⁝ jin estate.

@✿ baek yejun “S-stop it,” she chuckles weakly through her sniffles, her cheeks reddening at his sudden compliment. When she feels his cheek pressed to hers, she draws a deep breath, holding onto the lingering feeling for the short moment it lasted. “I would usually not have been, but Bomi sent me an invitation. I could not turn down such a kind offer.” She smiled up at him as he pulled back, nodding her head a little at what he said would come. She knew they could not be seen somewhere like this, so she did not fault him for it.

For her it had been enough to be able to lay eyes on him from across the room, to feel the relief and joy of being in love. And to have his promise of comfort at the end of the day was enough to keep her strength up. “I will, my love. And I will wait for you with open arms.” As she would have for him any day he came to her.

Eun glanced around before placing a light kiss on his lips. “Be safe, my love. I will as well.” With her tears wiped and dammed back up, she got to her feet, taking a few deep breaths before walking back towards the main celebration. Bomi’s joy awaited, and she still wanted to be the one to sing the loudest in cheer for her. The gisaeng spared a final glance back at the Lord that had come to her aid, flashing a bright smile in his direction before leaving him again.

@❃ seo eun “Mmh..” Yejun simply hummed as his answer to her question. “She is beautiful but not as beautiful as you are.” He pulled back just enough for him to thumb away her tears. At least now he knew that it was happy tears.
“I don’t know that I’ll see you here.” He whispered softly, cheek pressed against hers as he held her back in his arms. His fear and worry earlier was forgotten. She was the only one he needed to calm and soothe his mind. Unexpectedly, she appeared at the right time.
“I know, love.” He whispered, lips stealing a kiss on her jawline. He sighed softly, puff of warm breath hit her skin. He felt extremely relaxed like the night shared in bed while cuddling with her. “I’ll stand as far as I could from you after this but once this ceremony is done, I’ll find you at Sook and I love you too… so so much.” He muttered, wanting to go back to their sanctuary so that he could spend his night there and had a calm of mind. He wanted to let her know about his fear but also didn’t want her to worry. For now, he would keep it to himself. She deserved to enjoy the party and be happy. He wouldn’t bother her with stuff regarding his family. He would continue his own observation on his father and brother before deciding what step to take next.
“Later… you can go back by yourself. I’ll be looking for somewhere quiet.” He whispered to her, allowing her to go whenever she was ready. Now that he had announced his meeting with her later tonight, he wouldn’t be holding her back for too long. Besides, he already had an answer to his concern and seeing that it’s not something alarming, he could relax.

@✿ baek yejun “Y-yejun.”
Eun had heald back enough until they were a bit away from the crowds to speak his name. The tears were still rolling down her cheeks as he hugged her tightly. Despite everything there was a comfort to it. “I’m just happy for Bomi. She looks so beautiful, don’t you think?” she answered honestly, trying her best to sniffle away the tears that seemed to worry his mind so much.

It was rare to see a wedding like this, but it filled her with hope, both for herself and for her friend. It meant some things could change for the better so long as those in their society with the bravery to take a step forward did. And Bomi and Jaekyung were just such a couple, even if it had all come so sudden. They were taking a step that could be hard, but could help others take similar steps in the future.

Her body leans in against his, taking in the momentary relief of feeling his arms around her. “We shant be away for too long, Yejun. This is Bomi’s special day. I want all focus to be on her and her husband today. And we should be there to support them as best we can, even if it means standing apart.” She sighed, hugging him back as best she could. “I love you so much.”

@❃ seo eun [22nd June, 1869 - After ceremony celebration]

This wedding ceremony wasn't in his plan for the day, at all. He disliked social gatherings and parties where a lot of people gathered around. He felt that always clouded his head and he needed to have a clear one for his muse and inspirations. Thus, quietness was preferred. Now, even better with a certain lady in his arms as he wrote his poems and stories just for her. However, he needed to do attend this ceremony to keep the family image, as much as he hated his father and Junwoo, he still needed to think of his little brother and sister.
Grettings and congratulations were said to the happy couple. At the same time, wondering when he could be as lucky as them. Drinks were taken a way to distract himself from the fear haunting him. Ever since his brother had brought Eun's topic up, it had become a topic of concern for him. It was only a matter of time for his father to know and he didn't want it to threaten the safety of his beloved.
Holding onto his cup of drink, he wandered around. He needed to look for a much quieter place. But as he made his way, his eyes caught sight of her white hair. Was he dreaming or was he drunk just from a few cups of alcohol? He didn't hear her telling him that she was coming to this ceremony at all. So, he stopped and he looked at her. Stupefied by her beauty as always. People around him didn't matter as he let himself lost in her. Standing there, admiring her beauty and he wouldn't be tired of arranging flowers of words to be spoken or written just to tell about her beauty. As his eyes freely ran all over her face, his brain finally caught up and brought him back from his little trance. small pout directly formed on his lips as his brows creased seriously. "I love you." he mouthed back but at the same time, he had made his way towards her slowly.
Determination shone in his eyes. He wanted to stop that tears, to provide comfort for her and shield her from everything that hurt her or make her cry. Secretly, he slid his hand into hers, intertwining their fingers to drag her away from the crowd, finding a place to hide in a quiet corner of the garden, just so that he could hug her. When they're alone, he pulled her into his embrace, the cup landed on the grass in a quiet thud as his lips found their way to her forehead before whispering, "why are you crying?"

