Seung seethed inwards, his fingers tightening around the wool fabric of his tunic in a bruising grip. His dark brows snapped over his steely gaze.
He didn't touch the sacred cup.
The pleasant countenance on Lady Ryu's face faltered at her son's expressions.
"Nothing of that sort has transpired, Omoni. My decision on divorce has not changed," Seung said calmly, without letting the roiling fury anywhere near the filial voice he reserved for his mother.
Lady Ryu's tone hardened as she spoke. "I no longer condone that decision. When Choi Jina stayed at her parents' home, I overlooked it. But you are both adults now, and I expect you to behave as such. I am not growing younger. I refuse to be the subject of continued public censure and disgrace."
"We are not new to public censure, Omoni. I do not appreciate being coerced into this, Omoni," he gritted.
"Think what you may, but it's my final decision," Lady Ryu raised her hand in ultimate authority. "I have never compelled you in matters of your heart, and perhaps I have been remiss in my duties as a mother, but I shall correct that now. You will reclaim your bride and fulfil your obligations as a husband. The shaman has been consulted, and today's date is deemed most auspicious by the heavens."
"It's moonless," Seung scoffed. His mother had never been a forceful parent. Unlike other parents, she rarely raised her voice and never once had her hand lifted against her children. When Seung had resolutely declared his intent to divorce, she had accepted it with a quiet grace, seldom voicing her own desires. Seung also knew that she did not particularly like her daughter-in-law, even though none of them could fault her conduct other than she came across as detached and forceful when she wanted something.
The letter weighed heavily in his pocket.
Should this matter remain unresolved, I fear I will be unable to uphold the promise I made to you upon the passing of my late friend, Lord Lee.
What did that mean?
"I wish to rest," Lady Ryu said. "Gil-ae, please assist your sister-in-law for the night. Ensure Shin Su has prepared the Master's chamber properly for the Lord and his lady." Lady Ryu then turned to Seung. "This is not a wish, it's an order."
He was dismissed. Seung knew it was futile to speak tonight. Her voice carried an uncharacteristic resolve, a steeliness that left no doubt about her intent.
Seung stormed out of the chamber, followed by the two women, too furious to speak. He had enough complications in his life without adding another one.
"I-I'll help you get ready, Sister-in-law," Gil-ae offered to Choi Jina, who stood quiet as a mouse at the side.
"Gil-ae, leave us alone," he ordered.
"Yes, Oraboni. Sister-in-law, I will wait for you in your room."
Gil-ae bowed and quickly made herself scarce.
Seung turned to Choi Jina and cut straight to the chase. "What did you tell Omoni to make her behave like this?"
She stepped back. "I only told her you had called me to your chamber at night when I went to her this morning," Choi Jina replied.
Seung loomed over her, his patience worn thin. He was tired of the women in his life playing games with him. "You expect me to believe that?" He asked tightly, "This is not your first time trying to manipulate things behind my back."
"I didn't even tell her about Father or our conversation. Please believe me," she pleaded pitifully.
Frustration, despair and raw anger rushed his blood at the simpering woman before him.
"If I find out that you have been playing your dirty games again, you'll be out of this house so fast that you'll not even have the time to blink," His voice dropped dangerously.
Her eyes widened, and her hand automatically curled at her throat as if she expected the dagger he had threatened with their first night to make an appearance suddenly.
Seung wasn't sure if it was a ploy or if the woman was genuinely fearful, but a wave of nausea rolled through him at the thought of what his mother demanded, and his charity was in short supply right now to use on anyone, including a cowering Choi Jina.
He pivoted and walked away.
"Dari," she called out after him. "Am I truly that repulsive to you?"
Seung didn't answer and kept walking until he entered his chamber, slamming the door shut behind him.
Seung froze at the sight inside his chamber. Moony satin sheets encased his mattress, soft incense filled the room; a wine pitcher and two cups occupied the table. Seung didn't need to ask who was behind the invasion of his usually comfortable chamber.
