Diana, at the age of 25, found herself in a surreal predicament. Once just the CEO of a modest traditional atelier, she now grappled with the reality of being a time traveler, thrust back into the Chosun dynasty. As she strolled under the moonlight, contemplating her newfound circumstances, a familiar knock echoed through the air, signaling the arrival of her unexpected companions.
"The promised knock hammers on the front gate of Spindle Of Fate Hanbok Atelier, a.k.a. my grandmother's deserted house, amidst the lively view of Bukchon in Hanyang," Diana mused, her thoughts racing.
As Sung, accompanied by his two bodyguards, approached, Diana couldn't help but inquire about the absence of the other two gentlemen from their previous encounter.
"What happened to the other two gentlemen?" she queried, scanning her surroundings in search of them.
Sung, however, seized the opportunity to engage her directly. "Do you miss them?" he countered, his gaze unwavering.
Caught off guard, Diana stumbled over her words. "What?! No, I didn't mean it in such a way..." she protested, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Sung's teasing only served to soften her resolve. "It's sad to see that you can't be satisfied with me. You are one greedy lady," he remarked, his charming smile casting a spell over her.
"It's that face that makes me forgive his cheesy words. If it wasn't for that smile, I'd never be okay with his talking...!" Diana reflected, inwardly amused by her own susceptibility to Sung's charms.
As Sung and his companions stood before her, Diana's mind raced with the weight of her impending request. Finally, summoning her courage, she broached the subject that had been weighing on her mind.
"So, do I finally get to hear your request today?" Sung inquired, his expression expectant.
Diana nodded, steeling herself for the moment of truth. "Oh, that...! Right. There's no reason to hesitate any longer now. Yes, I wanted to ask you to help me learn the needlework of Chosun. 'All the needlework skills' in Chosun, to be precise," she declared, her voice steady despite her nerves.
Sung's initial reaction caught Diana off guard. As he questioned her choice of needlework over more extravagant offerings, she found herself scrambling for an explanation.
"That's because... I know you can do this for me...!" she declared with conviction, hoping her faith in him would sway his decision.
Sung seemed taken aback by her unwavering belief in him. "You believe I can?" he echoed, his tone tinged with surprise.
"Yes... I don't have many people I know around here. You, sir, are my only hope..." Diana admitted, her words tinged with a hint of desperation. She knew it sounded cheesy, but she also knew Sung had a soft spot for such sentiments.
"So... Could you do this for me?" she implored, her voice laced with urgency.
Sung hesitated for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Hah, needlework, you say..." he mused, teasing her with his ambiguity.
"Please, please, pretty please-! I beg you, please help me out!!" Diana pleaded, her heart sinking at the thought of her request being denied.
"I'm sorry, but that would be difficult for me to arrange," Sung finally relented, his tone apologetic.
Diana's hopes plummeted as she processed his words. "...Huh...? ...Really.....?" she murmured, her disappointment palpable.
But just as the silence became unbearable, Sung's stern facade melted away, replaced by a warm smile.
"That was only a joke, my lady," he reassured her, his laughter filling the air.
Diana's heart soared at his words. "What...?" she exclaimed, scarcely daring to believe her ears.
"I will have you taught by the best needlework master in the capital," Sung declared, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Huh...? Oh my, do you mean...? Do you mean, I can learn?! I can learn needlework here?!" Diana cried, unable to contain her excitement.
"Yes, I will arrange the lessons for you," Sung confirmed, his voice brimming with genuine kindness.
"OMG...! Yay!! This is crazy!!! Is this for real?!" Diana exclaimed, her joy bubbling over as she grasped Sung's hands, unable to contain her elation.
Diana's heart raced as Sung's words sank in, her excitement bubbling over at the prospect of learning needlework in Chosun.
"You gotta keep your words! Okay?!" she exclaimed, her grip on his hands tightening as she spoke.
But as she continued to shake his hands vigorously, she suddenly became aware of Sung's intense gaze fixed upon her.
"Oh, gee- why did you have to pull my leg?! My heart nearly dropped to the bottom of the dark ocean!!!" she chided, feeling a blush creep into her cheeks at his penetrating stare.
"Hmm? Why would you look at me like that?" she questioned, her curiosity piqued by the intensity of his gaze.