@✿ baek yejun [ 22nd june, 1869 - After ceremony celebration ]

The rumors on the grapevine had spoken of the sudden wedding between the ever adorable Bomi and her future husband. It had been the hushed talk around the Ton as of late, drawing the attention of most that lived within the city walls. Eun had heard the rumours more than once, but had settled for being happy for her acquaintance and her partner. She might not have known the woman well, but she knew her well enough to know that if she loved someone she would do so with everything.

So color her surprised when an invitation to the festivities post ceremony celebration had arrived at the doorsteps of Sook. She had not hesitated about going for a moment. If Bomi had requested for an invitation to be sent her way, then she would be there to sing and laugh and cheer with joy for her friend’s future.

But she had not prepared herself for the emotional impact seeing the couple would be. Bomi looked so beautiful, more so than ever, a beacon of sunshine despite the streaks of tears on her face. Her smile was as bright as the north star, a constant that lifted Eun’s heart with hope for love to prosper forever.

And as her eyes found a familiar face in the crowd she feels the defences holding her together crumble. She had promised herself she would be all smiles and laughter the whole night, ready to fill any lull with songs of celebration. Yet tears had begun streaming down her face as she had spotted Yejun. The scholar had need not say anything, for his presence alone had brought a calmness to her soul that made it impossible to hold back her tears. She had stood at the corners of the room, waiting for their gaze to meet before having mouthed words for only his eyes:
“I love you.”

@✿ bae jihye “no matter what you have said in the past few days, i know you’re proud of him, daegam,” songchu tried his best to hold back his laughter, seeing the rather nostalgic smile on his master’s face. gone was the frustration and tension that was typically there, but not many would know this as the duke of ganghwa hid his face behind a fan, quietly watching the evening’s festivities when he was not busy thanking or talking to one of his many peers. however, he seemed to have two focuses that night, one was his youngest son, jin jaekyung. the same little boy that used to chase around the estate from the moment the child took his first steps. the same little boy that would rebel at every chance possible. the same little boy that went to war was married, ready to start the next chapter of his life and be a man.

jaeha playfully hushed the old man with his eyes still on his son, “nonsense. it was time for him to get married. at his age, i already had-”

“yes, yes, at lord jin’s age, you already had the precious marquesses and marchioness. while i know it was not easy and the young lord was not always around, you and marchioness bae did a wonderful job,” the attendant praised the duke, not out of a need to play up to the yangban gentleman like many others did tonight. rather as a father figure, songchu watched the two generations of jin men grow, advising and helping them in ways that the former duke could not for his family. like the current duke, he too had a proud smile.

however, the moment jaeha heard his ex’s name, his gaze was immediately fixated on her as she was not too far away from them. his second or perhaps his main focus of the evening, depending who was asked. it was a partly cloudy evening, but lanterns illuminated the estate that had rich dyed tapestries and exquisite folding screens painted by joseon’s best scattered around. some of the country’s most accomplished, wisest, and beautiful were at this event. yet, all of this seemed dull when compared to the duke’s former wife, bae jihye. she stood out in a sea of people, even if the moon had not been hidden by the clouds she shone brighter than it. she was her own star. just like the first night he laid his eyes on her, she took his breath away and there was nothing he could do about it.

there was no need for songchu to follow the duke’s eyes. the jin patriarch’s besotted, but remorseful, gaze told him everything. it was the same look he would have whenever watching the songstress from a distance or whenever he was drunk and alone in his annex. clearing his throat once, he spoke up, “daegam, you haven’t spoken to marchioness bae the entire evening. you should. it would be better if you did, especially in front of your daughter-in-law’s family. give them an ease of mind that their lovely daughter-”

jaeha huffed, finally his bewitched look was gone, “there isn’t any need to reassure them. of course they should know that lady hwa is perfectly fine with my s-”

it seemed to be a game of cut off, but this time the offender was not the elderly attendant. instead, it was the minister of work. he was a couple of years younger than the duke and his ex, handsome, and popular with women. unfortunately, recently single too. while not an expert of sorts at lipreading, what jaeha knew was body language. despite being a shorter individual, the minister seemed to have an incessant need to stay close to the songstress and even daring to lean in, as if the male and the former duchess’s similar height did not make it easier for them to hear one another compared to a taller and broader frame man like the duke. however, it was this body language that helped fill in the gaps and guesses of the minister’s whispers, to make the duke’s blood boil once again.

without hesitation, he darted to the couple. closing his fan with a harsh click and a slap in his palm, jaeha narrowed his eyes on his target, he sneered, “ah, minister. i see you have the time to talk to marchioness bae tonight. i cannot wait to read your office’s report tomorrow morning. after all, it’s been overdue by a few days at the very least. with that extra time spent, i can only hope there are not any mistakes. ones that can affect our say in your ministry’s future proposals.”

