Chapter 26
“Yes. About the day before people from the Uigeumbu came rushing in, I tied a letter to Yeon’s leg and sent him off. Yeon would have flown to the palace or my family home. It must be a reply after showing the letter to people….”
She sighed shortly and continued heavily.
“If you happen to find it, I would be grateful if you could return it.”
Myoyeon nodded as if it were natural.
“Someone might have seen it while cleaning the courtyard, so I’ll look into it.”
Then he carefully examined her complexion.
“But how is your body—is there anywhere uncomfortable?”
Only then did she smile and nod.
“Yes. Thanks to your care, I’ve improved greatly.”
It wasn’t empty courtesy. The nausea that had come after every meal had disappeared, and the symptom of suddenly losing strength throughout her body had also improved.
That was very good, but she began to worry about the future. She couldn’t continue living here just waiting for Geon forever.
She wanted to leave this place with Geon soon and settle in a quiet place. She was confident in swordsmanship, so she could find an employer and live modestly doing guard work….
She wanted to live like that while searching for family members to plan for the future. At least she felt she needed to find and repay whoever had framed the Han family as traitors to relieve her frustration.
She looked quietly at the flickering candlelight and said.
“From now on, I should make plans for the future.”
Myoyeon gauged her intentions and answered.
“If staying at Museolwon feels burdensome, you needn’t worry. Museolwon is always open to exiles.”
Yuseol spoke carefully.
“I’m grateful for your words, but I intend to leave as soon as I find Geon.”
As if he truly hoped she wouldn’t feel burdened, Myoyeon added.
“Everything I do has the head of house’s permission. If you feel uncomfortable, it would be good to stay comfortably and prepare a gift that the head of house would like.”
Yuseol looked at Myoyeon. She had been wanting to repay the head of house anyway. How difficult it must be to protect someone branded as a traitor. It would be good to prepare a gift the head of house would like and present it when leaving.
“A gift… what kind of gift do you mean?”
Myoyeon thought carefully before answering.
“The head of house collects treasures that remain constant over time—norigae, paintings, old books, and such. If you make something unique that can’t be easily obtained anywhere else as a gift, he would be pleased.”
Myoyeon nodded as if emphasizing that this wasn’t just words to comfort her but sincere.
He would be sad if she continued to worry. Though her heavy heart remained, she tried to accept it.
“Then I should think about it.”
Myoyeon smiled as if hearing the answer he had hoped for.
“Yes. You have plenty of time, so take it slowly.”
She thought about what kind of gift would be good. Having devoted herself only to sword training, she lacked the ability to make outstanding gifts.
Moreover, though she had received education in embroidery and jewelry crafts at the royal court, she was cursed with such terrible manual skills that her teachers nearly fainted. At best, she could manage to make something decent like Geon’s earring by putting all her heart and soul into it….
She decided to think positively. The reason she had ruined various items before was because she lacked sincerity.
But what kind of item should she prepare? Since she had received such great kindness, she wanted to give something good…
She looked at her own hands placed demurely on her knees. She could see the jade and gold rings she had worn since the palace.
But wouldn’t these be a bit common to give as gifts?
If it’s something special that doesn’t change….
Yuseol’s eyes in thought landed on the folding screen. In the picture on the screen, a woman in a long jeogori was smiling. It seemed like some moment from countless ancient days. The colors had faded, but the woman’s smile was unchanging.
Then should she capture the most beautiful time in a painting? Preferably a time of secret scenic beauty that even the people here didn’t know well.
It would be good to leave such a treasure of a place as a painting gift. If she sold her rings to buy precious pigments for coloring, it would be worthwhile.
Yuseol’s complexion softened with the imagination of making a precious gift. Myoyeon smiled with joy.
“As I said, Museolwon is open to everyone, so I truly hope you won’t feel burdened.”
Yuseol nodded and suddenly looked at Yeon in the cage before asking.
“But I’m curious about something. When I went into the inner quarters to get Yeon and troubled the soldiers… what should I do to enter the inner quarters without problems?”
“Just tell me when you need to.”
“I see.”
Yuseol, who had been thinking, asked something else this time.
“But about Lord Mu-yeong. You said he’s a guest of the sarangchae—do you know how long he plans to stay?”
“I understand it will be two to three months at most.”
“Two to three months?”
“Yes. I heard he’ll leave on the day when the sun and moon meet. The day of the total solar eclipse.”
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