The summer sun was shining hot and heavy on her face, and Joo shifted slightly in discomfort as beads of sweat began to dot her forehead. A stern glance from her mother stopped her fidgeting, though she couldn’t help but pouted as she straightened her hanbok which had wrinkled slightly from where she’d wrung her hands in it from anxiety.

“Do we really have to do this, Mother?”

“Joo,” her mother spoke tersely, her own clothes still as immaculate as when she first put it on this morning and not for the first time she envied her mother’s grace. “We’ve discussed this before. As someone in your position, you know that it is a must.”

Joo held back her urge to sigh, knowing that it would just displeased her mother more. Of course she’d heard this many times before; the whole fifteen years of her life she was always reminded of her nobility rank and the many restriction and rules she must abide to. Still, it didn’t stop her from feeling displeased. It was stifling enough to be always surrounded by maids and servants, now she has to have a personal guard to follow her every movement too?

“Your father also thinks it would be best for you.”

Joo looked up at her mother’s word, slightly frowning. Her father hardly ever involves himself in matter of the manor’s household, too busy in his duties being the noble duke of the county. To have him interested in what kind of staffs she would have confused her, no matter how much she knows her father loves her.

Her mother’s eyes were softer now as she tucked Joo’s hanbok here and there, straightening it out.

“With how things are now, he thinks it would best for your safety to have a guard with you all the time.”

Joo frowned even more. Her family’s land was never too peaceful, that much she knows. Abundant in riches, surrounding clans have always desired it. There were always some skirmishes or small scale attacks, but it was never something too serious.

Her face must’ve shown her concern as her mother patted her cheek softly. “It is nothing to be worried about, dear. Just that your father and I would have more peace of mind if we know that you have someone to guard you; you are our jewel, after all.”

Before she could answer there were the sounds of quiet footsteps approaching the open courtyard and her mother’s gentle expression quickly changed back to its previous impassive one. Joo leaned her head up and broke into a small smile seeing the person approaching.

“General Kangdae!”

The old man dropped his head in reverent greeting when he stopped in front of them. “My lady.”

Her mother just nodded curtly while Joo smiled wider. Kangdae had been one of her father’s general for as long as she live, and she’d came to regard the old man as family, an uncle of somewhat.

“Now then, Kangdae,” her mother said. “Where is this boy that you proposed to be my daughter’s guard?”

Kangdae bowed again and clapped his hands. From the edge of the courtyard a young man dressed in plain, dark blue clothes emerged. He walked in confident straits to the center of the yard and bowed deeply.   

Her mother frowned. “Isn’t he too young, Kangdae? How old is he?”

“He had reached his eighteen years last fall, my lady. And he might be young, but I assure you that his skills surpassed many men much older than him. I’ve trained him myself since he was small.”

Kangdae turned to the young man, who in turn bowed again before unsheathing his sword, the smooth blade reflecting blinding sparks of light from the sun’s rays.

Despite her earlier disgruntle Joo’s curiosity won over. Kangdae was one of the most accomplished sword masters in the land; surely his apprentice would be good. She watched intensely the slow, smooth arc of the blade through thin air, the careful yet fluid movements of the young boy behind it as he leaped and jumped through the air, his sword another extension of his limbs. It's a dance of sorts, she thought, deadly and graceful and impossible to ignore.

It was easy to see that the young man had done his master well. Her mother obviously thought the same when she nodded to the old man.

“Very well Kangdae, I trust your judgment.” She turned to face the young man. “From now on, you will be my daughter’s personal guard. Her safety will be your foremost responsibility from now on.”

The young man bowed again. “I will do my duty well, my lady.”

His voice was soft, a contrast to his deadly skills and Joo heard an almost undistinguishable lilting accent in it. Her mother though didn’t pay attention to it and only nodded in satisfaction, before turning to leave.

Once she had left Kangdae bowed to her in parting as he clapped his young charge’s back. “Well then my lady, I will take my leave then.”

