“Me?”
I asked back, as if bewildered by the Poison King’s words.
Was the Poison King’s relationship with Dang Soyeol growing distant my fault?
Not understanding what he meant, I wore a blank expression, and the Poison King continued with a complicated look on his face.
“No, I misspoke… To be precise, it’s not your fault.”
“What do you mean…?”
“The last time I saw her, my daughter looked especially troubled.”
If it was the last time, was it a few years ago when Dang Soyeol mentioned the matter?
“So, naturally, I thought it was your fault back then.”
“Huh?”
What kind of absurd talk was this?
To think he’d immediately blame me just because Dang Soyeol looked troubled. It was an absurd remark.
However.
“Most of the time, when my daughter was sad, it was your fault, you see.”
“…”
For some reason, the credibility-laced follow-up was enough to close my mouth.
Mainly because I didn’t have much to say on that front either.
When nothing came out of my mouth, the Poison King looked at me with a subtle expression.
That expression seemed to say, ‘You don’t have anything to say either, do you?’
Since I indeed had nothing to say, I remained silent.
“So I thought it would be the same this time. However, because she looked especially troubled, I jumped to two hasty conclusions.”
“Hasty conclusions…?”
“The first… is that I thought this was your doing again.”
At those words, my eyebrows moved slightly. The fact that he had thought so meant it wasn’t my fault.
“The second is…”
A brief silence passed. The reason for the silence was the Poison King’s hesitation.
Several seconds passed. The Poison King’s tightly closed lips fortunately opened again.
“It was a delusion of thinking my daughter was still young.”
“Hmm.”
It was something I didn’t quite understand. A delusion of thinking she was young…?
‘They say all parents are like that.’
Someone once said that parents see their children as children no matter how old they are.
My family is such a complete mess that they’re out of the question.
Since it was obvious the Poison King cherished Dang Soyeol, it was only natural.
However. The Poison King’s words now seemed somehow different.
He needed to explain more.
As I looked at the Poison King quietly with that thought—
“I told you. About the first delusion.”
“That you thought it was my fault?”
“That’s right.”
“Yes. I heard.”
“That was the case then. Honestly, I don’t think it’s much different now.”
“…”
It was an honest answer. So rather, it didn’t bother me.
“But the problem was the words I brought out as a solution. Do you know what I said to the child then?”
“I do not.”
He brought it up as if grumbling.
“If you wish, I can break your engagement with the Nangong clan at the Gu clan and have you engaged to the Tang clan instead.”
“…!”
“That’s what I said.”
My brow furrowed on its own. I forcibly suppressed my unpleasant feelings from surfacing.
However, perhaps having already noticed my ruined mood, the Poison King smiled awkwardly and spoke.
“It seems that wasn’t a good choice in your eyes either.”
“…Leaving aside whether it’s good or not. It doesn’t seem like very pleasant news to me.”
Leaving aside that it was said for Dang Soyeol’s sake, from my standpoint, it leaned closer to unpleasant.
The Poison King couldn’t not know that.
Nevertheless, the fact that he brought this up meant the words to follow were more important.
“Yes, of course you would feel that way. And. It seems my daughter felt the same.”
“You mean Young Lady Tang?”
Dang Soyeol had been upset too. That seemed to be the important point.
“The child became furious upon hearing those words. She told me not to speak such nonsense.”
“…”
“It was the first time. The first time the child got so angry.”
The Poison King smiled as he spoke.
“If I were going to choose such a method, I wouldn’t have started… What does she take my efforts for… And in the end—”
An emotion brushed past the smile on the Poison King’s face.
“Using such a method means the Tang clan is saying it won’t change, doesn’t it.”
“…!”
“Having said that, she left the Tang clan, saying she was disappointed.”
“…”
I secretly swallowed a groan.
I believe it was around that time when Dang Soyeol left Sichuan during her training and briefly stayed at the Gu clan.
Since she then left for another place following the Dark King, I had simply thought it was because of her training.
‘So there was this problem.’
It was something I hadn’t known.
“When I heard those words, it felt like a spear had pierced my heart. And very deeply, at that.”
As if to prove his words, the Poison King gently stroked his own chest.
