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Chae Hyang prides herself on being capable of reading people's intentions; that skill was the sole reason why she survived so long on the streets before Manager Cha took her in as a performer and she became known as the Flower of Ilyang prefecture.
It's why, when Jaha murmurs, "Did you know that even an errand boy has pure love?" and something in his voice compels her to look at him, she listens.
Whereas other men looked upon her with lust in their gazes, intrigued as though she might change her mind on not selling her body to them, Jaha looks ahead of him with the sort of tenderness and devotion Chae Hyang could only imagine in books.
This man had no interest in her, and he'd made that very clear, but her traitorous heart skips a beat nonetheless. And then Jaha continues with an elongated " however " as his eyes sharpen, and she crashes back into reality.
"That love has never been pointed at you, so leave," Jaha continues, staring down into his cup blankly. "You're ruining the mood."
What?
Chae Hyang can only blink. Is she misunderstanding something? Did she mishear him? What mood was there that could be ruined by her presence when the only other person in the room was her Brother–
She stills, slowly turning her gaze to the opposite end of the table. Where Sungtae has been sitting since before Jaha started on this spiel about pure love. Whose direction Jaha was staring in just moments ago.
Her jaw practically unhinges as she connects the dots laid out to her. He couldn't be trying to say what she was thinking… could he? Was he lying about wanting to hear a song from her to hide where his true affections lie? Not towards her nor any of the other performers, but to Sungtae?
The longer she thought about it, the more it was starting to make sense. Ilyang Prefecture operated on one overarching rule; keep your business to yourself. So long as you weren't actively going around telling everyone you meet, then no one else would care enough to cause a fuss.
This did, in fact, also include– ahem, homosexuality.
"What are you waiting for? Get out," Sungtae snaps. Chae Hyang coughs lightly, meeting Sungtae's gaze and seeing the concern for her in his golden eyes.
"Ah, yes!" She says hurriedly, shooting to her feet. "I'll leave the two of you be."
She lets the door slide shut behind her, lingering in front of it for a moment as her newfound knowledge settles in her mind. Well, then.
It's not as though she doesn't understand why Sungtae could have caught his attention. He's handsome in that sly, foxy sort of way. Has more grace than someone would reasonably expect from him from having spent so much time with her and the rest of the performers. His charm could most certainly skyrocket if he took some lessons from her.
A bit of rouge on his cheeks and lips, and lines of red around his eyes to accentuate them, and he'd probably be more beautiful than some of the performers.
His hair… Well, there's no doubt about how lovely it is. Silver that glimmers and catches gold in the sunlight – it's hard to miss, really. Chae Hyang would bet good money that he spends as much time taking care of his hair as she does her own.
So all things considered, she supposes she gets where Jaha is coming from. It's just…
Really ? The man she considers her brother is currently being pursued by the errand boy who accidentally convinced the whole town he was interested in her.
"What a mess," she murmurs to herself, pinching the bridge of her nose as she slips away.
Still, she resolves herself to corner Sungtae later to teach him a few tricks to keep the errand boy's attention since he didn't exactly seem opposed to it – the chase was half the fun, after all. Seduction and playing hard to get was an art form, one that she was deeply familiar with.
Sungtae ought to learn a thing or two before he gives in.
Except, that chance never comes. Sungtae becomes more and more scarce around the Plum Blossom Brothel, and Chae Hyang has to find out from other people that he was running amok with his lover. She swears she almost falls ill, wondering where she went wrong in raising him to be so shameless.
(Later, she'll realise that it's because she didn't have a chance to raise him at all, seeing as they met when they were already adults.)
***
“Brother?” Chae Hyang calls out one day, when she finally catches Sungtae attempting to sneak out. Her Brother jolts, turning slowly to meet her eyes.
“Yes?” He answers smoothly. It doesn't do anything to hide the anxious air permeating around him. So he must be off to see his lover again – she might die early from this behaviour.
Chae Hyang smiles at him serenely. "Where are you going? Why doesn't Brother take a rest so we can have breakfast together today?"
Exactly like she'd thought he would, Sungtae stiffens in response. "…It's really urgent, I can't put it off."
"That's a shame, take care, then," Chae Hyang says, pretending as though she doesn't realise Sungtae is off to see his lover before he heads off – why else would he be wearing the robe he treasures so much in such a hurry?
Certainly not a date; there couldn't be a bastard so shameless as to take her Brother out without speaking to her first for approval, surely.
