♔ post system.

@❀ moon minsu Addressed to the House of Malva
1869, May 22nd

Minsusu,

I must say, your letters never fail to amuse me, though I must admit, even if it had been Hansol orabeoni who came across my missive before you, his heart attack would have come from a place of caring for my well-being. You, on the other hand, might have been quite glad to get me out of your hair for the season, wouldn’t you? Lest, I manage to put you into an early retirement as well if your heart was unable to handle me running away for even a moment.

Heh. I jest, my dear Minsusu.

I assure you, although I will be away from the capital and your magnificent wall of collected flowers and herbs, I will not slack on my studies. It is a challenge I wholeheartedly wish to partake in so I can prove to you that this brain of mine is more than capable of identifying every single plant you have with ease. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of laying a finger on your precious notebooks.

Now, onto the matter of matchmaking. It's not about proving my skills to you, my dear teacher, it's about broadening your horizons. And as for you being a bore of a husband, well, I highly doubt that. I'm sure there's someone out there who would find your company delightful, though I do hope they have a passion for botany and a tolerance for endless debates about the merits of herbal remedies.

As for what I do all day besides ransacking your study room and admiring your tulips, well, a lady never reveals all her secrets, now does she? As for your accusation of making up stories in my head with you as the main character, well, guilty as charged. But can you really blame me? You're such an interesting character to observe and study just like your collection of plants, Minsusu.

And don't worry, I'll make sure to bring back plenty of azaleas from Boseong, just to keep you from sending me to my ancestors prematurely. After all, what are friends for if not to give each other gifts from time to time? Now I wonder what gift you will have for me when I return besides your challenges.

Take care of yourself as well, Minsusu. And don't worry, I'll try my best not to make a fool of myself at Lady Boo's estate, though you know me well enough to know that I can't make any promises.

From the Boo Estate, House of Fig
Your mischievous student,
Yang Seoyul

@✿ cha kiwoon January 2nd, 1870.

dearest husband,

I hope this missive brings a smile to your face when you read it. by now, you should be on your way to office, and me, on my way to the food shelter. Pardon me if this letter sounds too formal, or in a way awkward, it’s been a while since I’ve written to you, or if I have even wrote to you, I’m not sure myself. I only have this pregnancy to blame… I jest. The little life we’ve created can only be heaven’s gift to us.

Speaking of which, I wrote this letter just wanting to tell you that I felt little sunflower kick for the first time today while I was enjoying a nice warm shower, I thought I odd to share this magical moment with you. Do you think they like the warmth from the water, or was it the juk they had this morning… ? or perhaps it’s a belated reaction to your voice when you greeted them earlier, but I wished you were there to witness it with me.

Nonetheless, do not tire yourself out at work, even if our country is facing a major crisis right now. e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶I̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶a̶g̶r̶e̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶m̶o̶s̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶v̶a̶l̶u̶e̶s̶ I’m sure we all want the best for our people, my lord. Do not be too harsh on them, or yourself. y̶o̶u̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶r̶y̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶s̶i̶n̶g̶l̶e̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶.̶

I’m definitely rambling now, but I hope this little missive brought a smile to your face and a great start to your day. this missive isn’t meant to be a distraction m̶a̶y̶b̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶i̶s̶.̶ but I look forward to seeing you back home e̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶.̶. i̶t̶’̶s̶ ̶e̶m̶b̶a̶r̶r̶a̶s̶s̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶a̶y̶ ̶I̶ ̶m̶i̶s̶s̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶b̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶e̶m̶b̶r̶a̶c̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶s̶n̶u̶g̶g̶l̶e̶s̶

I love you.

your ever loving wife,
해바라기

{ The letter was placed on top of a single-tiered wooden bamboo box, within it was a serving of osmanthus jelly and a serving of walnut cookies seonhye made herself. the items were placed on the seat of his carriage. }

