Chapter 12: The Lost Girl, Sohee

“Even if I don’t come, they’ll probably play well among themselves…”

Moon Hae-min had always liked children. In truth, faithfully teaching them to read was something he did more for himself than for them.

Watching the children grow made him feel proud. When they laughed, he found himself laughing as well. Simply being with them was joyful.

He could not give up such precious time.

“Appa!”

Just then, someone tugged at the hem of his coat. Looking down, he saw a little child who looked to be about four years old. The layers of thick winter clothes the child wore made them look especially adorable.

Their eyes met, and Hae-min smiled warmly.

But the moment passed quickly. A woman came running over in a hurry and lifted the child up.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry. The child’s father is wearing a black coat too. I think she mistook you for him.”

“Appa, appa.”

“I told you, Eunshim, that’s not him.”

The woman tried to coax the child, but the child continued stretching out her arms toward Hae-min, calling “Appa.”

She was so adorable that he almost wanted to pretend to be her father just to hold her.

“Honey!”

A man called out to the woman. He was also wearing a black coat, just like Hae-min.

It seemed he was the child’s father.

“What’s going on?”

“Eunshim thought this gentleman was you.”

“Ah, really?”

The man glanced at Hae-min and, after briefly looking over his clothing, nodded as if he understood what had happened.

That was all.

The husband, the wife, and their lovely child continued on their way.

Only Moon Hae-min remained standing there, watching their backs as they left.

The little child toddled along, holding tightly to both parents’ hands.

It was such a beautiful sight that it made his chest ache.

‘I also…’

Once, he had wished to be born into a warm family like that.

There had been a time when he dreamed of calling someone “Father” without hesitation, of receiving his mother’s love.

But that wish had been doomed from the start.

After realizing that painfully, Moon Hae-min changed the direction of his wish.

‘I want to build a warm family of my own.’

It might be impossible to become a child loved by his parents.

But perhaps he could become a father who loved his own children.

As the illegitimate son of a noble family, his circumstances were, in some ways, even worse than those of an ordinary commoner. He did not know who would accept him.

Still, people said even straw sandals had their pairs.

Perhaps someday he too would meet someone meant for him.

If he dared to hope, he wanted to meet a good spouse, have one daughter and one son, and live peacefully together.

‘Though first… I need to escape Song Seol.’

The moment reality returned to him, the cold he had forgotten rushed back.

Moon Hae-min shivered.

To think that he, who had pretended to be a yin man and been taken by a yang man just the night before, was dreaming of building a family.

His dream was bright.

But reality was painfully tangled.

****

“Hyung, hello!”

When he arrived at the open lot behind the market where they always gathered, the children greeted him enthusiastically.

Hae-min smiled brightly.

“Hello. You’re all here early.”

“No we’re not! We didn’t come early, you’re just late!”

“Sorry. Something came up on the way.”

In truth, his poor physical condition had slowed him down.

His body ached everywhere, and forcing himself to move had taken longer than expected.

Still, seeing the children gathered here despite the cold made the effort worthwhile.

Hae-min looked over them with quiet satisfaction.

Then he noticed an unfamiliar face among them.

“That child is…?”

A little girl wearing a white coat and skirt.

Before she could answer, the other children began chattering.

“I think she’s lost!”

“She doesn’t talk! She hasn’t said anything!”

“Kids, wait a moment.”

If the child was truly lost, they needed to find her parents quickly.

Hae-min approached her and crouched down to meet her eye level.

“Hello.”

“…”

The child blinked slowly.

Her eyes sparkled like marbles as she stared curiously into Hae-min’s.

People often reacted this way when they saw the unique blue tint of his eyes, so it wasn’t unusual.

“What’s your name?”

“…Sohee.”

“Whoa, she talked!”

The children behind him whispered excitedly.

Pretending not to notice, Hae-min continued gently.

“So your name is Sohee. Sohee, did you lose your mother or father?”

“I don’t have a father. Only a mother.”

So her father had passed away, and she lived with her mother.

But where her mother was now, whether she had come to the market together, was unclear.

“Then we should go find your mother.”

“No. I can find her myself.”

Sohee shook her head stubbornly.

