Their wounds were healing well. Minjae explained the exact doses and durations for the medications to the young men, who gazed at her with both reverence and fascination.

Minjae checked the sutures on a brown-haired, handsome young soldier whose shin had splintered from a fall two weeks ago. Satisfied that it was healing well, she returned to the physician's chamber.

It had been a busy morning. A freak accident the previous week during the construction of a platform had filled the hospital beds with more men than the physicians on the army hospital premises could handle. Minjae and her father had been called in to help. Minjae has sutured dozens of young soldiers. Flu had admitted even more from the garrison, overwhelming the already full hospital.

Minjae dropped her tools into the pot of boiling water and packed the already sterilised ones. The clapping of horses' hooves drew her attention to the window, covered with a decorated hanji curtain. More patients. She sighed, frowning unseeingly at water bubbles swimming around her tools.

Before leaving the hospital premises, she needed to check with the pharmacist for the hospital's supply to be restocked. The army hospital had been woefully understaffed, requiring local men and women to fill in the spots, many of whom were undertrained. She was scheduled for a suturing training class later in the afternoon, barely leaving her any time to make rounds of her patients in the village before it became too dark for her to do so.

There was so much to do, yet she stumbled through the morning, trying to keep up with the appearance of doing her job by rote. Her mind was swamped with thoughts of Seung, and her senses were overwhelmed with the realisation of how big a step she had taken out of sheer weakness for a man who had overtaken her heart and soul.

And how dangerous it could all become.

What had she done! She must have been crazy to even think of it.

Yet, she could not contain the thrill of finally accepting her feelings for Seung out loud.

Minjae suddenly realised Im Ji Won was speaking to her. She looked at her askance.

"Do you think the flu is dangerous, Unnie?" Im Ji Won asked while winding a string around the scrunched-up neck of a tiny medicinal pouch, eyeing Minjae quizzically.

"So far, we have not lost anyone, so I am hoping it's a mild one, like the ones we often get when the weather changes," Minjae replied quickly.

"Oh, I remember," Im Ji Won said. "The messenger came from the northern pharmacy. They have sent a list of herbs they need immediately."

Minjade nodded absently. The herbal leaves Minjae grew in the patch of land behind her house were maturing fast. In the early morning, the leaves held a high concentration of essential oils before the sun released them into the air. She had harvested most of the herbs the previous week before leaving for lessons with Seung, but she still had more to prune before they flowered. She would need to dry the ones already harvested and then steam some of them to extract the essential oil.

"Unnie, I have prepared the poultices. Whom should I give them to?" Im Hi Won broke her reverie, neatly lining up the medicine pouches in a small tray.

"To Physician Jang On. He is in the surgery room with the soldier brought in from the mountains yesterday night," Minja replied.

Im-Ji-Won paused. "Unnie, you seem distracted today," she observed.

With a start, Minjae realised the water had reduced to half, and her tools were overheated. She quickly dipped the tongs to remove them from the pot on the small wooden stove, her cheeks as hot as the boiling water.

"Where is Nam Dami? Did she come back from the mountains?" Keeping her eyes peeled on the tools, Minjae nonchalantly asked with her back to Im Ji Won, attempting to distract her attention.

"I don't know, I have not seen her," Im Ji Won responded.

Minjae nodded. "I have prepared several boxes already. Go to the apothecary, check which ones are on the list, get the runners ready and drop them off tomorrow morning. Tell the pharmacy I will send the rest as soon as we have the supply."

"Yes, Unnie," Im Ji Won replied from behind her.

Minjae felt the air in the room change before she heard Im Ji Won gasp. She turned and found Lee Seung standing in the doorway, splendid in his red and yellow official uniform, his majestic plumed hat adding several inches to his impressive height.

Talk of the devil...

Their eyes met, and Seung's softened for a moment.

"Physician Kim, it's been a long time since we met," he lied bald-faced, the corners of his mouth suggesting an almost indiscernible smile.

Her heart jumped, and her already warm cheeks became brick red. She gave Seung a quick courtesy greeting. Im Ji Won gave Minjae a mischievous roll of her eyes before escaping with, "I will leave first."

The chamber was fairly large, the spatial space broken by several tables holding a plethora of medicinal bags, boxes, tools, and other supplies. Fragrant pouches hung overhead, and herbal plants grew on a table by the window.

