In the evening Taehyung wrote letters to his colleagues and elders in Southern Busan.
While Taehyung was writing the letters, he remembered Seorin eating fish soup and smiling coldly at Chae Young.
After Taehyung sealed the letters, he rushed from the calligraphy room to their chamber. Seorin was sitting hunched back on the bed but the moment she saw him, she sat upright.
Suddenly Taehyung flew to the bed and hugged Seorin, and then laid on the bed next to Seorin.
Seorin watched Taehyung lying on the bed for a while. Since his arms and legs didn't wander, she cautiously laid on the bed far away from him.
Taehyung rolled over and pulled Seorin into his chest.
"Rinnie, why were you staring at Chae Young during the afternoon meal?" Taehyung asked.
"What?" Seorin asked. "Fifth Prince, you're not going to let me even look at her? You must deeply love her."
Taehyung pinched Seorin's cheek, "Why does the whole chamber smell that something is burning?"
Seorin sniffed and coughed. "Fifth prince didn't bathe so the chamber stinks."
"Are you being honest?" Taehyung asked. "Your husband is clean, if you don't believe then you can smell me."
Taehyung pulled Seorin closer for her face to touch his chest.
Seorin pushed Taehyung's chest and pulled herself away from him. It gave him a clear view of her snow-white neck. His whole body stiffened and his heart burned intensely. Seorin saw his face flushed red.
She traces his line of sight and understood what makes him blush madly like ladies.
The realization made her both shy and angry. She bit his hand and rolled over but her face felt hotter. A moment ago she thought her brain was going to explode.
Taehyung was stunned by her actions. He jumped up from the bed and stood at a corner of the bed and suffered in silence for a long time.
The night air cooled, Taehyung pulled the blanket over Seorin's body. She felt that he is trying to do something, so he turned to face him and her glare warned him, "if orabeoni dares to come close to me, I'll bite you to death."
Taehyung laughed. "Wifey, don't worry. I truly won't touch you. I didn't even intend to stare, but am I not your husband, didn't we have to consummate our marriage one day?"
Seorin was angry enough to be speechless for a while.
"Orabeoni, do your family members know you're an alien and this shameless!" Seorin said.
Seorin huffed and rolled over.
"Rinnie, don't be angry, I didn't say anything wrong!!! by the way, are you thinking about how to deal with Chae Young?" Taehyung asked with a cute pout.
"Orabeoni, wouldn't it break your heart?" Seorin asked.
"What?! break heart?!" Taehyung said. "As long as you're happy."
Seorin turned her head to face Taehyung and thought he looked sincere.
"I haven't thought of a way yet," Seorin said.
Taehyung smiled. "If you need my help, you can say."
Taehyung closed his eyes and feigned sleep. But Seorin stayed awake and thought about a memory from years ago.
Seorin remembered the day she was bullied and on her way home, she bumped into Taehyung. Usually, if she saw him she would immediately flee. So she pretended she didn't see him and walked past him, but he stopped her.
"Little tigress, were you bullied?" Taehyung asked.
"Has no relation to you," Seorin said.
"Do you want me to help you take revenge?" Taehyung asked.
Seorin looked at Taehyung's tall body and told him about the boy who bullied her.
Taehyung woke Seorin up early the next day, he helped her build a trap and they waited for the boy who bullied her to walk home from school.
When the boy stepped on the trap they released a bag of dirt and rotted food attached to a branch. Stinky cabbage leaves, weed, sand, and pebbles fell on top of the boy's head.
Seorin couldn't stop smiling while remembering the past. At that time she didn't think the little fifth prince who loved to tease her for his amusement would help her take revenge in that way. She thought he would roll his sleeves and give the boy a beating.
Suddenly Seorin remembered what happened after Taehyung helped her take revenge and cursed the thief. He forced her to pay him for his help. She remembered her head spinning and protested why he didn't mention payment before helping her.
"How much do you want?" Seorin asked.
Taehyung smiled and raised three fingers. "Three copper coins are enough."
Seorin stroked her precious pouch and her heart broke. Her life savings were inside the pouch, two copper coins.
"You don't have enough?" Taehyung asked. "It's alright. Then you can repay me by writing in my book the words I'll recite to you from teacher's lessons."
Seorin was forced to write words in Taehyung's book for several days. God knows at that time she hated calligraphy the most.
Seorin struggled to repay Taehyung. She was happy after she completed writing all the words he recited and thought she could escape the little demon to play. But the little demon was also a mischievous boy.
"Teacher, in the future can Seorin stay here to read and write with me?" Taehyung asked. "I think little sister is naturally intelligent."
Seorin cried silent tears after Taehyung's teacher nodded in agreement with the little demon's fake sincere smile.
For a whole year after Taehyung's teacher was fooled, Seorin was woken up early in the morning by the little demon's voice outside her chamber.
"Aunty Shin, is Seorin awake?" Taehyung asked. "She needs to wake up early to read."
The pitiful little Seorin was dragged out of bed early each morning by her mother and given to Taehyung. While she read and write with Taehyung, she would continuously glare resentfully at that boy.
