In the hushed confines of the Royal Tailors, Diana stood amidst a whirlwind of fabric and thread, her mind abuzz with newfound inspiration.
"At first, I pictured a calm, simple image for the court lady's dress because of her position. And so, I focused on the basics when I made my first dress. But..." Diana trailed off, her thoughts drifting to the stirring words of Taesoo's poetry.
After hearing Taesoo's lyrics, Diana changed the course of her thoughts. Should she really focus only on the basics? Would a court lady who's worn such a simple dress for her entire life want to wear a similar outfit? After that, Diana hands moved freely without hesitation. "The rose-quartz colored top jacket with a fur-lined waistcoat and cotton-quilted socks," Diana mused, her voice tinged with excitement.
"This is giving me some nerves," she admitted, her hands trembling slightly as she surveyed her creation.
But as she nervously presented her design to the Chief Tailor and the court lady, her fears melted away in the face of their unanimous approval.
"This is lovely," the Chief Tailor remarked, his eyes alight with admiration.
"I am drawn to this dress, as well," the court lady added, her voice filled with appreciation.
In that moment, Diana realized that perhaps the old court lady deserved a colorful outfit, a departure from the calm, colorless garments she had worn her entire life. And with the Chief Tailor and the court lady both expressing their approval, Diana felt a surge of pride swell within her. For her design was not just a dress; it was a reflection of her newfound confidence and creativity, a testament to her growth as a designer in the esteemed halls of the Royal Tailors.
In the bustling corridors of the Royal Tailors, Diana's triumph echoed through the halls, eliciting awe and admiration from her fellow tailors.
"Wow, Diana! This is amazing! How did you finish the dress in one night?! Did you see Ahn and her fellows' faces? They were dumbstruck, haha," Soyong exclaimed, her eyes shining with pride.
"Actually, I'm dumbstruck at the moment. I didn't expect to be picked," Diana confessed, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"It's all because you've done well!! Hey, didn't you say you wanted to become a gold-thread tailor? I think there's a good chance you actually can!" Soyong exclaimed, her excitement contagious.
Diana's heart skipped a beat at the mention of her dream. A gold-thread tailor. A prestigious title held by only a select few members of the Royal Tailors, granting them the privilege to craft garments adorned with intricate golden threads. It was a dream she had harbored for years, and now, with today's success, it felt within reach.
"You think so??" Diana asked, her voice trembling with excitement.
Every cloud has a silver lining, right?" Diana mused, her eyes sparkling with determination.
As she stood amidst the whirl of activity in the Royal Tailors, Diana couldn't help but feel a surge of optimism coursing through her veins. Today's triumph was not just a victory; it was a stepping stone toward her ultimate goal.
But amidst the jubilation, a shadow loomed over Diana's newfound happiness.
"Sorry. You should've already guessed, but yes. It was me who tore your work," Chayeon's voice cut through the air, her tone unapologetic.
Diana's heart sank as the truth dawned on her. But before she could react, Chayeon continued, her words cutting like a knife.
"But think of it in a good way. Your design was chosen because you re-built it from the scraps. The original one looked kitsch and poor, anyways. You should thank me for giving you a chance to restart," Chayeon remarked, her voice dripping with disdain.
Diana's frustration simmered beneath the surface as she confronted Chayeon, her voice laced with icy resolve.
"Forget it. I don't want to talk to you," Diana declared, her tone clipped and final.
But before she could turn away, Chayeon's voice cut through the tension.
"Hey, wait!" Chayeon called out, her expression shifting from defiance to something resembling embarrassment.
"What?" Diana snapped, her patience wearing thin.
Chayeon rolled her eyes, a gesture that seemed to betray a hint of contrition, before mustering an awkward smile.
"Why don't you give me a chance to make up for this? I want to redeem my mistake," Chayeon suggested, her words cautious yet sincere.
"Redeem?" Diana repeated incredulously, her skepticism evident.
Chayeon pressed on, undeterred by Diana's skepticism. "Well, I recently got a great opportunity to show my talent as a tailor. And I'm letting you join my crew to share the opportunity."
