3

Walking alongside Doryeong in the chilly breeze, Eunha felt like the alcohol had worn off. The sunlight pierced their eyes as they gazed up at the sky with the Buyeongan Hall looming nearby. Despite furrowing her brows, Eunha couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight.

Thin wisps of clouds stretched across the vast expanse of the high sky. Trees that would bloom with lovely pink flowers in spring now stood with bare branches, swaying above the Buyeongan Hall's walls.

When will spring arrive? Would it come at all? And when it did, will she be able to leave with her sister and escape?

"Doryeong, you're here."

The escorts noticed Doryeong walking with Eunha and greeting him with stern faces. They were the guards protecting the hall, responsible for dealing with troublemakers and capturing courtesans who tried to escape. Eunha couldn't stand these guards who did such things.

"Is Madame inside?

"Yes, she is, but..."

"Then open the door. I'll inquire about her well-being and return shortly."

The escorts were solely interested in Yoon Doryeong, so Eunha quickly jumped into their midst, avoiding their uncomfortable stares.

Contrasting the chilly winds outside, the Buyeongan Hall's garden bathed in gentle light. Every detail, from the trees to the rocks, was meticulously arranged and an unusually abundant number of camellias were in bloom. People often said that those who stepped into this place felt as if they were dreaming. However, after a decade of witnessing the same scene, Eunha didn't find anything particularly special about it.

No matter how beautiful it was, the boisterous environment, filled with men obsessed with lust every day, mocking women with loud remarks, made her dislike everything about it. Every time she saw her sister, who had to smile prettily like a flower despite the wounds on her face, Eunha despised everything much more.

After looking around the entrance of her abode, adorned with white camellia trees supposedly important from a distant land, Eunha opened the door.

"Eunha!"

It was her older sister, Yongi, who called out to her in a sharp voice. Yongi, who had even finished putting on makeup and was wearing a jade skirt, approached quickly and exploded in anger.

"What on earth were you thinking? Chasing after a tiger?! I've repeatedly warned you about how dangerous it is, so why did you do that?"

"Oh, unnie. You're still here?!"

Seeing Eunha stuttering in surprise, Yongi became even more upset.

"You go up the mountain for a tiger hunt and you expect me to continue as usual? Why on earth do you continue to go to dangerous places?"

Yongi scanned Eunha, who had become flustered from running around all day, with an incredulous tone, then called a nearby maid.

"Seohee, fetch some hot water for the bath. I need to wash off this dirt."

Upon hearing the name, Seohee, the maid, stopped scrubbing a pot and rushed to the nearby bath. Eunha quickly thought of an excuse she could give when her sister was this angry, then pulled out what she had hidden behind her.

"Hey, unnie. Shall I take the lead with the gun next time? I just thought that trailing along in the back won't bring in any money."

"Why on earth would you need money?! Huh?!"

"There was a book I wanted to read. Plus, today seemed warmer than yesterday, so I thought we might not catch a tiger. I'm being honest, unnie."

At this point, it would have been nice if Yongi had let it slide and turned away, but instead, she raised her voice as if she had firmly caught her prey.

"How can you be so shameless? I absolutely can't let it go this time. Hurry and go to the bathhouse, take off your clothes and get into the tub! I'll be there soon."

"Ah, unnie..."

"Hurry!"

Ultimately, with a firm slap on the back from Yongi, Eunha reluctantly put the book down and walked towards the bathhouse with a downcast face.

Thinking about Eunha's frozen blue hand and cheek, Yongi sighed deeply. It pained her heart to see her younger sister wandering around like this without a care in the world.

"Yongi, don't scold Eunha too much. I was with her."

Yongi rubbed her chest with her fist because it had been tingling unusually lately, then turned her head at the sound of Doryeong's voice coming from beside her.

"Young Master, my troublesome sister has caused you inconveniences."

"Inconveniences? I enjoy her company."

"It's not about that. I feel uncomfortable bothering you when you should be focused on your studies. So, please scold her sternly next time you both meet. Eunha is quite stubborn. But if she continues to act recklessly, who knows what trouble she might bring upon herself."

Yongi lifted her head and stared straight into Doryeong's eyes. Though it was just a brief exchange of glances, she felt her face flush. His neatly aligned lips and softly curved eyes made him look handsome.