@✿ jin jaeyong { delivered to the jin estate, addressed to lord jin jaeyong }

dearest sky,

Certainly, you would know that I look forward e̶a̶g̶e̶r̶l̶y̶ to each and every of your missives. it brings me i̶m̶m̶e̶n̶s̶e̶ joy to know that you still do think about me, perhaps, you’re right about my intentions, i’m glad to see it’s working out, my lord. but of course, i jest.

your letter worries me, do you not sleep well, dearest? perhaps, it would be a good idea to send you lavenders to help aid your sleepless night. o̶r̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶f̶e̶r̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶—̶ i’ll ask around for remedies to aid your rest. do you have plenty on your mind? or something that worries you? do share if you’d like. you have all my attention.

frankly, i might end up enjoying your presence than the flowers, but who is to complain? speaking about the weather, with it turning chillier, i’ve made you a dopo for the winter, lined with with fur, i̶ ̶a̶p̶o̶l̶o̶g̶i̶s̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶a̶f̶f̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶b̶e̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶q̶u̶a̶l̶i̶t̶y̶ it’s not much but i hope it keeps you warm during such unpredictable weather. your health is just as important as my health is t̶o̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶.

if duke jin allows, e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶n̶’̶t̶, i would love to come over, so perhaps i’ll see you tomorrow? if your schedule is free.

your little cloud,
구름이.

{ along with the letter was a the single-tiered bamboo box, the box was filled with mung bean cakes and green bean cookies handmade by gureum herself. apart from the box, was a neatly folded dopo she had made for him. The items were delivered by a helper of gureum’s rice cake shop. )

@❀ seo eunjeong { delivered to house of heliotrope, addressed to lady seo eunjeong }

November 29th, 1869.

Dearest Eunjeong eonnie,

the weather has started turning chillier as days are passing, i do hope that the weather has been treating you kindly. your previous missive has brought me great delight. now that life has gone back to a somewhat normal routine, I find myself being able to reply more often, I suppose you’ll be hearing more from me then!

In contrary to what people might think, Lord ahn and I are blessed to have Jihae, Jiyeon and Jieun in our little small family, it has been nothing short of a blessing d̶e̶s̶p̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶a̶p̶p̶e̶a̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶w̶r̶e̶t̶c̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶s̶o̶c̶i̶e̶t̶y̶ ̶p̶a̶p̶e̶r̶s̶ despite what the ton has to gossip about our official matrimonial status, lord ahn and I have said our wows and bowed to the heavens above and we do believe that if we do hold a ceremony in hanseong, it’s merely for the friends both Hyunki and I have, we do not have much people to invite after all.

I could not thank you more for taking on the role as their future governess, I highly doubt there will be anyone else suited for the role, other than you. I, too, will be rest assured that they’re in your good care and guidance, I do, however, pray to the heavens above that they’ve inherited Lord Ahn’s calmness and that they have not inherited my stubbornness for i fear that they might give you a hard time if it’s the latter.

with that said, Lord Ahn and I will be going back to Yangju for a little while, there are some cleaning and housing matters in my ancestral home that needs to be taken care of. Furthermore, I’ve heard that eommonim has caught the chills too, so I’ll be there to keep a watchful eyes on her, making sure she eats her medication and have ample rest, you know how stubborn she can be. i̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶u̶n̶f̶o̶r̶t̶u̶n̶a̶t̶e̶l̶y̶ ̶i̶n̶h̶e̶r̶i̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶ Hopefully with the three children together with us, Lord Ahn and I would be a be able to handle them, parenthood is something still so new to us despite being a mother of three. amusing really.

With that, I bid you a temporary adieu. w̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶L̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶C̶h̶a̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶k̶i̶n̶d̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶r̶e̶l̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶h̶i̶p̶?̶ I hope to hear good news from you always.

With much love,
Byun Haeryeong.

[post deleted by owner]

@✿ seol riah { delivered to the house of tiger, addressed to lady seol riah }

October 23rd, 1869

Dearest Riah Eonnie,

Once again, your missive has brought great joy to my mundane days, I now look forward for when Hana brings the letters in, plenty a times I look for your letters a̶n̶d̶ ̶j̶i̶h̶o̶o̶’̶s̶.

