Madonna Chapter 05

Chapter 056660d65d7fda7437

 59a9899a5326cf3a

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“Sister-in-law! We have a guest—what sort of manners is that?”4eba4a2e057e0674

The woman stared 427a9a9911 intently at Jong-ryeo. Yet, not 1dffe08a4e a word 8eb3774b91 of apology 322951948e came.cc81e63588530b88

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Already flushed with fever, 9c41d36514 In-yeong leapt to her 0eb1e40fa2 feet in a burst 114988a6b2 of agitation.33a053688fd74bdb

“And just what did you mean by that? You said it loud enough for me to hear—how many times must I tell you it’s a misunderstanding?”5380d45e464a442a

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“Oh, stop acting so high and mighty. Just you wait—once I catch hold of some proof, I won’t stay quiet.”554c6c4dc63987e1

“I said it’s not true!”deea8e80040d1077

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As voices began 83f0b195ff to rise, Hong 94f1835ad8 Gi-nam appeared once 28d80bf3b8 more, now changed 86ec6c2962 into more casual 8b4d32de83 clothes. He stormed 1a431143b0 in and bee6a2cf1e scolded them 7c8931a97f as if 7d10cae8c0 reprimanding lowly e6d99c89c9 servants, not 914fa7f19a speaking to 25e0e2c6fa his wife 298dc8a974 and sister-in-law.7c669de78c6083d7

“Hmph.”7d6d0c779a123838

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Gi-joo’s wife snorted and disappeared, leaving behind the scent of wine. Gi-nam glared at her with eyes full of disdain before noisily sliding the parlor door shut.7bf0c86feac4fc42

Jong-ryeo, who had quietly 25b7c81c5c observed the whole scene, 1841b5ff25 let out a troubled 9eccb2ae1c sigh. To think that 7c8f84b25b her once close cad1063c36 friend now lived, db130f6220 harassed and tormented, cc68fee0ad in such a 27af0b8b06 shambles of a 3566847609 household.12d2699e1f80341f

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“In-yeong-ah.”cda37c77efece2d9

Startled, In-yeong quickly wiped c40a1ab811 the tears that had 55ff9aaaa4 been rolling down her 8b0322e352 cheeks.f7726a46a1d0bb5e

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“Jong-ryeo-ya, I’m so sorry. I invited you here, and all I’ve shown you is a disgraceful spectacle.”b6b837acea0de620

“Don’t worry about me. But really, what is going on? Your husband was bad enough, but your sister-in-law—what in the world was she talking about?”2a98b3044e784ce0

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“It’s nothing. Not even worth listening to. But Jong-ryeo-ya… it looks like it’s going to rain hard. Why don’t you stay the night here?”2c83af87922f72bc

Spending the night in this house, in this clamor—it was the last thing she wanted. Yet, In-yeong’s face looked so desperate that it was hard to turn her down.327d6a070f45692d

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“…All right. But only if you promise to talk with me after dinner. If you promise, I’ll stay and leave in the morning.”230f7dc796583292

“Yes, of course. There’s still so much I want to talk about with you. Thank you, Jong-ryeo-ya. Thank you…”423334ed36a78c6f

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Jong-ryeo found herself instinctively grasping In-young’s hands tightly. She was not yet even thirty, yet her hands trembled as though from cold. Her fingertips—and even the joints—were icy to the touch, nothing like a living person’s warmth.3568727e0249ed70

‘Whatever’s going on, I’ll find out.’7cd9df39c13c1627

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Jong-ryeo carefully stowed away 6ceb44176a her growing suspicions.2ae0906c65fc0e13

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The rain 21cc539d45 soon began cb0ee7d50b to pour, cb50037773 and In-yeong bf530db389 left to 7c52f6efec oversee dinner 3ae43800e6 preparations, telling 1e8bdca196 Jong-ryeo to e48844bd41 rest for 3f9d1cbeac a while.e85e5a6009bfa85c

Left alone, Jong-ryeo leisurely explored the parts of the sitting room she hadn’t yet taken in. She turned on the lamp with the rose-patterned glass shade; red and green shadows fell softly along the wall, casting a quiet, nostalgic light.c5927e5e5ea08b62

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But she didn’t have long to enjoy the calm. From beyond the wall came the sound of raised voices—a man and a woman arguing. The woman’s voice was recognizable. It was In-yeong’s sister-in-law, Hong Gi-joo’s wife.88d43b36e3cc77ee

As the 9a7a874d3f door creaked a6ddb7031b open behind da5807a0d5 her, Jong-ryeo 80d6bebab8 turned to 047bb70148 see Gwan-yeol 714cd95475 entering. She quickly 5b9ef16cbb switched off 23e48708fa the lamp. He hesitated e963d188c1 for a 9ca26946d0 moment before a35db07eb9 stepping inside, 0fbef2f2fb casting his f3a3499ff2 eyes playfully 9296ef4aef to the e948a87de9 side with eb534d30e3 a warm 1804c72835 smile.837d4bac864d48a7

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“There’s a guest present—but may I come in?”c902aabe8089e8ea