Seorin sighed inwardly, her past was too pitiful and full of suffering. She wanted to cry but she turned her head around, looked at Taehyung who was sleeping peacefully, and became angry at him for bullying her in the past.
Seorin put aside her resentment and thought about how she should deal with Chae Young.
Taehyung secretly watched Seorin while she was in deep thought. Watching her made him think about the past.
Taehyung remembered how he fooled Seorin into learning how to read and write. She would always check her pouch each day so of course, he knew she only had two copper coins. It was her fault for fighting with a boy bigger than her and losing. Teaching her how to read and write was a good deed. Her beautiful calligraphy was the result of his effort in the past. He did bully her, but other people weren't allowed to bully her.
The following morning Taehyung woke up and saw Seorin sitting beside him and staring at him with eyes too shiny.
"Rinnie, what are you looking at?" Taehyung asked warily.
"I finally found a way, but I need orabeoni's help," Seorin said.
Taehyung laughed on the inside, Seorin must have stayed awake all night thinking.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chae Young awoken early in the morning looked at the clear sky and thought it was a harmless day.
Chae Young got out of bed quickly, she didn't want Taehyung to spend too much alone time with Seorin. It didn't matter if Taehyung liked Seorin. Of course, Taehyung would like her more, they spent more than three years together in his manor. She remembered during last night's meal, Taehyung didn't punish her after he heard she ate Seorin's chicken soup.
Chae Young puffed her chest triumphantly. She painted her lips red and walked quickly to Taehyung's chamber.
Unbeknownst to Chae Young, Seorin had waited a long time for Chae Young's arrival.
Chae Young entered the chamber and stood close to Taehyung. "Fifth prince, let me change your clothes."
"No, you can help my wife," Taehyung said.
"I'm scared your wife will be angry if I help her," Chae Young insisted.
"Then you can stand beside my wife and wait for her instructions," Taehyung said and stepped behind the screen to change clothes.
Chae Young quickly followed Taehyung.
Beside the screen was the vanity table, Seorin was brushing her hair.
Chae Young saw Seorin in front of the vanity table and she frowned.
"God, my stomach hurts," Seorin said and hunched over. "Chae Young, help me to stand."
Seorin acted like she was about to fall and she grabbed onto Chae Young "s dress.
Chae Young saw Seorin's pale face, she panicked and hated to be close to Seorin. She quickly took a few steps back. Behind her was a raised platform and she lost her balance. She didn't know when there was a blue vase on the platform.
Taehyung saw the blue vase wobble but didn't fall on the floor. He rushed to Seorin and his elbow lightly collided with Chae Young on the way to Seorin.
Chae Young knocked over the blue vase and it shattered on the floor.
Chae Young avoided the broken pieces of the blue vase. Her face whitened, the blue vase was a gift from the emperor Kim Seokjin. It was also Taehyung's favorite vase yet she knocked it over.
"Ah!" Seorin cried out in pain and hugged her stomach. "Chae Young, why didn't you help me to stand?"
Chae Young turned her head to face Seorin. Seorin had fallen on the floor and Taehyung was hugging Seorin.
"Chae Young, she is in pain, why didn't you help her to stand?" Taehyung asked accusingly.
Taehyung glanced at the broken blue vase and his face darkened. "My imperial father gave me the vase you broke."
Chae Young knelt on the floor and begged for mercy. "Fifth prince, I didn't break it on purpose. Your wife shocked me..."
Chae Young had never seen Taehyung angry to that extent. He ignored her and carried Seorin to the bed.
"Someone quickly go and bring physician Yoongi here!" Taehyung ordered.
Yoongi was exercising when he saw a distressed young maid running toward him. He thought something bad happened like the poison in Seorin's body had taken effect and ran to Taehyung's chamber.
After he examined Seorin, her breathing and blood circulation were normal and apart from her pale complexion, her body was healthy. He didn't understand why he was summoned. He glanced at Taehyung, Taehyung's eyes signaled him to not ask any questions.
"Your wife's health isn't life-threatening but she'll need further examination," Yoongi said cautiously.
Chae Young exhaled. If Seorin was seriously ill then she would be severely punished. But she was also disappointed Seorin's health wasn't life-threatening, it'd be better for her if Seorin died.
Taehyung's body relaxed and he gently patted Seorin's hand. "Wife, I'm relieved you're alright. You scared me to death before."
"I'm sorry I worried you," Seorin said weakly.
Taehyung comforted Seorin for a while. He turned his head and glared at Chae Young. "I have never mistreated you or punished anyone in the manor before. But today you passed your boundaries excessively. Luckily my wife's health isn't life-threatening. If something had happened to her, how can you compensate her? You also broke the vase my father gave me! What do you think is the right thing for me to do?"
Chae Young knelt in front of Taehyung and begged for mercy. "Fifth prince, I know it was my fault. The fifth prince, forgive me." her actions clearly shows that she try to act pitifully.
Yoongi was disgusted by Chae Young's behavior and looked in a different direction.
Seorin closed her eyes and acted like she is sleeping.
Taehyung sighed and acted mercifully. "Considering you have followed me a few years, I don't have the heart to punish you. You should lock yourself in your chamber for one month to think about what you did wrong."
