Disclaimer: The SKKS-verse belongs to the creators of Sungkyunkwan Scandal. Also, credit and much gratitude goes to Skylilies over at AO3 for Master Gu's big idea. Thank you very much!

Author's Note: Thanks to MK, R Unworldly, and khairunnisa for reviewing!

Chapter Ten

Despite Chae-mi's misgivings, visiting Yong-ha's family first made perfect sense since they were the only ones, apart from the betrothed "couple," who were privy to the truth. The customary formal introduction gave the conspirators the perfect pretense to gather and assess the situation in greater detail.

Nevertheless, Iseul couldn't help but feel nervous as she and Chin-hae arrived at the Gu family estate. Her stomach roiled unpleasantly, and all of her grandmother's well-meaning instructions for making a proper first impression tangled together like a mess of noodles in her head.

"Are you sure you will be all right here, agasshi?" the Kims' manservant asked her. He needed to run some household errands in the marketplace, but had offered to stay and offer moral support if needed.

"I'll be fine," she assured him with a confidence that she didn't really feel. "Please don't worry about me."

He nodded. "Well, then, I hope your visit goes well. And remember, agasshi," he added as he handed over the bundles he had carried for her, "that even though our family might not be as wealthy as Master Gu's, your grandparents raised you to be a lady."

Iseul smiled despite herself. "Yes, they did. Thank you, ajusshi."

"I'll come back for you in two hours."

He's right, of course, she told herself as Chin-hae took his leave of her and she removed her shoes by the front step. Just mind your manners, and everything will be fine. Besides, you're not really visiting your in-laws.

A maid escorted her to a front room, where Yong-ha was waiting. He looked Iseul over appraisingly as she entered, but instead of bestowing a florid compliment (or insult) as she thought he would, all he did was nod and say, "The rush job turned out quite well."

"I think it turned out beautifully," she agreed. "Please thank your seamstresses for me."

"I will. They'll be happy to know that you like their work. Now, let's take a closer look at you." He stepped closer and, ignoring the maid's scandalized giggle, tipped up Iseul's chin towards the light. "Are you wearing powder?"

"Just a little," she replied, glancing away as he tilted her face this way and that. "And some rouge. Does it look natural? I tried not to put on too much."

"It looks fine." Yong-ha released her and shook out a tiny wrinkle in her skirt.

As he did so, Iseul couldn't help but notice that the bright mulberry shade of the garment was an exact match for the embroidered vest that covered his shoulders—shoulders that were, at present, visibly stiff with tension. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." He took a deep breath. "Just a little nervous, that's all."

"Why would you be nervous? Your parents know... about us, don't they?" she asked, remembering at the very last minute that they weren't alone.

"Yes, but they're still my parents."

Iseul offered him a sympathetic smile. "Well, you're not the only one who's nervous," she confided. "I feel as though I'm about to ride into battle."

She was glad when he laughed. "It does feel somewhat like that, doesn't it?" he agreed.

"When you think about it, there are quite a few similarities. For instance, I have the armor." She indicated her fine new hanbok, which had been delivered from his shop just the other day. "I have the weapons," she added, holding up her bundles, which contained gifts for her "in-laws." "I even have a battle plan of sorts, if I can just manage to make sense of everything my grandmother said about what to do at meetings like this."

He grinned. "I might prefer to actually ride into battle than take you to meet my parents."

"Unfortunately for us, they won't be pleased to find out that we've suddenly run away to join the army."

"Even now, they're probably already wondering what's happened to us," he agreed with a sigh. "Come, let's get this over with."

They had barely started towards the door when Yong-ha suddenly stopped short. "I almost forgot," he said, turning back to her and removing a ring from one hand. "Your ring. Master Geum brought them yesterday evening, but there wasn't time to send yours over."

"Oh. Of course." Iseul allowed her "betrothed" to slide the ring onto the second finger of her left hand. The thick amber band, its grapevine design accented by chips of colored jade, felt heavy and unfamiliar.

He held her hand for a moment, contemplating the ring, before releasing it and nodding towards the door. "I suppose we're as ready as we'll ever be. Let's go."

Yong-ha's family received his "betrothed" in the grandest room in the house. His parents, brother, and sister-in-law were ranged against one wall like richly dressed dolls on display. Off to one side, low tables holding snacks and tea makings stood by a brazier for heating water.

Yong-ha could feel their eyes, his mother's especially, boring into the woman whom he led before them. "Abeonim... Omonim... Hyungnim... Hyungsoonim," he said, addressing each one in turn, "this is Teacher Kim Iseul."

