The horse came to a stop in front of the grand residence of General Lee. As the dust settled, Lee Seo Jin dismounted gracefully and extended his hand towards Ae-Ra. “Hold this,” he said softly.

Ae-Ra hesitated but eventually placed her hand in his. His grip was firm yet gentle, and without a word, he wrapped an arm around her waist to lift her from the horse and place her gently on the ground. The Royal Guard swiftly led the horse away, leaving the two standing before the entrance of his imposing residence.

Lee Seo Jin guided her towards the entrance, but Ae-Ra suddenly halted. "What happened?" he asked, sensing her reluctance.

She bit her lip and looked down. "Why did General Lee free me from the Kisaeng's house? If you want me to provide any kind of—"

Seo Jin silenced her with a finger pressed gently to her lips, his gaze intense. “Why don’t we discuss that inside?”

Ae-Ra’s brows furrowed in confusion. She noticed the Royal Guards glancing at them, and in the courtyard, a few servants were curiously watching the exchange. Embarrassed, she lowered her eyes and nodded silently.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Seo Jin’s lips as he led her inside. His residence was vast and meticulously decorated, a place fitting for the general of this great kingdom. As they walked through the halls, a chain of servants followed them, trailing at a respectful distance.

Lee Seo Jin took Ae-Ra directly to his personal chambers. The servants stood lined up outside, except for one man—Seo Jin’s trusted assistant, Dong-Sun.

"Dong-Sun," Seo Jin called, his gaze never leaving Ae-Ra. "Prepare a rose-scented bath for Miss Ae-Ra. Also, arrange a chamber for her and assign a personal maid to attend to her needs."

Dong-Sun bowed deeply. "Yes, General," he said and hurried off to carry out the orders.

Ae-Ra lifted her head and met Lee Seo Jin's piercing gaze. "Why did General Lee lie in front of everyone? Does General Lee have some hidden motives?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Lee Seo Jin mused at her query. "What hidden motives could a general possibly have? And why would I lie?" he asked, moving toward the seating area near the window. He sat down, gesturing for her to sit across from him.

"I do not dare to sit at the same level as General Lee," Ae-Ra responded with a respectful bow of her head.

"Nonsense, come and sit beside me, if you won’t sit across from me, but do come sit," Lee Seo Jin said softly.

Ae-Ra’s gaze flickered with unease. She wasn’t frightened, but the circumstances made her feel unbalanced. She was nervous—after all, it wasn’t every day the most powerful General rescued a Kisaeng and claimed her as his woman.

Seo Jin absentmindedly twisted the ring around his middle finger, a subtle sign of his contemplation. "You are the first person to make me wait for so long," he remarked, his tone carrying a trace of humor.

Ae-Ra, unable to defy him completely, sat down on the floor instead of the chair near the window. Her long skirt fanned out gracefully around her as she lowered her head, her hands resting gently in her lap.

"I am not someone who can sit beside General Lee," she said humbly. "I would like to know why General Lee saved me. Does he want me to serve the men in the military?" She paused, her tone becoming more resolute. "If that is your intention, I must refuse. General Lee can send me back to Kisaeng's House."

Her words, though respectful, held a boldness that not many dared show before the general. Lee Seo Jin’s eyes gleamed slightly, but a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"You misunderstand me," he said. "I did not save you to throw you into the same chains you just escaped from. You are no longer bound to that life. You are free now, and you belong to no one, but yourself," he pointed the finger at her.

She looked up, surprised by his words, unsure of what to believe.

"Ae-Ra, you are the only one who can sit beside me," Lee Seo Jin declared, his voice unwavering. "You are not here to serve anyone, not even me. Instead, you will be my wife. I like you."

Ae-Ra's head lifted slowly, her eyes widening in disbelief. She blinked, as if trying to confirm that she had heard him correctly. In all her life, not once had she imagined being the object of someone's affection—let alone someone like General Lee.

The very idea seemed impossible, a thought so far removed from her reality that it left her stunned. Her time in the Kisaeng house had shown her how men, especially those of high status, treated women. Love was never a part of that equation.

Lee Seo Jin rose from his seat, his gaze never leaving hers as he moved toward her. He lowered himself to his knees before her, a gesture that made her breath hitch. "Now, we are at the same level, Ae-Ra," he said gently, his eyes soft, but resolute. "Take my hand, and trust me. I will honor you. I will cherish you. I will keep you above all else."

Ae-Ra’s mind raced, confusion clouding her thoughts. "Why would General Lee want to marry someone like me? A Kisaeng?" Her words were laced with doubt. "Is it out of pity for my situation? Please forgive me, but I cannot marry you."

Her rejection was firm, but the pain behind it was evident. She couldn't bring herself to believe that someone of Lee Seo Jin’s standing would genuinely want her. Her life had been shaped by hardship and the cruel reality of her status.

"You are different, Ae-Ra," Lee Seo Jin continued. "You lived in a place where nothing existed but orders to follow, yet you remained resilient, untouched in spirit. That’s how you captured my heart. Whether you're a Kisaeng or not means nothing to me."

Ae-Ra shook her head. "General Lee, I don’t want to marry you. In fact, I do not want to marry anyone."

Lee Seo Jin's eyes softened, yet he remained unfazed. "Do you know the meaning of your name?" he asked, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear before pulling his hand back.

Ae-Ra blinked, taken aback by his question and even the gesture. She shook her head slowly, a frown creasing her forehead. "No...I don’t."

"Ae-Ra means 'Love'," Seo Jin revealed, his gaze locked onto hers. The weight of his words made her heart skip a beat.

"How could my mother give me such a name?" she murmured, a bitter chuckle escaping her lips. "The word 'Love' has never existed in my life."

"Are you so certain that love never existed in your life?" Seo Jin questioned.

"Yes, General Lee," Ae-Ra replied, her voice breaking slightly. Memories of her past resurfaced, clouding her thoughts with pain. Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she added, "I do not trust men."

Lee Seo Jin leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "What about me?" he asked. "Do you trust me?"

Ae-Ra, without hesitation, responded, "I do not trust General Lee either."

Lee Seo Jin remained silent for a moment before speaking finally, "Ae-Ra, not every man is the same. If I were like the others, you would have been in my bed by now."