Chapter 247: Unintended Companion. (4)

“Ah.”

I couldn’t help but let out a sound the moment I saw Namgung Bi-ah’s face.

She had been waiting right at the entrance the moment she arrived at the campsite.

‘Since when…?’

I wonder when she had actually been waiting.

Now that I think about it, I think I left without saying anything.

‘…There’s no way that’s possible.’

I mean, I didn’t know Moyong Hi-ah would suddenly appear instead of Gu Jeolyub.

Namgung Bi-ah’s face, as I met her gaze, was as cold as frost.

I could sense a subtle difference from her slightly upturned eyes and tightly pursed lips.

Considering Namgung Bi-ah rarely shows emotional changes for most things.

That level must mean it’s a pretty big deal.

“…Well, you see.”

What excuse should I come up with?

Or rather, do I even have anything to apologize for in the first place?

I mean, I’m technically a victim too.

‘Still, I can’t tell her everything.’

Recalling Moyong Hi-ah from last night…

I couldn’t easily bring myself to speak.

Fuck that shit about the world ending because of a bead.

I feel like I’m about to be destroyed right now.

“…”

I tried to open my mouth to attempt some sort of damage control, but the words wouldn’t come out easily.

Meanwhile, Namgung Bi-ah just stood there, watching me silently.

She seemed to be waiting for me to say something.

‘What should I say.’

Time passes.

At best, only a few seconds seemed to have passed, but it felt like hundreds of times longer.

Namgung Bi-ah, waiting for me silently during that time, felt rather intimidating.

Because I didn’t know what lay at the end of this silence.

My head felt like it had malfunctioned.

I had to say something.

But it wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped.

Just then.

“Please go in first.”

“What?”

“Young Master Gu. You’re busy, aren’t you.”

Moyong Hi-ah, who had stepped forward slightly, spoke to me.

She’s telling me to just go in like this?

‘That seems like it would backfire.’

Wouldn’t this make it seem like I’m running away after hearing Moyong Hi-ah’s words?

As if my thoughts were irrelevant, Moyong Hi-ah continued speaking while looking at Namgung Bi-ah.

“Sword Dancer. Isn’t it better for you to talk to me rather than the Young Master? We seem to have things to discuss.”

“…”

To Moyong Hi-ah’s words, Namgung Bi-ah still chose silence.

However, the slight furrowing of her brow suggested she wasn’t pleased.

She still didn’t say anything else.

“Or am I wrong?”

When Moyong Hi-ah asked again.

Namgung Bi-ah slightly averted her gaze and then looked towards me.

It was a strange gaze.

I wondered if she wanted me to do something, making me hesitate to leave, but…

“…Go… and come back.”

Namgung Bi-ah’s words made me stop involuntarily.

“Go?”

“…Yes.”

The way she said it with a calm, composed expression…

Made me hesitate, wondering if I really had to go.

“It’s okay… but… when you come back… tell me.”

Was this some kind of agreement?

Namgung Bi-ah said that and then…

Turned her back and walked away.

Judging by her direction, she seemed to be heading towards a secluded forest.

As Namgung Bi-ah walked slowly.

Moyong Hi-ah soon followed her.

“Young Master Gu.”

“…Hmm?”

“It was fun this time.”

“That’s a peculiar way to put it?”

To my words, Moyong Hi-ah covered her mouth with the fan she was holding and laughed.

She seemed rather amused by my reaction.

‘…What is it? Could she have done this on purpose?’

Perhaps, Namgung Bi-ah being here too.

I wondered if it was something Moyong Hi-ah orchestrated, but…

There was no evidence.

Only suspicion.

Finally, just after Moyong Hi-ah followed Namgung Bi-ah and walked away.

Left alone, I was just staring in the direction the two had disappeared.

“…Did I survive?”

If I survived, then I suppose I did.

I felt quite unsettled.

*****************

Half an hour after Moyong Hi-ah followed Namgung Bi-ah.

As expected, they had entered a secluded forest.

Due to the lack of presence, Moyong Hi-ah felt an indefinable sense of crisis.

‘Should I have brought guards?’

She didn’t think Sword Dancer would harm her.

Although she didn’t particularly like her for personal reasons.

Moyong Hi-ah, being a rational and calculating person.

Could at least tell that she wasn’t the kind of person to do such a thing.

Thump.

Namgung Bi-ah, who had been walking slowly forward, stopped.

