Chapter 247
Chapter 248: An Unexpected Companion (4)
“Ah.”
As soon as I laid eyes on Nangong Bi-ah, an involuntary sound escaped my lips.
She had been waiting at the entrance since we arrived at the campsite.
‘Since when…?’
Just when had she been waiting, I wondered.
Thinking back, it seemed she hadn’t spoken at all.
‘…There’s no way she could have.’
I certainly didn’t expect Moyong Hi-ah to show up instead of Gu Jeolyub.
The expression on Nangong Bi-ah’s face was as cold as ice.
Her slightly raised eyes and tightly pursed lips hinted at a subtle shift in her emotions.
For someone as composed as Nangong Bi-ah, this had to be a significant issue.
“Well…”
What kind of excuse should I make?
Or do I even have to make an excuse in the first place?
In a sense, I’m the victim here.
‘But I can’t just say everything…’
Remembering Moyong Hi-ah from last night, words barely formed on my lips.
The world might be ending because of the orb nonsense, but it felt as if my own life was at stake right at this moment.
I tried to come up with some sort of salvageable explanation, but my mouth wouldn’t cooperate.
Meanwhile, Nangong Bi-ah silently fixed her gaze on me.
She probably awaited whatever I had to say.
‘What should I even say?’
Time dragged on.
It felt like only a few seconds had passed, but in reality, it felt like hundreds of times longer.
Each moment felt increasingly suffocating as Nangong Bi-ah continued to wait in silence.
What would the end of this silence bring?
My mind felt hopelessly stuck.
I needed to say something, yet nothing came out.
Then—
“Please, go in first.”
“What?”
“Gu Gongja, you must be busy, right?”
Moyong Hi-ah stepped slightly forward to address me.
Are you seriously telling me to just walk in like this?
‘Isn’t that the worst idea ever?’
It would seem like I was running away after hearing what Moyong Hi-ah said.
To my surprise, Moyong Hi-ah turned to Nangong Bi-ah and continued speaking.
“Don’t you think it’s better to talk with me than with the Gongja? We probably have more to discuss.”
Moyong Hi-ah’s words met with silence from Nangong Bi-ah.
Just a slight furrowing of her brow suggested that she was displeased.
But she didn’t utter another word.
“Isn’t that so?”
When Moyong Hi-ah asked again, Nangong Bi-ah averted her gaze slightly and then looked at me.
Her look was peculiar.
Did it mean she wished for me to not leave?
“…I’ll be back.”
The words Nangong Bi-ah finally managed to say caught me off guard.
“Go back?”
“…Yeah.”
Her calm demeanor made me hesitate.
Did that actually mean I should go?
“It’s alright… but when you return, please… let me know.”
Was that a form of compromise?
Nangong Bi-ah said that and then turned her back, starting to walk away.
From the direction she was headed, it looked like she was going toward the sparsely populated forest.
As Nangong Bi-ah walked slowly away, Moyong Hi-ah followed her lead.
“Gu Gongja.”
“…Hmm?”
“It was enjoyable this time.”
“That’s a bit vague, isn’t it?”
I replied, and Moyong Hi-ah covered her mouth with her fan as she giggled.
Her reaction appeared genuinely cheerful.
‘…What’s with that? Is she doing it on purpose?’
Could it be that Nangong Bi-ah being here was a scheme planned by Moyong Hi-ah?
Yet, I had no proof.
Just a gut feeling.
As soon as Moyong Hi-ah strolled after Nangong Bi-ah, I was left alone, staring in the direction they had disappeared.
“…Are they going to live?”
If they survived, would it be alright?
Something unsettling was creeping into my thoughts.
Moyong Hi-ah and Nangong Bi-ah walking into the forest felt like an ominous sign.
There wasn’t a soul around, and Moyong Hi-ah began to feel an unexplainable sense of danger.
‘Maybe I should’ve brought some guards with me.’
I never thought that Sword Dance Hero would harm her.
Even though I have no fondness for her for personal reasons, I knew that a person like her would never do such a thing.
