FIB Ch 4 part 1

PR by neji

In no time, six months had already passed since MoonWon had entered this residence.

Yeori urged her to explain the situation to Heon, but MoonWon would merely smile at the servants’ persecution and ignore it.

Although it felt like nothing would change, things began to gradually transform.

Even though everyone felt that something was different, no one came forward. And it was then that MoonWon called for the servants and the slaves who were in charge of the clothing.

“Mistress, what do you mean?”

“I thought you guys were making so many mistakes because the sleeves and the skirts are too long. I’m sure you were all worried you’d get scolded by me due to the clothes that come back torn a couple times each week, but I’m also heartbroken because the innocent clothing has become unusable.”

The ones who believed they wouldn’t have to deal with any consequences were now faced with the clothing they had intentionally ruined under the guise of a mistake.

Seeing them completely bewildered by the mountain of ruined clothes, MoonWon smiled.

“At first, I wanted to ask you all for a favor, but at the time, I didn’t know how anything worked around here, so it took me some time.”

“M-Mistress.”

“I can reduce the lengths of the sleeves and skirts since I’ve done them myself before. However, mending torn cloth isn’t something I can do, so it seems that I’ll have to ask you to use your talented skills to fix them for me.”

The servants and slaves glanced at the mound of torn pieces of cloth.

They were only ordered by Consort Yu to put the Mistress in her place. They thought she would have thrown away the ruined clothing because they couldn’t be worn again, but MoonWon had kept them all.

“What is it? You can’t do it?”

“Mistress, we will be careful from now on. Just let us speak with Yusun-nim, and then we will…”

They would have to stay up day and night for a whole month in order to return all those clothes to the way they were before. Before MoonWon, Yusun was the one who had been in charge of the inner residence, so if they could just explain it to her in a certain way, they would be able to escape this task.

“Do you need to speak with Yusun? Even though all you have to do is merely mend the ruined clothing?”

“If we had to fix all the clothing, we wouldn’t be able to do any other work. We will only inform Yusun of it and return.”

“You may enter.”

At MoonWon’s call, Yeori promptly opened the door. Yusun entered the room. When the servants saw this, their faces grew pale. Yusun approached MoonWon and bowed.

“Mistress.”

“I apologize for bringing you here.”

“How can I not come at the Mistress’s call?”

Yusun straightened up and gazed at MoonWon as she looked down at the servants.

Last night, MoonWon left Yeori back at the inner residence and visited Yusun’s room. When she arrived, she didn’t ask for Yusun’s help nor did she order her to follow her.

“Yusun, do you work for the Consort? Or do you work for the Master?”

Late at night, despite her shabby clothing, MoonWon gazed at Yusun with defiant eyes.

“She hated this place and left. I do not like seeing that kind of person try to push her way back in as if this is her house.”

Yusun seemed to be daring MoonWon to exercise her authority as the Mistress and try to get rid of her if she didn’t like her answer. MoonWon’s face darkened.

A few moments later, her expression returned to normal, and a bitter smile stretched on her lips.

“A mistress who cannot receive the love of the master can only control the inner residence one other way. With power. If one uses their authority as the Mistress to dominate the inner residence, those inside will quickly follow. I know this because I’ve personally seen it work with my mother. However, this will not happen here.”

“Isn’t it the easiest method? As the current Mistress, I think this is the most appropriate method for you.”

“All those dominated servants fled as soon as the family crumbled. Almost as if they were waiting for it. This method won’t benefit the Master, and it will not benefit me. I don’t have the confidence to go through something like that again.”

After Heon received his government post, many noblewomen secretly approached Yusun and offered her a reward if she introduced them to Heon and followed their orders. 

However, MoonWon was the first person to speak to her with her weakness out in the open.

When Yusun didn’t say anything, MoonWon lowered her head once again.

“I don’t have power, but I’m also not you who served my husband from a young age. I’m only a shell of a mistress who cannot receive love, but I need power. Please help me.”

That night, Yusun did not give an answer to MoonWon’s request. However, instead of staying there and fighting for her way, MoonWon acquiesced and quietly returned to her residence.

Although Yusun had not given her an answer, she had already come to a decision. Heon and Junghwan said that it would be best to just cut them all down in one fell swoop, but Yusun thought differently.

If the opportunity presented itself, it would be wise to make a move. If MoonWon was actually a wicked mistress, then Yusun did not plan on letting it slide.

“It is up to you to get rid of these servants, Mistress. I do not know why they mentioned me, but I will follow your orders.”

“Yusun-nim!”

