Content: fluff, one (1) kiss, brief mention of a family member passing away
Request: keyword game
Sunwoo was the talk of the town.
In your quiet corner of the world, everyone knew everyone and then some. Somehow, people would end up in the know about visiting relatives or out of town friends, or even those passing through would be known to everyone by the end of the day.
So it was no surprise when Sunwoo suddenly moved to your town that within hours his name had spread to every last person.
You were curious of course. Your town could be best defined as a place to retire. It was quiet, with little to do, but scenic and cozy in that way older people tend to search for during their last years. Most young people moved out when they could or stayed to take over family businesses, or would only be found for short stays.
For you, it was because of your family business. Your grandmother taught you everything you know; what you should grow and harvest for each season, everything involved woth baking from consistency to proofing to the aesthetics, and most importantly everything that goes into managing a business.
Though you have a range of in-season ingredients used for your goods, your most popular has been cherries. Your line included cherry tarts, cherry ice cream, cherry cakes and more, and the town always looked forward to cherry season.
So when Sunwoo arrives at your bakery you're not surprised to have a new customer, but you are by him.
Apart from being new to the town, he sticks out like a sore thumb.
Dark wavy hair lazily brushed back, leather jacket to match his dark clothes, strong features full of sharp angles and melting eyes. He looks the definition of tall, dark and handsome.
"Welcome, what can I get for you today." You greet, smile as sweet as your treats.
He scratches the back of his neck and you hide how taken aback you are by his shy demeanour.
"Um.. what would you recommend?" He asks unexpectedly soft.
Of course you recommend your cherry goods.
"Oh. The cupcakes sound great, I'll take two please." And then he smiles and you suddenly feel your heart swell three times its size.
After that, he nearly came everyday. Usually the same order, sometimes something new, but he would always get his cherry cupcakes.
Today, he hadn't shown. You were slightly disappointed, already having set aside his order neatly in a berry printed cake box.
You're in the midst of closing, preparing for the next day. Table, chairs, floors, all the surfaces wiped down. Leftover goods packed up ready to be donated to the foodbank on your way home when you hear the bell of your door opening.
"Sorry, we're closed for the day." You call out from the back.
Emerging from the kitchen, tea towel in hand you blink in surprise. "Sunwoo."
He gives you a smile, the kind that has your heart racing everytime. He looks sheepish, rubbing his nape as he tends to do when he's feeling out of place. "Sorry to come so late... I got busy and I wanted to see you... I made some tea if you could spare some time?"
Closing ends up delayed. You try to be normal despite your skin feeling heated and flutters you haven't felt since you were a teenager run rampant in your belly.
Sunwoo sits across from you and he grins so big it lights up his face when you pull out a box with his exact order.
"Am I that predictable?" He laughs.
You shrug, sliding over a plate and two mugs. "Maybe I just know you better now."
His eyes glimmer in a way that reminds you of sunlight skating across water. "Hm," he hums, "well maybe... if you don't mind of course... I can drop by this time again so we can get to know each other better?"
And you realise you're completely gone when the only response you can give that heart-stopping smile is a small yes.
Four out of six evenings of the week Sunwoo shows up during closing and you both share tea he made and the treats you've made.
You find out he moved from the city after having severe burnout and the passing of a relative that hit him hard. He said he wanted a chance of scenery and a change of pace from the fast competitive dredge of life in Seoul. You find out he has a younger sister and laugh when he grumbles that she's taller than him and could probably kick his ass. He tells you how he got sucked into the corporate world of tech, despite his passion laying with music.
In turn, you tell him how you were the grandchild with most interest in baking and thats why your grandmother trained you up for the business. Tell him about your quiet life in your little town. How you felt grateful that you got to do what you love every day.
And the way his gaze melts into you, attentive and tender has your pulse racing and throat running dry.
One night, Sunwoo asks if you want to take a drive instead.
That's how you end up sitting on the hood of his car on the cliffsides.
You always sit opposite him and he's always in oversized clothes that hang off him, so you don't realise how much bigger he is than you initially perceived until now.
His broad shoulders brush against you and he seems to take up so much space beside you.
The stars wash the sky and the water pulls in and out washing against the rocks below rhythmically.
It's a beautiful night.
You're in the midst of laughing at something silly he said when you turn your head to look at him and find him already looking at you.
Just like that your laughter dies down, carried away with the waves. He's closer than you realise. The steady warmth of his breath fanning against you.
"You know," he starts, quiet and gentle, "I was worried that I wouldn't feel at home here... but... you've helped make it feel like it... thank you."