Joo nodded with a smile, before turning her attention to the young man in front of her. He was tall for his age, and she had to crane her neck to look at him clearly. His hair was long and reached past his broad shoulder, tied into a little ponytail by a string of leather. Unlike the other palace’s guards he was not big and burly; instead, he was rather slim though she noticed the lean muscles of his arms. She noticed he had several small scars on his face, undoubtedly from rigorous martial arts training. Still, the small defect doesn’t blemish his good look.

“What is your name?” she asked.

He bowed his head respectfully, face blank of any emotions though she noticed his eyes were sharp and alert. “My name is Yixing, my lady.”

“You have a slight accent,” she continued on. “Where do you come from?”

Yixing seemed surprised at her question, his eyes widened slightly before closing off again. “My family came from across the sea, though I was still a child then. Even after we settled here they continued to teach me their native language, hence I have a slight accent when I speak, my lady.”

Joo nodded. Her county was bordered by the sea on one side, and she knew there were many foreigners from the country across who came to settle here, instead. Her father never forbids people who want to stay, as long as they plead allegiance to the ruler and the laws here.

“And how long have you been with general Kangdae?”

“Since I was eight years old, my lady.”

“Eh? That long? And your family?”

His jaws clenched just slightly and there was a sudden tenseness in his shoulders. “I have no family, my lady.”

Her eyebrows rose in question and she waved her hand, motioning him to continue.

“When I was eight years old my village was attacked by the neighboring clan. Master Kangdae arrived with his army but it was too late, the village was already burned to the ground. There was no other survivor besides me so he took me with him to work as a servant in his household, and later he trained me in the martial arts as well.”

Joo frowned. Borderline skirmishes were, unfortunately, not a rare occurrence in the land. It’s just the way things are.

Yixing continued to stand there stoically, eyes gazing over her head but she noticed how his shoulders were still tense, clenched fists at his sides. There was an aura of pride and dignity pouring from him in waves, yet it was tinged with a bitter sorrow and Joo regretted asking too much.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled softly.

Surprise and confusion swum in his eyes as he snapped his head down, finally meeting her gaze. “M-my lady…?”

“I’m sorry I asked too much. I’m sure that you don’t like to be reminded of it.”

For the first time since he came Joo caught him off guard and she could easily guess why. Someone of her rank should never have to apologize to a lowly servant like him, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care much about decorum at the moment. It was not in her place to bring up what must’ve been a painful time for him, no matter what her position was.

“N-no, my lady,” Yixing stammered, looking ill at ease. “It’s not….You didn’t have to-”

She waved off his words. “I am sorry for bringing it up, and I am sorry that it happened to you. What is past is in the past and now that you are here, I hope the future will be kinder to you.” She shot him a small smile. “Guard me well, Yixing.”

She was startled when his gaze met hers without a flinch, before he knelt down before her and pressed a hand to his chest. “I will protect you with my life, my lady.” His eyes were much gentler when he stood up again, and she noticed that he has a dimple on his right cheek when he smiles.

Joo’s chest was flooded with warmth and she decided she liked his smile; it was soft yet strong, and most of all, kind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Joo woke up with a smile, a warm fuzzy feeling in her chest at the memory of another smile. Stifling a yawn she blinked her eyes open, expecting to see that dimpled smile again in front of her. Instead what greeted her was the shrieking of her alarm, green electronic letters glaring at her.

Glancing around she saw her room, in the same condition it was when she fell asleep last night. The sunlight was shining behind her bedroom’s curtains, telling her that the day was already breaking.

She groaned and pressed her face into the pillows, reaching out to shut her alarm. Her hand reached out blindly before knocking the clock down to the floor, where it mercifully stopped its annoying ringing.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered, voice muffled by the pillow.

All her life she had always dreamed about a smile. Not a face, not a person, just a smile, and the feelings that smile always give her; the sense of complete warmth and safety and most of all, happiness. Her family and friends have grown accustomed to her stories of the dreams and dismiss it as just a sleep fancy, and in time she’d learned to simply accept it as it was, a dream.

But these last few weeks the dream had changed. It became more vivid, as if she was actually living it. As she got up she swore that she could still feel the sun beaming warmly on her face.

There was a knock and the door opened to reveal Hyunae, her best friend and roommate. “Hey, you awake?”

