9

Love is Like a Cough

Dongju woke with a smile, after having enjoyed a night of deep sleep. She kept her eyes closed, wanting to enjoy the feeling of being in bed a little while longer and tucked her head deeper into the pillow while her mind began to play back images from what felt like a pleasant reverie.

"Yes, my mother does have someone that she likes…"

"I LIKE YOU!"

Her eyes snapped open at that vision of her yelling.

That was a weird.

Just as she was about to dismiss it as a harmless dream, a tiny hand fell across her shoulder and she turned to her side.

There was a little girl sleeping there.

Her eyes went wide and she slowly looked to her other side where she saw 'Lady Kim' lying in her bed and sniffling like she was having a nightmare. Flashes from their last interaction suddenly began to appear in her head and that's when she remembered…

"I'm so sorry, my Lord," Lady Kim told Cha Yulmu and planted a kiss on his lips leading to an eruption of horrified shrieks from around the table.

'What is wrong with this man,' Dongju thought to herself. 'How dare he just go around kissing anyone?' Feeling annoyed she scrambled to her feet and stomped towards Yulmu and 'Lady Kim' still attached at the lips and pulled them apart. She couldn't let this happen and she had to tell him why.

"I LIKE YOU!"

Dongju shook her head.

Oh my God…

A sudden wave of nausea hit her and she rushed outside the house to throw up. She washed her face under a stream of water as she tried to recollect more of what she may have let out while drunk.

Did I just confess my feelings out in front of everyone? Ah, so embarrassing.

Just then she heard the chattering of women passing by behind her.

"Look, there she is…"

"Terrible really, both mother and daughter in love with the same man."

"Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Dongju squeezed her eyes shut.

Argh, so annoying…

x-X-x

Nokdu couldn't imagine his life would ever come to this; Dongju was nowhere to be seen when he woke up and he had spent most of the morning attempting to train little Aengdu to call him 'Eonni'.

And he was currently being teased by his martial arts Master about dressing up as a girl.

"Now I'm really going to kill that Boss responsible for all this when I find them," Master Hwang said resolutely. "Look what that person has you doing!" He exclaimed, tugging at Nokdu's pink hanbok.

"What about my father and brother? Are they safe?"

"How many times do I have to tell you? They're fine and Hwang-tae is recovering well. I even sent them a message saying that I found you and will return with you!" Hwang sat back and eyed Nokdu with curiosity. "So, your 'daughter' knows you're actually a man?"

Nokdu nodded and Master Hwang snorted, his eyes twinkling with glee.

"So… when she yelled 'I like you!' on the top of her voice yesterday," he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Nokdu, "Do you think she was talking about you or…"

"What?!" Nokdu scoffed, trying to shake off the sudden envy at the idea of it not being him Dongju was addressing.

He really needed to talk to her.

However, the memory of having impulsively kissed a man just yesterday meant that there was someone else he really needed to clear things with first.

There was a rustling sound of footsteps nearby and both Nokdu and Master Hwang's heads spun in that direction to see Cha Yulmu walking by. Nokdu's eyes widened.

Might as well do this now.

"My Lord!" He called out in his sweetest 'Lady Kim' voice only to see the man panic and run away.

Why is he…

"My Lord, wait!" He called and began to chase after Yulmu, determined to make sure he could clarify things after yesterday.

"My Lord!"

x-X-x

Danho was measuredly pacing near the entrance of the kisaeng house compound, his face devoid of expression as it usually tended to be. It wasn't unusual for him to be waiting around for Lord Yulmu, something his friend Yeo-Wool constantly liked to tease him about. He had however, convinced himself it was part of his job and continued to deal with it without complaints.

He was just turning a corner mid-pace when he saw someone sitting on the steps fidgeting and talking to himself.

"How could Lady Kim…" Administrator Yeon Geun was muttering. "Why not me and why that man who looks like a stray cat…"

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Danho waved his hand in front of him.

"Oh, it's you," he blubbered. "That means your boss must be here to meet Lady Kim."

"What? He's not –"

"MY LORD!"

A shrill scream rang across the compound and both Danho and Yeon Geun stared in the direction of the sound to see Lord Yulmu whoosh past them, looking like he was running for his life.

