“Th-This scammer!”

Seeing Yeonwoo stumbling over her words, Geon looked serious, as if he were amazed.

“How dare you call a lord a scammer. You’ve probably heard of the crime of insulting the nobility.”

Although Yeonwoo had become more comfortable with Geon lately, she herself felt that her recent actions had been excessively audacious.

Realizing her mistake, Yeonwoo quickly bowed her head in apology.

“I-I apologize…”

“It’s a joke.”

“…!”

“If you buy a house with four people, it’s your house too.”

Geon chuckled as if it were nothing.

Yeonwoo, who had endured it for ten years, sighed with relief. She wondered where the inexperienced noble had learned such impudence.

Even though she realized that her actions were rude, Yeonwoo thought she should be more careful in the future.

“Why make a joke so harsh? Didn’t you think we were really going to live together?”

“That’s not a joke.”

“What?”

Yeonwoo made a bewildered expression.

“Since my money went into it, I’ll use one room. I can demand that much, can’t I?”

“There are only two rooms, right? Are you saying you’ll use half of them?”

“Do you not want to live with me?”

“W-Well, it’s not that…”

Regardless of whether Yeonwoo liked or disliked living with Geon, she was a woman disguising herself as a man.

Even if they didn’t share a room, there was a risk of revealing her true identity if they stayed close together. However, Geon’s words made sense; Yeonwoo hadn’t contributed a single penny, and it was Geon who paid for the house that cost 200 nyang.

If she couldn’t even give up one room to Geon, it would make her seem too stingy. Yeonwoo was convinced by Geon’s words, but living together was something she hadn’t expected at all.

“You should have told me this in advance! Isn’t it too sudden?”

“I sold my estate, so I needed a place to live urgently.”

“Just this morning, your estate was fine, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

What kind of nonsense is this? Yeonwoo looked at Geon with incomprehension.

While examining Yeonwoo’s house, Geon had indeed sold the estate where Yeonwoo used to live. Since it was a house he didn’t use anyway, it was more efficient to sell it for the funds of the expanding Gwangho Army unit.

Even though it wasn’t his intention to sell the estate for the purpose of living with Yeonwoo, Geon decided to take advantage of the opportunity given to him.

“Is it okay for me to live on the streets?”

“You usually slept in the barracks and didn’t use the estate anyway.”

“Wouldn’t my proposal not be a loss for you?”

Being able to get a house without spending a penny was an opportunity for Yeonwoo, and it wasn’t a loss.

Moreover, the house Geon had recently acquired was the house Yeonwoo had dreamed of, and she couldn’t guarantee that such a property would be available again.

However, that didn’t mean she could risk revealing her identity and exchange it for a house.

“Anyway, it’s not allowed! We can’t live together!”

“Then what will you do about the house?”
“…….”

In response to Geon’s question, Yeonwoo fell into contemplation. It was regrettable to give up the house, but living with Geon posed its own risks. Yeonwoo came up with her own compromise.

“I will repay the 200 nyang. When should I repay it?”

“Right now.”

“…Are there no other compromises?”

“There aren’t.”

200 nyang wasn’t an insignificant amount, and it wasn’t a sum that could be easily gathered. Even if she repaid with the 100 nyang she had on hand, the remaining 100 nyang would be impossible to pay off in one go, even if she saved for a full 8 years without spending a penny.

Seemingly understanding Yeonwoo’s dilemma, Geon raised his fist with a nonchalant attitude.

“Choose. Will you accept the house for free, or will you repay the 200 nyang right away?”

“Mmm……”

Rebirth of an adult? At this point, Yeonwoo felt that there was no need to regret her previous reflection. If someone were to ask who the greatest scammer in Joseon Province was, she wouldn’t hesitate to mention Lord Gwangho.

In the end, Yeonwoo, who had no choice, responded with resignation.

“…I understand. I’ll just give up one room, then?”

It wasn’t a moment to be happy about having a house. Instead, she found herself unexpectedly forced into cohabitating with Lord Gwangho.

“Yes.”

Geon, nodding, smiled inwardly at Yeonwoo’s inner turmoil. There were men sticking to Yeonwoo’s side whenever there was an opportunity, and he couldn’t keep an eye on her all day. Therefore, this seemed like the best way to ensure peace of mind.

Meanwhile, the assembled ministers were discussing state affairs with Hwan.

When it was Ryu Rim’s turn, he pulled out a memorial and spoke to Hwan.

“A memorial circulating in Hamgyeong Province. The movements of the numbers seem unusual, indicating signs of an impending rebellion.”

At the mention of a rebellion, the assembly hall was filled with the buzzing of ministers.

Responding to the small commotion, Woo Uijeong, Minsangju, retorted in a clear voice.