Chapter 20
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- Harmony
Perhaps due to heading southeast, the air touching their cheeks grew milder with each passing day. After recovering from his illness and getting back on his feet, Yun-seo felt even lighter. He rode his horse like a fish taking to water until Hwi admonished him, making him exercise restraint.
Before long, a fragrance of flowers drifted in from somewhere, and soon a flower hill full of blooming plum trees appeared. Yun-seo gasped at the magnificent sight unfolding not far away.
“It’s fully spring now. How beautiful. Which season do you like best, my lord?”
“I dislike them all.”
“What? Why?”
“Does there need to be a reason?”
Not just disliking one season but all seasons—it was puzzling how such an answer could emerge. Perhaps he had just answered carelessly because he found the question bothersome. This man did have a somewhat unpleasant side…
“What’s that? That disrespectful look.”
“Hmm, I like all four seasons. Spring is lovely with blooming flowers, summer with its deep greenery, autumn with its high sky and changing leaves, and winter with its beautiful falling snow.”
“That’s precisely why I dislike them, but seeing you enjoy them, it seems you’ve had a pleasant life.”
It was hard to tell whether his indifferent, lukewarm tone was sincere or joking. Even if he didn’t particularly enjoy life itself, he didn’t seem like he would find it burdensome either, so Yun-seo wondered if there was some meaning he couldn’t grasp.
“Yes, living is a joyful thing.”
“What was so joyful about it?”
“Just… when you’re alive, the possibilities are endless, aren’t they?”
Hwi turned his head to look at Yun-seo. His pitch-black eyes were as if looking at something unfamiliar, and the indecipherable gaze made Yun-seo’s nape tingle.
“What do you want to do?”
“My dream is to write travel journals. I want to travel everywhere and record the beauty of mountains and rivers, the ups and downs of human affairs, wealth and poverty, beauty and ugliness… all of it.”
This was the first time he had shared his dream with anyone other than Yeondeok. As he talked, Yun-seo got so excited that he rambled on about the vast blueprint he had drawn in his naivety. By the time he finished speaking, his cheeks had turned slightly red, and realizing this, he felt somewhat embarrassed and gave an awkward laugh.
Though his aspirations might seem amateurish to Hwi, who had traveled the world and knew its ways, Hwi showed no sign of mockery. He simply threw out a single question.
“It won’t be easy to achieve that dream in your situation.”
“…Yes. But isn’t it the intention that matters? Once I reach my aunt’s house, I’ll work diligently and try my best.”
Rather than settling in one place, it would be nice to travel around, finding work while writing travel journals. He knew it was an unrealistically optimistic plan given his current circumstances, but what of it? Pleasant fantasies were available to everyone.
“Did you have anything you wanted to do, my lord? Before you properly took over the merchant group’s affairs.”
Though he clearly asked a question, the other’s silence made him feel awkward. While grumbling to himself that Hwi didn’t eat his meals heartily but devoured his words, he heard a mumbling voice.
“Come to think of it, I was similar to you.”
“To me?”
“I thought I would live traveling freely.”
It was somewhat unexpected that Hwi had dreamed of such a life. His words “thought I would” suggested that wasn’t the case now—did that mean he couldn’t, or simply that he hadn’t chosen to? If he was the eldest son, it would have been difficult to pursue everything according to his own wishes.
In truth, Hwi being a merchant still didn’t quite register with Yun-seo. Neither leading a merchant group nor living freely as a traveler seemed to fit him perfectly. Would it be more suitable to say he belonged in government service? It was impossible to imagine him working under someone else, so he would have to be a very high-ranking official.
But even then, he would ultimately be under the emperor… Yes, perhaps being the leader of a merchant group was better.
“What did you want to do while traveling?”
“Well. I can’t remember.”
“Though you must have constraints, it’s not difficult for you to move around, is it?”
“True.”
“Then travel extensively while you’re still in your prime. Perhaps you’ll come to like at least one season.”
The man matched well with winter—that uniquely cool, refreshing scent that makes your nose tingle, the white snow piled on green pine needles that withstand the cold, and the pleasant harmony when warm sunlight meets cold air.
Someday, Yun-seo hoped Hwi would cherish those aspects of winter. When that day came, would he remember his words?
Once they safely reached Yehang, they would part ways. As long as Hwi remained in this country, meeting again would be unlikely.