Nangong Bi-ah, who had been walking slowly, suddenly stopped.
Moyong Hi-ah, who had been following her, paused as well.
Dawn was breaking, and the sun was rising.
Nangong Bi-ah turned back and locked eyes with Moyong Hi-ah.
Her deeply blue eyes sparkled like jewels.
‘Such a beautiful person.’
Describing Nangong Bi-ah, this phrase perfectly captured her essence.
The way she moved her hands, her legs, even her very breath.
Nangong Bi-ah was like a flower embodying beauty.
‘And yet, she exudes such strength and confidence.’
She possessed many things I could only dream of having.
Moreover,
‘She is the one I desire most.’
For Moyong Hi-ah, Nangong Bi-ah was that kind of person.
Someone who seemed somewhat similar but entirely different.
It felt as if she held everything I wished to possess.
Moyong Hi-ah contemplated her feelings for Nangong Bi-ah.
Jealousy.
Yes, it was undoubtedly jealousy.
A complicated, dark, and uneasy feeling.
This was definitely jealousy.
“Are you just going to keep watching?”
“…”
“Wondering, Sword Dance Hero, you called me here for something, didn’t you?”
Moyong Hi-ah tried desperately to suppress her emotions.
Nangong Bi-ah continued to gaze at her, not speaking a word, apparently aware of what was happening.
It was infuriating.
Why was she maintaining this silence?
To warn her away from that man.
To tell her not to covet what belonged to her.
Though an engagement had been made, they were set to marry, she hoped for a direct warning.
This was rooted in her anxiety.
She wanted to convey she was not the perfect person she seemed.
“Uh… Sword Dance Hero…”
“…It’s not me.”
Just as Moyong Hi-ah attempted to call out again in frustration, Nangong Bi-ah cut her off suddenly.
“…You have something you want to say to me, don’t you?”
The softly delivered words slipped through like a gentle breeze, invading Moyong Hi-ah’s ear.
Those words hit deep, resonating within her.
“Is that so…?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Moyong Hi-ah tried to come up with an answer, but she felt it too.
Her insides were utterly shaken.
Could it be?
Was it truly happening?
Moyong Hi-ah, who had always been composed, found herself unable to respond.
“Are you saying I have something to say to you?”
In response to Moyong Hi-ah’s inquiry, Nangong Bi-ah met her gaze, her assertive yet expressionless stare piercing through.
She couldn’t allow herself to falter.
She couldn’t allow herself to break down.
“I have no such feelings.”
“…Okay.”
Nangong Bi-ah simply nodded in response to Moyong Hi-ah’s statement.
She didn’t question or argue against her claim.
She appeared willing to accept that.
Yet, for some reason, this behavior bothered Moyong Hi-ah deeply.
How could she act so nonchalantly after everything?
How could she ignore everything I’ve been through?
“You must have seen how I feel about him.”
How can you not know?
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
It was unsettling.
It had been that way since the first moment they met.
From the moment she appeared to inhabit a totally different world.
The way she shone wielding a sword, radiating like light itself.
The calmness with which she moved, as if there were no discomfort in the world.
Moyong Hi-ah resented how Nangong Bi-ah occupied that space in his heart.
“Don’t you hate it?”
“…What?”
“Me trying to take away what’s yours.”
Nangong Bi-ah’s brows furrowed slightly at Moyong Hi-ah’s words.
That was a reaction; it meant she was affected.
Seeing this, Moyong Hi-ah pressed on.
“Do you not dislike me interfering with your sanctuary?”
“I dislike it.”
“…!”
It was the first time such a definitive statement had come from Nangong Bi-ah.
In the past year, they hadn’t exchanged a single meaningful conversation.
Ever since the moment their relationship fell apart when Gu Yangcheong began to exhibit feelings, neither had been able to reclaim what they once had.
And as Nangong Bi-ah developed genuine feelings for Gu Yangcheong, it had been evident that Moyong Hi-ah’s own heart leaned toward him as well.
