After putting on their rings, the celebration began.
The maids led Joon-He and Weol-So to a large table adorned with a towering, multi-layered wedding cake and other delicacies.
"Is... is that cake?" Joon-He asked.
"You're joking, right?" Weol-So replied.
She stayed silent.
He took a knife and cut the cake into a triangular slice, placing it gently on a fancy plate with floral designs. He handed it to her.
"It's cake."
"Really?" Her eyes began to water, but even then, she smiled.
"What? You don't like cake?"
"No... I don't know actually. It's just that... remembering cake brings a sad memory."
"Huh? How so?"
"Well... my older brother always wanted to eat cake, but we couldn't afford it. So... I began to save money. I saved so much, that one day..."
Her voice broke.
"I went to buy cake, and... well..." She turned to Weol-So with a tearful smile. "I got robbed." She laughed softly as tears began to stream down her face. "When I got home, my father nearly spanked me for wasting so much money—and then getting robbed."
He gently pinched her chin so she would look at him, then smiled and raised his hand to caress her cheek.
"You shouldn't be crying now."
Looking into his eyes, so dark she felt like she could see and feel the universe in them, comforted her. She smiled through her tears.
She nodded, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have—"
"Don't worry. It's okay."
She looked back at the cake, then took a bite.
"Ahh! What are you doing?"
"I'm... eating?"
"What?! No! Use a fork! Why would you use your face?!"
"Oh... sorry. Didn't really pay attention to that."
She picked up a fork and began eating properly.
Meanwhile, Weol-So's hand twitched.
"Would you... cl-clean that off your face?"
"What?"
"That cake... stain... on your face."
She began wiping everywhere except the stained area. Annoyance bubbled up in Weol-So. He grabbed a handkerchief from the table and wiped the stain off her face—almost taking her lips with it.
"Next time, don't leave a stain on your face. It irritates me."
"Oh... um... sorry." She tucked her hair behind her ears and continued eating the cake.
After a while of partying, the guests finally began to leave and return home.
'Who were those people? Maybe I should ask him later.' she thought.
The newlyweds returned to their mansion in a carriage.
Upon arrival, Weol-So headed in a different direction while the maids led Joon-He to another room.
"I don't think this is my room."
"It's not. You'll be staying with Mr. Shin," a maid said, giving her a light push inside, then shut the door.
"What?!"
She leaned her back against the door.
Wait a minute... just got married, alone in a room... oh no... oh no...
"Okay... I know just what to do."
Weol-So came out of a room wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and black pants.
"Mr. Shin," a maid called out.
"What?"
"I'll show you to the new room."
"I hope it's the one I told you to arrange."
"Yes, sir."
"You put the king-sized bed, right?"
"Yes, sir."
She led him to the room, then walked away.
He turned the handle. When he opened the door, he found Joon-He seated on the bed, wearing a short, light blue nightgown with netted sleeves.
"Ah... Weol-So," she said, twirling a strand of her hair.
"Wh—"
"I just wanted to say... would you..."
"Shh."
She lowered her head, puckering her lips and tucking her hair behind her ears.
'Does he already know what I mean?'
Weol-So scoffed, then smirked at her upon looking at her anxious demeanor.
"Okay."
He stepped closer. Each step made her heart beat faster.
When he was close enough, she closed her eyes and lifted her face slightly puckering her lips.
Then he jumped onto the bed and pulled the blanket over himself.
She sat there, eyes still closed. When she heard movement, she opened them and saw Weol-So already sleeping on the other side of the bed.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
"Sleeping."
"What? Aren't we supposed to—"
He let out a loud, fake snore, cutting her off.
"Tch."
She climbed under the blanket and covered herself.
"Tini," she whispered.
The dog jumped onto the bed and lay next to her.
"Hey!" Weol-So exclaimed. "Why is that dog on the bed?"
"Because he's my dog, and I'm comfortable with him by my side."
She hugged him close.
