Chapter 51: Mijie Daehan Dulyeoum (Fear of the Unknown)

"Mistress, you didn't see her face when she heard all of us talking, we really had no idea that she was just standing behind us." "She will find some way to vent her anger onto me now." "Mistress, you should really inform the Young Master about this in case she really does hurt you this time. Her bitterness is real and it is coming for you." "Don't you understand? The reason why he isn't dealing with her is because he expects me to deal with it due to his inexperience with women. He doesn't want to hold the same tyrannical image that his father does and everything he does will affect his work and prospects in the palace. And because I am a woman, I am expected to deal with other women in their lives and their ongoing rivalries with each other." "But isn't that a small price to pay for your stay here?" "Of course, I must also take that into account and draw the line." "Draw the line?" "I mean...that I must endure it, even with my lowly yet unknown background with little support. Even Nam-Jeon could throw me out anytime he wants to..." "Young Mistress? What are you thinking about?" "Maybe I do need to let something happen to me...just so I can sort her out once and for all. Pregnant or not...she cannot take advantage of the Young Master like this...and him..." "Young Mistress? The Young Master is calling for you in his residence." "What is going on? I just saw him this morning and he is calling for me again?" "He is finishing up with his work and he will be with you shortly, he asks that you wait for him in his study." "Ok, let me just get changed..." I was really trying my level best not to act any different but the truth was that I did not know how to feel about what I just heard him say to that servant. I should be angry, but the truth was that I had no memory of that man, no matter how I felt about him. But nothing was going to stop me investigating this situation either. I already knew that all of this had to do with Nam-Jeon and I was already itching for an excuse to get back at him of everything he was putting us through, as well as the man who sent his concubine to us.

So despite everything, I still had to go and see the Young Master to see how I should proceed with him as well, but if I thought he was going to treat me with the same respect then I was wrong. He didn't even look at me when I walked into my old quarters with his pregnant concubine glaring at me as soon as I made my presence known. We had a difference in height, but there she was wearing my clothes which she was intentionally stretching out and complaining about it afterwards for the whole world and it's neighbours to hear. "Come and sit with me cousin." "Yes, Young Master." "I had hoped that the night would fall faster after work so I could see you today. I want you to play a game of chess with me since my concubine here doesn't seem to know the rules at all." Well, wouldn't it be best to teach her? So that she can accompany you better." "Why would I give a gold-digger the opportunity to climb up the ranks? If I accompany her, then who will accompany you?" "I have Dal..." "you have no-one but myself in this home since we are family. Come and play with me for a while before you go to bed." "Young Master, you make her accompany you all day as it is. Let the child rest and I shall accompany you instead." "Do you not have a pregnant belly to attend to? Do not strain yourself for no reason at all and get some rest. I should not ignore my cousin just because you managed to find a way to hold onto this family." "I really wonder what sort of witchcraft that mix has cast on you."

"That reminds me, I really should grant you both a gift for the baby..." the baby that I believed was not his. I hadn't had enough time to even digest that piece of news before I overheard his conversation today and I needed time to plan my next move. But whenever I needed it, the Young Master would always come up with ways to distract me and keep me busy with other nonsensical things, I was beginning to see the pattern that Dal kept going on about. And because I still couldn't remember him from my life before waking up here, I really didn't know how to take all of this in. "Well at least I am healthy enough to carry a baby..." "Enough! I have had a long day at work and I just want a few minutes of peace before going back into the palace tomorrow." "I am just saying, it looks like she has lost weight ever since hearing the announcement of my pregnancy. Maybe it is because you finally have to share your time with me instead of her having you all to herself as usual." "Thank you for your concerns, it is just the summer heat that is spoiling my appetite." "And here I was thinking that you were upset by my advancement." "How would I dare? May I remind you of the house rules and keeping your temperament the next time another woman wishes to become a concubine of this household? Of course, jealousy and spite are natural flaws of a woman's character. And no matter how dull witted I come across, I can at least tolerate such flaws. But what about another bride that the Nam family choose to bring in? You cannot expect to behave this way all of the time and get away with it."