Setting her bundles aside, Iseul sank to the floor in a graceful bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Master Gu acknowledged the greeting with a gruff nod. "Both of you may sit. And you may go," he added to the maid who had followed them there. "We will serve ourselves."

Instinctively, Yong-ha moved to sit with his family, but a warning look from his hyung sent him back to Iseul's side. Fortunately, her attention was still fully on his father and she didn't notice the almost-desertion. "I brought you some presents," she was saying as she laid a box and a scroll before Yong-ha's parents. "They aren't much, but the dried plums are from our tree at home, and I painted the minhwa with sincerest good wishes."

"You did not need to bring anything," Madam Hong demurred.

"Oh, but..." Iseul glanced around cautiously to make sure that the maid was truly gone. "People would have noticed if I had come here empty-handed," she continued, "and I wanted to thank you for your support in the midst of all this, ah, difficulty."

The older woman's expression clouded at the reference to the Chamber of Commerce incident, causing Yong-ha to scramble for a diversion. "Abeonim, Omonim, remember how I told you that Teacher Kim gives painting lessons? Why don't we look at the minhwa she painted? I'm certain that it's very good."

"Yes, let's see it," his brother urged over Iseul's self-conscious murmurings that she did her best but the artwork might not be to their taste. "I'm quite curious myself."

Fortunately, the painting proved to be a good distraction; Master Gu seemed pleased enough to pass it around. "Lovely," his wife said, sounding truly impressed as she took a look. "The colors are wonderful."

"They are, aren't they?" Yong-ha agreed proudly. "Teacher Kim's colors seem to leap right off the page."

Iseul managed a shy smile at the praise. For a moment, he feared that she would blurt out some horribly gauche reply, but to his relief, she simply said, "Thank you. I'm very glad you like it."

As his family continued to admire the minhwa, Yong-ha found himself thinking that there was something familiar about it, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. It was not the fact that the minhwa featured a tiger, magpie, and pine tree, which were all very popular symbols of good fortune. It was also not because the painting was like anything he had seen before, for Iseul's interpretation was fresh and vibrant.

He would have to reflect on it later, he thought as his father broached the topic that had brought them all together that day. "How goes this pretend betrothal of yours?" Master Gu asked bluntly.

"Quite well, I think," Yong-ha replied, glancing at his "betrothed." "We seem to have managed to convince everyone that we truly are going to be wed."

"I would say so," his mother sniffed. "Stories about the two of you have spread all over town."

He could feel her eyes on the garakji and casually covered his ring with his unadorned hand. "We had to lay some groundwork, Omonim. People might not have believed us if we simply insisted that we were really going to be married. They expect some outward signs when it comes to these things."

"But we've been careful to say that the wedding won't be anytime soon," Iseul added quickly. "So that they won't expect too much."

That earned them a curt nod of approval from Master Gu. "And to give you more time to think of a way to get out of this, hmm?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I might have an idea in that regard."

"You do?" she asked (a little too eagerly, in Yong-ha's opinion). "What is it?"

"My son says you're planning to end this 'betrothal' by mutual agreement," the older man began. "People may find that hard to swallow after your, er, public displays of affection."

She nodded, hanging onto every word, while Yong-ha pretended not to notice the pointed looks that his parents shot his way.

"Perhaps it would be more convincing if we told people that your proposed marriage was found to be inauspicious," Master Gu continued. "Instead of simply announcing that the wedding is off and not giving any real reason."

Yong-ha frowned. "Won't we need to bribe a fortune teller for that, Abeonim?"

"I think we can get away with saying that we had consulted someone," his father replied, "but if it is truly necessary, then I am sure we can find one who can say what needs to be said—with the proper incentives. What do you think, Teacher Kim?"

Iseul pondered the suggestion for a few moments. "I could agree to that..." she began slowly. "But if I may be so bold, sir, I hope that we can tell people that we are calling things off because our birth signs were found to be incompatible, and not because one of us is unlucky." She paused, as though searching for the words with which to voice her thoughts. "I, ah, believe it is important to do as little damage as possible to our families' reputations."

"Because you will have a difficult enough time marrying for real after this, I suppose," Master Gu concluded. Without waiting for a response, he grunted and said, "Fair enough. We shall make sure to point that out."

She relaxed visibly and smiled despite the self-conscious blush that still colored her cheeks. "Thank you."

"Then that's settled," Madam Hong said with a satisfied nod. "When will you make the announcement?"

"We can't decide on that right now, Omonim," Yong-ha pointed out. "We've only just heard Abeonim's suggestion, after all. It will probably take some time to find a fortune teller like the one Abeonim described." He looked to his brother for support, but An-jeong only smiled, clearly enjoying the proceedings.