I’m glad that you’ve not chose the cowardice route and decided to face him t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶u̶s̶i̶c̶. I shan’t lie to you, but for the many years I’ve known Lord Moon, w̶e̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶h̶a̶n̶d̶s̶.̶his lordship is a very decent man. As I said in the previous missive, I highly doubt he would hold it against you, after all, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, doesn’t it, dearest riah? maybe you emerge stronger after this whole…. Incident. Do not allow it to deter your future in the office. F̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶,̶ ̶p̶e̶r̶h̶a̶p̶s̶ ̶L̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶M̶o̶o̶n̶ ̶h̶a̶s̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶i̶n̶t̶e̶r̶e̶s̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶’̶s̶ ̶ w̶h̶y̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶d̶n̶’̶t̶ d̶o̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶.̶ never allow a man to deter you. I̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶s̶o̶u̶n̶d̶s̶ ̶i̶r̶o̶n̶i̶c̶,̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶m̶e̶.̶ if he bullies you, tell me, I will not spare him from any chiding.

I miss you and eunbyeol eonnie very dearly too, I promise I will be back soon. Worry not, I will not allow myself to dwell on a heartache for far too long. Besides, with Yeonhwa eonnie’s wedding in a month’s time, you’ll have me back to your side! Please do not write to him. My lord probably has plenty to do, I would like to trust Lord Song on that B̶u̶t̶ ̶I̶ ̶c̶e̶r̶t̶a̶i̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶h̶o̶p̶e̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶a̶v̶o̶i̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶m̶e̶.̶

Do not jest, dearest eonnie, we all know who you fancy in hanbamman, I can’t be the only reason you’re there. However, we do not judge.

I’m missing you dearly, always.

your best friend,
ryu aera.

@✿ song jinye { delivered to the house of dove, addressed to Lady Song Jinye }

September 20th, 1869.

Dearest Jinye eonni,

I hope you do not mind that I’ve dropped the formalities between us. If it reassures you, your presence brings me comfort and ease knowing that i’ll able to lean on someone should a need arises l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶u̶l̶l̶y̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶m̶e̶.̶ ̶i̶ ̶j̶e̶s̶t̶.̶your letter has brought me much delight to my mundane days here in Gwangju, truthfully, I am not doing much here but simple chores and healing.

I do agree that your engagement came as a surprise to many, me included, after all, your engagement with Lord Im was nothing short of a beautiful fairytale. However, I do not agree that us, as daughters should be a mere chess piece in such a silly game of politics I̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶s̶a̶y̶ ̶i̶’̶m̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶a̶p̶p̶o̶i̶n̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶f̶a̶t̶h̶e̶r̶-̶i̶n̶-̶l̶a̶w̶’̶s̶ ̶d̶e̶c̶i̶s̶i̶o̶n̶.

It’s perhaps because i’m brazen and rash when it comes to certain decisions making—which, by the way, my dearest Duke Ryu has a lot to say about. But that being said, I do believe it’s my hastiness has only brought me greater good than bad, it has brought Jihoo and I together, and I do not regret a single bit. I̶ ̶a̶d̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶v̶e̶r̶y̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶.̶I do not regret standing up for my relationship and dishonouring an engagement that I never wanted in the first place. o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶a̶c̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶’̶v̶e̶ ̶e̶m̶b̶a̶r̶r̶a̶s̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶f̶a̶m̶i̶l̶y̶’̶s̶ ̶n̶a̶m̶e̶.̶ ̶A̶l̶l̶ ̶I̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶I̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶i̶n̶t̶o̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶’̶s̶ ̶e̶y̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶p̶e̶n̶d̶ ̶e̶t̶e̶r̶n̶i̶t̶y̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶l̶i̶f̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶e̶v̶e̶r̶.̶ I am an avid believer in following your heart, eonnie, I trust that it will bring you only to good places and into the arms of the you love and cherish. I am always praying for you.

