Later that night, Seonghwa sat with Yeosang on the front yard patio, looking at all the workers that remained scurry around doing their work. 

"So what’s gotten into you," Seonghwa asked, glancing at his cousin who had a smile on his lips.

The question made him slightly jump and turned to look at Seonghwa in question.

"What do you mean? I’m perfectly fine."

"Right. Not once have I ever seen you act like this. Not to mention you returned home slightly dishevelled and don’t think I didn’t notice your bruised finger," Seonghwa said, pointing at Yeosang’s finger. "Normally, you would complain hours on end on a single blemish yet here you are smiling as if there’s not a care in the world."

"Don’t be daft. I’m perfectly fine. You just simply haven’t realized that I’ve always been this way."

"And not to mention you actually have manners which you refuse to use," Seonghwa continued, ignoring his cousin’s comment.

Yeosang didn’t know how to argue against that and simply huffed, remaining quiet.

"I’m going into town first thing in the morning so if Jaehyo isn’t here by the time I leave, please tell him he has to do all Hongjoong's duties."

"Going for what?" Yeosang asked, suddenly eager to hear more.

"Have to replace several horseshoes."

"I’m going with."

Yeosang hadn’t wasted a second to reply and a smile went over his face once again.

"I thought you hated going out so why would you come?"

"Business."

That was all that Yeosang said, leaving Seonghwa in even more confusion and with many more questions.

._._.

Hongjoong skipped down the street in a happy manner. He hadn’t felt such happiness within him in such a long time and was glad he was still capable of feeling such emotion. 

He was so thankful that the Lord’s were suddenly being extremely kind to him and not to mention Lord Kang who had given him the clothes and even offered more clothes if anything would happen.

The memory of running with Seonghwa and splashing water on each other flooded his brain and he giggled. It was such a colourful memory he was sure he would keep and he never wanted to forget.

The times that they had spent together, even if it wasn’t very long, were his favourite memories and wished to preserved them for years to come.

He was excited for the next day in the morning and bounced in joy, his fluffy black hair flying in every direction.

It was nearly night time and so the tiny male began to speed walk so that he wouldn’t be in complete darkness like every other day. He was hoping he could get home and still have time to himself before taking an early nap.

"I’m home!" Hongjoong called once he entered the house.

"Ah, Hongjoong-ah, I see you’re home early and have nice clothing," one of the women in the house said, her lip curling in a way Hongjoong didn’t really like.

"Yeah, Lord Kang and Seonghwa gave them to me," he replied as kindly as possible.

"Oh? Are you sure or did you steal them? Why would they give you such expensive clothes and why are you calling Lord Park by his first name?"

"No, I promise I didn’t steal them and Seonghwa told me I’m supposed to call him that."

The woman gave him an icy expression and he shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"If someone comes because of something you did, I won’t help you and you will be kicked out."

Hongjoong nodded in understanding and quietly headed to his blanket on the floor that was placed in a corner of the tiny house. 

He would never steal no matter how tough life was and he surely didn’t want to get kicked out of the one place that allowed him to stay. 

He quickly changed to one of his clothing sets, not wanting to damage the new ones, and lay on his blanket on the floor. He didn’t plan on eating anything that night so he got comfortable thinking of the one and only Park Seonghwa.

It was strange, he had never in his life had felt such a pull to a person until he started working at the Yeonsu Estate seven years back.

Seonghwa, at the time, had just started practicing to be an Equestrian and Hongjoong had always been there to witness all the trials and injuries the taller male had faced. And as the seasons came and went, the world changing colour every day, his attention for Seonghwa grew and grew.

And now that he finally had a few conversations with the male did his life become brighter than ever and the feelings within him soared.

"I think I might like him," Hongjoong whispered to himself, ensuring no one could hear him then silently screamed under his thin sheet, lightly slapping his cheeks.

The only problem he faced was society. No one had ever seen such a thing before such as two males getting together and the penalty of doing so would be great. He would have to marry a nice girl and produce mini versions of himself but live in sorrow.

Besides, who had heard of such a thing such as a Lord getting with a lower class individual? No one and so that combined with Hongjoong being a male was one of the biggest death wishes to exist.

Hongjoong just pushed the negative thoughts away and focused on fantasies that he could never have.

Hugging the male, kissing his cheek, cuddling on a nice bed, wearing the taller’s larger clothes that could swallow him, going on small dates, horseback riding together, and other things that Hongjoong dreamt of doing.

He closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off with a large smile on his face. 

He wasn’t going to allow negative thoughts to bother him at that time.

._._.

Yeosang rushed around the house in his giant, white sleeping gown. He was planning to leave with Seonghwa into town and he had to be ready in time.

The maids in the house were extremely surprised to see their Lord Kang awake at such an early hour. It was nearly 6:30 AM and the male was scurrying around the halls in search of all his clothes and accessories.

"Where the fuck is my cravat?" Yeosang hissed, throwing all the cushions off the sofas in hopes to find his missing clothing article.

Sighing in frustration, he ran outside and pumped some water, splashing his face with the ice-cold water to wake himself up. He didn’t want to use the water inside because it was warmer and he was trying to wake himself up.

"Lord Kang?" a maid said, stepping into the hallway once Yeosang went back in the house to look for his clothing.

"What!?"

"Your cravat is in your room in the dresser."

Yeosang scurried up the stairs, muttering a half-assed "thanks" before disappearing from everyone’s sight and leaving them confuzzled. 

