Chapter 15
It could have been just a passing shower, but if it was the rain that would end the drought, it would be a very welcome blessing. Hwi briefly met eyes with Yun-seo, who was immersed in joy as if it were his own concern, then gave a small nod.
“We should hurry.”
At this rate, they would surely end up soaked like drowned rats. Yun-seo grabbed the reins hurriedly as Hwi had suggested.
However, the two hadn’t gone far before they had to take shelter under a zelkova tree.
The large tree was good for avoiding the rain, but insufficient to shield them from the downpour. Hwi took off his outer robe and pulled Yun-seo’s shoulder to bring him close, then draped the robe over both their heads. Warmth rose from the part of Yun-seo’s arm that touched Hwi’s body.
Yun-seo glanced at Hwi, who had once again removed his robe without hesitation, and casually joked.
“By the time we reach Yehang, you’ll have no robes left.”
“I’ll at least get reimbursed for this robe’s value, so don’t worry.”
“They say the wealthy are even more so, and it seems that’s true.”
Despite his grumbling, a smile played at the corners of Yun-seo’s lips.
Yun-seo reached out his hand to catch raindrops falling through the dense leaves. Although their journey was delayed because of the sudden rain, he felt no regret knowing this was the rainfall that many people had been waiting for.
“Isn’t it strange?”
“What is?”
“It started raining right after you prayed.”
Yun-seo’s rain-wet fingertips curled inward. He furrowed his brow and lowered his hand.
“That couldn’t have been because of me. It must be due to the sincere hearts of many people. If it was truly because of me, it would have started raining as soon as I prayed.”
Though he was certain it was just a coincidence, Hwi’s words made him doubt. Could it be because he was a Yeong Chunhwa…?
No, no. If Yeong Chunhwa’s prayers reached the dragon deity, wouldn’t everything in the world go according to the Yeong Chunhwa’s wishes? Except for this one instance, his prayers had never reached the dragon deity.
“If it was because of me, perhaps the dragon deity looked favorably upon the small kindness I showed to that person earlier?”
“Do you believe in the dragon deity?”
He had expected to be scolded for his rather shameless joke, but the response was an absurd question. Yun-seo’s face stiffened as he turned to look at Hwi, as if he’d heard something outlandish.
“What do you mean… Isn’t the deity someone too exalted for us to dare discuss faith in?”
Yun-seo whispered, lowering his voice as if afraid it might reach the dragon deity’s ears. Hwi looked up at the sky that was pouring rain as if through a hole.
“Well. Sometimes I think that.”
“…”
“That all of this is merely a predetermined yoke.”
Perhaps it was because of the rain, but his voice seemed to scatter faintly. Yun-seo blinked vacantly as he mulled over Hwi’s words.
At first, he thought Hwi was asking if he trusted the dragon deity, but from what he was saying now, it seemed more like he was asking if he believed in the deity’s very existence.
If so, this was an extremely irreverent statement deserving of being struck by lightning. But Yun-seo didn’t feel any desire to blame Hwi.
Do I believe in the dragon deity? Of course. Aren’t all these things happening to me ultimately originating from the deity? However, since he had never received a response to the earnest prayers he’d offered as a child, he had stopped thinking about the deity at some point. The deity does not exist to fulfill human wishes, so this too might be considered irreverent, if one wants to call it that.
If his emergence as a Yeong Chunhwa was merely a predetermined fate… if there was no divine plan, no meaning, nothing from the dragon deity…
It wasn’t concretely clear, so he couldn’t really understand. He could only fleetingly guess that he might feel an endless sense of powerlessness.
No sound could be heard except for the refreshing downpour of rain. The rising mist flowed billowingly over the mountains. Perhaps on a day like this, even the dragon deity couldn’t hear the words of the human world.
Strangely, Hwi’s face seemed to be sinking into tranquility. Was it because of the rain? He seemed to be descending, descending down with this pouring rain.
Yun-seo’s heart beat anxiously for no reason. Because this robust man who seemed impervious to any hardship now looked extremely tired, Yun-seo didn’t know what to do and, while staring at Hwi, grabbed his hand.
Hwi’s dark eyes, which had grown even darker because of the gathering rain clouds, turned to Yun-seo. Only then did Yun-seo become embarrassed by his own action.
“You—you looked lonely.”
What a foolish thing to say. Why would he suddenly feel lonely? And even if he did, such consolation would only be needed by a child. As Yun-seo’s ears turned red and he tried to withdraw his hand, Hwi grasped the fingertips that were about to slip away from his grasp.
Surprised by their interlocked hands, Yun-seo soon realized that Hwi’s hand was cold. Though the air had grown cooler because of the rain, this was a temperature that didn’t suit a robust person.