Weather in gwangju has been nothing but short of perfect. t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶d̶o̶ I quite enjoy it, away from the hectic hustle and bustle of city life in Hanseong. I do not worry about office one single bit, I might even entertain the thought of resigning when I get back. however, I can’t fathom the idea of me sitting around and doing nothing. but we’ll see.

but with that, I bid you a temporary farewell in this letter. Do visit if time allows you, eonnie, Gwangju is a beautiful place to visit, our estate welcomes you always.

with much love,
ryu aera.

[post deleted by owner]

@✿ geum eunbyeol { delivered to the geum estate in seongnam, address to lady eunbyeol }

December 31st, 1869

Dearest Sunshine,

Pardon me for writing back so late. Trust me when I say your letter was the first thing I got to when I returned back to t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶n̶g̶ my estates.

It saddens me to know I would not be able to see you over the new year holidays, however, I’m sure you’ve returned back to your duchy for good reasons. I’ve belatedly heard about the famine happening all over our country. It’s truly concerning, I do hope that your presence and assistance will only bring ease and relief for your people. I’m praying that the weather will only get better and that infections will soon die down, I cannot fathom the idea of going through what our country had gone through a year ago.

I would tease you, nonetheless. Love makes you crazy, c̶l̶e̶a̶r̶l̶y̶,̶ ̶i̶’̶m̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶e̶ ̶e̶x̶a̶m̶p̶l̶e̶ but i’m sure, lord moon is going even crazier knowing that you won’t be spending your first new year as a couple. However, that is certainly not something to worry about, I’m sure there are many more years to look forward to.

Do inform Riah eonnie and me when you come back, write to us sometimes whenever you can. Your presence is greatly missed, it feels incomplete.

Missing you dearly.

your best friend,
ryu aera.

p.s thought this might be a nice gift for each of us when I passed by the market place while i was in gwangju a while back. According to the merchant, the threads was imported from Qing and the eunjangdo was crafted individually, that makes us each a holder of a very special piece. I’ve been meaning to give you yours upon my return since I’ve forgotten to pass it to you when you visited previously.

{ along with the letter was a small present placed into an crafted wooden box wrapped with a silk cloth. inside contain a hand-woven norigae with a small eunjangdo. https://i.imgur.com/mg9oryj.jpeg }

@❁ hong areum { delivered to somewhere in joseon, addressed to hong areum }

August 17th, 1865.

little butterfly,

Receiving your letter brings me great joy and delight. Nothing eases my heart more than knowing you’re being well taken care of by someone who love and adores you, who places you in utmost priority. I am truly happy that you’ve finally found someone to love you dearly. But dear sister, do not ever feel guilty for being happy or the happiest, as that all i’ve been praying and wishing for you. You, of all people, deserves it the most.

Don’t be silly, we’ve faced worse, besides, mama can’t really do much but ask me the same old dull questions daily. Knowing the old lady, one day, she’ll give up and accept the fact that, you’re in fact happy. I’m sure, reum-ah, she too, will be happy for you. For many years, our family has been faced with multiple misfortunes, surely, is this not one to celebrate. I’m sure, she’ll be happy for you, lord seol, and baby seol. She is, however, a grumpy lady, but I know when she receives you back into her embrace, there will be nothing but a smile. If anything, the sight of the little one will put a smile on her face. However, I can’t say the same for yeoreum, she bears too much hate within her heart, I fear that at such a rate, she might look older than you and me despite being the youngest.

I jest.

That sounds rather serious, is it not? I haven’t been pregnant before. But I do have a vague memory of you wanting to retch in front of everything I cook. I’m glad it’s Lord Seol that’s suffering this time. Please let me know if there’s anything you need and want that could send to you. Do not hesitate.

