Suspicion lingered in the air like a heavy fog, swirling around us in the Hanbok Atelier. Diana couldn't shake the disbelief clawing at her mind. "Is this true...? I'm in Chosun? Hanyang, the central city of Chosun?" Her voice trembled with uncertainty, grappling with the incomprehensible reality.
Sung, his demeanor calm yet questioning, tried to ground her frantic thoughts. "Lady...?" he began, his voice a soothing anchor in the tempest of Diana's confusion.
But she couldn't contain her turmoil, her words tumbling out like disjointed pieces of a shattered puzzle. "This can't be a dream, nor an abduction, nor a prank show....!" Her mind raced, trying to find a logical explanation for the impossible situation she found herself in.
Sung, ever patient, reached out to steady her trembling form. "My lady, please look at me," he implored, his touch gentle yet firm.
Diana's eyes darted nervously, her thoughts a whirlwind of disbelief and fear. "Did I really travel in time to-" she began, her voice trailing off as Sung interrupted her train of thought.
"My lady," Sung's voice cut through her frantic musings, his gaze steady upon her. "Is there a problem?"
"P-problem, you say...?" Diana stammered, her mind still reeling from the shock of it all. "There's a lot of problems here...I've got about 99 problems so I don't even know where to start...! But you should worry about yourself, mister! Your arms...! What about your arms?!"
Then, to her surprise, Sung's stoic facade shattered, replaced by hearty laughter that echoed through the atelier, momentarily lifting the heavy weight of uncertainty from Diana's shoulders.
"Wow, you ask me about my arm now? How fast," Sung remarked, his voice tinged with a blend of amusement and suspicion.
Diana's breath hitched as she replied, "...Ughh- it's not fair to charm me with that smile..."
Sung's gaze bore into her, his expression unreadable. "Can you perhaps prepare some clean water to wash the blood, some cloth and herbs to stop the bleeding for now? My man, Young, is in a much worse situation than me. He needs immediate treatment."
"Oh, okay... Water, cloth, herbs- got it," Diana stammered, her mind racing as she hurriedly dashed into the depths of the workshop towards her room.
As she rummaged through her belongings, the urgency of the situation weighed heavily on her. "Water... I know I have a bottled water somewhere... Ah, there you are! And... the disinfectant! And... some styptic and a clean cloth....?" Her hands trembled as she gathered the essentials.
Then, amidst the chaos, a pile of rolled silk caught her eye, its delicate fibers whispering secrets of their own.
"Here are the things you asked for!!" Diana exclaimed upon returning, her voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.
Sung's eyes narrowed as he inspected the items before him. "...May I ask what these are...?"
Confusion clouded Diana's features. "Huh? The things you asked."
Sung's lips curved into a knowing smile. "I asked...?"
"But you can't know, can you...?" Diana trailed off, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation.
The bottled water and medicines lay before Sung, a stark reminder of the unexpected turn their encounter had taken. Diana's heart raced as she contemplated her next move. Should she trust this man, this stranger, with the care of the injured one?
"Please just lend me a hand. I'll tell you what to do!" Diana urged, desperation creeping into her voice.
Sung hesitated, his gaze flickering between Diana and the wounded man. "But how can I let a lady like you-"
"Quick! We don't have much time!" Diana interjected, her urgency cutting through his protest.
With a reluctant nod, Sung yielded to her command. "...Shall I take his clothes off first?"
"Yes! Ugh... This blood smell... First, I should wash them off," Diana replied, her voice strained with both disgust and determination.
As Sung began to assist, Young's pained groans filled the air, a grim reminder of the gravity of their situation.
"Thank goodness... It seems like the cut isn't as deep as I was worried. Now, you should clean the wound with this cloth," Diana instructed, her hands trembling slightly as she handed Sung a silk cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol.
Sung wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Ugh-! What is this...?"
Diana's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Well, that's a rubbing-... ...No, I mean- That's... a type of alcohol, used only for treatment purposes. It helps to clear out the cut. I-I use it all the time! Haha..." Her laughter sounded forced, a feeble attempt to mask her unease.