Having thought that Yusun was the final bastion against the Mistress, a few servants cried out when Yusun cut them off with the sharpness of a knife. However, Yusun’s eyes turned cold as she gazed at them. When MoonWon thanked her, Yusun nodded and turned to the pale servants.

“Didn’t I warn you all to be cautious with your behavior? It wasn’t just once or twice. How could you have ruined that many clothes?”

“Actually, that’s… We’ll explain everything to you!”

“Be quiet. I already know what you’re going to say. You should all be grateful that the Mistress won’t give you a flogging for all you’ve done!”

At Yusun’s roar, the servants lowered their heads in silence. After she was finished, Yusun went outside. As soon as she exited the room, several people entered and placed sewing materials and extra cloth in front of the servants.

After staring at the firmly closed door, the servants turned their eyes to MoonWon. Having said everything she wanted to say, MoonWon was now adjusting the lengths of the sleeves and skirts of her clothes with Yeori. 

MoonWon didn’t give them a chance to make an excuse. The servants staggered and crumbled to the ground.

* * *

“What brings you here, Your Highness Consort Yu?”

Although he looked neat and tidy, JaeHoon seemed a bit disheveled as he gazed at Consort Yu.

He was in that state just because of a woman? Although he was the Emperor’s son, JaeHoon was not qualified.

‘How nice would it have been if Heon had been a son produced between me and His Majesty?’

If that were the case, then she wouldn’t have had to use her head like this in order to secure her future. Heon was indifferent towards women, so his empress nor the empress’s family would have held much power in court. And because he was cold, he would not lose himself in the temptations of the other noble families. 

“You haven’t left your palace all this time, so His Majesty is very worried. He wanted to visit you himself, but he is very busy with national affairs. Therefore, I told him that I’d come and visit you in his stead and let him know how you were doing.”

Hearing Consort Yu speak as if this were a great feat, JaeHoon scoffed.

All he’d seen from his own mother, the late Empress, was her sharp reaction to her inability to receive His Majesty’s affection and her tears. Was this all because of the power that came with the Emperor’s favor?

However, it wasn’t that simple. The Consort Yu that JaeHoon knew was not such an easy woman. 

“You do not have to worry about me. I’m doing fine, so you may leave.”

Although JaeHoon wanted to avoid all the consequences of his decisions, he was still a very selfish man. Of course, JaeHoon would deny this about himself, but Consort Yu believed that her eyes never steered her wrong.

While it would be difficult to persuade Heon by using a woman, this was not the case with JaeHoon.

“It seems that Your Highness is very upset by the postponement of the royal marriage. I better call a doctor and have him prepare a restorative tonic for Your Highness.”

“I’ll take care of my own body, so please return to your palace, Consort Yu. I do not find this situation very comforting.”

“Do you love the previous attendant’s daughter that much, Your Highness?”

JaeHoon, who had been ignoring Consort Yu, suddenly stiffened. After MoonWon had gotten married to Heon, no one had dared to utter her name in front of him.

JaeHoon glared at the smiling Consort Yu and coldly opened his mouth.

“If you had only behaved yourself, things would not have turned out like this, Consort Yu.”

The people who were around them tilted their heads in confusion when they heard JaeHoon’s words. However, having understood the meaning behind these words, Consort Yu lifted an elegant hand to her lips.

“Ohohoho.”

Although she managed to cover her lips, she was unable to hide the soft sound of her laughter. Her chuckle broke the silence. As she continued to laugh, JaeHoon’s face gradually turned fierce. Terrified, the palace servants began to tremble.

“Is this very entertaining for you?”

After laughing for a while longer, Consort Yu looked at JaeHoon with half-lidded eyes.

Consort Yu had abandoned her husband for the Emperor, and in doing so, filled Heon with a burning malice. Because of this, Heon and MoonWon got married. JaeHoon was laying all the blame on Consort Yu.

Didn’t young children hate people in the same way?

“If you don’t have anything more to say, then I will go back. You should return to your residence as well, Consort Yu.”

“That child never completed her first night. I heard that my son won’t even look at her. I’m told that she’s been confined to the inner residence because she is his enemy’s daughter.”

“What are you saying?”

“As you said, Your Highness, I am a woman who abandoned her husband to enter the arms of His Majesty. His Majesty ignored the protests of his attendants and obtained me in such a way.”

“……”

“Additionally, I had a special relationship with the girl’s mother. Having her take on the role of my son’s wife is such a waste. How can I let that lovely child live like that for the rest of her life?”

