𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐋𝐄 ♕ 𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐊

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻

Wook refused to leave Mu Deok alone in the room with Gaeun when the entire party returned from Songrim. He had looked at her with suspicion, while carried by Seo Yul on his back, when she had directed Madam Kim—a bruised and bloodied Mu Deok on her back—to the infirmary room they had used earlier.

"Danggu," Gaeun blatantly ignored Wook's protests as she stood under the portico of Sejukwon, looking down at the group, "could you please take Mu Deok from Madam Kim and carry her up the stairs?"

Danggu shot Wook a nervous look as if waiting for permission but she raised a sharp, impatient brow at him. "Of—of course," Danggu forced a laugh, "I did offer before but—"

"I don't want him to—"

Gaeun interrupted Wook harshly, making him and Yul flinch, "I don't care what you want at the moment." Glancing at the maidservant who had quite happily passed off an unconscious Mu Deok to Danggu, she said, "You may turn in for the night, Madam Kim. I'll handle it from here."

The stewardess nodded, wished them goodnight, and left for the sleeping quarters she had been provided in the infirmary.

As Gaeun directed Danggu to the room, Wook called, "Park Danggu shouldn't—"

"You should be ashamed of yourself as a man," she snapped furiously at him, "Asking Madam Kim to carry someone all the damn way up the hill. She's not your personal mule, Jang Wook. If there is an ounce of chivalry in you then it should all be spent on her."

Gaeun stormed down the dark hallway just as Danggu was slipping out of the room. Noticing the rage on her face, he instantly pressed his back against the wall and side-stepped past her. Behind them, Gaeun could hear Seo Yul mumbling to Wook as they walked toward them.

"How do you manage being the only one in Daeho to anger her? You made her curse this time."

"Oh, well. Wives, you know."

"I don't."

Standing in front of the doorway, Gaeun addressed Seo Yul, "Put him in the supplies closet there or toss him on the doormat. Whatever you find easy. It's late and you two must be tired from work."

"Toss—"

Danggu pressed his lips together in an easy smile, "Right. Master Heo is still in Songrim and I need to speak with him. Yul-ah, that other room there is empty. Put Wook there and let's leave."

"I'm not a thing to—"

Nobody paid any attention to Wook's whining, having grown used to it over the years. Yul unceremoniously dropped him on the bed, wished him a speedy recovery, and left with Danggu. However, the second they were out of earshot, Wook tried to slink back to where Mu Deok was. Unfortunately, he slid the door open and found himself face to face with Gaeun.

"Get out," she said cuttingly.

"Why are you mad at me?"

"Your precious little maid is bleeding away so unless you plan on testing my patience by offering to undress her, you will stay out."

Gaeun nearly slammed the door shut but Wook gripped the edge with both hands. The area around his eyes had darkened considerably because of the poison. Brows knitted together in a flat line, Wook asked with a threatening undertone, "Are you going to hurt her?"

"If I wanted to," she said in a quiet tone that greatly unnerved him, "I would've killed her the day she walked through your doors." As she forced the door shut, she heard him murmur 'our doors'.

Gaeun spent a few seconds observing Mu Deok. Her clothes were tattered and dirty from all the beating she had taken. She had a cut lip and wounds on her temple and back. Gaeun could still feel the strange energies the maid emitted. It didn't make sense. There was swirling and then there was buzzing as if there were multiple entities within her.