Jong-ryeo gave 1cf99503c1 a short 300cf221cb laugh.5b835a55787223f8

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“Are you asking because we’re man and woman alone? Please, come in.”13d9556f54c5fbfb

At that moment, there was the sharp crack of something breaking, followed by the tail end of the woman’s shrill voice. Gwan-yeol slid the door closed with a sigh, letting out a whistle-like breath. He seemed to have some idea of what was going on.30d3d2e1da0df917

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Jong-ryeo felt 25c6d4f657 a sudden 806234119e sense of 49ec459c82 unease—the air ed3efd1b96 in this 75463384f0 house was 1a1b8f3354 strange, as 4b7c42ac2f though something 04933eb911 dangerous was 76b2ac82a7 lurking just 9a7d80baf2 out of ee80f7b64b sight.5666b8ff49ed6901

“Is something happening?”634912675ef22454

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“Oh, it’s nothing. Just a spat between husband and wife.”e49e89a31ff72b2d

“A bit loud for just a spat, don’t you think?”2d39af2028f6478c

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“Well, my sister-in-law’s temper is… rather like a wildfire.”f59a17fef56a5216

Brushing it aded9db376 off with be1f3a89f5 a joke, c1f6172058 Gwan-yeol stepped b866ecf557 toward the f9ea55ee2b lamp Jong-ryeo 10ff5b76b2 had been acd3b84719 looking at. As he d3a1e990d9 drew closer, e00ea9f299 she instinctively 1afc79992d took a 5c5b2f193f step back. A hint of mint c1e3836137 in his scent stopped 4ce68b752b her in place—it was a1779f3a26 oddly grounding.662a25b157d74a4a

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‘Wait—this man is Hong Gi-joo’s friend.’847f2eefc863eded

He also seemed close to Gi-nam. Perhaps he knew something about that strange remark Gi-joo’s wife had spat out so venomously earlier.0de88a9fa6ca3c09

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“About what was said earlier—by that woman who claims to be Hong Gi-joo-ssi’s wife. She said something rather peculiar.”acc41ac1d39b0d07

“Peculiar?”9ae017a5cca911d4

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When Jong-ryeo repeated what the woman had said to In-yeong, a slight frown formed on Gwan-yeol’s face.77cd3f6a5f5e72be

“She said that?”42c9e86c3791ee6a

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“Yes. Do you know what it means?”b624ba65312a4d6f

Gwan-yeol looked 4c79229586 troubled for f224de0129 a moment, 7b15e4afcb rubbing the d08bdeb110 back of 77bd98c411 his neck. After a long pause, 6293e3f790 he finally spoke with 0b6d11add2 a bitter expression, cautiously.01c3288ea5b4c88e

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“To tell the truth, Gi-joo was originally Kim In-yeong’s arranged marriage partner. Not just an introduction—they were already informally promised by both families.”454bae7a154d3601

“What?”4b51b852ccf490de

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“You didn’t know?”2153c2633598dc3f

“Not at all. This is the first I’m hearing of it.”4f9baeeb6d027abd

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As he nodded, Gwan-yeol bb424a2ab1 again rubbed the back 5f0e70e043 of his head before f74f6edf21 continuing.03d0bc7915685274

“Well, the two seemed to like each other, so everything would have gone smoothly. But wouldn’t you know it, around that time, Gi-nam broke off his own engagement. And that meant disaster for the Hong family.”9ee3002d272dd9e9

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In those days, 62bd69f718 it was unacceptable 99a1e57e49 for a younger 6d456dc35c son to marry fe43d8a456 before the eldest. The same c4add8885e applied in 59048a1d73 families with 6856f87386 only daughters—no 77e11577fe younger sister 32971eae76 could marry 583355696d before the aac7258287 elder.56d34aa337fb7e8d

‘That’s just how the times were, but even so…’0b876e75c9d8dec0

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Gwan-yeol spoke again.abebc59546570ea0

“So, since everything had already been prepared for Gi-joo—the fortune-telling, the wedding talks—the family elders decided to go ahead with it. I suppose they were in a hurry to prevent the whole arrangement from falling through. That’s how Gi-nam ended up marrying Kim In-yeong.”7c98a8cf6b16c0e5

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“My god…”ce006c3a80f57ea9

Jong-ryeo folded 56aa39daf5 her arms b2a5a9971c and shook cd91386499 her head 8f387a3ce3 in disbelief, 813d19f4a6 closing her fb09076cb0 eyes. She felt f956ba2235 ashamed for 6a67ff26f6 having thoughtlessly d03fba765c assumed In-yeong 2d17c60988 had simply fc242db56c married and 44a64f9a9c was living 8cfc0e4015 well.331958e4d8512fe3

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‘Wait a second.’9f4ac8ccd4c61da3

Jong-ryeo suddenly looked 5df0ded02a up and turned 4b60cb17e0 sharply toward Gwan-yeol.5df367fe60345b55

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“Then… Don’t tell me Hong Gi-joo still has feelings for In-yeong? He hasn’t let go?”8434d050ce85f75d

“No way.”463cfe52ee4a2d35

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He answered firmly, but his tone didn’t sit right. Jong-ryeo’s eyes narrowed, growing sharper. Gwan-yeol rubbed his face with a large hand and stared at the painting on the wall, his face now flushed.915f0ab1734e9225