Walking over to a long table with different kinds of leaves drying in rectangular boxes lined with white cloth, Seung picked a dry leaf, rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger and sniffed it.

"This does not smell too good. I thought most of the herbs were pleasurable to smell," he observed.

"These are medicinal herbs. They are supposed to cure you, not please you," Minjae said breathlessly.

He walked over to her dangerously close, leaned in and inhaled. "There is a particular scent around you that I have never smelled before on anyone else. I find it infinitely pleasing," he said softly.

Minjae threw a panicked glance at the doorway. "What are you doing here?" She stepped back two paces. Seung followed, shadowing her steps.

Seung bent toward her, his long upper body effortlessly helping his face reach the side of her neck. The exquisite scent that always clung to him assailed her senses.

"Even in this room that's overloaded with so many different scents, it's the one coming from you that makes me dizzy with delight," he said huskily, his hot breath caressing her ear, sending shards of heat shooting through her veins. His hands were locked behind his back, but the way her body reacted, one would think he was touching her all over.

A tremor of need washed over her. His body emanated heat with such ferocity that she felt singed. With legs that were suddenly soggy, she turned to create distance between them. Seung caught her arm and pulled her to face him, holding her lightly against his body, the tips of his long fingers imprinting her waist.

"Dari, someone will see us! People will gossip."

"So let them. What do you fear? I am yours, and you are mine," Seung replied, running a soft finger across the rim of her forehead, causing feathers to rise on her skin.

"It's not proper, and you know it," she complained, though she made no effort to move away.

"I can't stay away from you, Minjae. Will you see the sunset with me on the cliff today?" He asked, his face close. Too close.

"I cannot," she whispered, aware of his eyes fixed on her lips, "I have too many-" footsteps interrupted her sentence, and they sprang apart like thieves caught stealing. Using his long legs, Seung jumped behind a table while Minjae bent over her toolbox, her heart galloping noisily like the hooves of fifty horses beating down a rocky path.

Two young nurses entered the chamber, their eyes widening. "Commander Lee!" They stuttered and bowed, and their young faces flushed in admiration and puppy crush.

Seung cleared his throat and returned their greeting with a smile. Minjae felt a pang of jealousy lace through her. She hid her face in her box, meticulously arranging her tools.

"Madam Kim, Physician Jang On has asked for you," one of the nurses remembered why they had come.

Minjae made an unintelligible sound of assent.

"Physician Kim, you were saying something about giving me a tour of the facility?" Seung asked casually.

"Yes," Minjae managed to get the word out without stammering.

And that is how Minjae and Physician Jang On ended up taking Seung around the wards, giving him updates on every soldier admitted to the hospital while his attendants furiously took notes. Seung was now on an official tour and maintained a very professional front. Minjae kept her eyes glued to the floor or her patients, letting Physician Jang On do most of the talking.

"Do you think the flu might spread further?" Seung asked with concern.

"It's seasonal and seems local so far," Physician Jang On replied.

Flu and pox were the two most feared diseases for the army. Considering the possibility that the island was a refuge for the royal family, it would be essential to keep it tightly regulated in the coming months.

"What do you think, Physician Kim? You are more in touch with the local population," Seung asked.

"I concur with Physician Jang On, sir," Minjae replied. "However, we might need to watch out for people leaving the island and travelling to the mainland so it does not spread there. People coming into the island also have to be protected."

Seung nodded. A few Yangban families were scheduled to move in the following month. There were two reported pregnant women. Seung hoped it would subside by then.

They came to a corridor leading to an open hall on the right and a series of small storage rooms on the left. As they all turned towards the entrance, the area narrowed, constricting the gap between her and Seung. Before she realised what he was up to, Seung playfully squeezed her hand, running a thumb against her palm sensuously before striding ahead.

Minjae gaped after him, rooted at the spot. The flood of sensations radiating from her palm to her ears curled her toes. In embarrassment, she looked around to see if anyone was watching.

Seung then looked back and addressed her, "Physician Kim, you seem distracted today."

The twinkle in his eyes told her he had overheard Im Ji Won. Three pairs of eyes looked back at her quizzically. Minjae fought for composure and eyed him snippily.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"I apologise, Commander Lee if I come across as such, but I assure you I am not. I do not think you know me enough, and we do not share a closeness for you to know differently," she raised her chin.

