It was before suppertime that Tae-hee was finally reacquainted with her closest friends. The dreary atmosphere of the parlor room transformed upon the three ladies' arrival, the women rushing in as if they were to meet the queen rather than their dear friend.

Jung-min, the witty and charming Rogyeo native, stomped into the room while holding her skirts aside. The girl's short hair bounced as she made her way inside, elongating her lean arms to embrace Tae-hee. Luckily, Jung-min was blessed with the ideal body type in current society — petite, thin, with enough curves to distract any man. All of the ladies envied her, including Tae-hee. But whereas other ladies' envy was that of a resentful nature, Tae-hee was jealous of her friend's frame in an appreciative way — reassuring her that the Rogyeon girl, without a doubt, had the most graceful and elegant figure in all of Shinga.

"Oh, how I've missed you, my beautiful recluse!" the girl exclaimed, throwing her arms around Tae-hee. They embraced like men, their hands tapping each other's backs as a gesture of affection. Tae-hee noted how Jung-min had a new scent.

"You've changed your perfume," Tae-hee mentioned, "and it smells divine. What is it?"

"It's just a little something I conjured up in the laboratory last month," she said wickedly. "Good thing you approve of it, since I've brought a box for each one of you." Jung-min turned to the two ladies waiting at the entrance of the parlor room, motioning them over. "Here, smell."

They both took a whiff of Jung-min's extended wrist. With hooded eyes, they looked up in admiration.

"What a scent!" Hye-rin exclaimed in awe. The other girl, Ga-eun, nodded in agreement, smiling shyly.

Han Ga-eun was a childhood friend of Tae-hee, as the girl's father was a respected count in Shinga, not to mention an extremely wealthy one. The only issue about her was that her birth was questionable, as it was rumored that her mother had an affair with a commoner before she died during childbirth. Despite the pressure to remarry, Count Han was satisfied with his only daughter, promising to hand everything down to her upon his death.

Now that such matter was relevant due to the count's deteriorating health, the count's brothers and sisters were determined to take Ga-eun's inheritance. They were part of the majority that believed that Lady Han was not, in fact, a lady in her birthright.

Tae-hee had much fondness for her youth friend — the only one who knew all of the details regarding the house fire, Ji-min's departure, and the terrible countess. Ga-eun still remained friends with Tae-hee since then, having unsurmountable patience and empathy for her past. It wasn't particularly easy to be as caring and loving as Ga-eun was, since her extended family treated her with the same respect as they did their racing horses. And as the count's last days were imminent, their attitude towards her only worsened.

Although the girl was the most warm-hearted being Tae-hee had ever met, Ga-eun was also terribly shy from years of cruelty from her family members. Faltering a bit before speaking, she asked, "H-how are your siblings, Hye-rin?"

"Oh, terrible as always," the other girl said, collapsing on the sofa next to Tae-hee. "You would think that once they both got married they would stop tormenting me, but that isn't the case."

Staring at the two unmarried girls always elicited a quiet laugh from Tae-hee. The pair couldn't be more different.

While Ga-eun was polite and reserved, Min Hye-rin's disposition resembled Jung-min's — brash, stubborn, and opinionated. Growing up in a family where she was resented by her only siblings, Hye-rin grew extremely cynical toward the possibility of true affection and love. Sure, she was passionate — and, much to her denial, a dreamer — but she only channeled those traits during the dance lessons she took with Tae-hee.

It was a pity that, like Ga-eun, the circumstances of Hye-rin's birth were controversial, as she was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman in all of Shinga. With fair skin and perfectly smooth, thick locks to frame her exquisite features, Hye-rin was a natural beauty. Men pined for her, but would not offer her marriage due to her low breeding.

And since she was unwilling to be anyone's mistress, she was still unmarried at the age of twenty-five, which wouldn't have been unusual had it not been for her striking looks.