She looked bright and determined, as though she truly could find her way.

“…Alright.”

For now, Hae-min decided to keep an eye on her and began the lesson.

After the lesson ended, the children gathered in small groups and left.

The noisy lot became quiet in an instant.

Yet Sohee remained sitting in one corner without moving.

It seemed best to help her find her mother after all.

Hae-min approached slowly so as not to startle her.

“Sohee, shall we go find your mom?”

“No.”

“Then what? Are you going to stay here? Is there something else you want to do?”

“…”

Grrrrowl.

A loud sound answered for her.

It was astonishing that such a big noise could come from such a small body.

“Are you hungry?”

Sohee nodded.

“I wonder what there is around here that a child could eat.”

Suddenly Sohee jumped to her feet and started walking somewhere.

Curious, Hae-min followed.

Soon they arrived at a fairly large tavern where traveling merchants sat on wooden platforms eating hot soup.

“Do you want gukbap?”

“Mhm.”

It might be a bit hot and salty for a child.

But since she had clearly asked for it, there was no need to refuse.

Hae-min sat with her and ordered two bowls.

Before long, steaming hot gukbap arrived.

Sohee grabbed a wooden spoon and began eating immediately.

“Slow down, you’ll get indigestion.”

But she barely listened, moving her spoon rapidly.

Anyone watching might think she hadn’t eaten in three days.

‘…Could that really be the case?’

Yet judging by her appearance, she didn’t look poor.

Her cheeks were plump, and her white clothes were spotless.

If anything, she looked like a child from a wealthy family.

“Sohee, do you really not know where your mother is?”

“…”

“It’s alright. Eat comfortably. Let’s talk after.”

Hae-min finished his bowl as well.

After finishing the meal in no time at all, Sohee neatly placed down her spoon.

“I’m going.”

“Huh? Going where?”

Without answering, Sohee stood up.

Despite her small size, she moved quickly.

By the time he blinked, she was already far away.

Hae-min hurriedly paid and chased after her.

“Sohee! Sohee!”

She slipped through the crowd with surprising agility.

She wasn’t even running, yet she moved incredibly fast.

“Haah… haah…”

Normally he would have caught up easily, but running in his weakened state was difficult.

Only after they left the main road did Hae-min finally grab her.

“If you run like that and get lost, what will you do?”

“I won’t get lost. I’m going to my mom.”

“You know where she is? That’s good. Let’s go together.”

“No. I have to sneak in. If she finds out I left, she’ll get mad.”

She added quietly:

“When my mom gets mad, she’s very, very scary.”

“Even so, it’s dangerous for a little child to walk alone. I’ll take you there.”

“No.”

Sohee answered firmly.

After glancing around, she said:

“I’ll tell my mom later. That you bought me gukbap.”

“Haha, alright.”

Come to think of it, even with good intentions, it would look strange for a grown man to follow a little girl to her home.

Realizing that, Hae-min waved.

“Then go carefully.”

“Okay, Gukbap Oppa.”

At the strange nickname, Moon Hae-min let out a small laugh.

He watched Sohee’s figure grow smaller in the distance.

Hoping she would make it home safely.

****

When Hae-min returned to the residence of the Grand Prince of Byeokran, the first person he encountered was the steward.

The steward frowned and asked sharply:

“Where have you been that you return this late again?”

Hae-min had long suspected the steward disliked him.

Perhaps because “Moon Hee-yul” was supposedly the legitimate son of the Geumcheon Moon family, political rivals of the Grand Prince.

Still, the hostility felt excessive.

A flicker of hurt rose in him, but it quickly faded when the steward continued.

“His Lordship has summoned you.”

“Me? For what reason?”

“I do not know.”

“…I understand.”

If he had been called, he had no choice but to go.

Dragging his heavy feet, Moon Hae-min headed toward the sarangchae.

Truthfully, he did not want to see Song Seol.

Not because he hated him.

But because it felt unbearably awkward and embarrassing.

For that reason, even when he arrived in front of the study, he hesitated.

After what had happened there two nights ago, was it really right to walk in of his own accord?

Probably not.

‘Should I just pretend to be crazy and run away?’

Just as that thought crossed his mind…

A voice called out from beyond the door.