Chapter 1182: Scorched World.

“That won’t do.”

The surroundings fell silent at my words, spoken firmly before I knew it. The atmosphere turned quiet in an instant. It felt as if frost had descended.

Realizing that, I hesitated too, but it couldn’t be helped.

‘To call me mother.’

Even so, this was a bit much.

The fact that the other party is my paternal grandmother is one thing, but to tell me to call her mother in this situation. It was nonsensical talk.

“That… Madam Jin, thank you for your words, but…”

I understand what kind of heart Jin Yeon-ryeong said that with. I can also vaguely tell that it’s sincere.

However.

“I don’t think that will be possible.”

It wasn’t the right time.

It wasn’t simply that I couldn’t call her paternal grandmother, but rather…

‘I.’

I have no intention of growing attached to this land.

Nor do I intend to grow overly attached to this family.

Especially at a time when my relationship with Gu Seong-yeol hasn’t been established, what more could I possibly do?

“Ah…”

At my words, Jin Yeon-ryeong’s expression darkens slightly.

“Right… After all, it’s a family you must resent.”

“…Resentment? No, not really.”

“It’s natural. How could one forgive the house of the father who abandoned you?”

As she spoke, Jin Yeon-ryeong looked at Gu Seong-yeol with cold eyes.

“Madam…”

Even though he flinched and tried to speak.

“However.”

Jin Yeon-ryeong wouldn’t listen and just held my hand.

“I won’t ask you to forgive that person’s sins. However. Just know that there is someone here you can think of as family… just know that, Young Master Baek.”

“Ah… uh… yes.”

“None of us will hate or dislike you. It’s just that Young Master Baek’s heart feels differently, or so I’ve heard.”

“Hey, Mother, that’s not right. Just look at my brother; the way he avoids that guy is no joke… Gggaaahhh!”

Gu Seon, butting in again without reading the room, lets out a scream.

“Why do you hate only me!? If you think about it, aren’t I the illegitimate child?”

“Won’t you shut up!?”

“Earlier you said we needed to get closer as family, so you abruptly called them over and told them to sit and say something…”

“……”

I wondered why Gu Seon was sitting there, and it seems it was for that reason after all.

But no matter how I look at it.

‘He seems like a useless person.’

Gu Seon himself doesn’t seem like a particularly helpful person for this situation or the Gu family. Just as I was thinking that.

“What’s with that look? Can’t you look at me nicely? Damn it.”

“……”

Ah, it’s not an assumption, it’s a certainty. This guy really seems to be unhelpful.

Doing that, he gets hit again.

Continuing to do so even while screaming, he was undeniably a strange person.

‘…If you think about it, he’s worse than Gu Yeonseo.’

At least that person had a sense of fear. This one doesn’t even have that.

“Ck…”

As he gets hit, he’s busy grumbling, and his already fierce gaze turns into a glare, making him look even more menacing.

He was truly a peculiar person.

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

Putting Gu Seon aside, Jin Yeon-ryeong spoke again.

“I just wanted to express my feelings, but I think I ended up making you uncomfortable.”

“No… I understood your feelings well. I don’t have any resentment or lingering feelings towards the Gu family, so you don’t need to worry.”

“…No resentment?”

“Yes.”

“…My goodness. Is her disposition also kind?”

“…Suddenly?”

Kind disposition? That was truly absurd talk.

“Family Head. It seems Mother’s eyesight isn’t good anymore.”

Gu Seon casually approaches Gu Seong-yeol and whispers. Gu Seong-yeol also looks at Jin Yeon-ryeong worriedly. It means he doesn’t deny it. I saw it similarly regarding this part.

‘Isn’t she really sick?’

Such a reaction couldn’t possibly happen unless she was sick somewhere?

My bewilderment doesn’t end. This is the first time I’ve encountered such a person.

“Anytime… anytime you need anything, just tell me. I’ve decided to think of you as having gained one more child.”

“Uh, you don’t necessarily have to do that…”

“No. I feel sorry that Young Master Baek has been alone until now. From now on… I’ll make sure you don’t feel that way.”

“…I haven’t really thought of myself as being alone.”

It seemed she had already made up her mind. It felt like she wouldn’t listen, no matter what I said.

“Family Head. It’s still okay, right?”

“……”

Jin Yeon-ryeong speaks as if asking the Family Head for permission, but anyone could see it was closer to a notification than permission.

‘I’m going to clean up the shit you dropped. Got anything to say?’ It was that kind of look.

“That…”

“What is it.”

“…I respect Madam’s wishes.”

Gu Seong-yeol turns his gaze away. That guy has lost. This is driving me nuts.

“Well…”

Gu Seon, watching the situation, says softly.

“Wow, in my life, I suddenly have a sibling who didn’t exist?”

