The shop wasn’t very big. Apart from the space used to display the liquor and handle transactions, the only seating area was a small spot with a table and a few chairs for receiving customers.

It was definitely not a place to eat or drink.

‘It’s definitely not a tavern.’

“When do you plan to open for business?”

“Next week. The liquor jars I ordered haven’t arrived yet, so as soon as they do I’ll fill them and start selling.”

“Where did you order the jars from?”

“Akyang.”

Woo-hye smiled slightly, amused.

‘At this rate, the shop might go under in a month.’

The lifespan of San-gyeong’s shop had just been shortened by another month.

“How about ordering from a workshop here in Doha next time? I hear there’s a skilled potter in town.”

In the end, she couldn’t resist offering some advice.

Woo-hye immediately regretted offering such uncharacteristic kindness.

‘Let’s just say it’s a repayment for the dumplings… and for the help he gave me earlier.’

Since she owed him a favour, a little advice seemed reasonable. Not that it would change the doomed fate of the shop.

Now that she had opened her mouth, she decided to extend her generosity a little further.

“And if you’re going to make brewed liquor, it might be a good idea to make something that reflects the local flavour, since it’s going to be sold in Doha. Like Doha-ju, for example.”

It was Yukho who answered.

“Do you have any ideas?”

Woo-hye smiled shyly.

“No, nothing like that. Just a random thought from someone who doesn’t know much.”

In truth, she did have a product idea in mind, but she chose not to mention it.

San-gyeong watched her with a curious expression. He could feel that she really wanted to help him.

‘She doesn’t seem like the type to trust people easily…’

Then again, she didn’t seem particularly shy.

He had thought she was only warm to those close to her, but hadn’t she smiled just as brightly at the friendly Iho?

‘The more she lets her guard down, the better.’

San-gyeong spoke up.

“Thank you for telling me. From now on, I’ll buy the liquor jars from the potter in Doha.”

“I’m glad if it was helpful.”

Woo-hye was about to change the subject. Then she suddenly remembered Iho’s words.

“Have you had lunch?”

“I have.”

“Oh.”

‘That’s not what you said, Iho.’

He had definitely told her that San-gyeong skipped meals at work. Was that a lie?

She didn’t know why, but Iho had always been kind to her. Maybe he just wanted the master he served to get along with her.

Woo-hye chose to understand it that way and let it go.

“What about you, Lady Dan? Have you eaten? You seem to skip meals a lot.”

“I’ve been eating well lately.”

San-gyeong looked at Hyang-eum who was standing next to Woo-hye.

Hyang-eum shook her head firmly.

“So that’s a no.”

“Hyang-eum.”

“I said nothing, my lady.”

Woo-hye pouted slightly.

Hyang-eum, who had initially been strongly opposed to the marriage, now seemed to have softened towards this new member of the household.

This left Woo-hye with mixed feelings.

She still wasn’t sure whether she liked it or not.

The unfamiliar feeling didn’t sit well with her.

Just then, San-gyeong got up from his seat and noticed that Woo-hye was fidgeting with her hands and adjusting her clothes.

“That’s enough for today. Everyone go home.”

“Yes, Master!”

They rode home in the same carriage.

As before, San-gyeong lifted Woo-hye into the carriage and helped her off when they arrived.

As they walked, she took his arm instead of Hyang-eum’s.

‘Will it always be like this when I’m with him?’

It hadn’t been long since they had met, but already unspoken habits were forming between them.

Even though it hadn’t been long since she’d met him, there was already an unspoken rule between them.

‘This will become a bad habit.’

And there was something else she realised – San-gyeong was much stronger than she had imagined.

Iho had also lifted and moved her easily, but San-gyeong was on a completely different level.

When he held her, it didn’t feel like he was carrying something heavy. It didn’t even seem like he was using much strength in his arms to hold her.

Woo-hye subtly moved the hand that was wrapped around San-gyeong’s arm. His arm was definitely thick.

‘How monstrous is his body? He doesn’t look overly muscular. I guess there really are some people who are just born strong, regardless of their physique.’

She didn’t have to look far for an example – there was Hyang-eum.

Although Hyang-eum was quite tall, she was as slim as Woo-hye, mainly because she was physically active.

