Father stepped in, blocking Grandfather's line of sight.
"Father, Ri-yeon just woke up."
Father's voice was calm, as if he'd never raised it in anger moments ago.
To mistake that man for Father—what an idiotic blunder!
I scolded myself for the foolish mix-up and glanced at Father, only to freeze again. The corners of his eyes, which had been blazing with fury until just now, were red.
What? No way—did he cry? When? Why?
Grandfather spoke in disbelief, as if utterly exasperated.
"Ha, anyone would think I was the one tormenting her. Do you even remember whose chambers these are?"
Father flinched and bowed his head.
"I showed you my unworthy side."
"Enough."
Grandfather didn't hide his look of utter disappointment. Father's ears flushed faintly with shame.
Father cleared his throat awkwardly and fussed over the pillows and blankets propping up my back, adjusting them several times.
"...."
"...."
An awkward silence filled the room.
Stealing glances at Grandfather, I cautiously asked Father,
"Father, where... where is this?"
"This is Subaekdang. They brought you here after you collapsed."
Subaekdang? I looked around the room in surprise.
Subaekdang was Grandfather's private residence. It was the closest to Central Hall where I'd collapsed, but...
I've never been allowed inside before.
That explained why the room felt so refined and elegant.
As I scanned the room, my eyes suddenly met Grandfather's. His tiger-like gaze made me shrink back involuntarily, and he raised his white eyebrows.
Grandfather opened his mouth as if to say something.
At that moment, a voice came from beyond the door curtain.
"Fourth Young Master, the medicinal broth has arrived."
"Bring it in at once."
Whatever Grandfather had been about to say, he snapped his mouth shut.
The man who entered at Father's words was Grandfather's aide. The middle-aged man, who looked to be in his fifties, usually stood near Grandfather even in Central Hall.
His name was Jang Seok-ryang, right?
He was also the one who'd been speaking with Father before I woke up.
Father jumped to his feet and took the tray laden with porcelain bowls.
"You shouldn't be doing menial tasks like this yourself."
"I just received it from the maid right outside. And I have a message for the family head as well."
For a split second, Jang Seok-ryang's eyes met mine, and he smiled kindly.
...What?
In my previous life, I'd lived in the Baek Ri Clan for over a decade and never exchanged a single word with Jang Seok-ryang. He'd certainly never smiled at me.
Father set the tray down and sat on the edge of the bed. The scent of herbal broth wafted strongly through the air. I grimaced at the dark brown liquid filling the porcelain bowl to the brim.
"Doctor Seok said it won't taste too bad," Father said.
"Doctor Seok?"
Doctor Seok was a renowned physician who'd even served the imperial court.
I got examined in my previous life too, but not until much later...
Noticing my puzzled look, Father explained gently,
"Doctor Seok is the physician Grandfather urgently summoned for you. He's highly skilled."
"Grandfather did?"
"Yes. He already examined you while you were unconscious. He said you should stay here in Subaekdang for the three days he's treating you."
I widened my eyes and looked at Grandfather.
Grandfather had called Doctor Seok? And he was letting me stay in his private residence?
No other family member had ever been allowed to stay in Subaekdang—not even First Uncle Baek Ri-muk or eldest cousin Baek Ri-myeong.
I hurriedly bowed my head.
"Thank you, Grandfather."
Grandfather snorted derisively and clicked his tongue.
"No need for thanks. If you're sick, say you're sick. Who's going to notice if you stubbornly push through like an idiot?"
"Father."
Grandfather glanced at Father's restraining face, then turned with a flick of his robes.
"Take care of her. I don't want to see a corpse being carted out of the Baek Ri Clan."
Once Grandfather left with Jang Seok-ryang, I let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.
As Father slowly stirred the cooling broth with a spoon, he gave a wry smile.
"He says harsh words, but he's been watching over you closely."
I nodded, then grabbed Father's robe.
"Father, Father. Does that mean you'll stay in Subaekdang too?"