Nonetheless, I heard that motherhood is truly something magical. t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶ ̶I̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶I̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶e̶x̶p̶e̶r̶i̶e̶n̶c̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶,̶ ̶c̶l̶e̶a̶r̶l̶y̶,̶ ̶i̶t̶’̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶a̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶t̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶m̶e̶m̶o̶r̶y̶.̶ It’s nice to know you find joy in it. I will live vicariously through you. I’m more than happy to be an aunt!

i’m always praying for you, for lord seol and your unborn child.

with much love,
your little cloud,
gureum.

@✿ moon hyeongwon ✉ addressed to the office of inspection, to marquess moon hyeongwon, house of the moon; it was sealed in a velvet amaranthine envelope, one she’s procured from within the confines of her room; it bears the seal of the house of geum and smells like her room in winter — chamomile and powdery; along with this missive is a handkerchief stained with a kiss mark from her lips


⟨⟨ january 1st, 1870 ⟩⟩

hyeongwon,

your missive gives me such glee and amusement.

moon hyeongwon, you sound like a child parting from his favorite toy for the first time.

what ever shall i do with you, my lord? now my thoughts are filled with nothing but regret at not being by your side on this day, and as i read this letter over and over again, my longing has worsened. i do not believe that merely communicating with you in this way will stave off my need to see you. this is maddening, indeed.

as such, i am at an impasse — between seongnam and you, won-ah — but i must stay for awhile. i know that despite your whining, you will be patient. can you do that for me?

and oh, happy new year’s, seobangnim. my lips will be yours in the days that will come. i hope my gift will suffice.

yours,
eunbyeol

p.s. your audacity to call my handwriting ugly is astounding. i hope the paper cut you shall acquire from this letter will be deep to remind you of how vexed i am.

@❁ kwon bora ✉ dated early march of 1869.

　　✏ bora,

　　i trust this letter finds you in good health and spirits, and that you have been doing well in the time since we last saw each other. it weighs heavy on my heart that we have not spoken since the night of the gala, but i felt it was necessary for both of us to have some time apart, to allow our minds to clear and our hearts to settle before i dared to pen these words.

　　bora, you are right.

　　i have no authority to dictate your path, nor do i deserve to guide you under the pretense of sisterly duty for i have failed as your sister . . . failing to truly know you and failing to understand the struggles you face. in my misguided attempts to protect our family's honor, i lost sight of what truly mattered. you do not know me and i do not know you. we have not known each other since the day i first left to work in hanseong all those years ago.

　　we have become strangers to each other, separated by walls of silence and resentment. for too long, we have existed in the shadows of our own misunderstandings. it pains me to admit that i have failed you as a sister and that i have allowed our bond to wither away like a wilting flower. everything you have said is true, and for that, i am deeply sorry.

　　i am sorry for pushing you onto a path that has suffocated you. i am sorry that you had to learn about your infertility from someone other than me. i am sorry that my words and actions have caused you pain. and most importantly, i am sorry that the only thing i can do is apologize.

　　i do not seek your forgiveness, for i am uncertain if i am deserving of it. i cannot say with confidence that i would have done anything differently had i been given a chance to go back. i simply have been acting with what i believed was in the best interest of our family and i know that i have not always made the right choices.

　　however, if there is one thing i want you to take from this letter, it is this: you do not need to be better than me. you think you are not and that you never will be, but i think you always have been. you are already more than enough, just as you are.

　　you asked me once when we were younger why my name was better than yours. you said i was named after the celestial skies, but you were merely named a random color. that is not true. before mom found out she was pregnant with you, she had a conception dream about a great dragon that rose from the sea. your name, chosen with care and hope, carries the weight of our mother's prayers for your continued prosperity. your name was picked just as intentionally as mine was, for you are no less than i.

　　you have always been cherished, bora.

　　there are things i think we have yet to clear up and things that cannot be verbalized in a simple letter such as this one, and i have much more to say to you, but i needed you to know this until you decide you are ready to see me again. but if you choose not to after all that has transpired, i would not blame you either.

　　although i may not have been able to love you in the way you would have recognized, you have always been and will always be my little sister whom i will continue to protect even from afar. should you ever choose to reach out, i will be here, waiting with open arms and an open heart.

　　but until the day you are ready to face me again, know this: you are loved, you are valued, and you are never alone.

　　your foolish sister,
　　　　별

　　⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺

+ arriving alongside the letter is a beautifully crafted binyeo featuring one of bora’s favorite flowers, the osmanthus. it appears to be skillfully made by an artisan, made from pure gold and quality gems. ( https://i.imgur.com/WFhlSyT.jpeg )

[post deleted by owner]

@✿ kim yejoon ✉ addressed to the kim estate in incheon. dated december 27th of the year 1869.