Chae Young widened her eyes and panicked. If she was locked in her chamber for a month then Taehyung and Seorin's bond would grow stronger without her interference.
"You don't need to say anything else, go to your chamber," Taehyung said.
Yoongi, Chae Young, and the other maids left the chamber.
Taehyung laughed and lay on the bed next to Seorin. "Rinnie, are you satisfied with my performance?"
Seorin rolled over to avoid Taehyung's hug and she put the pillow between them. "Of course, you're an expert actor."
Seorin remembered Taehyung's crestfallen face when she fell on the floor, his anger while scolding Chae Young, and his feigned reluctance to punish Chae Young. If Seorin didn't know he followed her plan then she would have believed he was sincere.
"Expert actor," Seorin praised.
"We're the same," Taehyung said.
Seorin knew it was her plan and she couldn't curse Taehyung for following her plan.
Taehyung pinched Seorin's cheek while she was distracted. "Go wash the white powder off your face. Putting a thick layer on your face isn't good for your skin."
Taehyung's prompt reminded Seorin about her face. She quickly got out of bed and washed her face. She smiled while remembering the panic in Chae Young's eyes when Chae Young saw her ghostly pale face from the thick layer of white powder she put on her face.
Seorin glanced at the platform and rushed back to the bed. "Orabeoni, I ask you to choose an ordinary item to break. Why did you choose the vase the emperor gave you? It's a pity to break an expensive vase."
"The main part of a good performance is to make it believable," Taehyung said. "If I don't choose something valuable then how can I summon my inner deep emotions?"
Seorin heard Taehyung's indifferent tone and she didn't understand why he didn't care about the vase the emperor gave him. Judging by Chae Young's reaction after seeing the broken vase, it meant the vase must have been significant yet Taehyung didn't care.
Seorin looked suspiciously at Taehyung, but he draped an arm over his face and she couldn't see his expression clearly.
Seorin reflected on her plan. She would pretend she had a stomach ache and ask Chae Young to help her stand. If Chae Young had helped her stand then nothing bad would have happened. But if Chae Young didn't help her then Chae Young would step back to avoid her, knock over the vase, and be forced to accept punishment. She gave Chae Young a chance to show Chae Young's compassionate side, it was a shame she didn't value it. But Chae Young's reaction didn't disappoint her, Chae Young chose not to help her as she predicted.
Seorin felt it was a pity that she had to involve Taehyung in her plan. She needed him to contribute a suitable item to be sacrificed and cooperate with her for a believable performance.
Initially, Seorin had doubts, she thought Taehyung truly loved Chae Young and only pretended to keep his distance from Chae Young in front of her. When he said Chae Young had a "special background," she was worried if she reprimanded Chae Young it would cause him trouble, which was why she had to think deeply for a discreet plan. But she didn't expect him to be agreeable and praised her plan, "Rinnie, I'll use all my capabilities to cooperate with you."
Indeed Taehyung kept his promise to Seorin and cooperated excessively with her to not give Chae Young a chance to evade punishment.
Seorin held a damp cloth and dried her face. "Orabeoni, I only intended to scare her a little. Why did you punish her severely by isolating her in her chamber for a month?"
"Rinnie, isn't it you who didn't want to see her face?" Taehyung asked. "Of course, your husband has to grant your request."
Seorin saw Taehyung lick his lips, she acted disgusted and looked in a different direction. But when he couldn't see her face, she smiled. "Is that so? Orabeoni, then it appears you chose a light punishment for her. Your heart doesn't want to part with her permanently."
Taehyung stood, and spoke in a fake regretful tone. "Everyone knows me as a gentle fifth prince. Of course, a gentle fifth prince needs to be merciful."
Seorin quietly glared at Taehyung for a while. She picked up her fan and she walked outside. She realized he was someone who never forgets to wear his mask tightly in front of other people.
Taehyung smiled and purposely didn't tell her that he had been planning a way to force Chae Young outside his manor for a long time, because he wanted her to believe she owed him a favor.
"Little tigress, you haven't paid me for helping you," Taehyung teased.
Seorin's body tensed and she stood still. "Orabeoni, what do you want?"
Taehyung stood beside Seorin, kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear while smiling cheekily. "I want you."
Seorin was speechless for a while before she aimed a kick in the direction of the scoundrel's leg.
Suddenly a little boy ran to them. "Fifth prince, mistress, the palace delivered chests to the manor."
Taehyung and Seorin returned to their chamber and they opened the chests. She was surprised and suspicious why the emperor sent chests of silk fabrics, expensive jewelry, and makeup.
Taehyung expected his father would give those kinds of gifts to Seorin. He remembered his father's embarrassment when someone insulted the way Seorin dressed. Of course his father Kim Seokjin would give Seorin beautiful clothes and jewelry to prevent other people from insulting his family members. Also for his father to fool others that Taehyung wasn't mistreated and warn other people that no one was allowed to look down on any of his own sons.
Taehyung hid his own feelings and smiled warmly at Seorin. "Imperial father loves you, you can accept his gifts."
Seorin peered closely at Taehyung's face for a while. "Orabeoni, who do you want to fool?"