"What's taking too long?" Sook Hee's voice made the maids look at each other uncomfortably.

They were instructed by the Bride's personal maid to stay out till the young mistress could finish her bath and get dressed in the bridal robe.

Mi Cha was the first one to spoke, "Senior, the young lady is taking a bath."

Sook Hee looked at the group of maids in disbelief. If the young Lord's bride was taking a bath alone? then what is the use of half a dozen serving maids outside the room?

In a fuming voice, she spoke again,
"Go and help Young Mistress, Now."

The girls shuffled noisily as they attempted to go all in to the room altogether and stepped on each other's feet in the confusion.

They winced in pain but kept their mouths shut, looking at the dark mood of Sook Hee.

Finally, they knocked and entered the room.

The room was empty. Mi Cha ran to the bathtub and noticed the water that had sloshed down making a small pool at the foot of the tub.

Looks like the lady had finished washing up. But where was she?

Looking around suddenly they felt a bright dazzling light which almost made them blind.

In the middle of the room, stood a delicate figure, her scarlet skirt was reaching to the floor on top of which she was wearing a green wonsam.

The gold embroidery on its back and gigantic sleeves were emitting a lustrous glow.

Rings of jade and emerald were glittering in her slim fingers. A large gold chain was resting on her bosom highlighting the curves of her femininity.

The headpiece was majestically placed on her head making her chin set to a proud height. Her warm eyes were appearing red like strongly brewed tea.

But they could not see her face.

She was wearing a bright red silk veil covering her face. It had a striking embroidery of a phoenix in gold thread.

It was fit to be worn by a princess and sure enough, rumors were heard that the Lady from Honam was a friend of a Princess from Qing.

The Princess has bestowed upon her a traditional bridal veil to honor their friendship which was made in the same way any Royal veil could be.

"I see that you are impatient," her voice was soft, but one could easily sense the authority laced in that polite tone.

The young maids bowed their heads and apologized quickly. "My lady, spare us."

The bride ignored their pleas and spoke again as she took a step towards them, "Let us go to the grand hall. I believe it is time for the ceremony."

The ceremony hall was packed with people. It was an extravagant affair with people showing off their wealth and prestige.

The guests were wearing Hanboks made out of expensive silk. The ladies have jeweled hairpins tucked in their hair and the men were wearing expensive pointed hats on their heads.

All were eager to be part of the joyous occasion of the wedding of Lee Sung Hu.

Madam Lee was standing in the middle wearing a green hanbok as traditional for the groom's mother. She smiled as she welcomed her daughter in law and motioned her towards the center of the hall.

In front of the ceremonial table stood a tall man wearing a dusky blue hanbok and a black headpiece, Samo.

The first thing, Kim Hee Jin noticed was his somber expression. He seemed to be pressing his lips in a straight line as if he was wishing to be somewhere else, her eyes moved upwards and met his cold grey ones, a strange feeling of foreboding crept upon her heart and she felt a chill running down her spine.

The devil seemed menacing enough. No wonder his bride ran away instead of taking the arduous task of being his woman.

Someone carefully helped her stand in her place and Hee Jin squared her dainty shoulders.

Devil or not. He is the only one who could tell her about Oraboni and she wants to give him a chance to confess before she could send him to hell.

Keeping her resolve strong in her mind Hee Jin bowed in front of her groom for the first time.

A while later of bowing multiple times in front of each other, their parents, and guests, Hee Jin was feeling somewhat dizzy. By the time someone handed her the half gourd filled with wine she gulped it in one go without a second thought.

"Lee Eun Kyung"
"Lee Eun Kyung!"
Hee Jin looked in puzzlement to her left where someone was calling a Lee Eun Kyung for the past five minutes.

The person she saw standing to her left seemed equally annoyed as she spoke again, "Daughter in law, Lee Eun Kyung, why are you not responding?"

Hee Jin instantly realized the gravity of the situation and bowed in apology.

"Mother in law forgive me, your daughter in law won't be neglectful again."

"Hmph..." Madam Lee didn't comment but continued, "It's time your veil is removed. I accepted your culture but now our guests want to see the face of Lee family's daughter-in-law."

Hee Jin nodded as she was sure no one had seen the bride's face previously.

"Son, come here and lift the veil from your bride's face," Madam Lee called Lee Sung Hu who was discussing something with his father.

Hee Jin suppressed the urge to strangle the man who was coming near her. He stopped at an arm's distance from her. She could see how he was easily looming over her due to his taller frame.

He lifted his fingers to undo the clip holding the veil in place. Hee Jin couldn't hide the contempt in her eyes as she gazed into those icy pools once again.

A hush fell onto the crowd as the bride's face was revealed.

Lee Sung Hu looked at his wife's face for the first time.

Her skin was smoother than white jade with a heart-shaped face that had a delicate look. Her lips were full like a rosebud, were painted coral to match her dress. The same red that was used to paint two circles of the size of coins on each of her cheeks.

Then he looked at her eyes, the dark eyes that looked deep with a hint of red like old grape wine.

For a moment, Lee Sung Hu gazed at her and then turned back to join his father and the officials in the discussion again.