🌹 A Dance with Danger
Qian'ai had finally dropped his overprotective big brother act, giving Yun Yuhua the space to reconnect with him. He even apologized to Ae-shim for his earlier outburst. She burst into tears on the spot, calling him the meanest savior she'd ever met. The inn slowly returned to its usual rhythm, though the air still hung heavy with the weight left behind by the festival.
But Tian Ke couldn't shake the unease in his chest. Something about Seo Ju didn't sit right with him. He warned Yun Yuhua to stay away, to be careful—but she merely nodded, brushing it off with a quiet, "He's just someone I bumped into at the market." She left out the part where he was the injured man who'd shown up at their home.
Not far off, Seo Ju watched from the shadows of a side alley. He rarely approached the inn, still weighing the right moment to draw Yun Yuhua closer. But she wasn't the type to fall for kind words or charming smiles. He had baited the hook, yet she hadn't bitten. So this time, he moved first.
He walked into the inn with Do-hae at his side, his presence commanding attention.
"Welcome!" Ae-shim greeted with a bright bow, then froze when she looked up, eyes wide, jaw slack. Seo Ju was… distractingly handsome.
"Ae-shim?" Ruqi called from the counter, but Ae-shim didn't answer. Her gaze remained locked on Seo Ju, her cheeks coloring fast. Ruqi walked over, blinking, and waved a hand in front of Ae-shim's face.
At that moment, Yun Yuhua emerged from the back, tying her apron as she approached Seo Ju's table with her notebook.
"How may I help you?" she asked calmly, practicing Joseon. Her eyes flicked to Do-hae, then rested on Seo Ju. She could feel the tension radiating from the table. She was awkwardly silent.
"What's your specialty today?" Seo Ju asked, his voice smooth and unhurried.
Yun Yuhua flushed slightly under his gaze. "Our pan-fried spring rolls are a favorite… along with the bone broth."
"I'll take both," he replied, his eyes never leaving her. Yun Yuhua bowed and turned to leave, but her foot caught the edge of a chair. She stumbled, catching herself just in time—but her notebook slipped, nearly falling from her grasp. Her face turned crimson.
Seo Ju chuckled softly, covering his mouth with a hand, though the laughter danced in his eyes. Yun Yuhua shot him a flustered look before fleeing toward the kitchen. Seo Ju leaned back, amused, while Do-hae raised an eyebrow.
"Are you… enjoying this?" Do-hae asked dryly.
"I'm amused," Seo Ju said, smiling faintly. Do-hae started to speak but thought better of it.
When the food was ready, Yun Yuhua returned with the dishes, setting them down silently. When Seo Ju gently caught her wrist, she turned to fetch the empty plates. She froze. Do-hae choked on his water.
"Are you free later?" Seo Ju asked, voice low. "By the riverbank. Like before."
Color rose to Yun Yuhua's cheeks. She glanced at Ruqi—she was watching, quietly concerned.
"Sire… I'm busy," she muttered, clearly flustered. Do-hae coughed violently, water dribbling down his chin.
"You can bring your friend," Seo Ju said gently. "I won't cause trouble."
"My brother wishes me to stay indoors," she replied, gaze fixed on the floor.
Seo Ju's smile faded into something softer. "I see… then I'll ask again next time."
He released her wrist. Yun Yuhua bowed quickly and retreated to the kitchen.
Ae-shim followed, practically bouncing. "Yuyu! Who is he? He's so handsome! What's his name?"
Yun Yuhua smiled faintly at Ae-shim's enthusiasm. "He didn't say."
"He looked like he knew you," Ae-shim pointed out, narrowing her eyes. "He really looked like he knew you."
From across the kitchen, Tian Ke's hand froze mid-stir. His gaze shifted sharply to Yun Yuhua.
"I wasn't curious about his name," she said, voice strained.
"But did he tell you?" Ae-shim pressed.
"He—"
"Who?" Tian Ke cut in, voice like ice. "That man from the other day?"
Yun Yuhua's heart sank. She had nearly forgotten.
"Ke Gege, it's not what you think," she said quickly, but he was already moving.
"He came here?" he snapped. "Ae-shim, ask your mother to take over for a bit."
Ae-shim scurried off, and her mother stepped in moments later, confusion etched into her face. Tian Ke grabbed Yun Yuhua's notebook from her hands.
"Ke Gege! He's just a customer!"
But he was already storming into the main hall. Seo Ju sat calmly, back straight, exuding princely ease. As Tian Ke approached, Seo Ju looked up and offered a faint, amused smile.
"Hello. I've already placed my order," he said. Tian Ke stopped, the corner of his mouth curling—not with amusement, but warning.
In fluent, perfect Joseon, Tian Ke said coldly, "Please dine elsewhere after today. And stay away from my sister."
Gasps rippled through the inn. Conversations halted. All eyes turned to them. Yun Yuhua's heart dropped.
She stepped forward and whispered in Ming, "If you're going to act like this, do it elsewhere."
