Chapter 45: Kang Da-In

My journey of how I ended up in a gibang was a long and humiliating one. It all started with my family tricking me into leaving Seon-Ho who did all he could to avoid me since that night. I sent him gifts; he gifted them to that brat, I sent him food I actually attempted to make myself since he likes her cooking so much that I actually...lowered myself to try it out but I noticed he was feeding it to his horse! I waited for him new my home until all hours of the night only for him to walk straight past me without uttering a single word as I could only watch him happily run into that trollop who would also wait for him by the gate as they exchanged smiles, bright eyes and peaceful...loving gazes as they would walk side my side, conversing immediately and animatedly as though they were longing to be in each other's company every time they parted. I managed to get my family invitations to dine with his father at least once every 2 weeks but he didn't seem happy about it at all. I gathered up the courage to ask him if he would ever like me if she didn't stay with him bu he just ignored me as I watch him teach her how to paint as they exchanged sarcastic comments and insults...then he indulged her in his books and work...then he actually dared to risk his father's anger by teaching her how to ride horses which was a real sight to see. The more she shrieked in either delight or fear the more...happier he was. He would also begin to...laugh as she had no choice but to cling onto him every time he tilted her position on the horse, scaring her unnecessarily.

I walked into his path one day before he could reach for her as usual. "Orobani, please spare me a moment" he tried to walk past me but I just clung onto his arm in time for Yeon to see and walk away without a second glance. I felt him...convulse at my touch as he called out for her to stop in her tracks and she did...but she still didn't turn around to face us. "What the hell do you want" he muttered under his breathe. "Orobani, my family is going away again for a while and I do not know when I'll be back. So I want to ask you finally...do you like me?" But he still wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to me at all! He looked...annoyed when she walked away despite him calling for her. "I'm begging you, please tell me" I went to lightly nudge his arm but he caught it in his arm and held it high above my head "no, I do not like you. You are just a child and we are worlds apart" "what...what do you mean we are worlds apart? We are both noble people!" I managed to utter in disbelief "I...I am not a nobleman" he sighed to himself and tried to walk away but I wouldn't let him leave. "I'm not speaking rashly and I am willing to not care about my reputation at this point" I insisted stubbornly "that girl you're got there is no match for your status. She doesn't understand people like you, like us...she is the one who is worlds apart, not myself! So why can't I marry you if I wanted to. I know I'm a little young...but...if you think personality needs adjustment, I can change that..." "Da-In, for goodness sake, you do not need to change for me. You're...only a sister to me...barely. Besides that, I possess no feelings or desire to keep you by my side. You cannot change that, do you finally understand?" "I was crying at this point but I still insisted on being stubborn...no way was that girl going to take my dream away from me "I do not comprehend, and I do not believe it. I only understand that familiarity breeds fondness. Even you are made of rock I will be able to melt you" but he finally lost his patience as he tossed me aside to coarsely that I fell onto the ground as he kept calling for her name. He had left the gate open...so I followed him to see if he would talk to his father about me...or follow her with bated breathe.

But as usual of late, he disappointed me once again "Yeon, Yeon come outside!" I heard him whisper to her for far too long but she wouldn't show herself. "I'm tired Orobani, I would like to sleep" she replied melancholily "no! Do not sleep yet I want to see you first" "why? You are already busy with guests, why would you need to see me?" My dignity completely shattered when I saw him marching into her room anyways and I edged my way forward, only to see him grabbing her arm like a stubborn baby who couldn't reach his toys. "I said I want to see you, didn't you hear me" I completely froze...I have NEVER in my life heard him use that tone of voice before, a tone that was much deadlier then even his father's. I felt almost...trampled upon and I wasn't even the one he was conversing with! He even pulled her so close to him that his lips had landed on her forehead...but she pushed him away and told him to return to his guests and even had the nerve to push him out of the door before closing it on him as the guards returned "I promise you I won't see her or any other woman again I promise" he declared before walking away just as I hid, crumpling onto the floor and weeping my heart out with my own hand stifled over my mouth.