The first time you met Jang Uk, it was when your sister Cho yeon broke off the engagement with him. Yet you could only watch it from afar, thinking how strict your mother was. That time, no one really knew Jinyowon had a third child in the family. You spent your entire life without stepping outside right after your oldest sister Bu yeon went missing.
Maybe you did sneak out a few times and getting caught not long after. Earning an earful from Cho yeon’s guard and your mother. It wasn’t really a wonderful experience.
But something did happened once when you escaped.
You bumped into Jang uk and he managed to break the bracelet tracker you were forced to wear. But he looked a lot different than the last time you had saw him. His hair wasn’t that long anymore. Jang uk doesn’t smile as much as he used to. And his energy wasn’t brighter than others.
When people die, they change a lot.
If only you knew the consequences breaking it. Maybe you wouldn’t feel the need to suffer a thread seeing into your skin.
“It’s you again.” Jang uk called as you turn your back to look at male. You didn’t know what’s your purpose of escaping again. You roam your way around the village with zero idea of what to do next.
Was meeting Jang uk again a coincidence?
He looks like he’s half dead. You blinked. “What are you doing here?” You questioned.
“It should be me asking why would a Jinyowon be at a place like this. It’s not really a nice place to be at. Dangerous especially for a girl like you to be around.” Jang uk mentioned.
Just as you were about to talk, Jang uk noticed the servants were looking for you. The tight force on your wrist made you startled when he pulled you into a dim alleyway and kissed you when the servants passed by. When he pulled away, you looked at him blankly. His hand was still cupping your face. “ don’t even think about this. I was just protecting you from getting caught. Just go home- I mean safely. Just stay in that prison room or whatever you call it and never come back here. I don’t want to be in trouble.” Jang uk huffed, backing away from you.
That was the last word he said before he walk away, leaving you shock alone. You were too lost in your mind to notice that you had been caught again.
When you were brought back to your room, your mother was already standing in the middle of the room. She wasn’t really happy about this either.
And your night was spent with your mind thinking about him. You shouldn’t feel this way. He doesn’t feel the same. He’s a Songrim mage. You’re from Jinyowon. When you saw him from afar, doesn’t mean he could feel the same for you.
You meant nothing to him. Even when he meant everything to you.
“You’re going to marry someone from the Seo family and be the leader of Jinyowon.” Your mother said. “But you’re still going to live in this room with him.” She added.
“Why can’t you make Bu yeon or Cho yeon as the leader-”
“that’s the reason why i asked you to get married first. Don’t you like it? Getting to be the leader of Jinyowon with your loving husband by your side?” There was this adoration in your mothers eyes, like she’s thinking of the ‘perfect’ future for you and the man. You never decline your mother’s orders, but at the same time you couldn’t force yourself to obey to her this time.
You don’t love the man. Not when Uk was on your mind.
“the unanimous assembly wants to see the new leader of Jinyowon. You’re following me.” Your mother said.
You didn’t feel like yourself when you were there, while your mother was smiling. You hated everything that was going on but you ended up bowing to everyone. It wasn’t comfortable. Especially when a man named Jin Mu was keeping his eyes on you beside your mother.
you breathed. “I was appointed the leader. The third child in Jinyowon. Y/n.” You announced, hearing everyone was starting to fuss with their mumbling. It was loud enough to kill you. “But you’re the youngest. The leader should be Bu yeon.” There was a man named Ho yeon called out and your eyes went to him. You couldn’t say anything. “That’s why she is going to marry someone from the Seo family.” Your mother announced.
“Can we pretend like we’re married? Everyone is scared of you. Even if you don’t feel the same like I do… but please? I can’t stay in that room forever.” You pleaded to Jang uk. But he instead just gave you fake a laugh glare at you.
“you’re crazy. I’m not doing that. Find someone else to do it.” He said.
There was a layer of glass in your eyes, the tears threatening to spill out, you look up. Seeing how there was a star that was brighter than the others. You might as well die if you were going to marry someone you didn’t want to.
You felt disgusted. Disappointed in yourself for being the puppet show for your mother.
The door opened from afar and a man walked in that caught everyone’s attention. It wasn’t a member from the unanimous assembly. It wasn’t a part of the guard either.
But it was someone you were familiar with. Someone who you were hoping the impossible to come.
