The Sound of Wheels

The sound of the carriage wheels echoed in my ears as it moved along the road, the rhythmic clatter providing a constant backdrop to my thoughts. The carriage was moving swiftly, barely giving me time to catch my breath.

Flip.

I turned another page of the letter I was reading. It hadn’t been long since I returned to the family estate, and yet here I was, leaving again. This had become so routine since my return that I had grown somewhat accustomed to it.

‘...I really shouldn’t be getting used to this.’

How did my life become so chaotic? In my previous life, leaving the estate had been almost forbidden, and now I could leave so easily. I had a feeling that even if I told my father I wanted to go somewhere now, he’d probably allow it without much fuss.

Could I just run away? Probably not. That was just wishful thinking.

Flip.

I turned another page as I continued to think. The letter I was reading was from Tang So-Yul.

-Young Master, how have you been? -I haven’t been well!

For a moment, I thought I had misread the letter.

‘...Why does he sound so cheerful about not being well?’

It was ridiculous. The content of the letter was similar to his usual style. He mentioned hearing that I had returned to the family estate but hadn’t been able to visit because he was being held back by Dokwang.

Apparently, Dokwang didn’t want him to leave until after the ceremony.

‘Dokwang...’

I didn’t have much personal experience with him, but he was a figure I remembered all too well from my previous life. Dokwang had always harbored a strong dislike for me, possibly because I had fallen from the ranks of the righteous and become a demonic practitioner. Or perhaps he just didn’t like me, period.

Whatever the reason, my ties with Dokwang were anything but positive.

‘I really hope I don’t have to see him in this life.’

Tang So-Yul had mentioned that Dokwang wanted to meet me, but I had no intention of seeing him if I could avoid it. Surely he wouldn’t go out of his way to come and see me.

‘...I already have enough on my plate with Paejon, adding Dokwang to the mix would be too much.’

Dokwang was a well-known figure in the dark world, though few in the righteous sects were aware of his notoriety. However, anyone who looked into the history of the Tang clan would know that it originated from the dark world. The Tang clan’s mastery of poison techniques was well-known, and Tang So-Yul’s own martial arts involved the use of daggers and stealth attacks, skills that Dokwang had also mastered.

‘...If Dokwang had any ill intentions towards me, he could kill me without anyone knowing.’

Of course, Dokwang wouldn’t act so rashly, especially within the boundaries of the Gu family. But there was always a lingering sense of unease.

As I finished reading the letter, I felt a movement beneath me.

“Why are you moving so much?” I asked.

“It’s uncomfortable...” Namgung Bi-Ah replied.

Namgung Bi-Ah was lying with her head on my lap, a usual occurrence when we traveled by carriage together.

She was, of course, in my carriage as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I chuckled and said, “Isn’t that because you laid down right after eating?”

“...No.”

She shook her head, denying my accusation.

‘...Hmm.’

Namgung Bi-Ah had returned shortly after her meal with Lady Mi, but she seemed troubled. Despite my efforts to ask her about it, she wouldn’t tell me what had happened.

‘It doesn’t seem like she got scolded.’

Something had happened, but it didn’t seem to be anything bad. I couldn’t help but wonder what Lady Mi had wanted to discuss with her.

“Hey.”

“...Hmm?”

“Are you really not going to tell me?”

“...”

As soon as I asked, Namgung Bi-Ah closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. She wasn’t very good at faking it, though; it was obvious she was pretending. Annoyed, I pinched her cheek lightly. I pinched harder than usual, but she didn’t make a sound, clearly trying to endure it.

“Seriously...”

I ended up gently stroking her head. If she didn’t want to tell me, there must have been a reason.

I glanced out the window at the carriage ahead of us. Inside were likely my father and Lady Mi.

By the way, before we left, Gu Hui-Bi had insisted on coming along as a bodyguard, but Lady Mi had dragged her away by the ear. From the look of Gu Hui-Bi’s tear-stained face when she returned, it seemed she had been scolded severely.

‘What was she thinking, trying to come along?’

I was just as surprised by her insistence as anyone else. It would have been odd for the entire family to leave, especially since Moyong Hee-Ah was already coming along. In the end, Gu Hui-Bi stayed behind to look after Guryun, much to Guryun’s delight, I’m sure.

‘I wonder what Moyong Hee-Ah plans to do.’