At that moment, Qian'ai returned from the market and, sensing the tension instantly, pulled Tian Ke aside. Yun Yuhua offered Seo Ju a quick, stiff bow before slipping away.
Outside, Qian'ai hissed, "What was that? You sounded like you grew up here!"
Tian Ke ran a hand down his face, exasperated. "He's playing with her. I'm not going to just sit and watch."
"He's a customer," Yun Yuhua said firmly. "And you just gave away everything. We're supposed to be outsiders who barely speak the language."
That stopped Tian Ke cold. The mission, their mother, the truth—they'd all nearly unraveled in a heartbeat. He looked away, tension draining from his shoulders.
"…I'm sorry," he said, barely above a whisper.
Yun Yuhua said nothing; she closed her eyes and walked past him.
Later, in the quiet of the kitchen, she remained distant, her frustration simmering. Night had settled by the time Tian Ke approached her again.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I lost sight of why we're here. I just… I didn't like how he looked at you."
Yun Yuhua blinked away tears.
"I wish Mother were here," she whispered. Tian Ke gave a faint smile before gently pulling her into his arms.
"She is. Every step we take."
She leaned into him, letting the comfort settle over her. The ache didn't fade, but his warmth softened it.
"I'll stay away from him," she murmured. "I don't trust him."
Tian Ke exhaled in relief. "I'll stay calm. But no man will touch you. Not him. Not any Joseon noble."
Yun Yuhua let out a small, tired laugh. "You're impossible."
He brushed a strand of hair from her face, smiling faintly. "And I'll always protect you."
In that quiet space, surrounded by the soft hum of the inn, they found a rare moment of peace—fleeting, but real.
Seo Ju stood quietly outside the inn, the moonlight spilling across the courtyard in soft silver beams. He stared at the sky, lost in thought, the silence heavy with the weight of unanswered questions.
A knock on the door interrupted his reverie.
"Your Highness," Do-hae's voice was steady, respectful. "Jinji sent word. Reports claim Li Zhiyong is a silk merchant, but his home can't be found. It's as though he doesn't have one."
Seo Ju scoffed, his gaze sharpening. "A merchant with no home? That doesn't add up," he muttered. "Tell Jinji to look into his hometown. There's more here than what they're saying."
"Yes, Your Highness." Do-hae bowed before retreating into the night, leaving Seo Ju alone once more.
He turned his attention back to the moon, his thoughts drifting to Yun Yuhua. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he recalled her—flustered, stumbling, yet always somehow composed.
"What are you hiding?" he whispered to the night. "Are you really just an innkeeper?"
The rooster crowed, ushering in the first light of morning. The inn stirred to life once again, though there was a cautious air beneath the usual bustle. Tian Ke moved about as if all was normal while customers trickled in to dine. Behind the desk, Yun Yuhua tied her hair up, calm but alert.
Then, the doors creaked open. A swordswoman stepped inside—not with the air of a traveler seeking a meal, but with the sharpness of someone hunting for trouble. Her eyes scanned the room, precise and unhurried, until they landed on Tian Ke. A smirk tugged at her lips as she strode toward him.
Tian Ke noticed her and bowed slightly.
"How can I help you?" he asked, unbothered, replying in broken Joseon. She tilted her head, amused.
"I heard you speak fluently. No need to pretend around me. But more importantly…" She glanced around the inn. "I've heard this place is filled with beauties and studs. Mind if I take a look?"
Tian Ke sighed, visibly annoyed. "If you're not here to dine, I suggest you leave."
Her smirk vanished, but she held her tongue. Tian Ke turned his back on her, unimpressed.
Steel hissed.
In a flash, he spun and slammed her sword back into its sheath before it could fully draw. She lashed out with a kick, but he caught her leg mid-air, forcing it down with effortless precision.
Still, she didn't back off.
She went for her sword again, but Tian Ke was quicker—his hand clamped around her wrist, stopping her cold. He shoved the blade back and yanked the sheath from her grip, then drove her backward with a firm push.
"You—!" she snapped, breathless and furious.
"Leave. Now," Tian Ke growled, his voice low and burning with warning.
The woman glared at him, but said nothing. He tossed her sheath back, then turned and walked out of the main hall without another glance. Her mouth opened, but no words came. Her face flushed red with a mix of fury and shame.
"I'll come back… you'll see," she muttered under her breath before storming out of the inn.
Word spread quickly through Gaeseong. The foreign-run inn wasn't just talk—it could fight. Some whispered they were dangerous; others called them honorable. But the fact that one of them spoke fluent Joseon? That unsettled people more than the swordplay ever could.
The rumors spread like wildfire through Gaeseong, stirring unease in Yun Yuhua and her brothers. They knew they couldn't stay hidden forever. Sooner or later, they would have to defend themselves. But fear didn't silence everyone—it sparked fury in some. Especially in the one who had been humiliated, the one who believed everything had been stolen from him. Ae-shim's father. A man convinced he deserved more.