"What is going –" Danho was ready to fight and then he saw Lady Kim, running faster than any woman he had ever seen right behind Lord Yulmu. He was still in shock when a loud sob next to him snapped him out of it.

"Why, oh why, would my lovely Lady Kim choose him?" Yeon Geun began to cry. Danho felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see the popular kisaeng Hwa-soo looking annoyed as ever.

"What are you waiting for?" She scolded him. "Go and rescue our Lord Yulmu from that crazy woman!"

Ah, right.

He sprinted in the direction they had run in and it took a little while before he finally spotted them around the pond nearby.

Oh no…

Lady Kim was holding a very drenched Lord Yulmu against a tree with her arms enclosing Yulmu from both sides like she didn't want him to go anywhere. They were standing very close.

Too close.

Danho immediately turned away, not sure what he was witnessing. Whatever it was, he wasn't sure if he wanted to know despite a huge part of him feeling a strange sensation he hadn't felt in a while.

Is this… jealousy?

What am I even jealous about?

Danho shook his head; if Lady Kim had decided she liked Lord Yulmu and he felt the same, then…

No! Lord Yulmu has always loved Dongju and there was no way he was suddenly going to have a change of heart.

He peeped out from behind a tree and could see they seemed to be conversing about something.

At least Lady Kim's arms weren't around Lord Yulmu anymore.

He walked up to them, seeing as they appeared decent and Yulmu looked like he needed help.

"My Lord," he called out and bowed lightly. "Are you alright? Shall I escort you back home?" Yulmu shook his head aggressively and waved him off.

"I'm fine," he said, looking embarrassed and walked off without another word, leaving Danho behind in an awkward silence with Lady Kim. He cleared his throat.

"Kim Gwabo, I apologize for interrupting your moment, I just thought…"

"Moment? What are you talking about?" Lady Kim looked at him in confusion.

"That day at the party, you confessed your love," Danho began, feeling his throat tighten more with every word. "That was really brave, I mean you kissed him just like that –"

"What!" Lady Kim was now frantically shaking his head at him. "No, no, no, you misunderstood!"

"What?" Danho was now frowning at Lady Kim's look of disbelief.

"That was just… that… I lost a bet to Dongju… that's what it was!" She exclaimed finally.

"Really?"

"Yes, yes. That's exactly what it was," she said with a throaty laugh. "In fact, that's what I was explaining to Yulmu right now."

"That's not what it looked like," Danho pouted, unable to help the begrudging tone in his voice.

"I had no choice, he kept running away from me so I…" Lady Kim suddenly stopped talking and narrowed her eyes at him. "Wait, I don't need to explain myself. Why are you acting all suspicious when I'm not even your type?"

"What!" Danho choked. "No, but…"

"I don't have time for this," she said, raising her hands in surrender. "I need to go see Dongju," she stated and started to walk away before Danho could argue. "Goodbye! Don't get into too much trouble!" She waved at him while Danho looked on, transfixed to his spot.

"B-bye!" He stammered in response as she walked off, not sure if he was even heard.

x-X-x

Nokdu had given up on searching for Dongju with the hope that he could get a moment with her when she came home that night… until he spotted her sitting at the bridge over the pond on the way to the Widow Village. A smile appeared on his face as he walked up to her, excited to finally confront her about her confession yesterday. He quietly sat next to her and was about to speak when she stopped him.

"If this is about yesterday, I don't want to talk about it," she said bluntly, not looking at him.

"What?"

"I was drunk, so don't read too much into it," she told him.

"I already know the truth about your actions when you are drunk," Nokdu pointed out, remembering Hwa-soo telling him about Dongju's tendency to speak the truth under the influence of alcohol.

"I might have been drunk but you were being the crazy one!" Dongju exclaimed. "Did you really have to kiss that man there? You could have just flipped a table or stopped that kid from talking or even whacked me! Speaking on which, why was that kid calling you her husband?"

"Well, she lives next door to me and thinks we're engaged… it's obviously not true but –"

"Wow," Dongju looked at him in disbelief. "You're getting married and you have a mistress. What a man you are…"

Nokdu sighed. He knew nothing he said was going to make her understand. But there was one thing he needed to know.

