Moon's Whisper, Heart's Echo

30.The Blood

"But Uncle Park," Min-joon's voice carried across the courtyard path, "what if she says no?"

Tae-young adjusted the boy's weight on his shoulders, careful of the practice sword strapped to Min-joon's back. "Your mother rarely says no without good reason."

"She said no to the Moon Bear cub I wanted."

"That," Tae-young chuckled, "was an entirely reasonable no."

"I could've made it be nice." The young boy mumbled.

The evening air carried the scent of dinner preparations from nearby houses - garlic, green onions, the distinctive smell of grilled fish. Min-joon's stomach growled audibly.

"Hungry again?" Tae-young steadied the boy as he shifted. "Didn't we just have honey cakes?"

"Those were ages ago," Min-joon protested. "Besides, Eomma says I'm growing."

"Indeed you are." Tae-young ducked under a low-hanging branch. "Speaking of your mother..."

"Mm?"

"I have an important mission for you."

Min-joon straightened so quickly he nearly knocked himself off Tae-young's shoulders. "A secret mission?"

"Very secret." Tae-young lowered his voice conspiratorially. "When you get home, I want you to ask your mother something."

"What should I ask?"

"Ask her what she thinks of me."

Min-joon's nose scrunched in confusion. "But she sees you all the time. At the market, and when you help with my lessons, and-"

"Yes, but has she ever told you what she thinks of me?"

"Oh!" Min-joon's face brightened with understanding. "Like when she tells Young-ah that you're the most insufferable man in Hanyang?"

Tae-young nearly missed a step. "She says that?"

"Mm-hmm. And that you strut around like you own the marketplace."

"I do not strut-"

"And that your smile is dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Tae-young's lips twitched. "How so?"

"I don't know. But she smiles when she says it."

They turned onto the street leading to Nandi's house. The setting sun painted the tile roofs gold, casting long shadows across the packed earth.

"Uncle Park?"

"Mm?"

"If she likes your smile..." Min-joon hesitated. "Does that mean you might stay? Like how Young-ho's father stays with his family?"

Tae-young's steps slowed. He lifted Min-joon from his shoulders, setting him down carefully. Kneeling to meet the boy's eyes, he straightened Min-joon's crooked topknot.

"Would you want that?"

Min-joon nodded solemnly. "You make her laugh. Real laughs, not the polite ones she uses with other nobles." He scuffed his foot in the dirt. "And you showed me how to catch crickets with just two fingers."

"Important skills for any young scholar," Tae-young said gravely, though his eyes danced.

"So you'll stay?"

"That," Tae-young stood, offering his hand, "depends on what your mother says when you ask her about me. For what it's worth regardless I will always make myself available for you. You both."