"That's what happens when you marry for convenience rather than love," Jung-min quipped. She sat next to Hye-rin, and beckoned Ga-eun to sit next to her. "You try to distract yourself by interfering with other people's lives."

"Well, most women don't have the luxury to marry for passion rather than comfort." Ga-eun sat down next to Jung-min as the girls nodded in agreement.

A smile at her lips, Hye-rin said, "That is why years of unfortunate marriages have made women evolve into natural gossipers." Tae-hee laughed, approving of her friend's analysis.

"Oh, is that why?" Jung-min wondered. "I always thought ladies were very good actresses, pretending as if gossiping is more amusing than going on a hunt and risking their lives in the process."

"That doesn't stop you," Hye-rin teased. Jung-min, as well as Tae-hee, was well-known for being one of the few ladies who went hunting alongside men. Not only did she enjoy the exercise and the thrill of a hunt, but she was also quite adept at it, much to the chagrin of her male peers.

"I am hardly a lady," she replied, grinning.

"Speaking of gossip," Ga-eun added quietly, "I heard that a new guest — an accomplished man by the name of Kim Tae-hyung — is staying this month for the celebration. Maybe you should try your charms on him?" She directed her question at Hye-rin. Everyone knew that the girl was desperate for a husband to free herself of her siblings' tyranny.

Hye-rin only rolled her eyes in response. "I have heard of Mr. Kim, and so has every woman in the manor," she explained. "He is from Rogyeo, and is far from a nobleman. And although he may be well-off, he is not nearly rich enough to help my situation."

"He is well-off?" Ga-eun asked, disappointed. The girls knew that only an extremely poor or desperate man would endure Ga-eun's intolerable relatives in exchange for her financial support. Although she was wealthy, her familial situation was much more ill-fated.

"He is," Jung-min added. "I met him at Lord Miya's ball in Rogyeo. He is rich, not to mention handsome, but not wealthy enough to relieve Hye-rin of her siblings." The cynical girl made a disgruntled sound. "His business partner, however, is quite endowed."

Tae-hee's eyes narrowed, recalling that Ji-min had told her that he worked with Mr. Kim. "His business partner?" she asked casually, appearing to further the conversation.

"His business partner, Mr. Park J…" the Rogyeo-born girl trailed, furrowing her eyebrows. "I forgot his first name, but I met him at the ball as well. I believe he is one of the most successful men in Rogyeo — perhaps even more so than Mr. Kim."

"I don't care much for Rogyeos," Hye-rin shrugged. Seeing that Jung-min threw her a cautious look, the girl added, "Except you, my dear."

Satisfied with the answer, Jung-min admitted, "Of course, I don't think that you would have liked them anyway. They are not the marrying kind."

"What do you mean?" Tae-hee was itching at the settee with anticipation and curiosity. She wanted to know everything about Ji-min's life in Rogyeo, and her friend wasn't disclosing nearly as much information as Tae-hee would have liked.

"They are rakes," Jung-min said simply, shrugging her shoulders, "known for throwing extravagant parties with an excess of alcohol and women. I heard that they never keep a mistress for longer than a month. Oh, what's the bloke's name again? Park Ju… Jum… Ji…" The thought of Ji-min lying in bed with another woman made Tae-hee's heartbeat quicken with envy.

Of course he had forgotten about her. It had been six years, not to mention the fact that Tae-hee most likely ruined his sense of self-worth with her words back then. Oh, how she regretted those words with all her heart.

Before she could hear his name again, Tae-hee interrupted her friend. "What about you, Jung-min? Have you run into any handsome gentlemen here so far?" She faked a smile, hoping that they would all buy it.

"Not yet." Jung-min sighed, propping her small head on her delicate hand. Suddenly, her tone changed, and she said with distaste, "But I did run into your brother on the way here — how insufferable he is! He acted as if encountering me was some great inconvenience. Is it because I am Rogyeon? How narrow-minded of him!"

