Chapter 10: Kang Da-In

No! No...she was stealing him from me! She was stealing the moment I had been waiting for as I had no choice but to watch this catastrophe before my eyes as they were both caught in each other's gazes. I started grappling with my mind, trying to come up with ways to obstruct them without looking desperate. I grabbed the cup of tea that was left next to the tray and I 'accidentally' threw it on her dress but she didn't even react! That was expensive material that she was wearing and of course she didn't even know it. "I'm sorry, I tripped up over my dress. How about I compensate you with one of my servants clothing instead?" Only Seon-Ho looked thoroughly annoyed at this but I could tell he was holding himself back since he would't talk back to a girl...but she just brushed it off "it's ok, I can just clean it up myself later, there's no harm done" she wasn't looking at me at all! She was still trying to escape while she could but he still wouldn't let he go. I guess she was acting coy now that his father was out and they were left alone. "Orobani, let's go to my home and I can show you everything I bought in my travels" I was dying to show him the research I did on the military so he could at long last take me seriously. Once again I was ignored as Yeon made her way towards the gates in the northern courtyard. "Have they already put the lights up in the village square for the festival? Has time already flown by so quickly?" She spoke to herself a little sadly. I just snorted, I could go outside anytime I wanted and no one could stop me. But of course, she had my man wrapped around her fingers and once again he was by he side, concerned at her sad tone "I promise you, If my father's men were not stationed everywhere I would have taken you myself to see it..everyday"

I wouldn't have believed the power this witch had over him if I didn't see it with my own eyes. The usually proud and brave man now had his eyes on the floor in...shame and regret in front of a commoner mongrel. I wanted to slap him back to his senses for the first time but Yeon just smiled sweetly to him as usual and teased him a little "oh really? You would have snuck me out of here, probably in disguise and try to sneak me around as many free routes as you could. Knowing you, even a simple outing would turn into a mission" she tried to cheer him up before asking him if he was hungry and wanted his dinner. Why on earth did I not think about that? I'm the most suitable one to ask him about his health. "You really do spoil me, Young Master" she spoke to him fondly I wanted to gouge her eyes out for looking at him the way she did and....what was wrong with him? We were noble people; we didn't have time for emotional sentiment and babyish pampering...so why did he always look so shocked at her whenever she did that? This man was prime material to take over our nation's army one day for goodness sake! I wondered what his father would do if he knew about this.

I couldn't get his attention no matter what I did so I rushed back to my bedroom by my damned self and reached out for the most expensive thing in my room and ran back before she did god-knows what to him...I honestly wouldn't be surprised at this point if I found him in a dress and makeup.

I couldn't find them for a while and I started to run all around each courtyard...until I saw he ran the kitchen making something with him hovering over her curiously. "I forgot that you could cook" he remarked wistfully. "I'm a woman of many talents I'll have you know. Now sit down and have the tea I made you in the meantime" she bossed him round but he didn't seem to mind at all. They were...in synchronisation, not unlike himself and her brother...at this point I was getting so angry I didn't even notice I had taken handfuls of my dress into my hands and had started unpicking it at the seams with my fingers. She handed him plate after plate of both sweet and savoury dishes until he had to physically remove her from the cooking pot and sat her down next to him as he devoured everything in his sight, totally disregarding his strict diet that I know for a fact his father had put in place for him. This girl....I knew she had a habit of acting childish, who in this village didn't know that? I was even 2 years younger than her myself but...but he was the one who could barely contain himself as he looked at these dishes he was never meant to see with such excitement that it fascinated her "you must be in a good mood today...I don't think I've ever seen you this excited in my entire stay here" "Yeon...you really made all of this for me?" it was like he couldn't believe it...he even...good god it felt nonsensical even saying this but...he had this...look that dogs get when they wanted to be petted. It was like....my perception of the vigorous man that would end up with a high career and 12 children was now shattered and he was...human who wanted to be loved...but he wasn't looking for it from me at all. This girl...she not only was trying to steal him from me she was turning him into a commoner! Myself and his father's worst fears were unfolding before my very eyes in horror as I was starting to feel nauseas by the very sight of such greasy and sweet food that our mother's would rather die than let me go anywhere near it. All I could do was scoff; noblewomen didn't cook, but of course she had no concept of this. I as expecting him to have the same reaction...but he left me down once again.

"You're a hardworking man, even if you're fa...others refuse to acknowledge it. And to be honest, I've disliked your routine for a very long time" our heads shot up at this. What was wrong with today? I was hearing and seeing things I should never have to; this was all commoner talk. "In your career I expect you have to discipline yourself, I understand that. But I think you've long forgotten that you are indeed a human being and not a weapon. So I'm spoiling you today, to not only acknowledge your achievements so far, but to celebrate them as well, no matter how big or small they are" all this girl knew was how to smile and nothing else. She ran from the kitchen, leaving Seon-Ho speechless at her words but before I could finally talk to him she ran back with a new brand new sword scabbard. What a fool I was not to look at the condition of his possessions first. I was digging my nails so hard into the table I was leaving shavings on the floor. He still looked like he didn't know how to act and he was blushing yet again. "Yeonnie...how can I repay you?" He asked silently as she kept pushing the food towards him. "Hmm...let's see...you're a rich young master of a noble home...I guess I can ask for pretty much anything from you right? Even lifting my restrictions..." she was teasing him but he didn't get the joke. He swallowed in disappointment "Yeonnie.. I can try..." "So what I want from you is...to start taking a day off for yourself once a week. I want you to find yourself instead of drinking every chance you get. You're a young man in your prime; start treating yourself like a man with interests other than his career"

I was dumfounded whilst this 6ft something built man was coming undone to his core as he hid himself in his hair and started eating a lot quicker than usual. "Will you...will you help me with it?" He asked again quietly, almost choking on his words. "Of course, I'm always here for you, you know that. Now, eat all of this and don't you dare leave a single grain behind while I check on your breakfast for tomorrow. Maybe I can leave something sweet for you" she ran before he could stop her. He stayed true to her word and didn't leave anything scraps behind at all....before finally turning his head towards me.