Joint Meeting

When I first set foot on the earth, there was nothing.

Only trees, flowers, and small moving creatures.

A hundred years. That was how long it took to recognize my own existence.

A hundred years. That was how long it took to realize the emotion that made me uncomfortable.

It was loneliness.

There was no one who could see the world from the same perspective as me.

I was lonely.

So, I decided to create someone like me.

Because Yi Dowon took all the household members with him when he went up to Hanyang, there was a severe shortage of people to manage the house.

Bangja and Hyangdan diligently did their best in their assigned positions, but their diligence wasn’t enough to make up for the lack of hands.

Whenever that happened, Chunhyang and I also helped them, but Bangja and Hyangdan adamantly stopped us.

“Oh, what would I become if Young master did the work?”

“Chunhyang, please rest here while drinking Sujeonggwa Elixir.”

I turned my gaze away from Bangja’s unsightly butt as he swept with his frivolous hand movements, and Hyangdan came into view, wiping the floor at the end of the veranda.

She didn’t even realize that her braided hair had fallen forward, her eyes fixed on the floor as she moved her hands incessantly.

“Hoo….”

It was a moderately warm spring day for me, but not for those doing housework, as beads of sweat were forming on Hyangdan’s forehead.

I felt a sense of admiration for Hyangdan, who was breathing with a feverish breath and concentrating on wiping the floor.

However, I thought her passion was a bit excessive, because her clothes had come loose, whether due to the heat rising in her body or because they had loosened as she moved diligently.

Of course, it wasn’t a complete disaster where her bare skin was visible, but from the perspective of the conservative Joseon era, I thought it was a scandalous outfit.

“Chunhyang….”

It would be embarrassing to point it out directly, so I thought I should tell Chunhyang, and I turned my head to the side.

“…….”

Her face was turned towards Bangja, who was sweeping the yard.

But her eyes were directed at me.

Chunhyang, who had taken a sip of Sujeonggwa Elixir, slowly lowered her hand.

The Sujeonggwa Elixir, which Hyangdan had brought out 30 minutes ago, was still full to the brim.

After placing the bowl on the floor without making a sound, Chunhyang tucked the fine hairs on her ear behind her and turned her head.

“Young master.”

With a refreshing smile, Chunhyang’s lips opened. Her voice was the same as the voice that had been calling me until just now.

“What were you looking at?”

At the subtle question, I swallowed involuntarily.

It’s not like I was scared. Yeah, no.

“Ah… that….”

Since I couldn’t raise my voice too loudly, I brought my face closer to Chunhyang.

Surprised by my face that suddenly came close, Chunhyang turned her head slightly.

“Well, Hyangdan seems to be working too hard… her clothes seem to be a bit dirty… Chunhyang, could you tell her?”

“Ah, is that the reason? …But Young master.”

“Yes?”

Chunhyang whispered in my ear.

“It tickles when you breathe into my ear like that.”

“Ah… uh, I’ll be careful.”

Was it too stimulating?

My face flushed red.

“I will tell Hyangdan.”

Chunhyang smiled and got up from her seat, walking lightly towards Hyangdan.

“Hyangdan, would you like to take a break?”

“Yes?”

Hyangdan, who was wiping the floor, looked up at Chunhyang.

“Take a break. And tidy up your clothes.”

Hyangdan, realizing something from Chunhyang’s words, checked her attire.

“Ah… Ah! Oh my, I should take a break.”

With an awkward smile, Hyangdan left her spot.

I drank the remaining Sujeonggwa Elixir and continued to stare blankly at Chunhyang.

Chunhyang seemed to be thinking about something for a moment, then knelt down and picked up the rag that Hyangdan had left behind.

“Chunhyang?”

As Chunhyang’s long fingers touched the knot tied at her chest, it magically loosened.

A similar appearance to Hyangdan’s outfit a moment ago, with a slightly visible interior.

Chunhyang sent me a straight gaze, smiling with her eyes.

And slowly, very slowly, she grabbed the rag and began to wipe the floor.

Her slightly loosened front revealed glimpses of Chunhyang’s skin.

Whether it was because the day was hot, sweat soon formed on her forehead as well.

Her body, gradually getting wet with sweat, rubbed against the thin clothes, revealing its contours.

Her slender waist and curved chest and buttocks.

It was the moment I finally captured her charm, which I hadn’t noticed in the prison and in the few days since I brought her here to live with me.

Following her white neckline, a drop of sweat that had formed on her forehead trickled down.

When it flowed into the gap between her jade-like breasts, I couldn’t help but swallow involuntarily.

Chunhyang, who was wiping the floor, quickly approached.

Or perhaps, I was staring so blankly that I didn’t realize she was approaching.

Chunhyang, who had come close, smiled at me.

“Young master.”

A sweet voice and a clear scent.

The elements she possessed wrapped around me as if trying to seduce me.

“Were you watching well?”

Her giggling smile felt more than just seductive.

“…Where did you learn this?”

“I learned it from my mother when I was young.”

“She taught you not only writing and painting but also this.”

The way to seduce a man. Wasn’t she trying not to raise her daughter as a courtesan?

“My mother didn’t want to raise me as a courtesan.”

Chunhyang said, as if reading my mind.

“I learned it secretly.”

“Why?”

“Well….”

Chunhyang placed her hand on my chest. Her warm body temperature was transmitted to my chest.

“Because when someone I want to give my heart to appears someday, I have to catch them.”

Chunhyang, smiling again, resembled a fox I had once seen on YouTube.

“Young master… perhaps you don’t like women who aren’t virtuous?”

As I gaped with a dumbfounded face, Chunhyang carefully asked, looking at me cautiously.

“Ah, no. I like it.”

“Of course, I will only be like this in front of Young master, so please don’t worry.”

Chunhyang nipped any possible suspicion in the bud.

I wasn’t particularly suspicious to that extent, though.

Bangja, who had been sweeping the yard, had disappeared at some point, and Hyangdan, who had gone to tidy up her clothes, showed no signs of returning.

The scent of the mountains and fields began to enter through the slightly open gap in the front gate.

No, it would be more accurate to say that I, who had finally come to my senses, smelled that scent.

I reflexively stroked Chunhyang’s hair.

Because I loved her will to endure harsh hardships to protect her heart, and her girlishness, which was shy even while acting boldly because she wanted to be loved.

I felt that I should protect the happiness of such a person.

“Um… Young master?”

“Yes?”

Chunhyang, whose face had turned bright red from the head pat, brought her lips close to my ear and said.

“It’s already been more than two weeks since I came here.”

“Has it already been that long?”

“Yes. It has.”

“So, what I’m saying is….”

“Yes.”

“Young master and I… don’t you think it’s time for us to share a room now?”

“What?”