As a result, she had well-developed lean muscles, and her grip strength in particular was incredible.

If someone was grabbed by Hyang-eum’s collar, it wasn’t easy to escape.

‘Is this man the same? He appears to be broad-shouldered, but not exactly stocky. Hyang-eum also said he was slender when I asked.’

To really judge someone, you had to feel with your hands.

It was the first time Woo-hye felt like touching him.

“…!”

The darkness began to lift. Light seeped into the pitch-black world.

As if to celebrate the moment, a brilliant display of light and red filled her vision – colours she could see most vividly.

It was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen with her eyes.

As Woo-hye stood there dazed, San-gyeong looked at her curiously.

“What’s wrong?”

“How does this place look to you, my lord?”

Although the question came out of nowhere, San-gyeong followed her gaze and checked the view before answering.

“There are red cloths hanging from the entrance all the way inside. There are also red lanterns hanging from the main building.”

Woo-hye smiled as she imagined the interior.

“It must look very auspicious.”

At these words, San-gyeong took another look at the scene in front of them.

Perhaps because Iho had put so much care into this wedding – more than anyone else – the whole atmosphere exuded the feeling that a joyous occasion was near.

“If only I could see it properly. It’s a shame. Red is actually my favourite colour.”

“I see.”

Woo-hye could tell from his voice that he didn’t quite agree.

“So it’s not your favourite, is it, my lord?”

San-gyeong looked at her in silence.

“You don’t like the colour red?”

“I…”

“Young lady!”

Just then, a maid came running towards them with a panicked expression on her face.

“What is it?”

“There’s been a disaster. The wedding dress is torn!”

Hyang-eum jumped up in alarm.

“The wedding dress was hanging in your room – how could it be torn?”

“I went in to clean the room and there was a woman trying it on. We struggled over it and… it tore.”

There was only one person in the household who would dare to steal the wedding dress.

“That wretch Choeul, how dare she!”

“How did you know? She introduced herself as Lady Gye’s daughter, Choeul”

Woo-hye smiled inwardly.

‘I knew it. I thought that if I left the dress outside, Choeul would try it on.’

Her prediction had been correct. The trap had worked perfectly.

“And where is Choeul now?”

“We have her tied up in the room.”

Woo-hye released San-gyeong’s arm and bowed politely.

“Something has come up. I must take my leave, my lord.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

She was already in his debt once for the Seok Cheol-won matter. Woo-hye didn’t like the idea of constantly getting help from someone she still couldn’t fully trust.

She was afraid that she might start to rely on him without even realising it.

“It is all right. This is a household matter and it’s only right that I deal with it myself. Please go inside.”

With these words, Woo-hye turned and headed straight for the room.

The closer she got, the louder Choeul’s screams became.

“You idiots! Let go of me right now!”

When the door opened, Choeul was thrashing around on the floor, dressed as if she was about to walk down the aisle.

Woo-hye looked down coldly at the bright red figure writhing on the floor.

“It’s been a while, Choeul.”

“Ah, my lady.”

Moments ago, Choeul had thrown a wild tantrum, but at the sight of Woo-hye, she immediately calmed down.

She knew very well that she was at a disadvantage.

Without saying a word, Woo-hye walked over and sat down in a chair, her expression icy.

“Hyang-eum, see how badly that dress is torn.”

“Yes, my lady.”

With a sharp look, Hyang-eum inspected the bridal gown.

The sleeves were torn, the skirt was crumpled and several of the fastenings had been torn off.

It was a complete mess.

“What are we going to do?”

Hyang-eum was beside herself with frustration as she realised the dress was beyond repair.

“I only tried it on to see how it looked! I have a similar figure to the lady, don’t I?”

At this pathetic excuse, Hyang-eum’s eyes flared with fury.

“You shameless wench. And what about the lady’s hair ornaments – why did you wear them, too, if you were just checking the fit?”

Hyang-eum yanked the ornament from Choeul’s head as if she wanted to tear her hair out with it.

“Ahh! Are you crazy?! Let go of me!”

At that moment, the door burst open and Nanny Gye rushed in, her face pale with panic.

“Choeul! Let her go at once! How dare you touch my daughter?”

“Why don’t you look at what your daughter has done before you start screaming?”

The room instantly turned into complete chaos, filled with screams and yells.