Diana hesitated, weighing her options carefully. "Hmm... No thank you, I'm good," she replied, her voice tinged with suspicion.
But Chayeon was not so easily deterred. "Well, you'll change your mind once you know the deal," she insisted, her tone persuasive.
"I'm telling you. I'm better off alone. Shoo-," Diana retorted, her resolve unwavering.
"Jeez, don't be a fool and listen. You first see what this is about and then decide. I bet you'll bow to me in appreciation later on," Chayeon urged, her confidence unwavering.
With a determined gleam in her eyes, Chayeon seized Diana's arms and began to lead her away, her smile promising a revelation that would change everything.
Diana's mind reeled as Chayeon revealed the nature of their "opportunity," her words sinking in with disbelief.
"So, what you mean by this opportunity is..." Diana began, her voice trailing off as she awaited Chayeon's explanation.
"That we should have a group blind-date with handsome young masters!" Chayeon exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"...Wow. A group blind-dating...? In Chosun...??? Actually... This is something more than what I expected..." Diana murmured, her thoughts spinning with uncertainty.
Amidst her inner turmoil, Chayeon continued to regale her with tales of the eligible bachelors who would be in attendance.
"Oh my, you don't say! The handsome young lord from the Seochon is coming, too! Yes, and he's got this perfect pale face with cherry-like red lips...!" Chayeon gushed, her enthusiasm infectious.
As Diana listened to Chayeon's descriptions, a part of her couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of meeting these esteemed gentlemen.
"I... shouldn't goof around... I shouldn't, but....." Diana mused, her resolve wavering in the face of temptation.
"Oh, and what about that Lord Yoon? Everyone tells that his voice is so dreamy...! Yeah, and his face is even better than the voice!" Chayeon added, her words fueling Diana's curiosity further.
"Wow, I'd really love to see that face... I can't miss this chance, can I? Haha..." Diana chuckled nervously, her heart fluttering with anticipation.
But before she could fully indulge in her excitement, Chayeon's voice cut through her reverie.
"Hey, are you planning to wear that to the blind-date?" Chayeon asked, her tone pointed.
"Huh?" Diana replied, her gaze drifting down to her attire and then to the other girls in the room, all dressed in their finest garments.
At Chayeon's words, realization dawned on her, and without a moment's hesitation, Diana made up her mind.
"Oh... Let's go get changed!" she declared, her voice filled with determination as she prepared to embrace the unexpected adventure that lay ahead.
In the dimly lit confines of the bar room, laughter and chatter filled the air as patrons exchanged stories and jokes.
"Haha, is that really so?" one voice chimed in, followed by another's hearty agreement.
Diana sat amidst the merriment, but her mind was elsewhere, a sense of unease gnawing at her.
"Maybe there's something wrong with my vision. Or can I be dreaming at the moment...? If it's a dream... Could it be a nightmare?" Diana mused silently, her thoughts racing as she tried to make sense of the surreal situation unfolding before her.
As the laughter continued to ring out around her, Diana's attention was drawn to the man sitting across from her, his demeanor noticeably different from the rest of the revelers.
"And that face... is telling me... You're enjoying this, huh? I will tell to Lord Sung, If I'm not mistaken... Haha... ...I guess this is a nightmare, after all. If it isn't a dream, I cannot explain the coincidence of coming across with this man," Diana thought to herself, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Why is Taesoo here with me on a blind-date...?!" she wondered, her confusion mounting with each passing moment.
"Hmph," Taesoo grunted, his expression unreadable as he observed the scene before him.
Chayeon, sensing Diana's discomfort, turned to her with concern. "Hey, what's the matter with you? Are you not feeling well or something?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"Huh??? I-I-I'm okay..." Diana stammered, her facade slipping slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure.
"What is it, my lady? Is this meeting, perhaps- discomforting you? Because you look very uncomfortable in my eyes," Taesoo remarked, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with Diana.
"...Haha, not at all, young lord..." Diana replied weakly, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to conceal her growing unease.