You're not sure how you even manage to speak, throat dry and nerves like a live wire as his eyes, voice, proximity frazzle you. "You're welcome." You whisper.
And without realising you both lean in, closer, closer until you feel his plush lips sinking against yours tasting like cherries and home.
༒︎@lapydiaries December Birthstone Event, theme chosen: Commitment
༒︎Pairing: Knight! Lee Hyunjae x Baroness! Reader (f)
༒︎Genre: fluff, suggestive
༒︎Au: historical, knight, nobility
༒︎Trope: cute meet
༒︎Rated: 18+, Minors Do Not Interact. All ageless and blank blogs will be blocked
༒︎Word Count: 1,372
༒︎Warnings: Hyunjae insinuating that he'd be a pretty damn good sub in bed if given the chance
༒︎Summary: when your maidservent accidentatlly gives Hyunjae your hankerchief , you have to go to Hyunjae's jousting tent to inform him of how the next few months were going to go. Little did you realize, Hyunjae had a plan of his own.
༒︎Divider by @cursed-carmine
“My lady, I am honored.”
You winced as Hyunjae knelt in his suit of armor and kissed the back of your hand. How were you to tell him that your maidservant was meant to give your handkerchief to Juyeon, not Jaehyun. Or rather, he went by Hyunjae at court, in order to distance himself from his family that was currently out of favor with the king. Well, now he was in favor of you.
“As you should be,” You sniffed, pulling your hand sharply from Hyunjae.
Hyunjae, still on one knee, watched you with wandering eyes. “I thought you despised me, so this came as a surprise to me.”
“I do,” You informed him coolly. You folded your arms under your bust. “But you paraded around the jousting arena flying with my colors already, so there is nothing to do about it now.”
“Nothing…” Hyunjae frowned. “Are you saying I was not your intended?”
You waved his words away. “It doesn’t matter, Sir Lee. Now we need to keep up appearances. I will send my maidservant with a new handkerchief each time you joust, so make sure you give me ample notification so that I can embroider it properly.”
Hyunjae slowly rose.
“I did not say you could rise yet, Sir Knight,” You snapped.
Hyunjae was on both of his knees immediately.
You eyed him. “Well, at least you’re a hound that listens to commands.”
“My lady,” Hyunjae began to beseech you. “I would commit my life to yours, if you would allow it.”
“We must play out this courtship for what is acceptable and then when the winter ends, we’ll say that it simply did not work out. Something about my family not feeling as benevolent as I was playing them off to be. It’ll paint my family as dispassionate, but I’m sure my brothers would be happy with that reputation.” You tapped your finger against your chin. “Yes, that’s perfect.”
“I…” Hyunjae’s mouth opened and closed in confusion. “And in the meantime? How do we convince everyone that you truly favor me and I am wooing you.”
You rolled your eyes. “I’ve seen you at court, Hyunjae. I know how well you can polish yourself with your charm. Everyone else seems to be fooled by it.”
“Fooled,” Hyunjae repeated your words back to you.
“Alright, it seems like we understand each other. You may rise and I’ll take my leave.” You moved towards the opening of Hyunjae’s preparation tent but he moved so quickly, he stood in front of the flap.
“Nay, my lady,” He shook his head. “We do not understand each other.”
“Oh, don’t make this any harder than it has to be, Hyunjae,” You huffed. “I know you’re not truly an idiot, you simply act as one so that the others will underestimate you. Do not think me an idiot simply because I am in a skirt and you in armor.”
“My lady,” Hyunjae said in a low voice. “You won’t be leaving this tent until we come to a true understanding.”
You wrinkled your nose. “A true…? How much power do you think you hold in this scenario, Hyunjae?"
“No power, my lady, but I will not play these games of heart with you,” Hyunjae declined.
“Oh no? You want to take me with you in the spiral your family has begun?” You demanded with your hands on your hips.
“If I am to court you, I would court you in truth,” Hyunjae said. His eyes were clear with intent.
“Then do so. I will not. I have no intentions of--” You squealed as Hyunjae swept you in his arms and dipped you backwards. “What are you doing?!”
“Courting you,” Hyunjae said. His eyes were hooded and then he was lowering his face.
You held your hand up. “You will not kiss me and dishonor me so!”
Hyunjae cocked his head. “No? I hear rumors about you, my lady. I do not think a kiss would dishonor you.”
Your eyes widened in anger. “What are you accusing me of, Sir Knight?”
Hyunjae smirked. “I accuse you of nothing. Except perhaps enjoying yourself.”
“You presume too much, sir. Now raise me on my feet and remove your hands,” You commanded.
