“Is my way of speaking that strange…?”
“Honestly, it doesn’t suit your appearance.”
She looks like an incredibly cute little girl, but out of her mouth comes the speech of someone who’s lived a long life, making her sound like an old soul.
“…Then I’ll try speaking in a more ordinary manner.”
After saying that, Dokgorin cleared her throat, and with a noticeably softer tone than before, she asked me,
“What do you think? Do you think this is better now?”
I crossed my arms and nodded.
“Definitely improved.”
I couldn’t fathom why she had been speaking like an old soul until now when she could express herself so well.
“Hehe, then I’m relieved. From now on, I’ll speak like this in front of you.”
Dokgorin, hiding her smile with her sleeve as if pleased with my compliment, suddenly looked out the window and said,
“Aren’t you getting a little hungry? I’d like to have a light snack before lunch.”
Seizing the opportunity, I quickly responded, “In that case, I’ll head to the kitchen for a moment.”
As I said that, Dokgorin nodded her head and said, “Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes!”
I was delighted at the thought of finally escaping this stifling space and almost dashed out of the room, only to stop and turn back to ask,
“By the way, miss, which way is the kitchen?”
Thinking back, today was my first day on the job.
*
While Chilbongi headed to the kitchen to fetch some snacks, Dokgorin was left alone in the room, casting a fierce glare out the window.
Her biological brother and the second son of the family, Dokgoseok, was walking toward the room she occupied.
‘Dokgoseok, a pathetic human.’
He wasn’t even worth the honorific.
He was the root cause of the downfall of the Dokgo family, which had a 300-year history, and the beginning of all misfortunes for her.
Driven by a desire to be the next head of the family and an inferiority complex toward his older brother, he had sold their over ten-year younger sister to their father’s disciple. On the day of his plan’s execution, however, he was quietly eliminated due to the betrayal of his accomplice, Weijichun.
If Chilbongi hadn’t hidden her in the family’s secret training ground upon noticing something amiss, the defenseless younger Dokgorin at that time might have become Weijichun’s plaything.
It was a horrifying possibility that even thinking about made her unable to forgive Dokgoseok.
Knock! Knock!
“Can I come in, little sister?”
“Yes, please do.”
As soon as she granted permission, the door swung open violently.
Entering was a handsome man in his mid-twenties, with similar facial features to her father, Dokgojin.
Unlike the way she had treated Ichilbok, Dokgorin asked with a very businesslike demeanor, “What brings you suddenly to my room? Second brother.”
With a broad smile, Dokgoseok spread his arms wide.
“Hahaha, is there really a reason for a brother to visit his only little sister? Come here, Rin. It’s been a while since we hugged.”
Upon hearing those words, Dokgorin almost grimaced in disgust but decided she needed to keep her true nature hidden for now, so she chose to play the role of a good little sister.
“That won’t be a problem.”
Saying this, Dokgorin stood up and immediately stepped into Dokgoseok’s embrace.
As expected, he shoved his hands between her arms and lifted her small frame high into the air.
“Hahaha! Little one! You need to eat more! How could a girl from the Dokgo family be so light!”
Yet despite her youthful appearance, Dokgorin’s mental age was thirty, and her lips didn’t even twitch at Dokgoseok’s antics.
Noticing her chilly response, Dokgoseok, glancing around awkwardly, slowly lowered her back down and asked the maid behind him,
“Did I do something wrong to the little one?”
The maid bowed her head and replied, “I’m sorry to inform you, but the young master has committed so many misdeeds against the young lady that it’s beyond counting.”
“Haha… Is that so?”
Even though he was now nearing the age of maturity, he was still thickheaded, smiling awkwardly while gauging Dokgorin’s mood.
“I see that’s why the little one is looking so sullen. I apologize for this! Is there anything you want?”
Remaining silent, Dokgorin let out a small sigh and responded,
“There’s no need for you to apologize when you’re not sincere. I just didn’t feel like playing along with childish antics.”