the minister’s charming smile fell seeing who approached them. there not even a need to hear what the right state councillor had to say, instead the other man bowed and bid his farewells in a rush. a particular sight like this had jaeha with his hands behind his back, his shoulders not as tense as before. what was the most evident about him was his haughty smile, remarking, “i see you and the minister of works were having a nice conversation.”

before he could continue, already he saw from the side was songchu gently waving his hands no, just enough not to draw attention to the scene going on. clearing his throat, the duke stole another glance at her, silent for another moment as he forgot what to say to her. she was gorgeous, even more so up close if that was possible. it was unfair she was allowed to grace this earth, a beauty that would make the heavens weep and sing songs about her. lost once again, he blurted out instead, “we did well. didn’t we? not just with how tonight’s going. i mean it. with all of the children. perhaps, lady hwa- i mean lady jin will fit in well. after all, jaekyung chose her.”

unsure how to recover from his potential rambling, he had to take a breather and stare at the ground, pulling off the impossible of not being stuck on her. however, it was in that moment, he saw a familiar bracelet. a piece made from white jade that had edelweiss carved into it, it was part of a set that he had made for her for their wedding day. it happened to match with his ivory and white jade gatkkeun made for that day too, the same one that he wearing now for tonight’s event. from that recognition, there was a bitter smile. had he never left her, they would had been married for twenty-five years this year. had it not been for the divorce, would they had been standing here together, somewhat peacefully? jaeha motioned his head to her wrist, carefully commenting “it’s a nice bracelet. where is it from?” he could not directly ask her if it was that same wedding piece, not wanting to know if she could not remember the bracelet’s significance. perhaps, it was better to be ignorant of such information. as a wise french diplomat told him years ago after ganghwa’s invasion, a learned fool is more of a fool than an ignorant fool.

@❃ ya aecha @❃ seo min @❃ seo jung @❃ seo hwa [h] @❃ seo eun @❃ noh danbi @❃ nam boram @❃ na soo [h] @❃ na garam @❃ kwon nabi @❃ kang yuna @❃ jung hana @❃ heo jinyoung @❃ gong sejoon [h] @❃ choi saemi @❁ yoon haewon @❁ kwon bora @❁ jeong hamin @❁ jeong dongmin @❁ im seohyang @❁ im insoo @❁ hwang miryeong @❁ hwang mijoo @❁ hwa gyeoul @❁ hwa bomi @❁ cheon suryeon @❁ cheon sunmi @❁ cheon sumin @❁ cheon suho [h] @❁ byun sangwook @❁ byun haeryeong @❀ yoo hanbyul @❀ yang seoyul [h] @❀ yang minkyung @❀ yang hakkun @❀ seo eunjeong @❀ ong miyoung @❀ ong kimbum @❀ moon yohan @❀ moon jinhee @❀ moon hansol @❀ kim seojun @❀ kim hyunjun @❀ kim hyunji [h] @❀ kim byungjun @❀ kang heejin @❀ jeon yunhee @❀ jeon yulhee @❀ jeon gyunwoo @❀ jeon dahee @❀ hwan yul @❀ hwan yeon @✿ yoon jiho [h] @✿ yoon hyein @✿ song jinye [h] @✿ song jihoo @✿ seol taejoon @✿ seol minhwan [h] @✿ seol juhwan @✿ seol ahreum @✿ ryu yeonhwa @✿ ryu songmin @✿ ryu minho @✿ ryu juyeon @✿ ryu aera @✿ park yeongho @✿ park yeonghan @✿ oh soojin [h] @✿ oh sejin @✿ oh jiyong @✿ nam ryung [h] @✿ moon raon @✿ moon jaehoon @✿ moon hyeongwon @✿ kim yejoon @✿ kim eunha @✿ jin onhui [h] @✿ jin jaeyong @✿ jin jaekyung @✿ jin jaeha @✿ jang hyukjae [h] @✿ go youngjae [h] @✿ go yeorin [h] @✿ go miro @✿ geum hangyeol @✿ choi sunyoung @✿ choi siwoo @✿ choi jiwoo @✿ choi jihoon [h] @✿ chae seonhye @✿ chae seongyeom @✿ cha kiwoon [h] @✿ cha kihyun @✿ cha jiwoong @✿ cha jiah @✿ cha hyewon [h] @✿ baek yunho @✿ baek yejun @✿ baek junwoo @✿ bae jihye @✿ ahn suji @✿ ahn hyunki @✿ ahn gaeun [h] ♡

〖 NOTE FOR ALL 〗
A non-mandatory event has started. Please refrain from posting any other replies in this room until the has concluded. Thank you!

ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ, ᴡᴇ ᴄᴇʟᴇʙʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏʏᴏᴜꜱ ᴜɴɪᴏɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴊɪɴ ᴊᴀᴇᴋʏᴜɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴡᴀ ʙᴏᴍɪ.

