Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Right after meeting my mother.

Even after a new day arrived, our schedule didn’t change much.

We were still heading toward Anhui, and just because another day had begun didn’t mean our route would be any different.

Hiiiiiing—!!!

The neighing of horses and the sound of wheels rolling. I endured the damn noise that I had been hearing for days.

The constant rattling that made my shoulders bump against each other was the same as well.

It was downright unpleasant, but I didn’t let it show. That morning, Mi Horan had warned me that if I caused another commotion, she’d throw me out.

Perhaps that was why even Namgung Jin had kept his mouth shut this time.

Though the irritation and discomfort on his face hadn't disappeared.

‘Hmm.’

Ignoring him, I recalled the events from before.

Naturally, I thought about my mother and father’s situation.

‘In the end, it looks like she’s coming with us.’

In the morning, just before the carriage departed, my father had spoken to Mi Horan and Soi. The moment they heard what he said, their eyes widened, and they looked clearly troubled.

Seeing that reaction—

‘It’s because of Mother.’

It seemed that Father had informed them that my mother had come along. Which meant—

‘They already knew about her.’

By this point, everyone was aware of my mother’s existence. Additionally—

‘It doesn’t seem like she’s been around for long.’

Judging by their reactions and expressions, it didn’t seem like my mother had been by my father’s side for too long.

‘How did they even meet?’

I was curious about how my parents had encountered each other.

Last night, I had even tried asking my father about it.

I told him that I didn’t mind keeping her hidden, but I asked what their relationship was. If she was perhaps his fiancée or something.

But all I got was—

‘Do I have to answer that?’

That was my father’s cold, indifferent reply.

In other words, he had no intention of answering.

‘Tch.’

So I wouldn’t get an answer.

‘Still.’

It wasn’t a total loss.

I had been pondering what exactly I needed to do in this world.

‘Now, the picture is becoming clearer.’

Father, Do Yun—

And now my mother had appeared as well.

Looking at it this way, I was confident I wasn’t on the wrong path. No matter how I saw it, this was the right way to go.

Regardless—

It seemed that Father’s method of handling things was simply to bring her along. I had caught a glimpse of my mother getting into the large carriage.

Only by focusing intently had I been able to notice it.

Since her presence was so faint, neither Do Yun nor Namgung Jin had seemed to realize it.