Chapter 20
“……”
Tang Seo-o’s eyes grew even sharper.
How could Gwiheon maintain such a blank expression while facing that terrifying gaze head-on?
I found him incredible.
“Elder, what do you think? Please explain yourself.”
The Vice Hall Master pressed Tang Seo-o for an answer.
Father, too, waited silently for Tang Seo-o to speak.
No matter what excuse he gave, Tang Seo-o’s faction would never escape an investigation by the Hyungdang.
Unless he cut off the tail.
But surely he wouldn’t abandon the adopted granddaughter he cherished so much…
“This child acted alone.”
Tang Seo-o said as he gripped Gyogyo’s shoulder.
Gyogyo recoiled in shock.
“G-grandfather…!”
“I raised the child delicately, so I gave her many treasures as gifts. It seems she sold them to purchase the poisonous herbs.”
Without changing his expression in the slightest, Tang Seo-o discarded Gyogyo.
‘My prediction was wrong.’
He cut off the tail.
That easily.
“Interrogate the child. You may learn how she obtained the herbs.”
And he didn’t stop there.
Tang Seo-o physically dragged Gyogyo before the Vice Hall Master.
“Grandfa—”
Gyogyo grabbed at Tang Seo-o’s sleeve, but he coldly slapped her hand away.
“Tch! Don’t touch me.”
The look in Gyogyo’s eyes as she stared at Tang Seo-o’s retreating back was utterly hollow.
The Vice Hall Master snorted as though he had expected exactly this.
Then he turned toward Father.
When Father gave a slight nod, the Vice Hall Master addressed the guards standing at the door.
“Take her away.”
“W-what? N-no! I… I—!”
A guard seized Gyogyo by the arm and dragged her toward the exit.
Even as she was pulled away, her eyes remained fixed entirely on Tang Seo-o.
“Grandfather! Grandfatherrr!”
Her desperate cries gradually faded.
Once the doors shut, even those sounds disappeared.
The meeting hall fell silent.
There were a few murmurs, but overall the atmosphere had completely settled.
‘So I was the only one surprised. Just me.’
I had never imagined Tang Seo-o would abandon Gyogyo.
How could he cast her aside so quickly the moment an investigation became likely?
Even if she was only an adopted granddaughter, she was still family.
Or perhaps he had never considered her family at all.
It left a bitter feeling in my chest.
Because the final expression on Gyogyo’s face looked exactly like mine from long ago.
The face of a discarded child realizing their worth had run out.
“Now this is finished, isn’t it?!”
Tang Seo-o shouted irritably.
There wasn’t even the slightest trace of guilt on his face.
Only wounded pride.
“We never said it was over.”
Father continued calmly.
“The authority to dismiss the clan assembly belongs to this Clan Head.”
“Hah!”
Tang Seo-o scoffed in disbelief.
“At this rate we’ll need your permission just to open our mouths!”
“Yes. You will.”
“W-what?!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Tang Seo-o shot to his feet.
Perhaps Father’s dry, emotionless attitude only fueled his anger further.
“Clan Head! Show proper respect to an elder!”
“How dare you behave so arrogantly toward the clan’s senior members!”
The people surrounding Tang Seo-o all stood up one after another in protest.
Their voices were so fierce it sounded as though they intended to overturn the assembly itself.
“I refuse to endure this humiliation any longer. I’m leaving. Right now!”
“Indeed! This meeting was absurd from the start!”
Tang Seo-o seized the momentum and began rallying his faction.
Just as he prepared to lead them out—
It seemed they had assumed Father’s words were merely empty intimidation.
At least until armed warriors suddenly surrounded them.
“Hhk…!”
A shrill gasp echoed through the hall, and silence immediately descended.
The warriors had moved so quickly and quietly that even Tang Seo-o’s own guards hadn’t noticed.
“The Wisin Corps…”
“It’s the Wisin Corps.”
Whispers spread around the room.
‘What? Really…?!’
I vaguely remembered hearing about them before.
That if Tang Museon ever appeared at the meeting hall, one might also witness the elite force under his command.
That force was the Wisin Corps.
I didn’t know the details of their strength or authority, but judging from everyone’s reactions, it was obvious.
Probably the strongest military force in the Tang Clan.
It seemed the Poison Sovereign had entrusted the Vice Hall Master with authority and ordered the Wisin Corps to guard the assembly.
“This… wasn’t mentioned…”
Surrounded by the Wisin Corps, Tang Seo-o’s faction huddled together uneasily.
