Everything That Falls gd/cl; pg-15; historical romance   --   “What if it does not work? Even after all the hassle, what if he still does not believe me?”   There was a pause, and then a long stretched silence which made Chaerin even more nervous than she already is. A feeling of repulsion grew in her stomach, a sickening thought alarming her of the worst scenario which may happen as a result of her careless act that night. She took a step back, completely inhibited from her status as Queen of Joseon by day, and General Kwon’s lover by night.   She thought of how far they’ve come, all that they’ve been through, and came to a conclusion that she did not want to give in now. Not when she has finally found a reason to smile again.   But as she looked down and saw the hem of her hanbok, so gloriously sewn in honor of her title and reputation by the Department of Attire, and then the reflection of her hairpiece so carefully handpicked and designed by the Department of Jewelry, Chaerin found herself unable to grasp the wish she held so dearly to her heart.   “What should we do then?”   Her question came off as a whisper, and Chaerin fought the urge to look at the young man. But when he still doesn’t answer, and Chaerin felt defeated by his silence, she decided to finally look at him again. She was greeted then with a surprise, as her eyes caught his brown orbs gazing at hers with warmth and excitement, as though he has been waiting for her to look at him before revealing his thoughts to her.   Jiyong smiled, and Chaerin hopes that everything will be alright now.   “Then we run.”     -------     Part I.     ( jiyong, what do you see yourself doing in ten years? something great, father, something great. )       The first time he met her gaze, Jiyong insisted that it was by accident.   Unable to convince anyone however, a loud slap resonated around the four walls of His Lordship’s residence as Jiyong lost his footing and fell. “Impudent child!” His uncle roared in embarrassment, turning away from the young boy and getting down on his knees, his head between both palms on the soiled ground. “Forgive me, my Lord,” Jiyong kept his head on the ground. “He is still young, he does not know the meaning of respect—”   It was an accident, Jiyong swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to be quiet. He may be young, but Jiyong knew that he has made a mistake. He did not know, however, the severity of his previous action of staring at the eldest daughter of the Lord Yi, and all he could think about at the moment was not a speech of apology, but a speech of explanation.   Jiyong learned later on, when his uncle pulled him aside and warned to keep his eyes on his feet, that he was not worthy to look at anyone in the Lordship’s residence. He also learned that, from the moment his parents were captured by the Imperial guards, he was no longer known as Kwon Jiyong of the Yecheon Kwon clan, but rather, only as Kwon Jiyong.   “Listen to me, boy,” His uncle shook his shoulder a few times, and Jiyong could only stare wide-eyed at his remaining relative, unable to say anything in fear he might anger his uncle further.   “Your parents would be grateful knowing that I have found you a better home to live in.”   What are you implying, uncle? Jiyong hoped that somehow, his uncle would catch what he is trying to convey through his eyes. What do you mean by that?   “Serve the Lord Yi well, and you will be blessed. Serve his family well, and you will be prospered.” His uncle was speaking words he cannot understand, and Jiyong felt his heart pounding; so loud, so loud, he was surely convinced that his heart would fly out from his chest.   “You must forgive me, boy, for doing this to you.” Wait, uncle— “ You need to know that I have no other choice.” --where are you going? “You will be safe here, boy, and that is what matters most.”   “Uncle!” Jiyong cried when he realized that he was left behind. He took a step forward in haste, but his arm was pulled back roughly by a stranger—a man in his sixties, and all his actions were halted.   “Uncle!” Jiyong glanced behind his shoulder and met the hard gaze of the man grasping his arm. “Let me go,” He pleaded, lowering his voice. He willed himself not to look away from the man’s eyes. “I need to leave with my uncle!”   The man shook his head, much to Jiyong’s confusion. He tightened the grip around the boy’s arm and shook his head again.   “From this day forth, you no longer have an uncle.” Jiyong’s eyes widen in surprise.   “From this day forth, you belong to the Lord Yi and his family.” A lump latched itself on Jiyong’s throat.   “Everything you do, you will do it for his Lordship.” Jiyong finally understood the sentences his uncle had spoken earlier. “Do you understand?” It took everything for him not to cry; his parents had abandoned him, now his uncle too—   “When you are asked a question, you answer.” The man jerked Jiyong forward and he stumbled for balance. “Do you understand?” He repeated, this time louder.   Trembling, Jiyong nodded his head. “Yes.”     ---     ( boy, if you continue to work in your speed now, you will not go anywhere. why would that matter when there isn’t anywhere for me to go? )       It was two months later, and Jiyong thought he has gotten the hang of it.   