“The Head of the Family is waiting.”
Upon arriving at Head Family’s Hall, a man known as the Head Steward was waiting.
“Has Miss Zhuge not arrived yet?”
I expected him to invite me in. Looking around, Miss Zhuge was nowhere to be found.
“She is resting inside.”
“I see.”
It seems like today was the day she intended to settle things with me. Unconsciously, my shoulders tensed up. Taking a deep breath, I prepared to enter.
“Please speak your mind; I will listen. Rambling and making excuses will only backfire.”
“Pardon?”
As I collected my thoughts, the Head Steward addressed me with a serious expression.
“When discussing matters you believe are uncertain, express your opinions clearly. Although you appear quite angry, you’re not someone who would let it show even in such a situation.”
“Ah… Yes.”
Nodding blankly, I noticed the Head Steward smile faintly.
“There are many who secretly support Master Kang Yoon-ho. Stay strong.”
What was he talking about? Had the Head Steward read Zhuge Seolrok too? I found myself smiling without realizing it. My tense shoulders eased slightly.
“Thank you. I will go in now.”
—
“Have you arrived?”
“Father.”
Upon opening the door, I saw my father sitting at the desk, gazing out the window. Even though it had only been a few days since we last met, he looked quite haggard.
“You still call me Father.”
“…”
Father-in-law. Starting off with a wall, are we?
Fortunately, instead of a harsh rejection suggesting “how dare you still think of marrying my daughter,” his tone carried shock mixed with doubt.
I decided to remain quiet until my father-in-law spoke first.
“In the past few days, I thought only of you two.”
A long silence passed before he turned his head to face me.
His voice wasn’t filled with fiery rage. It felt more like leftover embers after a fire had passed through.
“Just how did things come to this? What is truth and what is falsehood? Am I seeing the real you? How many times did I shake off the thought of breaking off the engagement? I took my time to reflect on you again calmly.”
“Father.”
Breaking off the engagement? As I looked at him with a puzzled expression, he continued with a deeply worried look.
“I’ve considered how you arrived at this point. What thoughts you had on the resolve to stand here.”
“…”
“I believe that as a man who has committed to a woman, no matter the circumstances, it’s commendable that you stood before her parents without complaining about the journey to this point.”
I expected it to be difficult from the start. Praise? How surprising.
What a great opportunity. Time to show my manly and reliable side.
“It’s a path I chose.”
Regardless of the schemes of Man Geum-jeon, or my mother’s agreement, it’s all my responsibility.
As I acknowledged this, my father nodded.
“I considered once more what lies in the lies you’ve told me. That you are a Joseon person? The child who spoke so boldly is now claiming to be the son of the family head?”
“Regardless of what anyone says, I am Kang Yoon-ho, a Joseon person.”
No more excuses; I’ve already explained the situation. I reaffirmed.
“Indeed. Your bloodline issue is seen as a personal matter and not that of the family. Despite the opinions of others, you have not lied. You have always spoken the truth.”
“Thank you.”
“Except for one thing.”
“…”
Right out of nowhere, he strikes!
“The fact that you hid another fiancée is something I can hardly accept for any reason.”
In my father-in-law’s voice was the hurt of someone betrayed.
“Father.”
While there may be points to praise, ultimately, the fact that I have another fiancée is hard to accept.
Was the praise merely a prelude to addressing the main issue?
What was he going to say? As I looked at my father-in-law with a tense expression, the unexpected words came forth.
“My decision has not changed.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Considering your efforts, talents, and character as observed by the elders of our family, I have watched you as well. Upon reflection, my assessment of you has not greatly altered. If you correct that one mistake of yours, I can once again express the unfinished thoughts I have for you.”
I will accept Kang Yoon-ho as the son-in-law of the Zhuge Family.
The words left unspoken due to the intrusion of the Chief of the Medical Department and the martial artists of Tang Family. I could hardly be mistaken about what my father-in-law meant.
If there was a problem, it would be the conditions.
“Correct it, you say?”
My father-in-law stared at me for a moment, then spoke in a heavy tone.