Their mother shrugged. "Well, now you've heard what your father has to say, and Teacher Kim has agreed to it. You should be able to start planning."

"I wouldn't wait too long, if I were you," her husband added ominously. "The longer you wait, the harder it will be to wriggle out of this situation."

"I think that went rather well," Iseul said cheerfully after the meeting was over and it was time for her to go home. "Don't you?"

She spoke quietly despite the fact that they were walking through a lesser-used part of the house and there was no one else around; a maid was supposed to accompany the "couple" to the Gus' front gate, but Yong-ha had dismissed her, saying that they wished to be alone. It was the truth, but probably not for the reasons that the giggling maid imagined.

Yong-ha made a small noise of assent as they walked down a quiet corridor. The meeting with his parents had not been as terrible as he had feared. Although they were still displeased with the situation he had created, they knew well enough to be civil to his "betrothed." They had even been pleasant to her at times. However, he had come away from the meeting feeling oddly deflated, as though he had lost control of things at some point during the discussion.

"Wasn't it nice of your father to help us?" she chattered on. "I don't think we could have come up with that idea about the fortune teller on our own." They reached the post where she had left her shoes, and she paused to breath deeply of the cold autumn air. "I am so relieved that we know what to do next."

"I suppose so."

There must have been something off in his tone of voice, because Iseul peered at him closely and asked, "Is there anything wrong, Yong-ha?"

"No," he assured her. "Not really. I'm just..." He knew that he couldn't possibly complain about how everyone, including her, seemed to be in a rush to end their "engagement." His father had a point about letting things go on for too long. "I'm just thinking about all that I need to do for the Chamber of Commerce. With everything that we've had to do for... you know... I've fallen a bit behind on my plans for the organization."

"I can help you," she offered, then stopped short. "I mean," she amended, busying herself with putting on her shoes, "if you want. I can... I don't know... deliver messages or help you with your meetings, things like that."

"I would like that very much." Yong-ha smiled as they started across the yard. "Thank you."

Iseul smiled back, but there was more than a hint of mischief in her expression. "I must tell you that getting involved is to my benefit as much as it is to yours," she pointed out honestly.

"Well, I trust you not to abuse your privileges," he bantered back, "and I really do appreciate your offer to help." They reached the Gus' front gate, where Chin-hae greeted them with a polite bow. "I still need to list down everything that needs to be done," Yong-ha told Iseul as he delivered her into the manservant's keeping, "but once I do, I will let you know."

With the business at the Gus' concluded, Iseul turned her attentions to preparing for Yong-ha's visit to her home. She knew that she could not afford to set a lavish spread for her "betrothed," especially not with the winter-slim pickings at the market (and the exorbitant prices that accompanied them), but she and Eui-jung, Chin-hae's wife and the Kims' cook-housekeeper, were determined not to put the family to shame.

"Since we will make all the snacks ourselves," Eui-jung said as she and her young mistress browsed the marketplace one afternoon, "we can be sure that they will be good and wholesome.

"It will be a good test of your young man's character, too, agasshi," she added. "If he's going to turn up his nose at our food, just because it's not as fancy as he's used to, then you had better get rid of him fast!"

"He would never do that," Iseul replied, inspecting a pile of dried persimmons for sale. "Gu Yong-ha may come from a wealthy family, but he's not a snob."

"If you say so."

The older woman still sounded skeptical, but Iseul knew that she was only being protective and thus did not push the issue. Chin-hae and Eui-jung were childless and, alongside her grandparents, cared for her as if she were their own. Naturally, they would be very concerned about the kind of man she was marrying.

If they only knew that they had absolutely nothing to worry about...

Suddenly, Iseul became aware that she was being watched. A pair of young ladies over at the very next stall were stealing glances at her and whispering. At first, she thought that they were talking about her clothes, but then she heard one of them mention Yong-ha's name and realized that they were more likely discussing her betrothal. Judging from the look on the taller girl's face, they apparently could not believe that one of Joseon's most eligible bachelors had fallen for a woman like her; and judging from the mean way that they laughed, they seemed to think that she had somehow trapped him into it.

The gossips wisely subsided when they noticed her looking back at them, but Iseul could not resist pinning them with one last scornful glare—while meaningfully twisting the single garakji she wore, for good measure—before turning her attention back to the things that she and Eui-jung needed to buy. It wasn't the most dignified response, and probably not appropriate for someone who was supposed to be marrying into the Gu family, but she had to put them in their place somehow.

"Please pick only the best ones, Master Nam!" Eui-jung cajoled the vendor, who was measuring out some walnuts for her. "Our agasshi's future depends on it. If they're not good, Master Gu might call off the wedding!"