It was an affection she shouldn't harbor. No matter how Doryeong was the illegitimate son of the Panseo estate, she, as a lowly servant, dared not entertain feelings for him.

"How could I scold Eunha? She's so small and delicate."

"Furthermore, Madame has forbidden the young master from entering the kisaeng house. Do you really not know why she did that?!"

"How could I not know? Because there's a face I want to see."

Doryeong shifted his gaze to the book Eunha had casually thrown aside a moment ago. The intensity and warmth in his eyes stung Yongi's heart. Perhaps, it felt like jealousy.

However, even this emotion was not permitted. Moreover, Yongi was afraid of the dreadful consequences when Madame learned that Doryeong had harbored feelings for Eunha.

"Young Master, you must cultivate patience. Regardless of what happened, news of your presence in the kisaeng house has spread, and soon Madame will come."

"Even you are trying to send me away hastily. Fine, I'll leave now."

After a somewhat formal farewell, Doryeong turned away, quietly observing Yongi's retreating figure. Spring, summer, autumn, winter, Madame's quarters were a place where flowers never withered throughout the seasons. And leading this domain covered in blossoms was none other than Doryeong's mother, Shimdeok.

"They said entry to the kisaeng house is prohibited, but you, Young Master, truly do not listen."

Doryeong turned around once he heard the affectionate voice coming from behind him. Shimdeok's face, accompanied by two bodyguards, expressed both delight and concern. Doryeong approached Shimdeok with a bright smile, the sunlight reflecting off the thin ice on the frozen pond between them.

"I find peace in regularly seeing my mother. Moreover, the heavens and the earth know the reason for my presence here, so who would dare to point fingers.

"Maintain the dignity of a master. What would happen if the Lord found out? He'll be greatly displeased."

"He's usually quick-tempered, so don't worry about such things. I am just trying to fulfill my duties as a son. However, since you are so concerned, I will take my leave now. I am satisfied to have seen my mother's face."

Shimdeok gestured to the guards who had been watching from afar, indicating that they should assist Doryeong on his way out. Then, she personally accompanied him until they reached the main gate of Buyeongan Hall. Although she had pushed Doryeong away, advising him not to come and not to call her mother, her heart did not feel that way.

All that Shimdeok wanted was to cherish the grown man who had matured so well. No mother's heart wants to hold on to the sight of her child's back for a long time.

Upon returning to Buyeongan Hall, Shimdeok stood in front of the place where Yongi had been a moment ago. There, books written in western languages were protruding from the book cover. Glancing at the bookshelf, Shimdeok turned to the bodyguard and asked.

"How old is Eunha this year?"

"She is turning nineteen."

"Has it been that long already?"

"Well, she still fights and plays like a child, so she still looks young even to our eyes."

"I see. Nineteen is an age where one can hold their head high."

Hearing Madame's muttering, the servant Chunhee's face turned a bluish hue. She had been described as affectionate yet cruel. Knowing that Yongi wants to marry off younger sister, Madame saying that she's old enough to "hold her head high" implied that Eunha would be turned into a courtesan too.

"Tonight, bring Yongi to my quarters."

"Yes, Madame."

Shimdeok walked, crushing the camellia flowers that had fallen one or two on the white snow. Chunhee followed her footsteps and thought that something big was about to happen.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Feeling ashamed for not wearing a single thread of silk, Eunha hunched her body deeply into her sorrow. She avoided Yongi's disdainful gaze and lowered her head.

However, Yongi said nothing and ordered a servant to thoroughly wash Eunha. As the dirty water flowed away, her skin became even fairer, shining like white jade, and her unusually dark pupils deepened as if embracing sapphires. Additionally, though always covered in men's clothing, Eunha's body revealed the grace of a beautiful woman. If this girl were properly adorned and paraded in the streets, it might lead to the downfall of the estate, given the crowd of men coming to present marriage proposals.

Yongi wanted to send Eunha out of Buyeongan Hall before Madame noticed her beauty. That had to happen.

"Eunha."

As Yongi's voice softened, Eunha suddenly raised her head. The gleaming black eyes, sparkling with a lively smile, were still reminiscent of the little girl who held her hand and entered Buyeongan Hall, kaing Yongi feel melancholic.

"I-I'm thinking of finding a husband for you."