“… Do you not think of breaking off the engagement with that girl?”
“Are you suggesting I should break off my engagement with my fiancée?”
“I will treat you like a son, not merely a son-in-law. I will fully support you. By using the family’s influence, your dreams could truly come to fruition.”
“That dream I told you about before?”
I would make my father-in-law not just the head of Zhuge Family but also Kang Yoon-ho’s father-in-law. A boldly declared dream.
Father nodded, his expression filled with confidence in me.
“I believe you can. I won’t forget to support your broken engagement. With our family’s medical expertise, we can certainly help that girl recover her health even faster.”
“…”
“If you nod your head just once, from this moment on, you will be both a son-in-law of Zhuge Family and the fiancé of my daughter.”
His voice was laden with guilt he could not conceal.
Regret over me. Worry for his daughter. His pride as a father. And the issues regarding my fiancée. He must have been thinking about the best way to resolve everything at once.
In the end, my father-in-law was acting as the villain, presenting me with a harsh condition.
‘Although it was expected…’
Beyond my father’s feelings of betrayal, I was about to become the son-in-law of a noble family.
Even though polygamy was common in society, it generally required the man to be of a suitable status. A noble daughter marrying a black-haired man would not allow for multiple wives.
‘Father-in-law. The son-in-law before you will certainly have troubles with women in the future. I have no intention of yielding in advance.’
I’m sorry, but both my hands are already full. Just think of it as getting a vaccination.
“Father, I admit that hiding I have a fiancée is indeed a crime. Not my mother, nor Man Geum-jeon, but it is solely my sin.”
First things first—kneeling dramatically like in a drama.
“Yes, then…”
“But the faith Hwa-rin has in me, the engagement we share, cannot be a crime.”
A decisive refusal. I shot down my father’s proposition cleanly.
“…”
“I cannot turn my woman into a lifelong sinner. A man who vowed to take responsibility for his woman should never act like that.”
I am Kang Yoon-ho. A lover by nature.
Firstly, I have no intention of nullifying the promises I made in the past. I must consider the three hidden contracts I haven’t shown my father-in-law yet.
“It’s also the best choice for everyone involved.”
“I told you that it shouldn’t even be on the scales of negotiation, nor should it be put there.”
I’m not thinking of negotiating love. I spoke firmly to my father-in-law.
“Then you mean to say my daughter can be weighed on those scales!”
If I forsook Hwa-rin, I would give him Miss Zhuge. As I refused to put Hwa-rin on the scale, my father raised his voice, mentioning Miss Zhuge who was placed there.
“Please, don’t put her there.”
“What?! What do you mean right now?!”
“How can love be put on scales? Scales are a tool for those who wish to place money on them. When you entrust your priceless treasure, treat it with the utmost regard, rather than putting it on some scales.”
You’ve come to obtain my daughter but are acting like a merchant.
Returning the words exchanged with my father-in-law back at him, he flinched slightly.
“Phew.”
A deep sigh escaped my father-in-law’s lips.
“Father, we came to meet you knowing everything.”
I gazed directly at him while still kneeling. Our eyes locked. I did not avoid them.
For ten years.
The time needed to bring in another fiancée. The two of us knew everything and came hand in hand to Zhuge Family. Of course, we had concealed the truth. But both Man Geum-jeon and my mother were aware of this fact.
I did wrong, but I wasn’t entirely wrong. If my father-in-law would understand us.
He watched me in silence. After a long time and another short sigh, he asked me once more.
“Then let me ask just one thing.”
“Please, go ahead.”
What would you like to say, father-in-law? I’ll answer with confidence.
“Between my daughter and your fiancée, who do you love more?”
“…!”
I never saw that question coming.
——
“Miss Zhuge is my one and only confidante, while my fiancée has been the woman by my side during my hardest times. How could there be a ranking of feelings between the two?”
The classic “Who do you like more, dad or mom?”—the worst question ever.
“Do not think of evading your answer.”
Evading maneuver failed. The barrage coming at me is too thick.