"You know I only sell the best," the elderly man bantered back with a good-natured laugh. "Besides, I doubt if there's any chance of that happening—it's plain to see that Master Gu is head over heels in love with Teacher Kim."

Iseul smiled self-consciously even as she hoped the girls at the next stall had heard.

"Maybe you will decide that you don't want to marry him after all, eh?" he joked as he wrapped up the walnuts.

"O-of course not!" she managed to reply, realizing that she was now firmly on the spot. "There's no chance of that happening, either, Master Nam." She racked her brain for something more to say. Yong-ha made this play-acting look so easy! "I-I love him, too! I mean," she added in a voice subdued by mortification, "I wouldn't have accepted his proposal if I-I didn't return his affections."

He nodded approvingly. "I'm very glad to hear that. It's a sad reality that love and marriage do not always come together, so you are very lucky to be entering marriage with a man who loves you as much as you love him." He gathered up their purchases and presented them to her with a smile. "Here you are—with my wishes that you and Master Gu will enjoy a long and sweet life together."

Blushing to the roots of her hair, Iseul stammered her thanks and quickly finished their transaction. It was very hard to pretend to be in love all by herself, she reflected as she and Eui-jung left the shop. She hoped that Yong-ha's father would find a suitable fortune teller soon (or decide that they didn't need one), and she wouldn't have to keep up the charade for much longer.

They had just started for home when a familiar figure approached. "Ah, agasshi, I'm so glad I found you."

Iseul stopped short at the sight of him. "Master Jo!"

Her grandfather's servant bowed politely to her and to Eui-jung. "I went to your house, but Master Kim told me that you were here. Might I have a word?"

As Iseul had done, Yong-ha presented himself to his "betrothed"'s family in the best room at the Kims' house. However, Iseul was very much aware that the Kim's best chamber was far less grand than the one at the Gus'. Further, while the Gu family had turned out in full and intimidating force, only her grandmother and Kyo-eul, the Kims' dog who was Madam Park's constant companion, were there to receive him, and both did so with unbridled enthusiasm.

"Oh, there's no need to be so formal!" Madam Park exclaimed as Yong-ha laid her hand on his head and bowed deeply before her. "I've known you since you were a child, and soon we will be family! Please sit comfortably and let us have a nice chat."

"Thank you, Halmeonim." He sat back on his heels as he was bidden, only to have Kyo-eul trot right over. The dog sniffed Yong-ha and, finding him acceptable, tried to lick his face.

"Kyo-eul! Down!" Iseul admonished. Although the sight was highly amusing and she knew that Kyo-eul was an indoor pet and thus relatively clean, she was also sure that Yong-ha would prefer not to decorate his rich blue overcoat with stray animal hairs.

To his credit, her "betrothed" waved off her attempts to remove the dog even as he continued to resist Kyo-eul's advances. "It's all right," Yong-ha assured her, managing a smile. "I know he's just being friendly."

"It sounds as though Kyo-eul likes you, Yong-ha," Madam Park observed. "That's good. Kyo-eul is an excellent judge of character."

Eventually, the dog recovered from his excitement over having a new friend, and was convinced to lie on the floor beside Yong-ha (instead of on his lap) while the humans had their "nice chat."

"How was the visit with your family?" Iseul's grandmother asked. "Iseul says it went well, but won't give me any details."

"That's because I could hardly remember anything, Halmeonim," she said with a small laugh that she hoped did not sound forced. "I was too busy trying to make a good impression."

"Our Iseul made an excellent impression, Halmeonim," Yong-ha told the old woman. "My family loved her."

"Really?" Madam Park asked, sounding delighted.

"Oh, yes! She got along famously with my brother and sister-in-law, and my mother still goes on about how pretty her manners were." He wisely tempered his story after a warning look from Iseul. "And they loved the minhwa she brought. My father put it in his study for good luck."

"That's wonderful! I am so glad. I have to admit I was worried about whether your family would accept Iseul."

"They were very nice to me, Halmeonim," Iseul said. "I also thought they might not be, especially since this betrothal must have come as a surprise to them, but it wasn't like that at all."

Yong-ha gave her a small smile, acknowledging her gesture of support, but as her luck would have it, he had to go one step further. "Of course they would love you, my darling! All they needed to know was that I couldn't live without you."

Fortunately, she was reasonably prepared for that eventuality. "They also made me promise to take care of you," she replied sweetly. She wished she had a pet name for him, too; something embarrassing would be ideal. What sort of names did her married friends call their husbands?