His servant's welcoming smile died a quick death at Seung's murderous expressions. Seung dismissed him, choosing to disrobe and clean up for the night himself.
A soft knock at his door drew his dark brows over his thunderous eyes.
"Leave. I am not ready!" He barked.
He would never be.
The door slid open, revealing Gil-ae.
"Oraboni, it's just me. May I come in?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Seung let out a heavy breath, his tension easing slightly. He sank onto his bed, watching Gil-ae, her petite, slim form with burdened shoulders and eyes wiser than her years, fold with ease on the floor, her knees supported by a green cushion.
"You're upset with Sister-in-law," she began quietly, her tone cautious. "But it isn't her fault. She was telling the truth."
Seung's brows shot up in surprise, noting the guilt that flickered in her gaze. "You overheard us," he stated, his voice softening slightly with suspicion.
Gil-ae lowered her eyes. "A few ladies of the town came to pay their respects to Omoni in the morning. After those ladies left, Omoni called for Sister-in-law and asked her about your relationship. Sister-in-law told her about your conversation this morning. Omoni decided to take matters into her own hands after that."
"Why are you defending her all of a sudden? She doesn't even treat you well. Don't think I haven't noticed." Seung said gruffly. He didn't see it, but he knew his sister well. Choi Jina and Gil-ae despised each other.
Gil-ae hesitated, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. "Some of it is my fault," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I might have antagonised her on purpose."
Seung quirked a brow, curiosity piqued. "How?"
"I was so angry when His Excellency left her at our house. I have blamed her for all your sufferings for so long that it was easy to take out my ire on her." Gil-ae looked down at her hands, her fingers worrying each other. "When I met Physician Kim, I was so enamoured with her. I saw how happy you were around her, making me even angrier. So, one day, I told Sister-in-law that she was nothing like the girl we met during the marriage. I went so far as to say that Physician Kim reminded me more of that girl than she ever could. Understandably, Sister-in-law was deeply hurt and hasn't spoken to me kindly since."
Seung rubbed his forehead.
"Oraboni, it was never my intention to worsen the rift between you," Gil-ae continued, her voice softening. "Perhaps if I can find it in my heart to be kinder, you could do the same. I know your heart is heavy with distrust and displeasure, and you are in love with Kim Minjae, so it's even harder, but Sister-in-law is your wife, and for better or worse, she is bound to you."
"Gil-ae, don't blame yourself; you have done nothing. I find myself in no position to make decisions that could alter lives forever," he said shortly.
"You must not disrespect Mother's wishes," Gil-ae urged gently. "At the very least, give Sister-in-law a chance. Perhaps try to understand her better. It pains me to see her living in fear of you."
Seung stilled, the weight of her words settling deep within him.
"That is not the kind of man I wish my Oraboni to become," she added, her voice heavy with unspoken concern.
Her words lingered in the air, pressing upon him.
Seung had never raised his hand on a woman, but he had set out to make Choi Jina understand her place, but now he wondered if he had gone too far.
He wasn't sure if he was just thinking of Choi Jina at the moment, because it was Minjae's wounded eyes that were haunting his vision.
This wasn't who he wanted to be—not to her, not to anyone.
His mouth tasted like copper at Gil-ae's words. The anger that had roared within him just moments ago fizzled out, leaving Seung feeling hollow. What was the point of it all? The sight of Choi Jina's trembling form earlier didn't satisfy him—it only highlighted the futility of his rage.
Was this anger truly directed at Choi Jina, or was she simply the nearest target? The answer was unsettling. He wasn't just angry at her—he was angry at the circumstances, his mother's demands, his careening uncontrolled emotions for Minjae, the danger she was in, the impending plumes of war hanging over their head, and the entire situation that seemed to conspire against him. But most of all, he was angry at himself for allowing things to spiral so far out of control.
Seung paused, rubbing his hand wearily across his face. Gil-ae was right; he couldn't dishonour his mother's wishes, and there was a limit to how far he could run from his troubles.
Furthermore, it wasn't Gil-ae's' burden to carry.
