1
The midday sun cast its warm glow through the windows of the house, illuminating the hallway where a woman in her early fifties stood, her nerves evident in the way she nervously bit her fingernail. Dressed in a traditionalHanfuoutfit, her brow furrowed with worry as she glanced repeatedly at the locked wooden door before her.
Time seemed to drag on as she waited, each passing moment feeling like an eternity. Her palms were clammy with sweat, which she wiped nervously against the fabric of her whiteHanfu. Anxious thoughts raced through her mind, each one adding to the weight of anticipation that hung in the air.
The sound of footsteps approached from the other side of the door, causing her heart to flutter with a mix of hope and trepidation. With bated breath, she waited for the news she so desperately needed.
As the door creaked open, the woman’s heart skipped a beat. She held her breath. The figure that emerged from the chamber cast a shadow over her anxious face.
“What is it,Ajumma?” Taehi, Kim’s daughter-in-law, asked, her voice tinged with concern. The woman’s nerves were palpable as she struggled to find the right words. With a curt shake of her head, the woman conveyed the message without speaking. Taehi’s brow furrowed in worry, her eyes searching the woman’s face for answers.
“Still, no?” Taehi pressed, her tone heavy with worry. The woman’s silence spoke volumes as she shook her head once more.
“Are you certain it’s notKoo’sissue then?” Taehi’s voice was barely a whisper, a desperate plea for reassurance. Leaning in closer, she hoped for a definitive answer.
“Not at all.Kookieis completely fine and healthy. It’s your eldest son.” the woman murmured; her voice barely audible as she leaned in to share the news with Taehi. Their conversation was hushed, a private exchange in the midst of a tense moment.
“Oh, my god. What will we do then? Three months have passed since their marriage,” Taehi lamented, her distress evident in her voice and expression.
With a heavy sigh, the woman offered a solution.. a glimmer of hope in the face of uncertainty. She handed Taehi a small cloth pouch, containing the remedy they hoped would bring relief.
“Hmm. I’ll give you some medicine,” the woman said, her voice tinged with urgency as she passed the pouch to Taehi. “Make sure to give it to your son after his food for seven days continuously.”
Accepting the pouch with a nod, Taehi exchanged a brief glance with the woman before peering through the partially closed door. There, she caught sight of Jungkook, a charming and petite figure, peacefully dozing on the bed. Relief washed over her as she witnessed the serene scene, a stark contrast to the anxiety that had gripped her moments before.
With a sigh of gratitude, she closed the door gently, ensuring that Jungkook’s rest remained undisturbed. Securing the pouch within the hem of herHanfu, she straightened her posture and began to make her way down the lengthy hallway, her mind now fogged with many what-ifs.
Slowly, she proceeded down the long veranda until she reached another wooden door. Her hand trembled as she grasped the handle, pulling it open with care before stepping inside. Once within, she stood with her head bowed low, palpable tension surrounding her as she awaited what lay ahead.
“What’s the result, Taehi?” Daeyung, the village’s master and eldest Kim, who is also the most charismatic and powerful person alive in the village ofVance, inquired, his voice laced with authority.
Standing tall and imposing, with a stern countenance that bespoke years of leadership, Daeyung exuded an aura of command wherever he went. His piercing gaze seemed to penetrate the very souls of those who dared to meet it, instilling both respect and fear in equal measure. Taehi’s heart fluttered with fear at the dominance in his tone. She stole a glance at her mother-in-law, Aera, silently pleading for support, before gathering the courage to respond.
“N... No” Taehi stammered, her voice trembling slightly, “Jungk... ko... Jungkook is not pregnant.” Bracing herself for the expected outburst from Daeyung, she clenched her jaw and shut her eyes tightly, awaiting his reaction.
“Whose fault?” Daeyung inquired in a very subdued tone rather than yelling, his voice laden with disappointment and frustration.
Taehi, feeling the weight of his gaze upon her, hesitated before responding, ”Ajummasaid Koo is completely fine. Our... our Joon.” Her words trailed off as she cast a mournful look at her two in-laws.
