Kyle, the In-law
Kyle blinks in surprise when the guest Gwansoo had referred to was none other than Eugene’s noblewoman. She sat in the gazebo, looking fair and fresh, conversing with Domi as he served her tea. She smiles as she admires his blue silk vest, looking pleased when Domi blushes at her words. Kyle takes a few long strides to get there, and Domi quickly greets him with a stammered “Good morning, sir!” Aeshin moves to stand, but he waves her down, shaking his head as he takes a seat.
“I was told I had a guest,” he remarks as Domi serves him a cup of coffee. “I did not expect it to be you, my Lady.” Domi then bows and makes a quick exit, smiling as he runs. Captain Choi will be glad to know that his Lady is here!
Aeshin smiles demurely, taking a sip of her tea before she speaks in English. “I have something to give you, Major Moore.”
Kyle waves the formalities away, “Please, call me Kyle.”
She nods, and reaches somewhere at her feet. Kyle has slowly been getting used to how Koreans abruptly go straight to the point instead of making small talk, thanks to Eugene’s manners, but it still surprises him at times. She pulls up a box, which she places onto her lap. Kyle tries not to peek, but his curiosity begins to simmer. Aeshin’s eyes seem to read his expression well, for she grins at his impatience. “I was told you help me and my grandfather,” she says haltingly, still somewhat unfamiliar with the words. “So I brought gifts.”
Aeshin elaborates no further as she brings out several items, which makes Kyle stare openly at the beautiful array of things she had brought. Laying them out on the table, Aeshin points to each item, calling them by their proper name in Korean before translating it to English. Gwansoo, who had just arrived, gasps at the expensive gifts. Aeshin looks to him for help, so the interpreter takes up the mantle of describing the items to his boss. He points to each item and explains, “This is a red-silk pillow with embroidered peonies. This is a Korean poetry book. These are silk clothes for men. This is a scroll painting. This is a rare white-porcelain celadon. This is a calligraphy scroll with a four-letter proverb. And this is a carved wooden box to keep small items.” Gwansoo then exclaims, “Wow, many of these are very expensive!”
Aeshin shoots him a look of disapproval when Kyle looks mortified to be lavished with such gifts. “These are a token of my appreciation, their price is inconsequential,” she snaps to Gwansoo in Korean, before saying to Kyle. “Price does not matter. They are gifts. Please accept them.”
Realizing that Gwansoo’s outburst may have been rude, Kyle urges the interpreter to go fetch something from his office. As he stammers, “I cannot possibly accept so much!” Aeshin raises a hand, asking him to stop right there.
“You save my grandfather and me, this is very little,” she says decidedly. She leans in slightly, so as not to be overheard. “And you are Eugene Choi’s friend.” Aeshin sits back, nodding to herself. “This is very little.”
Kyle blinks, realizing the depth of nuance in that statement. She might be paying him back for saving her, but there’s an undertone beneath her gifts. A cheeky, Cheshire cat smirk spreads out before he can smother it, and the noblewoman shoots him a look. If looked at from another perspective, he is basically Eugene’s only family. And Gwansoo had once remarked that Koreans treated their in-laws with respect and expensive gifts. I’m an in-law!
Eugene arrives at a dead-run, looking frazzled to see both Aeshin and Kyle enjoying a morning in each other’s company. Domi’s right behind him, smiling so wide Kyle cannot doubt as to who told Eugene about the noblewoman’s visit. Eugene stares at them, unable to think of what to say, when Kyle casually remarks. “My boy over there is a bit off in the head, but I’d like to ask you to take good care of him for me.” Eugene looks utterly scandalized as Aeshin blushes at his words. Taking a sip of his coffee to hide his smile, Kyle revels in their adorable reactions.
