TM | Chapter 14

Kang Taegwon was so dumbfounded by Cheongrok’s teasing remark that he let out an exasperated breath before speaking.

“You’re saying you’d still marry him even knowing that he’s slept with Lee Seol?!”

“So what? Seol-i and I are cousins—it’d be easy to keep our stories straight. Besides, it’s not like anyone here is inexperienced, right? The only virgin among us was Lee Seol… Ah, well, not anymore as of tonight, I suppose. Anyway, we’re not at an age where we cling to our first experiences like they’re something sacred. What matters more is what comes after marriage. If I marry Sung-i in name only, we can each take our own concubines.”

Cheongrok’s relaxed grin made Kang Taegwon’s stomach churn even harder. His voice grew louder in frustration.

“Is marriage just another game to you?! Just another pastime for your amusement?!”

The smile slowly faded from Cheongrok’s face as he met Kang Taegwon’s furious gaze. His sharp eyes gleamed red under the glow of the lanterns.

“…I don’t understand why you’re getting so worked up over this. Sung-i and Seol-i wanted to be engaged. And if that engagement falls apart and Sung-i’s marriage prospects are ruined, I said I’d take responsibility. It’s not like I’m asking you to take responsibility, so why are you making such a fuss? You’ve been spending a lot of time with Sung-i lately—did you develop feelings for him or something? Or… could it be that you have feelings for Lee Seol?”

“……”

Kang Taegwon clamped his mouth shut. Cheongrok, watching him closely, squinted slightly before continuing.

“If Lee Seol doesn’t personally step forward, none of us here have any right to marry him. Well… I could—since we’re cousins—but even that would only happen if Seol-i somehow became a disgrace in the eyes of the public. And even then, it would be just a nominal marriage.”

“Marriage is sacred! It’s not something you just throw together for convenience!”

“Is it, though?” Cheongrok tilted his head. “I don’t know about that… Marriage is a connection between families. It doesn’t necessarily represent love. Are you saying you would only marry for love?”

He had a point. No matter how deeply someone cared for another, if their family objected, there was nothing they could do. That was why Kang Taegwon had never even dared to dream of marrying Lee Seol.

“You make it sound like marriage is something you can just clean up after, like fixing a mess!”

“…Well, the Cheong Clan has always been in the business of cleaning up after those in power. You should know that by now.”

“And that’s exactly why people call you a rootless family.”

“Well… it’s not wrong. We don’t have deep roots. But we know how to profit from our connections. Unlike some families, we don’t just take noble daughters as concubines—we actually let them run the household.”

The conversation was growing sharper by the second, and Go Cheonseong finally stepped between them.

“What’s wrong with you two? Instead of congratulating your friend on his engagement, you’re at each other’s throats. Taegwon, why are you so particularly on edge about this?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Cheongrok crossed his arms and scoffed. “All I’m saying is that we should help make this a beautiful memory for our friend. If the engagement doesn’t work out, I’ll handle the aftermath—so why are you acting like it’s your problem?”

“……”

Cheongrok slowly lifted his chin, looking down at Kang Taegwon, who had been venting his frustrations onto him all this time.

“Taegwon… I never realized you were such a rigid person. Maybe it’s because you’ve lived your whole life training as a warrior—you seem to lack a bit of flexibility.”

“This isn’t about flexibility! I’m saying we should be careful and think about their future!”

“Enough, both of you. Why are you ruining a good day with this nonsense?” Go Cheonseong sighed, trying to mediate.

Cheongrok’s sharp eyes flicked toward him before he scoffed.

“If you were so against it, you should’ve stopped them earlier. And if you’re really that upset, why don’t you go storm into the bridal chamber and make a scene yourself?”

Cheongrok’s words hit Kang Taegwon like a slap to the back of the head. His gaze instinctively turned toward the room where Lee Seol and Yoon Sung had disappeared.

What could they be doing right now?

Whispering sweet nothings while undoing each other’s otgoreum¹?

If they kissed roughly, Yoon Sung’s plump lips would swell up like cherries. His face would flush red like a camellia blossom. And those round, full cheeks… they’d look so tempting, like they were just asking to be bitten.

“Taegwon! Where are you going?”

Before he even realized it, his foot had taken a step forward, and Go Cheonseong grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

“Taegwon, I understand that you’re worried. But Lee Seol isn’t the type to speak nonsense, and Yoon Sung isn’t someone who carelessly runs his mouth. They’re two people who want each other, a pair of flower-like lovers. Shouldn’t we help them come together?”

“Exactly. Tsk, tsk… Taegwon, you’re acting like this because you’re scared he’ll end up dead on the spot.”

Cheongrok’s annoying remark made Kang Taegwon’s insides twist in frustration.

“Rok, why do you always have to run your mouth like that? Just stop it.”

Go Cheonseong, ever the mediator, clapped both of them on the shoulder. But even then, Kang Taegwon couldn’t suppress the burning anger rising in him and turned away abruptly.

“Seriously, that temper of yours.”