Hearing Consort Yu’s words, JaeHoon quickly turned around and began to head back. Once JaeHoon, his eunuchs, and the rest of his entourage disappeared, Court Lady Yeo approached the Consort. 

“There are many ears within the Palace, so why did you say that? If His Majesty finds out, you will be in a lot of trouble.”

“His Majesty and I know one thing. The Crown Prince will not move on his own. If His Majesty finds out, he’ll just assume I was joking.”

“Then why…”

“If one joke turns into many, and if the greed one has suppressed deep within their heart can finally see the light of day…”

Court Lady Yeo’s eyes widened. However, Consort Yu didn’t seem to care how the court lady was looking at her and merely picked up her teacup.

She wasn’t sure what had happened inside, but the money she had secretly siphoned out from under Heon’s nose had been decreased by half. She tried to find out what had happened, but her informants told her they could not say and avoided answering her inquiries.

Either way, she didn’t have to ask to know what was going on. She was irritated to discover that MoonWon was one to work quickly.

“You see, when it comes to a man’s heart… There’s no need to struggle to obtain it in one go. You just need to make a tiny crack. A crack so small that even they do not know it exists. And before they know it, it’s a gaping hole. Just like how a small stone can create many ripples once it is thrown into a pond.”

JaeHoon had always obediently done what he was told, but this was the first time he spoke up for something he wanted. And what he wanted was MoonWon. Inevitably, JaeHoon had to let go of her, but he never gave up on her.

Because she knew this, she exposed the Deputy Secretary General’s corruption and blocked the royal marriage.

No matter how indecisive JaeHoon was, he would never give up if the possibility of obtaining what he wanted was right before his eyes.

“A marriage is something that ties a man and a woman together, but it is also something that causes them to grow apart.”

Whether it was JaeHoon, who couldn’t hold his position with his own hands yet was greedy for it, or MoonWon, who insisted on playing the role as the Mistress despite having no power… In the end, they were all obstacles in Consort Yu’s path.

“I should go back and wash up. Let’s go.”

As Consort Yu stood up, Court Lady Yeo grabbed the long hems of her skirts.

It didn’t matter if people called her a whore for abandoning her husband and entering the arms of the Emperor. It didn’t matter if they called her a femme fatale for shaking the foundation of the Emperor’s authority by seducing him with a sway of her skirts.

For a woman who had nothing but her pretty face, there wasn’t much she could do. If she was going to be buried deep within the inner residence with nothing to do, then she might as well continue to listen to the insults and protect her position here.

Consort Yu’s slightly stiffened face gradually softened, and she began to walk with graceful steps.

* * *

Heon watched from afar as the servants diligently moved the purchased items into the residence. 

It was calm, but something had changed. One could feel it under their skin. Since Heon and Junghwan hadn’t been the ones to make a move, in the end, the only one left was the one who was in charge of the inner residence, Yusun. However, Yusun shook her head and claimed she was not the one who had done this.

The sunlight was especially strong today. Sweat was pouring down the foreheads of those who were moving the goods.

The moment Heon turned to call for Junghwan to have the workers take a rest, the door opened and a group of servants entered and placed food in front of the workers.

“The Mistress sent this to you as thanks! Eat this and continue to work hard.”

Heon’s eyes narrowed as he watched the food being brought in.

From what he knew, the money that went into the inner residence was also going to Consort Yu.

He knew things were changing, but he heard that a lot of servants were opposed to the new Mistress.

It seemed that what he heard and what he was seeing were at odds. Additionally, there were a few servants who were with him but belonged to the Consort. However, he wasn’t aware of all of them.

“The linen over there and the things over here are to be sent to the inner residence, so carefully take them there. The Mistress wanted to come here personally to let you know, but I managed to convince her to let me do it instead. Nearly gave me a cold sweat, she did.”

“Of course. We’ll move it to the inner residence right away.”

“How tactless! You should move the Master’s things first before the Mistress’s. Do I really have to say it?! Please be tactful and move the Mistress’s things over when you’re ready.”

As Yeori chatted with the eating workers, Heon’s sharp eye turned to her.

At that moment, Junghwan approached Heon from behind.

“She’s the Mistress’s servant. Her name is Yeori. Yusun says she’s young, but she’s very quick.”

“I heard that everyone else ran away and only one was left.”

“Yusun tried to send more people, but the Mistress rejected her offer.”

Although she promised to live as if she were dead not that long ago, she was now making a ruckus to survive.

However, this change in MoonWon didn’t annoy him. Actually, he liked it. Although she didn’t say much and was very quiet, the MoonWon Heon knew was someone who would properly step forward when she needed to.

