Eunwoo makes it back to Doctor Oh’s clinic toward the end of the lunch break. In the name of sharing knowledge, he shows Doctor Oh a torch of flame from the palm of his hand. 

“I thought magic is like reading fortunes and cursing people like you said, now what’s this?” Doctor Oh presses the temples of his head, staring at the torch. “How did you do it? Teach me!”

“Shamanism is about understanding, whether that is the future, spirits, or nature. Try to figure it out now that you know it’s possible. I’ll show you if you really can’t figure it out,” Eunwoo shrugs his shoulders and makes a condescending smile while distinguishing the flame. 

Doctor Oh tries to laugh it off, “Of course, I can figure it out. It’s not like I knew what shamanism was before you told me last time… Your children already ate. Take your son home or else your wife will miss you. I have a real job and a business to run.”

Eunwoo rubs his stomach. Those shamans didn’t even offer him a meal. However, he thinks that Minjun may not have eaten yet and perhaps they could eat together. So, he goes upstairs and takes Young back to the village.

On the way home, they stop by the village chief’s house and thank them for looking after Minjun and the house. The village chief feels that Eunwoo has grown and become the man Minjun needs him to be. More importantly, he can’t wait for the reward from the King if there’s any.

When they are near their home, Young points toward the backyard. Since he is sitting on Eunwoo’s shoulders, he sees Minjun first, “Eomma is up.”

“Darling! We’re back!” Eunwoo shouts from the other side of the fence. 

Minjun looks up with blushed cheeks redder than a noble maiden sitting under the sun for an afternoon. He hangs the last of the washed garments, places the basket down, and goes toward the fence. 

He opens the gate, “Welcome home.”

“Have you had lunch?”

“No. I was waiting for you.”

“Why? Are you starving my wife and unborn child?”

Minjun glances up at Eunwoo and Young as they walk toward the house. He sighs, “I got a feeling that we could enjoy lunch together… How’s Hana—I mean Yong, how’s Yong doing? Is her wound healing?”

“Yes. Noona is doing well. She said to tell Eomma thank you.”

“Just Eomma?” 

Young goes quiet. The couple giggles. Eunwoo lets Young down and helps Minjun bring the food from the kitchen to the main room. 

After a few playful mouthfuls, Young falls asleep on Minjun’s lap. The little boy has had a long day so far. 

Eunwoo remakes the gung bedding and places Young on it. Now that the child is asleep and far away, Eunwoo takes his wife in his arms and picks up a piece of pickled wild onion for Minjun. He whispers into Minjun’s red ear, “It tastes really good. My wife is very talented.”

Minjun giggles and takes a bite.

“I want to ask… Why are you okay being called my wife and the mother of our children? You’re a man as well.”

Minjun leans back and rests his head on Eunwoo's shoulder. He stares up at Eunwoo’s face, “Anyone can see that you thoroughly enjoy being a parent. They may call you Appa now, but they’ll call you Abeoji later. I can’t possibly replace you, their father… And I don’t want to be compared to you. So, if I could live like this a hundred times, I’ll gladly be your wife and the mother of your children a hundred times.”

“May I kiss you?”

“K—Kiss? I haven’t rinsed my mouth yet.”

“I haven’t rinsed mine either.”

Eunwoo lowers his head and puts his mouth over Minjun’s mouth. Their lips brush against each other. Eunwoo drops his chopsticks and lightly rubs the round belly while slipping his tongue into a foreign mouth. 

With a sudden series of kicks from inside the belly, the two adults stop and laugh. They feel embarrassed somehow.

They finish the late lunch and do the dishes together. Afterward, Eunwoo sits under the eave in front of the main room with Minjun on his lap. They stare at the mountains and the clouds, just talking and telling each other about their thoughts.

Eunwoo takes Minjun’s hand and rubs each knuckle. It’s rough from all the years on the battlefield and hardships. He smiles and asks, “And then what happened? Did you get to see the dragon festival?”

“No. But my noona came back with hyung the following day. So his mother tried to kick my noona and me out, but father simply tied the knot for them since noona looks like my eomma… Is it weird that my hyung who I share a father married my noona who I share a mother with?”

“Sounds like he has always been her safe place,” Eunwoo lowers his face and wraps his arms around Minjun. “I’m glad that your father was able to help them get together.”

Minjun nods with a warm feeling in his heart. He catches himself and asks, “How’s the relation between you and your siblings?”

“Here, I have all the princes and princesses as siblings but I’ve never interacted with them. Not even the Eldest Prince, Sunmin, who I share the same father and mother with.” Eunwoo sighs and continues, “In the other world, I have many siblings as well. I don’t get along with them either.”

“I’m sorry. You were always alone.”

Eunwoo laughs, “I don’t mean to sound pitiful. Whether it is this world or that world, my siblings are always fighting for my biological father’s favor. I don’t understand why they make their children do that… No, I hate it. They were the ones who selfishly brought their children into this world, it is their obligation—their heavenly duty to shower their children with unconditional love. Instead, their children compete, scheme, and kill one another for their father’s bitter, shriveled, and disproportionate attention.”

