↱SEMPITERNAL↲ ⇾seongjoong⇽

eleven

102nd year of Joseon, Hanyang.

The palanquin is set down a few feet from Hongjoong, just in front of the entryway of his uncle's home.

Embroidered blue cotton flutters, servants stepping forward to help the lady.

Hongjoong smiles, moving ahead of them, offering his hand.

None of them will have the privilege of caring for her, not while he stands there.

She takes his hand, gathers her skirts with the other and steps out carefully.

She looks thinner than he remembers.

"Mother," he says. "My dearest."

"My son," she proclaims, one radiant smile brightening her face, her fingers tightening around his wrist, her eyes searching his face.

"Why are your cheeks so sunken?"

He chuckles.

"I have lost neither appetite nor sleep, do not worry yourself," he says. "Was the journey very difficult?"

"No, no, not difficult. I can claim to have done no work in all the hours between Gongju and Hanyang," she says.

"Either way it could not have been more difficult than you, mother," he says. "You really gave us all so much trouble, insisting on traveling so far considering the state of your health. The servants could have brought my things."

"My health is spectacular," she chides. "And besides, when the only Kim son has brought honor to his family, shone so brightly, surely his mother must be here to tell him she is prouder than proud."

"Well, go on then," he says with a small smile.

"I am prouder than proud," she says.

Hongjoong chuckles and tugs at her hand.

"Come now," he says. "Uncle has asked me to show you to your quarters. He says he is deeply sorry for not being present to greet his favorite brother's wife, but he is preparing for his visit to the North."

"Oh, no, he must have his duties. So must Seong..." she says, and bites her tongue. "I am sorry, I meant his highness. He must be terribly busy."

"He will be here to see you, mother, do not fret," he tells her, helping her up the steps.

"Oh, hush, he is a prince, he would not have time for an old woman from Gongju," she says dismissively.

"You are not old," he says. "You are as much his mother as you are mine, and he will be to see you."

"Well..." she muses.

Hongjoong chuckles.

"We will keep you company till you tire of us, but I hope you will not mind, mother, I will not be home for some hours in the afternoon tomorrow. I have some matters to tend to."