Chief Servant Kim has taught him all he needed to know for his age, and as he turned thirteen today, Jiyong wondered if there would be a change in his workload, now that he was a year older. As he swept the leaves on the ground though, he figured that by keeping the change in his age a secret, no one would know. And if no one would know, that would mean that he has more time to rest after doing his chores around the residence.   “You turn a year older today,” A voice greeted him and he jumped in astonishment.   Whipping his head around, Jiyong came face to face with the eldest daughter of the Lord Yi, and in no time, he was already staring at his feet. “Y-your Ladyship, how did you—“   “How can I not know when you are mumbling to yourself that you’re a year older today?”   He could almost sense her smiling through that sentence alone, and Jiyong mentally slapped himself for being a dim-witted fool. “Also, you can address me by my name, Chaerin. I do not mind.”   Upon hearing that, Jiyong gasped in surprise. “How can I, Your Ladyship, when I am only a servant and nothing more?”   The eldest daughter of the Yi family laughed, much to his amusement as Jiyong took a peek from his vision on the ground. “That isn’t how you reacted the first time you were here.” She said, moving around Jiyong and messing the pile of leaves he had neatly swept into a corner. “Look up, Kwon Jiyong, stand straight and look forward. Be a man!”   Jiyong was surprised the Lady knew his name, but he remained static in position. I am not worthy enough to look at the Yi family. “I cannot do so, Your Ladyship.”   She heaved a sigh, and Jiyong heared her clear as day. “Would you look up if this was an order? Will you address me by my birth name if I ordered you to do so?” The boy kept mum, and Chaerin tapped her fingers impatiently against her arms. “Alright, if that’s so, Kwon Jiyong, I order you to stand straight and to look at me while we are speaking, and to address me by my name.”   Jiyong was startled, and in pure confusion whether to adhere to what he has been taught, or to follow her Ladyship’s order, he eventually looked up to meet his Lady’s gaze. “There, isn’t that better?” He could only nod, his mind incoherent and unable to string a proper sentence together.   She was smiling widely at him, nodding her head in encouragement and then giggling at how stoic Jiyong looked at the moment. Something stirred inside him, finding its way towards his heart and then his mind, but Jiyong shook the feeling away and offered a stiff smile in return.   The second time Jiyong met her gaze, he was too young to know that he has fallen in love.     ---     ( jiyong, how many birds do you think there are in the sky? i wouldn’t know, chaerin, because i am too busy staring at you to count. )       When Chaerin turned fourteen, Jiyong realized that she has changed.   “Chaerin?” He asked when he saw her in their usual spot that evening, a little surprised that she was there, since Jiyong knew that she had been busy with her night lessons lately. “Are you alright?”   She said nothing, and Jiyong frowned, worried. “Chaerin?”   Another wave of silence engulfed them both as Jiyong shuffled uncomfortably in his feet. “Maybe you should go back inside, it is cold out here.”   “I want you to do something for me.” She spoke suddenly, her eyes still on the moon above their heads.   A distance was kept between the both of them, and Jiyong settled his eyes on the moon as well. “Anything you want me to do, I will do it for you.” Jiyong could see from the corner of his eyes, that Chaerin was fidgeting in her position—as if she was equally uncomfortable as well.   He opened his mouth to speak, but Chaerin began first. “I’m afraid, from tomorrow onwards, you will not be able to call me by my birth name anymore.” She said in a somber tone, and Jiyong frowned even harder. He fought the urge to ask why, and remained in silence for her to continue her sentence.   “I will not be able to…speak to you anymore.”   Jiyong knew that this day would arrive, sooner or later, but now that it has, he felt his heart tearing down all the defenses he has built to face this. Chaerin is after all, the daughter of a nobleman, a person of high ranking and reputation. There should be no excuse for her to speak with a commoner like him.   “My only wish for you, Jiyong, will you grant it for me?” “I…yes.” He nodded, slightly hesitant, but he complied.   “Become a general, Jiyong.” Her request shocked Jiyong as he tore his glance away from the moon and towards her delicate features instead. “Chaerin?”   “And do not call me by that name anymore, for I no longer go by that name.” Chaerin spoke in such a mature manner that Jiyong nearly forgot that she was only fourteen years old.   The last time he has spoken to her—three days ago—she was still a girl waiting to grow up. Now, three days later, Jiyong stared at his friend and noticed that he did not know her anymore; her actions and way of speaking, he realized, are that of a Lady’s.   “I will request upon father to set you free.” She said, alarming Jiyong as he jumped up from his position. “Wait, I don’t understand! Chaerin—”   “Your Ladyship,” Chaerin corrected him without a second thought, and Jiyong found himself shrinking in confidence. “And when he does, you will go to military school, study hard—”   “I don’t understand what is happening, Y-Your Ladyship.”   “And you will become a general.” She said sharply, almost as if it was a demand and not a wish. Jiyong could feel her stare burning into his mind, and no longer finding the kind and soft-hearted Chaerin in her eyes, Jiyong was forced to look away. “Please.” She added softly a little later, when he said