⁝ yoon residence.

@❁ yoon haewon [h] When she had heard of her older cousin volunteering for the frontlines, her heart raced. Cousin Haewon, who had been through a loss and with little knowledge of medical practice, to serve the country alongside her? Even Seohyang did not dare to beg her to stay safe, when her intentions were (though foolish) were noble. Hence, she had promised to not let Haewon come back with a scratch to her aunt and uncle, though it was obvious she had utterly failed to keep it.

Seohyang frowned as Haewon relayed her apologies. "Why would you be a bother, eonni?" she chided softly, facing the other to relay her genuine worry for her. Bloodlines has never been a bother to her, not when Haewon had accepted her so willingly the moment they were introduced. And surely, tending to her cousin's wounds was only a tip of the iceberg to what Seohyang would do for the older. "You will never be a bother to me."

She shot Haewon a reassuring smile before beginning to unwrap the bandage with careful yet practiced ease. The scent of herbs mingled in the air, Seohyang whispered an apology in advance as she scraped the herbs from Haewon's hand. A sigh of relief escaped her as the discoloring of her fractured hand began to disappear, "I'm glad it looks like its healing."

After inspecting for a while more, the physician's assistant began to apply the compfrey poultice she had prepared to replace the previous batch on her cousin's hand. "I know you'd be itching to help around the shop but, please, take it easy," she advised, glancing once a while at Haewon's face.

The year has definitely been harsh on them both, and moreso Haewon. And if anything that will chip her heart bit by bit was the news of her beloved ones in pain. Seohyang muttered softly, all the while setting her gaze back on Haewon's hand, "I don't like it. . .seeing you hurt and in pain. I wish this year would gift health and happiness to you, eonni."

@❁ im seohyang With the war finally coming to an end and peace finally returning to Hanseong, so did the mundane lives of its citizens. For many, they were spared from the treacherous war, and for some, not quite so. Despite returning from the front line safely, fate did not spare her from injuries.

Many would have called her silly, in particular her parents, when she had volunteered to partake in the war by going to the frontlines. While it wasn’t something her parents wanted her to do, it was not unexpected given her personality, especially not when she wasn’t one to sit around and do nothing in such tumultuous times, extending help to those who were in dire need.

“I'll set it up. You need not lift a finger!" Her cousin’s voice pulled Haewon from her myriad of thoughts as she revisited the grave scene at the frontlines. While Haewon only came back with a fractured wrist, the image of the countless bodies that piled up in a mass grave remained etched in her mind, like a nightmare that plagued her mind.

Haewon watched as her cousin laid their bed on the sidelines, gratitude written all over her visage. Her mother would have nagged her for being bothersome, but Haewon couldn’t be more thankful for Seohyang’s presence, which helped distract her from the chaos that brew within her mind.

“I’m sorry to bother you, Hyangie." Haewon apologized with a sheepish smile that accompanied her words as she sat down in front of the others. On the makeshift table, she extended her bandaged hand, wrapped up with a mix of various herbs that would help with the healing.

@❁ yoon haewon Backdated early January, 1869.
⸺

The clouds were persistent tonight as it had been throughout the week, rendering the sky to become starless. Cold bit the tip of her ears and nose as Seohyang spaced out near the window. With her hands folded above the window frame, where she rested her chin, the young miss blankly stared at the snow covered yard.

Remnants of war linger in the chambers of her memories. She was fortunate to have been spared with mere scratches while her most beloved ones. . .were inflicted with heavier wounds. The pain that showed with crinkles on their face and muffled hisses due to their injuries, made her wish it should have been her instead. Yet she had to count her blessings, how they were all able to readjust to their mundane routines despite the ghost of war lingering in the shadows. With a sigh, her breath materialising into thin puffs of smoke, Seohyang drew the windows shut just as the door to Haewon's room parted.

"Ah, hold on, cousin!" The younger hastily stood where her aunt had stacked two sets of beddings and pillows. She had been too deep inside her head to forget about setting up their beds for the night. "I'll set it up. You need not lift a finger!"

Seohyang had proposed to spend the night at the Yoons, after not having the chances to bond with Haewon given the many unfortunate events that had befallen both of the cousins last year. She did not have the opportunity to comfort the older as much as she would have liked, nor worry enough as her own problems hammered into her life. Hence, as peace returned, Seohyang arranged for a cousin bonding night. At the same time, offering to personally tend to Haewon's healing wound.

Once the bed had been made, Seohyang retrieved the medical supplies she had brought over and sat down on the fairly warm wooden floor, patting the space in front of her. "Come sit, eonni, I'll tend to your wound before we retire for the night."