The conversation between Tae Kim and the cold glare wearing prince lasted quite a bit as the prince mentioned all sorts of added details he demanded after being degraded so by a peasant so low as a mere pupil of a famous Gonryongpo weaver.
With each added detail he picked up from the large man, the more his heart began to beat, thudding against his chest like a dove trying to escape a cage to be freed in the beautiful baby blue colored skies.
Iseul wanted to run, run and never look back at the tea house again, but that idea soon got swept off the table once he noticed a shiny metal in the corner of his eyes, was that a... It couldn't be, how could someone, even a prince, walk around with a hwando? ...Was this prince chasing him to cut him down with that exact sword?
Iseul managed to look up with his big chestnut brown eyes, right at the prince who was fixated on his mentor; Despite this man named Jun-Suk Jang carrying a terrifying demeanor and mystery, he had a beautiful chiseled face with sharp details that matched with his sharp personality.
The small candle lights from the tea house all around reflected beautifully in his pearly grey eyes and ink black hair that could beautifully compare to his famous calligraphy arts. Iseul looked down at his hands once more and let out a noticeable sigh which made the two older men look down at him, neither of them saying a single word before Tae Kim told him to get up on his feet so he could be brought to his room.
Room? He had possessions? But how... He's never been to this place, or has he? He couldn't remember ever having dreamt about being a weaver in the Joseon dynasty era.
The more he started to grind through his memories, opening every drawer he could find, the more he began to doubt himself and his whole existence.
His feet began to wander behind the mentor on their own while Iseul looked lost in gloomy skies; Not noticing the prince looking him up and down with a softened look in his eyes.
It was truly surprising how the one who was supposedly the closest to him, Tae Kim, didn't seem to notice something was off in this situation, or perhaps he couldn't care less and wanted to keep a good name with the royal family? No, it's not the time to doubt about the only kind face he has around now.
How could he think ill of someone who had most likely saved his head from hitting the dirty mud, drenched in crimson liquid that ran through everyone's veins.
The young boy was brought to a large house where many others were who dressed just like him, carrying threads and other tools; Other students? Perhaps he could make himself comfortable here after all... They seemed to be in the same age range and position as he was, or were they? Were they assigned to weave the robes of a prince as well?
His thoughts were cut short by Tae Kim lightly patting his head "Iseul-" did he just call him by his name? "Iseul, you must take a bath before we go over the theories once more," he did! He carried the same name... At least his name felt like home.
He got escorted to the bathhouse of the estate, a large room holding many tubs with warm steaming water with charming bottles holding different scents. Once he was guided inside, he was left on his own, thankfully.
Iseul took off the muddied up attire and stepped into the warm water that warmed up his pale cold skin, this was exactly what he needed... A comfortable warm bath to brush off his anxiety and worry.
If he could, he would dissolve in this bath and have everyone forget about him, but sadly he wasn't made of sugar, bath salts or any other material that would dissolve in water.
When the door opened, he sat up abruptly, instinctively crossing his arms over his chest while his hands covered his shoulders, but there was no worry there of anyone invading his space, it was just a maiden bringing him new freshly washed clothing while his old attire got picked up for cleaning.
After a while, he figured it was time for him to get moving and learn how to weave these garments, the most time he got to practice, the better he could perform... Or rather... Get out of this situation.
Once he managed to figure out how to get in this complicated to put on yet simple looking attire, he stepped out of the bathhouse, into new shoes made of the same straw with his soft socks.
He saw his mentor approach him with a kind smile which he returned, he figured since he had studied some etiquette from this era, he'd perform them, so... He bowed slightly for the mentor who let out a soft chuckle "There there" Tae Kim fixed up his attire by patting down some clumsy wrinkles around his shoulders "you seem to be adjusting back again... That soothes me."
He was a kind man, he trusted him already.
The two of them moved to a room full of beautiful thread of many colors, some even golden and silver... Such expensive material that he had to touch? How thrilling.
Iseul carefully reached out to a strange instrument "...I forgot how to use it..." He lied, he had never touched such instrument in his life, but how could he say that to his mentor who seemed to have had a past with him creating robes? He'd be seen as a lunatic if he wasn't seen like that already.
Tae Kim let out a small huff before slowly guiding his hands over his to teach him the movement to flow with the instrument like water down a peaceful pond made of wood and thread.
The soft gentle hands made his stomach jump in different directions, how embarrassing... Not the time! He had to focus on the usage of this tool which he seemed to be a natural at. His work looked a little rough and detached at first, but eventually he got the just of it.