“Father.”
“You know the answer. You know what you ought to say.”
“… That’s a cruel demand.”
Do you think I don’t know the answer?
Regardless of who is listening, it will inevitably hurt someone, that’s the problem.
As I looked at my father with a troubled expression, he spoke to me, showing that he had no intention of giving ground.
“Is it such a wrong thing for a father to wish to hear that his son-in-law loves his daughter the most?”
Of course not.
The fact that it’s right makes it even more troublesome. By the way, father-in-law, the term son-in-law has me feeling a bit fluttery.
‘Who do you love more between Hwa-rin and Miss Zhuge?’
Hwa-rin and Miss Zhuge. How could I possibly rank my feelings for them?
This wasn’t a question I’d ever answered. No, the first thought I had was that comparing them was a sin.
Certainly, I could give an answer that my father-in-law wanted. I’ve told countless lies to ease my own situation.
But is it pride?
I cannot speak falsely of love. So how should I say it?
“Father, I…”
Just as I was about to speak after much contemplation, suddenly—
*Bang!*
The sound of a door bursting open rang out loudly from behind.
“Who goes there?!”
What is happening?
Turning my head, I saw someone flinging the door wide open and rushing out.
The back of the individual was too familiar with its hair.
“Miss Zhuge?”
It was Miss Zhuge, who threw a box and sprinted away.
“Miss? How did you get here?!”
“I-I’m sorryyyyy!”
“Hyang, what happened?”
Just when did this happen? They clearly said she was resting.
Everyone stood with dazed faces, staring at the retreating silhouette of Miss Zhuge.
—
“Ugh, what on earth am I doing!”
In Peach Blossom Village of Zhuge Family.
She couldn’t return to her own room or to Master Kang’s lodging. Zhuge Hyang rolled around in a place only permitted for certain people.
“I just couldn’t bear to listen.”
Lying in the grass, Zhuge Hyang mumbled as she covered her face.
Who did Master Kang love more? Who did he like more? She simply had no courage to hear it. It would be lovely if a desired answer came, but what if an unwanted one appeared? She had no confidence to endure it.
What answer would have emerged had she waited quietly? She didn’t wish to answer that question herself.
Zhuge Hyang had caught a glimpse of the small shard from yesterday’s conversation.
—About Hwa-rin.
—Well, Hwa-rin said!
—Ah ha ha…
—Miss Zhuge?
Her voice was like never before—a joyful tone she could hardly contain, filled with affectionate emotions. Zhuge Hyang struggled to maintain the same expression as usual yesterday.
“I’m Miss Zhuge. My other fiancée is Hwa-rin…”
She knew it might just be a case of inferiority complex. After all, it’s simply a matter of titles. It could simply stem from insecurity within herself. Master Kang wasn’t the sort to discriminate.
“But, but…”
Yesterday, she found it incredibly hard to endure.
In the empty Peach Blossom Village, the scent of peach blossoms was particularly thick today. In a voice that was embarrassing enough to be heard by anyone, Zhuge Hyang spilled her emotions.
“I want to be loved by Master Kang for a lifetime. I want to marry him. I want to be his first wife.”
The desire to be the first for the one she loves.
It’s a natural feeling everyone holds, yet Zhuge Hyang could only murmur quietly, much like she had sinned, fearing who might hear.
In a place without people in Peach Blossom Village, this is all she could muster. Zhuge Hyang felt her eyes stinging as tears threatened to fall.
Her mind was focused on the affairs with Kang Yoon-ho. Thus, she had no way of noticing.
[What an interesting child. Are you the fruit of a peach tree?]
It was as if the lake had a complete calm, unlike most days.
“W-who?”
Today, the sweet scent of peach blossoms was so thick that it made her nose tingle. The Peach Blossom Village was filled with uncharacteristically different sights.
[Oh? To think this could happen. How long has it been?]
“Scroll?”
By the time she noticed it, already before Zhuge Hyang was a scroll, swaying gently in the air.
[Let me grant you your wish.]
“Wha-?”