"Let me ask you a question…" he began.

"What?"

"Who's the man you're in love with?"

Dongju paused for a moment before she scoffed. "Who do you think it is? You really think I'd be into someone who is both engaged and has a mistress? This guy…"

"Right," Nokdu got the impression she really didn't want to talk about it right now. He was a little disappointed that she didn't give a clear answer, but he had to had to make do with that for now. He hopped to his feet and offered a hand to her.

"Okay, let's head home then," he said and to his surprise she pushed him away.

"Go yourself!" she grumbled and crossed her arms. "I'm not coming with you."

Nokdu couldn't deny he was a little hurt by her words, especially when he was so sure that Dongju did share feelings for him as he did for her.

At least he finally could admit it to himself; he liked her.

Nokdu let out a heavy sigh and walked away from her without another word. He had to accept Dongju's wishes and if she needed space, he would give it to her.

He, however, needed some time to process that he had truly come to realize that he likes Dongju; his heart was still racing at the idea and the fact that Dongju didn't seem interested in talking to him about it yet.

He needed some place peaceful where he could quieten his thoughts and he knew just the spot.

x-X-x

Danho lifted himself above the water and ran his fingers back through his long slick hair, letting the chilled water run down his bare chest while he enjoyed a late-night dip alone, something that he enjoyed, especially on a full moon night.

He usually visited a pond near his home when these occasions called for it but ever since the time that he had fallen into the water upon helping Lady Kim with her clothing situation, he had decided to go back there for another visit.

Suddenly a flash of Lady Kim kissing Lord Yulmu came to his mind like a horrible recurring nightmare and he shuddered.

Will that image ever leave my head…

Danho wasn't a big fan of deep waters so a pond where he could relax without the fear of drowning was something he appreciated. He scrubbed his toned arms and let out a sigh of relief as the cool night breeze soothed his muscles.

He cupped some of the fresh water and brought it to his lips when he heard a voice pierce through the silence of the night.

"Park Danho?"

Danho spat out the water and spun his head in the direction of the voice that he now knew too well. He looked in the distance to see Lady Kim with a big smile on her face and waving at him like there was nothing awkward about the situation. Danho instantly turned away and his arms covered his chest in response.

Aish! This woman, how is she this comfortable around other men? Did she grow up with brothers?

Danho had roughly dried himself and thrown a robe over his back when he walked up to the flat rock at the edge of the pond that Lady Kim was sitting on. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts, not giving as much of a glance towards him when he sat next to her.

"Are you okay?" He asked, hoping to get her to relax, as she seemed worried about something.

"I'm fine."

"Ah…" Danho nodded with a shrug. "I thought you must still be recovering from Lord's rejection of you."

There was a moment of silence before Lady Kim let out a dry laugh.

"Wow, was that you making a joke?" She scoffed. "I already told you that wasn't real."

"But your own daughter announced to the world that there is someone you like and from what I hear, Dongju speaks the truth when drunk."

"Well, that part is true," she replied quietly, which surprised Danho; he hadn't expected that reaction from her.

For some reason, it made him nervous.

"So…" Danho began slowly, not sure whether he wanted to know that answer to what he was about to ask. "…You like someone?"

Lady Kim didn't respond immediately and Danho felt like he was holding his breath.

She nodded.

Danho swallowed and wondered if she was still thinking of Lord Yulmu.

Ba-dum ba-dum. Ba-dum ba-dum.

His heart began to thump so hard he was convinced Lady Kim would be able hear it in the stillness of the night. But one thing he knew for sure was that he had finally reached the point he couldn't deny it anymore…

I, Park Danho, have feelings for Lady Kim.

He still wasn't sure how it was possible but it was a very strong sensation that he couldn't ignore any longer.

"Danhoya."

Danho blinked and to his relief, his heartbeat wasn't ringing in his ears anymore. His focus was now fully on Lady Kim who was looking at him with sad eyes.

"Hmm?"

"Do you ever feel like you can't explain your feelings? Or what someone else is feeling about you?"

"What?"

Is she a shaman reading my mind?

"Take us for example."

"U-us?" He stammered, his eyes widening slightly.

"Yes, why are we friends?"