But before she could compose herself, Chayeon's voice broke through the tension, her tone laced with suspicion.
"Something smells fishy... Do you two know each other?" she questioned, her eyes narrowing as she fixed her gaze on Diana and Taesoo.
Diana's heart raced as she processed the unexpected turn of events.
"Whhaaat?! N-no way!!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Hah?" Taesoo's response was barely a whisper, but the intensity in his gaze sent shivers down Diana's spine.
As she met his glare, a wave of uncertainty washed over her.
"Is it... really okay for me to be here....?" Diana wondered aloud, her thoughts racing as she struggled to make sense of the situation.
"He's here because of me, right? Come on! How did he know I was joining the blind-date??? And besides, why can't I? There are no rules saying that I can't! I don't see any golden threads falling from the sky right now, so I'm not in a rush!" Diana reasoned with herself, trying to quell the guilt gnawing at her conscience.
But despite her attempts to rationalize her presence, Diana couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over her. And Diana excuse herself to get some fresh air.
(Creek-)
"H-Hey, what took you so long-....?" Diana began, turning towards the source of the sound.
"Were you... waiting for me?" a voice interrupted her, causing her to freeze in surprise.
"Eh?" Diana's eyes widened in astonishment as she took in the figure standing before her.
It was him. Mr. Dreamy Voice.
"I actually followed you out, my lady," the man explained, his voice soft and gentle.
"M-me...?" Diana stammered, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Yes, I'm Chanho Yoon," he replied, a warm smile gracing his lips.
As Diana took in his kind demeanor and soothing voice, a sense of calm washed over her.
"You caught my eyes from the start and I couldn't find any reason to stay in there without you," Chanho confessed, his words sending a flutter of butterflies through Diana's stomach.
"Oh... Whoa... Haha... I see... Wow, that was unexpected and straightforward," Diana replied, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Seeing you enter the room in your white dress- my heart jumped and raced fast," Chanho continued, his gaze never leaving Diana's.
"...Oh, uh... Thank you," Diana murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she struggled to maintain her composure in the face of Chanho's unwavering gaze.
As Diana stood amidst the swirling whirlwind of emotions, uncertainty clouded her thoughts like a dense fog.
"...What is this? It's a strange feeling. Why do I want those words not from this man, but from someone else...? I couldn't tell why," Diana mused silently, her heart torn between conflicting desires.
But as her mind grappled with these inexplicable emotions, another thought pierced through the haze of confusion.
"But, oh- come on. Why isn't Taesoo coming out?? Wait... Is he not here because of me...???" Diana wondered, a pang of guilt tugging at her conscience.
Before she could dwell on these thoughts any longer, Chanho's voice broke through her reverie.
"My lady, if you have time- would you like to go with me and-" Chanho began, his words interrupted by a cold, unfamiliar voice.
"I don't think she has that time," kooju interjected, his tone cutting through the air like a knife.
"I see you just remembered your appointment with me, Lady Diana," Kooju continued, his presence commanding attention.
"Lord Kooju...! Oh, right! I totally forgot!" Diana exclaimed, her eyes widening in realization.
"Lady Diana...? What is this about? Why are you here for the blind-date if you already had an appointment?" Chanho questioned, his disappointment palpable.
"Haha... Things are getting complicated here..." Diana laughed nervously, her mind racing to find a solution to the tangled web of misunderstandings.
With a heavy heart, she led Chanho back inside the room, her thoughts consumed by the weight of her obligations. But as she turned to face Kooju, a sense of unease settled over her once more.
"...My lady, were you here to enjoy a blind-date?" Kooju's words hung in the air, his darkened gaze piercing through Diana's defenses.
"Huh? Oh, uhh..." Diana faltered, her mind racing to find an explanation for her presence in the bar room.
But before she could form a coherent response, another familiar face appeared on the scene, sending a chill down Diana's spine.
"Oh man... Am I seeing that guy right?" Diana muttered under her breath as Officer Young entered the room.
"It looks like he's searching for someone... ...Wait, me? Is he looking for me here?? What is going on today with me??" Diana thought, her heart pounding in her chest as the events of the evening unfolded before her.