Hours later, Sungtae returns, though he's without his favourite red robes. Seeing the frazzled state Sungtae's in, it's not hard to come to the conclusion that his lover must have it.
Her eyes twitches. Utterly shameless! How can she be at peace knowing her Brother is dating a bastard who defiles and exchanges tokens of affection without her approval!
Still, she smiles and feigns ignorance. It's not Sungtae's fault he's been bewitched by a bastard, surely not.
"Where's your robe? Did something happen to it?"
"That bastard–" He starts – the first time he's ever mentioned him in front of her. Chae Hyang listens intently, curious, but he only cuts himself off, tugging at his hair with both hands. "Shit, I'm never getting it back."
…She really wonders if Sungtae knows that he's not just worried about his robes as she gently eases his hands out of his hair, smoothing it down indulgently.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," she says absentmindedly. "Jaha's strong, right?"
"Who's worried about him! My robe is going to get ruined!"
Chae Hyang sighs and shakes her head as Sungtae starts to fret even more, biting the skin off of his lips. Whatever, she'll let her Brother play at his secret relationship for now. She can wait for him to tell her all about it when he's ready.
Preferably soon, because the Plum Blossom Brothel doesn't run half as smoothly as it normally does when the Manager is starting to work himself into a tizzy out of concern for his lover.
***
Despite everything that has happened, she's surprised that they aren't lovers yet as she presumed. Truly, it's a miracle.
She stops being so surprised the second she truly meets Jaha in person, though. Chae Hyang is certainly convinced that something must be seriously wrong for him to behave in such a manner; it almost makes her disappointed in her Brother.
(Was this really his type? A homicidal maniac? It's disappointing, but as his sworn sister, she'll support him in whatever endeavours he chooses to embark on. Even if it is pursuing a demon in human skin.)
What is shocking is that no one else sees it like she does. How could they not? Did they choose to be blind? Is it because of the way Jaha behaves ? There has to be a reason.
Especially since it's no secret that Jaha can often be seen wearing Sungtae's robes. It's not even as if he attempts to hide it - what with the way the Commander-in-chief's usual paler colours are stark against Jaha's black and red. Not to mention the ill-fit of Sungtae's smaller robes on his larger frame; too short at the sleeves and too tight around the chest.
Half the time, Chae Hyang's caught in the dilemma of whether she ought to return something to Sungtae whenever she finds it with Jaha's laundry or to just leave it in the clan leader's wardrobe.
After all, it'll eventually end up there in the end.
Placing it there might as well spare Sungtae the irritation of planning to wear something only to find that maniac prancing around wearing it and staining it with enough blood to fill a river.
Though, the problem lied more in the fact that Chae Hyang was pretty certain their Clan Leader didn't even bother to check his closet that often. It isn't too far to imagine him striding into Sungtae's room and picking something straight from his closet like it's a clothing stall.
Worse yet, she's amazed no one else has seen or heard of him taking it straight off of Sungtae's body, which she knows has happened at least a dozen times, thanks to Sungtae complaining about him anytime a drop of alcohol even lands on his tongue.
"That bastard! He has his own clothes!" He'll snap in irritation as Chae Hyang nods along, pouring him another cup of wine. "What's so good about taking my clothes!? Does he think it's amusing?!"
…Like today.
“I don't understand that bastard! He ruined my white robes today!” He snarls. “They're stained! Do you know how much it cost me?! Too much for that bastard with no taste to wear to fight! I won't forgive him for this…”
Chae Hyang hums noncommittally even as Sungtae continues to seethe, muttering insults and abuse under his breath. It's always been amusing to see how easily Jaha gets under his skin, even for her – surely, it's no wonder Jaha seems to take a particular pleasure in pissing him off.
Sungtae snaps his head back up, glowering. “You’ll help me, right?”
“With what?” She asks cautiously, a small frown playing on her lips as she stares back at him. Sungtae purses his lips and snorts. “You’re my sworn sister, why do you need to know what it is I want help with? Shouldn’t you just agree?”
She only gives him a dirty look; under any other circumstance, that would be true. Under the fact that he, presumably, wants revenge on Jaha, all of that goes out the window. There was no way in hell she was risking her life for something as insignificant as this.
Under her piercing glare, Sungtae eventually sighs, downing another glass before he begins to explain. “All I’m asking is for you to…”
***
The next meeting, Sungtae isn't in his seat by the time Jaha arrives an entire hour late, as is customary for him.
