𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐋𝐄 ♕ 𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐊

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲

"I hear you are barren."

Gaeun immediately choked on the tea Choyeon had slid towards her as she sat in front of her and Lady Jin in the gardens of Jinyuwon. The women guards surrounding them shifted slightly, no doubt taking joy at the comment. It seemed both the mother and the daughter had a knack for trying to kill Gaeun by being blunt and straightforward.

"Mother!" Choyeon exclaimed, blushing from embarrassment as she helped her friend dab the tea stains on her hanbok.

Lady Jin looked as impassive as ever, "I am just confirming the rumours. It would be quite...unfortunate that the eldest son of a prominent family married a foreign woman who can't even produce an heir."

"The rumours are false, Lady Jin," Gaeun replied with a tight smile, wondering whether it was too late to take back the sincere apology she had blurted just minutes before, "The gisaengs at Chwiseonru saw Wook having lunch with the Young Lord Park Danggu and twisted the truth as they deemed fit. The rumours evolved quite grossly but the truth is that Wook and I have...other priorities and neither of us are ready for such a huge responsibility so quickly."

Choyeon fidgeted uncomfortably.

The matriarch stared at Gaeun as if she was an insect under her shoe. "Is that so?" She murmured as if she smelled something foul.

Gaeun had dealt with haughty scholars, seasoned masters, generals hardened by war, and cunning ministers. She had managed to claw her way out of the conversation alive every time. However, it was only when it came to Lady Jin that Gaeun gave up on having the last word. Maybe it was because of the way her stomach churned at the calm and collected viciousness in the woman's voice.

"I should take my leave," she cleared her throat and stood up, "Goodbye, Lady Jin—"

"The tea that soaked into your dress," Lady Jin cut her off sharply, her hawk-like eyes turned to slits, "It's dry now."

Even in the cold, Gaeun couldn't help but sweat. Not even her own mother had been so terrifying when she was alive. Gaeun peered down at her clothes to find that only a faint stain remained on her bright red blouse. Thankfully, before she could begin to think of an excuse, Choyeon came to her rescue.

"It was me," she explained, "I used magic to dry unnie's clothes."

Not wanting Lady Jin to fire off another caustic remark like how it was a waste of energy, Gaeun swung forward dramatically and bowed. "I'll get going, Lady Jin. Goodbye." She practically hightailed out of Jinyuwon and made straight to the Townsquare to take the ferry back home.

Halfway to her destination, Gaeun was stopped by some of the younger girls who frequented Chwiseonru for tea and chitchat. They held their fists over their hearts sorrowfully and expressed their sympathies over what they heard. The further she went, the more people shook her hand and consoled her and told her to be strong.

"The rumours are wrong," Gaeun's eyebrow twitched as she explained for the nth time, "Nobody is barren. Nobody is impotent. My husband went to meet his friend at the courtesan house. Our marriage is fine!"

She raged and fumed quietly, unable to set her surroundings ablaze. This wasn't fair. Why did she have to answer such embarrassing questions while Wook lounged at home and daydreamed about his damned maid? How many times did she have to remind him that she alone couldn't make this ploy of theirs work? Wasn't it bad enough that she had to kneel in front of Lord Park and Master Heo and Lady Jin because of what he did? That selfish, immature, reckless jerk—