🌹 The Mask of Courtship
"Your Highness…" Ji‑nara's words cracked the silence. Seo Ju's foot hovered above the ground—then fell heavily as he ground to a halt. His shoulders hunched, and he blinked up into her glare, as if the world itself had leaned in.
"Did my aunt send you here to meddle?" He straightened, voice snapping like a drawn blade. At her narrowed eyes and the curl of that lip, he knew the warning in her frown was no simple protest—it was a gauntlet thrown at his feet.
"No," Ji-nara replied instantly, the word sharp and unyielding. "I snuck out."
Seo Ju blinked, his mind momentarily short-circuiting. His eyes widened slightly, then narrowed, trying to assess her. His thoughts collided, uncertainty flashing across his face.
"You what?" His voice dropped, a strange mix of disbelief and concern creeping in. "Ji-nara ya, you're of age. You can't be—"
But she didn't let him finish, her words crashing into his, rapid and reckless.
"I don't want to marry him," she spat, her lips curling with revulsion. "He's weak. I want someone like this man." She thrust her finger toward a figure in the distance, her gaze wild, full of daring intent. Seo Ju followed her motion, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Tian Ke—his presence unmistakable, fierce, and dangerous. The kind of man who would never fit into the mold Ji-nara's mother wanted.
"No." The word was firm, clipped, cutting through the tension between them. "He could be a threat." Seo Ju's voice dropped into an authoritative tone, and he took a step closer, the air thickening with his resolve. "Return home now."
But Ji-nara wasn't so easily deterred. In a swift motion, she jabbed her fist into his shoulder—enough to sting, but not to injure.
"If you tell my mother where I am, I'll expose your secret," she warned, a playful gleam in her eyes.
Seo Ju's gaze flickered, sharpening to a dangerous edge. A cold shadow passed over his features, and he stepped forward. "How dare you?"
Ji-nara didn't flinch. Her lips curled into a broader smirk, her eyes glinting with defiance. "You think they don't know, do you? The way she looks at you… If they knew who you really were, the story would change."
Seo Ju's breath caught in his throat. Her words clung to him like smoke, heavier than he wanted to admit. For a moment, his heart skipped, betraying his calm exterior. He exhaled sharply, willing himself to regain control. She couldn't see how much this cut.
"Don't test me, Ji-nara ya," he said, his voice low, dangerous, the air between them crackling with tension. She raised an eyebrow, unfazed by his warning, her smirk widening, knowing she had the upper hand for the moment.
Seo Ju's gaze hardened, but even he couldn't hide the resignation in his eyes. He exhaled sharply, frustration lining his features. "Fine. But don't let your games blind you. Someone like that could destroy you."
Her smile bloomed with satisfaction, her victory clear. "Your secret stays between us," she teased, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "But remember… I could expose you anytime." With that, she spun on her heel, striding confidently back toward the inn.
Seo Ju stood motionless for a beat, his jaw clenched as her words lingered in the air. He groaned in frustration, muttering under his breath, "I should have known you'd come here…" With a final, frustrated glance, he turned and followed her.
Seo Ju's footfalls dragged through the courtyard, each step hesitating at the edge of Ji‑nara's last words. He paused beneath a lantern, its flicker reflecting in his narrowed eyes as he clenched, then unclenched, his hand. Pride warred with something like awe, and in that silence, he realized he'd been lured into her game.
Tian Ke's gaze snapped to Seo Ju and Ji-nara as they returned. His eyes were cold, cutting through the air like sharp blades, but when they landed on Ji-nara, something softened—just the faintest hint of something resembling pity. She was a girl, after all. He scoffed quietly, his head turning with a dismissive motion.
Yun Yuhua caught the shift in the air, suppressing a laugh. She stepped toward Ji-nara, her smile effortless and warm.
"Come sit," she said with a light tone. "I'll let you taste some of the best dishes my brother has prepared."
She took Ji-nara's hand and led her to a nearby table. Seo Ju stood, watching with a faint frown as he was left behind. Ji-nara chuckled behind her sleeve, clearly enjoying the sight.
"Do you two know each other?" Ji-nara asked, her tone light, though her eyes were sharp. Yun Yuhua paused for a beat, then glanced at Seo Ju.
"No," she said, without hesitation. Seo Ju blinked. The reply caught him off guard. Ji-nara burst into laughter, amused beyond reason. Seo Ju let out a small smile, even in rejection.
"Yuyu," he said casually, his tone too familiar. "You do know me."
Yun Yuhua's heart skipped, but she quickly masked it, meeting his gaze with cold resolve. No one calls me that. It felt like an unspoken line had been crossed.
"Do not call me that," she replied, the sharpness in her voice betraying the unease she couldn't shake.
A crash shattered the tension—Tian Ke had dropped the bowl, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Yuyu?" he growled, disbelief thick in his voice. "What gives you the right to call her that name? Are you close enough?"
Yun Yuhua's chest tightened. Tian Ke... He had noticed, stepped in, but why did he always have to be this protective? The silence stretched, the weight of both their gazes on her, thick with unspoken words.