"I like hearing his heartbeat. It comforts me. I've always slept with him. It's like my special white noise."
"White noise..." he sighed and lay back down.
—
In the morning, Joon-He woke up alone. She stretched.
"Ahhh! I'm so cold. I should've changed out of these stupid clothes."
She rushed to the bathroom, bathed, and changed. Taking Tini with her, she headed outside.
Three maids stood by the door.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"We're here to show you around the house, madam."
"Really?"
"Yes, but will you please leave the dog with us, we'll take him for his morning stroll."
"Um...Okay."
She stepped out and spotted Hin-Hye, the younger maid, in the corner.
"Hin-Hye?"
"Joon—Madam?"
"You're here."
"Yes, I am."
"Are you going to show me around?"
"Me?"
"Her?"
"Why?"
"Come on, Hin-Hye, show me around."
"Okay," she said with a smile.
They began walking through the mansion.
"Hin-Hye, I didn't get to tell you how much I appreciated your dress."
"Oh... it's nothing really."
"Well, that's what I really wanted to tell you."
"I'm very glad you liked my dress, madam."
"Yeah... so... tell me about yourself."
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"But... why? Why do you talk to me so much?" she asked curiously.
"Well, that's because you're young—and very respectful."
"Aren't all the maids respectful?"
"Yes, but they're doing it because they have to. I can feel that you're doing it because you want to."
"Well, that's how Mr. Shin taught me."
"Mr. Shin taught you? What do you mean?"
"Oh... um... never mind."
"What do you—"
She was cut off when she spotted a glass door leading to a garden.
"Whoa! Is that—"
"Yep. Mr. Shin Weol-So's beautiful garden. He loves it so much, he only lets me take care of it."
"Really?"
She nodded.
"It looks like he likes you a lot."
"Of course he would."
Joon-He looked at her, but Hin-Hye turned away.
"Anyway, Mr. Shin said no one should go in there—"
"HIN-HYE!!!"
A voice yelled from upstairs.
"Huh? Is something wrong? Please wait here."
Hin-Hye bowed and left.
Joon-He couldn't help but feel drawn to the garden. She slid the door open and stepped inside.
She took off her slippers and sunk her feet into the soft ground. Closing her eyes, she relaxed in the breeze.
Then she heard singing. Her eyes snapped open.
It was a gentle harmonious humming, like wind chimes mixed with voices.
She followed the sound and found a tent with a zippered door.
Looking around cautiously, she walked toward it.
She unzipped the flap—and gasped.
Purple flowers filled the space, glowing softly. They felt like a part of her—untouchable, wild.
She stepped closer, and the flowers glowed bright yellow.
"What?" she whispered.
She hovered her hand over them, and they followed her motion.
Then her eye caught a shriveled flower hidden behind the others.
She moved her hand, and the others followed, spreading their glow. The wilted flower became fresh again.
"What are you doing here?"
Joon-He jumped and fell backward. She turned to see Weol-So standing with a grim expression, holding a cleaver.
"Did they not warn you not to come in here?"
"Well... I... I... I just..." Sweat beaded on her face. "Um... I... wa..." she stammered.
"Get out of here."
'Oh God, I knew from the start this man was crazy..just...what is he going to do to me?'
She thought, her heart racing.
She staggered to her feet. The flowers still glowed, but dimmed the moment she stepped away.
She approached Weol-So, but her eyes were fixed on the cleaver in his hand. Uneasiness crawled over her.
"I'm... rea..really... so..sorry." She stammered those words out of her lips.
"...Okay."
She stared at the cleaver again. He noticed.
"Oh, this?" he said, raising it to eye level. "One of the maids lost a knife, so I was showing them where to get new ones. Then I realized this one was rusty, so I brought it out. But then... I saw you here."
"Oh..."
He looked at the cleaver, then at her—and tossed it aside.
"Happy now?"
She nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear. Then she walked past him.
After she was out of sight, Weol-So faced the flower.
"So it really is her."