Luckily, he managed to get himself ready right as Seonghwa arrived. Hongjoong had already been in the barn from early morning and had been trying to get as much work done as possible before they left.

"Wow, never thought I’d live to see the day you’re awake so early," Seonghwa said, surprised his cousin was dressed and ready.

"Shut up and let’s go."

The horses were ready in a matter of minutes and they mounted the carriage. Seonghwa sitting on the ledge at the front of the carriage and the other two males inside. Yeosang, obviously, taking the best seat.

Jongho was just opening when they arrived and he greeted them warmly.

"Good morning, Lord Park, Lord Kang."

"Morning, Jongho," Seonghwa greeted.

Yeosang didn’t answer but instead just stared at Jongho and Hongjoong swore he saw a light red dust the Lord’s face but brushed it off as the cold.

"I never thought Lord Kang was one to be for the mornings," Jongho said, making an expression that no one could decipher but it seemed Yeosang understood and simply scoffed.

"I have business to attend to so obviously I’ll be awake early."

Absolutely no one believed him but he didn’t care. He was off to do his business once they were done and no one had to know what it was.

The three settled on a few chairs after Hongjoong explained the problem, Jongho set off to work.

Yeosang's eyes never left the male and Seonghwa questioned that behaviour as well. Just a few weeks ago his cousin was nearly going crazy for being in the space.

Seonghwa made sure he was seated close to the tiny male and just smiled when he turned to look at him in surprise, his ears going a bit red.

Luckily for Hongjoong, the work didn’t take long and they were ready to go back to the Estate within a few hours.

Yeosang took one of the two horses from the carriage claiming he would be in town for a while and suddenly disappeared, leaving Seonghwa and Hongjoong alone.

"Well, who knows where he’s going," Seonghwa said, watching his cousin ride away on the stallion.

Hongjoong didn’t answer but he was also curious. Lord Kang never went anywhere so for him to be willingly going places was a shock.

"Hongjoong, I just want to let you know that starting today, I won’t be able to talk to you as much because I have to train for the race that is taking place in two weeks time," Seonghwa said, guiding the horseback to the Estate.

"Oh, okay. So you won’t have any free time at all?" Hongjoong asked, a bit disappointed that he wouldn’t be spending as much time with his favourite person. 

"Exactly. Maybe I can talk to you if I get to the estate early enough and still be able to have an entires day worth of practice."

Hongjoong hummed in understanding and sat beside Seonghwa on the ledge at the front of the carriage. The two in complete silence, in their own thoughts.

Hongjoong happy that he could be with the taller after coming to a conclusion of the previous night’s thoughts and Seonghwa just starting to get questioning thoughts.

"I wonder why I find him so adorable?" Seonghwa asked himself. “There’s no way I should find him as such."

He pondered over his thoughts, trying to make sense of them. 

"Stupid brain always changing the perspective of a situation," he muttered in his head.

Taking a quick glance at Hongjoong through his peripheral sight, a warm smile crossed his features once he noticed that the male beside him was beautiful.

Weird. He was raised to believe that only women could ever be beautiful but he figured that it was all a lie because if not, the male beside him wouldn’t be more breathtaking than most women. 

The male was beautiful and that was final. Hongjoong could rival almost any female in the beauty department and Seonghwa was nearly certain the male could surpass them all in visuals.

"Whatever, I don’t care if I find him attractive," Seonghwa decided.

It wouldn’t matter anyway because, in the long run, he would be getting married to a Lady or Duchess and produce more children to the Park name.

The ten-minute ride went all too quickly and before they knew it, it was time for Seonghwa to start focusing on his career, leaving Hongjoong alone once again.

._._.

And so it went on for a week and a half. Seonghwa never did manage to come early enough to spend time with the tiny male and Hongjoong couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

But it was fine. There was visible improvement in the Equestrians speed and techniques and so everyone was happy about that.

The workers could audibly hear the Duke of Sacheon and the Duke of Yeonsu brag about the young Lord's improvement. Stating that there was definitely going to be a major income and sure to gain more supporters who would bet on the Lord.

The day neared closer, only three days and so everyone began to get frantic. They needed to travel to an arena a days trip away and so the packing commenced. 

Commotion occurring in both estates. 

The Sacheon Estate scrambling around to pack the food and Seonghwas clothing and the Yeonsu Estate gathering the horses and equipment needed.

"We need to gather some of the workers," The Duke of Yeonsu announced, walking around to ensure the preparations went correctly.

"Shall I gather the ones suitable?" Jaehyo asked.

"Yes do just that. And ensure Hongjoong comes along. He’s one of the best workers and it'll be beneficial to have him with us."

A scowl graced Jaehyo's features for a split second before he quickly placed it with a sugary sweet smile before he scampered off to gather the workers. 

It was nearly noon and Yeosang emerged from his room in his giant white sleeping gown, his black hair all over the place.

"What’s happening?" Yeosang asked, rubbing his bleary eyes.

"Yeosang! Why are you awake so late?" his father asked. "Everyone has been awake since dawn."

"Well I must apologize for trying to get some beauty sleep to look stunning," Yeosang replied snarkily.

The Duke of Yeonsu just gave an exasperated expression and continued walking around but suddenly stopped when he saw his son walk towards one of the sofas.

"Yeosang?"

"Yes, Father?"

"Why are you limping?”