Newlywed Mornings and a Concubine's Bold Wish
Wow, Avalon really exists. Wow, Avalon really exists. I thought it was just some imaginary thing like a unicorn. How dare it compare to something as trivial as eating chicken?
"Huhu, haa, haa, huhuhu, haa."
Even as I panted for breath, thoughts of my newlywed life kept making laughter bubble up uncontrollably. Still, I didn't stop my running feet.
Getting married to Eori didn't mean my life was over. If anything, it was just beginning.
To keep our marriage well-oiled and smooth, and to save countless lives, I had to pass the military academy entrance exam that would happen in a month.
I ran along the outer village wall, passing the west gate three times before finally stopping. The wall was just under three ri around, so three laps made about 3.5 kilometers. No wristwatch in this Joseon era to time it precisely, but with my body feeling lively and full of energy, it was plenty leisurely.
Might as well do one more lap before heading back to our newlywed home. Not Eori's family home or the place I'd shared with my mom—it was the house just for Eori and me.
This was all thanks to Chaekho Village being both a planned and unplanned settlement. They'd built it for the Hwacheok people to live in, but not knowing how many would stay, they'd thrown up way more houses than needed. It had made defending against the Burat invasion tough back then, but now it let us snag a newlywed house easily.
"I'm back!"
By the time I reached our place, my breathing had mostly settled. I took a light breath and headed to the water jar in the yard.
"Master. You're back?"
Geum-ok came out from the kitchen to greet me. She and her sister Eun-ok lived at my mom's house, not here. Like live-out servants, they came to our place at dawn and headed home at sunset.
"Yeah."
I nodded vaguely and scooped water from the jar with a ladle. I quenched my throat and looked around.
"Where's Eori?"
"The lady of the inner chamber is still sleeping."
"Still?"
"W-well, that is…!"
Geum-ok blushed and averted her eyes. Only then did I realize I was the reason Eori was sleeping in.
"Uh, yeah. Okay. Tell her to sleep well."
One thing I'd learned from our passionate newlywed nights: Eori had great strength but stamina worse than mine. So mornings like this, with her oversleeping, were routine.
"Anyway, what about breakfast?"
I ignored my heating face and changed the subject. Geum-ok had probably been hoping for that too, as she smiled right away.
"It's ready to heat up. Shall I set the table?"
"Uh, no. It's fine. I'll wash up first. We can eat together when Eori wakes."
"Yes, Master. I'll help prepare."
"No, just rest."
"I'll help, Master."
Even when I said it was fine, she insisted stubbornly. Geum-ok went into the room ahead of me, gathered what I'd need for washing—fresh clothes, fragrant soap, a cloth for drying—and piled them neatly. Then she balanced the basket on her head and declared naturally,
"Master. I'll attend you."
"Attend what?! I can go by myself!"
"No. I'll serve your bath."
"I said it's fine! I'll wash alone! Hand it over!"
Who needed clanging chains like some prisoner?! More horrified than during the Burat chaos, I snatched the basket. Worried she'd follow, I refused firmly.
"Geum-ok, you don't need to do this. I can handle it myself."
"B-but, this is what I'm supposed to do. That's what I was taught."
"Have you… ever done it before?"
I asked anxiously, half-dreading. Thankfully, she shook her head right away—but unfortunately, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
"N-no. But I'll do my absolute best."
"No, I said you don't have to. Just stay here. Got it?"
"…Yes, Master."
Her expression was a bit dissatisfied, but she nodded. I patted her head lightly and headed to the nearby stream to wash off my sweat-soaked body.
It took a little time to wash and get back home. Nothing major—just my hair was too long. Eori tying it up in a topknot felt great, but the maintenance was a hassle. If it got smelly despite washing, maybe cutting it short wasn't a bad idea.
By the time I returned, Eori was awake and sitting on the porch.
"Eori, you're up?"
"Huh? My lord?"
Still sleepy, she used her old form of address. I exaggeratedly looked around our house and asked,
"My lord? Who's that in our home?"
"Heehee. Husband?"
Eori lifted the corners of her mouth slyly, her face still dazed. I smiled back and approached.
"Who's whose husband?"
"Husband is my husband, sir."
"Yeah. Your husband. He's here."
"Heeheehee."
I spread my arms and hugged Eori, who was perched on the porch edge. Being seated, her crown reached just under my chin. Fresh from sleep, her strong natural scent rose up—but I loved it.
"Snuuuff, haaaaa…!"
"H-h-husband?"
"Eori."
For some reason, her voice trembled slightly. I released her from the hug for a moment, looked down with a suggestive gaze, and proposed,
"The bedding in the room… it's still laid out, right?"
"R-r-r-room, sir!"
"It's fine. As long as I have you."
"I-I-I, f-f-food! I'm hungry, sir!"