♡ ɪᴄ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 22nd june 1869.
♡ ᴏᴏᴄ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 19th - 25th february 2024.
♡ ᴠᴇɴᴜᴇ: jin estate.
♡ ᴘʟᴀʏʟɪꜱᴛ: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7EhSX_uxjNgs0TX1dAqGlMGdBq9Y2n4i&;si=9ajsM8gX_O4Zv9Ua
♡ ɪᴄ ɪɴꜱᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ: After the official wedding held at the Hwa estate, together with their immediate families and close friends, the Jin household has opened their estate grounds for an after ceremony celebration. The event will be held in the estate grounds, away from the main annexes. food and drinks will all be provided, and guest are free to mingle around.
ᴏᴏᴄ ɪɴꜱᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ: please feel free to post and start any threads in this event as per couple’s request.


〖 all mini events are not mandatory but participation is highly encouraged! 〗

@✿ jin onhui "of course, you can try." seojun reassured onhui with a gentle voice. watching her over her shoulder, a small lighthearted sigh escaped his lips as soon as the female gave up on her attempt. reaching over her, he grabs her hand with the brush to steady it, but as he does so, he finds her suddenly turned towards him. "have some courage in—" seojun starts, but soon forgets the words he had assembled in his mind, distracted their brief proximity. as their eyes meet, he feels an odd compulsion to bring himself closer to her, but he fights against it. the wine was really starting to take its effect.

"yourself." with a nervous gulp, he finishes his sentence and directs his attention back to the painting. carefully, with onhui's hand in his, seojun began to brush small yellow on the paper. unknowingly, his chin rests on the female's shoulder as she does so, his intense focus on getting the shape of the ginkgo leaf correct numbing awareness of his surroundings. "see? it's not so bad."

@❀ kim seojun “could i?” she asked hesitantly, not wanting to ruin his masterpiece. all the same, they idea of her having a hand in what would be a pretty vase she would put on display in her room was enticing. with the same cadence as a baby deer learning how to walk, she takes the paintbrush from his hand and lowers it slowly to the paper but she draws back quickly, unsure about how she would even try to replicate his intricate work. “how do i do this without ruining your pretty painting?” she turns to ask him, not realizing he was just over her shoulder. she turns back just as fast as she has withdrew her hand from the paper but this time out of a different sort of nervousness.

@✿ jin onhui acknowledging her thanks, he dipped his head in a small bow with a satisfied smile. "we can't have you getting sick." seojun whispered back as he dragged his brush outwards from the middle of the parchment to create more tree branches on the painting. his fingers no longer struggled to maintain their grip on the handle of the brush because of the chill. as predicted, he did not feel cold without his overcoat, attesting to the strength of the jin family's wine.

"i never thought of it in that way. thank you, that made me feel better about my abilities." seojun laughed at the female's sudden sincerity. a sudden idea, perhaps a drunken one at that, appears in the ceramist's mind. turning to onhui, he holds out the paintbrush to her. "would you like to try? it would just be a few ginkgo leaves, but i could help steady that pesky wobble of yours."

@❀ kim seojun her wide eyes only grow wider when the ceramist puts his durumagi, warm from his body heat, over her shoulders. it was a simple act that made her heart skip a beat. “thank you.” she whispers shyly, accepting the nth cup of wine that had now warmed her cheeks into a rosy blush. finishing the drink once more, she places the cup down to watch him work on the painting.

“that’s a long time to practice, and a lot of patience. in a way that’s also talent.” she shuffles closer to him, now that the awkwardness between them was diluted with drink and small talk. her eyes followed his hands as she admired his hands dance on the paper with such familiarity. “your hand is so steady, i never figured out how to not wobble when i’m holding the brush.”

@✿ bae jihye “if a simple snack bothers her that much, tell her that she can talk to me instead.” jaeha shrugged his shoulders rather nonchalantly, trying his best not to chuckle as he already envisioned how his mother would approach at him. before the announcement of his engagement, the current duchess advised him to never give his wife his full heart, to hold a piece back for him. after all, the woman was successful in having the upper hand in her marriage, if one did not include his father’s gentle and lovestruck nature. how the duchess would nag at her eldest son for surrendering to his wife every chance possible.

on the other hand, his father told him that a happy wife meant a happy life, an approach that the marquess followed all too easily. with a gentle squeeze of her handed a warm smile, jaeha nodded in agreement to her request, “besides, this might stop our little one from kicking so much. perhaps you’re not the only one craving something sweet. i’ll make sure to come home earlier tomorrow with something. is there anything my two girls want? i should probably get something for the boys too-” he stopped midway, turning his head for a second before quietly chuckling to himself, “maybe sweets are not the best idea if jaeyong is running about like he is now.”

their quarters were a stone’s throw away, a building smaller compared to the children’s, but grand and spacious even for a couple of their status. despite the short distance, it seemed private from the small garden and crepe myrtle trees in front that acted as the barrier between the real world and the private world they had in their residence. the fragile line of radiant pink petals that scattered their home’s walkway never failed to bring a smile to his face, the last obstacle of sorts before he had jihye to himself. it was the cross over this unofficial threshold did he finally stop his backwards stroll, but still kept to his wife’s side until he could help her up the steps.

