Chapter 135
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 135
Riri grasped San Yu's hand with deliberate prominence and stepped forward with a light, cheerful gait.
A quarter hour earlier, just as Riri finished preparing for the boat outing, both San Yu and Jeok Hwayou had simultaneously extended their hands, asking her to go with them.
Without hesitation, Riri had seized San Yu's hand.
At this, Jeok Hwayou had gazed at me with a deeply disappointed expression, but rather than stay beside Jeok Hwayou as I always did, I wanted to flaunt walking with San Yu and receiving the love of both my older brothers in full measure.
Above all, standing beside San Yu, the hero of today's victory celebration, would surely draw even more attention to me.
And....
'I'm so curious what expression that girl will have when Riri appears holding Older Brother San Yu's hand.'
I ground my teeth, recalling the unpleasant sensations I had felt when Jeok Soya appeared yesterday.
Father, who had always thought only of me, had acted as though I didn't exist in that moment.
Watching Father's retreating figure as he approached that girl instead of attending to me—the wretched emotion I had to endure was unbearable.
In truth, because of that incident, I harbored deep resentment toward Father in my heart.
'How could he do that? No matter how shocked he was at that girl's sudden appearance, how could he neglect Riri and concern himself only with her!'
Though I had said it was fine yesterday, the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
I had decided that if Father came to me repenting his mistake and apologizing, I would brush him off twice before accepting his apology on the third attempt.
But for some reason, I hadn't seen Father's face since morning—perhaps he was occupied with something pressing.
'When I think about it, this is all because of that girl. I wish she had just died then and there instead of somehow coming back alive.'
I redirected my arrows of rage toward Jeok Soya.
'How did she manage to enter the Baekho Family? She must have completely won over those young masters of the Baekho household.'
Recalling the two young masters of the Baekho Family, who had emanated such cold indifference when they first saw me upon my arrival here, I still felt a chill run through me.
'That girl must have certainly said terrible things about Riri to them. There's no other way those young masters would have treated Riri so coldly.'
I was certain of it.
All of this was due to the scheming of that wretched thieving girl.
'But it's fine. Soon everyone will clearly understand once more that she is the "fake" and Riri is the "real" one.'
When that happens, the young masters of the Baekho Family will come to prefer me over her.
After all, she is a "fake" with no blood relation to that household.
No one favors a fake.
'However she managed to seize the position of youngest daughter of the Baekho Family, I will make sure she is cast out from that house as well.'
Concealing my malicious intentions, I arrived at the pond.
At that very moment, Jeok Soya, who had descended from beneath the Pavilion Tower, locked eyes with me.
In that instant, my lips curled upward in a smirk.
Unlike yesterday, when I had hardened my expression at the mere sight of Jeok Soya, I now approached her with an exceptionally bright face, even humming a cheerful tune.
Gradually, the distance between Riri and Jeok Soya narrowed.
Jeok Soya did not retreat and met me face to face.
An unmistakably unpleasant glint appeared across my face.
The child who had never been able to lift her head properly in my presence was now looking directly at me—it felt utterly presumptuous.
What's more, she had grown well and strong; she was now nearly my height.
"Hello, Jeok Soya. It's been a while."
Erasing the unpleasant glint, I smiled brightly and greeted her.
"I never thought I'd see you again like this. How fortunate. I was worried that dirty pond water might splash on me during the boat outing. Today, you shall attend to me."
Just as it had been long ago, his tone was disrespectful—as though he were addressing someone beneath him.
That was when it happened.
A figure slipped forward.
A man suddenly stood beside Jeok Soya.
Tall, with snow-white hair and azure eyes, he bore the distinctive features of the Baekho Family.
The other two young lords she had seen days ago were handsome enough, but this man was something altogether different.
Dazzling and radiant.
Riri found herself transfixed by that blindingly beautiful visage.
The man's eyes shifted downward, regarding her with that piercing gaze.
The moment their eyes met, those cool azure irises seemed to shimmer with something sinister—
San Yu, sensing something amiss, furrowed his brow and shoved Riri away.
She tumbled to the ground with a thud.
"Ah!"
"Miss!"
The attendants of the Jujak Family who had been following quickly rushed to help Riri to her feet.
Riri was about to demand an explanation for such treatment.
But the moment she lifted her head, she froze entirely.
The man who had stood before her mere moments ago was now lunging toward her with a chilling murderous intent—and San Yu was barely holding him back.
"Move. Now."
"If you intend to harm this child, I cannot allow it. This is the Imperial Palace, Prince Gaya."
"What?"
Gaya let out a hollow laugh, as if astounded.
"You're defending that thing in front of me? In front of our Soya?"
"...."
When San Yu offered no response, a flicker of betrayal crossed Gaya's face.
"This is precisely why one should never associate with a chicken-brained fool stuffed with straw...."
Gaya's voice turned desolate as he glared at San Yu as though ready to kill him.
"Baek Ga Ya."
Sayeon's low, heavy voice cut through the tension.
Gaya's body stiffened at once, as though the very life drained from him.
Step by step—
Sayeon approached at an unhurried pace and took his place beside Jeok Soya, glancing down at Riri with cold indifference.
A chill ran through her.
The frigid aura emanating from Sayeon caused Riri's body to instinctively shrink back.
"How dare you."
His voice, chillingly low, froze the very air around them.
"Did you presume to offer your wretched self to the daughter of the Baek Family?"
"N-no, I merely... I was just so delighted to see Jeok Soya after such a long time...."