“I never gave permission for you to stand.”
Father’s firm voice crushed Tang Seo-o’s momentum.
“Sit down.”
“……”
Tang Seo-o swallowed dryly and glared viciously at Father.
Their gazes collided in midair.
Tang Seo-o cautiously returned to his seat without breaking eye contact.
Father did the same.
Once the disturbance settled, the Wisin Corps withdrew.
Only then did Father finally speak.
“…The clan assembly is adjourned. The matter has not yet been completely resolved, but caution is necessary. You may all disperse.”
Tang Seo-o’s eyes widened.
Honestly, it was an understandable reaction.
Just moments ago Father had threatened them, saying no one could leave without permission.
And now he was casually dismissing them.
‘There’s a term for this. They call it making someone run in circles like a dog.’
To make matters worse, Father looked down at Tang Seo-o and slightly raised an eyebrow.
As though asking:
You wanted to leave so badly. Why aren’t you going?
“……!”
Trembling with fury, Tang Seo-o abruptly stood and stormed out of the hall.
His faction followed after him, while our allies also bowed respectfully to Father before hurrying out.
Before long, only the three siblings, the Clan Head, and the steward remained inside the hall.
I looked up at Father.
My throat tightened painfully.
‘It’s really been so long.’
Did Father realize we had reunited after what felt like an eternity?
“Come.”
While I stood there blankly staring, Tang Rim took my hand and pulled me to my feet.
Together, Tang Rim, Gwiheon, and I walked toward Father’s highest seat.
The steward standing nearby hurriedly stepped aside.
“Father.”
Gwiheon bowed first.
“You’ve returned, Father.”
Tang Rim greeted him next.
Meanwhile, I could only blink repeatedly.
I wiped my sweaty palms against my skirt.
Then everyone’s eyes turned toward me.
Father looked at me too.
“F-Father.”
“…Yeon-ah.”
My eyes widened in shock.
Father’s tired voice called my name.
It felt like cold water clearing my mind.
“Uh… well…”
What should I say first?
That I missed him?
That I was happy to see him?
That I loved him?
Wasn’t there some single phrase that could contain all those feelings at once?
The words spun around at the tip of my tongue while my mouth merely opened and closed soundlessly.
Then Father reached out and took hold of my fidgeting hand.
“?!”
Very gently, Father pulled my hand toward him.
My small hand resting inside his large one looked like a chick’s footprint.
As I squirmed slightly, I could feel the countless calluses on his skin.
“I read it in your letter.”
Father spoke while looking down at our joined hands.
“Did you truly cry every day?”
At his question, I blankly nodded.
Father closed his eyes.
“…I see.”
Slowly stroking the back of my hand with his thumb, Father kept his eyes shut for a long while.
Maybe it was only my imagination, but he looked pained.
Especially his rising and falling shoulders and his dry lips trembling slightly.
“I don’t cry anymore.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Ah, I meant to tell him I missed him first.
But I hated seeing Father look so miserable.
I didn’t want to resent him.
We hadn’t been together for the past year.
In fact, we hadn’t been together for far longer than that.
Now, more than anything, I wanted us to finally speak honestly with each other.
“Because I got to see you, Father!”
I answered brightly.
At that, Father slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze, dark like a fog-covered road, trembled faintly.
Just a little, it seemed as though the fog had cleared.
My smiling face reflected dimly within his eyes.
“Are you happy too? To see me?”
I asked again while swinging Father’s hand gently.
“You’re as happy as I am, right? Father?”
Then Father suddenly lifted me up and sat me on his lap.
[My child.]
Father’s voice echoed inside my head.
A voice transmission technique.
[It was I who gave you your name.]
That was Father’s answer to my question.
A joyful bond.
That was the meaning of my name.
Suddenly, an old memory surfaced faintly.
Back when I couldn’t even control my body properly, I had sat in Father’s arms.
Whenever I wiggled my chubby little hands before him, Father would smile brightly as though it made him unbelievably happy.
“My little joy. Come here quickly.”
The Father from back then was very different from the one now.
But it didn’t matter.
I liked the present more.
Because now, he was beside me.
“Father…”
I missed you.
I’m happy to see you.
I love you.
There was a phrase that could contain all of those feelings.
“Welcome home.”
As I said those words, I wrapped my arms around Father.
I felt his body stiffen.
And that only made me bury my face deeper against his chest.
Inside my head, Father’s voice echoed again and again.
As though he were welcoming back the child who had returned from the past.
Only now did it finally feel real.
I had come home.