“i’ll be back soon. i’ll do my best not to take too long,” jaeha flashed a smile and stole a quick peck to her cheek before charging over to the kitchen. unlike his usual confident stride he would have throughout his day, around the palace and at the family’s estate, he was in a mad dash. despite not wanting to awaken the kitchen attendant for this task, he dragged the older woman there, piling on any sweets they could grab onto the tray: full dried persimmons that resembled rubies, the largest pears that the duchess hid for herself, gangjeong of various colors, and yakgwas that dripped in honey. on the heavy tray, he somehow balanced two cups of apple cheong teas. this only had the woman about the midwife if she saw this scenario he left the kitchen.

despite the autumn evening breeze that cooled his face from his run, he tried to catch his breath when he made it back to their quarters. “i wasn’t too sure what to grab, but hopefully this can meet your sweet craving,” he said as he carefully placed the tray on the table in front of his wife. the most he did in settling down was placing his gat to the side rather than changing into something more comfortable. instead, he made his way back to jihye and the food.

“you should eat something while i’m working on this. you must had been hungry,” without hesitation, he reached for a pear and attempted to cut it, but the peels were far too thick and often cut in short strands. he tried his best to talk to his wife and have his eye on her, but often times he had to maintain his focus back on the rather sloppily cut pear, “you know what? about what you said, i’ll try my best to get a few days off. at the very least, come home earlier. whether or not i’ll be successful in getting jaeyong tired from running or jaekyung to laugh, that is somewhat questionable. about jaekyung, give our littlest one time. he loves you. you’re probably being too hard on yourself. not everything will be perfect”

for a second, jaeha is quiet as he finally cuts a couple of pieces of the pear and places them on the plate. a certain thought come to him that has him widening his smile, “is it possible to be happier than this? i wish we could stay like this forever. i don’t want this to end, but at some point it does. sometimes it scares me, to be honest.” there was tension in the air, evident from how he chewed on the inside of his cheek at his fears creeping up on him once again. however, he shrugged his shoulder, now lost in his words, “father tells me it’s a different sort of happiness or content that develops over time, one that is only understood with age. funny enough, he of all people said that many should strive for content rather happiness. that it can be a fool’s chase for most, not everyone is lucky to experience happiness like he has. however, is it silly to believe that we’ll always stay like this? happy that is. how can we not?”

@✿ jin onhui the female's honesty brought on another laugh from the ceramist. it wasn't common for him to have someone so invested in his work, let alone an audience. "i knew it. even with this durumagi, it's chilly." as onhui downed her drink, seojun wasted no time to undo the knot on his georeum and drape his navy blue durumagi over her small shoulders. "i agree, with this," he motions to the empty cup in her hand, "and that," seojun tilts his head to his overcoat that had been draped over the girl, "i'm sure you'll be nice and warm."

with a satisfied smile, seojun took the cold porcelain cup from her hand, and filled it once again with the drink for him. after his share, he placed another full cup of wine into onhui's hand. "who says you can't paint like me? it just takes some practice." the ceramist bit his lip in thought, which felt slightly numbed from the alcohol. he resumed painting the easier parts of the ginkgo as he continued to make conversation with the jin daughter. "it took me fifteen years to get this good. you should see hyunjun's work, he's even better than me."

@❀ kim seojun she takes the cup when he pushes it towards her, looking uncertainly at it with the prospect of sharing a cup of liquor with a male stranger. if her brothers and father knew about it, they wouldn't be too pleased. yet she couldn't bring herself to reject this nice man who seemed caring enough to ask if she was cold. lifting the cup to her lips, she downed the wine a little too quickly than she would have liked. but that solved the issue of the cold. the alcohol was strong enough to warm her quickly.

"i like to watch you paint, i wish i could paint like that." she tells him softly, barely able to keep her gaze on him. she meant it. as much as she liked art, she wasn't particularly skilled at it, or maybe, her mother was never around often enough for her to learn and she never did out of spite. "i'm not cold-" she begins but another stronger gust of wind hits, rustling the leaves of the sturdy ginko tree. "maybe just a little." she smiles in defeat, filling herself another cup of wine that turns away to drink before pouring one more for him. "but with this, we won't feel as chilly." she lifts the cup towards him earnestly, not realizing the effects of alcohol on them both.

@✿ jin onhui "jin onhui. pretty name." he echoed her name with an amused smile spread across his face. seojun had never encountered a girl so shy before, and despite presenting himself with a laid-back nature, he was actually panicking on the inside. he needed someone to talk to, and he didn't want to pass up this opportunity. "no need to thank me, this ginko tree of yours is worth the trek to come here." returning the bow, he directs his attention to the full cup. normally, he'd refuse it as he was too busy to eat anything for the entire day, but seojun couldn't bring himself to reject onhui's hospitality.

"thank you, miss onhui." glancing at the pink hue of her ears, he let out a light chuckle as he brought the cup to his lips. once again, the sweet, yet bitter flavor of the wine meets his tongue. seojun set the cup down on the ground before taking the flask, refilling the cup, and pushing it towards the female. he could already feel the effects of the alcohol starting to hit him. it wasn't called liquid courage for nothing. the wine enticed seojun to be more social. "i can't drink by myself, if you don't mind." he returned to work on the painting, but after the cold breeze tickles his nose, seojun quickly stops once again to turn to onhui out of concern.

"it's quite chilly out here—are you not cold? surely my painting isn't interesting enough for you to risk getting sick."

