TM | Chapter 28

Kang Taegwon slowly pulled Yoon Sung into his arms. Yoon Sung couldn’t push him away. He was angry, but he liked it. Even knowing his heart wasn’t with him, he couldn’t reject him. He wanted to indulge in his embrace, which might be the last, even for a moment. But he was engaged to Lee Seol. With difficulty, he opened his mouth.

“I want to be alone.”

Kang Taegwon quietly watched Yoon Sung’s retreating figure. His dazed appearance made him anxious, and he bit his lip. Though he had shaken his heart as planned, his drooping back made his own heart sink.

Bothered by not getting a definite answer, he followed him. Walking about ten steps behind, he stopped when Yoon Sung turned and gave him a look not to follow. As Yoon Sung headed toward the stepping stones leading home, he quickly walked ahead of him and held out his hand.

“I’ll just watch you cross the bridge.”

At his gesture to hold his hand and cross, Yoon Sung silently stared at his hand before passing by. Step by step, he crossed the stepping stones, looking precarious but moving slowly and steadily.

Kang Taegwon walked ahead, watching him until he crossed the stepping stones, and sighed as he disappeared into the village.

“I’m willing to accept him. He should be happy, but why does he look like that? Did someone die!”

In frustration, he kicked a nearby stone.

“I can take care of Lee Seol.”

Muttering to himself as if chewing on his words, Kang Taegwon furrowed his brow at the strange feeling.

It was only natural for Yoon Sung to feel heartache over what he had done, but he couldn’t understand why he felt so uncomfortable.

If he was willing to accept him, he should have bowed his head and stayed in his arms, so why did he leave? Shouldn’t they be discussing how to separate him from Lee Seol?

Was it because the situation was too overwhelming to handle? Taking care of it and protecting him was the role of a husband.

Kang Taegwon nodded lightly and turned around. Planning to buy a ring to get a definite answer next time they met, he headed to the market.

Pulling out the leather cord around his neck, he examined the White Tiger Ring, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He wanted to gift a delicately crafted ring, but there was no time.

He suddenly remembered Cheongrok being curious about the artisan who made such intricate crafts. He was curious too. With such delicate craftsmanship, Yoon Sung’s ring would also be luxurious and stylish. When he married the second daughter of the Jeong family, he planned to gift Yoon Sung a carefully crafted ring. That way, he wouldn’t easily let go of his feelings for him.

As Father said, he would take Yoon Sung as a concubine as soon as he had a child. He wondered what to do if the main wife was jealous, but he thought it would be fine as long as he didn’t take any other concubines. If she was too jealous, he could just send her away.

Finishing his thoughts simply, Kang Taegwon stepped into the market. Walking confidently, he noticed people staring at one spot. Passersby widened their eyes and craned their necks to look at one place. Curious, he turned his gaze in that direction and saw people gathered at a stall. It was a stall selling ornaments. He needed to buy a ring for Yoon Sung, so he headed there.

As Kang Taegwon appeared, people made way, and he glanced at the ornaments outside the stall before shifting his gaze inside.

A man wearing a silk robe of a light color and a bamboo hat with a veil was there. The white, translucent veil draped over his shoulders, creating a mysterious atmosphere just by his presence. Even his small movements while choosing items exuded elegance.

“Isn’t that Lee Seol?”

Before he could think, the words slipped out. There was no time to feel joy or anticipation; as always, he spoke first.

Lee Seol slightly turned his head and lifted the translucent veil with his hand. Though he knew it well, seeing Lee Seol’s dazzling face again felt new. Just revealing his face seemed to brighten the surroundings, spreading a refreshing scent.

“We meet again.”

At his indifferent greeting, Kang Taegwon exhaled. He realized he had been holding his breath while looking at him.

Lee Seol lightly nodded and turned his gaze back to the items he was choosing. The veil fell, covering his face. Even within the translucent veil, his appearance was mysterious.

“Lord, is there something you’re looking for?”

The stall owner’s question brought him back to his senses.

“…Show me some fine rings.”

“Please come this way.”

The stall owner took out a small box from the inner shelf and placed it next to the items Lee Seol was choosing. Standing side by side, Kang Taegwon looked at the rings while his attention was on the hairpins Lee Seol was selecting.

He was excluding ornate patterns and choosing simple yet charming ones.

