Though Ryang's recovery was slow, life around him resumed its usual rhythm. Despite his recent awakening, the household continued its daily routine, mornings transitioning into evenings with a familiar cadence. The bustle of activity remained unchanged, save for the absence of Dara, who had diligently assisted the siblings in their duties, her presence now a void in the familiar flow.
Seon, discreetly seeking a replacement for Dara, dispatched U'nso to Princess Kyeong'ui with news of Ryang's recovery. Despite her earlier concern, evident in her decision to leave her own physician behind, Kyeong'ui's response was muted. While Ryang's recovery was a relief, the household was in disarray due to Dara's actions. Kyeong'ui's absence, though understandable, was a blessing in disguise.
News of Ryang's condition needed to be relayed to Wicheong Palace with haste, but Ryang remained undecided on Dara's fate. Sobi, aware of Wicheong's concern, repeatedly inquired about the delay. Seon could offer no clear answers, her evasions doing little to quell Sobi's growing impatience.
Seon stepped into the quiet room, her weary footsteps echoing in the stillness. A single candle flickered on the table, casting a soft glow across the space. Despite her relatively light workload, fatigue weighed heavily upon her. Is it anger at my brother's stubborn refusal to abandon a lost cause? Pity for his misguided loyalty? Or perhaps anxiety that Dara's sacrifice hasn't yet yielded the desired outcome?
Turning to hang up her robe, she was startled by a figure emerging from the shadows. A gasp escaped her lips, but before she could scream, Ryucheon swiftly moved to cover her mouth. Once she calmed, he released her, a playful grin spreading across his face. Seon shoved him back, her fist connecting with his chest.
"You scared me!" she exclaimed. "Are you mad? How dare you enter here without my permission?"
"Well," Ryucheon replied with a casual shrug, "You know my job. Old habits die hard."
Seon glared at him, her irritation growing. "Traveler, you said," she muttered. "What's your business here?"
"Guess my business," Ryucheon invited, leaning closer, his gaze sweeping over her face with unabashed interest. Seon took a step back as his eyes settled on her lips. She stated firmly, "I owe you no debt to be repaid in this manner."
"Even if I felt nothing for you, Lady Myeonghyeon," Ryucheon replied smoothly, "I'd still have saved your brother. He's valuable to me. My actions weren't motivated by any expectation of crude repayment."
Seon's eyes narrowed with suspicion. Ryucheon, feigning a sigh of surrender, added, "Though I confess, I did hope you might look upon me more favorably."
Ryucheon stepped closer as Seon retreated, their bodies nearly touching. Ryang's warning to maintain distance echoed faintly in Seon's mind, but she made no move to push Ryucheon away. He gently lifted her chin, his face close to hers, his voice a low murmur against her ear.
"I longed for you during my journey."
"Where's your famed eloquence?" Seon teased. "Such a clumsy attempt at flattery."
"Perhaps I become a fool in your presence," Ryucheon confessed with a playful grin. "Am I still unwelcome?"
Seon's lips remained tightly pressed. Ryucheon continued softly.
"If my presence displeases you, then by all means, show me the door."
"My brother is here," Seon countered.
"I've confirmed he's asleep," Ryucheon replied, his eagerness evident.
Seon glared at him. "Asleep, or drugged? Be precise."
"Even at my most impatient," Ryucheon retorted, feigning offense, "I wouldn't resort to such underhanded tactics, especially against someone still recovering."
Amused by the words of the man who'd stealthily entered her chambers, Seon let out a soft laugh. Seizing the moment, Ryucheon leaned in and captured her lips with his. Though Ryucheon's kiss was as skillful and practiced as before, Seon found herself unable to focus. How has he managed to scale the walls of the rear garden, check on my sleeping brother, and then infiltrate my chambers? If Ryucheon harbored ill intentions, both she and her brother would be as good as dead. He was a guest who made her uneasy. Seon pulled away from the kiss, pushing against his chest. Her breathless question hung in the air.
"How can I trust someone who could kill us at any moment?"
"You can't." His warm breath caressed her cheek as he spoke. Ryucheon's advances were as bold and dangerous as ever. The only thing Seon could trust in his soft gaze was his desire. Ryucheon pressed his advantage, sensing her vulnerability.
"Don't beat around the bush. Just tell me to leave, and I will." His voice, a tempting challenge, echoed in her ears.
Seon laughed, a hollow sound that betrayed her surrender. "I have no escape."
Seon's arms snaked around Ryucheon's neck, pulling him closer. With a flick of his fingers, he extinguished the candle, plunging the room into darkness. Their bodies intertwined on the table, their movements urgent, desperate. Soon, they tumbled onto the bed, their passion igniting the cool sheets. Ryucheon's lips and tongue worked their magic, his skill rivaling his eloquence. Seon bit back moans, her jaw aching with the effort.
He took his time, drawing out the pleasure, testing her limits. But unlike their first encounter, Seon didn't rush, didn't plead. She met his every advance with equal fervor, her desire a mirror to his own. Doubt and passion warred within her, a tempest of emotions that fueled the fire between them. With each breath against his ear, each sigh that escaped her lips, Ryucheon's movements grew more confident, more possessive. A deep ache pulsed within Seon, pulling her closer to the edge.
