The hell were you two doing all night long?”

Jongin’s yell brought both mothers and Inhyun out of the house before Baekhyun could silence him. “Was it Kim Junmyeon’s men? He came here last night with a bunch. I managed to hide my aunt and Inhyun and blurt out a huge lie or two…and sent him away… Did you seriously run away by yourself Kim Gayeon?”

Gayeon took cover behind Baekhyun to avoid Jongin’s glare. Jongin sighed, and turned back to his cousin. “I’m extremely sorry, hyung. Should’ve been at home without leaving her all alone. So where on earth were you two until now?”

“Finding our way out of the forest.” Baekhyun muttered, patted Jongin on his shoulder as a reply to his apology, and looked at his mother. “Omma, she needs dry clothes.”

“And a nice hot bath.” Aunt Eunjo added. “Look at the mud on her skirts and feet!”

Baekhyun’s mother, who had been silently staring at Gayeon all this time, finally spoke up. “Why would you run away from your own brother? When would you have easily left yesterday?”

“Because I want to stay with Baekhyun.”

Gayeon’s voice was so direct and adamant, that even Baekhyun turned to stare at her.

“I will not leave Baekhyun and you until this problem is solved omonim.” Gayeon shook her head. “And I will not leave even after that.”

* * *

“As I was explaining…” Junmyeon straightened after the second sneeze in the middle of his sentence. “This is about a very important Japanese spy that His Majesty the King had been searching for for a long time. A woman from Japan who came to gain important military secrets of Joseon. I happened to hear about her suddenly yesterday. And since it will take too long to summon soldiers from the district office, I asked for your men, Master Do.”

“Oh… it’s alright!” Kyungsoo frantically shook his hands and served Junmyeon the ginger tea that he was brewing. “Have some My Lord. you seemed to have caught a really nasty cold.”

“Thank you.” Junmyeon took a sip of the tea. As he raised his head, he saw Hyunjoo peering in from the half-opened door, mouthing about a wedding and gesturing to him to refuse.

“I wish to hold an engagement before the wedding My Lord.” Kyungsoo declared with a big grin. Junmyeon choked on his tea, and cleared his throat with a forced smile. “An- engagement Master Do?”

“Yes. Since you are saying that Lady Gayeon needs more time to adjust to a married life with me, I thought that an engagement would be better. Then we are not exactly married, but the news of Lord Kim Junmyeon’s sister being engaged to Do Kyungsoo will also travel across the country. So we are as good as married.” he grinned triumphantly at his soon-to-be brother-in-law. “Isn’t that such a brilliant idea My Lord?”

“Marvelous.'' Junmyeon nodded. And he eyed an almost crying Hyunjoo, before speaking up again. “So when are you planning to have the engagement Master Do?”

“Tomorrow! If you are alright with it!”

Junmyeon dropped the tea cup on the table.

“Oh my goodness… Lord Kim, you will burn yourself!”

* * *

“What do we do now My Lord?'' Hyunjoo asked in a loud whisper as soon as Junmyeon left Kyungsoo’s company and entered Hyunjoo’s room. “We cannot say no to an engagement can we? If it’s tomorrow, we have to find Agassi before that and run away from here! Otherwise-”

“Calm down Hyunjoo.” Junmyeon held the maid by her shoulders. “Let me think. We can’t be rash with Byun Baekhyun right now. I’m pretty sure he managed to hide Gayeon somewhere last night… and to find where that is…”

“Should I just say no to this engagement?” Hyunjoo asked, pushing away Junmyeon's hands. “Then we can return to the capital without having any ties to them, and then they won’t ever contact us again.”

“We can’t just sever our ties with them.” Junmyeon shook his head. “If we do that…how can I get their help to find Gayeon again?”

“Then just find her as soon as possible!” Hyunjoo wailed and dropped to the floor. “I hate having to act like someone’s bride-to-be! I hate it when he touches my hand and I have nothing to do about it!”

Junmyeon watched her in silence for a while, and knelt in front of the girl to take her hand. “Just for a few hours. Please Hyunjoo. Let’s bear with this just until tomorrow. I won’t let you get married to him… trust me. I won’t let it happen. Not even a fake engagement.”

* * *

Kyungsoo soon escorted Hyunjoo to the garden patio where some silk peddlers were already waiting, prepared to choose the best engagement dress for the girl. Doing her best to look less annoyed, and to not burst into tears, Hyunjoo joined Kyungsoo’s excited preparations, praying for everything to end by the day.

After giving it hours of thought, Junmyeon decided to take the risk of confronting Baekhyun at his place, despite the latter’s threats to harm Gayeon if he ever comes to find the girl.

Without any disguise, or any pretense, Junmyeon plainly walked up to their doorstep and stood there until someone stepped out.

Jongin stepped out, and scoffed at the sight of the nobleman at his doorstep. “I clearly told you last night didn’t I, Lord Kim something? We don’t have your sister! And we won’t be handing her over even if we had her!”

“I’m here to meet Byun Baekhyun.” Junmyeon plainly replied. “Call him out for me, please.”

Jongin smirked at his ‘please’. “Hyung! Your future brother-in-law is here!”

Junmyeon was using every ounce of patience left in him to hold back his rage, and Jongin chuckled at his reddened face and clenched fists, and sat by the doorstep. Baekhyun appeared through the door just then.

“Let’s talk.” Junmyeon spoke first.

“First read these.” Baekhyun held up a bunch of parchments, which Junmyeon took and started reading one by one. “Letters addressed to your father and letters to Prince Jeonghoon by your father? What are these?”

“Found them in the Do’s mansion.”

“So you were that ‘thief’ from last night.” Junmyeon mumbled as his eyes quickly ran over the lines written on each paper. “Quite similar to the evidence I found against Lord Byun. Written to him about…wait-”

His eyes started widening as he turned the pages hastily, and checked the last two letters before looking up at Baekhyun in bewilderment. “The handwriting?”

Baekhyun nodded. The plans of dethroning the King, letters written to Lord Do’s brother by Prince Jeonghoon, and letters written in the name of my father both have the same handwriting.”

Junmyeon’s face turned paper white. “Fabricated evidence? Against- against Lord Byun?”

“And you killed my father with them.”

Junmyeon’s hands dropped to his sides, and he looked up at Baekhyun helplessly.