Ji-nara giggled softly into her hand, clearly delighted by the turmoil she had sparked. Yun Yuhua quickly moved to Tian Ke, gently nudging him toward the back, placing a calming hand on his chest. Qian'ai stepped forward, gripping Tian Ke's arm firmly to hold him in place.
Yun Yuhua let out a slow breath, composed herself with practiced grace, and returned to Ji-nara's side. On the outside, she appeared serene, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her true feelings.
"I apologize," she said with a small smile. "My brother can be... a bit of a handful."
Ji-nara's eyes sparkled, and she smiled warmly, her cheeks tinged pink. "I see... He's quite a good man."
Yun Yuhua chuckled softly, her voice light. "A good brother to me, indeed. As for a good man—perhaps for you, he might be."
Ji-nara's face deepened in color, her embarrassment evident as she swiftly turned away. Her hand instinctively rose to cover her face, but the warmth on her skin betrayed her. Seo Ju's eyes flicked toward her, a glint of mischief in them as he silently vowed to make her regret her flustered reaction. With a sly smile, he leaned in and casually sat beside her.
"I'm not sure this young lady is ready for a man like your brother," Seo Ju teased, his voice laced with mischief and provocation.
Yun Yuhua's eyes narrowed. "Sire," she said, calm but steely, "my brother asked you to dine elsewhere. I suggest you respect that."
Seo Ju leaned back, unbothered. "Strange, is it not? He forbade you from serving her, yet here you are, offering her the place of honor. I wonder what changed."
Yun Yuhua's frustration flickered behind her eyes. "I make my own choices. If you wish to eat in peace, stop stirring trouble."
Seo Ju's grin deepened, a spark of something darker in his gaze. "Have you told your brothers how we met?"
Yun Yuhua's breath caught. The memory rushed in—his bloodied form collapsing in front of her door, her hands trembling as she patched his wounds, both of them silent under the moonlight. Her face paled.
"It's irrelevant," she said coldly. "To barge into a lady's quarters without honor or thought—how utterly shameless of you."
A beat of stunned silence.
Ji-nara gasped. "A what?"
Qian'ai froze mid-step, a tray in hand. His head snapped toward Yun Yuhua. "Into whose room?" His voice dropped, trembling with disbelief.
When no answer came, the color drained from his face, then returned with a rush of fury. "Who was it?" he growled, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened.
From the back, Tian Ke stormed in. His presence was thunderous, his glare locked on Seo Ju. In one swift movement, he seized him by the collar and lifted him from his seat. "Say that again," he muttered, voice sharp as steel.
Seo Ju only smirked, the threat rolling off his shoulders like mist. "Careful. You might ruin dinner."
Yun Yuhua stepped back, her voice trembling. "Ke Gege… Li'ai Gege…"
Qian'ai turned to her, eyes dark with something deeper than anger—betrayal. "Why didn't you tell us?"
Her voice cracked. "He was injured… and I knew you'd hurt him. He was one of them… but he was bleeding. And I—I didn't think."
Qian'ai's breath hitched. "So?" he snapped. "He was the intruder. You let him in, you bandaged him like—" His voice broke off, rage and something unspoken choking his words. "You should've told me!"
The pain in his eyes struck harder than his anger. There was something unvoiced lingering between them—something fragile and breaking.
Seo Ju tilted his head with a mocking smile. "Had she spoken, would you have granted her leave to tend to the wounded? Or would you have finished what the blade could not?"
Qian'ai took a step forward, but Yun Yuhua threw an arm out.
"That's enough," she snapped at Seo Ju, her voice colder than it had ever been. "Say another word, and I swear I'll forget what mercy feels like."
Seo Ju simply leaned back, hands behind his head, a lazy grin playing on his lips. The storm around him didn't touch him—not yet. But for Qian'ai, the damage was already done.
Night settled over the inn like a heavy cloak. Though the lanterns glowed softly, the atmosphere remained sharp with unease. Tian Ke and Qian'ai hadn't eased up—glares flickered toward Seo Ju like arrows ready to loose. Yun Yuhua sighed quietly and clung gently to Ji-nara's arm, seeking a moment's calm. With a heavy breath, Tian Ke set a few shot glasses on the table, the wood groaning beneath his tension.
"Speak," he said, his tone clipped. "Why do you keep lurking around my sister?"
Seo Ju raised a brow, amused. He swirled the contents of his glass, then smiled as if the question were trivial. "I only thought she was... rather fascinating," he said, voice smooth as silk.
Qian'ai leaned in, sharp-eyed and scowling. "Tch. Spare us. You're after more than just polite company, aren't you?"
The smile on Seo Ju's face curled slightly, the accusation striking closer than he'd care to admit. Still, he played his part well, relaxed, almost boyish in mischief. "She is beautiful," he admitted, eyes drifting to Yun Yuhua.
Her expression soured instantly. She met his gaze not with a blush, but a glare. What is he trying to prove? The words, however smooth they sounded, felt like a challenge she wasn't ready to face. Fascinating? Beautiful? She scoffed inwardly. As if those words could mask his true intentions.
If he'd hoped to charm her, all he'd stirred was irritation.