Although she was definitely not the wife he had expected to take, he’d rather have someone who opposed the Consort than someone who acted as her eyes and ears.

“Let’s go back.”

The problem wasn’t MoonWon. It was himself. From the moment he realized that she was different from other women, the times he’d catch himself watching her were increasing.

Since he wasn’t called out to war just yet, now was the time to replenish his troops and carefully build a force that could fight against the Consort’s influence. However, instead of doing all this, he continued to waste his time on useless emotions.

“Mm?”

When Heon returned to his bedchamber, he came across a set of beautifully folded clothing and Yusun, who seemed to be on her way out after having tidied up the room. When she saw that Heon had returned, Yusun bowed. She looked at the clothing and spoke.

“The Mistress told me she made some clothing and told me to send them to you. She told me I could get rid of them if the quality wasn’t good enough, but I didn’t see anything wrong with it, so I thought I would prepare it for you to wear tomorrow.”

After Yusun’s explanation, Heon’s eyes turned back to the clothing.

What was there to be happy about in regards to his cold treatment of her? Why would she make him these clothes? Even if she gave these to him, there was no way he’d change his mind.

“The Mistress does not seem to be as bad as you think she is, Master.”

Heon’s eyes turned sharp at Yusun’s words. Although the air around them seemed suffocating, Yusun did not shrink away. Instead, she endured it and stood her ground.

“It hasn’t been long since she’s arrived, and you’re already on her side?”

“Isn’t she better than the Consort who escaped this place because she said she couldn’t live here any longer?”

“Listen here, Yusun! Watch your mouth!”

“She’s switching out the servants who had been blinded by temporary wealth despite knowing it was wrong. And because she does not want to become like her mother, instead of physical punishments, she’s intentionally making them do difficult tasks instead.”

Even when Consort Yu had lived here, Yusun had more bitter remarks to say rather than good ones. Because of this, the Consort had begged the previous Master, Heon’s father, to get rid of Yusun. This incident was well-known to those who lived within the house.

So how could this Yusun be speaking about MoonWon in such friendly terms?

Because of this, as he watched MoonWon gradually spread her presence within the residence as she pleased, Heon’s curiosity was piqued along with a sense of hostility.

For a person who told him that she’d live as if she were dead if he married her, MoonWon had been dazzling all the people around him while he wasn’t looking.

“Take the clothes and leave.”

“Master!”

“What are you doing, Junghwan? Take Yusun and get out.”

At Heon’s brusque command, Junghwan grabbed Yusun. After blocking Junghwan from taking the clothes, Yusun lowered her head and went outside. Left alone in his room, Heon glanced down at the clothes MoonWon had made for him.

He didn’t remember a time when someone had intentionally made clothes for him. His clothes were made by the servants, and that had been enough.

Usually, if a woman presented him with clothes she had made him, he would have assumed she had ulterior motives and ordered his servants to throw it away. However, Heon didn’t order Yusun to throw it away. He told her to take it and leave.

Was she doing this because she wanted to grab his interest?

“I want to walk alone.”

As soon as he walked out of his bedchamber, a group of servants rushed over to him.

After they all left, Heon began to walk towards the inner residence. He had planned on getting rid of the inner residence, the place that held traces of Consort Yu. MoonWon had entered the inner residence due to a marriage he never wanted, but to Heon, it was a place worth less than nothing.

“Mistress, we can do this ourselves! If Yusun-nim or Yeori sees this, it’ll create an uproar!”

“I’m the one who said I wanted to do this, so why would there be an uproar? Hong-ah, can you hand me that one over there?”

The long sleeves and skirts that the Consort had favored had disappeared and were now transformed into something that was easier to move in. The inner residence that had remained the same since the Consort had left it was showing some slight changes.

One of these changes was MoonWon, who had her head wrapped in a towel as she planted an unknown plant outside.

When she finished the one she was working on, MoonWon stretched out her hand. The child next to her diligently handed her another plant. After observing the child, Heon realized that it was the boy he had seen on top of the wall.

Had she put him by her side after that incident?

He thought he was pretty difficult to figure out, but it seemed that MoonWon was a complete mystery.

“Master!”

One of the servants anxiously standing by discovered Heon and let out a cry. As she busily moved her hands, MoonWon turned around when she heard that Heon was here.

Because of her damp forehead as well as the dirt stuck to her hands and skirts, MoonWon seemed very different from what he was used to seeing.

When Heon waved his hand, the surrounding servants left. Hong-ah seemed to hesitate for a bit, but when MoonWon assured him that she was fine with her eyes, he left as well. 