"I must attend to some matters. Inform her I will visit her chamber later," Seung said.
Gil-ae hesitated before speaking. "If it pleases you, might she come to your chamber instead?"
She did not trust him to enter Choi Jina's quarters, and he could not fault her for it. He had no desire to go there, either. Besides, his chamber had already been 'prepared' for the night, a fact that was not lost on them. He nodded at his sister gently and gave her a faint smile. "Yes, she may," he replied. "And Gil-ae?"
"Yes, Oraboni?"
"Did Minjae visit Omoni today?"
"Yes, she came right after you left," Gil-ae replied.
Seung nodded. Minjae had timed it so she would not have to meet him. He was barely home, often spending long hours pouring over investigative notes, or looking after the Royal Guard affairs that avoiding him was hardly an issue.
Once Gil-ae left, Seung took his time changing into his nightwear and extinguishing all the lights in his chamber. Perhaps the darkness would dissuade Choi Jina from entering.
But he doubted it.
Perhaps Choi Jina and he could come to an arrangement, one that maintained appearances without further entanglement. He harboured no intention of siring heirs with Choi Jina; that right he reserved for one woman alone - as soon as he figured out a way to get her back and never let go. Irrespective, he also didn't need the constant meddling from his mother or father-in-law.
Seung poured himself a cup of alcohol.
The niggling look of terror in Choi Jina's eyes from morning told him she might not agree to anything less than what she sought - a child. Gil-ae was right; Choi Jina did fear him, but his moods, rather than the person, but she was not afraid of him. However, she was terrified of her father, of that he was certain.
For five years, she had not feared her father, and now, suddenly, she was consumed by dread. His inquisitive mind loathed unresolved mysteries, but this one would have to wait another day.
Or, it might be a good time to find out what made Choi Jina so afraid.
It was quite a while before he heard a movement outside his door. There was a faint knock, which surprised him. Choi Jina had never taken to announcing her entry to his chamber, a small privilege he had allowed her as his wife, though it meant little. She was probably more nervous than he realised.
He cleared his throat and bade enter. Surprisingly, she didn't have any lanterns on her.
"I have extinguished the lights," Seung instructed the feminine figure gruffly. It was perhaps for the good. Some things were best solved in the darkness. "Remain where you are, it's dark."
She froze by the door.
∞
The altercation with Seung the previous week had thrown Minjae into turmoil. She had thrown the gauntlet at him, yet she had spent a sleepless nights drenched in sweat at the prospect of him discovering the truth about her and its aftermath.
Then, there was the problem of her brother being on the island. She now carried a jangot, hoping she would not meet him somewhere accidentally.
Minjae decided to do something about it.
Minjae summoned all her courage to request an audience with Lady Kim I-On. It was highly irregular for a commoner to seek a meeting with someone of her stature, especially at such a late hour. Yet, Minjae had no one else with whom she could speak openly or ask for the favour she needed.
To her relief, the maid promptly escorted her to the elegantly adorned chamber. However, the stern set of Kim I-On's lips was a foreboding sign. "Kim Minjae, I am much vexed with you. It seems you withheld the most crucial information during our last meeting."
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Minjae sank down beside the bed and reached for her medicine bag, gesturing for Kim I-On to lie down.
"What did you learn?" Minjae asked resignedly. In Ganghwa, gossip showed no regard for social rank.
"A few town ladies visited me, quite eager to share news about other town people. Lord Lee Seung appears indifferent to his wife and has developed a fondness for a certain local physician who, I am told, does not return his affections. He apparently has been pursuing this said physician for over a year now. Care to explain?"
Minjae's mouth went dry at the memory of Lord Seung's piercing gaze, and the recollection of his disarming smiles haunted her vision. The tightness in her chest increased as Minjae searched for words.
The gossiping ladies could not be more wrong.
"I am waiting," Kim I-On tapped her finger on the knuckle of her other hand resting on her belly.
