𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐋𝐄 ♕ 𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐊

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆-𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻

Kim Dojoo burst into Gaeun's room closely followed by Wook and Mu Deok, the latter carrying a pile of boxes containing who knew what. "My Lady!" The stewardess exclaimed, not having surveyed the scene she had walked in on yet, "We have decided to host the Princes in our home since they...they..." She trailed off, her expression slowly morphing into one of terror.

Beside her, Wook had frozen by the door, forcing Mu Deok to hurriedly set the boxes down to see what had happened.

Gaeun, barely dressed and sitting on the edge of her bed, pinched the bridge of her nose. The chest bindings she wore were drenched in scarlet on one end. An enormous bruise spanned across her side, an ugly blue tainting her skin from under the bindings to the waistband of her loose-fitting trousers. A physician was stitching up the gash Mako's axe had gifted her.

Yifan stood beside her, hands clasped behind his back like he was keeping a close watch on the physician while Master Thao sat at Gaeun's work desk.

Standing up, Master Thao spoke sternly, "Visitors are not permitted in the private quarters today. Who allowed you inside?"

Kim Dojoo cried out in panic, "Visitors? Who are you supposed to be? And why is Lady Gaeun in such a state? Young Master," she seized Wook's sleeve, "Did you know about this?" He remained fixated on Gaeun's bruises and wounds.

"Barging into the personal chambers of the co-heir of Yeol and displaying such insolence," Master Thao sneered unforgivingly, "I shall forget that you have accompanied the Prince Consort and have you publicly lashed. However," she glanced at Gaeun, "your silence is deafening, Your Grace."

Gaeun blinked as if rousing herself from sleep. The opiates used to numb her pain had made her unbelievably drowsy. "It's alright, Master," she calmly said, "Things are different here. This is Maidservant Kim, stewardess of the Jang family. She is dear to me and dotes over me so I hope you overlook her behaviour. Kim Dojoo, this is my Master of nearly fifteen years. Apologise to her for arguing and talking back in that tone."

Appalled, the maidservant could only look towards Wook again for help. He nodded, quietly urging her to do as Gaeun had told her. Kim Dojoo swallowed and bowed her head, "Forgive me. I meant no offence. It was only out of concern." She was forgiven quickly. Master Thao opened her mouth to say something, possibly about wanting the newcomers to leave so that they could go ahead with the discussion they had interrupted when Wook said to Gaeun.

"I need to speak with you."

It was Yifan who spoke up. "We are in the middle of a—"

"I know my wife's work ethic," Wook cut him off flatly as if speaking to Yifan bored him, "I know the first thing she did was to report everything to her seniors and cohorts. And I also know that I do not need to explain why I want to be alone with her."

Yifan clenched his jaw but maintained his composure. Hand on his elbow, Master Thao bowed her head and guided her student out. Mu Deok moved aside to give way and Wook scowled at her, "Are you waiting for me to repeat myself?" She exchanged a bewildered glance with Kim Dojoo and reluctantly exited with her.

"What is it?" Gaeun asked, fighting to keep herself conscious.

"Nothing at all." His mannerisms flipped immediately and he smiled at the physician who was still focused on finishing up the stitches. "How bad is it?"

The physician paused for a moment, needle and thread in hand, and answered with lowered eyes, "A flesh wound, Your Grace." Wook mouthed the title to himself with a raised brow. "The laceration is deep but I have stopped the bleeding. The sutures will hold. Within a day or so the injury will heal and the sutures will disappear by themselves. I would advise that the Princess remain in her quarters and rest for the day as the opiates will take some time to wear off."