Where there are meetings, partings naturally follow, yet somehow it felt strange. Yun-seo’s clear eyes, capturing Hwi’s back as he rode ahead calmly, wavered as if becoming cloudy.
At that moment, a sudden breeze blew, tickling his nose with a bright floral scent. While conversing, they had already arrived at the flower hill.
“Shall we rest for a while?”
Yun-seo followed Hwi, dismounting to walk among the flowering trees. The fully bloomed red and white plum blossoms intermingled, spreading beautiful fragrance and delighting the eyes, making it feel like entering a paradise.
“They’re truly beautiful.”
Yun-seo was admiring the magnificent scenery surrounding him when he saw Hwi standing among the flowering trees and concealed his surprise. He had vaguely thought Hwi matched well with winter, but seeing him now, he harmonized with the blooming flowers too.
When a branch of red plum blossoms touched the end of Hwi’s hairpin, a cluster of flowers looked like a natural ornament, changing his typically sharp and ascetic impression. Like a drop of rich red paint falling onto an austere ink painting…
“You’ll burn a hole if you keep staring like that.”
As Hwi took a step toward Yun-seo and the flower branch brushed against his head before moving away, Yun-seo, who had been entranced, finally came to his senses. Realizing he had been staring at Hwi as if spellbound, his face grew hot, and he frowned instead.
“Speaking of which, you’re the one who always stares intensely, my lord.”
“Is that so?”
As he took one large step forward, the distance between them suddenly closed. Yun-seo shrank like a cornered animal and widened his eyes.
“I’ve been staring intensely, so why hasn’t a hole appeared yet?”
Hwi thrust his face forward as if genuinely curious. With Hwi’s face suddenly right in front of him, Yun-seo tried to step back, but Hwi grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let go.
“Why, why are you doing this…”
His voice retreated into his throat. It was surprising that Hwi was aware of his own gaze, but the fact that he didn’t care at all somehow made Yun-seo indignant. However, all he could do was tilt his head back to put even a little distance between them.
As the distance widened, Hwi’s eyebrow twitched as he leisurely observed Yun-seo’s reaction. Sensing that this man seemed quite intent on teasing him, Yun-seo pressed his lips together. Then Hwi’s gaze drifted downward.
As Yun-seo became aware of Hwi’s movement, his own gaze followed downward, landing on Hwi’s lips.
While staring blankly, the tendon in Hwi’s jaw tensed and then relaxed. Soon the grip on Yun-seo’s arm loosened, and Hwi moved away as quickly as he had approached.
Hwi released Yun-seo’s arm and turned away, taking long strides. Yun-seo, who had been blinking in confusion, frowned deeply. He couldn’t understand what Hwi was doing with him.
As Yun-seo hurriedly followed Hwi, intending to confront him, he slowed his steps when he heard clear laughter from ahead and saw women dressed in colorful, beautiful clothes.
Among the plum trees stood a very large hackberry tree, and women were playing on a swing tied to its thick branch. The scene looked so joyful that Yun-seo’s face, which had stiffened from the earlier incident, softened.
“Hey! Why are you just watching?”
At that moment, a woman standing by the swing turned to look at Hwi and Yun-seo and asked with a smile. Yun-seo awkwardly smiled and shook his head. However, the three women who had been playing among themselves suddenly approached and instantly surrounded the two men.
“Did you two come here to play?”
“Or are you just passing by?”
“Hmm, this one seems like no ordinary person, and this one appears quite young?”
The three women whispered among themselves, and their voices were all pleasant like rolling jade beads. As Yun-seo was watching curiously, one of the women abruptly asked him:
“Would you like to try that swing?”
“What? Ah, no.”
“Why not? There’s an interesting story about that swing.”
“A story?”
The mention of a story was enticing, but when the woman suddenly grabbed his wrist, Yun-seo couldn’t help being flustered. However, his attention was quickly diverted.
Hwi, who had been standing slightly ahead, turned to look at Yun-seo and was about to reach out his hand. Suddenly, Yun-seo bowed his head toward the woman.
“Your fragrance is lovely. What scent are you wearing?”
He was curious about what could overpower the plum blossom scent filling the hill, but after a brief silence, laughter erupted among the women. Confused, he glanced at Hwi, but seeing his disapproving gaze only made him more bewildered.
“You’re quite skilled at charming women.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
