ALL NOVEL Chapter 184
Jin Yeseo’s mother, the current head of the Baekgwang family.
Memories of her stories from the past flash through my mind in an instant.
During her time as a student at the Cradle, she personally avenged her parents who committed treason, saving the Baekgwang family from extinction.
Cold and ruthless, she values the glory of her family above all, devoid of blood or tears.
Even the much-discussed freshman Jin Yeseo is in fact just her pawn.
If you think about it, the current situation where Jin Yeseo asked me to pretend to be her false lover also originates from her.
But if the Jin Yeseo who arrives later is the real one… then who is this woman in my arms…?
Puhup.
The silence was broken by someone’s sudden laughter.
The person who had just been in my arms gently loosened their grip and stepped away. They then took a few steps back and silently gazed at me, a captivating smile playing on their lips.
Soon, she raised her hands to the back of her head and began to remove the monkey mask she had been wearing until now.
“…This is interesting.”
From the lips that had just whispered in Jin Yeseo’s voice flowed an unfamiliar voice, clear and beautiful, but imbued with a distinct sense of authority and experience.
Then there was a thump as the mask fell to the ground.
What appeared with it was the shadow of a woman who looked just like Jin Yeseo, almost like a twin.
*
Her green eyes, illuminated by the moonlight, radiated a gentle glow. They felt sharp, like a predator stalking its prey.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
The later arriving Jin Yeseo took the opportunity to cling to me closely, as if trying to protect me. For some reason, she became more on guard when looking at her mother.
The unfamiliar blonde woman observed us, a wordless smile on her face.
“Oho…”
Now that I look closely, I notice that while she resembles Jin Yeseo, there are significant differences in their appearances. Her eyes arched sharply, and her twisted lips clearly revealed a bad temperament. Plus, her physical characteristics were more mature.
Yet, despite these differences, she looked almost identical to us, which is nothing short of amazing. Even as the principal, I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it…
“Are you the head of the Baekgwang family?”
“You’re not the sharpest tool in the shed, are you? How did it take you this long to figure it out?”
The joy etched on her lips deepened further.
“How could I let you go around calling yourself my daughter’s partner then? Huh?”
“…”
The Jin Yeseo standing in front of me shot me a resentful look, as if agreeing with those words.
I felt a strong sense of injustice. With someone who looks so similar and even wearing a mask, how on earth was I supposed to recognize her? The voice was even a perfect match…
“They call me Jin Garyeong. I may not have much, but I’m the head of the Baekgwang family.”
The blonde woman nodded as she spoke.
“What is the reason for this stunt?”
“What reason would there be not to? This concerns the marriage of five families.”
The blonde woman asked back with an air of confusion.
“I heard that the heir has found a partner, and as a mother, isn’t it only right to confirm that in person?”
“This seems a bit rough and crude for confirmation.”
“Hey, hey…!”
Jin Yeseo hurriedly tried to quiet me down, but I was also slightly annoyed. No matter how much she cherished her daughter, this felt like crossing a line.
From what I heard from Jin Yeseo, it didn’t even seem like she cared that much.
What on earth was she thinking while planning this?
“If you had really kissed me…”
“That wouldn’t have happened. I would have snapped your neck before it got to that.”
…What is this, coming from someone who initiated contact first?
“Why do you say that? Did you really think you could easily take the head of the five families? Truly bold of you.”
“…”
“What, if you genuinely wanted my approval, I wouldn’t be able to refuse you…”
I realized that when you hear something completely ridiculous, it can leave you at a loss for words.
It seems like the heads of the families, like Yeong Jeongmun and Baek Il-yong, are all missing a screw or two. It’s no wonder that the kindness shown by the Heukryeon couple felt abnormal.
“That’s enough. You weren’t going to stop me anyway.”
The blonde woman waved her hand dismissively as if signaling the end of the jest.
Then she stared directly at me and spoke.
“You dare resist the temptations of this body. That steadfast restraint is something I shall commend, child of Heukryeon.”
…What?
I stiffened for a moment, taken aback by how effortlessly she referred to my identity. Apparently, Jin Yeseo felt the same way.
The implication of those words was clear.
The whole play we had been orchestrating… had ended up being completely pointless.
“…Did you already know?”
“I never forget once I’ve seen something. Others may not know, but my eyes cannot be deceived.”
“You’ve seen me? Where…?”
If I had only met this woman once, it would have to be only one chance.
“Ah, it’s been a few weeks since the Jeokhwa family’s hearing, huh? You seem taller. Must be a growth spurt? Heh…”
If she’s really the head of the Baekgwang family, being a member of the Supreme Council would fit her perfectly.
Was she one of the group wearing that ridiculous pig-nose mask I saw back then…?
“Hmm. This is quite the amusing pair.”
The blonde woman shifted her gaze to stand close to Jin Yeseo, who was still wrapped around me.
“My dear daughter, it seems like you’re really getting into your charade.”
Jin Yeseo firmly denied it, saying it was preposterous.
“I’m serious.”
“Such a predictable lie. What do you think of me? Do you really think I would fall for this flimsy farce…”
“Whether you believe it or not, I can’t help it. But it’s the truth.”
Jin Yeseo replied, slightly taken aback, yet valiantly so.