Thus, the gap between them grew.
Yet, it seemed, you too despise…
“But I don’t care.
“…What did you say?”
“If he wishes for anything, I won’t give it a second thought.”
Nangong Bi-ah’s gaze remained blue, yet it felt more vibrant and resolute than ever.
“Don’t be mistaken.”
The voice was cool and precise.
That usual lazy intonation, the ever-drowsy eyes, it all vanished, replaced by an overwhelming presence.
Such a stark transformation made Moyong Hi-ah bite her lip.
“…What do you mean by mistaken? You think I can’t take Gu Gongja from you?”
Moyong Hi-ah gaped at her words, and Nangong Bi-ah shook her head slightly.
Was she saying that wasn’t the case?
“What then…?”
“He is not mine.”
Nangong Bi-ah’s words struck hard.
…
“My place is with him.”
Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Nangong Bi-ah wasn’t correcting her tone but rather definitively establishing her claim.
“He is too small for me.”
And suddenly she tore into Gu Yangcheong.
If he had heard her, he would have been coughing in disbelief.
How could she imply he was small now?
As Moyong Hi-ah struggled to comprehend her words—
Nangong Bi-ah continued.
“His heart is so tiny that just having me fills it to the brim.”
“…!”
Her heart was constricted.
The words implying that she already filled his heart with her presence were both empowering and strikingly objectionable for Moyong Hi-ah.
She had become his, affirmatively occupying his heart.
Where did that confidence stem from?
Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t figure out why she wouldn’t argue against such proclamations.
“…Sword Dance Hero, you.”
“And so, whether it means making the vessel bigger or removing me to add someone else, that’s his choice.”
Even amidst the turmoil, Nangong Bi-ah’s conviction was unshakable.
How could she remain so calm?
Was this confidence rooted in their clan’s engagement?
Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t grasp as well as refuse to accept such words.
Regardless, she had no rebuttal.
Thousands of rebuttals sprouted in her mind, yet her heart wouldn’t allow her to voice them.
No matter what she uttered, she understood too well she wouldn’t convince herself against such simplistic yet absurd claims.
Taking deep breaths, Moyong Hi-ah attempted to steady the trembling in her eyes.
Nangong Bi-ah took a step closer.
Moyong Hi-ah unknowingly stepped back.
No sword was drawn, nor was any killing intent exuded.
But for some reason, she felt overwhelmed by Nangong Bi-ah.
“Don’t use that man due to your insecurities.”
At the chilling tone of her warning, Moyong Hi-ah flinched at the words.
It wasn’t mere fear that gripped her.
It was the most unwanted statement she could hear.
“…This is what I wanted to tell you.”
Nangong Bi-ah observed Moyong Hi-ah for a moment before finally turning away and striding toward the campsite.
Left alone, Moyong Hi-ah stood bewildered for a moment.
She eventually sank to the ground, lost in her thoughts for quite some time.
In the front line, at the Gu Clan’s campsite.
Inside the Great Lord’s barracks, I arrived at Gu Huibi’s quarters after leaving the two behind.
In the center, I was giving a rough report on the current status of the orb.
I was immensely worried about what conversation had transpired between Moyong Hi-ah and Nangong Bi-ah.
Yet, a part of me feared that if I got too close, I might get crushed under the weight of it all.
First and foremost,
‘If it’s Nangong Bi-ah, I’m sure she’ll handle it well.’ She was clueless and somewhat foolish.
She wasn’t good at belittling others with words.
So I wished that she wouldn’t be swayed by Moyong Hi-ah.
Thus, I steeled myself to finish my report quickly and check on them.
“…What did you say?”
Gu Huibi’s words caused my thoughts to scatter in an instant.
“Who, who just arrived?”
Upon my inquiry, Gu Huibi appeared troubled, her expression anxious, while I simply looked at her in confusion.
After a brief moment of silence, Gu Huibi finally spoke up.
“…Mother.”
The head of the household.
“Mother has returned to the clan.”