Daeyung’s expression darkened with anger, and his jaw clenched tightly as he absorbed the news. “It’s been more than three months. People will start discussing it. They’ll ask about our heir. They’ll start talking about our bloodline. They’ll mock our family. They will shame Kim’s bloodline for their impotence,” he seethed, his voice growing sharper with each word.
Angrily, Daeyung gritted his teeth. “Didn’t you give her all of the medication during her pregnancy, Aera?”
His wife shuddered at the unchanging strength of Daeyung’s words and nodded immediately.
“Then how? How did this happen?” Daeyung demanded, his gaze piercing as he looked at Taehi, who continued to sob quietly while dropping her head.
“Leave. Feed your son anything she’s given you; I want an heir. Namjoon, my eldest grandson, is supposed to give me that; have you heard?” His voice rose with each word, a mixture of frustration and desperation evident in his tone.
Taehi turned to leave immediately after nodding, her heart heavy with guilt and shame.
Daeyung clinched his teeth violently and yanked his leg from his wife’s grip, who had been massaging him, before lying down on the bed with one palm on his forehead. Aera gave him a worried glance before softly getting up and heading outside, leaving the room heavy with tension and disappointment.
***
In the meantime, Jungkook grinned as he awoke from his little nap. Stretching his arms above his head, he took a moment to collect himself before rising from the bed. With a quick glance at the mirror, he smoothed down his long hair and adjusted his clothes, ensuring everything was in place. After scrubbing his hands, legs, and face, he felt refreshed and ready to face the day. With a spring in his step, he walked out of the room with a bright and infectious smile.
Dawn had already broken, casting a pale orange hue across the sky. As he walked, the hem of his long skirt brushed gently against the wooden floor of Kim’s mansion’s long veranda, a structure typical of Indo-Chinese traditional architecture. The air was filled with the sounds of workers engaged in various tasks around the estate.
“Did you see Miniehyung anywhere?” Jungkook whispered to a servant who was chopping wood, his voice barely audibles above the commotion.
“No,princess,” the man replied with a slight bow. Jungkook nodded in acknowledgment before continuing on his way.
He made his way to the east wing of the sprawling mansion, exchanging greetings with anyone he encountered along the way. With his each stride, he scanned the area, his velvety brown eyes searching for Jimin.
"Koo" And as he walked down the lengthy veranda, Jungkook’s grin widened upon hearing his grandmother’s familiar voice from the wooden bridge beside the pond.
"Halmeoni,” Jungkook greeted warmly as he approached her. Ruffling his long dress, he sat down next to her. “What are you doing here?”
His Grandma smiled serenely when she heard his soothing voice and gestured towards the basket of flowers as an answer to his question.
“Who brought these beautiful flowers?” He inquired, reaching out to pick a few and inhale their sweet scent.
“Maids,” his grandmother replied, her eyes twinkling with affection. “There is a lot of jasmine in our western courtyard.”
With a gentle touch, she placed a flower crown she had prepared on Jungkook’s head. “You look pretty,” his grandma murmured, giving him a cheek pinch. Jungkook blushed bashfully and looked down, a shy smile gracing his lips.
“Will you allow me to go to the west wing?” He asked, his voice soft and hopeful. “I want to pick some flowers too.”
“Why? I already gave you a crown.” Grandma stroked his hair gently and asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.
“I... I want to make one for him.” Jungkook murmured, keeping his gaze down, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
Grandma smiled warmly at the shy boy. “Um. Take Jiminie with you then,” she said gently, giving him approval.
With a grateful nod, Jungkook immediately got up, his heart skipping with excitement. He twirled in front of his grandmother, his smile radiant, before bouncing off to find Jimin, their head maid. Watching Jungkook’s joyful demeanor, Grandma couldn’t help but smile.
“If only he could give us a small, innocent bunny like him,” Grandma murmured wistfully, her tone tinged with a hint of longing.
***
Jungkook hopped and whirled around the long veranda as he made his way to the garden. “Jiminie hyung... hyung... Jiminie hyung...”
Jimin who was in the middle of some task, paused in as his focus shifted to Jungkook, standing nearby the corridor, leaning to a pillar, his long hazel hair cascaded down till the knees, gently swaying in the morning breeze.
