With Eunwoo in the kitchen, Minjun opens his eyes with light tears at the corner of them. He sighs, not knowing what to make of this new Eunwoo. If Eunwoo is like the old one, then Minjun wouldn’t feel this conflicted. He’ll run away with the child. But this simply isn’t the case with the new Eunwoo.

This new Eunwoo gets angry at him but also cares for him. He apologizes and asks for forgiveness, something the old one will never do. How can Minjun act indifferently toward someone’s kindness and sincerity? 

Almost an hour later, Eunwoo comes back with food and a bowl of tonic. He lifts and lands his feet as gently as feathers, hoping to not disturb Minjun’s rest. Then he places the tray next to the bed and calls, “Wake up, Minjun. Eat something even if it’s a little so you can drink the tonic I brewed for you.”

“This subject isn’t hungry or sick. Your Highness has gone to such length for nothing,” Minjun meets the big teary eyes and softens his attitude. “This subject will eat a little.”

Eunwoo helps Minjun up, pushes his hair away, and begins feeding him small bites. And after three spoons, Minjun shakes his head, “This subject is full. Eat anymore and it will be a waste of food.”

“I don’t want there to be this distance between us.” Eunwoo places the bowl and spoons down. He leans in and touches Minjun’s lips with his, “Please…”

Minjun’s back stiffens. He wants to push Eunwoo away but his hands are restrained. His face can only blush until the point of bleeding from the embarrassment. Then he nods, and Eunwoo finally lets his hands go.

“Sorry. I'll ask for permission next time. I won’t kiss you by surprise again… Now, I want you to eat some more. It doesn’t matter if you throw it up later, I still want you to eat, okay? These foods are a waste if you don’t eat them because I made them, especially for you.”

Especially for me? Minjun is humbled by those three words. Again, it has been a long time since anyone has done anything, especially for him. Even before his elder sister married, she didn’t have the luxury to spoil Minjun. And although Minjun is a little happy, his heart feels heavy. If the new Eunwoo is like this to him every day, he wouldn’t want to leave Eunwoo when the contract ends or run away with the child. To stop thinking this way, Minjun reminds himself that the old Eunwoo is still inside this new Eunwoo. His goodness won’t last for long.

“Here, taste a piece of this grilled eel. I’m sure you’ll like it,” Eunwoo picks up a small piece and places it before Minjun’s mouth. “You don’t like eels?”

“No. This subject doesn't mind them.” Minjun answers and takes a bite. It’s savory as expected but there is an odd sweetness to the meat. Minjun looks at Eunwoo’s expecting eyes, “It’s good.”

“Good… What do you like to eat? What do you want to eat?” Eunwoo picks up the spoon again and begins feeding Minjun more porridge. 

“Your Highness needn’t worry about this subject’s appetite.”

Eunwoo puts on a smile and feeds Minjun more, no longer prying on Minjun’s opinions. Once Minjun has finished the bowl and half a grilled eel, Eunwoo offers to feed Minjun the tonic spoon by spoon. 

Not knowing how to refuse Eunwoo, Minjun complies and opens his mouth. Once he tastes the tonic, he realizes that it isn’t bitter. In fact, he has tasted this recently in the Royal Palace before moving out to the countryside with Eunwoo. 

“Ginseng?”

“Yes. I found it earlier when I went to see what type of trees and soils are here. I found a group of them, but only dig this one for you. If you feel better and need more, I’ll dig more for you.”

Minjun makes a complicated expression that Eunwoo doesn’t quite understand. He has ventured into the mountains and forests often, yet he has never found any ginseng. And yet, this Prince who never worked hard or had any interest in learning about medicine and herbs found a group of ginseng! This Prince is also using it to heal an insignificant fever which makes Minjun feel undeserving.

On the other hand, Eunwoo doesn’t know Minjun's thoughts. He is only happy to see Minjun eating food and drinking the tonic, so he continues to feed Minjun the tonic. 

After the bowl of tonic is done, Eunwoo takes the tray out to wash and eats his dinner. Then he returns and notices how much Minjun is shivering under the thin, old, and torn comforter. 

He gets in the bedding and warms Minjun with his body heat. His arms wrap around Minjun’s shoulders and hips. He leans into Minjun’s hot temple, a little scared and a little disappointed.

Much earlier that day when Eunwoo ran out with the dishes, he rubbed one and then went on a walk. He thought about his inert lust for Minjun’s body and his fatherly instincts for their unborn child, but he doesn’t have any romantic feelings for Minjun. The thought of treating Minjun well just for sex and for caring for his child makes him want to vomit. However, he cannot force the romantic feelings that he doesn’t have. 

As a result, Eunwoo is conflicted by the morals that he learned from another life that can be considered useless in this period in time. He wants to be true to both Minjun and himself. 

During the stroll, he found boulders of limestone, and below is a lake. He ran down to see if he could find clay and perhaps make cement and then concrete. Fortunately, he found the clay and eels. Eunwoo caught some eels, and on the way back he found some bird eggs and a patch of ginseng. He felt extremely lucky, perhaps even too lucky.

“Noona… Noona, it hurts a lot,” Minjun mumbles in his painful sleep, knitting his brows and pouting his lips unconsciously.

Eunwoo wipes Minjun’s bitter tears and promises, “I’ll build you a house with natural heating and cooling. I’ll never let you work when you’re sick. I’ll protect you. Get well soon, Minjun.”

In the morning when Minjun is awake, he realizes that he is wrapped in the comforter and Eunwoo is nowhere to be seen. When he rises from the gung bedding, Eunwoo slides the screen door and enters with a tray of food in his hand. 