I hadn’t yet had a chance to hear what Moyong Hee-Ah planned to do once we reached Anhui. I knew she had already sent a letter to the Namgung family, but...

‘The Namgung family must be surprised.’

It must be strange for the Moyong family to suddenly be involved in a betrothal with the Gu family.

‘...And once this is over.’

By the time this trip is over, it’ll likely be early autumn.

Autumn...?

Originally, this would have been the time I set out to find Wi Seol-Ah, but things had become complicated. Now that she had expressed her desire to come to me, the situation had become unclear.

‘So...’

What should I do? Training was a given, but I needed to make better use of my time.

“This is difficult.”

“...Hmm?”

“Nothing, just go back to sleep.”

“Okay...”

Namgung Bi-Ah closed her eyes again, and I sighed as I looked out the window.

‘First things first.’

I had too much on my mind to focus on anything else at the moment.

‘...A betrothal.’

I never expected that I would actually go through with this. Yet here I was, about to be engaged.

The idea of me getting engaged was strange enough, but to be engaged to the Demon Sword Empress—no, I suppose I shouldn’t call her that anymore.

I glanced down at the woman resting peacefully on my lap.

‘How did it come to this?’

I hadn’t expected this at all.

I reached out and gently ran my fingers through Namgung Bi-Ah’s hair.

Her silky strands slid smoothly between my fingers. Did you know, I wonder, that things would turn out this way between us? I didn’t.

Or maybe, deep down, I did.

On that rainy night when the moon descended into my arms, I might have realized it then.

That I had held the Demon Sword Empress much closer in my heart than I had realized.

That’s why I thought I shouldn’t get too close to you, hoping that you wouldn’t make the same choices again.

A soft breath escaped her lips, indicating she had fallen into a deep sleep.

How long had it been since she closed her eyes?

I couldn’t help but smile as I watched her sleep.

“You’re so carefree.”

She seemed entirely unconcerned about the betrothal, which was very much like her.

Yet, at the same time, I found it amusing that I didn’t find the situation all that bad.

Time Passed

Time passed, and autumn was slowly approaching. The weather was still hot, but the occasional breeze hinted at the changing seasons.

It would still be a while before the leaves started to fall, but autumn was undoubtedly coming, as it always did.

“Young Master Gu, are you tired?”

“Hm? No, I was just thinking.”

I shook my head slightly at the voice that interrupted my thoughts. No matter how much time passed, I couldn’t seem to rid myself of my distractions.

I turned my head slightly to the side, meeting a pair of eyes as clear as the current sky.

The precious jewel of the Moyong family.

Seol-Bong, Moyong Hee-Ah.

Moyong Hee-Ah had moved from her family’s carriage to mine. As usual, Namgung Bi-Ah was half-asleep beside me. At first, I thought she wouldn’t like Moyong Hee-Ah joining us, but she didn’t seem to mind anymore.

...Or more accurately,

‘It’s probably because of the heat.’

Namgung Bi-Ah had been keeping her distance from me, likely due to the warmth emanating from my body. On the other hand, Moyong Hee-Ah’s icy aura kept the inside of the carriage cool, which seemed to be a relief to Namgung Bi-Ah.

It was clear she preferred the cold to the heat.

Moyong Hee-Ah noticed this and smiled slightly.

“You didn’t eat much during the meal earlier.”

“You noticed that?”

“I’m always watching.”

As she spoke, the small necklace I had given her in town dangled around her neck.

‘She’s really wearing that.’

Given the earrings she wore and the fan she always carried, she could easily afford to buy hundreds of necklaces like that one.

‘Maybe she just likes simple things.’

It could be that she found it pretty rather than cheap, but even with my poor sense of aesthetics, I could tell that the necklace was nothing special.

“It’s nothing.”

I shrugged off the thought and stretched my stiff body. We would arrive soon. As I loosened up, I asked Moyong Hee-Ah,

“Did you say you had business in Anhui?”

“Yes, that’s right. I have some matters to attend to, and I also have business with the Namgung family.”

“Business?”

“Yes.”

What business could she have?

‘Come to think of it.’

Wasn’t Moyong Hee-Ah supposed to be engaged to that bastard, Noryong? In my past life, I’m pretty sure that was the case.

‘Not yet, maybe?’

