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“My lord, Minister Moon’s son Master Moon Taeil is here.”

Junmyeon raised his head from the letter he had been writing, and looked at the servant standing in front of him. “Moon Taeil? He wants to see me?”

“Yes my lord.” The servant bowed.

“Bring him in.”

The young aristocrat entered the room the next minute, gave Junmyeon a curt bow which contained almost no respect at all, and placed an envelope on Junmyeon’s desk.

Reaching out for it, Junmyeon raised one eyebrow in inquiry. “What can this be?”

“It’s addressed to you and your mother, and sent from the north, Lord Kim.”

The word ‘North’ was enough to turn Junmyeon’s face even paler, and he ripped the paper apart without delaying another second. A neatly folded embroidered ribbon fell onto his desk, and after giving it a brief glance, Junmyeon read through the neat handwriting within seconds. “How did this…” he looked up at Taeil, but his words trailed off when the youth shook his head in firm denial.

“There’s no use in asking how I got this Lord Kim. Because all I know is that this was sent in a parcel addressed to me with the weekly food rations that is delivered to our mansion. No sender nor any other way to trace them. And even if I knew a way to trace them, I have no intention in giving you the information.”

Junmyeon felt blood rising up his face in anger, at this boy’s arrogance and loyalty to Byun Baekhyun. But he managed to hold himself, and gave him a reserved smile. “Well, Master Moon Taeil… I have no problem in finding my sister even though this letter was never sent.”

“But I believe that is not the purpose of the letter.” Taeil shrugged casually. “I didn’t read it, but I’m quite sure what Baekhyun hyung wanted was not for you to find his location, but for your mother to stop worrying about his daughter. He has that humane side to him, unlike you, Lord Kim.”

“Thank you for the delivery, Master Taeil.” Junmyeon smiled back, gripping the letter in one hand and Gayeon’s ribbon in the other. “I will relay the message to my mother.”

And with another curt bow, Taeil left Junmyeon’s office.

After handing over the letter sent by s\his sister to his mother, and after consoling her for the longest while and convincing her that Gayeon is safe even in his enemy’s hands, Junmyeon walked towards the maids’ quarters in his uncle’s house where they were currently staying at.

“Hyunjoo?” he knocked on the door, and within seconds, the door opened and his sister’s maid peered out.

Her eyes widened at his unusual visit. “Yes My Lord?”

“Can we talk?” he asked, holding the door open. “Can I step in for a moment?”

“Of- of course My Lord.” Hyunjoo stepped aside, letting her master enter. Junmyeon went straight to the only chair in the room and sat there, gesturing the maid to sit on the bed. “Come here Hyunjoo. There’s something we need to discuss.”

After the girl had hesitatingly taken a seat in front of him, Junmyeon held out the letter from Gayeon.

“What is this My Lord?” she asked, taking the letter and opening it.

And a helpless smile curved up her lips. “I cannot read My Lord.”

“You can’t? Ah, yes…you can’t.” Muttered Junmyeon, and took back the letter. “I should teach you to read and write.” He looked up, and saw the maid’s eyes gleaming with hope. “But you must recognize this.”

He held out Gayeon’s ribbon this time, and Hyunjoo snatched it right away with a gasp. “Oh my goodness… this belongs to Agassi! Is the letter from Agassi as well?”

She looked at Junmyeon, tears instantly filling her eyes. Junmyeon answered with a nod. “It is from her. And the handwriting is definitely hers as well.”

“What does it say My Lord?”

“That she’s safe. She’s not tortured, and they treat her just fine, and that they’re just keeping her until they clear Lord Byun’s name. She’s their weapon for keeping me away.”

“That’s what they told me as well My Lord… like I mentioned earlier.” Hyunjoo gripped the ribbon in her hands. “But we have to take some action don’t we? You were waiting for some path to open up, so isn’t this what you were waiting for My Lord?”

“With that being the case Hyunjoo,” Junmyeon leaned slightly closer, making the maid blush like anything. “Sending men would be too dangerous. Who knows what that maniac will do if he finds out that my men is after him?”

“Then my lord?”

“I’ll go there myself.”

“What? But my lord, that’s even more dangerous!”

“I won’t be just appearing in front of him directly! I’m planning on staying at a distance and watching Gayeon from afar.”

The maid blinked at him, wondering what was going on in his mind.

“That village is somewhere close to Lord Do’s place isn’t it?”

“The guards said we were one hour away from the mansion a little while before Agassi was kidnapped.”

“So here’s our key point. Do Kyungsoo still doesn’t know that my sister was kidnapped. And also, he has never seen Gayeon before.”

Junmyeon watched as Hyunjoo’s eyes started widening in horror. “My lord, sure you don’t mean-”

“I need you help Hyunjoo.” He took both her hands in his, and clutched them in hope. “Please… I will be escorting you to Do’s mansion as you are my sister, Lady Gayeon, and we will stay there as previously planned and meanwhile I can watch out for Gayeon.”

“I’m not going to marry Master Do!” Hyunjoo stood up from her bed, grabbing away her hands and shaking her head violently. “No way! That is deceiving my lord! How can a maid pretend to be a noble lady and marry a young master? And-” she gave his a look full of sorrow that he was often seeing on her eyes these days. “There’s no way I will be marrying… someone else.”

“Look here Hyunjoo,” Junmyeon stood up as well, and took her hand again, which she snatched back. “I’m not telling you to actually get married to him! We will just spend the two or three weeks Gayeon had previously planned to spend there, and I definitely will find a way to rescue Gayeon within that time! I just need your help to buy the time I need. Can’t you do that much for Gayeon?”

“But…” Hyunjoo bit her lip, watching Junmyeon with teary eyes. “What if I end up-”

“We will be back home in no time.” Junmyeon assured. “I promise we will be back home soon, with Gayeon, and everything will go back to normal. So will you help me Hyunjoo?”

The maid stared at him for a long while, before slowly nodding in silence.

“Thank you.” He took her hand again, giving her one of his rarest smiles. “Thank you so much.”

* * *

“Oppa, you must see this!”

Baekhyun opened his eyes for them to get directly hit by bright afternoon sun, as he was lying on the front yard bench and trying to get some sleep despite the loud singing of his cousin. Earlier that morning, Inhyun had learnt that Jongin loves singing as much as she does, and had taught him a few children’s songs she had learnt back in the capital. Now Jongin was merrily chanting the few lines over and over, so loud that he scared away the pigeons those were wandering in the front yard.

“What…” Baekhyun sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking at his sister. Inhyun giggled, and pointed towards the kitchen. “She’s trying to learn cooking.”