　　✏ joonie,

　　please accept my sincerest apologies for the delay in my response. the duties of managing the household have kept me quite occupied, and i find myself grappling with the challenges of my new role as the lady of the house. however, fret not, for i am proving to be a quick learner, as you know me to be!

　　your letter was a lovely surprise that brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart in ways i cannot express. the generosity of your gifts was truly touching, and i am grateful for each thoughtful gesture. the lotus blossoms graced my vanity until they wilted, and the fruits were shared with the rest of my husband’s family, who send their thanks. and the portrait you painted of us now hangs proudly in our annex, serving as a cherished reminder of our special day for all that visit to see.

　　as for your apologies, i cannot accept them. there is no need for you to apologize, as i hold no ill feelings towards you. we are only human, after all, and i understand that you acted in a manner true to yourself. please, do not burden yourself with unnecessary guilt. i take no offense for what occurred the night we last met, nor do i hold anything against you. i hope it is not too selfish of me to ask that you do the same.

　　moving on to happier matters, i want to wish you a very happy birthday in advance! by the time this letter reaches you, you will have turned twenty-eight. how swiftly time flies! i am immensely proud of the man you have become since we first met, and i am honored to call you one of my dearest friends.

　　i have heard from eunha that you are busy with matters in incheon, especially with the recent challenges for the crops in this harvest season. while it is admirable that you are attending to the needs of your dukedom, please remember to take care of yourself as well. you would do well to remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup and it is crucial that you take moments to rest and rejuvenate. i hope you will indulge in some well-deserved relaxation on your special day, surrounded by the love of your family.

　　i will not keep you any longer, as i am sure you have important matters to attend to. if your duties ever bring you to hanseong, do not hesitate to let me know. it would bring me great joy to reunite and catch up.

　　until then, take care of yourself, and may this new year bring you abundant blessings and happiness.

　　happy birthday again, joonie!

　　with all my love,
　　　　高妍花 go yeonhwa

　　p.s. i asked for help making this from one of my ceramist friends, and it was my first time making such, so do not judge it too harshly!

　　⸺⸺⸺⸺⸺

+ arriving alongside the letter is a white porcelain vase that was obviously sculpted by a beginner. stars and constellations are painted upon it and glazed onto it in the colors of muted blues and silvers. ( https://i.imgur.com/fjRR9dM.jpeg )

@❁ im seohyang .
⟨ addressed to house of the birch tree — im seohyang. along with the flowers : https://64.media.tumblr.com/5a50124b0707209aee651e6e19df1a8f/afe940c513b85761-34/s1280x1920/4c4fd66df58752a41cb24a288dfd5d010606d3fb.jpg⟩

dear hyangie,

I have to send this by myself because I appreciate you ! and thank you so much for still thinking about me whenever you go. I hope we can see each other again soon! I can't wait for our new encounters. please know that I do care and hope for your well being.

also, you should tell me more about the guy that you took liking at ! I want to know if he's a good guy for you or no, he better treat you right, or else. this is a threat !

let's see each other soon.

faithfully,
yunhee.

[post deleted by owner]

@✿ jin jaeha 《 addressed to the House of the Haetae, one Duke Jin, dated May 29th, 1869 》

Dear Duke Jin,

I have received the flowers that you delivered to me and I must say, I am surprised that your taste in bouquets is so understated. This is by no means an insult to your taste, but rather, me expressing my earnest admiration that you even selected one in the first place. Or perhaps you asked someone else to pick on your behalf? Regardless, the bouquet will look lovely in my study, amongst family heirlooms that collect dust. A brief sign of life will lighten up the aura.

