Desert • Flower | TaeJin || BOOK 3#

XXXVII. Entering a period of peace and joy

"Taehyung sent a letter," Namjoon announces to Agust who shows no interest. "He is requesting the purchase of a piece of land that does not belong to someone, since the Japanese he had under his care do not wish to march back to their country, considering themselves Koreans and workers there."

"And?"

"We consider it a good idea to allow them to do so. If we show that the Japanese who wish to stay here are treated well and almost like one of our own, it will significantly improve the relationship the Japanese crown has with us" Namjoon opines and Ag furrows his eyebrows a bit. "Maybe in the same way, those who were kidnapped to work for the Japanese empire will be returned or treated better."

"Give them to them, but..."

~ * * * ~

"From now on, these lands will be yours. You will answer to no lord other than me and if there are any problems with it, you must notify me. I will take care of it" announces Taehyung. The small germinating village of Japanese he finally has is in the sunlight. "On the other hand, the only requirement my emperor has towards you, is that you know how to speak Korean to communicate, but between you and whoever understands it, you can speak in your native language Any questions?" rebukes Taehyung to them and cede murmurs of excitement to be able to stay. "Tell me?" he bends down to attend to whatever the girl says.

"Jin nii-chan is going to be our teacher?" she asks awkwardly and barely comprehensible. Taehyung turns his head toward the kisaeng.

"Will you be teacher Jin nii-chan?" she asks slightly teasingly. Jin purses his lips poutingly at the lord.

"I have no problem with illustrating them, my lord."

"Then it's settled... I will hire more teachers and seamstresses so it can be a general effort" Taehyung comments getting up. "Without further ado, I will come to see them in a week's time. Make sure they are and can reestablish themselves here. Best of luck."

"Thank you Lord Taehyung!" Taehyung shakes his head, he doesn't like to be thrown to the ground to bow to him.

Jin takes Taehyung by the arm to walk on the way home. It's quite a long stretch, but given the vegetation Jin has grown, it's pleasant. It's not a desert now. At least not a traditional one. Taehyung gives Jin a sidelong glance.

"I was told you sent a letter early May I know who it was for?" asks Taehyung curious.

"For Jimin. I know his birthday is near and I wanted to congratulate him. Also, I sent him a gift" Jin replies. Taehyung nods. "It's a sakura bud. It will look nice in his garden with deer."

"Ah, how charming as you are a big brother take care of the kids" Jin reddens and gives him a bad look. "I'll send him a gift too. He's a lovely boy. He's- Ouch." He rubs his arm, Jin just hit him with the fan, walks faster and leaves him behind. "Jin, what's wrong?!"

Taehyung doesn't know that, in front of a kisaeng, you can't walk around talking about how another one seems charming to you. Least of all with the situation the two of them are in. The lord is confused and Jin sulks.

~ * * * ~

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing special."

Jin closes the glass where Yune sleeps. He's a little bigger. He's worried that they'll take too long to wake her up and in doing so, she's changed her body a lot. By this time, he starts to feel the need to make a bigger box. He leaves the room walks next to Taehyung, his worried and sad gesture drawing a sigh from Taehyung.

"Why don't you ask Jimin for help to heal her? I saw what he is capable of healing. He could surely make her wake up. It's-"

"I can't ask him for something like that" Jin contradicts. "The journey, the trust... I can't."