A day has passed since Jo Sanggung left the estate and Hong was still not able to find her whereabouts. Not wanting to cause another misunderstanding with Kwon Jiyong, Sandara decided to ask him more about the servant when he is in a favorable mood because since yesterday, she barely had the chance to see him go out of his residence. She suspected he was busy as he always is so she did not dare disturb him. 

That morning when Sandara was enjoying the morning autumn breeze over some warm tea and her favorite sweet pastries while watching the autumn leaves fall and gather on the ground. Seated on her favorite open spot, she had a good view of Kwon Jiyong's residence and she wondered if there would come a time when she could freely enter it to find her husband.

Sandara sighed. Kwon Jiyong was busy. Jo Sanggung is gone, and Ryung is still recuperating. It's probably the changes from summer to fall that makes her quite sensitive these days, but she won't lie that she really misses how everything was back then at the estate. Time flew by so fast and sometimes she wondered how she was able to keep up with all the events for the past seven months. She felt lonely and down, that she wished she could go out and get a breather.

"May I join you?"

Sandara was startled when Kwon Jiyong suddenly appeared before her and pointed at the space across her. A subtle smile escaped her lips as she nodded eagerly.

"Bring in a cup for His Highness and some more tea," Sandara ordered a servant before turning to Kwon Jiyong once more, only to find him keenly watching her.

"You look a little pale and tired. Are you alright?"

Sandara dabbed her cheeks with the back of her hand as she looked away. Does she look ugly today? What a letdown! She only got the chance to see Kwon Jiyong now. How could she look so terrible?

"I'm fine. Just a bit sleepless." She answered truthfully while keeping her head low.

"Lift your head. Why are you hiding your face?" Kwon Jiyong said, forcing her to look at him. "And why were you sleepless?"

"Your Highness… I was just thinking… Don't you think Jo Sanggung's retirement was so sudden?"

Kwon Jiyong heaved a sigh before answering her. "When I told you I'm taking you with me anywhere I go in the future, I meant it. Jo Sanggung is already too old and will never be able to keep up and serve you if we need to go to a far place. The journey itself is already very tiring for her age. I told Jo Sanggung about this, so she decided to retire."

Sandara nodded and understood Kwon Jiyong's point but somehow, she still felt Kwon Jiyong was a little too heartless. If she was him, she'd rather keep Jo Sanggung to run the estate while they were away. Jo Sanggung is a very capable servant, why let her go just like that? Besides, she was not even able to say goodbye to her. Feeling lonelier than before, Sandara folded her knees and hugged them as she shrank into a ball making Kwon Jiyong wonder.

"Do you like Jo Sanggung that much?"

Sandara could only look at Kwon Jiyong blankly. How could she tell him she couldn't have possibly lasted this long in his estate if not for Jo Sanggung? Jo Sanggung was like a mother's warm embrace, a comforting care, and a mighty saviour everytime she was on the verge of giving up on Kwon Jiyong. All the time he left her alone in that vast estate, Jo Sanggung was there to keep her company. She was once innocent to the matters of heart, but Jo Sanggung made things clearer for her. Jo Sanggung had always enlightened her, and made her understand Kwon Jiyong deeply.

To Sandara, a loyal, loving, and caring servant such as Jo Sanggung is simply irreplaceable.

"Come," Kwon Jiyong interrupted her thoughts. He stood up and offered her his hand. "Someone's waiting for you,"

_________________

Kwon Jiyong must have sensed Sandara's sorrow, so he decided to take her to the guest's residence where Lee Donghae was treating Ryung. The boy finally regained consciousness that morning. Unfortunately, Lee Donghae could not do anything about Hyuk's spell which made Ryung mute.

"Ryung?" Sandara rushed to see the boy whose head was still bandaged due to the concussion he received. The boy forced a smile, but didn't utter a single word. Instead, he rubbed his neck shyly and shook his head.

"He lost his voice, Mama." Lee Donghae explained when he saw the confusion on Sandara's face which was replaced by horror.

"How in the world did that happen? When will he regain his voice?" Sandara rushed to hug the boy as she asked the doctor, while Kwon Jiyong threw the boy