Moon's Whisper, Heart's Echo

6.The address

Young-ah's neat columns marched down the paper like tiny soldiers - noble families seeking matches, merchants hoping their silver could buy status, all arranged with the careful precision of someone who knew each mark could make or break fortunes.

Outside, the household breathed its morning rhythm - the soft swish of brooms against wooden floors, Ji-soo's quiet instructions about proper tea preparation, Min-joon's voice rising and falling as he wrestled with his morning lessons. "No, Teacher Kim, the stroke goes this way—"

Nandi's brush moved steadily across the paper, declining yet another request that stank of desperation wrapped in silk. Three generations of merchants didn't equal one generation of yangban, no matter how much—

"My lady." Young-ah appeared in the doorway like a startled bird. "There's... someone who wasn't on the morning list."

"Then they can make an appointment." Nandi didn't look up. Her brush continued its dance. "Please inform them—"

"He mentioned a tiger pendant?"

Ink blotted the character she'd been writing. Something that might have been a headache pressed against her temples. "What did you say?"

"A gentleman. About a tiger pendant." Young-ah shifted, her sleeve rustling against the doorframe. "He was quite—"

"Show him in." Nandi set down her brush with deliberate care, noting how Ji-soo materialized by the tea service as if summoned by gossip itself.

He entered like he owned the space, though his usual grace seemed tempered by something almost... playful. His bow was exact enough to satisfy even the strictest court official.

"Good morning," he said, voice carrying warmth like spring sun. "I hope I'm not disturbing your work?"

"That depends entirely on why you're here." Nandi gestured to the cushion across from her desk. "I don't recall requesting such a formal return of my son's pendant."

"Ah, but how else could I ensure your complete attention?" His eyes caught the morning light like amber, dancing with barely contained mischief.

"How did you even find—"

He tilted his head, a half-smile playing at his lips. "Surely you're not serious?"

"What?"

"Did you think it would be difficult to locate the only foreign-born matchmaker in the district?" His tone carried such delighted impertinence that Nandi felt her spine straighten automatically.

Silence stretched between them like a cat in sunlight. The shadows shifted across his features, catching on cheekbones that probably made his mother insufferably proud.

"Kim Jun-ho," he offered finally, his smile carrying an edge of genuine warmth.

Nandi blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"Kim Jun-ho," he repeated, clearly savoring her surprise like the first sip of expensive tea. "Since we keep colliding in the market like wayward boats, it seemed time to give you my name."

"As I've heard." She let her tone carry exactly what she thought of market gossip. "The local women seem to celebrate your arrival even when you aren't present."

"Among other things." His smile deepened just enough to suggest hidden depths. "Though today I'm simply a humble visitor hoping to discuss a matter of mutual interest."

"Well..." Nandi kept her tone crisp. "I'm not accepting new clients." She paused deliberately. "Especially not merchants' sons who've suddenly discovered scholarly ambitions."