Pure mischief crossed his handsome face, and his eyes narrowed amusingly at her challenge.

Don't we? A raised eyebrow teased her. Loudly, he said, "Undoubtedly, it's my moment to express regret at my presumptions."

"If you could be kind enough to excuse me, I have to check some supplies," she bowed.

"Sure, please go ahead. I look forward to seeing you at the inn later tonight."

Minjae's eyes glinted like marbles at the blatant display of familiarity in public. As fiery colour rose to her face, she turned around, her shoulders squared, her spine stiff.

Suddenly, she turned. "Pachouli. The herb you were curious about," she returned.

A fleck of surprise flashed in his eyes, and Seung smiled at her retreating back.

*

That afternoon, Kim Da Bom wasn't pleased with Minjae.

"Can you stop daydreaming and pay attention?"

Minjae hardly heard. Her head felt light; her calves trembled, and her knees felt mush. She worried her lips with her teeth, her restless eyes darting to every man entering the tavern.

The crowd, as usual, got on her nerves. Why could she never prevent herself from morphing into this caricature of nerves when faced with an emotional overload? She was not a shy village maiden. For heaven's sake, she was the island's physician! She had to do better.

Yet all she could think of was the sensations Seung had created with a simple touch of his fingers, and her body thrummed at the memory.

A tall figure entered the inn, and her head jerked up, as did her hand stirring the broth. It was someone else. A disappointed sigh escaped her. The soup splattered its objection at being disturbed by the unstable ladle. Minjae picked up a rag to wipe off the droplets. Dismayed, she looked down at her beige apron, now dotted with wet spots. For someone who always prided herself on being well groomed, she was looking a mess.

Im Ji Won came to her side and took the ladle from her hand. "Are you all right, Unnie Minjae?"

Minjae nodded at her friend with a grateful smile.

Kim Da Bom watched her for a few minutes and then barked, "Im Ji Won!"

The young girl looked up from pouring broth into bowls. "Yes, Unnie Dabom?"

"Handle the inn for a few minutes." Grabbing Minjae by the arm, Kim Da Bom dragged her away into the resting chamber at the back of the inn.

With her hands on her waist, Kim Da Bom wasted no time. "I will not have you mix up orders again. Either say yes to him or forget the man. Stop making yourself and everyone else miserable."

Minjae wrung her hands for a few minutes and then said, "I n-need some help," she said.

Kim Da Bom took a fresh apron from a shelf and tossed it at Minjae, then watched as the younger woman fumbled gracefully to untie the one she was wearing and replace it with the new one.

Her lips compressed in a straight line, Kim Da-Bom crossed her arms and looked at Minjae impatiently. "Obviously, this can't wait for the night, so get it off your chest."

"Commander Lee proposed today -"

"He has been proposing to you since day one. So what's new?" Kim Da Bom poured some tea into a cup. Slapping it on a saucer, she shoved it at Minjae, who accepted it gratefully with a bow.

"No, I mean he really proposed. He said he wants to live with me and make a family with me."

Kim Da Bom lifted a cup of tea to her lips. "And you need help to say no to him?" Impatience and sarcasm laced her voice.

"I said yes," Minjae mumbled.

"You said—what?" Kim Da Bom erupted and choked, the liquid in her mouth spurting out in a projectile, rendering Minjae's new apron as soiled as the previous one.

Minjae patted Kim Da Bom's back and fetched some water in a bowl.

It was a few minutes before Kim Da Bom noticed her handiwork on Minjay's clothes. Appalled, Da Bom tried to paw away the wet spots.

"Leave it be," Minjae said resignedly.

"Hold on a minute....did you really?" Kim Da Bom asked, shaking her head in astonishment. She set the bowl aside and took out yet another fresh apron.

Unable to look her sister in the eye, Minjae busied herself for the next few minutes changing.

"Minjae, look at me," Da-Bom said, grasping her shoulder and facing her.

"Yes. I accepted Commander Lee's proposal. He will speak to Father. I must have been crazy."

"I am surprised it took you this long. I knew it when you started cooking for him," KimDa Bom laughed with an 'I told you so' look.

"I wasn't cooking for him!" Minjae protested.

