Another sunny morning, and another day began. The bright green grass swayed in the wind, and the chestnut trees in Yieun’s garden rustled. It was time to wake up. She was late.

Cailin aggressively washed and clothed her mistress, so she would not be late to the morning family gathering despite her late rising. Last time had earned her knees bruises from the cold marble outside her stepmother’s courtyard. 

Brisk walking from a corner of the mansion to the centre, Yieun and Cailin managed to catch a glimpse of her half-sister's back. They would be on time.

Passing through the thick wooden doors, the two sisters left their maids behind to gather with the rest of the family. This included their parents, of course, their father’s concubines and their children as well as his legitimate children. After surveying the 10 people in the room, Yieun walked to stand next to her brother. Seeing his missing daughters appear, Master Pshin gestured for everyone to get seated around the table. Master and Madam Pshin sat together at the head of the table, with legitimate children arranged in order of age on one side and illegitimate children arranged in order of age on the other. The concubines remained standing.

“Good morning, Father and Mother.”  The children greeted.

“Yes, yes. Sit down.” The six children took their seats. 

“So, how have everyone’s--?” Master Pshin was about to start the family gathering with the same sentence. 

“Father.” Jian interrupted. “Please explain the decree the Empress made yesterday.”

“What’s there to explain?” Madam Pshin replied.

Jian glared at her from the corner of his eyes. “‘The Prince of Xhirnez made excellent contributions on the battlefield and will hence be bestowed marriage with the second daughter of Deputy Chancellor Pshin.’” 

Ah. so it has already been announced? The Empress sure is fast. Yieun thought, looking down at her plate.

“And what about it? Isn’t it great that Yieun’s marriage has been finalised?” Madam Pshin countered.

“Marriage to a murd-” Jian started to sneer, but he was interrupted. 

Thump. Master Pshin’s fist banged on the table. “You will not disrespect the Imperial family in front of me.” 

Jian looked at his father. Why had he expected anything better? Dragging his chair across the floor, he left the table without touching his food. The room was enveloped in silence when his angry footsteps faded, but not for long. A lighter set of footsteps soon pitter pattered and left the room.

Chasing after her brother, Yieun brisk walked awkwardly until she could see the green colour of his robes.

“Brother.”  

Jian stopped in his tracks, his chest still heaving slightly, like a barely restrained arrow. “What?” His tone was normal, as he attempted to mask the anger in his voice. Yieun could see past his sloppy attempt to twist his facial features into being more sympathetic.

“Let it go. I’m fine with it.”

His eyebrows furrowed. “No. You shouldn’t have to be. Those bastards.”

“Brother.” 

“Come on,” Jian laughed. You just want me to let this go?”

“Yes. Everyone gets what they want, don’t they? Father gets to marry me off for political gains, our stepmother gets me married to someone she thinks I don’t want to marry and I get to marry a young person.”

“Stop. Don’t tell me… you put this idea into her head?” As Yieun’s silence admitted her guilt, Jian’s face hardened. “How could you? Am I that bad a brother?” His hands curled up into fists as he hissed.

“I wouldn’t have had to do this if you weren’t a dog that barks on Father’s orders.” Yieun muttered, just loud enough for Jian to hear, before leaving without waiting for a reply. 

The man she left behind sighed.