"Cousin, I called you to play a game with you, you can talk to the concubine in your own time. Come and sit next to me." From the tome of his voice to the way he was trying so hard not to look at me, he was behaving usually cool towards me. There were so many things that I wanted to ask him and talk about, but he hadn't been the same towards me since we both fell into the water, and now with the arrival of my so-called 'brother', he was distancing himself from me even more. "Fickleness has been ever constant in the human heart. Analects for women always remind us against strife and rivalries, and men will always be fond of women. Are you familiar with it?" I asked her, knowing full well that she is still illiterate. And that managed to finally shut her up as I began to focus on the Young Master and do everything I could think of to make him look at me I wanted to understand how he could possible house me and keep me as close as he did all this time whilst hiding such a big secret like this from me. "And is the Young Master aware of the fact that the most beloved woman is also the most resented?" "The rain tends to every flower in the garden so that they can bloom and bare fruits. Of course, jealousy will come into play. All concubines, wives and mistresses are inextricably intertwined with other political matters. It is already difficult to administer the state affairs if us men are plagued with strifes like these." "Us men? Men suffer with these strifes?" "We deal with these complaints of fickleness, of course us men suffer as well."

"Ladies are like the ubiquitous wild flowers, and I dare not wish for your exclusive affection." That was the line that almost broke him. But instead of looking at me to vent out his anger, he took it out on the concubine instead and I didn't hesitate to get up from my seat and almost ran back to my-his quarters so I could catch my breath. But for the first time, he didn't send anyone to chase me back. He just let me go and I could already feel the energy shift between us. Very well, if this was the game that he wanted to play, then I could play it better than he could. But first I had to attain my goal of punishing the man who bullied us in the past, and I could only achieve that through his precious concubine. And as for this Hwi person, there was nothing I could do until he showed up again, so I had to carry out this plan before then and I only had a week to make that happen.

"Young Mistress?" "What happened? Did you see if he punished her further for her disrespect? The concubine?" "Mistress, he just let her be and they both went to bed now." "There are two separate beds set up in those quarters, so I have nothing to worry about. And where is Dal?" "He is running some errands for the Young Master in the palace, he will arrive home shortly."

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"Young Master! Why did you slap me! If I am being crazy and jealous, it is all because I love you!" "There is nothing to be jealous about! She is my cousin and..." "And what?" "And my biggest ally." "What on earth are you talking about?" "You would know if you were barely literate." "Do you have any idea how much effort I have put in for you to become your woman? I can give you everything as long as you marry me!" "I already have a woman that I...hold in my heart dearly, and you cannot compare to her." "Why? What makes me better than your cousin!" "My cousin? Do you hear the words that are coming out of your mouth? What earth makes you think that I am even remotely attracted to my own blood cousin?" "So who is it then? If it isn't your cousin, who else are you attracted to?" "A woman who was brought up in a brothel." "A brothel woman? A kisaeng? I have been raised around nobility all of my life and you choose someone who gets paid to please numerous men?" "I told you that she isn't a kisaeng! She was just brought up in a place like that!" "Oh really? So tell me, who gives her money to live on? Who handles her expenses? Her food? Her clothes? I thought that you were the smart one and here you are in love with a prostitute! Whilst I am here pregnant..." "With who! Because we both know that is not my baby! I have never touched you or any other woman in my life!" "This baby could have been yours as a path to survival in this household if you didn't push me away so much! Do you know how hard I worked just to have a place in this home after you promised me to make me your legal concubine? And who exactly is tis other girl? She clearly has not reciprocated your feelings if she hasn't ever showed up around here, so why are you wasting your valuable time on someone who hasn't done anything for you? At least your cousin is better than her in that aspect."

"Now what the hell are you talking about?" "You know exactly what I am talking about! The little girl who follows you around this household like a lost puppy, who carries out your orders to defy me and humiliate me all of the time! The one that you have your eyes on al of the time! My god, why haven't I heard about this other woman before? Why are you only bringing her up now? Unless you are planning to throw her into this chaos just to cover for a disabled orphan? Is that supposed to be a joke?" "I have no idea what you are talking about, but I need to get some sleep. One of us at least needs to work to maintain out finances." "And what is that supposed to mean?" "It wouldn't hurt you to take up one of your old maid jobs to help our since I am now paying for two people that I am not even related to." "Now what are you talking about? Why can't I understand you?" "Getting pregnant by somebody else and trapping me with the situation is a move that I have never heard of before. Because if I deny that child in your belly, then I will look like an impotent fool just to the entire world just as I am in a pivotal point in my career. And now we are broth cramped up in my old quarters with hardly any leg room between us." "But you were never supposed to..." "To what? You didn't mean to steal my old bedroom from my cousin? Did you really think that I would let you occupy what is left of my mother's memory alone? You got us into this mess so you can work to help out with your expenses or ask the father of that baby for it. Because I will not let this continue, and I do not mind exposing to the world what a loose woman you really are."