Sung eyed the powder in Diana's hand with skepticism. "This is a liquor?"
Diana's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Yes...! S-so, this is how you do it..."
Taking his hand, Diana guided Sung through the process of cleaning the wound. Though he initially hesitated, Sung soon followed her lead, his gaze lingering on her with a mix of curiosity and gratitude.
"Now, I'm going to smudge this on to this stab..." Diana muttered to herself, her mind racing for an explanation. "Well... this is a powder made from some dried herbs. This will help the bleeding to stop completely."
Sung's eyes widened in realization. "You carry many valuable possessions, my lady. And using this top-rating silk to clean a wounded man's stab..."
Diana laughed nervously, attempting to deflect his observation. "Uh- hahah... It seems like we're about done...!"
"Oh, is that so? Thank you for your kindness and all the help you provided us, my lady," Sung remarked, his tone sincere.
Diana is from a another country so she made herself a surname
"It's not 'my lady.' I'm Diana Han ," she corrected him, her voice soft yet firm.
"Huh...?" Sung's brows furrowed in confusion.
"That is my name," Diana clarified, a hint of awkwardness creeping into the conversation.
As silence settled between them, Diana pressed on, eager to break the tension. "Khm, what about you? What's your name?"
Sung hesitated, his gaze searching hers for any hint of deception. Could he truly trust her? Despite his suspicions, something about Diana's earnest demeanor tugged at his heartstrings.
"...My name?" Sung murmured, his mind racing through a maze of uncertainties. A lavish mansion, mysterious objects, and a woman dressed in finery beyond compare—all signs pointed to danger. And yet, as he studied Diana's face, he found no trace of malice. Perhaps, just perhaps, she was not his enemy.
Taking a deep breath, Sung finally spoke, his voice filled with quiet resolve. "My name is Sung."
Diana chuckled, breaking the tension that lingered in the air. "Ooo- that's a short name."
Sung's lips twitched into a faint smile. "...Yes, I've noticed."
"Well, and the man lying down- he's mister Young, right?" Diana inquired, her mind racing with questions about their identities and status.
They both seem to be in an upper echelon... So I call them master, sir, or somewhere in that line, right?
"Yes, his name is Young Baek," Sung confirmed, his tone tinged with a hint of weariness.
"Now, it's your turn, young master Sung Lee. Sit down and show me your arm," Diana commanded, her voice firm but gentle.
"Oh, I'm good," Sung protested weakly, attempting to evade her scrutiny.
"I told you to sit!" Diana insisted, seizing his arm and pulling him down with a bit more force than intended.
"Ouch...! Was that on purpose?" Sung winced, rubbing his arm where Diana had tugged.
"Oops... Sorry. Why didn't you sit in the first place? Then I wouldn't have done it," Diana retorted, a sheepish grin tugging at her lips.
Rolling up his sleeve, Sung offered a scoff laced with amusement. He knows that his smile has some effect on her. He probably used that smile to pick up Hanyang ladies. Diana start treating Sung's wound as she did for Young.
"Hmmmm... Thank you for staying still-But you should stop staring at me so intensely..." Diana began, her voice trailing off as she caught Sung's intense gaze.
This young master is leaning his chin on his free hand and gazing intensely into her face. And he crescents his eyes every time she meet his eyes... she feel awkward.
"...Doesn't it hurt?" Diana finally managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's painful, of course," Sung replied, his tone softening as he met her gaze with a mixture of pain and admiration.
Diana arched an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued by Sung's stoic demeanor. "Then why don't you show you're in pain?"
"Showing my pain does not ease it. Thus, I see no point in showing it," Sung replied, his tone matter-of-fact.
Diana couldn't help but chuckle. "Makes sense, but sounds like a smarty-pants."
As their conversation ebbed and flowed, a sudden noise interrupted their exchange. Wooden sticks clacked together from somewhere outside, followed by the deep resonance of a loud bell.
