Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1120

Chapter 1120

How does any of this add up?

‘Namgung Jin is in love with Lady Mi Horan.’

And Namgung Jin’s betrothed, Hyun Soyeon…

‘…was in love with her stepbrother, The Strange?’

So, the woman believed to be Namgung Bi-ah’s mother actually had feelings for Namgung Hyung?

‘Incredible.’

This was a complete mess.

It was a ridiculous scenario, to put it mildly.

Mi Horan and Namgung Jin seemed destined, but what was the story between Namgung Hyung and Hyun Soyeon?

Of course—

‘Lady Mi doesn’t appear to care in the slightest.’

Mi Horan didn’t show the smallest bit of interest in Namgung Jin. Which was logical. If she had, she never would have married my father.

The real issue was—

‘What about Namgung Hyung?’

As for Hyun Soyeon—was my assumption actually correct? If it was…

‘…What exactly occurred here?’

In the future, Hyun Soyeon would marry Namgung Jin. That is how Namgung Bi-ah would come to be.

Namgung Hyung—

‘Flees.’

Eventually, he departs and enters Wudang, becoming The Strange.

So, they were never fated to be together in the first place.

This entire predicament was oddly compelling. So, this was the truth of the matter.

‘Naturally, events might not play out exactly as they did previously…’

But from this vantage point, it didn’t look all that different.

Wait. Just a moment.

‘…Then shouldn’t I have been paying closer attention to those two?’

I’d dismissed their addressing each other as sister-in-law and young master as trivial, but given this new context, wasn’t that potentially risky?

‘Not that it’s truly any of my concern.’

As I was lost in these thoughts—

Crunch.

‘…!’

A presence drew near. And I knew exactly who it was.

“What are you doing here?”

It was Hyun Soyeon.

“Why did you come down this way?”

Noting she had come straight from Namgung Hyung’s residence, I asked her, and she tilted her head in response.

“I brought you food, didn’t I? What other reason would I have to stay up there?”

“……”

A fair point. I had no rebuttal.

‘She’s correct, but even so…’

Perhaps I had been overanalyzing the situation.

“Why do you ask?”

Hyun Soyeon inquired.

Hearing that, I answered offhandedly.

Partly in jest.

“Oh, I was just contemplating whether you might have feelings for this young master here. Worrying over a pointless misunderstanding, really—”

“You’re correct.”

“……It’s not that I’m wrong, but I’m right?”

“Yes. Why?”

Why? What did she mean, why?

“Is that so strange?”

“……It’s extremely strange. What kind of question is that?”

She was openly admitting to having feelings for her fiancé’s younger brother. Of course, that was strange.

“Ahaha.”

Hyun Soyeon laughed at my stunned reaction.

“It’s possible to care for someone. I simply don’t allow my desires to control me. It’s not as if circumstances would permit it anyway.”

“Are you being serious?”

“Yes. You’re only asking because you already suspected, aren’t you? You’re more observant than I gave you credit for.”

Hyun Soyeon smiled, but there was something vaguely disquieting about her expression.

“You and Jinlang are the only ones who have realized it up to now.”

“……”.

I stiffened at that. Jinlang—she meant Namgung Jin.

He knew as well? My face must have betrayed my shock, because Hyun Soyeon went on.

“Do I seem like a horrible person?”

“A little?”

“You aren’t mistaken. But it’s not as though he is any better, is he? His heart belongs to someone else, too.”

She gestured toward where Namgung Jin and Mi Horan were. She watched them with an inscrutable look.

Was she feeling resentful?

“Then let’s consider it even—a wretched man and a wretched woman.”

“I beg your pardon? Ahaha.”

Why was she laughing? I was being utterly sincere.

“…You’re amusing. Young Master Baek, you are a very interesting person.”

“How exactly am I unusual? I’m perfectly ordinary.”

“You must be joking?”

“……”.

Why does she keep making me sound absurd?

“You’re a curious individual. Since my interest is piqued, may I ask you something?”

“Ask away.”

“Do you like me?”

“…Have you lost your mind?”

I stated bluntly, recoiling with distaste. What kind of absurdity was this? Where did she get that idea?

Seeing my reaction, Hyun Soyeon looked genuinely surprised.

“Oh? You don’t?”

“I do not.”

“Then… is it that lady?”

“Even less so.”

By ‘that lady,’ she undoubtedly meant my mother.

I nearly choked.

“Absolutely not.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. Truly. I would stake anything on it.”

I was willing to bet everything on that.

“Oh… then I suppose not. But then what is it?”

“What exactly is your issue?”

“Then… who is it that you see when you look at me?”

“……!”

Hyun Soyeon’s words made my body go rigid. It was as if she had seen directly into my thoughts.

She gazed at me with lucid, perceptive eyes.

Who did I see in her?

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

‘She discovered me.’

Because she was absolutely right.

How had she discerned it? Was it that apparent?

Just as she said, I was seeing another person in her.

And, without a doubt, that person was Namgung Bi-ah.

I had often searched for glimpses of Namgung Bi-ah in Hyun Soyeon, who looked identical to her. And she had noticed me doing it.

“Am I mistaken? If I were, that would be peculiar. Because the only other option is that you have feelings for me.”