“Give me a minute, dear.” Jimin called out. Giving a nod to the maid in front of him, Jimin wrapped up giving instruction to her before turning his attention fully to Jungkook.
“Mm?” Jimin asked with a warm smile, walking towards the excited boy.
“Please come with me to the west wing.” Jungkook pleaded, batting his eyelashes playfully.
“Why?” Jimin inquired as he followed him with a surge of curiosity tinged with anticipation.
“To pluck some jasmine,” Jungkook remarked, turning to face him. “Grandma said all the jasmine plants bloomed.”
“Yes, I saw it,” Jimin stated. “I went to clean Younger Kim’s room.”
“Mmm... Younger Kim? Taehyung hyung? Why?” Jungkook inquired; his voice tinged with curiosity.
“He is returning from England after his studies,” Jimin stated matter-of-factly.
“Oh!” Jungkook nodded with a surprised gaze, his eyes reflecting a mix of eagerness and enthusiasm as they made their way to the west wing of the mansion.
When they arrived at the western courtyard, Jungkook eagerly plucked a handful of jasmine blossoms off the bushes.
“Your head is already crowned with a large flower coronet,” Jimin remarked, marveling at the massive flower crown adorning his head. “Then why do you need more, Koo?” he asked, holding up the flowers he had chosen.
“It’s for him. Not for me,” Jungkook replied, his cheeks warming.
“Oh!” Jimin responded, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
“He... He likes the scent of it,” Jungkook added, biting his lip to contain his flush.
“Are you trying to lure him, dear?” Jimin wiggled his eyebrows playfully, his tone teasing.
Jungkook’s cheeks flushed deeper, and he protested, “Ah? No... Not at all. There is nothing like that,hyung. Stop staring at me like that.” He pushed him lightly before sprinting toward the main wing, a mixture of embarrassment and shyness evident in his movements.
“Haha. Wait. I am also coming,” Jimin called out before following Jungkook, his laughter bubbling up between them.
***
As Jungkook entered his room, a serene smile graced his lips. He delicately arranged the freshly plucked jasmines in a bowl beside his bed, the sweet fragrance permeating the air around him. With a gentle sigh, he approached the mirror and caressed his cheeks, taking in his reflection in the mirror.
He set his flower crown, a symbol of innocence and purity, aside carefully near the dressing table before removing all the other jewelry, leaving only the red thread draped around his neck and wrist.. a silent testament to his marital bond.
With practiced hands, he retrieved a bottle of almond oil from the shelf, its familiar scent bringing comfort as he massaged it onto his lips and cheeks, nourishing his skin with its soothing touch. After giving a soft final tap on his cheeks, ensuring his skincare routine was complete, he turned toward the bathroom with a contented sigh.
Inside the bathroom, soft ambient lighting and the faint scent of lavender greeted him as the maid already filled the tub with warm water. He carefully added a few drops of his favorite essential oil, letting its soothing fragrance envelop the air. Stepping into the bath he sank down into the comforting warmth.
After a blissful soak, he reluctantly rose from the bath, wrapping himself in a fluffy towel. The warmth lingered on his skin as he slips into his favorite white, plainly embroideredHanfubefore walking out of the bathroom.
As Jungkook entered his bedroom, the soft fabric draped elegantly around his figure. He paused before the mirror, his eyes meeting his own reflection as he ran his fingers through his still-damp hair, gently drying it with a cloth.
With a contented sigh, he wiped his face, the cool sensation refreshing his skin. He gaze then fell upon a small tin resting on the tabletop - a cherished possession filled with a rosy tint. Carefully, he dipped his forefinger into the tint, applying a delicate hue to his lips with a subtle smile playing on his lips.
As he admired his reflection in the mirror, he reached for the flower crown resting nearby, its delicate petals adding a touch of ethereal beauty to her appearance. Placing it atop his head, he couldn’t help but smile at the sight, feeling a sense of radiance and grace wash over him.
With one last glance at his reflection, he whispered to himself, ”Pretty,” before making his way to the window. Settling onto the wooden sofa beside it, he gazed out at the moonlit sky, his heart fluttering with anticipation as he awaited the arrival of his beloved husband, the embodiment of his dreams.
..to be continued..