Hye-rin and Ga-eun exchanged sly glances, as they knew that Jung-min had a slight interest (guised as disdain) toward the count. They had kept it a secret from Tae-hee, who was sometimes rather aloof, but they couldn't overlook the moments when Jung-min had let her eyes linger on Hyuk for some time.

"Ignore him," Tae-hee said with a yielding tone. Still smiling, however, she added, "But I doubt that he doesn't like Rogyeos; he's been doing a lot of business with them recently. He really is a decent man."

"I doubt that," Jung-min refuted. "Most decent men do not brood as much."

— — —

"Stop brooding so much."

Ji-min scowled at his friend while adjusting the lapels at the front of his coat. He hated Shinga's approach to formal wear: everything buttoned, fastened — suffocating. In Rogyeo, he could comfortably undo the front buttons of his coat to reveal the white, crisp long-sleeve that men usually wore on the inside. It was much more comfortable that way, not to mention refreshing, when mingling in a crowded ballroom.

"It's this damn collar," he said, his teeth gritted. Ji-min wasn't sure if he was supposed to flip the silk fabric over or not. If he did, then it would expose too much of the undershirt.

He decided to leave it be.

Working the buttons on his arm sleeves, he heard Tae-hyung remark, "Shingan attire is growing on me." The man grinned, his eyes turning into crescents. "It suits me rather well." He slowly walked in a circle, contemplating his reflection in the large looking glass. Twisting left and right, he made the bottom swell of his coat rise and fall, admiring the result.

Ji-min's business partner, Kim Tae-hyung, had an unusual personality, to say the least.

Born and raised in Rogyeo, he found Shinga's culture and its people fascinating, coercing Ji-min to explain more about the neighboring nation whenever the topic arose. Tae-hyung especially preferred the women of Shinga to those of Rogyeo. While Ji-min agreed with the Rogyeo native on this point, he believed that Rogyeo's progressive society was an exceptional attribute that he could not ignore.

"I suppose people might make me out to be a bit feminine if I say this," Tae-hyung started, adjusting his black fedora, "but I enjoy these dances very much. I heard that this one is music-themed in light of the cultural festival."

This was Ji-min's first Munhwal in six years, having celebrated his last one with Tae-hee before he was sent away two seasons later. Every year that Ji-min spent at the Gyeong home, the count had thrown a month-long celebration of culture and hunt. And during that month, a ball would be thrown every week to honor four pillars of art: music, theatre, dance, and literature.

The dances were entertaining, but Ji-min had attended too many in the past as a servant to find them enjoyable. Tae-hyung, however, was not at all particular with his entertainment. The man could find some type of amusement in a doctor's visit. At times, Ji-min wondered how anyone could be as foolishly cheerful as his partner was, and yet equally exacting and diligent in business.

"If you are done lusting after your own reflection, we should get going." Ji-min stood by the door, his arms crossed at his front to reveal the knobby bones of his wrists and knuckles.

Anyone who caught sight of his strong limbs would immediately know that he was a fierce opponent — physically and mentally. Years of experience as a dockside worker made his body capable of nearly anything, especially breaking up fights between brawny sailors and nimble merchants. His skills eventually worked in his favor while working for Goryang, a profitable shipping company that belonged to Tae-hyung's father. As soon as his father passed away, Tae-hyung promoted Ji-min since he saw the man's potential when they first met.

Potential that was, of course, shaped out of a wounded past.

As Ji-min reluctantly followed Tae-hyung out to the main estate, he couldn't help but be apprehensive about seeing Tae-hee again. What would she be wearing? He imagined her slim, curvy figure in opulent fabric that highlighted her porcelain complexion. Would she be dancing with someone? A duke, perhaps? Ji-min couldn't stomach the thought of her in another man's arms.

Bright lights immediately flooded their eyes as the two Rogyeon businessmen made their way into the ballroom. It was different than the balls they had attended in Rogyeo; those were elegant, serene — simple, almost. The current ambiance, however, couldn't be more different.

