Note: Jumin is rich aristocrat. Zen is a kisaeng (Korean Courtesan but not all Kisaeng sells their body). Jaehee is the Han mansion housekeeper. Yoosong is the page boy. Jihyun is Jumin's best friend, a rich painter explorer. Saeran is the assassin. Saeyoung is the spy. Rika is the leader of the performing troupe.

'Young master, I'd like to apply for a leave of absence for tomorrow morning,' said the lady with brown hair and brown eyes, looking extremely tired juggling with her responsibilities as the Han household housekeeper. The young man she was addressing to, stops his writing and places his brush aside, grey eyes rolled while brushing his messy black hair to the back. 'Is there anything important that you must leave that evening?' 'There's an acting troupe coming to town today. They will be performing at the city square tomorrow. This group is famous for their songstress. When he sings-' 'the birds will stop singing . Yes, you told me many times.' Jumin interrupts Jaehee's speech before she could continue with her more than enough explanations. Jaehee stood still in her position, thumbs rubbing under her hanbok pleat, hopeful for a positive response. Jumin adds on 'you must be aware that we still have much things to do?' Jaehee sighs in disappointment. 'It's fine then, young master. Please pretend that I never asked.' She bows and was about to leave when Jumin calls out to her. 'You have my approval.' 'Huh? Really, young master?' 'Yes. But please at least try to complete your work before that.' 'Thank you, young master.' Jaehee hurriedly left with a skip in her pace, happy that she can finally attend the performance.

The Han family is the wealthiest household in the whole of Joseon. They dabble in various fields from agriculture to prime land ownerships and to trades with foreign countries. It is said that their wealth and influence are far much greater than the ruling class and the royal family themselves. The previous King even raised their social ranks to that of yangban, the ruling class and of royalty, even though none of the Han family members hold an office or rank within the government or even married anyone of royalty. It was part of the reward to the many deeds that the Han family had done in the past. One of them was during the great famine last year, the government's grain warehouses ran out of stocks as they were not prepared with the scale of the natural destruction and to buy grains from the neighboring countries would mean emptying the already depleting coffers. This would also spread news to stronger enemies up in the north of their weakened state. Due to these reasons, the Han family agreed to help to open half of their warehouses. Their assistance greatly helped the nation to endure the hardship.

Jumin was on his way to one of the many warehouses they owned as part of his inspection job that his father has placed upon him. His carriage stopped on its track. Growing annoyed at the time wasted and loud sounds of beating drums, he asks 'Coachman Kim, why are stopping?' 'I'm sorry, young master. I don't think we'll be able to proceed until the entourage is over.' He snapped 'What entourage?' He lifted the shade that acts as a barrier between him and the outside and saw a large crowd gathering along the market street as a group of people in fancy get-up make their way along.

As the entourage crosses his path, his eyes caught on a certain albino with long braided white hair and red eyes. He asks 'Is that the person Jaehee has been talking about?' 'Yes, sir,' Yoosung answered. Jumin lips curl into his trademark smirk and commented 'Interesting.'

Yoosung is the page boy currently working with the Han family organization. Jumin scouted him when he refused to take the national examination despite his intelligence as he has no interest to be a minister.

'Get me the best seat for the performance tomorrow. I'd like to see it myself if he's as good as they claim to be.'

At the night of the performance, Jumin bumps into his childhood friend at the venue entrance.

'Good evening, Jumin. It's been awhile.'

'Oh, Jihyun, I've not expected to see you back now. How have you been? What are you doing here?'

'Always with the lack of greetings. I'm even more surprised to see you here as you were never interested in performing arts, especially the travelling ones.'

'Let's just say I do for now. Would you like to join me? I've got the best seat in the house.'

'Of course. With pleasure.'

Jihyun is more curious about Jumin's sudden interest which he found out soon enough that it was due to a certain songstress as he watches Jumin's expression throughout the show. At first Jumin was captivated by the beautiful albino songstress when he step onto the stage, and then he was awestruck when the songstress started to sing. This voice he was hearing was totally different from anything he had heard in his entire life. Sure he has his own performing troupe back in his household to perform for any visiting guests and everyday he would be forced to listen to his father's many concubines singing to win his father's attention.

After the performance, Jihyun was amazed to see Jumin's various change of expression in a single night so he asks 'Would you like to meet the songstress?' Jumin was thrilled at the prospect 'Can I- I mean, Can we?' Jihyun lightly laughed at his sudden enthusiasm 'Maybe. I happen to know the leader and owner of this troupe.'

But the leader and owner of the troupe is not entirely pleased to see a stranger, much more at the backstage.

'As you must know, Young Master Han, we're a very well-established performing organization. We sell arts and performances, not our body. We do not simply let anyone meet our performers especially Hyun.' Jihyun tries to persuade her. 'Rika, he just want to meet him, that's all. I promise there won't be any hanky-panky. Right, Jumin?' He nudges at his friend. Jumin adds on 'Look. I don't want to waste mine or yours time. What can I do to gain your trust?'

Rika ponders for awhile. 'We could use some better place to sleep throughout our stay here...' Jumin immediately turns to Yoosung and orders 'See it done.' 'Yes, Young Master.' Yoosung hurriedly left to do the task. Rika sighs in defeat. 'I can see you're pretty adamant about meeting Hyun but no one has been able to persuade that boy, not even me. But I think there is one way we could try...'

At each city that they stop to perform, Hyun has a secret place he would secretly sneak out to every night right after they clean up the stage. Hyun prefers the solitary in his secret hideouts. In this city, he found the perfect place. Up in the small hill not far from civilization, there was a large willow tree with its trunk bent over the pond sustained by slow running river nearby. He took off his shoes and climbs on the tree. As he stood on the tree trunk, he leans onto the other branch as he gazes upon the starry sky.

'It's really a nice view huh?'

The sudden intrusion made Hyun jumped scared and lost his balance. Jumin rushes over and managed to catch him but he too lost his balance. They both fell into the water, drenched. They were lucky that the water body was shallow.

'I'm sorry to have startled you. Are you alright?' Jumin asked.

'How the hell you know I'm here? Who are you?' Hyun tries to move away but slipped back into the water. Jumin tries to help him up but Hyun slaps his hand away. 'I followed you here from the city square.' 'You what? Are you a stalker or something?' Jumin smiled at the irony. 'Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. I just want to get to know you.'

'You're a creeper.' As soon as he regain his composure, he quickly walks away. Jumin quickly calls out to him before he lost him into the darkness of the night. 'I'll be waiting for you here.'

Back at his home, Jihyun was waiting. Seeing his friend drenched from head to toe, he knew something went wrong but he mockingly asks anyway 'So, how's the meeting go?' Jihyun was somewhat relieved to see Jumin smiled.

'I think it went way better than expected.'

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