"I… I don't…" Danho was at a loss for words at the direction the conversation was taking. "Where are you going with this?"

"I'll go first. I consider you my friend because I feel relaxed around you. Your turn."

"I…"

"Are we not friends, Park Danho?"

"Yes, but…"

"Why do you think?"

Danho took a deep breath before answering what felt like a loaded question to him.

"You've seen me… the real me," he began, choosing his words carefully to reflect what he felt. "And you don't judge me for it. It's actually quite freeing," he finished with a shrug. Lady Kim simply smiled at him and turned away, looking distant again as she gazed at the moon. Danho leaned a little closer.

"Lady Kim," Danho continued, his eyebrows furrowed. "What is really worrying you?" She laughed lightly and Danho was briefly distracted by the thought that she looked beautiful even when she was sad.

"How do I know if…" she said, her voice still soft. "What if – the person I like… doesn't like me back?"

"That won't happen." Danho's answer was instant, surprising both himself and Lady Kim, who's eyes had snapped to his on those words.

They simply stared at each other for a moment, Lady Kim's gaze seeming to bore into his like she was searching to see if he was telling the truth. Danho swallowed from the intensity of the look and she broke the trance by suddenly shoving his shoulder away playfully.

"Ya! Just because I'm bummed out doesn't mean you just say anything to me! That was too much!" She scolded him and began to laugh. Danho gave back a small smile; he was just glad to see Lady Kim in her cheerful self again.

"It's getting late. You should head home," he advised her.

"And you should cover up."

"What?" Danho frowned, only then realizing that all this while he had been sitting half naked with his robe off his shoulders in front of a woman; not that he was too bothered by it despite being the first time he had felt so comfortable doing so. "Why? Is my good-looking body distracting you?" He teased and Lady Kim gasped.

"WHAT! This crazy guy…" she began to curse and he could see a red blush appearing on her cheeks, making him smile wider. "If you catch a cold, that will make you even more annoying to be around!"

"Such demands," Danho responded coolly while bringing his robe to rest on his shoulders and flicking his hair behind him. "Next you'll be telling me to tie my hair up properly."

"Actually, your hair is better when let down," she grumbled.

"… what?" Danho lost his train of thought as he turned to look at her and she groaned in annoyance.

"Don't read too much into it. You just look more comfortable that way, not the uptight assassin ready to kill on Yulmu's command."

"I'm a swordsman, not an assassin, Danho automatically corrected her, still reeling from the suggestion about his hair. "Well, not for a while now."

"Hmm…" Lady Kim stood up to leave. Danho stared out at the water and a few moments later heard her call him.

"Park Danho."

"What?" He looked up to see her still standing there.

"Gumavoyo. For listening," she said with a soft smile. "I guess one just needs to be unafraid and honest about these things."

Danho simply gave a small smile and watched her walk away before turning back to look at the water again.

I suppose I need to be unafraid too.

x-X-x

Nokdu had been fueled by his conversation with Danho, ready to finally talk to Dongju about how he felt and decided he would wait by their door while Aengdu slept. However, his excitement was starting to turn into disbelief and worry when daylight began to show and she was nowhere to be seen.

"How could she do this," he mumbled to himself. "Was she actually so mad that she stayed out all night? What was she –"

"Eek!"

"What?" Nokdu blinked to see Aengdu was now up and giving him a curious look.

"Orabeoni what are doing, mumbling so early in the morning?" She groaned. Nokdu sighed.

"She didn't come home…"

As Nokdu sat down with Aengdu for the breakfast he had prepared that morning, he was still holding out hope that Dongju might show up. As he waited, he thought about their last conversation.

Does she really have that much of a problem with me not to even give me a chance? I'm sure I felt something between us…

Just as he was about to give upon the idea of her coming in that morning, he saw her outside their home and Aengdu stepped out to bring her in.

They ate in silence until Aengdu took her half of a boiled egg and placed it on Nokdu's plate with a smile.

"Here you go, husband," she grinned. "Eat well!" Nokdu groaned.

"Aengduya, don't you remember what I told you would happen if you were to call me that?"

"Haw!" Aengdu gasped, clutching her hands to her mouth. "They'll kill you!"