“It was the truth. What had become of my vow to bear the clan’s sins and set things right again? The method this father chose for his child was parochial beyond compare.”
His voice speaking as if in self-mockery was visibly losing strength. Within it, regret rather than resentment could be seen.
He was sorry for saying such things to his daughter and for making her hear such things.
Wasn’t that the Poison King’s true emotion?
“Thus, I understand that the child came to hate me. It was something that could very well happen.”
Had he resigned himself? His reaction certainly seemed to suggest so.
I looked at the Poison King and thought.
I understood the reason Dang Soyeol had grown distant from the Poison King. I understood that the Poison King had been somewhat in the wrong.
I also understood that Dang Soyeol had been angry because of it.
‘How should I put it.’
Was that really all there was to it?
Was the current situation truly over with Dang Soyeol’s anger? Along with that doubt, the answer came to me.
‘No.’
In my eyes, it wasn’t merely that.
Even if Dang Soyeol had clearly been angry. If asked whether that was everything, I didn’t think so.
Thinking about this quietly, I spoke to the Poison King.
“Patriarch Tang.”
At my call, the Poison King looked at me. His gaze was still somewhat dim.
“It’s just me overstepping my bounds, but… from what I see, I don’t think Young Lady Tang simply hates you, Patriarch.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Meanings aside…”
I stopped speaking and put more strength into my gaze looking at the Poison King. How should I say this so it would be comfortable? How should I say this so it wouldn’t be difficult? After thinking about that briefly—
“…Young Lady Tang takes after you, Patriarch.”
I spat out the most convenient words I could. This was my sincere thought.
However, the Poison King merely made a perplexed expression upon hearing those words.
He didn’t seem to understand very well.
“What do you mean by…”
“You don’t have to try to understand. It just means that… Also, I think you can worry in moderation.”
“…”
I understood well what the Poison King was worried about, but from my perspective, it didn’t seem like a major problem.
“As you yourself said, Patriarch. Young Lady Tang is neither young nor weak.”
“…”
Dang Soyeol was neither young nor weak.
Rather, she was strong and possessed tenacity. I remembered how she had always endured nobly without collapsing, no matter what situation arose.
Dok Bi had been like that, so Dang Soyeol would likely be the same.
“If you continue to worry, meet with her separately.”
“…But the child might…”
“To be honest, you’ve never actually tried to meet her, have you?”
“…”
At my pointed remark, the Poison King’s mouth shut tight.
It was obvious at a glance. He had been too scared to deliberately try to meet her.
“Isn’t that right?”
Silence is affirmation.
The Poison King didn’t utter a single word. And that was answer enough.
Watching his reaction, I spoke sheepishly.
“Try to have a conversation if possible. Don’t just stay still like that.”
I had wanted to speak as calmly as possible. But I couldn’t.
Because for all the advice I was spouting… I had absolutely no memory of ever having a conversation with my own father.
‘Conversation.’
Don’t just stay still; try having a conversation.
The words I had uttered circled back and dug into me, raising a question.
‘I should try it too.’
It was something I should have done someday. I wish I could have done it in my previous life if possible.
Since I couldn’t, I had to do it this time.
Gnawing on my tongue at the lingering discomfort, I added to the Poison King.
“Anyway… I roughly understand the situation. This is something for you to decide, Patriarch, yet I needlessly overstepped my bounds. I apologize for that.”
“…Don’t mind it; they were helpful words. And. I too am sorry.”
Including the matter of mentioning the engagement with the Nangong clan and his statement that he would intervene, the Tang Patriarch offered me an apology.
“Yes.”
I accepted it without much reaction. Honestly, I could have pressed the issue if I wanted to, but I didn’t bother.
Considering my relationship with the Poison King, there was no need. Besides, it was right to endure it for Dang Soyeol’s sake as well.
Just when it seemed the conversation was about to end.
“…Next.”
I added and pulled out a letter from my chest.
“I don’t have time to stay right now. So I brought only a rough schedule.”
“Organized? You shouldn’t have had time for that.”
“No. Fortunately, it came up while I was making it.”
To be precise, I had pulled an all-nighter throwing a fit because the flames wouldn’t come out, so I used the leftover time.
