Chapter v9c17

“Misunderstandings ride on moonlight,

– Midday’s Fragrance

With hair like ebony and a delicate neckline,

Her slender yet elegant figure stood out.

Like dew shining in the morning sunlight, a refreshing coolness could be felt,

A woman was sitting before my eyes.

She wore a somewhat troubled expression now she didn’t know how to react to the response that had appeared before her.

“Haah… hoo… haah.”

It was a hazy gaze full of envy towards the woman who was like a piece of jade. However, since it was a gaze from the same s*x, there was no heat in it. It was a look filled with admiration.

‘Why are you sighing like that? It doesn’t look good in front of the customer!’

Na Yerin, unable to bear it any longer, advised Lee Jinseol, who was lost in thought.

“She’s really pretty, isn’t she?”

Lee Jinseol remarked in admiration. Na Yerin, of course, was of exceptional beauty that was second to none, but Eun Seol-ran had a different charm. Perhaps like the difference between cold moonlight and a warm spring breeze?

“I see.”

Na Yerin nodded. Indeed, it wasn’t just external beauty but also internal grace that the woman possessed. Even Na Yerin, who was the owner of a frozen heart, found her likable to some extent. There was no place for petty jealousy over someone else’s beauty in Na Yerin’s world.

“She truly is a lady of dignity. Wow! I’m so envious.”

Lee Jinseol seemed to be very fond of Eun Seol-ran. Eun Seol-ran was not at all bothered by Lee Jinseol. Not many women would dislike being praised for their beauty, especially when such praise came from a cute and charming girl. It was immediately apparent that it was sincere. Eun Seol-ran slightly blushed as she responded,

“Thank you! But it’s really embarrassing to receive compliments on beauty in front of Miss here.”

“No, sister!”

Lee Jinseol vigorously shook her head, meaning to reconsider what she had said.

“Your beauty truly seems out of this world, sister. But the feelings I have for you and Na sister are different! I really like the vibe from Eun sister. I’m serious.”

Lee Jinseol spoke earnestly. How could one not believe her when even this cute lady was speaking so seriously?

“Ho ho ho, thank you! That makes me even happier.”

Lee Jinseol was a lady whose conversations became more fun as their acquaintance deepened. The two of them burst into laughter as they looked at each other for a while.

“Do you have someone you like, Miss?”

It was a sudden question from Eun Seol-ran that caught Lee Jinseol off guard.

“Eh? Li… like someone? No, that person isn’t me…………”

Lee Jinseol’s face turned bright red, unable to continue her words coherently; that was understanding enough.

Eun Seol-ran smiled slightly. The more she looked at her, the cuter she seemed. It felt like she had suddenly gained a younger sister.

“Oh my! You do have someone!”

Eun Seol-ran deliberately let out a loud exclamation.

Lee Jinseol, whether out of awkwardness or embarrassment, clamped her mouth shut like a clam, which made Eun Seol-ran smile even more.

“Who is it?”

It would be a sin not to ask such a curious question. It would be an insult to knowledge and wisdom. Eun Seol-ran could not commit such a crime.

“It’s… the noble son Hyo! The one who uses the character for dragon, right?”

‘What? Wha… what did you say?’

A sound of astonishment burst from Eun Seol-ran’s mouth. Her eyes were like those of a pigeon shot by a slingshot, and her gaping mouth could not hide her bewilderment. Lee Jinseol’s question had been that shocking to her, enough to shake her, who was almost perfect in self-control.

Na Yerin’s eyes gleamed with interest. Such an extreme reaction from Eun Seol-ran was a first for her as well.

‘Shock, embarrassment, suspicion, confusion, and then affection, joy, ecstasy…’

Various emotions were mixed on the surface of her consciousness. She seemed to be in quite a turmoil. It was the typical psychological state of someone who’d been hit unexpectedly in the middle of the night.

“You… you don’t mean sir Hyo-ryong, do you?”

The level of shock made it hard for her to even speak properly.

*—–!*

The degree of blushing on Lee Jinseol’s face could put the crimson autumn leaves to shame.

Eun Seol-ran was silent for a moment, searching for words to say. She couldn’t think of anything appropriate.

“Is there a problem?”

Lee Jinseol, sensing that something was off with Eun Seol-ran, who always kept her smile, asked her.

“Absolutely not! Miss, that man, of all people, is absolutely not okay. Can’t you reconsider?”

