Hongjoong wore an innocent white dress with a red overskirt that wrapped around his waist with double-breasted golden buttons. Once more, Jongho had helped him save the old wig by putting the flour-ruined hair into a secretive updo. Half of his hair was tied up, the other half cascaded over his back in pretty curls as he left the room.

Hongjoong adjusted the cufflinks made of ruffled lace on his way down the stairs. He didn't care for any feminine grace as he stomped down the stairs to meet with Seonghwa. Usually, Jongho would be the one standing at the door, ready to help Hongjoong into his fluffy coat. This time, it was Seonghwa.

"Back to being a pretty girl. The change is fascinating. It's all thanks to your delicate features." Seonghwa's hand caressed Hongjoong's cheek before he stuffed his fingers into his gloves. Once he had closed his coat and took his hat, they called a goodbye towards the kitchens. Three voices yelled back to be safe as they exited the house.

"Yeosang claimed the same, hence why he asked me. My skin must be fair like that of a woman." Hongjoong refused Seonghwa's hand as he climbed into the carriage. The coacher threw them a bemused glance before he set off.

Seonghwa got comfortable on the bench next to Hongjoong and discarded his hat on the opposite cushion. When his hand reached to take Hongjoong's in his to rest on their thighs, amusement and bashfulness swirled in Hongjoong's stomach. The doting earl treated him like a real fiancée without concern about the location now, and Hongjoong's heart swooned for it. He found the gesture adorable, but not in the way of regarding Seonghwa as the ruling force between them.

"I think he is entirely right. You make for a beautiful woman and a just as beautiful man." Seonghwa's fingers squeezed Hongjoong's. Chuckling, Hongjoong directed his eyes out of the window. The first stars dotted the skies since it got dark so early at this time of the year. He could see Orion through the twilight of the retreating sun.

Lady Culpepper lived further away than the district they usually visited, further accentuating her status. All the way there, Hongjoong wondered why Seonghwa had been invited. For prestige? For the lady to clear her name? Despite Hongjoong with him who disguised his injuries under his clothes, Seonghwa's nervosity showed in the bounce of his leg and in his hands that pushed back his hair more often than necessary.

"Seonghwa, is there... Is there anything I need to know regarding lady Culpepper? I'm asking free of judgment, but I need to play my role accordingly."

Seonghwa fidgeted. His fingers played with Hongjoong's hand on his thigh, slipping between the smaller digits and curling around them.

"I... I know the rumour is that I seduced her with my youthful attractiveness and my charming words. You also mentioned before how I am quick to flirt with the women I take a liking to," Seonghwa began in a deep breath.

Hongjoong listened, attentive and without giving a reaction that might have stopped Seonghwa. In careful neutralness, he stared at the swaying wall opposite of his seat.

"The truth is," Seonghwa exhaled, his hands clutching Hongjoong's a bit tighter, "Lady Culpepper is much dissatisfied with her husband. She finds him too old for her, and she takes to younger men. There may have been some tensions between us, but I am not interested in a married lady who uses younger men for her sexual gratification without her husband knowing. I respect Lord Culpepper too much for that. However, the rumour sprouted from a moment of truth. The lady and I bickered sarcastically a lot, especially when I was tipsy. To me, my resentment towards her was real, but to her, it meant an invitation. What those onlookers witnessed was the lady trying to seduce me into more and me fending off half-heartedly because of my drunkenness. I have no excuse and I know I am at fault for sticking around. However, compared to other people whose names I am too polite to mention, I did not share the lady's bed. Her marriage bed, too. How unsightly."

Seonghwa fell silent after his confession. He gave Hongjoong time to digest the revelation about the irrelevant truth that had brought them together.

"Alright," Hongjoong said once he had processed it all. He fought back the evil gremlin of jealousy wreaking havoc with its trident in his heart and shut every malicious thought he would have thrown at Seonghwa a few weeks back out of his mind. With a roll of his shoulders, he got ready as the carriage rounded the last few blocks.

"That easily?" Seonghwa gasped. He picked up his hat when they stopped and got ready to climb out of the vehicle.

"Of course. You are mine now, aren't you? And I believe you that a misunderstanding has led here, even if you were partly at fault. It explains your indignation with hiring me to fix this. Tonight, we are here to do exactly that. We can be the clingiest and most disgusting couple of the evening if that is what is desired for an authentic understanding." Hongjoong climbed out of the coach to stand next to Seonghwa. He took care not to dirty his clothes in the mixture of mud and snow that covered the sidewalk unattractively. The coach took off while they approached a huge mansion that towered with its own little garden in one of the richest areas of London. Perhaps, Hongjoong should remember its location so he could come back for a dead lurk once he returned to his usual jobs.

"I believe no one else but you would be cut for the role. I am glad I have you by my side." Seonghwa smiled as he opened the door for Hongjoong. Their unoccupied hands never left each other as they dove into the masses of people subtly celebrating their party to mingle.

They found Wooyoung and San in the kitchen area at the buffet. Wooyoung licked some cake off his fingers while San joked with a man next to them as they joined groups. While Wooyoung and Hongjoong kissed each other on the cheeks in female custom, San and Seonghwa exchanged meaningful glances.

