Ballad of the Mountain Fox

제 12 장: Sound the Gong

"And what brings you to visit, Gong Il Woo?"

General Gong's son stepped through the doorway to Oh Jimin's room and looked around.  Jimin's maid gave a hasty bow when he made eye contact, and continued her fidgeting, casting anxious glances between her mistress and the nobleman.

"I've heard that you and Park Young Min are no longer seeing each other," Il Woo finally answered, unable to keep the smugness from his voice.

Immediately, Jimin's posture grew rigid.  "And why do you care to know?" she shot back.

Il Woo gave a smirk before sweeping back his robes and sitting down on the silk pillow across from his host.  The lady was quite pretty, and came from quite a distinguished background.  It was a pity that he'd had to involve her in all of this.  Then again, he could only stand to gain from such an unfortunate circumstance.

"I came to offer my most sincere condolences," the liar lied with a saccharine smile.  "I heard about the scandal and came to make sure that you were okay.  It must have come as quite a shock, that Park Young Min would be so heartless as to lead you on and then see another woman behind your back."

Jimin held up a hand to stop him.  "Please, say no more," she said.  "It only brings up terrible memories which I would rather forget."  For a moment she closed her eyes, looking quite pale, but suddenly her eyes snapped back open and fixed upon her visitor with a suspicious glare.  "Besides," she continued, "it seems you rather take some delight in my misery.  Are you quite sure you have not come to gloat instead?"

Il Woo did his best to temper his grin.  "I assure you, I fully understand the gravity of the situation," he said, clearing his throat and trying his best to look concerned.  "It is truly horrible.  If there is anything I can do—"

"You can start by not talking about it, for one," Jimin snapped.

Il Woo inclined his head in acknowledgement, internally seething.  The woman was beginning to rub on his nerves with her icy demeanor.

"Of course," he said.  "I would hate to agitate you.  The only reason I would bring up such a delicate matter is because I wish to bring the villain to justice myself."  His heart leapt at the thought—there were still several things he had in mind so as to further lower his enemy in society's eyes.  Why, if Minister Park didn't disown his son after everything that was in store for the young noble, Il Woo would eat his gat.

"I'm sure he's already got his rightful due," Jimin's maid muttered from the corner.

"Sujin!" Jimin scolded.

"Apologies, my lady!" the girl said, bowing for forgiveness, and then again, just for good measure.  Il Woo would have laughed at her ridiculousness if he hadn't been so intent on her words.

"What does she mean?" he asked Jimin.

"Just that there will be no need for you to intervene," Jimin said, raising her chin haughtily.  It was a sure indication that Il Woo was jutting into business that was none of his to mind, but he ignored the gesture.

"Does it have something to do with Park Young Min's strange absence from the town these past few days?" Il Woo pressed.  Indeed, that was why he had resorted to visiting his enemy's ex-almost-fiancée to begin with—he had all these plans for revenge, and couldn't carry them out!  At least he had been able to do what he wanted without reprehension these past few days.  The magistrate was too spineless to pose any real threat against the noble son of a general, so Il Woo had been taking out his frustration in the marketplace.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Jimin said, turning away from him.

"To the contrary—I think you know exactly what I'm talking about," Il Woo said.  "Where is Park Young Min?"  He didn't miss the hesitant glance passed between the noblewoman and her maid.  "Tell me!  Where is he?"