Falteringly, Minjae explained her meeting with Seung on the island and his obstinacy at her refusal until he broke down her defences. "Even now, my heart refuses to let go of Lord Lee, though it should. The honourable ladies are mistaken—I've done my best to keep away, but my world has revolved around him despite my better judgment."
Kim I-On grasped her wrist, stilling the hand expertly twirling a needle at a particularly soothing point in her belly. "Why did you not tell him?"
"At first, I was afraid he would not understand," Minjae explained. "He would be angry at what I did to him and his sister, and rightfully so, and I...I was selfish because I didn't want to lose what we already had. But by the time I finally decided to tell him the truth, Father had sent the woman to take my place."
"Now, he would not believe you if you told him, is that it?" Kim I-On asked, her eyes thoughtful.
Minjae nodded. "Part of it is that, but the other part is that I am afraid of how he would react against Father, and put all of us in the direct path of harm."
"His Excellency will not take kindly to being called a fraud by his son-in-law," Kim I-On observed perceptively. "However, you are assuming Lord Lee Seung will put you and others in the path of harm by being reckless. You are questioning his strength of character and intelligence, not to mention the depth of his feelings for you. Do you think Lord Lee came to be where he is at such a young age by being naive?" Kim I-On rebuked.
Minjae flinched at her friend's harsh judgement. "I never assumed anything like that! Don't remark on something you know little about!" She cried, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.
Kim I-On was not impressed. "To me, it looks like that."
'You... you don't understand,' Minjae faltered, her voice softening as guilt began to overshadow her initial defiance. 'I didn't tell you the whole story,' she confessed. Her nerves were raw. Even though it had been more than a week, she was still reeling from her encounter with Seung. The thought of him uncovering their tangled history sent a shiver of dread down her spine, twisting her anticipation into a knot of paralysing fear.
Kim I-On slowly pushed herself up, wincing slightly as she adjusted her swollen body and crossed her arms. "Ah! Don't tell me there is more. Why am I not surprised?"
Minjae's eyes dropped to the needle in her hand, fingers rotating it absently. The cool metal offered little comfort against the confusion in her mind. Despite the soothing rhythm of her movements, the storm inside her mind continued to rage, her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind, wild and uncontainable. The thought of burdening her friend with more of her dark secrets made her stomach churn with guilt.
"It's better if I didn't tell you, Kim I-On. You already know too much, and it could endanger you. I came here to ask for a favour, but I understand if you are upset and refuse me."
Minjae felt rather than see the tension flow out of Kim I-On's body. She laid back down as much as her swollen body allowed her.
"All of us were sheltered and filial, but you were always the most obedient and timid among us," Kim I-On reminisced. "Whenever someone raised their voice or tried to pick a fight, you'd quietly walk away. Others thought you considered yourself above all of us. I was never fooled. You always bent backwards so as not to draw attention to yourself and always be the epitome of grace and nobility. So, would a burn in hand be enough to make you run away from home?" Kim I-On tilted her head, pressing it against the cushion as she looked at Minjae. "I have been thinking to myself - if Minjae wanted to run away, why would she wait for marriage? Even that night when you came, you had nothing—no plans, no money, no clothes—just a vague idea of going to your grandmother's village, which, by morning, both of us knew would not happen. And after your father took you back home, he would have kept you under lock and key. I was too surprised to see you here disguised as someone else after all these years, but I have given it a thought since then. Did you really run away?"
Kim I-On stopped and waited. Minjae kept her eyes downcast, afraid of losing her composure. But she could not keep the break from her voice as she said, "My father didn't replace me to save face. He trained that woman to take my place for five years."
Other than a gasp, Kim I-On was still.
Minjae listlessly tossed the needle aside. "I had the temerity to go against him and try to break the marriage."
"Why were you so adamant about breaking the marriage?" Kim I-On pursed her lips. "My husband told me you owned up to writing an awful letter to Lord Lee that night before running away."
Minjae's breath hitched as she recalled the letter, the frantic scribbles on the parchment with her unhurt hand, and the tears that had blurred her vision.