Eun Seol-ran spoke with earnest urgency. She wanted to prevent the impending misfortune.

“Eh? What… what do you mean?”

For Lee Jinseol, it was like a bolt out of the blue.

“You can never be happy with that man.”

Eun Seol-ran stated with certainty.

“Why? Is he not reliable?”

Lee Jinseol asked.

“No!”

“Is his nature wicked?”

“No! He’s just too naive.”

“Does he flirt with women?”

“No! He’s almost a fool.”

“Is he lacking in responsibility?”

“No! His sense of duty is too strong.”

“Is he caught up in a distasteful belief in male superiority?”

“No! It’s not like that.”

Eun Seol-ran vehemently denied it. The problem was entirely different. None of Lee Jinseol’s questions hit the mark, and even if they did, Eun Seol-ran couldn’t answer them.

“Then what’s the problem? You seem to know a lot about nobleman Hyo.”

Lee Jinseol couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

“Don’t tell me!”

Lee Jinseol’s eyes widened in shock.

Eun Seol-ran denied each possibility. The problem lay elsewhere. None of Lee Jinseol’s questions hit the mark, and even if they did, she couldn’t answer.

“But what’s the issue then? You seem to know a lot about Hyo-ryong.” Lee Jinseol couldn’t help but wonder.

“Could it be?” Lee Jinseol’s eyes widened. Her pupils were full of surprise.

“Oops! Did I talk too much?” If she had caught on, it would be trouble. Tears welled up in Lee Jinseol’s eyes, and Eun Seol-ran was equally flustered.

“Why? Why is this happening?” It was an unexpected turn of events. Eun Seol-ran couldn’t think of an appropriate response.

“No, it’s not like that. But there’s an insurmountable barrier between him and me. It’s a deep-rooted emotional chasm that time has carved into this world. It’s the law of affinity.”

If Lee Jinseol hadn’t been receptive, Eun Seol-ran wouldn’t have given this advice. There was no need for it, but she genuinely liked the cute and lively girl before her. That’s why she offered the advice, despite its lack of impact.

Surprisingly, Lee Jinseol seemed relieved. It left Eun Seol-ran even more puzzled.

“I know too.” Lee Jinseol replied firmly. This time, it was Eun Seol-ran’s turn to be surprised.

“Really?” It was unimaginable. If she knew the truth, Hyo-ryong’s existence here would be impossible. Who would willingly acknowledge the existence of a spy? Yet this girl before her claimed to know everything.

“Of course. But I won’t give up that easily.”

“Think before you speak.”

Na Yerin, who had been listening quietly, offered a serious warning. Although the situation was still delicate, Na Yerin’s cold demeanor didn’t reveal any change.

“Sister!” Lee Jinseol raised her voice, a hint of resentment in her tone. However, Na Yerin’s stern attitude remained unchanged.

“That’s not an easy task, as you well know. Don’t speak carelessly; words without accountability should never leave your lips.”

“I can do it.” Lee Jinseol exclaimed.

“For this child to raise her voice in front of me…” It was unprecedented for Lee Jinseol to raise her voice in front of Na Yerin.

“What is love anyway?”

Na Yerin, who was still puzzled about the concept, suddenly pictured Bi Ryu-yeon’s face. To make matters worse, he was shamelessly smiling.

“Huh? Why is this man’s face popping up now?”

Na Yerin tried hard to forget Bi Ryu-yeon’s face. He was a man who did nothing beneficial for her in her life, just a mere distraction that compounded the confusion in someone else’s psychology. Right now, dealing with Lee Jin-seol’s matter was the priority.

“It seems better to give up. It’s not something that can be done with just stubbornness and passion.”

Na Yerin desperately wanted to dissuade Lee Jin-seol.

“I don’t want to.”

Lee Jin-seol was stubborn.

Eun Seol-ran’s face, listening to their conversation, changed moment by moment. Her face and mind were now full of question marks.

‘Could it be that this young lady also knows the true identity of thiat gentleman? No way, it’s impossible.’

Eun Seol-ran wanted to conclude as such. More than one person knowing was just too many.

‘What on earth is going on?’

Since coming here, everything had been questionable. Eun Seol-ran could not help but doubt this dreamlike situation as her head started to throb with pain.

“I won’t give up no matter what you say, sister! No matter what happens going forward! What do you think, sister Seol-ran?”

