𝔹𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝕠𝕠𝕟 | seongjoong

Stained Glass

November
1592

I must be seeing things.   

While I was washing the Lord and Lady's clothing in the stream this night, I saw him. The figure from my dreams. I shouldn't have been out this late but I was behind on my chores. The Lady was entertaining tomorrow and she absolutely needed the laundry done, otherwise it would not dry in time. The moon was waning but was still as bright as when it was full making it possible.

He had come to the modest stream, standing in the water as he watched it fall over the cliff and down to the smooth rocks below. Compared to my own rags, he seemed as if her were a prince from a foreign land. I do not know where he had come from. Maybe he was camping nearby, washing after a day of traveling towards the capital? But it did not matter. I would savor looking at him as much as I could as I knew the time would surely be short.

Today seemed different though. Instead of strong and regal like I remembered seeing in my dreams, he seemed a bit tired and sad. Was he falling ill? It must not be good to stand so long in the tepid waters as winter approached. Soon, even I wouldn't even be able to wash in the stream as it would begin freezing over.

Mesmerized as always, I couldn't believe that I was really seeing the man in the flesh. I could have swore that he were just a figment made up by my imagination but that couldn't be true. I had never seen another person like him so I had no idea where I would pull the inspiration to recreate such a figure in my slumber. 

As I was staring, I hadn't even realized I had taken a step towards the man, if only to see if he was alright, when my foot slipped on a rock and became caught between two stones. I cried out as I felt my body tumble forward but before I could fall into the cool water, a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around me. 

He was even more gorgeous up close. His hair was a silver as the moon above and pulled into a noble top knot. His lips were a perfect bow shape that were curved into a soft smile while his eyes looked as if they had been carved out of the finest ambers while they stared down at me in concern.

"Are you ok?" He had asked me. His voice was like velvet to my ears and I could feel my cheeks heat in embarrassment. He had seemed worlds away just moments ago so I was rather surprised he had reacted so quickly. I didn't think it was possible.

I could only answer back a pathetic response and assure him I was fine but he didn't seem to mind my embarrassed dismissal. Instead, as gently as I could ever imagine possible, he steadied me and bent down to help me get my foot out from the rocks. It hurt but I tried not to show any weakness on my face. Apparently, I had failed.

"Your ankle seems a bit swollen," He said softly as he cradled my foot delicately in his hand. I felt awful that he could see the dirt that covered them that hadn't quite washed away in the stream. His beautiful and regal Jeogori sleeves were also getting wet and I couldn't even imagine how much they had cost to make. Surely more than a year's worth of my sad wages.  I would never have been able to pay back the damage caused but the man seemed to pay them no mind.

I had tried to wave him off and set my foot back onto the bank so he wouldn't dirty any more of his clothing but the pain shooting up my leg must have shown on my face and I lost my balance once more, collapsing forward and into his chest as he stood. 

He smiled down and I noticed how much taller he was than I. He steadied me a second time before bending back down close to my injury. He guided my hands onto his shoulder to keep me stead as he cupped some of the stream and soothed it over my ankle. The water was so clear I could have sworn it was sparkling like diamonds under the moonlight.