@❀ kim seojun when he starts speaking to her, she looks up at him briefly, flustered and shy, before quickly averting her eyes again. “i- i’m jin onhui. it’s nice to meet you.” she speaks carefully and politely just like she was taught in etiquette classes. “thank you for coming on behalf of your brother.” she lowers her head to give seojun a courteous bow.

there’s a heavy air of awkwardness between them that turns her ears pink and her cheeks warm. trying to busy herself so she wouldn’t look a fool in front of this stranger, she takes his empty cup and refills it to the brim once more. “h-here.” she offers him another drink.

@✿ jin onhui < fall 1866 >

it had been a while since seojun was able to do work outside of the stuffy workshop within his family's manor. would it be wrong of him to be thankful that hyunjun's schedule was immensely packed today and it caused his older brother to be unable to do the reference painting for their client's vase himself? probably. he wasn't much of a painter, but he always enjoyed variation in his schedule. this was finally his chance to escape the humdrum of his rather bleak home life and his recently ruined love life.

making delicate on the parchment, seojun did his best to emulate the natural beauty of the old ginkgo tree. he was hyper focused on the task, tunnel vision and all. sojun couldn't afford a mistake. if it wasn't detailed enough for hyunjun, he could only imagine and dread the disappointment that would unveil on his older brother's face. sure, they never talk, and sure they might dislike each other ever so slightly, but he didn't have the opportunity to impress anyone often.

in the corner of his eye, seojun could almost see a small figure approaching him. or was it just a small piece of dust floating by? he clank of the cup gets his full attention. turning to the female, he greets her with a small smile.

"oh, thank you, that is very kind." the air between them was slightly awkward as onhui's eyes avoided his gaze. was there something on his face? hesitantly, he reaches for the cup with his free hand before downing the cup. it was a bad habit of his to drink liquor all at once. the familiar bitter, yet sweet taste of alcohol runs down his throat, leaving him with a warm feeling his chest. it was far stronger than expected, but it left him craving for more.

"of course, you may watch—make yourself comfortable, drink if you'd like. it's rather chilly today." clearing his throat, he returns to his painting, but his brush can't quite touch the parchment yet. instead, it hovers over the unfinished ginkgo tree as a curiosity for the girl sparks within his being.

"i apologize, it was rude of me not to introduce myself." he bites the inside of his cheek, tilting his head as if it could make it easier for them to meet eyes. "my name is seojun, kim seojun. my older brother was supposed to come here, so i'm filling in for him. and you are?"

@✿ bae jihye amongst those that were on the grave hunting trip, there were none that would have benefitted from the loss of the eldest child of the jin family. less than a handful of trusted government figures and their sons had accompanied the duke and his eldest son on one of their famed hunting trips. there were arrows flying at the various wildlife that populated the forest, talks of significant court matters, and excessive boasting about whose son was the sharpshooter amongst the ton. despite their passing argument prior to leaving the residence and the annoyance directed at the greedy talks between the older men, the skill displayed by the marquess was worthy of praise, shooting every target with pristine aim and speed. the humiliation that fell upon the duke when his eldest son had decided not to take a position in the government all those years ago had fueled jaeyong’s determination to show that he was not a failure.

everything had went according to plan until the headache from this morning had gradually grew to one he had trouble enduring. he needed some time away for himself and so with that in mind, he made an excuse that was easily bought and left in search of larger prey. minutes later, the marquess was a considerable distance away from the group when his trusted steed, suddenly frightened and confused, had thrown him off. several masked assailants armed with swords and hidden motives had circled around as he instinctively took hold of his weapon, a brand new single-edged sword gifted by his father for his twenty-first birthday. that was less than a month ago and now here he was, approaching his end.

blades slashed through the air, jaeyong displaying incredible skill and technique that kept him alive throughout his dance with death. this was not the way he was going to leave this world. what about his family? notably his loving mother and dear sister? he was their knight in this dangerous world and so, he couldn’t leave them now. not anytime soon. the marquess fought fearlessly in the brutal confrontation, using every ounce of strength and grit to fend off the attackers until they retreated further into the woods, leaving him bloodied, battered, and alone. slumped against a towering tree, ironically a symbol of resilience that seemed to grow distant as his world started to turn dark. “i’m sorry,” were the last words said before his eyes came to a close, seemingly for the last time.

for the unforeseeable, he would be in a coma that clouded the family with worry. his disappearance that day had especially sent his father in a flurry of panic, sending search parties that did not end until he was found. a woman strolling in the woods had found him on the brink of death and saved him, bringing the unknown man to be treated at her residence.

still, he had yet to gain consciousness. this continued for days until he began to enter a minimally conscious state, where he attempted to respond but ultimately couldn’t. unexpectedly, the marquess began to stir, feeling ever so confused about his whereabouts. this was his own quarters in the residence, yet it felt so foreign. everything around him was difficult to decipher as his eyes blinked away the bright day that flooded his senses. the futile attempt to sit up on his own brought upon a series of pain across his body that caused a sudden pained groan pass.