Heavy chandeliers emitted a bright, warm hue throughout the room, delivering life and brilliance to the dark orange walls. The russet curtains were drawn to divide the main floor and the outside balcony that was adorned with white hydrangeas. At the corner of the room, a magnificent grand piano was erected on a slightly elevated surface where musicians in black-and-white attire occupied themselves with their instruments. Their soft tunes made for easy conversation among the female guests who were dressed in whites and pastels, their appearance an image of grace and poise. The men, who stood closer to the center of the room, loudly boasted about their prowess for hunting and professional talk of business and politics.

In the heart of the ballroom Ji-min spotted several couples dancing the waltz. As the tempo of the song quickened, the men turned their partners until they were dizzy and recovered only by placing their hands on the gentlemen's chests. A common ploy.

But no decoration, melody, or discussion could have distracted Ji-min once he spotted her.

Tae-hee stood among a few ladies, engaged in conversation while Ji-min analyzed every inch of her. The smooth, obsidian locks were collected into a tousled bun, with a few stray hairs framing her dewy cheeks. Her figure was hidden by the red silky fabric of her dress, but the short, mesh coat covering her torso did little to conceal the protrusion of her collarbones and shoulders.

Unblinking, Ji-min let his eyes graze over her once more.

At the peak of her coiffure, Tae-hee had a hairpiece consisting of three small ivory roses flecked with splashes of dark red and pink, sewn amongst a sea of olive petals. Ji-min wanted to tear out the clip and watch as her tresses cascaded down her back.

During his lengthy examination, Ji-min saw multiple men approach her with their hands extended, presumably asking her for a dance. It made his heart sing with joy once he saw the firm shake of her head and the subsequent apology she made to the suitors' distressed faces.

However, Tae-hyung had also caught sight of the esteemed beauty by then, as he was making his way over to the group of ladies. Ji-min impulsively followed him, led by his sense of protection — of Tae-hee, not his colleague.

As they approached the women, Ji-min realized that Tae-hee was unoccupied by any company at the moment, taking the second to sip from her wine glass politely. Once she set down the cup, she locked eyes with the two men.

Before she could address them, Tae-hyung spoke.

"If I'm not mistaken, you are Lady Kwon Tae-hee, yes?"

Tae-hee glanced briefly at Ji-min unsteadily, before a hesitant smile came across her lips. They were colored with dark rouge, making her alluring eyes even more so captivating.

"You are correct," she said, turning to Tae-hyung. "And you must be Mr. Kim Tae-hyung, all the way from Rogyeo."

Tae-hyung was clearly flattered by her recognition of him. Realizing that the girl most likely knew who Tae-hyung was because Ji-min had told her earlier, he smiled discreetly. "It is only a two-hour carriage drive," the man said dismissively. "Any drive would merit coming to your lovely home."

Smiling warmly, Tae-hee gave him an acknowledging nod before he continued.

"Forgive me for being brash, my lady, but the rumors do not do you justice." He was smug, confident in his approach to woo over any lady with his flattery. Continuing, Tae-hyung mused, "A man had described you as the most beautiful woman alive, but I see that I must reprimand him for so inaccurately undermining your beauty."

To Ji-min's surprise, she didn't blush nor soften at his generous compliment. Instead, she quipped, "You sure have a way with words, Mr. Kim."

Ji-min gathered that his friend was somewhat rattled as well. "I will take that as a testament to my charm." Tae-hyung's eyes stayed locked on hers, and Ji-min wanted desperately to drag him across the room by the hem of his coat.

"My lady, I heard that you spent much of your childhood with Ji-min," he continued, placing a hand on Ji-min's back. Although he cared for Tae-hyung like a brother, Ji-min had the inexplicable urge to smack the man's arm. "Was he the same troublemaker as he is now?"