The significance of the question was too weighty for an immediate answer. Eun Seol-ran had to think it over carefully.

“Sister…”

Lee Jin-seol’s voice trailed off with uncertainty.

However, Eun Seol-ran couldn’t immediately respond to her call with a relaxed expression.

Her face, which had been as immobile as a statue, started to show signs of change. The movement began from the middle of her lips, red as pomegranates, drawing an elegant curve spreading towards the ends.

It was as if sprouts were emerging on the winter ground, heralding spring. Finally, Eun Seol-ran burst into a radiant smile.

“Ho ho ho! No, young lady, you really have an eye for people. Congratulations. I truly congratulate you. Cheer up, I’ll support you wholeheartedly!”

“Really?”

The excessive celebration, praise, and support left the person in question bewildered.

“Of course! That person would never do something so despicable as to make a woman cry. Because he’s such a pure soul. Do your best. I’ll be sincerely cheering for you!”

“Yes, sister!”

Soon, Lee Jin-seol’s face was blooming with a smile so bright it could outshine the sun. Na Yerin gently shook her head at such a sight.

‘Did I give her too much hope?’

Eun Seol-ran reflected on her actions, which had been driven by her emotions just a moment ago. The outcome was still uncertain. It was inevitable to question whether giving her determination was the right thing to do.

Whether Lee Jin-seol and Hyo-ryong could overcome the greatest obstacle between them was a question no one else could answer—it was a matter between the concerned parties. The result was now only known to the heavens.

‘It was only yesterday afternoon that such an incident occurred.

And then the very next evening, she had unwittingly witnessed such an embrace in a secluded and private place.

‘What should I do? What should I do? Uwaaah! What am I supposed to do…’

Right when Lee Jin-seol was fretting internally, at the tree where she hid, a spider was peacefully building its home and catching butterflies fluttering by with beautiful wings.

But then, the spider became interested in the large object lurking under its home. The spider bravely attempted to repel the intruder that had entered its territory.

“Aaack!”

A cry loud enough to be heard by ordinary people, even louder in the ears of a martial artist.

“Who’s there?”

Hyo-ryong turned around with a tear-streaked face. It was a somewhat funny sight, but he seemed to have not completely relaxed his guard. Lee Jin-seol could not run away hastily. She was stuck in place.

Lee Jin-seol emerged under the faint moonlight in the darkness. The moon mischievously revealed her face for all to see. Perhaps due to the pale moonlight, her face seemed even paler, as if she had suffered a significant emotional blow.

“Ah.. Miss!”

Hyo-ryong’s eyes widened, seemingly having gulped air into his lungs. A look of consternation was evident on his face, like a fish out of water, opening and closing its mouth, a typical sign of someone at a loss.

“Deeeear me! Miss! It’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!”

Startled, Hyo-ryong quickly withdrew his hands from Eun Seol-ran’s body and threw them up as if to surrender, but it was too late—the scene had been witnessed. Hyo-ryong frantically waved his hands as if to dispel the awkward situation, but tears were already welling up in Lee Jin-seol’s eyes, ready to fall.

“Sob… Sob…”

Overwhelmed by her emotions, she turned and ran away.

“Miss!”

Her slender back receded into the distance from his view. Hyo-ryong shouted her name with all his might, but his legs gave out, unable to chase after her. Powerless, not because there was no misunderstanding to clarify, but because he was too drained to follow and explain.

Thump!

Hyo-ryong collapsed on the spot, his disappointment profound.

“Erm…….”

Eun Seol-ran carefully approached the dejected Hyo-ryong and began to speak very cautiously.

Hyo-ryong turned his head to look at her with a pitiful expression. Eun Seol-ran couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. She had played a crucial role in creating this scene of misunderstanding.

“it was a misunderstanding?”

Her slightly smiling face conveyed a meaning of ‘you seem to be in quite a pickle, aren’t you?’ She couldn’t hide her remorse.

Hyo-ryong no longer had the energy to reply. His mind was blank, unable to think of any solution.

“I suppose so?”

She gently poked his back with her fingertip.

Still sealed lips! A tongue that had stopped moving! That alone was a sufficient answer.

“…So it is then. Sigh…”

She sighed deeply, looking around for somewhere to rest her gaze and finding none, she blankly stared at the moon. It was an odd scene that didn’t match the pitiful sight of the man, but the moonlight was simply beautiful.