It was obvious those were for Yoon Sung. The excitement from meeting Lee Seol subsided. As Lee Seol’s fingers brushed over the hairpins, he suddenly paused and looked at him. With long but firm fingers, he slowly lifted the veil. His gaze followed the movement of his hand. He thought his hands were larger than expected, and then Lee Seol’s eyes slowly moved to his neck and chest before suddenly leaning in. The unexpected action made his whole body tense, and he clenched his fists unconsciously.

Lee Seol’s head slowly lowered, lingering on his chest before pulling back.

“The scent… is nice.”

Seeing Lee Seol’s eyes directly, with a gentle smile, made his heart, which had been faintly beating, race. Trying to hide his trembling emotions, his fingertips grew cold, and his face flushed.

“Is… is that so…”

He thought it was a good thing he had washed after training. He had put a musk pouch in his chest to attract Yoon Sung, but it seemed Lee Seol liked it too.

“Sweet.”

Whispering his amused impression, Lee Seol lowered the veil with a slightly cool expression.

At the word sweet… He brought his collar to his nose. Musk wasn’t a sweet scent.

“Did you resolve the misunderstanding with Sung-i?”

At Lee Seol’s sudden question, he turned his gaze to him. Within the veil, he was mysterious and captivating. The fact that he was engaged to Yoon Sung made his insides slowly heat up.

“…Yes.”

His delayed response made Lee Seol smile lightly. He tapped the display case with his finger.

“What do you think? Wouldn’t the cloud pattern be better than the plum blossom pattern?”

At his serious tone, he looked at the hairpins he was choosing. Overall, the small and neat hairpins had rather ornate patterns.

Yoon Sung would prefer a gold hairpin with a round shape and jade decorations on all sides over these patterned ones. He pulled out the gold hairpin pushed to the end and handed it over.

Lee Seol looked at it quietly, then smiled with his eyes half-closed.

“You know the recipient well.”

“…….”

“Thank you. You seem to have a better eye than Rok.”

Though he said that, he didn’t look at the hairpin he chose and picked a silver hairpin with red amber decorations. Handing it to the stall owner, he began wrapping it neatly in hanji paper. Watching him, Lee Seol asked.

“Do you know any skilled artisans?”

“Ah, are you planning to have something made?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… Rather than the Jo family living here, the Baek family elder in the neighboring village is better. It’s a bit expensive, and he picks his work, but his skills are top-notch.”

The stall owner’s whisper, as if sharing a secret, made Lee Seol smile softly. Nodding lightly, the stall owner’s face momentarily turned red. He received the payment Lee Seol handed over with both hands. It seemed like he was receiving something precious with reverence. The stall owner, saying he was short on change, asked him to wait a moment and disappeared through the back door.

Receiving the octagonal box containing the hairpin, Lee Seol opened a hanji box he hadn’t noticed next to the display case. Inside the rectangular hanji box, about shoulder-length, was a pine-colored silk robe. He carefully placed the neatly wrapped octagonal box inside.

A pine-colored robe…

Kang Taegwon thought pine color was something women or children would wear, but he couldn’t stop thinking of Yoon Sung.

Lee Seol, aware of his gaze, smiled silently.

As he lifted the veil of the bamboo hat and made eye contact, a smile unknowingly appeared on his lips.

“Doesn’t it look like a chick?”

“…….”

“I once liked this pine color so much that I had a fine robe made and brought it to Sung-i.”

“Is that so.”

“I saw him swimming in the lake, and I thought it was perfect to try on. When I showed it to him, he said he didn’t like it because it made him look like a child.”

Hearing a story about Yoon Sung he didn’t know, he listened intently. His low, soft voice, speaking at length, sounded dreamy and enchanting.

“So I threw the clothes he had folded on the rock into the water. I thought he’d wear it then, but he refused to the end.”

“Well… The color is a bit too childish-”

“So I tore the clothes he had folded on the rock.”

Interrupting him, Lee Seol continued calmly.

“Even then, he refused to wear it and went in his undergarments.”

“…Is that so? Sung-i is surprisingly-”

“So I threw him into the lake.”

“…….”

“I kept throwing him back in every time he came out of the water, and finally, he wore it.”

Threw him into the lake?

Did he throw Yoon Sung?

Did he throw that delicate person several times?