"Exactly." Nokdu glanced at Dongju who seemed amused by Aengdu's outlook on life.

"Why do you want to get married anyway?" Dongju suddenly spoke up, addressing Aengdu. "Do you even know what it means to be in a marriage?"

"Well…" Aengdu took a moment to reply. "It means you get to spend time with a person a like, eat your meals with that person…"

"And you think this man is the one for you?" Dongju scoffed.

"Yah!" Nokdu pouted.

"This fellow here isn't so bad," Aengdu said with a shy smile, looking at him. He nodded in agreement and placed more meat in her bowl.

"Enjoy your meal, Aengduya. Eat lots!" His smile turned into a glare when he shifted his gaze to Dongju. She sighed and got to her feet.

After breakfast, Dongju had left again and was out all day. That night, Nokdu struggled to sleep and Dongju still hadn't returned. He was about to go out and look for her when he heard the now familiar sound of the Shaman's bells ringing on the street.

There must be another meeting taking place.

Seeing that he was probably going to just worry about Dongju at home, he figured he might as well go out and get some of his work done. Perhaps he could learn some more about the real boss behind all of this, the primary reason he came to the Widow Village in the first place.

He veiled himself and made his way towards the temple. To his surprise, the meeting appeared to be getting dispersed by the time he got there. He saw a guard go past the Muwoldan and escort one of the hooded men out of the temple and into the woods, where Nokdu saw a horse had been kept ready for him.

From behind a tree he stood and watched as the man mounted the horse and the guard spoke to him.

Could this man be the boss? Is he the one who gave the orders to attack my family? But why? And what is the connection with the King?

x-X-x

Premier Yoon looked toward his trusted guard Chil-sung in anticipation of the information that had been brought to him.

"The young Queen Dowager has been suspected of conspiring against the King and the child Crown Prince has been taken away," the guard informed him and he shook his head.

'The King is getting antsy,' he thought to himself, remembering the night he first saw his Majesty start to lose himself all those years ago, the night his son had come into the world unable to breathe… or at least that's what he had been told. When he was summoned, all he had seen was his then-colleague Yunjeo bent over a bundled baby in his arms with the King standing over him.

"Take him away," the King ordered a terrified looking Yunjeo who did as he was told. As soon as he was out of earshot, he turned to Yoon.

"Make sure that neither of them exist anymore," he said gravely and Yoon had no choice but to obey.

What the King didn't know was that the baby had someone come back to life and Yoon, unable to find it in his heart to kill an infant and someone he worked with, decided to let Yunjeo go on the condition that neither he nor the child came here ever again.

"This is because of the islanders, I'm sure of it," Yoon told his assistant. "The King did this while I'm away because he is suspicious of me. Inform the Muwoldan that they need to find those people first, else our plans would have been in vain."

He wasn't sure what circumstances had led Yunjeo to be spotted in the market by a minister that day but Yoon knew if they needed their revolt to succeed, he needed to get to his old colleague before the King found him.

That night as Chil-sung rushed through the woods to the Kisaeng House to get a horse to ride back with Premier Yoon, little did he know that he would stumble upon something else on the way. In his hurry he had tripped over the rocky path only to come across something he didn't imagine he would.

A body.

x-X-x

Dongju shivered as she struggled to sleep in the dark. She had finally given in and come back to the home she shared with 'Lady Kim' because it was only so long she could continue to sleep on a thin mat in her secret cave where she made plans for her mission. However, the fact that it was a Shaman night when all the lights had to be out made her uneasy as the darkness always did.

Every time her eyes closed, she would be taken back to that horrible night her family had been killed and ever since then, she had been unable to sleep in complete darkness. She was starting to hyperventilate when she felt a light suddenly shine in the room. Someone had lit a candle and she didn't have to guess who it was; she hadn't even realized he had come in.

She didn't look up but she could tell from his movements that he was covering up the windows with clothes so the candlelight wouldn't go out. She instantly began to feel better and couldn't help but feel her heart soften towards him again.

Argh… this is why I had decided to keep a distance from him.

"Stop being nice to me," she scolded him.

"Why? Is it something only lovers do?" He asked defiantly. "Something only those who care or worry for each other do?" Dongju was surprised at his irritability but knew things had to be made clear.