Speaking of families, how is yours? Given, you've lived much more of a life than me and we're only a decade apart in age, I suspect there is some exciting development in your family once again. But then again, you are the type to keep things closely guarded to your chest. So I will share something from my own family to break the ice, so to speak. My youngest brother is already looking to marry a young woman; how exciting! Marriage must still be a sensitive topic over there, as it is for me, but I am helping him, as it is my responsibility to do so. Marriage is something I've never aspired towards. I've seen and heard about too many failed marriages that I've become disillusioned to the idea.

Perhaps we are alike in that regard. The very thought of that makes me sick to my stomach.

Regards,
Duke Jang Ilseong
House of the Cardinal Bird

@❁ hong gureum [h] [ this carefully penned letter had no smudges or drops of ink on its page. instead, nestled within the folds, lay a small petal from one of the flowers she had gifted him. ]

little cloud,

i am touched to learn that my presence has had such a positive impact on your day. among all the interactions you encounter, it warms my heart to know that i hold a special place for you. i decided to place them by my bedside as their soothing scent aids in a restful night's sleep. as i admire their beauty, i can't help but think of you. perhaps that was your intention all along—to ensure you're always on my mind. but, of course, i jest.

even if my schedule is packed this weekend, i'll make time for us to enjoy these flowers together. please remember to bundle up, as the weather has turned colder lately. while i'm eager to see you again, your health comes first. whenever you're free over the weekend, feel free to visit my estate. i'll be eagerly awaiting your arrival, and if by chance i'm not there, someone will surely fetch me.

jaeyong

@❃ seo jung [ later in the afternoon, instead of his usual courier, jaeyong's friend arrived at sook to personally deliver the letter along with a bouquet of purple flowers for seo jung. ]

saera,

i appreciate your kind words and your concern for my well-being, even though i don't always see myself as deserving of such attention. i strive to make a positive impact and fulfill my duties, but i understand that sometimes circumstances can take a toll. rest assured, i am committed to preserving my health and remaining a strong and capable lord for you. there's no need for forgiveness; in fact, i'm grateful to have you by my side. perhaps we can share a meal together tonight? food does indeed taste better when shared with you.

your kind words are like fuel to me, helping me get through each day. i hope you're not just saying them to alleviate my worries about you. i apologize for sometimes being an overprotective mess, but i can't help it. i only wish to be of assistance in your pursuit of happiness. you deserve nothing but the best.

i finished some of my work early today and managed to steal a small break in the afternoon. i visited my favorite florist and found a beautiful bouquet that immediately made me think of you. unfortunately, my courier couldn't come on such short notice, but a friend of mine graciously offered to deliver the letter and flowers. thank you for always welcoming me with open arms, i'll see you tonight.

jaeyong

@✿ jang eundal ✉ addressed to Lord Jang Eundal : Jang estate : dated September 7th, 1869

　　✏ Dearest Lord Jang Eundal,

　You have no need to apologize for tardiness. You are a man of high status, I am sure your days are filled with quite a lot of tasks despite not following in the path of your brothers.

　Though a celebration would not have been what I would have expected to delay you. It does however seem as if you got to enjoy it, which is the most important factor. And may I express a belated happy birthday to you, though the day has already passed.

　You humour me with such statements. I am certain your mother and step mother both have candidates of far better stature, wealth and effluence than someone such as me, so I do not think we have need to fear them wanting to create a bond of marriage. That said, I do believe I have a chick that has not taken to hunting. She is one that would not have survived in the wild, but I have not had the heart to do off with her. Perhaps she would be suitable as a companion for your mother?

　Any time would be suitable, but I shall mark down this next Thursday and await its arrival with anticipation and hope. It sounds like it will be quite the opportunity, and I can not wait to see what amazing things I could learn from you.

