◇◇◇◆◇◇◇Like Mount Tai.
That was my first impression upon seeing Grandfather. He sat atop a tiger pelt, clad in lustrous white silk robes adorned with precious jewels. His stern lips and piercing gaze, sharp enough to make one's legs tremble, betrayed no hint of his seventy years. His upturned brows revealed a clear displeasure.
He looked nothing like a man in his seventies.
Flanking Grandfather were the family elders and his longtime retainers. There was Great-Uncle Baek Ri-muk, and beside him, his son and the eldest grandson, Baek Ri-myeong.
And then...
Father!
I widened my eyes. Father knelt in the center of the room.
I knew the atmosphere was bad, but not this bad...
It was more shocking than the rumors I'd heard outside, more than I'd imagined. Father's face was one of stunned surprise. I wanted to rush over, pull him up, and tell him he didn't have to do this.
But at that moment—
"Yi-ran, what business brings you here?"
Grandfather's voice boomed with fury, snapping me back to reality.
Aunt swallowed dryly and forced a smile. "Oh, Father, now that you've returned, of course your daughter came to pay her respects."
"Respects?"
"Yes. Yeon-ah, come on, let's greet him."
Aunt suddenly yanked me forward. Her intent to divert Grandfather's attention was obvious.
For now, I obediently followed her lead and bowed.
After the greeting, Aunt naturally moved toward Great-Uncle. But before she could take two steps, Grandfather spoke.
"I've seen your face. Now leave."
"Yes? P-Pardon?"
Aunt looked up, startled.
"Didn't you hear me?"
"N-No, Father, why...?"
"Why?"
Grandfather scoffed, his gaze cold and unyielding.
"Do you have the right to enter this room?"
"Father..."
"Is that the bearing of one who bears the Baek Ri name?!"
His thunderous roar made Aunt collapse to her knees in fright.
"Father, I was wrong!"
But Grandfather merely stared down at her coldly.
Aunt's face grew paler by the second. Grandfather hated repeating himself—it was infamous.
'Baek Ri-paehyeok's second words are his blade.'
This applied even to family; there were no exceptions.
Aunt glanced desperately at Great-Uncle nearby, pleading for help. Unable to ignore his sister's imploring eyes, Great-Uncle stepped forward.
"Father, surely Yi-ran has realized her mistake by now."
"Yes, Father, I was wrong..."
"Silence!"
But his intervention only made things worse.
In the end, Aunt bit her lip and rose.
"...I'll take my leave."
"..."
"..."
The room's atmosphere grew even heavier and chillier than before. Grandfather's resolute demeanor had my own heart pounding.
And I realized: one wrong word from me, and I'd end up the same.
I was walking on thin ice.
Then, Cousin Baek Ri-myeong, perhaps trying to lighten the mood, spoke up.
"Are you feeling better? Is it okay for you to be up and about like this?"
"Thank you for your concern, Brother. I'm much better now."
Great-Uncle and Cousin had excellent reputations. Great-Uncle Baek Ri-muk was praised for his upright character and fair handling of affairs, and Cousin Baek Ri-myeong, the eldest grandson, was said to take after him perfectly.
Great-Uncle said kindly, "Yeon-ah, come here."
Dragging my weary, unresponsive feet, I moved forward amid the mounting fatigue. Father frowned slightly in worry but said nothing.
And the place I headed wasn't Great-Uncle—it was Father's side.
Everyone looked at me in bewilderment.
Standing beside Father, I took a deep breath and knelt.
"...!"
Great-Uncle and Cousin's expressions visibly hardened.
Grandfather's eyes, however, gleamed with interest.
Had I foolishly gone to Great-Uncle, Grandfather would have berated me.
'I'd have been chased out like Aunt.'
That must have been Great-Uncle and Baek Ri-myeong's aim. They feigned benevolence, but their hearts were no different from Aunt's.
"Yeon-ah, what is this...? Get up, quickly."
The startled Father caught my staggering form. My frail, childish body made it hard to keep balance.
...I've got to end this fast.
The floor was freezing, too. Even with the thin carpet, the stone beneath seeped cold straight through. Father, who knew this well, looked increasingly unwell.
"Get up now! Father, Yeon-i is still not well..."
"Quiet!"
Grandfather cut Father off.
I gripped Father's hand as if to reassure him and met Grandfather's eyes.
"Baek Ri-yeon, do you know why Baek Ri-gang kneels before me?"
"No."
"You don't? Then why did you kneel?"
Lowering my gaze, I swallowed and replied.
"I've heard Father never disappointed you before I came along. This must be my fault, too."
A few in the room who'd said such things before coughed awkwardly—"Ahem," "Khm"—looking ashamed.
Moreover, I was a frail six-year-old girl, pale and sickly, stumbling as I knelt. The sight stirred guilt in everyone.
Not Grandfather, though.
"Hah, you talk well. Fine, since you're here, I'll ask you directly."
Grandfather gestured behind him. A servant I'd barely noticed approached with a small box.
So that's it.
That tiny box was the source of all this commotion.
The servant placed it before Grandfather and opened it. A golden pill gleaming with ethereal light appeared, drawing gasps of admiration from around the room.
"...That's it!"
Grandfather declared, "The Heavenly Mandate Golden Soul Pill."
Baek Ri-myeong stepped forward.
"Grandfather, Yeon-i hasn't been with the clan long, so she probably doesn't know what the Heavenly Mandate Golden Soul Pill is. Allow me to explain."
Before Grandfather could respond, I quickly answered.
"Thank you, Brother, but it's fine. I've heard of it. The pill that can revive even the dead, right?"
Grandfather stroked his beard, nodding in satisfaction.
Baek Ri-myeong hid his disappointment and muttered, "...You know well."
Grandfather waved him back and continued.
"Indeed. One pill can bring back even the dying. Its recipe is lost, and few remain in the world. Not even mountains of gold can buy it now."
The box closed, and Grandfather shut his eyes for a long moment.
"Fortune favored us."
When his eyes opened again, they glared down at me coldly.
"Yet Baek Ri-gang demanded this pill from me. To treat you!"
Yes. Father had begged Grandfather for this priceless treasure.
Solely to heal me.
Kneeling in front of everyone, enduring humiliation...
What an idiot.
What was I worth, anyway?
As if reading my thoughts, Grandfather bellowed.
"Do you think you're worth that much?!"
His deliberate menace was ferocious, enough to terrify any ordinary child into tears.
Father's arms tensed, ready to shield me at any moment.
Grandfather roared again.
"Are you worth this Heavenly Mandate Golden Soul Pill?!"
I gripped Father's arm tightly and met Grandfather's eyes squarely.
"Yes."
"..."
Disbelieving sighs erupted around us once more.
A sneer curled Baek Ri-myeong's lips. Even Father looked slightly flustered by my firm answer.
I'd learned from dying twice.
Belittling myself changes nothing.
If I devalued myself, others would only follow suit.
And devaluing me is as good as devaluing Father.
That would only make it harder for him to protect me.
I hadn't understood that before.
I pressed on immediately.
"But I don't need it right now."
"What?"
"Grandfather, may I ask something of everyone here?"
"...Speak."
With permission, I scanned them and asked.
"Can the Heavenly Mandate Golden Soul Pill heal my dantian?"
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