Chapter 20
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Chapter 20
I was in the garden, selecting pretty pebbles.
This task began when San Ho heard that I had promised to make talismans for Yeon Jeong and Jeok Young, and she pestered me to make one for her as well.
[Don't worry, San Ho. I'll make a talisman for you too! I want to make many talismans and protect everyone!]
When I clenched both fists determinedly and said this, San Ho chuckled and made a suggestion.
[Then, young lady, shall we play the pretty pebble finding game?]
[The pretty pebble finding game?]
[Yes, whoever finds the prettiest pebble wins. How about the winner gets all the pebbles from the other two?]
[...!]
At that word 'game,' my cheeks flushed just like yesterday during the ball game, and my heart began to race.
The ordinary task of wandering the garden and selecting pebbles suddenly felt like the most fun and exciting game in the world.
'And if I win, I'll have all the pretty pebbles!'
A competitive spirit, as instinctive as childhood itself, bubbled up within me.
[Then, let's start quickly! I'll go look over there!]
I cried out with my cheeks flushed red.
Seeing my clearly excited expression, Yeon Jeong and San Ho burst into laughter.
And so the game began.
'If I find the prettiest pebble, I'll have three pretty pebbles including Yeon Jeong's and San Ho's. Then I can make three talismans.'
I examined a pebble I had just picked up from the grass with a very serious expression.
'This one seems to have a slightly pointed edge.'
Though it appeared smooth and round at first glance, it fell short of being the 'prettiest pebble.'
Above all, if the end was pointed, the person receiving it as a gift might get hurt.
Just then, I heard neat footsteps.
Turning my head absently, I spotted Ga Hyeon approaching from across the garden.
"Ah...!"
I jumped to my feet, still clutching the pebble in my hand.
"Hello, young master."
Ga Hyeon paused, then greeted me with a gentle smile.
"Hello, Soya. You were playing in the garden."
"Yes. But, um, about last night...."
Did the young master also experience the talisman's effects like Sa Eon?
I was about to ask about the talisman with hopeful anticipation in my voice.
"But Soya, you left a strange pebble in my room last night. Why did you play such a prank?"
Ga Hyeon gently cut me off and asked.
"Ah, that's not just a pebble...!"
"Picking up garbage from the garden and sneaking it into my room—that kind of mischief is rather troublesome. It's unfair to those who come to clean the room."
At those words, I faltered and glanced up at Ga Hyeon's face.
The elegantly curved eyes were certainly smiling warmly, but they felt somewhat cold.
"And from now on, don't enter my room without permission. It's inconvenient. You're not even a member of Baek Ho Palace."
Ga Hyeon sighed softly and spoke in a kind voice. It was a tone that was affectionate yet reproachful.
Soah's eyes, which had been sparkling with anticipation just moments before, drooped with disappointment.
Of course, Soah hadn't entered Gahyun's chamber without permission.
She had gone there with Yeon Jeong and handed the talisman to Ho Jeok A, who was waiting in the corridor.
But he had suggested it would be better to place it directly at the young master's bedside, so she and Yeon Jeong had carefully entered and left.
Still, since she hadn't received permission from Gahyun, the room's owner, Soah thought his words were justified.
'But that's not trash—it's a talisman. I suppose to the young master's eyes, it appeared otherwise.'
Though the realization stung a little, Soah apologized calmly.
"I apologize, young master."
"...."
At that, Gahyun's mouth fell silent.
He already knew from Ho Jeok A that Soah hadn't intruded without permission.
Yet he spoke this way deliberately to draw a line.
I cannot accept your presence here.
You can never become part of Baek Ho Palace.
So if you have any sense, leave Baek Ho Palace as soon as possible.
But Soah neither complained nor made excuses, and showed not even a hint of disappointment—she simply apologized.
Gahyun felt as though a heavy stone had been placed upon his chest.
Then his gaze suddenly fell upon Soah's hands.
She was clutching a small, round pebble just like the ones I collected, gripping it tightly in her palm.
The moment I saw the dirt and dust clinging to both her hands from selecting the stones, my mood soured, and I hastily left the room.
But even after returning to my chamber, I kept thinking about those crimson eyes that had been full of hope, now drooping so sadly.
She was the one who came to my room uninvited and left behind that useless thing, the one who thoughtlessly claimed the western corner room—all of it was her doing.
'Why do I feel so frustrated and sorry?'
I was irritated.
It seemed to be because of those drooping eyes.
Those large crimson eyes that kept weighing on my mind and lingering in my thoughts.
Perhaps I should have simply told her what she wanted to hear.
That thanks to your talisman, I slept soundly.
If I had said that, would those round eyes have sparkled instead of drooping?
'She didn't realize I dislike her, did she?'
I had deliberately made it clear that she wasn't one of Baek Ho Palace's people, drawing that line, and now I was beginning to worry whether she had seen through my intentions.
After pacing restlessly around the chamber for some time, I suddenly stopped and walked toward the jar where refuse was collected.
The servants hadn't cleared it yet, so it was half-filled with discarded items.
I lifted it abruptly and turned it upside down.
With a clatter.
A single pebble tumbled out from among the falling objects.
I quickly picked it up and brushed away the grimy dust clinging to the stone with my hand.
For someone as fastidious as I was, this was something I would never ordinarily do.
'This spot would be good for warding off ghosts.'
I placed Soah's pebble on the small table beside my bed.
Seeing the pebble finally in its proper place, my mood brightened considerably.
Ga Hyun, gazing at the pebble with satisfaction, suddenly stiffened her expression.
'But if I leave it here, she won't even know it exists.'
After glancing around for a moment, Ga Hyun walked to the window and opened it. Then she placed the pebble on the windowsill.
So that everyone passing through the Garden could see it.
Because Cotton loved the Garden, after all.
* * *
Meanwhile, after Ga Hyun left.
So Ya felt apologetic, realizing that while she had only meant to protect him from the ghosts, she had instead caused him trouble.
'It seemed like I upset him quite a bit because of me.'
Yet he hadn't grown angry and had spoken to her with such kindness.
'The young master is truly a compassionate person.'
So Ya, accustomed to people's anger directed at her, genuinely believed this as she gazed intently at the pebble clutched in her hand.
It seemed she ought to craft a talisman for the young master using something far more precious than a mere pebble.
'But I don't possess anything better than a pebble—what should I do?'
The belongings in her room were not hers but the master's. The same applied to the clothes she wore and the ornaments adorning her.
Since she didn't know when this "temporary" stay at Baek Ho Palace would end, she dared not touch those things carelessly.
Then her thoughts suddenly turned to the cloth doll she had received this morning as a gift.
It was the finest thing So Ya possessed.
'But that was a gift from Sa Eon...'
So Ya fell into contemplation, her fingers fidgeting nervously.
'Giving Sa Eon's gift to the young master would be disrespecting Sa Eon's heart—I can't do that. But I have nothing else of value...'
So Ya didn't realize it, but fidgeting with her fingers was a habit she displayed whenever she fell into serious deliberation.
Just then, a palanquin passing in the distance came into view.
'Hmm?'
So Ya's head naturally turned toward it.
A young lady of an age similar to So Ya's descended from the palanquin that had stopped before the Main Building.
'Who is that?'
So Ya tilted her head curiously as she watched the young lady emerge from the palanquin.
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