SYM 12

The moment they saw Eun-hyeon’s smiling face, Madam Hwang and Namgung Juwon’s expressions hardened.

Madam Hwang was so surprised that her mouth was slightly open.

Jegal Hwa-yeon!

Namgung Eun-hyeon’s smile was the spitting image of Jegal Hwa-yeon, who had passed away long ago!

Due to the difference in gender, they had only thought of a resemblance until now, but seeing the smile, it was as if Jegal Hwa-yeon had come back to life.

The melancholic smile that appeared on the face so pale that veins were visible beneath the skin reminded everyone who knew Jegal Hwa-yeon of her.

Even Namgung Juwon couldn’t help but flinch.

Jegal Hwa-yeon was considered the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world, comparable to Xi Shi. After she passed away, no one else had been called the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world except for Jegal Hwa-yeon.

If Eun-hyeon had been a girl, he would have succeeded Jegal Hwa-yeon as the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world.

Eun-hyeon tilted his head slightly as he looked at the stiff Namgung Juwon.

“Why is everyone like this? Did I make some mistake?”

At Eun-hyeon’s words, Namgung Juwon let out a soft sigh. The sigh sounded like both a lament and admiration.

“…No. It’s fortunate if I was just worrying needlessly. …Well, you’re not failing to carry on the Namgung bloodline because you’re weak, so how could you do such a foolish thing.”

Namgung Juwon’s gaze lingered in the air for a moment. That gaze, which seemed to be looking at no particular place, appeared as if he was seeing someone who wasn’t present.

“…My lord!”

Madam Hwang approached Namgung Juwon. Namgung Juwon looked at Madam Hwang with indifferent eyes for a moment.

“My, my lord. My excessive worry has caused unnecessary concern for everyone. But all of this is a mother’s heart worrying about her child, so please be generous and overlook it.”

Madam Hwang had even attached small jewels to the hem of her clothes, so every time she moved, there was a jingling sound. Because of this, she looked like a large piece of jewelry or a musical instrument.

“Madam. Don’t forget your place. No matter how large the scale, a merchant’s business cannot be the same as a noble house.”

“…My lord!”

Madam Hwang’s face turned pale at Namgung Juwon’s words.

Eun-hyeon felt like he was seeing Madam Hwang’s real expression for the first time.

“…My lord! I, I…”

Madam Hwang tried to grab Namgung Juwon’s arm while stammering, but Namgung Juwon simply stepped aside slightly. Seeing this, Madam Hwang’s chin trembled.

“My lord, surely you haven’t misunderstood my intentions…?”

“Mo, Mother…! Surely Father wouldn’t do such a thing.”

Namgung Eung-wang, surprised by Madam Hwang’s appearance, grabbed her.

However, Namgung Juwon’s face remained unchanged even at Namgung Eung-wang’s words. Instead, his expression only hardened further.

“Don’t think I don’t know just because I don’t say anything. Is there anything happening within the Namgung family that I don’t know about?”

Namgung Juwon’s words carried a heavy implication.

Namgung Eung-wang looked puzzled, not understanding why his father was saying such things, but Madam Hwang turned pale and trembled slightly.

Eun-hyeon couldn’t tell if this was because Madam Hwang was surprised or angry.

Namgung Juwon turned his head to look at Eun-hyeon. Namgung Juwon had a strange expression.

“Eun-hyeon.”

“Yes, Father.”

Namgung Juwon let out a deep sigh.

…Did this child resemble his mother this much?

Eun-hyeon was a child who didn’t seem to resemble his mother Jegal Hwa-yeon because his auras and temperaments were so different. He lacked his mother’s sharp intellect and lively spirit. But But at this moment, he surprisingly resembled his mother.

What had happened during the time Namgung Juwon couldn’t see him due to his seclusion training?

The first thing Namgung Juwon heard after finishing his seclusion training was that Eun-hyeon had attempted su1cid3. Madam Hwang, who conveyed this story to Namgung Juwon, said that Eun-hyeon didn’t really intend to commit su1cid3 but seemed to have done it to attract attention, so he should comfort him well.

Namgung Juwon sighed at the fact that a descendant of the Namgung family had done such a thing.

What made matters worse was that the incident occurred just as many guests were visiting to celebrate the completion of his training. Madam Hwang’s exaggerated reaction, saying that this incident happened just when people from the Jegal family came, also contributed to fueling Namgung Juwon’s anger.

Madam Hwang had also subtly suggested that it might be good to settle the succession issue for Eun-hyeon’s sake. To this, Namgung Juwon had resolved to publicly announce Namgung Eung-wang as the successor if he felt Eun-hyeon was utterly hopeless after seeing him today.