Hearing this, Dokgoseok clutched his chest as if wounded and said,
“Ugh! In just a short time, even you have become so cold to your brother. Where has the Rin who used to chase after me like a chick gone?”
“When exactly is that story from? Why are you bringing it up now?”
Saying this with a flushed face, Dokgorin ordered the maid behind Dokgoseok to prepare a tea set.
Once the maid left, and they were alone in the room, Dokgorin sat down and then readily offered the seat to Dokgoseok as well.
“So really, did you come to see me for no reason at all?”
Dokgoseok rubbed his chin with an embarrassed look and replied,
“Little one, I have just one request.”
‘As expected.’
Dokgorin had never believed that the man in front of her would come seeking her with no ulterior motives. She mentally muttered while looking at Dokgoseok sitting in front of her.
“What kind of request do you have?”
“Well, you know that the Murim Association’s esteemed Weijichun is having his sixtieth birthday celebration, right? Would you accompany me to the Gajung Province for it?”
“……!”
Dokgorin flinched momentarily at his unexpected request.
It was something she had forgotten due to its remoteness in the past, but indeed, it had happened.
The younger version of herself, unaware of anything, had been thrilled just with the prospect of going out of the family and accepted Dokgoseok’s request. However, in hindsight, attending that birthday celebration might have been what drew Weijichun’s interest in her.
‘Then should I avoid attending this time?’
The thought crossed her mind, but she quickly altered her consideration.
‘No, behaving differently than before may lead to unforeseen variables. It might be better to attend the celebration and plot Weijichun’s demise instead.’
Back when she was known as the Poison Witch, three key elements represented her.
The Dokgo family’s signature martial art, the Nine Palaces Invincible Sword, the poison she learned from her mother, Tang Miryeong, and assassin techniques utilizing her teaching experience.
With the Nine Palaces Invincible Sword and assassin techniques needing some time to reach a new level, poison was different.
As long as she had the materials, she could manufacture as much poison as she wanted.
Moreover, among the poisons she developed with Chilbongi’s help was a super toxin that even the most resilient could not withstand.
That super toxin earned her the nickname Poison Witch.
“Very well. It’s a request from my second brother, so I will gladly accept.”
At her words, Dokgoseok, who had been anxiously sitting, suddenly burst with joy.
“Thank you! You’ve really relieved a great burden off me! Indeed, I can only trust my blood!”
As she watched Dokgoseok laughing heartily, her calm demeanor wished for the maid to return soon.
The thought of being in the same space as the fool who brought about their family’s downfall was suffocating.
Just then.
Creeeak!
“I’m back. Lady Rin.”
Chilbongi, who had gone to fetch some light snacks, returned with the maid, for reasons unknown.
“Oh! You returned quickly! Did you have wings on your feet or something?”
As Dokgoseok asked this, the maid bowed her head and said,
“I apologize, but the young lady ordered the tea set to be prepared already, so I simply went to the kitchen and returned with this child.”
“Is that so?”
Naturally, Dokgoseok’s gaze turned to Chilbongi, who was holding the tea set, showing curiosity since it was a face he had never seen before.
“What’s your name?”
Chilbongi calmly replied, “I am Ichilbok.”
“Ichilbok? A face I haven’t seen before, when did you start working here?”
“I just started today.”
“Oh. You must be quite sharp if you figured out to prepare the tea set without being told.”
Dokgoseok stroked his chin, then rummaged through his back pocket and pulled out a coin to toss to him.
“Here, once you’re done, treat yourself to something nice. This is a gift from me.”
“Thank you!”
Holding the coin as if it were a precious treasure while bowing his head, Chilbongi attracted Dokgoseok’s interest as he watched the boy.
Looking on with half-open eyes, Dokgorin started sipping the green tea prepared by the maid as if nothing had happened.
‘I should warn Chilbongi in advance. He must not get involved with him.’