“Why is your hand so cold?”
Intending to transfer some of his warmth, Yun-seo squeezed Hwi’s hand a bit tighter, then hesitated. He suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu. As if something like this had happened before…
He looked up at Hwi, but Hwi was just quietly looking down at him. Had he ever held a man’s hand like this before? Perhaps it felt familiar because Hwi had grabbed him many times.
Though it suddenly felt awkward for two men to stand side by side holding hands, surely he could lend a hand to a man who had unhesitatingly offered his expensive robe.
Yun-seo bit his lip and turned his gaze to watch the rain soaking the earth. The warmth pooled between their clasped hands didn’t disperse, even amidst the cold raindrops.
* * *
After spending a night in a dilapidated farm shed because there was no proper place to stay, various parts of his body ached and throbbed.
Still, it was wonderful to be able to see the sky, where stars seemed to form a river through the broken roof, until he fell asleep. Having fulfilled the romance he’d associated with sleeping outdoors, it couldn’t be called a simply shabby night in the open.
Of course, he had been mocked with comments like, “This roadside life must be your calling,” but still.
“How do you alleviate boredom, my lord?”
The path they were traveling was an open field; at first, he had admired the splendid scenery, but gradually there was nothing to look at and he grew bored. For him, every place they went was a first, so it was bearable, but he wondered how those who frequently traveled and were familiar with various places coped.
“Close your eyes once and open them, and we’ll be there. Where’s the time to be bored?”
“You do exaggerate terribly.”
How nice it would be if this place were Yehang when he closed his eyes and opened them again. As Yun-seo’s lips twitched with a sullen expression, Hwi smiled wryly.
“Perhaps you’re bored because you’re still young.”
“Why bring up age here? Do you even know how old I am?”
“Seeing that you’ve put up your hair, you must be of age. But I don’t think you’re more than a year past that.”
“Despite appearances, I might actually be older than you, my lord.”
Hwi looked Yun-seo up and down, from head to toe, then snorted as if finding him laughable.
“You’re fortunate if you even have hair between your legs.”
“W-What…?”
Hair between the legs—he was speechless at how such an explicit and vulgar statement could be made so casually. With flushed cheeks, Yun-seo snapped back.
“How rude! Such lewd talk…!”
“Lewd talk? This?”
Hwi tilted his head as if hearing something completely new, then stared straight at Yun-seo and pulled the reins of his horse. As he matched pace with Yun-seo’s horse, he suddenly thrust his face toward Yun-seo, causing Yun-seo to tighten his grip on the reins and lean backward.
Their faces came close, with only the space of a finger joint between them. Yun-seo inhaled, forgetting even to blink. Hwi’s eyes lingered intently on Yun-seo’s face. It felt as if an invisible hand was caressing his cheek, but he couldn’t do anything about it.
And then, after what seemed like an eternal moment had passed.
“You haven’t even lost your peach fuzz.”
Hwi slightly raised his right eyebrow, then withdrew his head and calmly urged his horse on. Left behind, Yun-seo stared blankly at Hwi’s back before shuddering.
Anyone could see that he was being mocked. Naturally, young people disliked being told they were young, and Yun-seo was no exception. Moreover, truly, all he had between his legs was actually just downy hair, so Hwi’s words struck at his pride all the more.
Not only was his pride hurt, but not wanting to just take it like a simpleton, Yun-seo kicked his horse’s hindquarters and shouted.
“I must be much hairier than you, my lord!”
Since his birthday hadn’t come yet, Yun-seo technically wasn’t of age yet. They say black hair usually appears in the armpits and groin a few years before coming of age, but aren’t there some who develop a bit later? Yun-seo firmly believed he was one of those late bloomers.
As Yun-seo raced ahead, overtaking Hwi defiantly, he pulled on the reins when he didn’t hear anyone following. He started to feel a bit subdued, wondering if perhaps he was the one being disrespectful.
Right, his position was that of a servant. He shouldn’t forget that. But surely this much…
When he glanced back, he saw Hwi riding his horse at a slow pace. With a face that may or may not have had a hint of amusement, Hwi stared at Yun-seo before letting out a small laugh as if it was all absurd. Then, covering his eyes with one hand, he shook his head, and beneath his fingers, his lips formed a gentle curve.
Ah, if only I could see his whole face.
Yun-seo let out a wistful sigh, then feeling relieved, couldn’t help but smile along.
“Hurry up!”
As he urged his horse forward again, the horse shook its head with a snort and galloped freely across the field. The gentle breeze brushed Yun-seo’s cheeks and tickled the short grass covering the vast land.