But when he actually came and saw, the boy who always avoided his eyes was now looking at him directly with his head held high, Namgung Juwon hesitated.

Moreover, seeing the melancholic smile that reminded him of Jegal Hwa-yeon with the same face, a surge of emotion welled up in him.

It was as if Jegal Hwa-yeon was standing beside him, criticizing him for not taking care of their son all this time. Namgung Juwon had excluded Eun-hyeon from family duties and training and had not paid attention to him. Eun-hyeon was congenitally too weak to learn martial arts. A firstborn son who couldn’t learn martial arts was not only useless in a martial family but also a source of discord. Namgung Juwon thought that his indifference towards Eun-hyeon was for Eun-hyeon’s own good.

But now, it seemed as if Jegal Hwa-yeon was standing next to him, clicking her tongue at his foolishness.

“I allowed you to stay in the outer court because you said you wanted to recuperate quietly, but now I see your health seems to have improved considerably. So I want to give you a task.”

Eun-hyeon blinked at Namgung Juwon’s sudden words.

“Eun-hyeon, as you know, there are guests in the outer court right now.”

“Wa-wait, my lord…!”

Madam Hwang cried out urgently. Unlike Eun-hyeon, who didn’t understand what Namgung Juwon was about to say, she seemed to have guessed his intention.

Namgung Juwon looked at Madam Hwang once but didn’t say anything particular.

He hadn’t interfered with the internal affairs of the family that Madam Hwang managed, but that didn’t mean he was completely unaware of what she was doing.

“Eun-hyeon, I want you to represent the Namgung family and entertain the guests.”

“Weren’t the guests invited for Eung-wang? If you suddenly change like this, it will be disrespectful to the guests.”

Madam Hwang urgently said to Namgung Juwon, who didn’t even glance at her.

The guests invited to the outer court were carefully selected one by one by Madam Hwang especially for Eung-wang.

Some of these were invited with the help of the Golden Pavilion, Madam Hwang’s maiden family. Handing over the duty of hosting them to Eun-hyeon was like letting someone else take credit for all her efforts.

“Madam. I know you’re working hard for the family, but I’ll handle matters related to the family myself.”

“…My lord, I, I didn’t intend to…”

Madam Hwang staggered as she stepped back from Namgung Juwon. Namgung Eung-wang quickly approached to support her.

“Eung-wang, your mother doesn’t seem to be feeling well, so take her to rest.”

“…Yes, Father.”

Namgung Eung-wang bowed his head. Although this room belonged to Eun-hyeon and Namgung Juwon was also a guest, he couldn’t object to the family head’s order to leave.

Madam Hwang eventually left without saying anything else, supported by Namgung Eung-wang.

Before leaving the room, Madam Hwang looked back at Eun-hyeon. Her eyes were filled with venom, sparking with a cold blue light.

Eun-hyeon looked at Madam Hwang and then glanced at Namgung Eung-wang.

If Eun-hyeon resembled Jegal Hwa-yeon, Eung-wang was the spitting image of his father Namgung Juwon, to the point where one might think that this was what Namgung Juwon would have looked like in his younger days.

Eun-hyeon couldn’t help but feel envious seeing Eung-wang’s well-maintained, sturdy body that was evident even at a glance.

If he was going to possess someone, he should have entered a body like that. Why did he have to possess such a sickly body?

He had hoped that this life would be more comfortable, but his body was barely functional, and his family situation was an utter mess.

After Eung-wang left the room, closing the door behind him, Namgung Juwon soon placed his hand on Eun-hyeon’s shoulder.

When Eun-hyeon turned around, Namgung Juwon was looking at him with a strange expression.

“Greeting the guests in the outer court won’t be too difficult. And…”

Namgung Juwon hesitated for a moment, then patted Eun-hyeon’s shoulder once.

“You have things that only you can do, so there’s no need to envy Eung-wang.”

“…Pardon?”

“The Namgung family doesn’t just need those with high martial prowess. We need diverse people. Isn’t the Jegal family more famous for their intelligence than their martial arts?”

Eun-hyeon looked at Namgung Juwon, puzzled by the unsolicited remarks.

Does he think he was aiming to become the head of the family?

Namgung Juwon’s face was awkwardly contorted as he tried his best to put on a gentle expression and voice.

“Eun-hyeon, is there anything else you want to tell me? For example, if Madam Hwang is making you uncomfortable, or if there’s anything…”

“…There’s nothing like that.”

At Eun-hyeon’s calm voice, Namgung Juwon let out a short sigh.

“Hmm, I see. Then take good care of yourself. I’ll be going now.”

It seemed Namgung Juwon had sent Madam Hwang away thinking he had something else to say, but it appeared he had made a strange misunderstanding.

Namgung Juwon stood up after finishing those words.