@❀ kim seojun a chilly breeze wafts through the jin estate, causing the branches of the evergreen pine tree to quiver ever so gently. autumn had made her presence known with the sudden dip in temperatures. for most homes, it was an unwelcome change of the seasons but here at the jin’s, autumn meant that the ondol would be fired up and while the outside world remained exposed to the changing of the seasons, their home would always be warm. the reddening of the trees also meant that it was jeungpyeon season. every year, when the leaves begin to take on their golden hues, the jin estate would pull out their homemade rice wine to make the soft and chewy rice cakes. there was a hint of rice wine in the air today as a fresh batch of rice wine was uncovered today. summer was too warm for the fermented drink but now that it was a little cooler, it was the perfect time for the sweet and cloudy treat.

onhui scooped some of the drink into a flask next to a small wine cup. what was once a drink of poor farmers and labourers, the shortage of rice in the more recent years meant that only aristocratic families like the jins could afford to produce liquor. out of good faith she wanted to give some to the craftsman she had invited to come paint a vase she had asked her father to commissioned for her. pouring a generous amount into a flask and a wine cup, she trots leisurely to the back garden where her favorite tree stood.

she loved that old ginko tree dearly, with its bright gold leaves now that autumn had fallen upon the land. it had branches low enough that she could rest on when she wanted to be alone with her thoughts.

soon she would have to leave her family home to be someone’s wife now that it was almost time for her to make her debut. so before that happens, she wanted the image of her favorite piece of her home immortalized into porcelain so she could bring it with her, wherever life may take her next.

the craftsman was focused on his artwork, the branches of the tree taking shape quite nicely on his pieces of paper sprawled out before him on the ground. kneeling down to place the drink next to him, she takes a look at him properly. rarely does she get to be near someone of another gender who wasn’t a relative so in her curiosity, she takes a few more glances than she should, and then at his hands putting life and color into empty sheets of paper.

she used to paint once. before her mother betrayed them all. but before she could fall into darker thoughts, she realizes her presence has disturbed him.

“oh- this is for you.” she tells the man shyly, gesturing towards the wine. “can i watch you?” she asks, not really daring to meet his eyes now that he was looking back at her.

@✿ bae jihye had anyone asked jaeha what happiness looked like to him in the days leading up to when he first laid eyes on jihye, he would had answered that it was serving his country and being a proper son for his family to be proud of through his studies and work. he would follow whatever expectations were laid out for him. it was not a matter of if he could, what mattered was that he went above and beyond. emotions seemed foreign to him in that time when he was busy burying his nose into his books, scrolls, and work. however, that changed with jihye. seeing her perform for the first time, his world did not follow a set of rules, formulas, responsibilities, and traditions anymore. it centered around her.

happiness finally had a meaning from that moment on. from their first meeting to their marriage, he did not think he could reach a higher level of joy. then with each son, he learned gradually that these sorts of limits were almost pointless when he always was in this state. how could he know what the next level was and felt like? now here he was, beaming at his wife’s words. even her calling him her love brought a certain bliss that no one else could.

leaning his head into her hand, jaeha quietly laughed, “it sounds like someone had a better day between the two, or three of us. i didn’t mean to forget you, little one.” noticing his wife’s hand at her stomach earlier, he raised a brow with an all too amused grin, “i’m assuming she was kicking earlier? based on her other kicks i felt, she is going to be on the more vocal side of the bunch. that’s not bad. however, i don’t know how i feel about the late night crying.”

a quick glance to ensure that no one else would bother them, he turned his head for a peck onto her palm. one was not enough though, stealing one more before continuing, “i’m sorry for coming home this late, especially with how close the due date is. sometimes it feels like i’m missing out on too much here. the boys are both becoming big brothers. jaeyong is getting bigger by the day.” he had to stop, pecking her hand again, “there never seems to be enough time to spend with you.” for a moment, he pursed his lips while reflecting on his words. sacrifices were always going to be made. however, that look did not last for long, returning back to smile, “you aren’t too tired from standing? we should grab go back to our room.”

reaching for jihye’s hand, the young nobleman started his backwards walk towards the courtyard. he kept his pace slow, careful when helping her down the steps. at times, he turned his head back to check if anything was in their way. those simple glances seemed to be difficult to do with jihye in front of him. his gaze was fixed on her. the moonlight and few lanterns gave her a glow, as if she was the fairy from the tales his mother used to tell him. people would say it was love and their age that made the world seem dreamy, but with her fantasy could become reality.

a rather impish face came about before he chuckled, “i know you’re sick of tired of teas and the midwife might be upset with me, but maybe we could sneak in a snack before bed? to be honest, i don’t want to go to sleep just yet. i want to spend a bit more time with you if that is alright.”