“……You are not mistaken.”

I conceded honestly.

“If that offended you, I apologize.”

“No, I’m not offended. I was merely curious.”

Hyun Soyeon swept her hair back and asked.

“Do I resemble her a great deal?”

“……”.

A great deal?

“Yes. Extremely so.”

Nearly like twins.

“Oh… is that so?”

Hyun Soyeon’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“Then I must be extraordinarily beautiful…? Young Master Baek, your standards are remarkably high.”

“……”.

What was with that self-assurance? It was beyond bold—I was genuinely taken aback.

Then again, she was beautiful, so I couldn’t really argue.

“Why? Did that sound arrogant?”

“A little…?”

“It’s fine. I hear that often.”

Hyun Soyeon showed not a trace of concern. Perhaps that was it? Her confidence held a strange sort of appeal.

However.

‘…She doesn’t truly take after her mother, does she?’

Looking at her now, I wasn’t entirely convinced that Namgung Bi-ah resembled Hyun Soyeon all that much. Their faces were similar, but their temperaments were entirely different.

“What is your relationship with her? Unrequited love?”

Hyun Soyeon leaned closer with a keen expression.

I took a step back before answering.

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

“…Must I answer that?”

“Of course. If you don’t, I might have to hold it against you for looking at me so strangely.”

Wow, this woman was now resorting to threats.

Unbelievable.

“She is my fiancée.”

“Oh… your fiancée?”

“Yes.”

“Are you close?”

“…We aren’t on bad terms?”

Probably.

“If she is your fiancée, and you’re projecting her image onto me because we look alike, then… that’s love, isn’t it?”

“……”.

I didn’t respond this time.

Love. What a cringeworthy word.

“Am I wrong?”

Hyun Soyeon pressed for an answer.

I couldn’t reply. More than that, I didn’t want to.

“You’re embarrassed, aren’t you, Young Master Baek?”

“Enough. May I leave now?”

“Ahaha. Very well, I’ll let you go. This was quite entertaining.”

Hyun Soyeon smirked and finally gave me space.

I let out a sigh, then turned and walked away from her.

Simultaneously, a thought stayed with me.

‘Love, huh…’

The absurd word echoed in my mind.

Only because Hyun Soyeon had mentioned it so abruptly.

“That’s love, isn’t it?”

“……”.

Was seeing one person in another truly love?

I wasn’t certain.

I didn’t wish to define my feelings so precisely. Or perhaps—

‘If anything.’

I already knew the answer but refused to acknowledge it.

There was too much to be done. The moment I admitted to these emotions, everything would become more complicated.

For now, the only thing I could say was—

‘I saw you in her.’

And—

‘Perhaps I simply wished to see you.’

Seeing someone who looked so much like her made me long to see the real one.

For the time being, I would leave it at that.

That was the most I could manage.

**********

The next day came. Today, the Namgung family’s forces were scheduled to mobilize to confront the Magyeong Gate.

We ascended the mountain to position our troops and observe the gate. If our predictions were accurate, the Magyeong Gate would respond by tomorrow or the day after at the latest. We needed to be ready before then.

During this process, the debate from yesterday—the decision on whether we would aid the Namgung family—had been settled.

‘We will assist.’

My father had ultimately declared that we would join forces with the Namgung family to halt the Magyeong Gate.

However—

‘Those who wish to return may do so.’

He would not prevent anyone who wanted to go back to Hanam.

That was what my father had said.

‘But no one departed.’

Not a single person chose to return.

Soi seemed agreeable. Doyun looked visibly uneasy, but he remained.

I was the same. The actual problem, however—

“…You want us to remain at the Hanam branch?”

—was Mi Horan and Hyun Soyeon.

“It would be safer for you there.”

My father’s words caused Mi Horan to scowl.

Perhaps it was his altered tone.

“Because I’m of no use here?”

“Correct. As things stand, the acting leader of the Baekhwa Trading Company has no role in the battle. If you insist on staying, it would be more fitting for you to remain at the Martial Alliance’s Hanam branch.”

You can’t help in the fight, so just stay out of the way.

Hearing that, Mi Horan’s frown deepened.

“So, what you’re truly saying is—”

She bit her lip slightly before continuing.

“You just want me to go and keep an eye on her, don’t you?”

“……”.

At her words, my father’s eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.

“Sigh.”

Seeing that, Mi Horan released a heavy sigh.

“Continuing this will only lead to a emotional quarrel. I’ll go. But—”

Her eyes were slightly red-rimmed as she looked at my father.

“This is something you should not have done to me.”

“……”.

“Just remember that.”

With that, Mi Horan turned and left.

That happened this morning.

Afterward, we climbed the mountain. Moving a large force took considerable time.

We needed to establish defensive lines in advance to prepare for the Magyeong Gate’s counterattack.

The Murim Alliance would also be sending reinforcements, so we had to prepare for their arrival as well.

Everyone was tense during the ascent.

“…Huh?”

And when we finally reached the Magyeong Gate, everyone fell silent.

Moreover—

‘What in the world is that?’

Even I stared in disbelief.

It was unavoidable.

“Why is it white…?”

The gate, once a deep crimson, had turned entirely white.