"Yes. I can't fully trust anyone else."
If Father hadn't been there, I would've clapped in delight.
Perfect. Just perfect.
For now, I'd prevented things from souring between Grandfather and Father. If Grandfather were truly angry with him, he never would've allowed Father to stay in Subaekdang.
Grinning broadly, I took the medicine Father offered and gulped it down.
"Urp."
"Drink slowly! Don't spit it up!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇After drinking the medicine, my stomach felt too full to lie down right away. Father propped me up with a soft cushion.
"Ri-yeon."
Father called me in a low, subdued voice. He took my small hand and looked down at me, meeting my eyes.
"Why did you hide it all this time?"
"Hide what?"
"That your maids and servants slacked off whenever I wasn't around."
If Grandfather in Central Hall had heard it, then Father certainly had too, busy as he was.
Father's eyes were filled with deep pain. I quickly soothed him.
"It was fine when you were there, Father."
"Yes. They were ignoring you."
"...."
"Today you collapsed in front of everyone, but if you'd collapsed alone... I..."
The more Father spoke, the more pained he looked, his brow furrowing deeper.
After coming of age, Father had never stayed in the Baek Ri Clan for more than half a month at a time. But after I fell into qi deviation, he'd stayed by my side constantly for about twenty days, as if atoning for leaving me before.
And yet, in the mere half-day he was away...
This had happened.
Growing angrier with every word, Father shot to his feet.
"I can't stand it. I need to speak to Stepmother right now."
I grabbed his robe in alarm.
"Father, no, please don't."
Father's birth mother had passed away long ago. The "Stepmother" he meant was Grandfather's second wife—Second Grandmother to me, also called the Great Lady. She oversaw most household affairs.
And crucially, Second Grandmother despised Father.
For Father to complain about her household management?
He'd get an earful, called an unfilial son for meddling.
Father gently pried my hand from his robe.
"Stepmother needs to know about this clearly. If word gets out, how will it affect her face?"
Ah! That's good. I hope it spreads.
But unlike me, Father's eyes were genuinely worried for Second Grandmother.
Did Father not know she disliked him? No—he knew, yet he still cared.
Because it's the right thing to do.
A bitter smile escaped me unbidden.
"It won't work."
"Ri-yeon?"
"Father, will punishing the servants solve it?"
"Of course...!"
I shook my head firmly.
"It might look better on the surface."
"On the surface?"
"Yes. But will they truly admit their wrongs from the heart?"
"We have to make them..."
Father hesitated but replied as if he couldn't give up.
I pressed on immediately.
"Punish the servants in the residence, and that's it? What about outside?"
Did they not know I was being ignored? I'd passed plenty on the way to Central Hall.
They just whispered among themselves—no one helped or even asked if I was okay.
They don't want to get involved.
With the granddaughter the family head neglects.
Father caught the implication at once. His face paled.
"This won't end until Grandfather accepts you."
"...."
Father's expression twisted.
After a long silence, he asked softly,
"Do you resent your grandfather?"
"No."
"...You don't have to lie."
"Really, I don't."
Father looked incredulous. I fidgeted with my fingers, choosing my words.
"Um... I'm really okay. I understand Grandfather's feelings."
"Understand?"
"He's angry at me because he loves you so much."
Father stared, demanding an explanation. I continued slowly.
"So... if he stops being mad at my existence, it'll be fine, right? 'Oh, bringing home a child from outside? What's wrong with that? A new granddaughter—how wonderful, heh heh.' That would be weirder."
My playful tone made Father gape in astonishment.
"You're... you're only six! How can you say such things...!"
I hugged him tightly, whispering while he was too stunned to speak.
"If we try hard, Grandfather will come around."
Father hesitated, then let out a deep sigh. His embracing warmth was comforting.
The novel never mentioned Grandfather cherishing Father like this. Their relationship only worsened, much like mine and Father's.
But I remembered clearly: Grandfather at Father's funeral, eyes bloodshot.
That was enough reason for me to think well of him.
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