He says, as if finding it interesting. What crazy talk is this now?

“…Younger sibling?”

“You’re younger than me.”

“How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-three. How old are you?”

“……”

Oh, damn it.

“Older than I look.”

“You’re shitting out of your mouth. Who would believe you saying that with that expression? Sounds like a dog barking somewhere.”

“…Ahem.”

It’s not working.

Damn it.

Fine. Since I have no intention of calling you ‘sister’ anyway. As I held back a sigh and turned my gaze away.

“I kept you for a long time… I had various things I wanted to say, so I think I ended up making you uncomfortable even with this. Were you very uncomfortable?”

“No… it wasn’t really like that.”

Since I couldn’t say I was uncomfortable to her face, I just answered vaguely.

“Then… if possible, could we perhaps eat dinner together?”

“…Dinner?”

Ah… I really didn’t want to.

‘Should I refuse?’

But.

“……”

I caught a glimpse of Jin Yeon-ryeong’s expression. She, who should have been more uncomfortable with me than anyone, was trying desperately to open my heart.

Who would say they’d eat dinner with an illegitimate child?

And even less likely would be someone who holds onto them when they dislike it.

That’s why it bothers me.

“…I’ll eat.”

“Ah!”

At my answer, Jin Yeon-ryeong smiles brightly. She seems truly pure.

“Thank you so much.”

What is there to be thankful for? There was nothing she needed to be thankful for.

“……”

I smiled awkwardly. As I said earlier.

She was truly a difficult person to deal with.

In many ways.

---

After the sudden conversation with Jin Yeon-ryeong ended. I came out of my quarters. Gu Seong-yeol did not come out. It was because Jin Yeon-ryeong kindly said she had something to say and told him to stay.

“……”

I immediately let out a hollow laugh at the screen erected near the quarters. It was meant to prevent eavesdropping.

If I wanted to, I could break through and listen, but.

I didn’t.

Rather than for his sake.

‘For my own sake.’

Because I judged that not listening to their conversation would be beneficial for me.

“Tsk.”

Feeling annoyed, I clicked my tongue and was about to move when.

“Hey, little brother.”

“……”

I stopped for a moment at the familiar address.

‘Little brother!’

It was the title my ill-tempered older sister used for me every day.

As I turned my back, Gu Seon stood there, subtly resembling Gu Yeonseo.

“Where are you going?”

“…What business is it of yours.”

“Oh my. Look at this kid’s manners? As if proving they’re of our family bloodline, their words are full of temper?”

“……”

“Don’t be like that, just tell me. This older sister is a bit bored today.”

“Since you’re bored, what do you need to know where I’m going for?”

“If need be, we can play together-. Hey, where are you going!”

As I ignored him and tried to move, Gu Seon came over and grabbed me.

“Hey now. You have to say everything before you go.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Why am I doing this? We’re family now. So, the younger sibling should hang out affectionately with their older sister.”

“Who says we’re family?”

“If blood is mixed, they’re family.”

“……”

It was dog shit talk.

“Since you intend to listen to Madam Jin’s words, you don’t need to act like this.”

“What?”

“I’ll be eating dinner too, and doing what needs to be done. So you don’t need to cling to me like this with non-existent affection.”

She must have heard from Jin Yeon-ryeong beforehand. Perhaps she was told to act like a sister if possible? If that weren’t the case, I didn’t think Gu Seon would act like this.

Whack!

“……!”

My head suddenly shook. Gu Seon abruptly hit me on the head.

“What the…?”

I froze, having been hit out of the blue. I couldn’t avoid it, even though I could have. Because it was an action I thought was unlikely.

“You really have no manners? Hey, who says I’m doing this because I listen to Mother? Does my personality look like it listens well?”

No, it’s not like that. It didn’t seem like that at all.

“Then what is it?”

Why are you clinging to me? To that question, Gu Seon answers with a smirk.

“Because you look interesting.”

“What?”

“My little brother. You look interesting, so I’m a bit interested. Isn’t that right? Our older brother… that stone-like person pays a lot of attention to you?”

“……”

“I find that very amusing. So I think I’ll observe you a bit more, even if it’s just to figure out why.”

The reason is nonsensical talk. You become interested just because Father pays attention to me?

‘I really don’t want to get involved.’

Even thinking about it again, he seemed like someone I shouldn’t get involved with.

“If that’s the reason, then even more so, I have no intention of doing anything together-“

“So, if you play with me a bit, I’ll tell you one of my brother’s weaknesses.”

“…Weakness?”

Just as I was about to refuse and leave. My eyes lit up at the words ‘Father’s weakness’.

A weakness? Did Father have something like that? I asked, wondering. As I showed interest, Gu Seon smiled brightly.

“Yes, about the weakness.”

Her smile was filled with a certainty that I absolutely couldn’t refuse.