“she can’t marry anyone else.” his voice was loud enough for everyone in the meeting to hear. You watch him, walking to your side before kissing your forehead and holding your hand.
This would be the second time he had kissed you without hesitating. If he continues to do this without having hard feelings, you might be the one to burst anytime soon.
His hand was warm. Holding the cold hand of yours. You have a feeling he might question you later. “we’re married and we hope to get your blessings.” The way he talks about it sounds so casual. Was it because he was so good at lying and you’re not?
He poured you some in the rice wine cup, pushing it closer to you and he sees you finishing it. The liquid went through your throat with a burning sensation. The only thing you thought was how strong his alcohol tolerance was but that didn’t stop you from refilling it and push over to his side.
The moment he picked up the glass, he heard you say something that made him stop.
“If you drink that then we’re officially married. That’s our wedding drink.” You stated.
you heard your mother calling out your name. Probably disappointed and confused. She wanted you to explain everything that has been going on. Disobeying your mother was the last thing you wanted to do.
When Jang uk wanted to take you away he was stopped. “I don’t allow you to take her away.” Your mother said.
“Y/n is my wife. She is under my responsibilities. Therefore I forbid her to stay in Jinyowon.” Jang uk said.
That was the last thing before you followed Jang uk out the door.
What was the reason he took you in? He didn’t even acknowledged your existence. He sent you to maidservant Kim to take care of you while he was gone.
You waited for him. The first day passed by and he wasn’t there. The second day, he still wasn’t there. And a week passed by, you were starting to think he didn’t want to see you again. With everyday, you keep asking maidservant Kim about him. And her replies will always be the same. He’s at Jeongjinak. That was the reply she would always give.
You couldn’t sleep well neither could eat.
Until one night, when he returned after being gone for a week. It was the night where you were actually miserably in pain.
It was like an untreated wound. The pain was unbearable. When he walked in, you were on the cold ground, sweating while silently holding it in. “what happened to you?” he doesn’t sound worried, nor panic about it.
It was harder to read him when you’re in desperate need of help.
“Mother stitched the thread tight in the skin on my shoulder.” You panted. Like you were running out of breath. It was the most painful thing you’ve had experienced.
Jang uk didn’t seem fazed. He just exist your room and went to maidservant Kim to ask her to accompany and put ointments before returning to his personal room.
But he couldn’t go to bed.
But he was supposed to be this cold to you. Why is he worried. Did he sound too cruel to you? To him it was too harsh.
When he stopped by the front of your room, he stood there, wondering if he should go back in there. His ego took over him and he ended up leaving.
“What did she said?” Jang uk asked maidservant Kim.
“Y/n refuses to go home. She said she will bear the pain. The ointments and warm towel isn’t helping young master Jang.” Maidservant Kim vented. Jang uk felt a sense of pity in himself.
But he can’t show his emotions to anyone.
“Then put more ointments until the pain reduces.”
He hated himself for being that cold, but his blood was boiling and he went straight to Jinyowon.
The door opened, and Jang uk took the relics from Ho gyeong and smashes it. “Why would you do that!” She sounded him.
“my wife couldn’t sleep. please refrain from calling her in the middle of the night. she’s sick and adding pain to her will be only make y/n suffer. Please respect her as your daughter and as my wife. As you can see we are newlyweds.”
the only reason he came home. That was the reason. He was too worried to leave you alone with maidservant Kim when you’re sick. Maidservant Kim told him that you didn’t feel well and he came home. Just for you.
A sense of regret when he walked in your room. Seeing you unconscious on the cold floor, your face and lips turned pale.
Jang uk tucked you in bed, taking the cold damped towel cloth before placing it on your forehead. He lay down beside you and just watch your sleeping figure. He didn’t realized how many hours had passed by or how the sun had rise. Because Jang uk didn’t get any sleep.
It wasn’t because of the things that was bothering him. What’s surprising was they don’t appear anymore when you’re with him.
When you woke up, that was the first time you had seen him smile. After three years.
“Good morning love.” He kissed you again.
“I’m sorry for being cold to you. That shouldn’t happened.” He apologised. You couldn’t comprehend what you just witnessed. “I wished I took care of you earlier.” Jang uk breathed.
“will you give me a second chance to prove myself?”
You never thought this kind of moment would actually happen. Forgiveness is a powerful thing.
“ you will always have a second chance Jang uk.”