“Didn’t you tell me you’d live as if you were dead?”

When Heon asked her this, MoonWon observed his face. Although she did look a mess, she didn’t look unpleasant.

“You never said I couldn’t plant flowers. And I did all of this within the inner residence, so this isn’t a problem, right?”

He felt this whenever they spoke, but MoonWon had a way of clearly expressing her opinions in a quiet voice. At times, her demeanor reminded him of Consort Yu. But sometimes, it seemed so familiar to him, but not in a way where it resembled his mother.

Heon’s gaze turned to the flowers.

She had planted them well. They were clustered together in a line. They were small now, but when they bloomed, they’d become a lovely sight. However, these flowers would bloom one year and die in the next. So what was the point of putting so much effort into planting flowers?

“Either way, they’ll only bloom once before they die, right?”

“There are some that will turn into trees if you nurture them properly. The more care you give it, the lovelier the bloom. At first, they’re small and weak, but you never know how they’ll turn out.”

Heon had appeared all of a sudden and asked such a brusque question. MoonWon didn’t understand it, but it looked like their positions had reversed. It was usually MoonWon who asked the questions and waited for Heon’s answers.

“It will take some time for the flowers to bloom in the trees, but the smaller flowers will bloom very soon. Of course, they will require some care, but once they’ve bloomed, this place will look a lot better.”

Although she was covered in dirt, there was an unfamiliar liveliness about her. After her family had collapsed, she had lost everything. But right now, she seemed like a woman who had it all.

Although Heon felt like his weaknesses were being exposed whenever he was with MoonWon, instead of avoiding her, he met her head on.

“How did you manage to take control of the servants in the inner residence?”

Usually, Heon wouldn’t have asked a question like this. However, after having seen the bright light shine from within her, he couldn’t help but become curious.

When she heard his question, MoonWon’s eyes widened.

Something strange stirred inside her. The wishes she had abandoned after her marriage slowly began to creep back.

She opened her mouth to tell him exactly what she’d done, but she quickly closed it again. She wanted to gain a little bit more of his interest.

“Why don’t you take a guess?”

“What?”

Even if it meant she’d become the target of his bad temper for only a moment. Or even a sudden urge. Although there was no reason to hide it, she didn’t want to tell him just yet. She didn’t hate the way he was looking at her right now.

Heon’s eyes twitched, but MoonWon merely stared back at him as a smile stretched across her lips.

“Ah!”

While she was looking at Heon, a breeze passed through the bamboo grove, causing them to tremble and make noise. Her eyes went from Heon to the shaking bamboo trees.

Even if she didn’t survive this, she’d do her best. Rather than living in the Imperial Palace where she’d always felt like she didn’t belong, MoonWon wanted to stay here for as long as she could.

“Whenever I hear the shaking bamboo trees, I feel strange.”

“Do you hear the cries of a ghost?”

“Don’t you think it sounds like the laughter of a young child?”

Heon’s shocked eyes stared at MoonWon as she turned her back to him. Unaware of how he was looking at her, MoonWon focused her gaze on the bamboo forest.

“My little sister likes to play hide-and-seek, so I’d often play with her. Even though I knew where she was hiding, I’d pretend I couldn’t find her. Whenever I did that, she’d laugh just like that.”

“I don’t know if you feel the same way, my Lord Husband, but if you listen closely, it might sound different to you.”

Although they’d only met in passing a few times, this woman began to shake the shackles that were firmly wound around his heart. She was a woman who would only enter Heon’s life for a moment before disappearing. Although she was in such a position, she said things to Heon that no one had told him before.

“After my family collapsed, I lived in order to support them. Because of this, it seems that I have forgotten the virtue of ladylike modesty.”

“……”

“I like this place. And it’s a bit difficult, but I feel that living a life with you isn’t so bad. Of course, this may just be my one-sided wish.”

He was a man who was difficult to read. So saying these words wasn’t an easy task.

She wasn’t sure when it had begun.

Just like the slightly changing reality, MoonWon had begun to feel a one-sided desire to live as a proper couple with him.

The wind was merely the wind. When Heon remained silent, MoonWon lowered her eyes first. Although she had said these words so confidently, she didn’t have the guts to meet his eyes.

“I’ll go back first.”

“I received an imperial order to attend a banquet taking place at the Imperial Palace.”

Although it was an imperial order, he had no plans on following it. To Heon, the Palace was a suffocating place.

He didn’t know why he brought this up to MoonWon. When he saw MoonWon turn around to leave, he merely wanted her to turn back and look at him one more time.

“Do you want to go with me?”