Without giving me a chance to interject, she suddenly buried herself in my arms. Then turning her head, she declared to her mother with a rebellious tone.
“Listen up!”
“I am this person’s. I’ve already given everything. Body and heart, all of it.”
Jin Yeseo pretended I didn’t exist.
“Do you understand? I’ve already thrown my life away. So I’m no longer of use to your plans! So leave me alone now!”
“Wait a minute…”
“…”
Jin Yeseo began to spill out her words like a dam that had burst. My attempts to calm her were thwarted by her pleading gaze.
It was as if she were silently asking me to join in the act.
I turned to look at her mother. While she seemed intrigued, her demeanor still reflected a considerable lack of persuasion.
“…”
Well, now that my identity is exposed, I might as well go for it. If we can get past this hurdle, Jin Yeseo will finally gain the freedom she so desires. I can endure a bit of awkwardness for a friend’s freedom.
“Yeseo’s right.”
“Hih…”
I spoke while wrapping my arms around Jin Yeseo. The suddenness of it all caused a soft squeak to escape from below.
“We are already deeply in love.”
In the air above Jin Yeseo, who had her head bowed, a black flame flickered like tiny fireworks. The blonde woman stood silently watching us.
“We would appreciate your acknowledgment of our relationship.”
“Hauuu…”
This is seriously cringeworthy. Jin Yeseo seemed to feel the same. The redness of her cheeks rivaled that of a ripe apple.
Well, if that means I can conceal our highly awkward acting skills, then fine.
“…”
However, contrary to my expectations, the blonde woman remained silent. She only had a cryptic expression as though lost in thought.
Our side began to feel anxious. Didn’t we do enough already? What more do we need to do to persuade her?
“Come on, think a little.”
“Hih, hi—!”
I whispered urgently to Jin Yeseo, but what I received in return sounded like a rabbit’s scream. Great, I guess she isn’t thinking clearly either.
“Puhuh…”
Should I just pretend to actually kiss her?
Just then, someone’s laughter cut through the short silence and floated into my ears.
“That’s enough. You seem to have caught on.”
“What…?”
I turned my head to face forward. The golden-haired woman was nodding at us, her lips curled up in a smile.
“What did you just say…?”
“You’re making this annoying. Didn’t I just say you’ve gotten it?”
The implication of her statement was… that she approves of our relationship? But such a sudden change in attitude?
I found her unexpectedly subdued response rather perplexing.
“Well, what can we do? It seems we both desire this.”
Once again, the blonde woman confirmed her words in a heavy tone.
“Moreover, since you’ve already given your body… tsk.”
At the blonde woman’s words, Jin Yeseo slightly flinched. After letting out a sigh, she spoke in a tone that suggested resignation.
“Still, I think I need to ask one thing for sure. You must answer my question honestly from now on.”
“…What is it.”
I instinctively sensed that this question would be the final hurdle.
But why is she dragging this out?
“Do you have the confidence to make my daughter…happy?”
“…?”
However, what came out of her mouth was a completely unexpected question. The tension that had gripped me drained away.
“I suffered a lot from men in my youth. Thus, I absolutely don’t want my daughter to endure the same struggles.”
The blonde woman who posed the question wore a profoundly lonely expression. It seemed as if memories of past sufferings crossed her eyes.
That aside… what on earth is her intention?
I could not fathom her motives.
“Now, I’ll ask again. Can you make my daughter happy? If you think you can’t, it would be best to admit it honestly right now.”
With that, she suddenly changed her expression to glare at me with icy eyes.
“If you should ever change your mind in the future… I will wage war with my Heukryeon to repay this humiliation.”
…It feels like this is escalating beyond my initial expectations.
I glanced down at Jin Yeseo. She was watching me expectantly with wide, shining eyes.
“…”
Thoughts raced through my mind as I squeezed my eyes shut before opening them again.
Anyway, I had only one way left to get through this.
No matter what the blonde woman’s intentions were,
“AAAH!”
I wrapped my arms around Jin Yeseo’s shoulders and declared to her mother with a firm voice.
“I will definitely make her happy.”
*
Jin Yeseo faced her mother with tension. It was a moment where the two could talk privately, leaving the man aside for a moment.
-Hwaruk…
Her expressionless lips were closed tight. Flecks of embers flickering beneath her feet. Unlike those of Jin Yeseo, these flames were not completely black but rather half-tinged, thereby reflecting the burden she bore as a restoration of black fire.
The anxiety she felt when the man disappeared earlier, and the disappointment of losing her first dance, were now trivial compared to the current situation.
“Ah…”
A dense, heavy sigh escaped.
The reason her mother treated the man this way was clear. Given how things turned out, it was viewed as more beneficial to show a friendly facade toward him.
The tale of a battle-hardened girl who saved her family by personally beheading her parents had long since fallen into the past. The mother’s cruelty mixed with lust for power had not vanished but evolved into something more subtle.
“I gave everything… body and heart… huh.”
The murmur of her voice indicated that Jin Yeseo knew precisely how furious her mother was at this moment.
“My beloved daughter, my replica. Do you understand the gravity of what you’ve done?”
Jin Yeseo swallowed hard.
The final trial towards love awaited her.