Although So Yeonhui was his daughter, even her father couldn't honestly say she had ever been particularly skilled at everyday survival.
Back in the capital, she had always buried herself in books and paid little attention to household affairs.
And now what?
She had cooked fish soup?
The adults of the So family, including So Jin, could hardly believe their ears.
"Yeonu, did you really say your elder sister made fish soup?"
"Of course! It tastes amazing! The broth is so rich and delicious! I think I could eat ten bowls!"
A girl who had only just gotten out of bed after nearly dying—how could she possibly have done such a thing?
Madam Jang, the mother of the three siblings and matriarch of the household, stared at her son in astonishment.
She questioned him several times, wondering if he was joking.
But the boy was completely serious.
"It's true. We caught a ton of fish together at the stream. Then we added wild vegetables we gathered from the mountains and some radish. It turned out really delicious."
What?
She caught fish herself?
Just two days ago she had nearly poisoned herself by picking the wrong mushrooms, and now she was risking her life again?
Everything sounded impossible and deeply worrying.
Yet So Yeonu, who had supposedly eaten the soup, looked perfectly healthy.
In fact, a faint savory aroma was still lingering around him.
Did Yeonhui really make fish soup?
The adults had been working in the fields since dawn and were already hungry.
Watching his wife continue to voice her doubts while clutching her empty stomach, So Jin finally spoke.
"Let's go back."
"What?"
"The hoe is broken. We can't do much more work today anyway."
He brushed the dirt from his clothes and hands and tucked the broken hoe under his arm.
Then he helped support Lady Hong, the family's elderly matriarch, who had been working the fields in Yeonhui's place.
"We should return and see how the children are doing."
He needed to know exactly what had happened to his daughter.
The adults hurried home.
The moment they entered the shabby thatched cottage, they froze.
From a distance they had only seen smoke and wondered if it was real.
But now a rich, savory aroma filled the entire house.
Even more astonishing, when they entered the main room, they found three bowls of appetizing fish soup neatly arranged on a small dining table.
It was almost supernatural.
"Yeonhui, where did this fish soup come from?" Madam Jang asked in confusion.
Pulling out a chair, Yeonhui replied,
"The egg porridge Mother made for me was really delicious. I shared it with my siblings, and it tasted so good I nearly cried."
"...Did it?"
"Yes. That's why I wanted to make something delicious for Father and Mother too. It's late, but I wanted to apologize for causing everyone so much worry."
She smiled shyly.
Yet she still couldn't quite meet their eyes.
Seeing her like that, So Jin became certain.
His daughter had known those mushrooms were poisonous.
"How could she eat poisonous mushrooms and collapse? She's never caused trouble in her entire life! Especially when our family is already struggling so much!"
"Wild mushrooms all look similar. She didn't do it intentionally. It was simply a mistake, so don't be too harsh on her."
"I don't even know how I'll explain this to Mother. If she finds out two whole doe of rice were spent on Yeonhui's medicine, she'll be furious."
Perhaps because she was the eldest daughter.
Because she had never once disappointed them.
Perhaps her parents had unconsciously expected too much from her.
That she would understand their difficulties.
That she would comfort her younger siblings.
That she would endure even Grandmother's misplaced resentment.
Without realizing she was still just a child who could be moved to tears by a simple bowl of egg porridge.
So Jin's eyes grew moist.
Emotion welled up inside him as he looked at the fish soup his daughter had personally prepared.
How much hardship had she endured to make this one meal?
He felt both proud and heartbroken.
Not everyone shared his feelings, however.
"Eating porridge for lunch and preparing another meal for dinner? What wastefulness."
Lady Hong, the elderly matriarch of the So family, frowned in displeasure.
Madam Jang looked upset, but Lady Hong remained stern.
"Do you know how much rice was spent on your medicine? Instead of reflecting on your actions, you're wasting your energy on pointless things like this. You truly haven't learned your lesson."
"Mother!"
So Jin immediately raised his voice.
Everyone stared at him in shock.
Even Lady Hong.
Even Madam Jang and the children.
Then—
"Grandmother."
Yeonhui stepped forward, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
She didn't lower her head in submission.
Nor did she argue.
Instead, she gently took Lady Hong's hand.
"You've been very worried because of me, haven't you? I'm sorry for causing you so much concern."
"W-What are you talking about? I never—"
"Of course I understand how you feel, Grandmother. I know you're upset because I overworked myself preparing dinner even though I was still recovering."
She smiled softly.
At first Lady Hong wondered if she was being mocked.
But there wasn't a trace of ridicule on the girl's face.
Only warmth.
"Don't worry. I don't misunderstand you anymore. When I was younger, your blunt words sometimes hurt me... but now that I've grown up, I understand. They were all expressions of love."
Her eyes looked strangely sorrowful.
As though every syllable carried years of longing.
"What in the world did you eat while you were out today? Did poisonous mushrooms somehow end up in your egg porridge too?"
"Oh, come on. Nothing like that. I just matured a little. In circumstances like these, I can't stay a child forever."
Then she personally pulled out a chair for Lady Hong and helped her sit.
Before the old woman could react, a spoon had already been placed into her hand.
W-What's gotten into this girl all of a sudden?
People did strange things after experiencing a major shock.
Had she perhaps hit her head somewhere?
"Now stop worrying and have a taste. I chopped the radish into small pieces so it'd be easier for you to eat."
Yeonhui fussed over her with affectionate eyes.
Unable to resist, Lady Hong scooped up a spoonful of broth and drank it.
"...!"
A shock ran through her.
At that moment, Lady Hong thought:
Perhaps my granddaughter really has been possessed.
Possessed by a ghost with incredible cooking skills.
"I thought Grandmother would be much angrier. I'm glad she let it go so easily. Don't you think?"
"Yeah. She seemed much more tired than usual. Her voice didn't have much energy either."
Yeonhui chuckled at Yeonu's playful comment.
Truthfully, she had also been surprised by her grandmother's reaction.
She had expected a much harsher scolding.
Yet Lady Hong's anger had faded remarkably quickly.
"Doesn't it upset you? The way Grandmother blames you?" Yeonu asked.
"Why would it?"
Yeonhui shrugged.
"It's not entirely wrong."
Though unintentional, she had offended the Fourth Prince.
Humiliated him.
And because of that, the So family had fallen into ruin.
How could Grandmother possibly view her kindly?
Expecting one bowl of fish soup to erase all resentment would be far too selfish.
"Besides, Grandmother's words may be harsh, but she's actually very warm-hearted."
Whenever Grandmother told her to stand up straight, it really meant:
"Hold your head high and be confident."
Whenever she said:
"Stop grinning foolishly."
What she actually meant was:
"Don't exhaust yourself trying to please everyone."
"There was a time when I thought she was calling me narrow-minded."
But that wasn't it at all.
"In life, there are good times and bad times. How can all this misfortune possibly be your fault?"
That had been comfort.
A way of telling her not to blame herself.
Grandmother's own awkward way of reaching out.
Now that she understood that hidden kindness, how could a few resentful words hurt her?
Especially after finally getting her family—and her life—back.
Every moment was precious.
"Anyway, I won't do anything that makes you worry anymore. I won't cause trouble for the adults either."
Yeonhui spoke with a lighter heart than she had felt in years.
Yet strangely, her words only darkened her siblings' expressions.
A sense of unease crept over her.
"What's wrong? Why are you both acting like that? What happened?"
The twins exchanged nervous glances.
They hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
"Father is in danger.
