Author's Note: I don't own anything! So don't sue me :P

Thanks for reading!

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Prologue: Into the Stormy Night

It became a stormy night when the wedding ceremony concluded. The massive percussion band rushed for the storage house, putting away their instruments and dashing back home. The red palanquin sat idly in front of the So Residence, the wooden frame gathering raindrops from the sky.

The maids poured out of the bridal suite one by one, each carrying an empty tray as they ran for cover. The contents on the trays – the fruits, various snacks, and alcohol – were left for the newlywed to share on their first night together.

Through the opened windows made of wood and paper he saw their shadows, laughing and talking at first, but slowly the shadows met. He then folded the windows closed; he couldn't bear to watch the woman he loved become one with his brother.

His fist found the flat surface of the ebony table, creating loud thuds to release his inner frustration, but it only added more pains to his body. The pounding continued for a few more seconds, and when the blood marks surfaced on his fist, he was forced to stop.

His right eye twitched uncontrollably, threatening him with the imminent tears from gracing their presence upon his fair skin, and he narrowed his eyes to prevent the water gates from opening. The effort was wasted as two streaks of tears ran down his cheek and onto the concrete floor, mirroring the clapping of raindrops outside.

He gritted his teeth harshly with the intense urge to kill, but he was helpless. He was the pathetic younger brother crying about his brother's wife in the darkest of the night. The thought of his weakness sickened him; he would become a man in the upcoming year but still clung onto his childish weeping ways.

No, I must man up, he thought to himself, but he didn't know which method to proceed with.

The temptation overwhelmed him, and he found himself peeking through the cracks of the window at his brother's room. The candlelight had been blown out, which could only mean one thing. All of his emotions – the hatred, envy, and disappointment drowned him at once, sucking him into an inevitable riptide that he could not escape.

If my brother is sleeping within the embrace of a woman tonight, then I will do the same. He didn't care how immature his thoughts were as long as he did everything his brother had done. A dark tingle in his heart told him that he will show the life his brother could have had and make him regret everyday for marrying the woman he loved.

"Pangja," he called out, his voice adamant as ever. A small statured man entered the room and bowed.

"Yes Master Yi Jeong, how may I serve you?"

"Prepare me a palanquin, I am going out."

"Yes Master."

Yi Jeong gazed through the slight opening of his palanquin curtains, blown open by the wind. Most of the stores had closed down for the night, but there was a place that thrived the most in the depth of the night. He had heard from his friends about this special gisaeng house, Mae hwa Loo that attracted even the most prestigious yangbans. He always thought he was above this type of entertainment, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

The moment he stepped over the threshold, the strong fragrance of flowers and alcohol permeated his senses. He coughed a little and took shallower breaths for his body to adjust to the new atmosphere. All over the house were the rich and powerful men of different ages, spanning from teens to men whom Yi Jeong thought should stay away from rigorous activity.

Most of the women were average looking, but hidden behind the thick makeup made them look at least ten years older. He wouldn't want an impure woman for his first time, but would he find what he was seeking for in a gisaeng house?

He approached the counter quickly, shielding his face under his hat as much as possible.

"Oh, what a handsome young master!" the haengsoo of the house exclaimed, her breath impregnated with a strong odor of alcohol. "Looking for a pretty lady for tonight?"

"Um, get me a virgin, and I'll pay whatever price you have."

The lady paused for a moment and called one of the older looking gisaengs from the side.

"Do we still have virgins here? Madam Jun Hee wanted me to cover for her for a few nights but didn't give me the stats on anyone!"

The gisaeng whispered something in the haengsoo's ear, her face showing a bit of uncertainty.

"Oh what the heck, how much are you willing to pay, dolyeonnim?"

Yi Jeong handed the haengsoo a heavy wool bag. She squinted one eye and peered into the small opening of the bag, and a big smile formed.

"Hey you, bring this young master to our Flower Suite and make sure to serve him plenty of alcohol," she commanded with a grin, proceeded with a big burp.

Yi Jeong discreetly plugged his nose with his thumb and index finger, and followed the waiter up the wooden steps.

Yi Jeong sat on the bed, enclosed by a maroon wooden frame with silk white curtains dangling on the side. His heart was beating twice its normal speed, and he felt like it was going to jump out at him at any moment. This wasn't his style, but it was too late to turn back now.

It had been at least 20 minutes since he made his request and the anticipation was killing him. He wondered why it was taking so long. The drumming in his ears increased when he heard the creaking from the door, followed by a young maiden entering the room.

Her eyes were puffy, obviously from crying for a while. There was something different about her. She didn't wear thick makeup nor smelled like alcohol. Her petite face was hidden under a thin layer of cream colored powder, and her cheeks had a light rosy tint. Her lips were red, but there were dark spots from where she gnawed with her teeth.

The door closed behind the maiden, and a click from the lock was heard. She didn't dare to look at Yi Jeong, nor step away from her spot. Watching her innocent stature eased Yi Jeong's nerves a little, and he managed to regain some of his speech.

"What is your name?" he asked calmly despite the thumping of his chest.

"Chu Ga Eul."