"Right. Remind me, when was the last time you ate lotus root?"

Crossing her arms in vexation, Minjae said, "It was a mainland dish I wanted to try." But then she caught her sister's sceptical look and could not help but smile.

And both burst out laughing.

Kim Da Bom tenderly wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gently squeezed it. "You have made me very happy, Minjae, and Abuji will be happy too," she said.

Minjae caught her lip in a painful bite. "I don't think it was the right thing to do. We can never have a future."

"Do not be silly. It's all right; do not be scared. It will work out. This is Ganghwa. No one will judge you here."

Minjae looked at the dregs of her tea, recalling the number of times Kim Da Bom had encouraged her to listen to her heart. She drained her tea in a gulp and set the empty cup aside.

"I am afraid," Minjae said.

"You are safe now," Kim Da Bom said kindly.

"He does not know much about my life..."

"Is it even important anymore, Minjae? You are safe now and must look ahead. Free yourself. You are doing nothing wrong."

Minjae rubbed her palm absentmindedly on her arm.

"But that's not what's worrying you right now, is it?" Kim Da Bom peered into Minjae's face.

"Well, yes and no. It's awkward. The thing is, he knows I was married for fifteen years."

"So?"

"So, well, you know -" Minjae turned beetroot red.

"Minjae, what is it?"

"Unnie, you - you have to tell me how to kiss like an experienced woman," the words tumbled out of Minjae's mouth in a torrent, and then she turned purple in embarrassment.

Kim Da Bom looked like she had seen a flying pig. "Minjae, are you joking? How am I supposed to do that?"

Minjae covered her face with her hands. "I don't know what to do!"

"Did Commander Lee try to kiss you?"

"Y-No, b-but I know he will."

Kim Da Bom started laughing. "Kim Minjae, you are the strangest person I have ever known. Of all the things to worry about in this world..."

"You don't understand! Commander Lee thinks I am an experienced woman!" Minjae was so frustrated she stamped her foot.

"Relax, little sister," Kim Da Bom wisely advised. "Experience does not always mean you are good at something. Kissing should be the least of your worries. Maybe he would not know the difference either."

Minjae thought of Han So Ye, and her face fell. He would know the difference all right, but she could hardly say it to her sister.

"What if he does? What if he...he figures out..." Minjae felt ill at the thought. Even Kim Da Bom didn't know the depth of her perils.

"Stop it, Minjae. I have never known a man who was displeased because the woman he courted was inexperienced, especially if he hoped to make her his partner. There are things you cannot work around. And trust me, it's not the end of the world. Now, can we go back to the inn? It's a busy evening, and it's not like you can do anything about it right now."

Minjae clutched Kim Da Bom's sleeves. "I am nervous."

"Look, one thing I can tell you. Experienced women are never shy."

Kim Da Bom didn't wait for her to respond. She exited the chamber, still shaking her head at the ridiculousness of their conversation, followed by a very unhappy Minjae.

Back at the inn, Minjae tried to keep herself occupied, but nothing seemed to help. The butterflies in her stomach refused to settle down. Did she happen to grow a garden inside?

So when Seung entered, her heart dropped, as did the tray she held. Kim Da Bom scowled at her, and she scowled right back. Im Ji Won rushed to her side. "Are you all right, Unnie?"

Minjae mumbled something in reply. Two younger helpers joined them to clean the mess Minjae had created. Kim Da Bom plastered a smile on her lips and greeted Seung, who was accompanied by a loud Wang Jung and the sombre Sargeant.

Minjae took a deep breath and tried to calm her jittery nerves. She stole a look at Seung, her breath catching in her throat. He looked so handsome in a blue and grey hanbok, his gnat angled just right, adding to his height. She felt shy, and yet a desire to throw caution in the air and run to his arms ran through her blood.

The young girl Kim Da Bom had hired last week was looking at her quizzically. "Commander Lee is handsome, isn't he?" the girl sighed.

Embarrassed at being caught ogling, Minjae gave a tight smile and fetched a fresh serving of the tray she had dropped.

Determined not to look at Seung, she gave herself a hard mental shake and went opposite where they sat.

