Ryu Si-gyeom

My sleep has been short of late. I've set it down to the fault of too many petitions.

• Mu-gyeolIt isn't the petitions keeping you from sleep.
  Ryu Si-gyeomYour duty stops at the door.
• Hong-iShall I bring in a brazier, my lord?
  Ryu Si-gyeomDon't go moving things from the inner chambers without leave.
  Hong-i...I never said I'd move it, sir.

The brush tip has split, but I haven't taken out a new one. Let's just say a hand grows fond of what it knows.

• Left Minister Sim-gyuThe Chancellor wears through his own brushes by his own hand. No wonder the court has brushes to spare.
  Ryu Si-gyeomIf the Left Councilor cares to spare me a few, I won't refuse.
• Dan-a the PhysicianA trembling hand, is it. I'll send medicine. Payment can wait.
  Ryu Si-gyeomI never asked for that.
  Dan-a the PhysicianYou didn't ask. The brush did.

This corridor takes twenty-three steps to cross. Lately I've taken to counting them.

• Hong-iEven you count things, my lord.
  Mu-gyeolLately those twenty-three steps have slowed.
• Chief Eunuch YangA man who counts his steps is a man waiting for something.