"Yes, like you and your mistress," she sighed. Somehow that seemed to make him pause.

"I cannot hide it anymore," he began. "I actually do not –"

"I'm going to sleep," Dongju interrupted him intentionally, not wanting to hear anything that might make it tougher for her to turn him down.

She pulled the covers closer and felt strangely like he was watching her.

"I'm in trouble," she heard him whisper. Dongju couldn't explain why she suddenly felt lighter when he said those words but knew it was pointless.

Nothing matters since I'm leaving anyway.

x-X-x

Danho woke up earlier than usual the next morning and started his day thinking of his conversation with Lady Kim from last night at the river.

"So… you like someone?"

"Actually, your hair is better when let down."

Danho paused midway through tying up his knot when he remembered that particular statement that Lady Kim had made. He slowly released it, letting his long straight locks fall on both sides of his shoulder. This time, he bunched just some hair off the top of his head and tied it back, leaving his bangs and the rest as is. Looking at himself in the mirror, he had to agree with what Lady Kim... he did look more relaxed. Just that thought of her and he could see the smile appear in his reflection.

I have no work planned for today. Maybe I can be a little casual today?

Danho walked through the market from his home as he always did on his way to work at Lord Yulmu's quarters. The market was always bustling but for some reason, it seemed much livelier. There were so many people, he could hear everyone's voices brimming with excitement.

"Let's buy something nice this year!"

"It's Dano, every couple goes to flirt with each other at the swing…"

"Flirt? No, it's an opportunity for loved ones to share their emotions!"

Danho sighed in realization; it was the festival of Dano. He wasn't one for celebrating events like this but this time, he found himself thinking of someone he would want to spend the day with.

"I guess one just needs to be unafraid and honest about these things."

Danho had decided then that he needs to do the same. He wondered if it would be strange if he used Dano as an excuse to ask Lady Kim out… or at least for some of her time to spend with him. It frustrated him how he couldn't explain why he enjoyed simply being around her.

She had confirmed to him that her connection with Yulmu was over but when she said that she does like someone, Danho couldn't think of anyone else and could only dream that she would be talking about him, considering she knew his taste.

He walked through the palace gates towards Lord Yulmu's home, only to find it was empty. One of the guards in the area informed him that the Prince had left and Danho had to assume he would be spending time at the kitchen of the Kisaeng House like he usually did.

"You should go watch him, it's dangerous out there," the guard told him. "Just last night a widow's body was found washed up at a river…"

Danho froze. Min Deul-re's body had been discovered.

He remembered when he had followed her to protect Lady Kim before the Prince had told him to take her captive and get information out of her. He had managed to convince Yulmu that she hadn't given up anything that could be useful and so it had been forgotten.

He walked to the Kisaeng House and sure enough found Lord Yulmu frying pork slices in the kitchen. He approached him and informed him of the Muwoldan's body being found. He simply nodded and Danho was about to walk away when Lord Yulmu told him to open his mouth.

Danho obeyed and Yulmu fed him a piece of freshly fried pork with a smile on his face. Danho wasn't sure how to respond but simply bowed to Yulmu and stepped out. As he chewed on the delicious piece of meat, he was reminded of something he had told Lady Kim.

"I'm not his lapdog you know."

"Your hair is different today."

"Huh?" Danho blinked. "Oh, err, yes."

"It looks like you're celebrating Dano with everyone else…" He smiled but Danho shook his head.

"I just –"

"Don't worry, Danhoya. You're my friend and there's nothing wrong with having fun, is there?"

"Thank you, my Lord," Danho lightly bowed and stepped out, walking past a young girl who was going into the kitchen. He decided he would take a walk around, since the Prince was going to spend some time there. He was approaching the Kisaeng House gate when to his surprise, he saw a drenched and muddy Lady Kim limping near the gate. He rushed to her side in worry.

"Lady Kim!"

She was walking while holding up his skirt and stared at him for a moment before speaking.

"Ah Danhoyaa," she began, her speech slurring slightly. "My only true friend…"

"What happened to you? Are you hurt?" Danho couldn't see any signs of physical injury but couldn't check to be sure.