"Huh...?" Diana's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Is it past the curfew hours already?" Sung's voice held a note of concern.
"Curfew...?" Diana echoed, her mind racing to grasp the implications of the unfamiliar term.
"Young, you must get up now," Sung commanded, his voice firm yet gentle.
"I- Ooff-..." Young attempted to rise, his efforts hindered by his injuries.
"Shh!" Sung silenced him with a stern glance.
"...Forgive me, my lord," Young murmured, his voice laced with deference.
"Do you think you can move?" Sung inquired, his gaze fixed on Young's face.
"Yes, sir. But who mended-..." Young's words trailed off as his eyes fell upon the silk wrapping his wounded body.
Sung nodded towards Diana. "This lady here cleaned and treated your wound herself."
"You mean... With her own hands...?" Young's disbelief was palpable.
"Yeah, why do you look so shocked?" Diana quipped, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Sung's laughter filled the room, a rich sound that echoed off the walls. "Ah, you are somewhat in trouble now, Lady Diana."
"Huh? What kind of trouble...?" Diana's brow furrowed in confusion.
"My fair man here, Young, is a man who honors his chastity," Sung explained, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"Sorry...?" Diana's confusion only deepened, unsure of the implications of Sung's words.
"They are the old people, Diana..." she muttered to herself, her thoughts scattered by the remnants of the encounter.
"Khm...! Young lord, we need to hurry back," Young's voice broke through her reverie, snapping her back to the present.
"You're right. We should get going. My lady, I will send someone by the morning or visit you myself around this time tomorrow. As you may expect, I have many to give you as my gratitude for your kindness. Consider almost any of your requests granted," Sung declared with a flourish, his words tinged with an air of nobility.
Diana couldn't help but roll her eyes. "...Wow, is he bragging about his wealth now?"
"Then, hope you have a good night," Sung bid her farewell before departing, leaving Diana to ponder the strange events of the evening.
As the wooden gate closed behind them with a thud, and the distant crow of a rooster heralded the dawn, Diana's mind raced with unanswered questions.
"But wait... How will I go back to Seoul in my time...?" she mused aloud, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Her thoughts turned to the events of the night, searching for clues amidst the chaos of her mind.
"And after Mina left.... Oh! ... The luckycatcher fell from the door. And I tied it back up with my bracelet of Life and Fate! And when I met Sung, his cord tied around his robe was sparkling exceptionally bright for some reason... Gee- there's too many things to suspect about..."
Just as she began to piece together the fragments of her memories, the front gate creaked open, and Mina's voice cut through the silence.
"Huh? You're up early, miss Diana. I was dropping by to check on something-"
"Mina...?" Diana's voice wavered with uncertainty.
"Yes? Gosh, you look so pale, miss," Mina observed, concern etched into her features.
"...Wait. Am I-...?" Diana's voice trailed off as realization dawned upon her.
A lingering smoky scent of car exhaust- with the firm and rough blacktop road under my feet. A night view with building lights instead of stars.
"Oh... What the...?" Diana's breath caught in her throat as she pieced together her surroundings.
"I- is that really true?!" Mina's voice echoed with disbelief.
"Yeah, why would I make up such a story? But... I know it's hard to believe. I can't believe it myself!" Diana exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Well... I've never seen you so pale and absent that I was ready to confront anything you say but this- is a bit.... Well, shocking... Traveling back in time... To Chosun..." Mina's words trailed off, her expression a mixture of awe and disbelief.
Today, Diana gazed out the whole morning even after the atelier was open and running. Mina took her to the back of the workshop and asked what happened, and here she was, telling her friend the unbelievable story.
"So, what you're saying is that you traveled back in time to Chosun last night-" Mina began, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yeah, who could've thought? I thought those only happen in Sci-Fi movies," Diana replied, her voice tinged with wonder.
"-and you met these smoking hot gents," Mina interjected, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Yeah, those smoking hot- H-hey, why should you skip everything in between and jump to there?" Diana protested, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.