If she was hungry, what could I do? I wanted to badly, but not eating could actually kill you.
"G-Geum-ok! H-how's breakfast? I'll help!"
She must've been starving. Eori jumped up from the porch edge in a panic and practically fled to the kitchen. A bit disappointing. I wanted to stay stuck to her as much as possible.
But time for Eori and me to be this close wouldn't last. Once I entered the military academy, it'd be three years living there. New officers had to serve at least a year on the frontier. And if I aimed for Hanyang…!
Still, it wasn't all bad. The academy had vacations: two months summer, two months winter. Four months a year, so one full year off in three. Plenty of time for Eori to bear something that looked like me.
But I couldn't just make babies recklessly—I still wanted our twosome newlywed life. And I was steadily working toward that every day.
"Huhu."
"Master?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. What?"
"Please eat seriously."
"Uh, yeah. Okay."
While lost in happy fantasies, the meal was fully set. Congee mixed with grains, hearty soybean paste soup, a few salty jeon, and chunks of meat glistening with melted fat.
"Mmm, looks delicious. Eori, Geum-ok, good work."
"Heehee. No, sir."
"It was only natural."
"Right. Let's eat. I'm starving."
I sat at the table, scooped some soup with my spoon, and started eating. Eori and Geum-ok, seated around with me, waited before picking up their utensils.
This wasn't your typical scene, of course. In ordinary noble homes, men and women—let alone master and servants—didn't eat at the same table. Slaves went without saying.
But this was Chaekho Village, where folks rubbed elbows daily, and I was a modern man with modern common sense. I didn't want to scrap shared mealtimes over gender or status. Though for hygiene, we each took side dishes separately. Like Japanese family style.
"Ahem!"
At Eori's deliberate cough signaling me, I brought up the talk we'd decided on yesterday—while filling my exercise-starved stomach.
"Geum-ok. Uh! Sorry! Just listen while eating! Don't spit it out!"
I freaked when Geum-ok tried to spit out her chewed food into her hand. Once I stopped her, I continued,
"We talked about it yesterday. Geum-ok, how's living here? Decent? Finish eating first. It's fine."
"…Yes, Master."
Her reply was delayed as she swallowed. Geum-ok set down her utensils and answered my question.
"Not flashy like Hanyang, but Chaekho Village feels like home."
"Good to hear."
"But why do you ask, sir?"
"Well, you see."
I glanced at Eori before speaking. Seeing her nod okay, I mustered courage and spilled our idea.
"Geum-ok. What if… you wanted manumission?"
"…Pardon?"
Geum-ok's eyes trembled wide as she stared. Her hands shook too, showing her shock.
"Look, we'd planned this anyway."
She was modern-school-age; she'd be in elementary with her sister Eun-ok. Helping with chores was understandable since they lived with us, but I didn't want to exploit her as a slave.
"Manumission, so you could live free? Here in the village?"
"No!"
"Later in Hanyang, yeah?"
"D-did I do something wrong? Forgive me, Master! Forgive me, Lady of the inner chamber!"
Geum-ok made a tearful face and bowed in apology. Her reaction was so far from what we expected that Eori and I both panicked.
"N-no, Geum-ok, that's not it."
"Geum-ok? What's wrong? Aren't you happy?"
We'd assumed any slave dreamed of freedom. But Geum-ok's response shattered that.
"B-because we're slaves, we barely eat and survive. Without slavery, Eun-ok and I would starve on the streets!"
"No. We'll keep living like this. Eating together, helping with house chores. I'll even pay wages."
"H-how can I trust that? Humans flip words like beasts anytime!"
"It's true. Want a written contract?"
"No! Better…!"
Geum-ok, reacting fiercely, clamped her mouth shut like words failed her. She glanced at worried Eori, squeezed her eyes shut, and shouted,
"Take Eun-ok and me both as your concubines!"
"Geum-ok?!"
"M-much better than manumission!"
I was so shocked I'd have spat out my food if eating. Eori's eyes went round staring at her.
"Th-this way! You can't discard us easily…!"
Her bold shout weakened as she bowed her head. By the time her flushed face was fully down, she was speechless.
I stared blankly at Geum-ok, then turned to Eori—who always got fierce at talk of concubines.
"…."
Unlike expected, Eori's eyes weren't empty or hostile. She even tilted her head, as if intrigued by the idea.
"Eori?!"
"!"
Only when I called in shock did she snap out. Eori forced a smile and soothed Geum-ok.
"Y-yeah. Got it. We'll talk manumission later, Geum-ok. Now, let's eat. You must be hungry."
"Y-yes! Lady…!"
As Eori and Geum-ok resumed eating, the scene returned to normal. But my heart was anything but.
What the hell? Did she already get sick of me? Or did I only think of my own ideas?
No good. Tonight, I need to pamper Eori. Make her feel overflowing with love.