Sung's response was cryptic, his tone tinged with an air of suspicion. "How peculiar," he mused, his gaze never leaving hers. "What are you hiding from me, Lady Diana?"
Diana's heart skipped a beat at his words, her mind racing to find an answer to his probing question. "Sorry?" she stammered, feeling a knot form in her stomach at the accusation.
"You use my language and dress like me... And yet, you feel distant and foreign. Is it really just me, mistaken about you?" Sung continued, his fingers hovering tantalizingly close to her face.
Diana's breath caught in her throat as she struggled to find a response. "Oooh... Why does my heart flutter so much...?" she murmured, her cheeks flushing crimson at his nearness.
But before she could gather her thoughts, the tolling of the curfew bell shattered the moment, reminding them of the constraints of time.
Sung's demeanor shifted, his tone apologetic as he spoke. "Ah, I must apologize. I was being rude. Please forget my words- and forgive me," he implored, his hand gently slipping from hers as he turned away.
Feeling a pang of regret at the sudden end to their conversation, Diana found herself grasping for words, her mind swirling with unanswered questions.
"Sung...?" she called out tentatively, her voice barely above a whisper as she reached out to him.
And as he turned back to her, his eyes filled with curiosity, Diana found herself blurting out the words she had been wrestling with all night.
"What if...." she began hesitantly, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "...What if I say... I've traveled through time from a future, very far from now...? Would you... believe my words?"
But as the words hung in the air between them, Diana realized the absurdity of her claim, her sense of reality slowly slipping away as she awaited Sung's response.
The next day dawned, casting a new light on the events of the previous night.
Diana blinked, her mind still reeling from the events of the previous night.
"I must've lost my mind," she muttered to herself, her gaze wandering around the unfamiliar room bathed in the soft light of dawn.
As the birds sang outside her window, she couldn't shake the feeling of disorientation that hung in the air. Had she really fallen asleep, only to wake up in the Chosun dynasty?
Sung's voice broke through her thoughts, his tone surprisingly calm given the circumstances.
"It is very shocking and incomprehensible, but... To be honest, this actually suits you very well, Lady Diana," he remarked, his enigmatic smile never faltering.
Diana couldn't help but marvel at how effortlessly he seemed to accept her wild claim of time travel. It was as though he had been expecting her confession all along.
"And when I told him I'm stuck in Chosun because I missed the time to return to my time, he took me to this luxurious mansion to spend the night...Yes. Everything was fine by that point. Until he told me to have a look around Hanyang, and... Why can't I have Young as my company? Why does it have to be that cocky young master?!"
As Taesoo's voice interrupted her thoughts, Diana turned to face him, her mind racing to keep up with the rapid pace of events.
"Did you sleep well last night, Lady Diana?" Taesoo inquired, his expression unreadable as he regarded her with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Diana hesitated, unsure of how much she should reveal to him. After all, Sung had only just accepted her time-traveling tale, and she wasn't sure if Taesoo was privy to the same information.
"Oh, yeah... I guess... And you, young master...?" she replied vaguely, her mind whirling with unanswered questions.
As Taesoo pressed for more details, Diana found herself grappling with the weight of her newfound predicament. How much should she reveal? And what would be the consequences of her words?
In the end, she could only hope that she had made the right decision in confiding in Sung, and that Taesoo would prove to be a trustworthy ally in this strange new world.
Taesoo: "You should reconsider the offer from earlier. The one about hiring you a bodyguard. Especially when you live all by yourself."
Diana: "Oh, I'm fine. I'm really fine!"
Despite Taesoo's concern, Diana waved it off with a dismissive hand gesture.
"You really don't need to make all those fuss. I'm staying in Chosun only for a brief time, anyways," she assured him, hoping to alleviate his worries.
But Taesoo's expression remained grave, his concern evident in his furrowed brow.
"I was just telling you out of concern... Why would you call it a fuss?" he countered, his voice tinged with a hint of disappointment.
Diana's heart sank as she realized her words may have unintentionally hurt him.
"Huh?" she stammered, unsure of how to respond. "Is he feeling disappointed that I didn't acknowledge him worrying about me? Oh, I didn't mean it that way... ...This is so awkward that I could bury myself under the mantle of the Earth..."
[Downtown Market]
But as they ventured into the bustling market, Diana's disappointment faded, replaced by awe at the vibrant array of goods on display.