Moyong Hi-ah, who had been following, also stopped.

The time past dawn, as the sun began to rise.

Namgung Bi-ah turned around and met Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes.

Her deeper, bluer navy-blue eyes were like jewels.

‘A beautiful person.’

If one were to describe Namgung Bi-ah, that phrase would be the most fitting.

Her gestures, her movements, even her breathing.

Namgung Bi-ah was like a flower brimming with beauty.

‘And yet endlessly strong. And also confident.’

Possessing many things she herself could never dare to have.

Furthermore.

‘The person who has the thing I want the most.’

To Moyong Hi-ah, Namgung Bi-ah was that kind of person.

Seemingly resembling herself slightly. Yet completely different.

As if not possessing something important.

A person who possessed everything she herself wanted.

Moyong Hi-ah had to define the emotions rising in her heart as she thought of Namgung Bi-ah.

Jealousy.

Yes, this must surely be jealousy.

A murky, dark. Unpleasant and dirty feeling.

This must surely be jealousy.

“Are you just going to keep staring?”

“…”

“Sword Dancer, you called me because you have something to say to me, don’t you.”

Moyong Hi-ah tried hard to suppress those feelings.

Whether Namgung Bi-ah knew or not, she continued to stare solely at Moyong Hi-ah, remaining silent.

It was frustrating.

Why she was remaining silent.

‘Don’t approach that man.’

‘Don’t covet what’s mine.’

‘We’re already engaged and will be married, so…’

‘Don’t you dare set your sights on him.’

She hoped Namgung Bi-ah would say that.

This stemmed from her own insecurity.

She wanted to confirm that Namgung Bi-ah wasn’t as perfect as she imagined.

“Sword Dancer….”

“…It’s not… me.”

As Moyong Hi-ah tried to call out to Namgung Bi-ah again out of frustration.

Namgung Bi-ah interrupted Moyong Hi-ah’s words for a moment.

“…You… have something you want to say to me, don’t you.”

“…!”

The softly spoken words were carried by the brief breeze, reaching Moyong Hi-ah’s ears.

Those words felt like they were sinking deep into her.

“No…?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Moyong Hi-ah tried to respond, but…

She could feel it herself.

That she was completely shaken.

Just by such a single sentence.

Me?

The great Moyong Hi-ah?

It was unbelievable.

“What could I possibly have to say to you.”

Meeting Moyong Hi-ah’s gaze, Namgung Bi-ah stared intently.

Moyong Hi-ah felt as if something was piercing through her under that confident yet unwavering gaze.

‘I must not waver.’

‘I must not collapse.’

“I… don’t have anything like that.”

“…Mm.”

Namgung Bi-ah merely nodded at Moyong Hi-ah’s words.

She didn’t press the issue, asking if she really didn’t have anything.

She seemed content to just accept her denial and move on.

That kind of attitude.

For some reason, Moyong Hi-ah didn’t like it.

‘How could she act so nonchalant? Considering everything I’ve done…’

‘You must have seen it.’

‘What feelings I harbor for him.’

‘She couldn’t possibly not know.’

‘Why me.’

“Are you just watching me with those eyes?”

‘I didn’t like it.’

‘It was like that from the moment I first saw her.’

‘Her appearance, as if she lived in a world apart.’

‘The way she shone even brighter when wielding a sword.’

‘And her tranquility, as if she lived without any inconvenience in this world.’

‘And the fact that Namgung Bi-ah was the one occupying his limited heart.’

‘All of it.’

Moyong Hi-ah didn’t like it.

“Don’t you dislike it?”

“…Hm?”

“Me, trying to take him, what’s yours, as I please.”

At Moyong Hi-ah’s words, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

This meant she was reacting.

Seeing that, Moyong Hi-ah continued speaking.

“Me, trying to arbitrarily ruin your sanctuary. Don’t you dislike it?”

“I dislike it.”

“…!”

It was the first time.

A firm word came out of Namgung Bi-ah’s mouth.

For the past year, they hadn’t even had a proper conversation alone together.

Their relationship had deteriorated since around the time they began receiving ‘heat’ from Gu Yangcheon due to their constitutions.

Furthermore, the fact that Namgung Bi-ah’s feelings for Gu Yangcheon were not light.

And from the moment Moyong Hi-ah also gave her heart to Gu Yangcheon.

There was no closing the gap between the two.

“As expected, you dislike….”