The light from within her was almost blinding. He desired this light so much that his heart trembled.

Looking into her wide eyes, Heon stretched out his hand towards her.

* * *

“Are you telling me that everyone who entered today came back out half-dead?”

“They’ve been throwing up all morning, and I heard that half of them are out of their minds. I told them to stop, but they insisted. I just don’t understand them, hmph.”

The women’s hands were as busy as their mouths. Today, the Master and the Mistress were going to leave for the Palace. If there was even a tiny mistake, they’d all get an earful from Yusun. Everyone’s eyes were alert as they looked over the materials so as not to miss any imperfections.

“You reap what you sow, so how can anyone do anything out of fear? I heard that a few maids put rocks in the rice and side dishes. The Mistress claimed that she wasn’t hungry and told them to eat the food instead. They weren’t able to say a squeak in protest and ate it all. I feel like it would’ve been better if they just served her like they did before.”

“But Her Highness the Consort has been so gracious to us! If the Mistress is looking down on Her Highness in this manner, then we should at least be the ones to take her side!”

“But to be completely honest, the Mistress isn’t such a bad person either. Last time, when one of the workers got hurt moving all the luggage, she sent for a doctor and sent them back home with medicine. She told them that they don’t have to come back until they’re all better and even sent them back with money. After that, I heard that she’s been sending them a living wage as they recover at home. I heard the worker won’t stop thanking the Mistress enough.”

When the woman stopped speaking, the rest of them kept their mouths shut. Consort Yu continued to send them gifts as thanks for taking care of the Master, but those gifts came with conditions. They were to report who Heon was meeting with and what they spoke about. However, not MoonWon.

She made them bear the consequences of the mess they made, but she didn’t order them around with a domineering aura or give them intimidating commands. On the contrary, she paid attention to the details that the Consort never cared for and took care of it one by one.

While there were still those who remained loyal to the Consort, there were definitely some who began to favor MoonWon.

“Either way, if you plan on harassing the Mistress, then you need to do it knowing that it’s going to come back to you. If you’re caught by Yusun-nim or Junghwan-nim, you’ll definitely get in trouble.”

“Still, I don’t think Yujin’s mom and dad¹ will change their minds. Didn’t that couple receive tons of money for personally reporting to the Consort? I heard that they beat a servant half to death for daring to ask if they could stop doing this. And…”

“You’re not finished yet?”

The women’s gossiping came to a halt when a frantic servant reprimanded them. The women’s mouths remained shut as their busy hands continued to move. 

* * *

As Yeori watched the two carriages, her expression turned dark.

Heon was the one who had first held out his hand when he asked MoonWon to attend the banquet with him. However, in the end, the result was always the same. One carriage was big enough for the both of them, but two were prepared anyway. Yeori wanted to ask Heon if they had to travel separately like this.

Yeori glanced at MoonWon to see if she was upset with this situation, but she was merely accepting Yusun’s greeting instead. Yeori didn’t want to ask MoonWon how she felt about this if MoonWon herself hadn’t noticed.

However, Hong-ah thought differently as he stood by Yeori’s side.

“Mistress, are you okay?”

“Hong-ah! You!”

MoonWon tilted her head in confusion at Hong-ah’s question. Yeori glanced at Hong-ah, telling him to stop with her eyes, but Hong-ah had already blurted out his thoughts.

“He asked you to go with him, but he’s getting into another carriage.”

When Hong-ah’s unhesitant voice spoke up, Yeori glanced at MoonWon. However, MoonWon remained the same.

After he had held out his hand and asked her to go to the Palace with him, no word nor thought popped into her head. She managed to squeeze out a few words and accept his invitation, but after that, she hurried back to her room as if she were running away.

Just thinking about that time made her heart race. He’d merely held out his hand, but she felt as if she’d caught a glimpse of what was behind the tightly shut door.

“Even if I’m his wife, isn’t it too bold for me to just enter his carriage because I wanted to go with him?”

“Mistress! How can you say that?!”

Distraught by MoonWon’s words, Yeori raised her voice. Hong-ah, who had only asked the question out of curiosity, was bewildered and lowered his head. Only MoonWon seemed to laugh softly at her words. When Hong-ah glanced at her, MoonWon stroked his hair and adjusted her dress.

Although the clothes weren’t as simple as the ones she’d worn before, her skirts and sleeves were not as wide. When MoonWon got into the carriage on her own, Yeori followed in after her.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming in?”

When Hong-ah didn’t follow after them, Yeori pressed him. Despite Yeori’s insistence, Hong-ah continued to hesitate. Then he spoke to MoonWon in a soft voice.