"You might not have realised," Kim I-On continued, "but you looked the happiest before marriage. There was a spring in your step, you blushed, you smiled," the corners of I-On's mouth lifted at the memory. "Believe me, even your smiles stirred envy among those around you, yet most of us were simply relieved to learn you could speak beyond 'yes' and 'no' and do more than merely incline your head."
Minjae took a shuddering breath. "I was foolish," she murmured, the words cutting deep, like salt in a fresh wound. Her shoulders slumped beneath the crushing burden of guilt, her heart heavy with the harsh reality of the loss that had haunted her relentless days and sleepless nights for years.
"You can tell me," Kim I-On said gently.
Swallowing, Minjae gave her a lean version of the events, leaving out the near-rape, most of the temple and all of Hanyang parts. Even without all of it, the story sounded horrid.
"I need tea," was all Kim I-On said. Her face was white, but when the maids came in with refreshments, all they saw was their elegant mistress being treated by the expertly graceful physician she had developed an affinity for.
Once the maids left, Kim I-On said, "If I were you, I would tell Lord Seung everything even more urgently. You not only assumed he was lacking, but you also thought he would endanger you and would not stand by you in adversity."
Minjae paled. She had been so consumed by fear that she never thought about it from Seung's perspective.
"Lord Lee already knows I am not Kim Minjae, and he is already digging into my past," she flushed as shock lined Kim I-On's oval face, her winged brows touching the roof of her broad forehead.
"And you still haven't told him? I had heard you were a brilliant woman. You are no more than a dimwit, Choi Jina!" Kim I-On exclaimed in frustration.
Minjae clamped her hand on Kim I-On's mouth, looking around to make sure no one had overheard. "Shhh! Someone will hear you!"
Kim I-On mumbled something beneath her hand.
"What?" Minjae asked as she removed the hand.
"Forget someone overhearing. If you don't tell him, I will," I-On threatened.
"You don't understand, Kim I-On. If I confess the truth, what then? What follows?" Minjae exclaimed, her words more a cry of desperation than a question. She covered her face with both her hands. "I have agonised over this for months, Kim I-On. For years, I practised what I would say if I ever met Dari and if he recognised me. It all came to nought when the time came. I have been so afraid."
Kim I-On pried Minjae's hands away from her face and stroked her head gently. "I am so sorry you suffered alone for all these years. But now you are not alone. You have me, and you must trust that there will be others who will support you."
Minjae shook her head, the tears spilling over. "Who would believe someone like me over His Excellency, Chief State Councillor and the country's most powerful man? And even if someone did, would they be able to publicly support my claim? A man who can kill his daughter would not stop at much." She flicked her tears away, her mouth set in an obstinate line.
A silence more heavily pregnant than Kim I-On followed Minjae's words.
Kim I-On inched closer to the table and reached for the teapot. Minjae immediately tried to get to the pot before her. "Let me," she said.
Kim I-On held her wrist. "You have always been higher than me by rank of your birth and marriage. Even now, you should sit where I am while I serve you tea. We both know that, Lady Choi Jina."
Minjae blinked and withdrew her hand.
Slender fingers looped around the delicate celadon handle of the teapot. "When an issue arises in Court, at least fifty ministers and their numerous other officials discuss and try to arrive at a solution," Kim I-On poured the tea into tiny porcelain cups, the stream of transparent water steady and controlled. "You mean to resolve this all by yourself?"
Kim I-On handed her a cup. "You must consider this carefully, My Lady Choi. Going against your father on such a heinous charge will not be easy. I am not naive. There will be fallouts. However, it's only a matter of time before someone uncovers your true identity. Given the circles you move in, it's a wonder you've remained undiscovered thus far. Your transformation, both in name and appearance and our elite arrogance of superiority, may have shielded you. But if the wrong person learns the truth, then the man who tried to kill you once will try it again." Kim I-On sipped her tea. "It's an ugly and scary world, and you are fighting the wrong battle. Don't let others snatch away what is important to you. Tell Lord Lee. Don't get intimidated."