(Something about teaching his sect member's patience, but it doesn't work when everyone has since learnt to show up three-quarters of an hour late.)
Either way, when he glides in, hands behind his back and eyes darting across the present members, there’s a half moment of pause that stops him in his tracks when he notices the empty seat beside Dokgo. Frowning, he glances around the room as a whole, before his eyes finally settle on Chae Hyang.
She almost sighs. Can’t they keep her out of this? Why is she the one who has to deal with him just because Sungtae was missing?
“Manager Cha is currently… indisposed,” she answers before he even has to ask. Jaha’s mouth ticks down another almost imperceptible amount.
“With?” He demands.
How should I know! Ask him yourself! she thinks of yelling. She doesn’t, which is unfortunate enough, merely responding with a helpless shrug. For a while, Jaha just stares at her, as if studying her to make sure she isn't lying.
She barely holds back a snort for the sole sake of not being cut down on the spot; it's as if he truly believes anyone who knows him that also happened to have a wish to live a long life would attempt something as stupid as lying to him.
It's a while before Jaha finally storms back up to his seat, flopping down with a carelessness everyone expects out of him before he starts the meeting. It almost comes as a surprise that he doesn't make it a big deal, but it's clear Sungtae's absence bothers him when he keeps glancing at his empty seat and tapping his fingers against the armrest.
Chae Hyang mentally sighs to herself and tunes him out as he begins to rant about eliminating some sect or the other. Who wants to listen to a maniac attempt to reason his actions? Not anyone here, as far as she can tell just based on the way that everyone else is zoning out too.
Really, she could have gone the whole meeting without hearing a word he says, if not for the way Jaha chokes on his next sentence and cuts himself off, eyes trained directly ahead of him.
Clad head to toe in clothes a little too big for him – even the ribbon hasn’t gone forgotten, she eyes with bemusement, black silk weaved into his hair since it’s clearly too short to be tied up – Sungtae storms into the meeting hall, a flurry of black and red robes fluttering around him as he drops into his assigned seat.
Jaha stares, open mouthed. Sungtae crosses his arms, tipping his head back to sneer at him. "What?”
“My clothes,” Jaha says, stupidly. Sungtae only gives him a dirty look. "And?"
Chae Hyang coughs to stifle a laugh. This... this was not exactly what she was expecting from Sungtae when he'd enlisted her help to ransack Jaha’s closet. She'd thought he'd burn it or something of the like. Certainly not wear it himself.
Nevertheless, she doesn't tear her eyes away from the sight of Jaha's stunned face and Sungtae's smug expression.
“You..." Jaha starts, a valiant attempt at annoyance.
And then his over robe slips from Sungtae’s shoulder, exposing the black robe beneath it as the man raises an eyebrow and Jaha snaps his mouth close with an audible clack.
Oh? Chae Hyang muses, tilting her head to peer at Jaha more intensely. Are his ears... red?
Well, then. This has surely become more interesting. At least she’s learned that seduction does work on him. Even if it is only when it comes from her Brother, but the fact that he's enthralled by the sight of under robes – not even bare skin! – means a lot.
"You're," Jaha tries again. His voice comes out an embarrassing rasp before he clears his throat. "You're wearing my clothes?"
Chae Hyang stifles another laugh behind the wide sleeves of her robe, trying not to betray her amusement at this... mess. Who knew she'd play witness to their crazy bastard of a Clan Leader attempting to flirt like this?
She wonders, idly, if she ever will get that chance to teach them how to seduce one another. Probably not, but it doesn't matter so much since she gets to watch their attempts play out.
“…Yes," Sungtae finally answers, now looking more bemused than anything.
He reaches up to tug the over robe back into place with a frown, and Chae Hyang watches with nothing but amusement as Jaha’s eyes track the movement so intently it’s a miracle he doesn’t burn a hole into her Brother. In the silence, Chae Hyang peeks at the other sect members sitting stupefied at the scene playing out in front of them, and immediately has to stifle another laugh.
It seems like she finally wasn’t the only one who had known this was meant to be a courting ritual, of sorts. It’s as if something has finally clicked in the rest of their minds about whatever relationship their clan leader and commander-in-chief have.
About time, she thinks. She was so certain that they would never make it to this stage of flirting, too, what with how long they've been dancing around each other.
Well, so long as they don’t involve her anymore, she supposes.