“Can I go with you?”

Knowing why Hong-ah was asking this, MoonWon smiled.

“Is there a reason why you can’t?”

“Not really, but…”

When MoonWon took him under her wing, a lot of the harassment towards him had gone away, but he ended up receiving a lot of the other servants’ envy instead. Yeori was the first servant that had come to serve MoonWon, so she was a given, but Hong-ah had gotten his position by pure chance. 

However, MoonWon kept Hong-ah close just like she did with Yeori and did everything she could for him. His ragged clothes had been exchanged for ones of good quality, and his shaggy hair had become neat and tidy with the help of MoonWon’s hands.

When MoonWon departed for the capital, Hong-ah was going to be left alone, and the harassment would begin again. He had been worried about it, but it wasn’t like he could follow MoonWon as he pleased. 

“It’s alright, so get in.”

At MoonWon’s insistence, Hong-ah entered the carriage, pretending to act as if he were reluctant. Yeori stared at him in disbelief, but MoonWon merely turned her eyes out the window.

Once Heon’s carriage departed, MoonWon’s soon followed.

She gazed at the bamboo forest outside the window before turning her eyes to the calmly sitting Hong-ah.

“Hong-ah, I’ve been thinking about your name.”

“Yes?”

“Rather than a name that means ‘child of Hong’, I think it’d be better for you to be called Hong-yeom. What do you think?”

Hong-ah’s eyes blinked at this unexpected situation. He didn’t say anything. Thinking that she’d hurt his feelings, MoonWon nervously bit her lips.

“I know I can’t just name you as I please, but if ‘Hong-ah’ isn’t the name your parents gave you, I thought it’d be nice. I just thought Hong-yeom had a nice ring to it.”

“……”

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to use it.”

“Why are you doing all this for someone like me?”

If she had ordered him to do it, there wouldn’t have been any choice. Even if he struggled against it, because of the difference in status between them, it wouldn’t have made a difference. And because of his blue eyes, he was worth less than a slave.

“What am I doing?”

“Everything you’ve done for me until now is enough. There’s no need for you to be so concerned about me, Mistress. I will still serve you. You’re doing too much for me.”

Yeori nodded her head. After watching the two of them for a moment, MoonWon smiled.

It might be because she was afraid to relive what had happened in the past. The moment her family collapsed, the only people that were left by her side were Yuhwa and SoYoon.

“I don’t have a lot of people to lean on in here. It seems that I’ve been acting this way because you and Yeori are the ones who make me feel comfortable. If you’re uncomfortable with it, then we can pretend this never happened.”

“No! I like it! Hong-yeom… please call me that.”

Hong-yeom lowered his red face. His blush even reached his ears. Seeing this, MoonWon looked at Yeori and smiled. Seeing MoonWon having so much fun, Yeori shook her head from side to side.

When she saw Yeori’s reaction, MoonWon turned her eyes back out the window.

This was the first outing she was making after having gotten married. She didn’t like the Palace, but if she had a choice between staying locked in or going out, she’d choose the latter. She only hoped that while she was in the capital, she’d be able to see SoYoon while she was there.

Basking in the breeze that brushed against her cheeks, MoonWon let out a trembling breath.

* * *

Once MoonWon arrived at the prepared inn at the capital, she took in a deep breath.

Nothing was new, but for some odd reason, her heart kept racing. SoYoon, YongUn, and Yuhwa didn’t live far from here.

If she could have her way, she would have gone to see them immediately. However, seeing as how Heon’s mood turned darker as they grew closer to the capital, she didn’t have the heart to ask him.

Seeing Heon enter the inn first, MoonWon stood back and watched the people coming in and out. There was a liveliness in the air that was very different from the residence that was hidden away in the middle of a bamboo forest.

“Mistress, we should head inside.”

“Ah! Sorry.”

MoonWon began to follow Yeori inside when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Seeing this, Yeori approached her.

“Mistress, what is the matter?”

“No, it’s nothing…”

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but MoonWon could have sworn that someone was watching her. However, no matter where she looked, she didn’t see anyone looking at her.

Had she been mistaken? The moment she began to turn her head towards the inn across the street, she felt a familiar touch grab her arm.

The rough grasp turned her around, and MoonWon’s eyes widened.

“My Lord Husband, why…?”

“Aren’t you coming inside?”

He seemed angry or as if he were being chased by something. This was the first time she’d seen this expression on him. She wondered why he seemed this way, but she kept the question from leaving her lips. This man didn’t seem to be interested in her at all when they arrived, but he had come to her side without her having realized it. 