　　Kindly,
　　　전순미

@❁ hong gureum [h] [ delivered to hong gureum of the house of white lotus, dated august 4th 1865 ]

To my prettiest cloud,

I must admit that seeing your letter has brought a smile to my face, even if I do feel quite guilty of leaving so suddenly. But you need not worry, my dear, as Lord Seol is taking care of me wonderfully. I still find myself in disbelief sometimes. I have never thought that this would be possible, being by the side of the man I've always loved. Life is still quite hard, having to hide my love away from the world, but better this than nothing.

I apologize deeply for leaving you to deal with Mama's questions. It wasn't my intention to simply leave, but... I fear that word may spread had Mama and Yeoreum known of what I have done. I am truly grateful to you, my dearest sister. Where would I be without you, truly? I fear I may not even be able to stand where I am now if it wasn't for you.

And I've been much better recently, though I still do have to deal with the usual morning sickness. It's surreal, really. I never thought I'd experience this joy again. ̶A̶m̶ ̶I̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶o̶w̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶b̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶p̶p̶y̶?̶ ̶A̶m̶ ̶I̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶o̶w̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶h̶o̶p̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶?̶ I have been eating well as well, though I'm becoming rather embarrassed of the lengths my husband has to go through just to be able to find me what I'm particularly craving for. ̶I̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶y̶s̶e̶l̶f̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶l̶e̶t̶ ̶l̶a̶s̶t̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶ ̶h̶a̶p̶p̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶g̶a̶i̶n̶

I know you will, sister. And know that for you, I will do anything. You are my dearest sister, after all. My other half.

I am happy. I am so happy I think I might cry. But I hope things are not too hard there while I am away. I promise I will come back. I will come back after my child is born.

Your little butterfly,
Areum.

@✿ chae seongyeom 『 ✉ : ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ ʜᴀs ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ! 』

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

for every year since we have met. please take care of yourself so that i may add on more next year as well.

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

⊹ a bouquet of 11 different types of flowers, each connected to an overall theme of romantic love.
⊹ https://i.imgur.com/XMxHlS6.png

[post deleted by owner]

@✿ geum eunbyeol 『 ✉ : ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ ʜᴀs ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ! 』

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

with much love

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

⊹ https://i.imgur.com/u8IzKz9.png

@✿ seol riah 『 ✉ : ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ ʜᴀs ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ! 』

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

with much love

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

⊹ https://i.imgur.com/4ubJabH.png

@✿ jang ilwoo 『 ✉ : ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ ʜᴀs ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ! 』

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

personally, i think your humble room lacks colours, therefore i’ll add them for you.

with love,
gureum.

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

⊹ https://i.imgur.com/HTcpxgd.png

@❀ choi shin 『 ✉ : ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ ʜᴀs ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ! 』

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

I hope spring has brought you delight, shin orabeoni.

fondly,
gureum.

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

⊹ https://i.imgur.com/Eh772Ac.png

@✿ jin jaeyong 『 ✉ : ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ ʜᴀs ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ! 』

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

i personally enjoyed the flower d̶a̶t̶e̶ viewing with you. till next time. b̶e̶l̶i̶e̶v̶e̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶w̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶i̶ ̶s̶a̶y̶,̶ ̶d̶e̶s̶p̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶b̶e̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶m̶o̶n̶g̶s̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶f̶l̶o̶w̶e̶r̶s̶,̶ ̶i̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶s̶e̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶.̶

reum-ah.

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

⊹ https://i.imgur.com/El2w8Ol.png

@❁ byun sangwook 『 ✉ : ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ ʜᴀs ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ! 』

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

perhaps a date under the moonlight once more?

your venus.

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

⊹ https://i.imgur.com/PBuVBls.png

@✿ ahn hyunki 『 ✉ : ᴀ ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀʏ ʜᴀs ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ! 』

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

to the love and the everlasting joy in my life,
for loving me always.

haeryeong.

· · ─────── ·⋆ ˚｡ ⋆୨❁୧⋆ ˚｡ ⋆· ─────── · ·

⊹ https://i.imgur.com/yZIyp1m.png