To her delight, she found herself face to face with the handsome Captain Park Hyun Ki, who had just entered the inn. Her heart warmed at the sight of the man. Captain Park was one of her favourite people on earth, and she was genuinely happy to see him. Glad to have something to divert her attention from Seung, she greeted the Captain a little more effusively than she meant, "Captain Park! You are back. How good it is to see you."

Captain Park's almond eyes flickered with surprise. His charismatic, sharp-featured face broke into a smile. "I didn't realise you would notice my absence this much, Physician Kim."

Belatedly, she realised this uncharacteristic greeting was not a very good idea. The villagers had been speculating about her relationship with Captain Park for two years, and she might have given the impression that she was welcoming her lover home.

She could feel Seung's eyes boring into her back. Could she do nothing right today? She gave Captain Park an uncertain nod before making her escape.

Across the inn, Seung kept his attention on the two men sitting with him, pretending to be interested in their conversation, even though his eyes kept straying to where Minjae was, who had so far ignored him to a point as if he didn't exist. At first, he did not feel as bothered because she had perfected ignoring everyone, including him on all his previous visits, without being insulting, into an art. Still, after the way she had melted into him in the morning, her disregard rankled.

So when he saw Minjae bow and greet the tall, well-built man who had entered the inn before them so warmly, his teeth gnashed, an unpleasant jolt of jealousy fraying his nerves.

Irate, Seung slammed the cup he was holding in his hand. "What's with this ale? It tastes terrible." Im Ji Won, who was placing bowls of soybean meat soup at their table, jumped. "Do you have anything else you can replace this with?" Seung asked irritably.

"Yes, of course, Dari, we have another wine to offer this evening," Im Ji Won hurried away in fright.

Unaware of the undercurrent across the inn, a frazzled Im Ji Won handed Minjae a tray with a blackberry wine jar and fresh tumblers and, pointing in Seung's direction, pleaded, "Can you please replace the ginger wine tumblers on Commander Lee's table?"

Minjae looked at the tray in horror. Blackberry wine was a known aphrodisiac for men.

Reluctantly, Minjae shuffled to the table where Seung sat, her cheeks peeling off with heat. Summoning her best stoic expression, she directed her practised 'look through' gaze at all three men before exchanging their tumblers and gracefully replacing the ginger wine jar with the blackberry one.

"Physician Kim, it's a pleasure to see you. Have you been well?" Seung asked conversationally. Despite her resolve to avoid his gaze, she ended up meeting his eyes inadvertently. He returned her gaze, his narrowed eyes silently questioning, their possessiveness unmistakable. Just as she feared, her interaction with the Captain had not escaped his notice, and her colour rose to the roots of her hair.

She dropped her eyes. Determined to keep her pretence, she gave the men an exaggerated bow and turned away, only to be blocked by Seung's massive frame.

"You reserve your greetings only for special people, Physician Kim?"

He lifted a quizzical brow, the corner of his mouth lifted in a sardonic smile. He lifted a wine-filled tumbler from her tray and replaced it with an empty one. "You forgot to replace mine," he remarked loudly, then dropped his voice to a low growl. "Or is it just me you do not want to feed this aphrodisiac to?"

Minjae raised her furious eyes at him, painfully aware of all the eyes trained on them.

"I warned you," she hissed, lowering her eyes to direct them at the strong column of his throat.

His large apple moved ever so delicately, betraying his emotions more than words could.

"Minjae -" he whispered so only she could hear.

A shadow intervened.

"You must be the famed Commander Lee. I am Park Hyun Ki, the Naval fleet Captain of the Yellow Sea. Please accept my humble greetings," Captain Park bowed his respects to the younger man and then spoiled the effect by edging himself protectively between Minjae and Seung.

Both men measured each other. A muscle ticked in Seung's jaw as he returned Captain Park's icy stare.

"Commander Lee, I think we should finish the food.." Wang Jung piped in from somewhere behind her.

Minjae could scream. "Please excuse me, Commander Lee, Captain Park," she said as politely as she could, extricating herself from the sticky situation for which she could kill Seung.

She turned to head to the back of the kitchen, only to see Cha Moon-Sik walk in.

Minjae groaned. The chatter around them had intensified, with curious eyes now fixated on her and all three alleged suitors, their expressions openly speculative.

Out of nowhere, Nam Dami appeared. "Why do you not go and rest, Unnie? I will take care of the tables."

Minjae fled.