Before Seonghwa got to overbring the phenomenal news of him knowing about Hongjoong's gender as the last of all people, someone else neared them. Over the tart he had stolen from Wooyoung's plate, Hongjoong eyed the woman with the elegant deep green dress that had come to their midst. A fancy hawk feather decorated the side of the glittering corset that hugged her body. Compared to her, all other women in the room looked dull. Her long, blond hair hugged her shoulders.

Her lips were tinted blood red.

"Seonghwa, my dear. We haven't seen each other in so long." She curtseyed in front of Seonghwa. On her way up, the earl took her hand to brush a kiss to her black lace gloves. His fingers held a careful distance from the naked skin of her arms.

"I feared for your peace of mind in the hours I didn't know of your wellbeing. After so long, we reunited," Seonghwa purred. Tension drew his brows together so faintly Hongjoong believed most people wouldn't notice. Wary of the earl's irritation, Hongjoong remained in his spot to watch.

"We fought our battles. I preferred to dip away from curious eyes until everyone calmed their animalistic greed for gossip while you tried so hard to regain their favour." The lady spoke with the airy superiority of someone of a rank high enough to be royal. Hongjoong's skin crawled. He was painfully aware of all the gazes on them, of the way the room's conversations had lightened to mask the greed she had mentioned.

"I did indeed. It was time for me to introduce my fiancée to everyone, so there was no doubt about your loyalty or mine." When Seonghwa looked up to search for Hongjoong, Hongjoong ditched Wooyoung's side to join his lover. As he neared, several people in the crowd ooh-ed subtly. Hongjoong picked up on a 'she's nowhere as beautiful.'

Seonghwa wrapped his arm around Hongjoong's waist when he was close enough. The bright eyes of the lady bore into his as if trying to study the bottom of his soul.

"Adelaide, meet my lovely bride-to-be. Hongjoong, this is Lady Culpepper. She is the one who got drawn into this unfortunate mess due to my mishaps."

"Oh, don't carry the burden, Seonghwa. We were careless, both of us. I believe we learned our lesson and I hope our loved ones won't have to harbour envy. I am delighted to meet you, Hongjoong."

As they greeted each other, Hongjoong believed to feel a breath of surprise surrounding her noble aura. She seemed to have been aware of Seonghwa's plan to introduce a fake fiancée, but Hongjoong's closeness to the earl had her wavering.

"I am most thrilled as well. Seonghwa told me a lot about you, so I feared about the discomfort you must have felt. What is worse in a world dominated by men than to become the victim of social standards?" Hongjoong said with a thin smile. This woman was gorgeous, despite being ten years older than Seonghwa, perhaps even more. Hongjoong's male little body couldn't compete. Especially not with the curve of her full chest that pressed against the corset.

Lady Culpepper smiled, her white teeth flashing just as shining as her silver jewellery.

"True words, precious one. I must admit women get condemned far quicker than men do in this world. But let's not fret over the rights and wrongs of our society today. I welcome you both here, and I hope you have a magnificent evening."

Seonghwa nodded his head politely. His fingers were cramped into Hongjoong's side, but Hongjoong hoped nobody saw it by the tactical positioning of his arms.

"We will, thank you once more for your gracious invitation. Let us spend your birthday with joy."

Lady Culpepper smiled elegantly before she strode off. With her came a swarm of guests begging for her attention like slaves grovelling at the feet of their master. Only after she had disappeared behind a corner, some tension left Seonghwa's body. He turned to hug Hongjoong loosely, hiding his brief collapse into the other man by turning them towards the buffet. Mindful of the eyes on them, Hongjoong supported him.

"What a lovely lady," he said, both in sarcasm and in fascination with her confidence. He believed Seonghwa the claim that she had grown bored with married life and searched for something new. She seemed like a woman not easy to tie down.

"She is. Terrifying, but ever so alluring. She took a liking to you," San said as he popped up on their side. They got themselves some snacks and searched for a quiet corner to sit.

"I wonder if that comes in my favour."

"She was surprised you and I are a real item," Seonghwa muttered. Wooyoung choked on his food. When San patted his back worriedly, Hongjoong grimaced as an apology. With teary eyes, Wooyoung waved it off.

"Oh, you are? Why are we the last to know?" When his eyes flickered at Hongjoong with the same question pressing in them as for everyone else, Hongjoong nodded reassuringly. Baffled, Wooyoung leaned back into the couch.

"We've also only known for a couple of days. Some revelations came out with the terror Yunho imposed on us."

San nodded darkly.

"I can imagine. Those were some sinister hours and they would take their toll on anyone. I'm glad we won't have to go through that again. Speaking of, how are your injuries, Hongjoong?"

While they delved into explanations about Hongjoong's health and a vaguely outlined version of how the truth had reached Seonghwa's ears, the party passed in peace. They didn't tell Wooyoung and San while in public about the news regarding his gender; still on edge after the lady's impression. Later in the evening, Seonghwa took off for a while to talk to Lord and Lady Culpepper near the couches while Hongjoong peered at the back of his head every so often. The earl also played a song for the lady's birthday. While Hongjoong didn't like the fire burning in her eyes while she watched him play, he also saw no need to fret.

The party ended a success and without further incidents. On their way out, San assured the couple the rumours had got much better that evening, and that there was little doubt left about Hongjoong's authenticity regarding his relationship to Seonghwa.

After a fine day of many triumphs, the couple went back home while Seonghwa napped in Hongjoong's lap with his dark hair spilling over his white skirts.