Ji-min's gaze burned through Tae-hee's flesh, waiting every agonizing second to hear her opinion of him. She finally noted, "He is… very changed, sir."

"In what way?" Ji-min interrupted. She jumped at his demanding tone, and Ji-min could see that she was clearly flustered. His attempt to apologize was curbed by her response.

"Mr. Park used to be much more… animated. And compassionate." Avoiding Ji-min's gaze, she wrapped her arms around her torso to guard herself. From what? Him?

Tae-hyung effortlessly piped in. "Boys are the most compassionate creatures alive. But do you know what happens?" he asked, leaning closer into Tae-hee. Ji-min wanted to throttle him.

Once Tae-hee shook her head, Tae-hyung continued, "We turn into men."

She smiled wistfully. "What a pity," she whispered.

Ji-min was certain that his coworker was taken with Tae-hee before he saw Tae-hyung's confidence falter.

"Who is that?" he whispered, his tone something between confusion and awe. Ji-min and Tae-hee followed his eyes to see that he was staring at the profile of Tae-hee's younger sister, So-hee. Ji-min noticed that she had matured considerably as well, her childlike features now delicate and soft. The girl was, by standards, beautiful; but in Ji-min's eyes, she could never rival Tae-hee's exquisite beauty.

Tae-hee spoke, oblivious of Tae-hyung's acute interest. "That is Lady So-hee, my younger sister of two years. She has just returned from Baekbom where she studied ceramics at a renowned school."

The younger girl whipped her head around at the mention of her name, making Tae-hyung catch his breath audibly. The two locked eyes, and Ji-min grinned to himself in victory. He would finally leave Tae-hee alone.

Curtsying, So-hee addressed the two men. "Nice to meet you gentlemen." Her eyes lingered on Tae-hyung.

"Likewise," he then murmured, instinctively stepping closer to her.

Tae-hee spoke, her tone uneasy and careful. "This is Mr. Kim Tae-hyung, who works in Rogyeo with Mr. Park Ji-min. Do you remember Mr. Park? He was at Juel Crest for a considerable time during our youth."

Ji-min's eyebrows furrowed at how Tae-hee phrased the words, as if she was hiding the truth from someone. He wanted to clarify that Tae-hyung knew about his past as a servant at the Gyeong estate, before he was stunned by the younger girl's response.

"I… please forgive me, Mr. Park," So-hee said apologetically. The corners of her lips jutted downward into a frown. "I don't possess a great memory, especially from my childhood." The expression on her face seemed sincere, which puzzled Ji-min even more. Was she pretending to not recognize Ji-min due to embarrassment?

"Mr. Kim, if you be so kind as to accompany my sister for a minute," said Tae-hee, her expression polite but anxious. "I would like to speak to Mr. Park regarding a matter of personal nature."

Tae-hyung nodded zealously, offering an arm toward So-hee before they began to engage in conversation.

"Mr. Park, I owe you an explanation," Tae-hee began, "When my father—"

"Dance with me."

She stared up at him, blinking. "Excuse me?"

Extending a hand toward her, he repeated, "Dance with me."

Tae-hee stared at his coarse palm and then at him again, her eyes darting back and forth. Lowering her arms from her chest, she laughed in dismay. Noticeably cross, she stammered, "In what position are you in to make demands of me? I am trying to explain So-hee's behavior to you, not engage in some—"

"Fine. Lady Tae-hee, will you dance with me?" Ji-min asked again, amused by her sudden temper.

"No, I will not dance with you!"

"Then I guess you wouldn't mind me telling your visitors about Lady So-hee mistreating her guest. How she feigned ignorance of a man she grew up with because he was of low—"

"You wouldn't." Tae-hee glared at him, and the sides of his lips tugged farther upward.

Inching closer to her face, he whispered, "I would." Ji-min saw that she was not meeting his eyes, her lips still pursed in a disagreeable expression. He continued, "Now, I would like a dance, and five questions in exchange for my silence."