Madam Park beamed at the exchange. "It sounds as though we should get you two married right away," she teased. "Now that you have discussed it properly with your families, we can start preparing for the wedding!"

Iseul had expected her grandmother to push for the wedding to take place at once, and was prepared for that, too. "Actually, Halmeonim, we're not quite done yet," she began.

"What are you talking about? Yong-ha's parents have agreed to the match, and so have I. What else is there to do?"

"Well, there are lots of other things we have to do before we can go ahead. For one thing, my grandfather Ma wants a visit, too," she went on before her grandmother could ask what those things were. "I met Master Jo in the marketplace and he told me. Do you think we should go and see him?"

The old woman frowned as she pondered the matter. "I suppose you should," she concluded. "He is still the head of your father's family, after all; and you owe them that much for reinstating your inheritance."

"All right." Her grandmother did not look too pleased at the prospect, so she didn't bother trying to feign enthusiasm, either. Kyo-eul whined sympathetically, but cheered up right away when Yong-ha patted him on the head.

Just then, Madam Park remembered the young man's presence and stiffened. "Wait, does Yong-ha know...?" she began, gesturing in his general direction.

"Yes, Halmeonim," Iseul's "betrothed" confirmed. "Iseul has told me all about her relationship with the Mas, and I promise you that my family and I will make sure that they treat her properly from now on."

There was a quiet conviction in his voice, which one would never have expected from the flirtatious swain of a few moments ago. Iseul was strongly tempted to believe him.

Her grandmother certainly did. Relaxing visibly, the old woman reached out a hand towards him and Yong-ha took it in both of his. "Do you know, dear boy, that I have always prayed for my Iseul to marry a good man with a family that would treat her well? Who knew that all we had to do for my prayers to be answered was to have some clothes made?"

"At least that's over with," Yong-ha remarked as Iseul escorted him from the house after the visit. They were alone, save for Kyo-eul trotting at their heels. The dog had not left him alone from the moment he arrived. "It went well, don't you think?"

"Yes, it went quite well," she agreed happily.

"You did a good job pretending that we're... you know... in front of your grandmother." He bent down to scratch the dog behind his ears. "Even though Kyo-eul could teach you a thing or two about giving me adoring looks."

He expected his "betrothed" to take exception to that, but instead she laughed. "I doubt if Halmeonim would have noticed. Anyway, I did my best and, even though my performance was lacking in some respects, she seemed to believe us."

The thought of Madam Park put a damper on Iseul's contented mood. Even though she was truly pleased with herself for managing to put on a convincing show, she was also worried about how the old woman would react when the betrothal was called off.

However, before she could raise the matter, they arrived at the small shed where Chin-hae was waiting with Yong-ha's horse. She would have to mention it to Yong-ha sometime in the future, she decided. Hopefully, between the two of them, they could think of a way to lessen the blow.

The Kim manservant looked up from cinching one last strap on the saddle. "Your horse is ready, Master Gu," he said, bowing as they approached.

"Thank you, ajusshi," the younger man replied, holding out a coin. "I see you took very good care of him."

The manservant accepted the gratuity with a nod of thanks. "Did you have a nice visit?"

"It was a very nice visit. Please thank your wife again for the delicious food. I ate so much that I'm afraid my horse won't be able to carry me!"

Yong-ha was only joking, of course, and mounted up without incident. "Can you come to the shop next week?" he asked Iseul as he leaned down to give Kyo-eul a farewell pat. "I'd like you to draw something for me."

She nodded readily. "Let me know when I should come, so I can make sure I don't set a lesson at the same time.

"We'll also need to discuss when we will visit my grandfather," she added. "Master Jo couldn't say for certain, but there is a chance that the rest of my Ma relatives might be present."

"All right, we'll discuss that, too."

Like the Kim ladies, Yong-ha was not looking forward to the obligation, but understood that it needed to be fulfilled. Besides, something good might come of it: perhaps if they convinced her grandfather Ma that they were truly in love, then Ma Ki-hoon would have no choice but to shut up, once and for all.

"Did you mean it?" Iseul asked suddenly, just as he was about to urge his horse forward. "What you promised Halmeonim earlier, about making sure that the Mas would treat me properly from now on?"

"Of course I did. At least, I'll certainly try," he amended, realizing that his promise might have been a bit too rash. Trying was more realistic and, if he was lucky, just might work. "It's the least I could do for you."

"Thank you, Yong-ha." She smiled. Yong-ha thought that it did more to brighten her face more than the late-autumn moonlight.

It took a bark from Kyo-eul for him to realize that he had been staring, and that he and Iseul were not alone. "I should go," he said, nudging his horse to start walking, "and you should go back inside. It's very cold."