Riri stammered out her response with difficulty.
"Delighted?"
At that, Sayeon burst into laughter as though he'd heard something utterly absurd.
"How delightful... how absolutely delightful. Jeok Ahyun has brought something quite entertaining to the Imperial Palace."
Then, in an instant.
"No, wait. On second thought, it doesn't seem entertaining at all."
His smile vanished completely.
"Did I just say I was delighted to see my daughter? Yes, I am delighted too, daughter of Jeok Ahyun. You and my daughter... are quite well acquainted, aren't you?"
"...."
Riri didn't know how to respond to that question, so she merely stood there like a fool, her lips trembling.
Though his voice wasn't raised, though he wasn't shouting in anger, Sayeon was far more terrifying than Gaya, who had tried to attack her moments before.
Riri was so frightened that she clutched at San Yu's sleeve, but San Yu paid no attention to her fear and simply stared straight ahead.
It was at that moment tears began to well in her eyes.
"Father."
Jeok Soya stepped forward, grasping Sayeon's sleeve.
"I'm fine. I'll share the same boat with her."
"...?"
The chilling killing intent that had filled the air moments before vanished instantly, and Sayeon turned to look at Jeok Soya with a puzzled frown.
"I truly wish to do this."
Jeok Soya met Sayeon's gaze directly, her voice steady and resolute.
"What are you saying, Soya? Why would you...!"
"Very well. Let us do as you wish, my daughter."
Gaya cried out in protest, but Sayeon cut him off with that response.
In that moment, Sayeon's eyes held a firm and unwavering trust as he looked upon Jeok Soya.
Jeok Soya smiled gratefully toward Sayeon in return.
After all the commotion, Jeok Soya and Riri found themselves in the same small boat.
Aboard the small vessel were only two children besides the boatman who rowed the oars.
Riri's joy from merely half an hour before had been completely ruined.
It was all because of Jeok Soya.
Ever since that girl appeared, nothing had gone right.
Riri made no effort to hide her hostility, glaring openly at Jeok Soya.
Meanwhile, Jeok Soya's expression remained utterly serene.
Between the gentle sounds of water, the soft quacking of ducks could be heard.
Jeok Soya glanced to the side and discovered a family of white-cheeked dabbling ducks following the small boat.
A delicate smile bloomed across Jeok Soya's previously composed face.
She gazed warmly at the ducks, her eyes softening gently, and the ducks quacked in response.
The delighted ducklings dunked their heads beneath the water's surface, their little bottoms sticking up as they splashed about playfully.
"Go away!"
Riri, irritated for no particular reason, snapped at the ducks.
Startled by her shout, the ducks flapped their wings frantically, sending water splashing onto the small boat.
"Ugh, how cold! This is disgusting!"
Riri huffed indignantly, her temper flaring.
Jeok Soya, who had been staring at the scene intently, opened her mouth for the first time since boarding the small boat.
"It seems the water of this pond feels filthy to you."
"Of course! Who would like such a dirty pond?"
"Even when looking at Hayeonji Lotus Pond, you felt the same way?"
"What?"
At the sudden question, Riri's eyes narrowed.
"Ha! Then what do you expect?"
She then let out a scornful laugh and retorted.
"Well, I suppose to a filthy vagrant like you, that pond would seem magnificent and grand. But to me, it's nothing but dirty mud water. Now that I think about it, the filth and squalor suit you perfectly."
Riri sneered mockingly.
"That pond was a place our late Mother cherished."
Jeok Soya looked at Riri with eyes that had turned cold and still, speaking with measured calm.
"It was created in the image of the pond from Mother's homeland that she left behind, and because of that pond, Mother was not lonely. Please don't speak of a place Mother treasured in that manner."
"Wait, did you just say Mother?"
Riri's face twisted into something fierce and demonic.
"Did you just call Riri's mother your mother?"
Riri shot the words out with a sharp, cutting voice.
Yet Jeok Soya merely returned the question calmly, her expression unmoved by emotion.
"Do you truly believe that person is your mother?"
"...."
Caught off guard by the sudden strike, Riri swallowed silently, hiding her startled heart.
'What is this? As if she knows something....'
At Jeok Soya's question, asked while regarding her with an expressionless gaze, Riri felt an unexpected sting.
'She's truly unpleasant. I need to dispose of her quickly.'
It was as Riri clenched her fists and glared at Jeok Soya.
Splooooosh—
"Kyaaaah!"
The sound of water being torn apart came with screams from the people.
Jeok Soya and Riri turned toward the sound simultaneously.
A black column of water surged up from the bottom of the pond.
No—that swirling, surging black column was not water at all.
It was a viscous column of mud, tangled and mixed from the pond's depths.
"What, what is that?"
"We need to evade, first of all...."
But before the people could even flee, the surging black mud collapsed in an instant....
Splash!
It struck the water's surface, sending up a fierce spray.
Where the spray had cleared.
The black mud had transformed into a colossal lotus flower with hundreds upon hundreds of petals, as large as a house.
The hundreds of petals, each moving in different shapes, writhed in a most grotesque manner.
In that moment when everyone held their breath in shock at the bizarre phenomenon,
the black petals that had been writhing ominously moments before suddenly transformed into dozens of black hands, erupting from all directions.
'That is...!'
Jeok Soya's expression hardened rigidly.
As if to confirm her suspicion, someone cried out.
"A Demonic Beast...! A Demonic Beast has appeared!"
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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