She scrunched her nose in disapproval, finally meeting his playful gaze. "Three."

"Four."

"Fine."

Ji-min hastily took her hand and led her to the dance floor, assuming his position between other couples carrying their own movements. Careful not to hurt her, he loosened his grip before his other hand pulled her in closer, catching her slim waist.

Nervously, she placed her hand on his chest, as she was too petite to fully wrap it around his shoulder and rest it on his upper back. Tae-hee was bashful, looking away as his eyes tore into every curve and edge of her face. They landed on her pillowy lips as he wondered how they would feel on his after all these years.

"Your questions?" Tae-hee reminded, speaking softly to his chest while unwilling to meet his gaze. She smelled of vanilla and mint, and he inhaled deeply to take in the scent.

Once he realized that he had been caught staring too intently, he cleared his throat and asked the first question on his mind.

"Why are you refusing all of the men?" He watched as her eyes briefly darted up, meeting his, and then lowered again.

"What do you mean?"

"Your… suitors. You've said no to nearly ten of them when they asked you for a dance."

"They are not my suitors," she corrected, leaning in closer to his torso. He could see that she was fatigued by how her eyes relaxed. "And I have no responsibility to say yes."

He smiled lightly, as he was glad to know that she was just as stubborn as before. Moving on, he asked, "What happened to So-hee?"

The defense went up again, her eyebrows pinched together as she reflected on a thought. She paused for nearly a minute, and Ji-min was sure that she wouldn't respond before she spoke again.

"So-hee, she… The night my father died everyone was running, and frantic, and... she fell down the stairs, causing damage to her brain," she explained, her mind somewhere else. "The injury, combined with the traumatic event of Papa's death, made her lose parts of her memory. And since she didn't see you at all after the accident, it is possible that she forgot you entirely."

They danced in silence. Ji-min was unsure of what to do or say, as it clear that Tae-hee was distraught over talking about her sister's painful past. Deciding to lighten the mood, he grinned wickedly and commented, "What a shame. She had quite an adorable crush on me."

She hit his chest, making him smile with his teeth exposed. "Oh, you're intolerable."

Laughing, he let his eyes travel south, where they landed on her smooth neck and elegant collarbones. Her cleavage was covered by the bandeau of her dress, the black fabric adorned with floral stitching.

His laughter fading, he said, "You've thinned considerably. I hadn't noticed before."

Tae-hee blushed, as it was against proper etiquette for a man to confront a woman on her figure. "Is that a question?" she asked, tense.

"An observation that would like an explanation."

"I will count it as one, then."

She fumbled in his arms, uneasy under his heavy stare. He only continued to stare at her chest, eyebrows furrowed. Tae-hee then realized what he meant.

"I have not thinned." She smirked involuntarily. "The maids just bound my chest for the evening."

"Why would they do that?" Ji-min demanded, suddenly upset.

"Is that your final question?"

"No… I—" After contemplating for a second, he resigned, finally nodding.

"The dress..." she explained, "it is difficult to look appealing if one's chest is… protruded."

"I would beg to differ," he muttered. She reddened again.

For the remainder of the song, Ji-min held her in his arms as she made and broke eye contact with him several times. It was clear that Tae-hee found the situation disconcerting, and while Ji-min somewhat agreed, he also could not help but ache from the mix of emotions inside. He hoped that she couldn't feel his heartbeat through his clothes.

When the musicians concluded, they reluctantly let go, bowing properly to one another. Ji-min fumbled with his hair, while Tae-hee adjusted the skirts of her dress.

"I…" she started, getting his attention. "I will see you around, Mr. Park. Thank you for the dance." Her tone was so impersonal that it threw him off. It made him forget that, a minute ago, they were holding each other and swaying gently to the romantic tune. As she walked away, Ji-min found himself reaching out instinctively to draw her back into his arms.