That could be it.

I learned about their engagement when I was just over twenty years old, so...

‘Wait.’

How does that work?

Moyong Hee-Ah clearly has feelings for me. She’s said so herself, and her actions have shown it.

So,

‘Does she have feelings for me but is still planning to go through with the engagement?’

Isn’t that a bit complicated and, frankly, somewhat unsavory?

This was a rather high-level concept for me.

Is Seol-Bong originally into that sort of thing?

‘...How would I know?’

I wasn’t entirely sure, but it didn’t seem likely. Then again, remembering my past life... it didn’t seem entirely impossible either...

Ugh.

‘...I shouldn’t have thought about it. Now my head’s a mess.’

The thoughts swirling in my head made me frown slightly, and Moyong Hee-Ah, as if sensing it, brought it up.

“Young Master? Is something really the matter?”

“It’s nothing. I just have a bit of a headache...”

As soon as I mentioned having a headache, Moyong Hee-Ah reached out her hand toward my forehead, as if she had been waiting for this.

Her hand, obviously cold, was just about to touch my forehead when—

Snap.

Another hand grabbed Moyong Hee-Ah’s wrist. It was Namgung Bi-Ah, whom I had assumed was asleep.

“...No.”

Seeing this, Moyong Hee-Ah clicked her tongue.

“Sword Dancer... You were awake.”

“Yeah.”

Namgung Bi-Ah replied as she sat up.

What? Was she really awake?

Moyong Hee-Ah watched this and let out a small snort.

“I can’t let my guard down, can I?”

“...Neither can I...”

Namgung Bi-Ah replied, then reached out to touch my forehead, seemingly intending to do what Moyong Hee-Ah had been about to do.

“I don’t have a fever, so there’s no need to touch me.”

“...It feels like you do...”

Of course, I’d have some warmth—just not because I was sick. Namgung Bi-Ah didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping, so I had to turn my head to make her let go. She reluctantly withdrew her hand, looking a bit disappointed.

I rubbed my forehead and asked her,

“You haven’t been home in a while. Are you okay?”

“Hmm...?”

Namgung Bi-Ah tilted her head at my question.

She seemed to be pondering the meaning of my question.

It didn’t seem like Namgung Bi-Ah was particularly fond of her family. If she were, she wouldn’t have stayed at the Gu family estate when she could have gone back to her own.

Of course, I was part of the reason she stayed, but that couldn’t be the whole story.

Realizing the ambiguity of my question, Namgung Bi-Ah’s eyes widened slightly as if she understood, and then she smiled faintly.

It was a smile I never quite got used to seeing.

“...I’m okay now.”

Her words implied that she hadn’t been okay before.

I didn’t know much about what kind of life Namgung Bi-Ah had lived, and I couldn’t ask unless she chose to tell me.

Looking into my eyes, Namgung Bi-Ah whispered softly,

“...It doesn’t scare me as much anymore.”

Her quiet words resonated with me.

Just as I was about to say something in response,

-Young Master, we’ve arrived.

The voice of the coachman interrupted me, and I closed my mouth.

By the way, the coachman wasn’t Guh Jull-Yub. I had wanted to bring him along, but apparently, he had been taken by the Sword Grandmaster for some task.

‘Why did they take Muyeon, too?’

Not only Guh Jull-Yub, but Muyeon had also been taken. I had no idea why.

I had wanted to ask, but I couldn’t dig any further, as it was an order from the head of the family.

Clop, clop.

The sound of the horses’ hooves slowed and softened.

The horses had slowed their pace, which meant we were nearing our destination.

I leaned out the window and, sure enough, I saw it in the distance.

“We’re really here...”

The heart of the Four Great Clans and the symbol of the righteous sects.

We had arrived at Anhui, home of the great Namgung family.

As we approached the entrance, a thought crossed my mind.

‘...Did I forget something?’

I had a nagging feeling.

I was sure I had forgotten something, but I couldn’t quite place it.

My chest felt a little tight as though an unseen weight was pressing down on me.

“...It’ll come to me if it’s important.”

If it was truly important, I wouldn’t have forgotten it. It probably wasn’t a big deal.

‘Surely, it’s nothing crucial.’

I let out a small chuckle and pushed the thought aside, forgetting the most important thing of all.

My bad premonitions were never wrong.