“I see. No wonder you’re such a good father,” Minjun turns and hooks his arms around Eunwoo’s neck. 

“I’m not a good father. I’m trying to be one,” Eunwoo pouts. “If I ever become like that one day, you need to stop me.”

Minjun furrows his brows, “I hope that day never comes.”

“You’re pretty even when you’re confused.” Eunwoo puts a strand of stray hair behind Minjun’s ear. “I can’t fathom how lucky I am.”

“You flattered me too much,” Minjun looks away. “You make me afraid of a day when you don’t say or do these things anymore.”

“I’ll make sure that day never comes. I will never be too busy, or too tired, or too embarrassed to tell you that you’re beautiful and place a strand of hair behind your ear.”

“In broad daylight?” The village chief coughs on the other side of the fence. 

Minjun rushes to get off Eunwoo, but Eunwoo holds Minjun close to him, “Careful. You might hurt yourself.”

Eunwoo leaves Minjun under the eave and approaches the fence. They say a few greetings before the village chief announces, “Hana and Dok’s father died. According to the custom of our village, the sons will bury the father, but since neither of them is a son, they needn’t. I know they’re your children now, but for the sake of saving face, have them wear black and attend the funeral tomorrow.”

“Thank you for informing me of the formality, but village chief,” Eunwoo looks away and pretends to be conflicted.

“What is it? Tell me, Eunwoo.”

“My daughter, Yong, is wounded and is currently bedridden. My wife is pregnant and my son, Young, is young, they shouldn’t be around death. Only I can attend, what should I do?”

The village chief rubs the tip of his long beard and answers Eunwoo, “You’ve adopted them and are considered half a relative. Come with me to their funeral meeting to show your face, and show your face again on the first and last day. That should suffice and shuts any ill-willed gossip.”

“Village chief, I will only attend as a resident of this village. Yong and Young are my children. I didn’t accept them as disciples or students to be considered half a relative,” Eunwoo sighs and narrows his gaze at the elderly man.

Chills go up the village chief’s spine and the cold sweat is visible on his forehead. His stance shrinks cowardly, “For formality, Eunwoo. Yong and Young are his only offspring in this village. As their new father, try to show some respect to the man who brought them into this world and give filial piety.”

“I don’t have any respect for him. My children don’t owe him filial piety.”

The village chief gasps, he has forgotten how difficult Eunwoo is. He thought he and Eunwoo are on good terms. 

“Don’t you want your children to take care of you in the future? How can you expect filial piety from them if you can’t even give it yourself.”

“I don’t expect filial piety from my children.”

“You’re young. You won’t think like that once you get older,” the village chief laughs it off. “At least come to the funeral meeting being held right now. Just show your face this one time.”

Eunwoo only yields when the village chief makes a helpless look. He tells Minjun that he’s going to a meeting for the funeral of Yong and Young’s biological father.

“I won’t stay there long. If there is trouble, come get me, alright? Don’t fight anyone if you don’t have to.” He kisses Minjun’s forehead, “Stay safe and take care while I’m gone.”

Minjun nods and watches Eunwoo walk away with the village chief. He feels a heavy heart. 

They didn’t go to the couple’s house that they went to last time for the adoption, instead, it’s the house of the clan’s patriarch. In the village, everyone is more or less a farmer, so even the patriarch has a dark face and hands from staying out in the sun. 

At the front of the room is the patriarch of the clan and the village chief takes Eunwoo to stand at the back. This is also not the village chief’s clan, but he’s here as the head of the village. Not many notice them coming in because the new widow begs with a round body at the feet of the patriarch and elders. 

“As we said many, many times already. You have to give us the money. We can do all the organizing as his kins.”

“But I don’t have much money. If all the money goes to his funeral, how will we, his widow and son, live? As his kins, help me pay for the funeral.”

“You’re frustrating us! You sold Hana and Dok just a few days ago, we all know you have money!”

“I used it all to buy my dead husband's medicine. There’s nothing left!”

“Liar!” “Liar!”

All the men from the front to the back shout at her. She cries louder and holds her stomach with bloodshot eyes, “Baby! It’s coming!”

Women of the clan rush in to take the widow away. The widow glares at Eunwoo as she is carried out. 

Now that the widow is in labor and will be inconvenienced for a month or so, the clan leaders couldn’t possibly press her openly to give the money. Their only options are to pay it themselves and pressure her to pay it later or ask for donations from all the villagers to cover the funeral.

Neither are good options. If the widow does not remarry then they could press her over time, but if she remarried right away, then they’ll never get their money back. However, if they have to ask the rest of the villagers, their clan would be embarrassed for the end of time. Yet, a cheap funeral is not cheap.

Although many people in the room have a particular idea, only an elder is shameless enough to point at Eunwoo and ask, “You’re the one who adopted Hana and Dok, yes?”

Eunwoo takes a moment to glare at the village chief before he turns to leave.

“Wait. Why are you leaving? Aren’t you here because you felt obligated to cover Hana and Dok’s late father’s funeral?”

Eunwoo chuckles and leaves them embarrassed.