“How long are you just going to stand here? Can’t you see that everyone is waiting for you?”

She felt his interest only for a moment. When she heard his sharp voice, she flinched. Feeling that she’d been mistaken about his kindness, MoonWon felt it very difficult to approach Heon.

When would she strike another nerve? Sometimes, she’d feel that she’d gotten a bit closer, but on other days, they’d grow far apart once again. She’d tell herself she was fine, but occasionally, she’d feel powerless. MoonWon lowered her head.

“I’m sorry. I’ll go inside.”

There were too many eyes watching them now. She couldn’t ask him why he was being like this. In the end, MoonWon helplessly entered the inn. 

When MoonWon got out of the carriage, JaeHoon, who had been sitting at an inn across the street, straightened up.

“Your Highness, that is dangerous.”

“Why has she lost so much weight?”

Although all he could see was her back, JaeHoon’s gaze was only focused on her.

He heard that she was enduring life at the bamboo grove without having anyone to lean on. Didn’t they say that Heon had ignored her and skipped over their first night? Maybe for that reason, MoonWon’s shoulders looked a lot smaller from here.

“MoonWon.”

Speaking with a servant next to her, MoonWon was just about to walk inside the inn.

He couldn’t send her away like this. Just as she was about to enter inside, JaeHoon’s eyes pierced through her.

At that moment, MoonWon stopped walking. His heart began to race inside his chest. Even from afar, MoonWon looked as lovely as ever.

She was his only love. Heon had taken her away from him, but he neglected and tormented her.

“I should not have sent you away like that.”

He needed to break the marriage between her and Heon at all costs. Heon didn’t have the right to give MoonWon a hard time like that.

As if she felt his gaze, MoonWon looked around. JaeHoon continued to look at her as if urging her to meet his eyes.

“Look this way.”

Just once. If she met his eyes just once, JaeHoon was going to make his move. From the moment he saw her from on top of the pagoda, MoonWon was the only one for him.

He couldn’t help but let go of her hand, but he did not give up on her.

After looking somewhere else, MoonWon began to turn her head towards him.

And then…

“Ah!”

Heon came in between MoonWon and JaeHoon. Just when MoonWon was about to look at him, her eyes went to another man. Heon said something to her, and her face turned very pale.

Looking like she was about to burst into tears, MoonWon slumped her shoulders and helplessly turned around. Seeing that she looked like she was on the verge of fainting, JaeHoon clenched his fists.

MoonWon was supposed to stay by his side. He didn’t let her marry Heon so that she could receive this kind of treatment. He couldn’t send her away like this.

“Your Highness, we must return to the Palace now.”

“Let me go! I must go and see MoonWon this instant.”

He was going to talk to her. After checking how she felt, he was going to go to Heon and ask him to let her return with him. If she was by his side, he had the confidence to oppose the Emperor and that thorn in his side, Consort Yu. 

After escaping those who tried to stop him, JaeHoon was about to go downstairs when he stopped in his tracks.

“Your Highness?”

The eunuch followed the Crown Prince’s gaze and caught his breath. Heon was staring at JaeHoon.

His gaze caused JaeHoon’s breath to catch as well, but he merely glared back at him.

“Y-Your Highness?”

Witnessing a ferocity that he had never seen in JaeHoon before, the eunuch began to tremble in fear. In this precariously tense situation, the first one to move was Heon.

After lowering his head in JaeHoon’s direction, Heon turned around.

Although it seemed to be a sign of obedience, the meaning behind it was the opposite.

He was telling JaeHoon to stay away from MoonWon. JaeHoon swayed in his spot.

“Your Highness!”

“How dare you! How dare you!”

Like mother, like son! Even though Heon knew how JaeHoon felt about MoonWon, he continued to treat her like that. He recalled the way MoonWon had staggered as she entered the inn.

Right now, rather than the Consort, who only served to be a thorn in his eye, Heon’s existence was a lot more repulsive to him.

“Station people around this place.”

“Your Highness!”

“Find out how Heon treats MoonWon and what is going on in there. Don’t leave anything out and report back to me.”

JaeHoon had thought that Heon would understand how he felt. If it was truly the Heon he knew, he would have treated her well until JaeHoon was ready to go get her.

Heon had broken JaeHoon’s trust.

He was going to find out exactly how MoonWon was being treated in that house.

If her life there wasn’t as easy as JaeHoon had thought, he wasn’t going to let it slide.

Glaring at the inn where MoonWon and Heon had disappeared inside, JaeHoon’s eyes turned red.