“But it doesn’t matter.”

“…What did you say?”

“If he wants it, then anything is fine.”

Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes were still blue, but…

It felt like that light was becoming particularly strong.

“Don’t misunderstand.”

It was a cool yet firm voice.

Her usual hesitant speech pattern.

And her always sleepy, half-closed eyes had all disappeared, revealing a Namgung Bi-ah…

Who radiated an unknown aura.

Moyong Hi-ah bit her lip slightly as she looked at Namgung Bi-ah like that.

“…What misunderstanding are you talking about? Are you saying I can’t take Young Master Gu away from you?”

To Moyong Hi-ah’s words, Namgung Bi-ah slightly shook her head.

Does that mean it’s not that?

Then what…

“He is not mine.”

At Namgung Bi-ah’s blunt words.

“I am his.”

Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes widened.

Namgung Bi-ah, speaking as if to correct something, had an expression like she was fixing an important detail.

“He has a small capacity.”

And then she suddenly belittled Gu Yangcheon.

These were words that Gu Yangcheon would have coughed repeatedly upon hearing.

Suddenly saying he’s narrow-minded, what is this all of a sudden…?

At the point where Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t quite comprehend what she was talking about.

Namgung Bi-ah continued speaking.

“His capacity is so small that it’s already full just by me fitting inside.”

“…!”

‘His heart is narrow.’

The words saying that Namgung Bi-ah herself fitting in was already enough to fill it.

In a way, it was a confident and self-assured statement.

And it felt like sharp thorns were piercing Moyong Hi-ah.

‘That she was already his.’

‘And that she had entered his capacity and taken up space.’

I wondered where that confidence came from, but…

It wasn’t something Moyong Hi-ah could refute.

“…Sword Dancer, you.”

“So, whether he increases the size of his vessel… or removes me and adds someone else. That’s his choice.”

Even amidst this.

She felt the certainty that she would never be completely removed from his capacity, no matter what.

‘How could that be?’

‘Isn’t she worried at all?’

‘There’s the engagement between the families, so…’

‘Is it the trust that comes from that?’

Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t properly understand.

And didn’t want to understand.

However.

Still, words of refutation wouldn’t come out.

Thousands of arguments to refute those nonsensical words surfaced in her mind, but…

Unlike reason.

The emotions stirring in her heart.

Did not permit them to be spoken aloud.

No matter what she said.

She knew too well that no matter what she said, she couldn’t overcome those simple, nonsensical words and convince herself.

Taking a deep breath in and out.

Towards Moyong Hi-ah, who was trying to calm her trembling eyes.

Namgung Bi-ah spoke again.

“So.”

Thump.

As Namgung Bi-ah took a step closer.

Moyong Hi-ah involuntarily took a step back.

She hadn’t even drawn her sword.

Nor had she exuded killing intent.

Moyong Hi-ah somehow found Namgung Bi-ah overwhelming.

“Don’t use him for your own anxiety.”

At the chilling words that struck her down.

Moyong Hi-ah flinched.

It wasn’t just out of fear.

Because it was the words she least wanted to hear.

“…These are the words I wanted to say to you.”

Namgung Bi-ah, looking at Moyong Hi-ah like that.

Finally, after leaving the last words, she passed Moyong Hi-ah and walked towards the campsite.

Moyong Hi-ah, left alone, stood blankly for a moment.

She sank down and stayed there for a long time.

*****************

The front lines, the Gu family’s campsite.

The Grand Duke’s tent.

Leaving the two behind, I arrived at Gu Huibi’s tent.

I was giving a rough report on the status of the bead, which I had confirmed in the central area.

I was extremely concerned about what kind of conversation Moyong Hi-ah and Namgung Bi-ah were having.

But a part of my mind warned me that if I intervened, I might get crushed to death.

More importantly.

‘Namgung Bi-ah would probably handle it well on her own.’

Clumsy and naive.

Because she’s not the type to put people down verbally.

My only hope was that she wouldn’t be manipulated by Moyong Hi-ah.

So, I needed to finish the rough report quickly.

And then go check on them.

“…What?”

“Who, who came?”

“…”

To my question, Gu Huibi scrunched up his face as if troubled.

I could only look at Gu Huibi with a similarly troubled expression.

After a brief silence, Gu Huibi opened his mouth.

“…Mother.”

The current Gu family’s.

“Mother is currently back at the family estate.”

It meant the mistress had returned.