“First, regarding the Heavenly Poison Pill, I think there’s more to look into. For the sake of research, you should speak with the merchant guild separately about this.”
“The merchant guild?”
“The Baihua Merchant Guild.”
“…I see.”
As expected, the Baihua Merchant Guild. Hearing the guild’s name, the Poison King nodded as if in understanding.
It couldn’t be helped. The only connection I had was with that merchant guild… And moreover.
“The branch manager of the Sichuan branch is someone I know well, so there should be no problem.”
Since the branch manager, Daemeokri, was an easy person to handle, he was useful in this regard as well.
If there was one worry here.
‘If possible, it would be better to use another place for Lady Mi’s sake too.’
Because of the image the Tang clan currently projected in the Central Plains, opening trade with them could damage the Baihua Merchant Guild.
Considering that, it was truly a sorry matter for Lady Mi.
‘…There’s no other way.’
I didn’t have many cards to play in this regard.
If I had to look for another method.
‘The Number One Merchant Guild.’
The so-called number one merchant guild in the Central Plains that had its sights set on me.
Using them was an option.
‘But the risk is too high.’
Using a place I didn’t know well would surely become shackles on my ankles.
This meant that in the end, opening trade with the Baihua Merchant Guild was the best method.
“…Will it be alright?”
The Poison King asked.
He too must know that this matter was somewhat burdensome.
However, even after thinking again, this was the best course.
There was no telling how long the Tang clan could procure materials without external help.
Taking Shaolin or Huashan as examples, they were at a point where they had contracts with several merchant guilds just to procure materials.
“It’s fine.”
I had already made up my mind. If so, I had to endure whatever came of it.
“…If you say so, I won’t refuse.”
“I’m doing this for my own benefit as well, so don’t mention it.”
The Tang clan would reclaim its lost achievements, and I would use that to obtain what I wanted.
It was strictly a transaction. After handing over the letter as well, I spoke while looking at the Poison King.
“I’d actually like to check a bit more directly… but I should get going soon.”
“Are you planning to return immediately?”
“Yes. I have a feeling something is going to blow up. Ah, but I’ll stop by once before going back.”
“I understand.”
“Then.”
I gave a short bow, then turned and immediately grasped the door handle.
******************
Thud.
Right after Guyangcheon left the room in that manner.
The Poison King looked at the door as if deep in thought.
—You’ve never honestly tried to meet her, have you?
It was a remark that pierced to the core.
It was also something he couldn’t bring himself to do because he feared his child’s hatred.
‘…Damn.’
He had been properly called out on something he had been avoiding. It was so sharp that he couldn’t even refute it.
Why hadn’t he thought about it deeply?
Why had he avoided this?
‘Has the clan’s seclusion affected me somehow?’
Bearing the sins of the ancestors. That had been his initial resolve, but was it different when experienced firsthand?
The haze brought on by the burden seemed to have made him oblivious to such simple facts.
“Huu…”
Rubbing his face as if exhausted, the Poison King let out a low breath.
“I was foolish.”
His voice was thick with self-reproach.
And a faint determination permeated it. At the same time, he rose to his feet.
It seemed there was a place he had to go immediately before it was too late.
‘…I’ll have to convey my thanks separately later.’
Having resolved to tell Guyangcheon this as well when he saw him later, the Poison King was about to move—
“…”
Something flashed past, and the Poison King’s body stiffened.
Because he had been thinking of Guyangcheon, he belatedly grasped a fact he had forgotten.
“Ho.”
The Poison King let out a hollow laugh.
The reason being.
“…I’ve been had.”
He hadn’t been able to ask what he truly wanted to ask. Until the very end, he had only talked about himself. Guyangcheon merely listened and vanished into thin air.
The Poison King knew this absurd situation was no coincidence.
It was all Guyangcheon’s intention. He had thoroughly distracted him with words and slipped away, omitting the main subject entirely.
“Haha.”
Realizing this, the Poison King laughed.
“As expected… I cannot give you my daughter.”
He couldn’t give his most precious daughter to such a cunning fellow.
The Poison King made such a resolution, but.
In truth, they were words he didn’t mean at all.