Joo looked up from where she tried to suffocate herself with the pillow and forced a smile. “Yeah, barely.”

Hyunae looked her up and down, gaze slightly judging. “Don’t tell me. You’re having that dream again?”

She smiled sheepishly and nodded. “This one is different, though. I got to see who the smile belongs to.”

“Well, you could tell me about it at breakfast. Now hurry up or you’ll be late for work. Really, you’re getting later and later every day.”

When the door was closed Joo recalled her dream, seeing the young man and his dimpled smile again. Didn’t he tell her his name? She closed her eyes and tried to remember it.

Yixing …..

The name felt somehow familiar and right as she whispered it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Joo slid the screen door softly, careful not to make any noise. Her teacher was old and had trouble hearing, but she still won’t risk a chance and hoped that the older woman wouldn’t wake up from her doze soon. Once it was shut firmly, she tip toed along the long wooden hallway, barely turning the corner when she felt a presence behind her back.

She sighed, knowing it was useless to escape. “Yixing.”

He stepped to her side as silent and graceful as a cat. “I thought you’re supposed to have your music lesson, my lady.”

She waved her hand impatiently with a scowl. “I have enough gayageum playing to last me for a lifetime! And besides, it’s too nice a day to spend indoors.”

Even without looking at him she can feel the slight disapproval coming from her guard. “You know your mother would not like this, my lady.”

“Well, my mother isn’t here, is she?” 

Joo turned and stood up straighter in an attempt to look menacing, useless as it was seeing that she was still at least a head shorter than him. Again she scowled internally; he had grown even taller while she was still almost as short as before. The thought wasn’t reflected in her face though, as she looked loftily at him, knowing that it didn’t work on him.

"Either you’re going to follow me quietly or you’re going to take me back by force. Which would it be?”

In the two years since their first meeting Joo knew her guard enough to know his answer, but she still shot him a pleading gaze. Yixing kept silent though his eyebrows still frowned and the corner of his mouth curled in disapproval, before finally nodding in resign.

“Using the servant’s back gate would be better, my lady.”

She gave him a grateful smile before turning and continued her walk; he quickly overturned her to lead the way. There were many servants and maids roaming around and they had to stop a couple of times in order not to get caught, slipping in and out of the many labyrinths of the palace’s halls. Finally they managed to slip out unnoticed and once out of sight from the gate’s guards, walked briskly to the small woods just a distance away from it.

Once outside, she began to relax and feel more at ease. It was a beautiful summer day after all; azure sky, emerald grass and bright sunshine, the kind of day that would put a smile on your face. Yet the elation was marred by a heavy feeling, regret and worry clouding her mind.

She knew that her mother would punish her severely once she found out, accompanied by the long lecture of proper decorum and manners for ladies her age but she could care less about it. It was Yixing she was feeling sorry for; she knew his punishment for letting her go outside would be even harsher. Once they go back to the palace, she knew he would be punished with some hard menial work around the place, with no prospect of dinner.

The man didn’t seem perturbed by it as she sneaked a glance at him, always just a few steps behind her. The corner of his lips curled up slightly, letting her know that he also enjoyed the nice day, though his eyes remained sharp and alert as he swept his gaze around them.

“Yixing?”

He was quick to snap his head back at her. “Yes, my lady?”

“Won’t you be sorry later?” Seeing his confused face she quickly explained, fidgeting and shuffling her feet in regret. “You could’ve pretended that you didn’t know I sneaked out, you didn’t have to follow me here. You know that they would punish you for this.”

He was quick to answer, gaze firm and steady. “I am your guard my lady, I will always follow you. Wherever you go, then I will follow.”

If someone else was saying it, she would’ve brushed off the words as the proper way to answer, something all maids and servants are trained to say. Yet she couldn’t help but feel the sincerity coming from Yixing, evidenced by the unflinching gaze he kept on her own.

Flustered, she looked away and continuing her walk. Yixing always looked directly in her eyes when they are alone, something that most, if not all, servants would never do. Her mother would punish him for his insolence if she knew, but Joo herself never forbid the man from doing so. Instead of a sign of disrespect, she regarded it as a sign of his devotion and loyalty to her. Lately though, his gaze always made her feel a slight fluttering in her stomach.

