After hearing Mom’s words from Nam Gungryeo for a while and sending her away, not long after, Jegal Min came to find me this time.

‘The white tiger that was told to come didn’t come, and today why do so many demanding guests keep coming?’

There are days like this. I sat down with Jegal Min and offered him a warm tea. With a serious expression, Jegal Min brought up the matter.

“Nam Gungsojo doesn’t accept my apology. What on earth should I do to make him accept the apology?”

“No, Father. Were you still chasing after him?”
I was genuinely surprised, especially after seeing Nam Gungryeo freely wandering alone today. I thought Jegal Min had finally apologized.

‘Nam Gungryeo is persistent. Above all, Jegal Min is persistent!’

I was dumbfounded, and Jegal Min responded solemnly.

“A man’s words don’t change easily, Namailjeongcheonggeum.”

It was a nice saying, but it wasn’t something that could be used in any situation. I couldn’t help but respond with a serious expression.

“No, it seems okay to change them. Nam Gungsojo will probably like it.”

“How can he like it when he can’t accept the apology?”

“Instead of being bothered, he might just think it’s better not to accept the apology.”

“I’m being a bother…?”

I deliberately spoke coldly to signal him to stop, but unexpectedly, Jegal Min’s eyes softened.

“I guess I’m the first person you find bothersome.”

…?

Did I say something wrong? No, was there any possibility that what I said could be interpreted like that?

‘Looks like he’s already too fixated.’

Due to our elder brother’s overly rigid and upright personality, he sometimes got fixated on strange things.

I silently sent comforting words to Nam Gungryeo in my mind, thinking about how troublesome it must have been for her. Jegal Min, who was mumbling about being a bother alone, spoke to me again.

“This can’t go on like this. I can’t stay in this uncomfortable state.”

Well, I couldn’t tell him to endure it forever. Thinking about the relationship between Nam Gungryeo and Jegal Min, I proposed one solution.

“How about asking Danmok Sogaju to mediate?”

“Mediate?”

Exactly, Danmok Sogaju creating a space for the two to reconcile.

“Since Danmok Sogaju and Nam Gungryeo are close, if you ask for mediation, Nam Gungsojo will also come in front of our elder brother. He’ll probably accept the apology more easily. Don’t you think so?”

“That sounds reasonable.”

Even from my perspective, it was a good idea. Nodding with satisfaction, when I raised the tea cup, Jegal Min grumbled with a frowning forehead.

“But it feels unpleasant.”

“Huh?”

I was so surprised that I almost spilled the tea. Exactly, what part made him feel bad? When I looked at him, asking for an explanation with a facial expression, he pursed his lips and didn’t say anything.

At his reaction, which was clearly different from usual, I tilted my head.

‘Could it be he has feelings for Nam Gungryeo?’

This reaction couldn’t be explained by anything other than jealousy.

But Jegal Min and Nam Gungryeo. Even if I put them together and look at them, it was an ill-suited picture. I shook my head in disbelief.

‘Ah, that can’t be it.’

Anyway, at this point, it was clearly the best solution. Urging Jegal Min, who seemed embarrassed, I said,

“Then, why not go to Danmok Sogaju yourself?”

Jegal Min followed me obediently without saying anything.
Walking on the stony path towards the main house where the Namgung family resides, a serene feeling wafted through the air.

Unlike Jegal Sega’s lush green garden, Danmok Sega had precious peonies growing in multiple stems. Jegal Min, who was strolling around admiring the scenery, commented,

“So, this is where you grew up.”

“Yes. However, I started living in the main house only after receiving recognition from the elder brother. Before that, we lived alone in that outbuilding.”

“That outbuilding?”

Although the place I pointed to was far beyond the fence, Jegal Min, with his keen eyes, easily captured that place as well. Unlike other buildings, the roof clearly looked shabby, and Jegal Min frowned at the sight.

“You grew up without much trouble because the garden was well-tended, and you were glad about that. But, to think you grew up in a place like that.”

“It wasn’t bad. The biggest advantage was having a kitchen attached. Fetching water from the well was a bit cumbersome, though.”

Still, the times when Baekho, Danmokbi, and I lived together in that narrow world were priceless. With a nostalgic expression, I said,

“Everything was fate, looking back now.”

“Fate, huh? It’s fascinating that people can decisively say it’s fate.”

“Don’t you believe in fate, Oraeoni?”

Shaking his head at my question, Jegal Min replied,

“There are certainly encounters in this world that cannot be seen as mere coincidences. But, is it necessary to grandiosely call it fate?”

“Encounters with people you must meet are undoubtedly remarkable. It seems unrealistic to dismiss all of it as mere chance.”

“People you must meet.”

Muttering that, Jegal Min closed his mouth. I wondered who the person appearing in his mind was.

But before I could ask, without a moment’s pause, our steps arrived at the main house where Danmokbi stayed. Just as Danmokbi, who was leisurely walking in the garden, spotted the two of us, she greeted us with a bright smile.

“Yeona. Jegal Sega.”

About to reflexively greet back, I closed my mouth again due to the address issue. Just then, rushing towards us, the chief secretary intervened and disrupted the order of the conversation.

“Madam Sogaju, it’s urgent!”

“What’s going on?”

Automatically, I looked at the chief secretary’s sweat-drenched face. Bowing deeply, the chief secretary replied,

“Namgung Sega’s lord, Namgung Taehwan, has passed away.”