"Look at these ornamental hairpins, rings, earrings, and silk fans.... This is crazy... and the crafting details are unbelievable...!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
As she hurried through the market, her enthusiasm was met with Taesoo's measured pace, much to her frustration.
"Jeez, mister! Catch up already!" she called out, urging him to keep pace with her.
"I bet a snail passing by would laugh at your speed!" she teased, her impatience getting the better of her.
But Taesoo's response was more measured, his gaze lingering on Diana with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"Looks like she's in her element... It's not like it's her first time out in the market. ...Well, she's a peculiar one for sure. Though I still haven't exactly found out what she's hiding..."
Meanwhile, Diana's attention was fully absorbed by the treasures of the market, each item holding a story waiting to be discovered.
"Gosh, this might be an ordinary market for you, but it's my only chance to ever visit one...!" she exclaimed, losing herself in the wonders of the ancient world.
But amidst the hustle and bustle of the market, a faint rustle caught her attention, signaling the start of a new adventure in the mysterious land of Chosun.
As chaos erupted in the market, Diana found herself swept up in the commotion, her attempts to navigate through the throngs of people futile.
"H-hey, wait...!!!! Stop...!!!" she called out, her voice drowned out by the cacophony of noise around her.
Despite her efforts to break free from the crowd, Diana found herself pushed and jostled in all directions, her search for Taesoo thwarted by the relentless press of bodies.
"Hey, stop blocking the way!" she shouted, struggling to make herself heard above the din.
But amidst the chaos, Taesoo's voice cut through the clamor, reaching her ears like a lifeline in the tumultuous sea of people.
"Lady Diana!"
However, by the time she managed to extricate herself from the crowd, Diana found herself on the far end of the market, her hopes of reuniting with Taesoo dashed by the distance between them.
"Jeez, my name will be announced in the Lost Child center at the age of 25... How pathetic..." she muttered to herself, feeling a pang of frustration at her predicament.
As hunger gnawed at her stomach, Diana weighed her options, torn between waiting for Taesoo and seeking out sustenance to quell her rumbling belly.
"Ugh, what should I do...? Should I stay and wait here for a bit?" she pondered, her gaze lingering on the tantalizing array of silk rolls and accessories nearby.
Despite her predicament, Diana couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship on display, her artisan's eye drawn to the vibrant colors and intricate designs.
Her attention was soon diverted by a merchant who approached her, complimenting her on the Hanbok she wore.
"Oh my, that's a fabulous dress you have there, my lady!" the merchant exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "How can you weave such a splendid yellow color silk?"
Diana smiled, flattered by the compliment. "Haha... Thank you! To tell you the secret, I made this Hanbok myself!"
The merchant's eyes widened in astonishment. "Oh my, no way!! You did?!? That's some handcrafting you've got!! But why are you out here all alone, with no maids or servants?"
Diana found herself lost in the chaos of the market, her hopes of reuniting with Taesoo dashed by the sheer magnitude of the crowd.
"Oh dear, I hear some infamous bandits raided the market today, that should've caused that ruckus," the merchant explained sympathetically upon learning of Diana's plight. "But by the way... You say you're lost? Are you not from around here?"
Diana's heart sank at the merchant's words, realizing the enormity of her predicament. "I-I didn't know I was drifted this far...!!"
As she wandered through the bustling market in search of Taesoo, Diana's frustration mounted with each passing moment.
"Jeez, it's worse than finding Wally...." she muttered to herself, her desperation growing with each unsuccessful attempt to locate her companion.
Suddenly, three rough-looking men approached her, their intentions unmistakably nefarious.
"Come on, why is this happening to me?" Diana lamented, feeling increasingly vulnerable as the men closed in around her.
With no other option, Diana braced herself for a confrontation, her heart pounding with fear and adrenaline.
"If you step any closer... I will not be just standing still," she warned, her voice trembling with defiance.
But before the situation could escalate further, a mysterious figure intervened, swiftly coming to Diana's aid.
"Please, forgive my rude action," the stranger said, his voice calm and reassuring as he gently wrapped his arm around Diana's waist.
As he twirled her away from danger, Diana felt a wave of relief wash over her, grateful for the unexpected rescue.
"You are safe now, my lady," the stranger assured her, his presence bringing a sense of calm amidst the chaos of the market.
In that moment, as Diana gazed up at her savior, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of something unfamiliar stirring within her heart.