Minjae followed suit, though her fingers trembled. "I don't know where to begin. I've buried it for so long that it feels like there's no right moment or way to tell him."
They sat in silence, each lost in their thoughts.
"Jina?" Kim I-On called her.
Being called by her real name still felt strangely unsettling and deeply moving. Minjae savoured the sound and missed the glint in her friend's eyes.
"Yes?"
"So, has Lord Lee kissed you?" Kim I-On suddenly asked.
Minjae choked, spluttering the tea.
Kim I-On patted her back soothingly, then peered at her.
Minjae averted her eyes, the blooming blush on her face rivalling the red backdrop of the wall hanging across the room.
"That is the best time to tell him," Kim I-On said, smiling. "I speak from experience. Men are much more agreeable to shocking discourses when they are..er...pleasurably engaged."
Minjae accepted the square piece of linen Kim I-On gave her gratefully and coughed the remaining moisture stuck in her windpipe.
"Everything is about timing," Kim I-On said. "Furthermore, who do you want to wake up next to for the rest of your life? The better question is, who do you want next to him?" Kim I-On covered Minjae's hands with her own. "In any case, other than to see my beautiful face, is there a reason you sought me out so late?" Kim I-On jested.
"I need a favour."
Kim I-On raised a questioning brow.
"My brother Choi Se-min is on the island," Minjae said. "And I need him gone before any of this comes to light. I need the Governor's help."
∞
There was no denying the marvel of Kim I-On's advice.
The two friends had talked and exchanged ideas about how they could break the news to Lee Seung. Kim I-On had offered to do it for her, but Minjae had refused. It was her burden to carry, her secret to share. And Minjae could not risk any further danger to Kim I-On or Jo Hee-bong.
An idea was forming in her mind. Minjae's heart raced faster than the Capital Force's horses as it took a definite shape, echoing the crunch of gravel beneath the heavy footfalls of the men carrying her palanquin.
Could she dare to take the risk?
On an impulse, she decided and ordered the palanquin to take her to Seung's house.
The moonless night cast deep shadows around her, the stars adrift and forlorn without their guiding light. The house looked massive and asleep in the dark. The cold rattled her bones.
Minjae waited until the men carrying her palanquin disappeared around the bend of the road.
The fenced wall came up to her chin. The last time she had jumped over a wall, she had been twelve, trying to run away from the gambling house after dropping the debt money her brother owed to a thin, one-eyed man. Minjae went on her top toe and peered into the expansive courtyard frilled with pretty bushes and lush flowers that Gil-ae nurtured with love, though she could hardly differentiate one from the other in the velvety shadows. There was no movement. The guard at the gate was standing in attention, and there was no way she could climb the wall.
There was only one way.
She clenched her fists, feeling the cold sweat on her palms. What if the guard didn't believe her? What if he raised an alarm instead? For her to be successful, she needed to get to Seung's chamber without anyone knowing it.
With a deep breath, she calmed her nervous anticipation. Minjae smoothed her skirts, approached the guard, showed him her identification, and bowed to him respectfully. Perplexed, the guard, in no uncertain terms, told her to return in the morning.
"It's very late at night, and I want nothing more than to sleep. However, I must check on Lady Ryu for tonight's special needle treatment." Minjae was proud of her firm voice.
"No one said anything about you visiting so late in the night. Stay here, then. I will ask my Master," he said.
"Sir, I am a mere physician who needs to visit her patient. You know I am allowed in the house any time I am needed. Are you sure you want to disturb the sleep of the kind Lord and Lady Lee for someone like me? It will take me less than an hour."
The man looked uncertain because Seung, indeed, had given her a free pass in and out of the house. It didn't take Minjae long to ease his misgivings, have him open the gate and enter. Quietly.
Sweat trickled down her back, and she rubbed her hands down her skirts. Nausea roiled.
You not only assumed he was lacking, but you also thought he would endanger you and would not stand by you in adversity.
Minjae closed her eyes as Kim I-On's words rang in her ears. Seung had stood by her. Even when he had been brutally hurt and furious, he had still looked after her and made sure she was not endangered despite such serious allegations that could cost him dearly.