"Lady Diana?" Kooju's voice broke through her thoughts, his gaze unwavering as he awaited her response.
As the tension in the bar room thickened, Diana found herself caught in the crossfire of questions and accusations.
"Uhm, Lord Kooju...? I see Officer Young's here..." Diana interjected, her voice trembling slightly as she addressed the imposing figure before her.
"Were you seeing Officer Baek here?" Kooju's response was measured, his gaze sharp as he fixed his eyes on Diana.
"N-no! This is a pure coincidence... Though it now feels like it wasn't a coincidence at all..." Diana stuttered, her mind racing to find a plausible explanation for the unexpected convergence of familiar faces.
"Lady Diana...?" Officer Young's voice broke through the tense silence, his presence adding to Diana's growing sense of unease.
"Wow, I didn't expect to see you here, Master Young... Haha... Yeah," Diana replied with a forced smile, her facade crumbling as the weight of the situation bore down on her.
Inside, she felt like crumbling. "I wanna cry now..." she thought desperately, her heart heavy with guilt and apprehension.
"My lady... Why are you in a bar room with Lord Kooju?" Officer Young's question hung in the air, his expression a mix of concern and confusion.
"Gah... I'm screwed either way, am I not?" Diana's thoughts raced as she weighed her options, knowing that any explanation she gave would only serve to fuel the flames of suspicion and mistrust.
With a heavy heart, she made her decision. Diana take Kooju and leave.
"I'm so sorry, Master Young," Diana whispered, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned away from Officer Young and headed towards the exit, her steps heavy with regret.
"Please, excuse us. Lord Kooju, let's go," she added, her voice tinged with resignation as she ushered Kooju out of the bar room.
As they stepped outside into the cool night air, Kooju's voice broke the silence that hung between them.
"Lady Diana," he began, his tone measured as he addressed her.
"It was uncomfortable with the other guys," Diana replied, her voice tinged with bitterness as she reflected on the events of the evening.
"Who do you mean, by 'other guys'? Was there any other people you knew inside the bar room?" Kooju inquired, his gaze searching Diana's face for answers.
"Yeah, well... there was young Lord Taesoo in that group blind-date thing..." Diana admitted reluctantly, her words heavy with guilt and regret.
"I see... they both should have been there in search for you," Kooju remarked, his tone betraying a hint of concern as he processed Diana's revelation.
As Diana and Kooju stepped away from the bar room, the weight of their conversation hung heavy in the air.
"I can't be sure, but I suppose they were. Jeez, they should stop treating me like a child..." Diana muttered under her breath, her frustration evident in her tone.
But then, to her surprise, she noticed a subtle smile playing at the corners of Kooju's lips.
"It's strange to see you being with those men all the time, but maybe I now understand why they always hang around with you," Kooju remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement.
"Huh? What do you mean...?" Diana questioned, her curiosity piqued by Kooju's cryptic words.
"Do you not see, Lady Diana?" Kooju replied, his gaze lingering on Diana's face as if searching for something deeper.
Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, Kooju gently took Diana's hand in his own, his touch sending a shiver down her spine.
"How can a man not notice the beauty in you, my lady?" Kooju's words were soft, almost tender, as he spoke.
Diana's heart skipped a beat at his confession, her cheeks flushing with warmth as she struggled to find the right words to respond.
"And that makes me a little longing- ...and maybe a little sullen," Kooju continued, his gaze drifting into the distance as if lost in thought.
Unable to form a coherent reply, Diana simply held onto Kooju's hand tightly, her heart heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions.
"Will a day ever come for me to stand next to you and watch out for you all the time, like how those men do for you?" Kooju's voice was tinged with longing as he spoke, his eyes searching Diana's face for reassurance.
But Diana remained silent, her mind consumed by the burden of her secrets and uncertainties.
"I'm sorry..." she whispered softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she struggled to articulate her feelings.
And as the days passed, the echoes of their conversation lingered in Diana's mind, leaving her grappling with the complexities of her emotions and the uncertainty of what the future might hold.