Since the meeting at the eastern pavilion, Eun-bi had become quieter…too quiet.
She still did her chores as usual — sweeping the garden, writing notes, helping in the kitchen.But every time Jun-yeol passed by, she pretended to be busy.And when he called her name, she always found a reason to disappear.
It was driving Jun-yeol insane.
One afternoon, the courtyard was quiet.Jun-yeol stood at a distance, watching.Eun-bi was hanging laundry near the plum tree, her hair catching the soft breeze.Every movement of hers looked ordinary — yet somehow, it made his chest ache.
He'd been patient for days, but now his patience was gone.
He walked toward her.The moment Eun-bi noticed, she stiffened.
"Ah! G-good afternoon, my lord! I— I was just heading to the kitchen!"
"Stop."His voice was calm, but firm enough to freeze her in place.
"Why have you been avoiding me lately?"
"Avoiding? No! Not at all! I've just been… busy. Yes, very busy! I even sweep while thinking about— uh— flowers!"
Jun-yeol raised a brow. "Flowers?"
"Yes! Flowers that… shouldn't bloom in winter."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
She smiled awkwardly. "Well, it means don't bother the flowers too much, or they'll freeze. You know… metaphorically."
Jun-yeol sighed. "Han Eun-bi.""Yes, my lord?""The flower you're talking about — that's yourself, isn't it?"
Eun-bi blinked, flustered. "W-What? Of course not! I'm not comparing myself to a flower! I'm not poetic enough for metaphors!"
Jun-yeol chuckled — a soft, rare laugh that escaped before he could stop it."You're terrible at lying."
She lowered her gaze. "I'm not lying… I'm just keeping my distance."
"Distance?"
"Sometimes… the closer we get, the more we stand to lose."Her voice trembled. "I don't want to be the reason you lose everything."
Jun-yeol stared at her, his expression unreadable."So Lady Im said that to you, didn't she?"
Eun-bi didn't answer — but her silence was answer enough.
He let out a long breath, then took a step closer."The world can forbid me many things. But don't ask me to stop looking at you."
"My lord…"
Another step. Closer now, close enough that she could feel his breath."I don't care what they say. What makes me lose everything… is when you're not here."
Eun-bi's heart pounded so fast it hurt."But if I stay, they'll hate you."
Jun-yeol smiled faintly. "They already do. Ever since I told the truth. So let them."
Eun-bi bit her lip, fighting a smile. "You're strange, my lord.""If being strange means being brave," he said softly, "then let me be the strangest man in Joseon."
They both fell silent —only the soft sound of wind and falling plum petals filled the space between them.
That night, Eun-bi sat in her small room, holding her wooden pen.She could still hear his voice echoing in her head:
"The world can forbid me many things. But don't ask me to stop looking at you."
She smiled faintly and wrote slowly on a torn sheet of paper:
Sometimes, distance isn't a sign of love fading —but of fear that the love has become too real for a world that pretends.
She gazed at her words for a long moment, then looked out the window.In the distance, the light in Jun-yeol's room was still glowing.And somehow, in the quiet of the night, she felt a little braver.
The next morning, Jun-yeol "happened" to walk by the kitchen — purely by coincidence, of course.When he saw Eun-bi chopping vegetables, he said calmly,
"You know, I think I've started liking flowers that bloom in winter."
Eun-bi blinked. "Why?"
"Because they're stubborn. Just like you."
She looked up, then tried to hide her smile."In that case, I hope you're ready for a whole garden full of stubborn flowers."
Jun-yeol smiled back. "I already am. I started planting them the day I met you."
Eun-bi froze — her cheeks turning red.And though the world of Joseon was still cruel and uncertain,in that quiet kitchen filled with laughter and warmth,two stubborn hearts kept learning how to love —slowly, honestly, and fearlessly.