This Burns My Heart Page 0,35

laughed as well, as if trying to pass his comment off as a joke.

“I should ask someone more objective. Someone who has nothing to gain from this,” said Iseul. He then turned to Soo-Ja in a theatrical manner. “Not long ago, you were in the same boat that I am. What do you think of this family? Are you glad you married into it?”

“I’m not sure what you mean by that,” said Soo-Ja, trying to buy time. She knew that everyone’s eyes suddenly fell on her. She also knew what lies they expected her to say: This is a wonderful family.

“I’m asking a simple question,” said Iseul, his manner growing a little more impatient. “I’m asking if you recommend that I take your in-laws as my in-laws.”

Soo-Ja looked around her. She could see her mother-in-law piercing daggers into her with her eyes, and Na-yeong looking as if she was about to faint. But Soo-Ja had never been able to lie when asked a direct question.

“I’m sorry, Iseul, but I cannot answer that.”

With that, Soo-Ja excused herself and rose to leave. She reached for Hana and the bucket of fish, and then made her way out. She knew the suitor would not stay much longer and, in spite of Mother-in-law’s efforts, would probably never return.

The punishment came swiftly.

That same night, Soo-Ja came to her room to discover that someone had gone through her things. As Soo-Ja opened her drawers and looked through them, she realized her bag of cosmetics was gone. She wondered if one of the boys had taken it, as a prank.

After she put Hana to bed, Soo-Ja decided to find Mother-in-law and ask her if she had her makeup kit. Soo-Ja found her in her quarters, sitting on the floor with Na-yeong in front of her, brushing her daughter’s long, silken hair. Mother-in-law’s room was one of the largest in the house, and the only one with a mirror. Egg-shaped, with a cherry frame around it, the mirror sat atop a large chest decorated with a painting of long-tailed dragons. The chest, which was Mother-in-law’s pride and joy, had been inlaid with paper-thin layers of bull’s horn that were attached to the oak wood, and the horn plate had the odd effect of making the chest look as if it were made entirely of translucent bull’s horn, when in fact it was only the outer layer.

“Eomeonim, I wonder if I may have your attention for a second?” Soo-Ja asked after her initial bow. She sat in front of her mother-in-law, with her knees touching the floor and her bottom resting on her ankles, her body feeling awkward but in the proper position for a well-bred young lady.

“You can have it for a moment. I’m going to bed soon. It has been an exhausting day,” said Mother-in-law, never taking her eyes off her own daughter.

“I just wanted to know if you borrowed my makeup kit,” Soo-Ja asked in a restrained voice.

“Makeup kit? Why are you bothering me about a makeup kit?” asked Mother-in-law, still facing her own daughter. “A single girl, I can see why she’d own a makeup kit. She needs to make herself attractive for her suitors. But a married woman? Why would a married woman need a makeup kit?”

Soo-Ja held her tongue at this, arching her eyebrows. “Just so you know, I wasn’t wearing any makeup today,” she said.

“Oh? Is it because you think you are so beautiful that you don’t need it?” asked Mother-in-law, looking away from the mirror for the first time.

Soo-Ja rested her bottom on the floor, trying to remain calm.

“What did you do with my makeup kit? Did you do something to it?”

“And if I did?”

“That was my kit, purchased with my money, from before I was married to Min,” said Soo-Ja, her blood starting to boil. “It was a kit from Europe, from Paris. Very expensive. I used it sparingly, to make it last longer, since I knew I wouldn’t be able to get a new one for a long time to come. Please, give it back.”

Mother-in-law looked at her with disgust. “For as long as you live in my house, you’re not to wear any makeup. Keep your face the way God made it.”

Mother-in-law reached inside her bandaji and produced Soo-Ja’s makeup kit. She tossed it at her daughter-in-law.

“I’m sorry about what happened with Iseul,” said Soo-Ja, trying to speak evenly. “But that does not give you an excuse to take my things.”

Mother-in-law looked angrily at Soo-Ja, while Na-yeong watched