Their walk continued on in silence, Joo glancing sideway from time to time, as if wanting to reassure herself that he was still there.

“I am feeling rather hungry. I think I would ask the maids to send me some extra food later on in my room.”

From the corner of her eyes she could see him blinking in confusion. “My lady?”

“Though knowing my maids, they would probably send me more food than I can finish. It would be a waste, throwing all those food away. I wish someone could come to help me finish it.”

Joo could almost see his brain working before he nodded shortly with a small grin, catching up to her hidden meaning. Satisfied, she nodded back and they continued their walk in silence before she spotted a small field filled with colorful wildflowers behind the trees.

“Oh, look how beautiful they are!”

Without a word, Yixing walked ahead and bent down to pick some of them. Once his hands were full he walked back to her, presenting it without a word. She shot him a thankful smile as she took it, burying her nose in the fragrant bundle and sighing in pleasure. One particular purple flower caught her eyes and she plucked it from the bunch, putting it behind her ear before showing it to him.

“How do I look?”

Yixing gazed at her, eyes still steady and firm and it made some foreign heat travelled up her cheeks and down her neck. She reasoned the sunlight glaring from behind him was the reason why she averted her gaze. Just when she thought he’s not going to say anything, he smiled gently, cheek decorated with that dimple and eyes that were much softer than before.

“Beautiful.”

Joo could hear her heart beating hard in her ears at the sight of that smile.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A hand was shaking her shoulder, gently at first before it became more insistent.

“Joo?” She heard someone speaking, but the sound seemed so far away. “Joo, wake up!”

She groaned, swatting the insisting hand away and blinked blearily. It took a moment to orient herself, to drag her consciousness from the colorful field and hot summer of her dream to the chill of the air conditioning of her room and her bestfriend’s worried face hovering above her.

“Oh thank God you’re awake! I was about to call the ambulance or something!”

Joo raised a hand to rub her eyes tiredly. “What are you talking about, Hyunae? No need to panic just because I woke up late.”

“Late? Late?!” Her friend repeated, her voice increasing in volume as confusion and panic filled her eyes. “Joo, it's six in the afternoon. You’ve been sleeping the whole day!”

“What? What do you mean? I……” Joo swallowed hard, the taste in bitter with unease when she spotted the clock. Grabbing her mobile phone, she glanced at the time displayed there and knew her friend wasn’t lying. She had just slept the day away.

“Your mother called me, she said you were supposed to come home today. When you didn’t show up and didn’t pick up your phone, she got worried and asked me to check on you.”

Joo groaned, knowing her mother would give her hell later when she calls to explain her absence. She tried to get up, but her body felt too heavy and she could slumped back down. She had just sleep for almost twenty hours, and yet she can’t seem to drag herself out of bed.

Hyunae peered at her intently, worry and concern still etched on her face. “Joo, what’s going on?”

She forced a small smile. “There’s nothing going on, Hyunae. I just overslept-”

“The day away, yes,” her friend finished, short clipped words barely masking her concern. “Did you have those dreams again?”

“What’s that have to do with this? I told you, I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. This isn't normal. You tell me about these dreams you have every single night and you don't do anything anymore but sleep. You look like death-“

“Gee, thanks.”

The cheeky remark earned her a pinch on the arm. “Shut up, I’m serious, Joo. I’m really worried about you. You need to see somebody about these dreams of yours.”

“But they’re not just mere dreams!” She quickly protested, flailing her arms trying to make her friend understand what she saw. “They’re…..they’re so real, Hyunae. I close my eyes and I see him and he’s as real as you and me. And I wake up thinking that I’m still there.”          

Hyunae sighed. “Joo, you’re dreaming about a man in the past, like hundreds of years ago. A man you’ve never met. Now tell me if that doesn’t sound, at the very least, crazy? ”

Now it was Joo who sighed, hand running through her hair agitatedly. “I’m really losing my mind, aren’t I?”

A dry chuckle accompanied the reassuring pat on her back and she felt the bed dipped as Hyunae leaned down to hug her. “Well, even if you are, you’ve still got me.”