"But what's more important than that? I want you to describe their handsome looks as detailed as possible. I'll believe your words then!" Mina insisted, a grin spreading across her face.
Mina seized upon the opportunity to indulge her curiosity about Diana's encounter with Sung, eager for every detail of the mysterious man.
"Gosh, stop talking about Hanbok!! I know you love them- but I want more description of da man!!" Mina demanded, her eyes wide with anticipation.
Diana couldn't help but chuckle at her friend's enthusiasm, her mind drifting back to the image of Sung's handsome face.
"Most critically- The moment when the gate doors were open and his white and firm hands covering my mouth. His dark brown eyes sparkling under the silk lantern. And underneath this hat was...the sweats that makes him look-" Diana trailed off, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Eww? Sweats?" Mina wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Oh, n-no, I mean-Those... made him look somewhat vulnerable and sexy..." Diana stumbled over her words, desperately trying to salvage the image of Sung in her friend's mind.
"Yikes, stop blushing your face, Diana...! Arrrgh, why would any of that matter now?!" Diana scolded herself, attempting to regain her composure.
"Come on... You got to see this handsome and tall gent from the past...!!!" Mina teased, a playful glint in her eye.
"Jeez, yes- the man was smoking hot, tall with great features!! Happy, Mina?!" Diana retorted, her cheeks still tinged with embarrassment.
"Ahaha, alright, alright! I'll stop pulling your leg. But will it happen again tonight, you reckon? The time traveling!" Mina inquired, her excitement palpable.
"...Well, who knows? But what if it really does happen again? Then what?" Diana pondered aloud, her thoughts drifting to the possibilities of another journey through time.
"Then you should say thank you to whoever sent you back in time!" Mina suggested, her voice filled with optimism.
"Ugh, if you want to meet hot ancient guys, why don't you go yourself?" Diana teased, a smirk playing at her lips.
"No, think about it! If you go back in time, you have a chance to actually learn the needlework of Chosun directly! And that's your dream come true! To learn about the old and finest needlework skills and to be designated as the global needlework master!" Mina exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.
Diana couldn't help but smile at her friend's enthusiasm, her mind buzzing with the possibilities of what the future—or perhaps, the past—might hold.
Diana's mind raced with excitement at the prospect of learning the ancient art of Chosun's needlework, a dream that seemed within reach with Sung's potential assistance.
"What if I ask him to teach me the best needlework skills in Chosun...?" Diana mused aloud, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Mina's eyes widened in realization. "...You little devil-!!!! Gosh, you're a genius!! Woah, miss-!!!" she exclaimed, her excitement matching Diana's.
In a burst of elation, Diana enveloped her friend in a tight embrace, the two of them jumping up and down in joy.
"Will those two really visit me tonight again? I really don't see anyone coming yet... It's already past the time they showed up last night..." Diana fretted, her pacing growing more frantic as the minutes ticked by.
As she paced by the wooden gate, a sudden realization dawned upon her.
"Hmm, if I get to travel time exactly the same time every night... I should already be in Chosun by now..." Diana pondered aloud, her mind racing with possibilities.
Just as she considered indulging in some moonlit yoga to pass the time, her attention was drawn to a white object lying in the corner of the atelier yard.
"This is paper made with mulberry tree... Meh, it's all written in old language. Hold on, I've seen these in historical movies... ...No way! Am I back in Chosun now?!" Diana exclaimed, her heart pounding with excitement.
Without hesitation, she flung open the wooden gate, only to be met with the familiar sights and sounds of modern-day Seoul.
"B-but it was Seoul outside- just a moment ago. ...I traveled in time this fast...?" Diana muttered to herself, her confusion growing with each passing moment.
As she reached for the door handle, a knock echoed through the night air, causing her hand to tremble with anticipation.
Outside the doors stood Sung, his bodyguard Young, and a new figure whose presence sent shivers down Diana's spine.
"...So she's the one you've been telling me, sir?" the newcomer inquired, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Diana's breath caught in her throat as she met his gaze, a sense of foreboding settling over her like a dark cloud.