@✾ aisin gioro. xuening had there been any recollection of the memories he shared with her, jaeyong would’ve welcomed the news of their engagement with open arms, considering the degree she meant to him. their promise to start a life together was one he meant wholeheartedly and it surely would have come true if he hadn’t disappeared.

to ensure xuening and zihan’s belongings were safely brought to the jin family’s residence, he parted ways with his betrothed and her lady-in-waiting early on. the lively nature of hanseong and its abundant marketplace were enough to keep any person with an open mind preoccupied for some time. their time apart after the long journey from her homeland to his own had given him space that was much needed.

the familiar feeling of affection wasn’t a simple matter he could shake off, not now and probably not ever. the moment he laid eyes on her, it felt as if a dozen butterflies fluttered in his stomach, a reaction he often had while around her all those years ago. she rendered him a stuttering fool in front of her family, which thankfully was laughed at as they thought the arranged couple were a harmonious match.

when he arrived at the estate, preparations for the aisin gioro family were underway with servants tidying up the sisters’ personal quarters and unpacking their belongings. he navigated past to check on his family members but it seemed as if their (not so) early arrival mismatched with their personal schedules. upon their arrival on land, he was given the news that his father wouldn’t be able to welcome them until tomorrow and frankly, it bothered him to a small extent. this marriage was his father’s doing, a ploy to attain power and status, all which jaeyong had no interest in, and here he was, late to greet his future in-laws.

unlike the spirited demeanor he’s often known for, he stood idly in the back of the home with his head buried deep in his hands. now that he was alone, he was able to dig into his thoughts and question the affection he had for her. it couldn’t be that he experienced the ‘love at first sight’ phenomenon.. for the woman that his father chose as his wife? no, it simply wasn't. her astounding beauty was the sole reason for the affection and that affection would surely wear off, just as their arrangement would end in due time.

while he denied himself the possibility, the lack of footsteps around the estate signaled that she must’ve arrived. jaeyong brushed the thoughts off, diverting his attention to welcome her but seeing as her presence wasn’t anywhere near, he left to find her whereabouts down the nearest pathways and eventually, the marketplace. concern grew since he knew hanseong could be dangerous for an affluent woman of her status and it was his mistake to think that it would be sensible to leave her unattended.

though, it seemed his mistake was believing that she needed a protector. despite being a sheltered princess, an assumption made up by jaeyong, she was more than capable of handling herself. after minutes of running up and down the paths that led to the marketplace and searching the bustling area, he came back to find her standing at the entryway with her lady-in-waiting. "公主," he caught himself calling out for xuening in her native tongue, switching to his own soon after, "make yourself at home." albeit against the arrangement, he was not one to treat a woman in a deplorable manner. gesturing for her to walk in first, he followed a few steps behind with an apologetic smile. "things came up so unfortunately my family won't be here to welcome you right away. before i show you where you'll be staying, we can take a look around the estate to get you familiarized."

@✿ bae jihye autumn. 1847.

it seemed to take ages for jaeha to finally close the door on his oldest son, jaeyong, who was deep asleep a longtime ago. the two year old barely crawled from his blankets when his father arrived, maintaining the same struggle to stay awake just for a few seconds, eyes fluttering as his head bobbed while he loosely latched onto the man’s clothes. however, it was the marquess that had to lay his son back down, reassuring the toddler that he would not leave, but it was most likely a lie. despite staying late at the palace to finish up his work as one of the ministry of justice’s newest members, he would have to return early in the morning once again. missing out on seeing his children. at times it seemed as if he saw the king in the flesh more often than his sons. yet as jaeha pat his oldest boy’s back and hummed him a tune his mother used to sing for him, he remembered that these long days and nights away from his family were not in vain.

they were for his family, for her.

in a world where it took days for letters to be sent and hours to reach the next town, bae jihye’s name and beauty were known across the nation from the capital of hanseong to dokdo’s most remote village. considered a rare beauty of the ages, the marchioness of ganghwa put the legendary jang huibin to shame. though not as known for her singing until later, she rivaled that of jang noksu. unlike joseon’s greatest femme fatales, jihye had something they could never possess, a heart. one that matched her heavenly sent beauty and voice.

it was difficult to tell what took his breath away first. perhaps, it was her clear doe eyes and her smile that turned her elegant features innocent in an instant. or was it her voice that could move an audience to whatever emotion she desired of them? it was these traits that enraptured him from the moment he first laid eyes on her, but it was her heart that sealed his fate. his soul would always belong to her. every day, jaeha found a reason to fall in love with her all over again.

a late evening like this gave him another reason to. although she was weeks away from giving birth to their third child, his wife still waited for him by their son’s room. many of the palace officials would joke that jaeha was one of the few men left in joseon excited to rush home to their wives, but in that moment he had to take a step back to admire her. there would never be a day where jihye did not make his heart unsteady, somehow moving fast and slow in one go. if she did not have that effect on him, was she bae jihye and was he jin jaeha?

wrapping his arms around her shoulders from behind, the young marquess was careful as he pulled her close to him. already he could feel a certain weight lifted off of him, letting out a long sigh of relief. he turned his head to his wife, “you didn’t have to wait for me. it’s late and you must be exhausted from watching the boys today.” a quick glance down at jihye’s growing stomach had him chuckling to himself, but all too certain with his following words, “plus our little girl. no matter what everyone else is telling us, i know we’re having a girl.” as he continues, he cannot peel his gaze away from his wife’s belly that has him smiling all too wide, but still does his best to listen. “how are you though? hopefully mother wasn’t nagging at you too much. i understand she has her difficult moments, especially the past few weeks. she cares about you and the children, maybe just a tad much at times.”