Hyunjae licked his lips suggestively. “Allow me the privilege of showing you just how well I can listen to instructions.”
“What are you insinuating, Hyujnae, I don’t have time to play word games with you.” You scowled up at the knight.
“Use me. Command me. Let me wear your colors proudly because I earned them. A mistaken lady’s favor would weigh heavy on my heart.” Hyunjae pouted down at you.
“I will not--Hyunjae!”
You were on your feet and suddenly Hyunjae had swept you off of them completely. You clamped your mouth shut as Hyunjae carried you out of his tent.
“The lady has twisted her ankle as she came to congratulate me on my accomplishments today,” Hyunjae announced loudly. “I have the pleasure of escorting her to her rooms in the castle.”
“You conniving little fox,” You hissed.
Hyujnae wore a proud smile during the entire process. “Two can play your game, my lady.”
You rolled your eyes heavily. You sent simpering smiles as you passed your peers. You reassured the maids that Hyunjae would take care of everything. You had no choice to play along with the hand you were dealt.
Your lapdog yapped as Hyunjae pushed open your room. You had dismissed your maidservant immediately. Who knew what kind of trouble Hyunjae was up to?
“Precious, hush, please. I already have a headache,” You ordered quietly.
Precious did indeed stop yapping at Hyunjae, at least.
“Oh, let me down, we have no need to uphold the pretense of--” Hyunjae lowered you to the bed.
Immediately Precious approached him, sniffing his foot thoughtfully. Then she sneezed.
“I have the same opinion,” You said with a displeased face.
“What ever have I done to offend you so?” Hyunjae demanded with a cute little furrow of his eyebrows.
“The way you act! The simpering and the flattery. It is simply too much. I detest it,” You informed him immediately.
“I don’t understand. All the other ladies love it when I fawn over them,” Hyunjae admitted.
“Yes, I know,” You scoffed. “It’s insufferable to watch them giggle over it.”
“Then why--?”
“I have lived half of my life with a blunt husband that was as old if not older than my father was when he betrothed me to the fossil. I have long dispensed away with frivolities, sir,” You said.
Hyunjae sent you a look of sympathy. “My apologies, my lady.”
You began to remove your gloves. “Why would you apologize? It’s hardly your fault.”
“A lady should never be dealt with the blunt, harsh realities,” Hyunjae eagerly said.
You laughed bitterly. “Why? Do we not have the temperament to deal with such realities? Do you really think we are all the precious flowers we must pretend to be? Really, all men are insufferable.”
Hyunjae shook his head. “No, my lady, that is not what I meant. I just mean, if you feel ravishing in a dress, who would kill that spark of happiness?”
You flinched. Your husband, six feet in the ground thank God, would. Happiness was not in his vocabulary. You had not provided him with an heir and therefore you were useless. Unless he was with his dogs or hunting, there was no pleasure to be had. Not even between your thighs. That was even more methodic than lustful. You shuddered at the memory.
“Hyunjae, please, I--”
Hyunjae knelt again before you once again. He had swept Precious up in the process and she was eagerly licking his jaw as you spoke. “My lady, please allow me to commit the rest of my life to making up for that dark stain on your life.”
You shook your head. “And give up my freedom as a widow? I think not!”
Hyunjae looked up at you. His eyes were shiny. Your heart skipped a beat. “I will convince you.”
“Well I’m not as easy as my lapdog,” You sniffed.
Hyunjae grinned. “Assuredly not.”
And for the first time in a long time, your heart held some hope.
i just know juyeon would be the type of boyfriend to carry all of your shopping bags for you, literally struggling just so you don’t have to and he would not complain! just a happy boyfriend helping.
All night you couldn’t stop staring at him. The two of you were constantly grazing each other's hands. It was obvious that something was going on between the two of you. At one point, your friend looked over at you two and chuckled, catching onto the lingering feelings that surrounded you.
“Do you want to chill outside for a bit?” he asked you under his breath. You nodded without looking at him, but he knew that you meant it. Surprisingly, nobody said anything about the two of you leaving. Well, that’s what you saw. Finally, fresh air blew onto your face, but what you didn’t realize was that the Sunwoo was still holding your hand. His face was all red and lips puffy.
“Are you alright, Sunwoo?” you giggled at the sight of him. He was looking near the post lamp, swatting the non-existent flies. “Don’t worry y/n… I won’t let them get you.” he grunted. “Thanks, I'm sure you won’t!” you said as you guided him to a nearby bench. The two of you sat there for quite a while until the buzz wore off. He softly leaned his head onto your shoulder. “I like you.”