“Good morning, Minjun,” Eunwoo smiles and places the tray beside the bed, and helps unwrap Minjun from the comforter. Then he tests the warm forehead, “How are you feeling?”

“Thirsty,” Minjun answers with a dazed face. His vision is a little blurry but he still manages to act normal.

“Drink the ginseng tea I brewed.”

Minjun opens his mouth and waits for the spoon to touch his bottom teeth. Eunwoo smiles with satisfaction and feeds Minjun wholeheartedly.

The two finished breakfast with only a few words. Eunwoo puts Minjun in bed and goes to do the dishes and his morning workout. When he has rinsed himself of sweat and dirt, he sees Minjun’s shadow haggard by the side of the house. He follows. 

Minjun is squatting with his head hung lower than his shoulders. Eunwoo approaches from behind, and as he gets closer he notices the puddle of red blood that has stained Minjun’s socks. Minjun makes a disgorging sound and at last flops over.

“Minjun!” Eunwoo catches the limped body. 

With hazy eyes, Minjun only sees the blobs that make up Eunwoo’s face before losing consciousness. 

Eunwoo’s heart quickens its pace and his arms carry Minjun back into the house. He is utterly confused as to how a cold escalated into vomiting blood! Was Minjun poisoned? But they have been eating the same food! Was the fetus causing this? 

From his memory, there isn’t a doctor in this poor village. The closest town has three doctors but is a day's journey away by foot. There are two shamans in the village, but he doesn’t know if he could trust them or if they’re willing to help. He doesn’t have any money, and the money Minjun had made is bronze coins. This degree of illness must be a few silver coins if not a few dozen!

If he digs up the ginseng, he might have enough but he can’t leave Minjun alone for that long. 

“Minjun!” The village women and second-class men call from the fence.

“Help! Help!” Eunwoo calls out to them, but they’re a little hesitant because they’re scared of Eunwoo. Yet Eunwoo keeps calling and they finally give in. 

They entered the house together, and already saw the puddle of blood near the door. They thought Minjun’s husband must’ve killed him at last. 

“Please help call the shaman over. Minjun is gravely ill. If you don’t want to help me, think of it as helping Minjun,” Eunwoo bows and surprises them all. 

They stare at one another until half of the group decides to call a shaman over and half stay to watch. Those who stay are shocked by Eunwoo’s tender care of Minjun. Was Minjun’s husband always like this? Didn’t he gamble a lot, drink a lot, and hit Minjun a lot?

It’s almost an hour later when the group that left returns with a shaman, they also bring in a larger crowd. The shaman comes in shaking his head, “Young man, your wife has angered a powerful shaman and is paying the price. He will die tomorrow morning if nothing is done.”

“Can you help him?” 

“I can but…” The shaman stretches out his hand, “I don’t know if I’m able to defeat this vengeful shaman if my spirits aren’t well fed.”

“I don’t have any money at the moment, but I will pay you back. Please help, Minjun!”

The shaman is taken aback, not wanting to help or involve himself with a powerful shaman if he isn’t paid. He responds, “My spirits must eat before they do any work. If you can’t feed them, I don’t know if I can help you.”

“So Minjun is cursed? Who did he involve himself with before entering our village? What will happen to us if the evil shaman wants to take vengeance on us for taking in this troublemaker and his husband?” 

“Then should we kick them out?”

“Minjun’s pickles are good, but the misfortunes he will bring to this village are too much! We must kick them out! The evil shaman must know we’re not on Minjun’s side!”

As the fear trickles among the villagers, Eunwoo becomes increasingly bitter and angry at himself. He is so helpless and no one is willing to help. He shouts, “Thank you for your concerns. My family would like some peace to mend our losses!”

They are startled that Eunwoo might start acting crazy and fight everyone so they leave in a rush, including the shaman. The house and front yard are quiet again.

“I must’ve been sent away and returned to save you but I am so useless, Minjun. I’m so useless. When I was sent away, I should’ve become a doctor or a nurse, but I became a physicist! I learn about the natural world and the abstract world… How is that supposed to help you?”

Minjun opens his eyes a little and stares at the existential mess beside him. Because his throat burns from all the vomiting, he only grabs Eunwoo’s hand, hoping to get the message across that he had mentally prepared for this. He knew he had a lot of enemies. His death was inevitable, only sooner or later. Perhaps his only regret is… 

Eunwoo tightens their grip and places his head lightly onto the bulging stomach. He caresses the shape, “I’m going to take you both to the town. I’ll write to my elder brother. He loves you, he will help you again. You deserve a good life with or without me.”

“By… By then, this subject would’ve already died. If Your Highness wants this subject to be alive, go look around the house and burn anything that looks suspicious. This… This isn’t the first time this subject had to deal with this.”

“Will you be alright here by yourself?” 

Minjun gives only one firm nod. 

Eunwoo cups Minjun’s face once before going out to the yard and seeking out suspicious items. He finds braided straws tied around all the entrances to the compound, failed attempts of little strawmen at the corners of the compound, and chicken blood smeared on the fences. 

After starting a bonfire to destroy them, he goes inside and checks on Minjun who sweats uncomfortably on the bed, trenching his clothes and the sheets.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Eunwoo leans in and whispers near Minjun’s ears while wiping the sweat with his sleeves. 

Minjun cracks open his bloodshot eyes to see Eunwoo’s troubled face. He raises a hand that is caught by Eunwoo’s. 

“What is it?”

The exhausted young man pulls his hand back, pats the pillow next to his head, and closes his eyes again. Eunwoo slides in beside Minjun and embraces him even though Minjun’s covered in sweat.