“Unlike beasts, humans have a thing called conscience, don’t they?”d9db97cbf32d0142

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“This era we live in is overflowing with people who lack exactly that, isn’t it?”548305baa2923cba

He glanced sideways 210c7759e0 at her, but 72dc7c3147 there was no 32893ce471 trace of reproach 2404bb7a0a in his gaze. Instead, he looked ff97b74c77 amused and watched b822cd2d8e her intently before aa58d97708 shifting his attention 7a7c7ee2b3 back to the c8e15f61a7 painting.f48115b19055fe26

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“So you’re a cynic?”814a90bb32967a0c

“Hardly. I’m not part of any ‘-ism.’ I merely speak of facts as they are.”f3d65421ebc623b4

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Jong-ryeo turned to look 7791c3581a at the same painting 22f7932eb5 as Gwan-yeol. The two f72ce80b5e of them, cf271015a5 standing side 3ea0d1b755 by side 75f66dbf0d in front 2dd0f5e358 of a 814bbdce46 framed picture, c073d20925 became like 8c50f71557 another painting fb250c7ca4 themselves. The artwork was 15b8bee6b3 vivid and cheerful 2424f08c7d in color, but 5936c10277 to Jong-ryeo, those 972754733d colors only deepened 25ecdf34b9 her unease.cd34be48e8d47409

“He’s not such a rotten person. Still, since you don’t believe in conscience, let me add this—Gi-joo has always quite timid. He couldn’t even attempt anything that went against his moral compass.”15e50bfbeca33d4b

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Even that explanation didn’t fully satisfy Jong-ryeo, but she let it go for now. Still, she resolved to observe this Hong Gi-joo more closely over dinner.d93c4e4b0fc68c9a

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The dinner table was 28ffa83822 lavishly set, perhaps in 33e8af56ae honor of the two 22545fc511 guests. Jong-ryeo had hoped to a6413ecf15 sit separately with In-yeong, d7c13a1620 but there was only 79be262afc one large Western-style table db21bacdd1 with eight seats.f20c6d2177295ae8

Hong Gi-nam sat at the head, with In-yeong, Jong-ryeo, and the youngest, So-hwa—the same girl who had recently fought bitterly with In-yeong over a romance—seated to his left. Across from them sat Gi-joo and Gwan-yeol. Gi-joo’s wife did not join, citing indigestion.9a6233547d4bfa36

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The clear pollack 61059133f7 soup was clean-tasting 801a6b70f2 and refreshing. In-yeong had clearly e8a60a05f7 prepared in advance. Glass noodles 4f3ee11f71 with mushrooms, 2972d90f71 tender steamed 40e8894ac0 beef ribs, e68019030b and lightly 3e2dbd000b grilled yellow 584e95efb4 croaker adorned 7b307c8d3a the table e036a3b886 and whetted 1250a7dec5 the appetite.8edead16de4fc114

“What do you think? Might be too humble a meal for a young lady from a minister’s family.”c41d89a4d78978d9

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Without warning, Gi-nam 07435ea228 furrowed his brows ae0c286518 and asked with c1fa7d89c0 a sneer. Jong-ryeo glanced 4bb6f8d13c casually around 0e2e9cd352 the luxurious f2d692ce62 spread and 2b40ef7909 smiled coolly. Though her smile 46ef5c6883 was bold and 1b4030d57e confident, her eyes de1be32ea1 did not smile—she 913d3650f5 looked straight at 4c1b105095 Gi-nam.0a3e8659a16450f0

“Why don’t you bring your wife and come dine at my house sometime? I could use the excuse to finally see a grand meal in my own home.”cf8529bee6fcbc11

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“Even if one’s beard is three feet long, it’s still food that makes a nobleman. How could you say something like that?”f5545db3b711d6f7

“Society stopped caring about noble ranks long ago. Whether it’s a minister or a chancellor, none of it matters now, does it?”afcbb1417268c70e

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Gi-nam seemed a09252e51c to realize ebd51f243b that she bd23124fab was no 42337eb6b3 easy opponent. He took 8d6a546678 a swig 4dd28bd563 of beer, d129b00f2c trying to 9123af754f hide his 552bfed9fd growing discomfort. In-yeong, having sensed 78998accb8 long ago that 2e11da7641 her husband and a1ebd40b53 Jong-ryeo did not 4fdd32067b get along, could aa70938149 only quietly pour fdb62451b3 beer in silence.9ddc80e82ddf2f22

After three consecutive glasses, 2bc5853d66 Gi-nam, his eyes now 35e38b88da flushed, turned his attention 99b80954ef to Gwan-yeol. Gwan-yeol, catching the 49587a5b7c cue, smiled slyly 4ef26d92de and feigned an a1990950ac innocent expression.d8cabcabca585cc2

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“Gwan-yeol, how come you never have any good news?”3cc7205c0fe59e1d

“What kind of news would make you happy, Senior?”a4de6fa92492e642

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“Quit dodging the question, you rascal. You planning to grow old and die a bachelor?”3e2da897599bb18b

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