Cheongrok let out a low sigh, then noticed something glinting on Kang Taegwon’s finger as he walked off ahead.

“A half-grown kitten wearing a baekho ring, huh…”

He said it loud enough for Taegwon to hear.

That cocky bastard, strutting around just because he had Lee Clan blood in him. In the end, all he ever did was follow Lee Seol around like a little errand boy.

Taegwon bit back the words swirling in his mouth. Instead, he shoved the gibang door open harshly and stormed out. Even when a gibang servant rushed after him, offering him his coat, he didn’t spare them a glance and just quickened his pace.

When it came to family rank, not even the Cheong Clan could compare.

And that knowledge rotted his insides. Someone like Cheongrok could land a government post just by having a single word whispered in the right ear by the Lee Clan.

Meanwhile, someone like him had to claw his way up just to secure a single military official’s position.

If he married someone from the Lee Clan, his future could change. The Lees only married into the royal family or their extended branches, so if he wanted even a sliver of an opportunity, he had to at least build a personal connection, earn their favor.

Fueled by uncontainable rage, his strides became even rougher. But then, a vision of Lee Seol’s radiant smile flashed in his mind, and he stopped dead in his tracks.

Lee Seol… And the one he chose was Yoon Sung?

Go in there and tear everything apart?

Easy to say! What, was he supposed to hurt Lee Seol’s feelings just like that?

Was he the one meant to ruin that beautiful smile? Was he the one who had to take the lead in that madness?

What a load of bullshit!

Why should he be the one to be hated?

This was all because of Yoon Sung—because he flipped his heart over like turning his palm one day after receiving a marriage proposal!

So that’s how shallow his feelings for me were?

I thought he was soft and innocent. Never did I imagine he was this sly. I even saw that carefully crafted ring he prepared—wasn’t it touching enough that I was considering mentioning him to my father? At the very least, I was willing to show some sincerity!

And yet, after all that, he’s throwing himself into Lee Seol’s arms, making sure I see it?

Saying it was his first time while trying to hold onto me, and now aiming to be Lee Seol’s first?

Taegwon let out a sharp breath, half scoffing, half sighing in disbelief. It was truly absurd.

So now, he’s going to do with Lee Seol what he did with me? He’s going to swallow those red lips and let desire consume him? He’s going to lick that pure white skin sweetly and whisper to him the very same sweet words he once murmured to me?

I couldn’t picture it. The thought of noble, dignified Lee Seol in bed with someone—sharing a passionate night just like the ones we had—was unthinkable.

But the moment my thoughts trailed toward the nights I spent with Yoon Sung, heat surged through my entire body.

Kang Taegwon let out a harsh breath, laced with a curse, his frustration bubbling over. He glanced down at the tightness pressing against the front of his robes and bit down on his lip. No woman had ever made him feel this kind of thrill.

And now, Yoon Sung would be giving that to Lee Seol instead of me?

The mere thought made his insides twist. He could practically see Yoon Sung’s body tainting the untouchable Lee Seol with its lewdness. The image alone made his blood boil, his hands tremble.

“I already molded him to fit me!”

Unable to contain his fury, he lashed out, kicking a tree by the roadside. The loud rustling of leaves shook the air, adding a sharp, eerie edge to the night.

One moment, fire raged inside his chest, and the next, he felt utterly empty. Helplessly swinging between emotions, he stomped his foot against the ground, but it did nothing to settle him. His rough step left a deep indentation in the dirt, dust scattering into the wind.

Suppressing the burning turmoil inside, he stormed ahead with an agitated stride. But by the time he reached the alley leading to his home, exhaustion drained the strength from his steps.

The Kang household stood on the outskirts of town, a traditional tiled-roof house isolated from the rest of the village. Surrounded by ancient trees, it gave off the impression of a fortress—like it was stationed to guard the village, just as the army defended the borders.

That house, unable to settle in the heart of the village, reminded him of his own place in society—always just outside the center of power. And that realization only fueled his anger further.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his emotions, Kang Taegwon stopped in front of the gate and called for a servant in a low voice. Upon hearing his master’s voice, the old servant hurried over and pulled open the large wooden doors.

“Young Master…”

The old servant squinted as soon as he opened the door, flashing an odd signal. His clasped hands subtly pointed in a direction, urging Taegwon to look.

Slowly, he turned his head—and there, he saw his father watching the moon with his third concubine nestled at his side.

“I’ve returned,” he greeted, bowing deeply.

The moment his father, who had been smiling at his concubine, noticed him, his expression stiffened.

Loosening the arm that had been wrapped around the young woman’s waist, he straightened his posture, his voice lowering.

“I thought you said you had a gathering tonight.”

His father’s words carried an implicit reprimand—why have you come back early and disrupted my peace?

Lowering his head slightly, Taegwon replied, “I have training at dawn tomorrow, so I returned early.”

At his son’s polite response, his father gave a brief nod before signaling for the concubine to leave.

Kang Taegwon inwardly sighed as he watched the woman retreat. She was his father’s third concubine, yet only five years older than him.