TDLWFJ 03

Chapter 3

The moment Ahn Jung-ho reached out his hand, Jung Hari’s memories surged up and swallowed her whole.

The sound of a palm cutting through the air.
The dull impact against her head and back.
And the barrage of harsh words that followed.

Hari squeezed her eyes shut and froze.

It was a typical reaction from someone who had been exposed to prolonged violence—but Ahn Jung-ho, who had never once raised a hand against anyone, was shocked for an entirely different reason.

“Hari, did something get in your eye?”

He gently took her hand. The warmth of his large palm and his soft voice slowly coaxed her eyes open.

Right in front of her, Ahn Jung-ho was looking at her with deep concern.

Seeing her own reflection in his dark, gentle eyes—so similar to hers—Hari felt a wave of relief.

She was Ahn Hari.
And Ahn Jung-ho was a kind father.

The man who had struck and shouted at Jung Hari didn’t exist in this world.

“Hari, are you unwell? Tell your father. Should I call a physician at once? Or would you like to lie down?”

Ahn Jung-ho looked as if he might immediately get up and prepare bedding for her himself.

“No, Father. I’m fine. Just like you said… something got into my eye.”

“Where? Something got into those delicate eyes of yours? It must have hurt so much.”

Over something as small as a speck of dust, Ahn Jung-ho made a great fuss.

Watching such a composed-looking man fluster himself, Hari couldn’t help but smile. Only then did he smile as well.

He sat beside her and gently patted her back.

“Hari, the mere thought of you giving something up tears your father’s heart apart. Don’t even think that way. Do everything you wish to do.”

Hari turned to look at him. Their gazes met, tightly intertwined.

“Don’t worry about your father or your brother. If the path ahead is blocked because of what you choose to do, then it was never a path meant for us to walk.”

“…What?”

“If you want to act as a legal advocate, then do so. If you want to go to court, then go.”

Hari’s eyes widened in shock.

“But just a few days ago, you said it would be better not to, since it might ruin my chances of marriage.”

As she said, Ahn Jung-ho had been concerned about her marriage prospects.

Now twenty years old, Hari was already considered past the ideal marriage age—even accounting for delays caused by national turmoil.

In Joseon society, where a wife’s duty was to remain at home, serve her in-laws, and support her husband and children, a woman working outside was already considered a flaw as a bride.

And if that work involved breaking up other people’s marriages?

And if that woman was the daughter of a high-ranking official?

It would cause quite a stir.

Though Ahn Jung-ho told her to think only of herself, reality was not so simple.

“Even straw sandals come in pairs—would our beautiful Hari not have one?”

He truly believed she was more beautiful than the legendary beauty Seosi. Her heart was as soft as silk, and her intelligence unmatched.

Surely, someday, someone worthy would appear.

Clinging to that hope, he spoke again.

“Just promise me one thing—do nothing dangerous. And if anything happens, you must tell me immediately.”

Hari was stunned.

It was natural for a father to worry for and support his daughter—but this was Joseon.

Even if this is a fictional version… can it really be this easy?

Could it be that all households were like this?

Was this Joseon secretly as progressive as modern Korea?

No way. I’ve seen firsthand how hard women live here.

Women who lost their hearing from being beaten by their husbands.
Women who had their wealth and children taken by concubines.
Women who fell ill caring for their mothers-in-law.

No one protected them.

“Just endure it.”
“If your husband hits you, you endure it.”
“What can we do? A woman’s fate is a bitter one.”

That resignation wasn’t individual—it was created by society.

This was still Joseon, after all.

And yet—

“Just don’t do anything dangerous, alright?”

Despite everything, Ahn Jung-ho chose his daughter.

Even knowing he would face criticism, even anticipating hardship in his career, he didn’t stop her.

He gently stroked the back of her hand.

The warmth of his love spread through her, making her chest ache.

This is strange…

Her eyes kept filling with tears.

Even someone who plays well can falter when the stage is formally set.

That was exactly Hari’s situation.

After hearing “Do as you wish” from Ahn Jung-ho a few days ago, she found herself hesitating even when she was about to act.

Was this his plan?

Her lawyer’s habit of analyzing and doubting people surfaced again.

But soon, she shook her head.

She couldn’t explain it—but she could feel it.

His sincerity was real.

“Is this what paternal love feels like? …How would I know? I’ve never really had it.”

Muttering to herself, she flopped onto her bed.

Even idling like this didn’t feel so bad.

To begin with, she hadn’t started acting as a legal advocate for any grand reason.

It began when she learned that the cook, Lady Damyang, was being beaten by her husband.

Lady Damyang was the one who had helped Hari grow attached to this Joseon life—her personal royal chef.

Her cooking had melted Hari’s frozen heart and soothed her rough edges.

If she had been born in another era, she could have rivaled a royal court chef.

And yet, that woman’s precious hands had been crushed by her husband.

Seeing her wrap them crudely in cloth made Hari’s blood boil.

She went straight to confront the man.

Though furious, she tried to reason with him calmly, like a lawyer.

But instead—

“Don’t meddle in other people’s business. Even if you’re the young lady of a noble house, you’ve crossed the line.”

Spit landed near her feet.

And that was it.

Hari snapped.

Not only did she convince Lady Damyang to divorce him, she drove the man out of the village.

More accurately, he ran away himself.

After Hari exposed his behavior of flirting with multiple women, he fled in fear of retaliation.

Lady Damyang’s life improved drastically.

She had a steady income, a house, and no husband or children to burden her.

Her complexion grew brighter by the day.

Soon, people around her began seeking out Hari.

They couldn’t approach her directly, so they would ask through Lady Damyang or Maldong.

Hari would then meet them “by coincidence” in the marketplace, offer consultations, write petitions for illiterate women, and even accompany them to the magistrate’s office.

And just like that—she became a legal advocate.

For a moment, she dreamed of her glamorous lawyer life from Korea.

Becoming the best divorce advocate in Joseon didn’t sound so bad either.

But…

Maybe this really won’t work in Joseon.

Just this morning, she had resolved to quit.

Yet now, her heart felt unsettled.

Then what am I supposed to do?

Lying on her bed, she stared blankly at the ceiling.

What else?

Meet a man arranged by a matchmaker, spend her life trapped indoors, bearing children and serving her husband…

“Ugh! I can’t live like that!”

Hari was a firm non-marriage believer—more precisely, a marriage pessimist.

She had seen countless couples who once loved passionately become bitter enemies.

There were no good breakups. No beautiful farewells.

Her own parents had been the same.

Imagining her future in Joseon made her face go pale.

She absolutely refused to live that way.

Enduring everything in silence for years? Impossible.

Hari shot up from her bed.

Was there any way for a noblewoman in Joseon to avoid marriage?

“There is… go mad or die.”

Both were terrible options.

Clutching her head, she pondered.

Then—

An idea struck her.

“What if I ruin my own marriage prospects? Yes, that’s it!”

Marriage requires someone willing to marry you, after all.

“If I keep working as a legal advocate, who would want to marry me? And if I’m going to live alone anyway, I’ll need financial independence.”

Hari bowed toward the direction of the men’s quarters.

“Father, I’m sorry—but I have to become a legal advocate. I’ll make sure to become the best in Joseon.”

Her eyes gleamed sharply with determination.