And he accepted her mindless challenge.
She had spent countless nights imagining this moment, rehearsing what she would say and how she would explain the truth. But now, with the moment at hand, doubt gnawed at her resolve. What if he rejected her entirely? The fear of losing him forever paralysed her. But she knew she might never gather enough courage if she didn't act now. Kim I-On's words echoed in her mind: "Don't let others snatch away what is important to you."
Kim I-On was right. Minjae took a deep breath, steeling herself. She couldn't let fear dictate her life any longer. She owed him the truth, no matter the consequences.
Squaring her shoulder, she straightened her posture and ascended the steps with silent grace. Taking off her shoes, she padded barefoot to the chamber door. There was no light seeping from inside. With her knuckles poised to knock, she paused, the fear of waking others up almost buckling her knees. Yet, her upbringing would not permit her to enter unannounced. So she settled for a very soft, barely audible tap.
What if he was deep in sleep?
To her surprise, Seung's voice had a clear ring as he bade her to enter. Minjae found the circular ring handle and swiftly slid it aside. She paused for a moment before stepping inside and closing the door. The racketing of her heart was enough to wake up the entire house, the pitch black of the room pressing in on her. What if he refused to listen? What if her presence only angered him further? What if it was too late?
The silence weighed heavily on her, each second stretching into eternity as she stood there, frozen with fear that he might turn her away.
"I have extinguished the lights," Seung's voice rang out like a boomerang. "Remain where you are, it's dark."
Was he expecting her? A thrill unfurled in her chest. She could barely discern the dark silhouette that rose from the far side of the room and approached her, but there was no mistaking the broad shoulders or the graceful swagger of his movements when he walked like he owned the earth he walked on.
Her feet were rooted, her tongue tied as she tried to summon words to her throat.
Seung came and stood barely two feet away, his hands locked behind his back. The velvet ink outlined his white-clad frame.
The current between them surged like a tangible swirl.
"I-" Seung cleared his throat, sounding - surprised? Of course, he was surprised. Her sudden appearance must have unnerved him.
Seung stepped closer, almost like being pulled by an invisible thread towards her. Involuntarily, Minjae stepped back, the cold of the wall breaching the wool of her bodice.
He rubbed his hand at the nape of his neck and shook his head as if to clear it. "This is a difficult situation, and I fear I continue to disappoint you. I apologise for my earlier behaviour. It's not an excuse, but I was angry. You must know that what you did before you came to me bears no judgement on what I think about you. We all make mistakes. You are a beautiful, desirable woman; it is only natural for any man to desire you. What happened between us was not your fault. Perhaps we could reach an understanding—" he faltered as if searching for the right words.
There was something in his tone, an odd hesitancy, but she was too caught up in the moment to question it. Minjae barely comprehended his words, unsure why he was speaking this way other than to think he was apologising for his appalling treatment of her perhaps. She also understood he desired her. She could sense it in every line of his body.
Words had never been her strength.
Now, with so many to say, she didn't know where to begin. But there was no turning back. She didn't need an 'arrangement' or whatever he was thinking. She needed him. She had come to reclaim her husband.
She was here to claim her identity back.
Men are much more agreeable to shocking discourses when they are pleasurably engaged......Kim I-On had said.
Was she right? Minjae had only one way to find out.
With a deep breath, Minjae closed the distance between them, her movements slow, almost hesitant. Her fingers, still trembling, found their way to the nape of his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her touch. She could feel the slight tension in his muscles, the way his breath caught for just a moment as she drew closer. Minjae's heart leapt into her throat, and she shut her eyes tightly as if, by doing so, she could block out the fear that still gnawed at her.
Then, with a courage born of desperation, she pressed her lips to his. The kiss was tentative, a question rather than a demand, her lips barely grazing his at first, testing, waiting.
Seung froze and stiffened beneath her touch, and for a heartbeat, she feared he would pull away before his arms encircled her, pulling her to him with the desperate hunger of a starving beast.