"It is all Dongju's fault," she said firmly. Danho was confused.

"What, your adopted daughter Dongju?"

"I am a person with feelings and she has a problem with it!"

At this point Danho wondered if Lady Kim actually followed her own advice and opened up to her adopted daughter about who she likes. Maybe Dongju had a problem with it…

"Danhoya, haven't you heard? Love is like a cough, you just can't hold it in, you know?" Danho snorted at this.

"Lady Kim, are you… are you drunk?" Danho couldn't help the small smile on his face.

"What, a person can't have any fun once in a while, huh?" Lady Kim demanded. "What, why?"

"Of course, you can. It's just, you're… very cute when you're drunk," Danho was feeling bolder with his words since she was inebriated. "I actually had something to tell you but if you're in this state…"

"Gosh, seriously will you quit flirting with me?" Lady Kim was barely standing straight as she spoke. "I'm off, I have important things to do."

"Of course, would you like me to –"

"I'll be fine on my own!" She exclaimed and tripped… straight into Danho's arms.

Two minutes later, he was carrying a very relaxed Lady Kim on his back as he took the scenic route to Widow Village gate from outside the Kisaeng House. It was mostly because he didn't want Lady Kim to be embarrassed about being carried home in front of other people but if he was being true to himself there was a part of him wanted to take a longer walk through the flower fields so he could be with her and keep her safe.

Danho was smiling throughout the journey back to the Widow Village.

x-X-x

Nokdu stepped into his house to see Dongju, who immediately sat up in surprise when she saw him.

"What happened to you?" She asked, looking at his clothes covered in mud. Nokdu's head was still spinning from drinking earlier with the Muwoldan and he wasn't in a mood to talk right now.

"I fell," he muttered. "I'm going to take a bath," he said simply and left.

Did I really let Danho carry me to the Widow Village?

Earlier that day when the Yeolnyeodan had mentioned it was Dano and it was when people opened up to each other, he had made up his mind to finally talk to Dongju about how he felt.

"Meet me at the swing tonight, I have something I want to say to you," Nokdu told her.

"I don't want to hear it," Dongju said simply.

"Is it… because of Cha Yulmu?" he asked, hesitantly. After a long pause she nodded and left him behind feeling terrible.

'But it can't be…' he thought to himself. He was so confident that there was something between them and anyone could tell she had no feelings towards Yulmu.

He shook his head as he relaxed in the hot bath and the steam in the room was helping sweat out the alcohol. He wiped himself off as he sat in deep thought, deciding that he was not going to wait any longer. He was going to confront her about his truth; she could accept it or leave it but he had to know for sure.

He walked into their room to see Dongju in bed. He suspected she wasn't really asleep and gathered up his courage, not even bothering to put his shirt on before he spoke.

"There is no mistress that I love." As expected, Dongju sat up on hearing his words and stared at him, wide eyed.

"What! Then the mistress you mentioned…" She paused and Nokdu knew what was coming. "You lied to me?"

"Yes," he said simply.

"Then why are you telling me the truth now?" Nokdu waited a moment before he answered her question.

"Because I like you. That's why." He was feeling better already, having said it out loud. Dongju on the other hand looked like she was fighting a battle of emotions.

"I told you.. I –"

"I know you don't really love that man Yulmu," Nokdu pointed out. "You say that you do and it makes sense that you do… But I do not believe it."

"What?" Dongju's voice had gone really soft.

"One cannot hide love. Indeed, I couldn't hide it," he continued, feeling more confident now. "But you never coughed in front of him," he finished with surprising conviction. Dongju's sad face turned to that of confusion.

"Cough? What are you talking about –"

"He looks at you but you do not look at him," he went on. "… you look at me. Am I wrong?"

Dongju glared it him but Nokdu could see she wasn't really angry, just frustrated.

"I don't want to answer," she told him. "Why do you keep asking me weird questions like that? You have no idea…" Dongju was sitting on her bed and he kneeled down before her.

"You are right. I do not know anything. So…" He slowly leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. She didn't resist and he gently pulled back to look at her. "So, you answer me," he whispered and took her face in his hands when the door to their room suddenly burst open to reveal a furious looking Cha Yulmu staring at them.