fact.”

At that, Haena’s lips poked out slightly.

Seowan’s firm attitude scared her, but she could not accept those words.

“But you brought me back……”

The tiny voice finally escaped Haena’s mouth.

Ha.

A sigh of disbelief escaped from Seowan.

‘I thought she was just a timid and gentle child.’

Unexpectedly, she clearly said everything she wanted to say.

She even seemed quite stubborn.

Noticing Seowan’s gaze, Haena flinched. The child lowered her head deeply.

‘I’m going to get scolded.’

She knew from experience.

She had often been scolded in Yeonga because of this habit of hers.

‘Then you should have just accepted it. Why does a little kid talk so much?’

‘Just do as you’re told!’

The servants of Yeonga always said that to Haena.

Every time, Haena would tightly close her mouth, but eventually she would be unable to hold back and say one more thing, only to get scolded again.

‘Because Uncle always listened to everything……’

Haena had been a child full of questions since she was young.

Head Butler Seo never got angry and asked why she was so curious, nor did he tell her that because she was young, she should quietly obey.

He always listened to Haena’s questions and answered them.

But after Head Butler Seo died, there was no one in Yeonga who listened to what Haena had to say.

Older sister was not Uncle.

Haena liked Seowan, but she knew that Seowan did not particularly welcome her.

“Is that all you wanted to say?”

At that moment, Seowan’s voice came from above her.

“It seems there is still more. If there is something you want to say, say it. I will listen.”

Haena quickly lifted her head.

Seowan had the same expression as before.

Still cold, but not particularly angry. Just a calm and expressionless face.

At that, Haena’s face brightened. Her small smile was as radiant as the afternoon sunlight.

“Thank you. And, and I……”

“……”

“I like that you’re my older sister.”

Seowan could not understand.

What about this human was there to like?

“Actually, there are a lot of things I wanted to ask you. Is it okay if I ask?”

Haena spoke with her cheeks slightly flushed. There was not even a trace of ill intent on her face.

People either disliked Seowan, looked down on her, feared her, or desired her.

This was the first time someone had shown her pure affection.

Not knowing how she was supposed to respond, Seowan quietly nodded.

Haena’s face brightened even more.

The child carefully stepped closer and began to chatter.

“What kind of things do you like? I mean, food.”

“I do not particularly dislike anything. I do not enjoy sweets very much.”

“There were so many flowers in the garden. Did you choose them yourself? Which flower do you like the most?”

“The gardener chose and planted the flowers. Rather than flowers…… I prefer trees.”

As they exchanged questions and answers, Seowan was overcome by a strange feeling.

Even she herself had never looked closely into her own preferences before.

After that, Haena asked several more questions, and Seowan quietly answered each one.

Haena smiled brightly because she was happy, while Seowan could only stare at the child’s face, unsure of what she was supposed to do.

One week after her sudden meeting with Seowan.

‘Today is the day……!’

Haena opened her eyes wide and immediately sat up. Then she clenched her fists with determination.

On the day she had first shared a trivial conversation with her older sister, Haena had learned many things.

Her sister’s preferences that she never knew before, and the fact that Seowan did not dislike her as much as she had thought.

It was truly a joyful and fortunate discovery.

Encouraged by that, Haena decided to visit Seowan.

From making the decision to preparing everything, it took a full week.

She had gone to the head cook and asked him to prepare food that Seowan liked, and she had asked Cheongyeon around what time Seowan usually ate breakfast.

After completing all her preparations, today Haena planned to visit Seowan and ask her to have breakfast together.

‘She said she’s busy at lunch, and that she prefers eating a simple meal alone in the evening.’

Breakfast was perfect.

If she hurried and prepared now, she would arrive just in time for Seowan’s breakfast.

The moment Haena lowered her feet from the bed, she heard someone outside the sliding door.

“Miss. Are you awake?”

“Yes!”

Cheongyeon entered the room with a gentle laugh.

She was one of the people who knew about Haena’s plan and was also her reliable supporter.

For Haena, who had waited only for this day, Cheongyeon brought an outfit even prettier than usual.

A white top embroidered with butterflies and a pale purple skirt suited Haena perfectly.

“Lady Seowan will surely like it.”

Cheongyeon patted Haena’s stiff shoulders and whispered.

“I hope so……”

If she found it bothersome, Haena would quickly leave.

After gathering her courage one last time, Haena left the room.

Haena’s room in the detached building was quite far from Seowan’s room in the main building.

While crossing the garden and walking diligently, a noisy commotion came from the direction of the main gate.

‘What is that?’

Just as Haena was about to look toward it, Cheongyeon smoothly blocked her line of sight.

“Now, miss. You need to hurry. You’ll be late at this rate.”

“Ah, yes!”

Fortunately, Haena quickly lost interest.

After walking briskly for some time, Haena swallowed dryly in front of Seowan’s room.

“Lady. Miss Haena has come to see you.”

Before Haena could even prepare herself mentally, Cheongyeon announced her arrival.

Before she could stop her, the door opened, revealing Seowan, who had already finished preparing and was tying up her hair.

“What brings you here?”

Seowan, with ash-gray hair that was almost black tied up, asked.

Flustered, Haena hurriedly brought out the words she had prepared.

“I thought we could have a meal together, ah, no. I mean breakfast. If you could eat breakfast with me…… I thought it would be nice…… It’s, um, it’s something good for me.”

Ugh.

Haena’s words became completely tangled, and she pressed her lips together.

Her large eyes filled with tears.

Pfft.

Unable to hold it in, Cheongyeon’s laughter echoed through the room.