She wanted to strip away his composure, his practiced ease, and see the wildness in his eyes. But even as his sweat mingled with hers, his gaze remained clear, focused, devoid of the madness she craved.
Ryucheon lay sprawled on the sweat-dampened sheets, his arm, now cool and dry, cradling Seon's head. She rested against him, her voice quiet.
"You have a family in Gahng'ahn, don't you?"
Ryucheon's brow furrowed. "Is that truly relevant now?"
"Answer me."
"What makes you so certain?"
"Those with families... they have a certain air about them."
A heavy silence fell between them. Seon, sensing his reluctance, abandoned her pursuit of an answer. As she turned away, seeking sleep, Ryucheon's voice, dry and brittle, broke the quiet.
"I did. A beloved wife and a daughter who bore my name."
Following his brief reply, a heavy silence settled over the room. Seon, her heart aching with a newfound understanding, couldn't bring herself to press further. Despite the intimacy they had shared, Ryucheon's past remained a mystery. Is this latest revelation a truth or another carefully crafted deception? Seon turned away, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.
"When you returned a few days ago," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper, "it felt like a salvation from Sahngjon."
"I act on my own volition," Ryucheon countered.
"Such arrogance," Seon scoffed.
Their conversation ended, the silence punctuated only by the soft rhythm of their breathing.
──────────
Ryang awoke with a gasp, his body drenched in a cold sweat. The sheets clung to his damp skin as he sat up, the night air chilling him to the bone. His throat was parched, and he drained the cup of water beside his bed in one long gulp. He rose, changed his sweat-soaked shirt, and settled back on the bed. Moonlight streamed through the window, but the room remained cloaked in the shadows of the late hour. Despite the lingering fear that clung to him, the details of the nightmare eluded his grasp.
His mind, a whirlwind of fragmented images, conjured a picture of Dara, alone in her confinement. Is she lying on the cold, dusty floor, her body shivering in the night's chill? Ryang shook his head, trying to banish the thought. A sharp pain throbbed behind his eyes, a relentless reminder of his guilt. Shame and pity warred within him, a bitter taste rising in his throat. Dara had smiled that day, a radiant smile that had filled him with warmth. She had led him down an unfamiliar path, her laughter echoing through the trees. She had confessed her fear later, her voice trembling. What has frightened her so?
As if in a trance, Ryang rose from the bed, a lantern in his hand.
The moon, past its zenith, cast long, blue shadows across the rear garden's courtyard. Even Seon's chambers, usually hidden in darkness, were now clearly visible. Emerging from the shadows, Ryucheon's figure was bathed in the pale moonlight. Baek Ryucheon. Ryang froze, his blood turning to ice.
Ryucheon, momentarily startled by their encounter, quickly recovered his composure, offering a polite bow, a gentle smile gracing his lips. Ryang approached, his steps measured, his anger palpable. Ryucheon, though sensing the growing hostility, remained unfazed. Ryang's gaze burned with a fiery intensity.
"Was this some sort of deal?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous, despite his weakened state.
Ryucheon's reply was nonchalant. "The night is young, yet you seem to be plagued by nightmares. Understandable, considering your condition."
"Answer my question," Ryang pressed.
"Let there be no misunderstanding," Ryucheon countered smoothly. "There was no deal. Merely a connection between man and woman."
Ryang scoffed. "You're incapable of such sentiments. You dare treat my sister as a mere courtesan."
Ryucheon's playful demeanor vanished, his voice hardening. "It is you who treats her as such. Do you not believe your sister capable of desire?"
"She's too young to distinguish between desire and manipulation." Ryang's earlier actions, his attempt to reach Dara, now filled him with shame.
"And yet you entrusted her with the entire household?" Ryucheon countered.
Ryang hesitated. Ryucheon pressed on.
"I may have made the proposition, but it was your sister who invited me into this garden. I understand your concern for her, but if you have grievances with her choices, address them with her, not me. Trying to control your sister will only push her away. She is of age, free to make her own decisions. She is beyond your grasp."
Ryang recalled Seon's anxious words, her voice thick with worry as she confessed her fears. Unable to contain his concern, he pressed Ryucheon for answers.
"Did my sister express any desire to go to Sung?"
"She did not," Ryucheon replied calmly. "Nor did I suggest such a thing. She may harbor such thoughts, but I cannot know for certain. Even you, her brother, seem unaware of her true intentions. I am merely an observer, like you."
Ryucheon's nonchalant tone grated on Ryang's nerves. "Regardless of her choices, House Myeonghyeon has endured for a thousand years, and I am the head of our family. Is it customary in your esteemed nation to infiltrate a household and seduce its members?" Ryang's voice, though low and steady, held an undercurrent of steel.
Ryucheon tilted his head. "I apologize for any impropriety. My actions were driven by affection, not disrespect for your house. However, let's be honest, a formal courtship would likely prove futile, wouldn't it?"
Ryang's gaze hardened. "You let yourself be seen."