Chapter 44
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“Is this the place?”
“Do you like it?”
Yun-seo opened his eyes wide and looked around at the house they were approaching.
Beyond the low wall, a red-flower tree spread its branches wide, welcoming guests with its gorgeous crimson blossoms that hung like red lanterns. The residence stood apart from the village, surrounded by pine trees that grew in elegant curves, creating a serene atmosphere.
After passing through the main gate, they saw the modest main building with its small garden and a tiny servants’ quarters. The main house was a single-story structure where all rooms were connected by passages and corridors, forming one unified building. Yun-seo liked that one could move between rooms without having to go through the courtyard.
The furniture and decorations inside the house were neither flashy nor plain. Everything possessed elegance and refinement, with each item complementing the others, revealing the discerning eye of whoever had furnished the interior.
When Hwi had called for a real estate agent to arrange accommodations, Yun-seo had said any place would do since they were in a hurry, but he never expected such a splendid and tasteful house would be waiting for him.
“You didn’t have much time, yet how did you prepare everything so perfectly?”
“It’s small and cramped.”
“Not at all. It’s perfect for two people. If we keep all the doors open, I think I’ll be able to hear everything you’re doing, which is rather exciting.”
“Ah, so that’s why my neck was tingling. You’re planning to keep track of my every move.”
“You’re only realizing this now?”
Yun-seo deliberately lifted his chin with a coy expression. Hwi smiled, eyes crinkling, and kissed Yun-seo’s chin. Yun-seo immediately ducked his head and awkwardly touched his lips.
“Is that all your boldness amounts to? You held your chin so high, almost reaching the sky.”
“How could anyone’s chin possibly reach that high?”
Yun-seo mumbled under his breath, and Hwi’s eyes grew warmer with laughter as they gazed down at him. Whenever Yun-seo sensed the affection in those eyes, he felt as though his feet were floating off the ground. He wiggled his toes and then grasped the edge of Hwi’s sleeve.
“Thank you. For preparing such a wonderful place. I feel sorry that I couldn’t contribute anything.”
In truth, he laughed helplessly, realizing his situation—he had nothing to offer except his heart. He would need to think deeply about how he could contribute in the future.
Hwi cupped Yun-seo’s cheek, lifting his downcast gaze. With a faint smile on his serious face, he said:
“They say husband and wife are one body, so what’s in our hands should be one as well. What’s mine is yours, so this is essentially arranged by you too.”
This man who usually enjoyed teasing him offered such tender comfort at times like this, leaving Yun-seo at a loss. Moreover, the term “husband and wife” felt unfamiliar and awkward. Though they hadn’t yet been married and couldn’t truly be called a couple, he would need to get used to such terms soon.
Just days ago, he never dreamed he would promise to share his life with someone. It was strange how his life had taken this direction. Unable to respond, Yun-seo bit his lip, then suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”
“This is no time for this. We should go to the sea!”
The coastal village where Yun-seo and Hwi had decided to nest was close to the ocean, and today was the day Yun-seo would see the sea for the first time in his life. If they had headed to their original destination of Yehang, he would have seen it eventually, but changing their direction to this place gave him the opportunity to see the ocean sooner.
Yun-seo left the main house with light, almost skipping steps. As he urged his lord to hurry along, Hwi shook his head as if indulging him and followed behind.
“Don’t fall.”
As Yun-seo ran down the slope, Hwi suddenly appeared beside him and grabbed his arm. Yun-seo smiled innocently and, holding Hwi’s hand, slowed his pace.
When the dense pine forest began to thin, a refreshing sound came from not far away. Yun-seo, who had been chatting affectionately with Hwi, turned his head at the sound. Soon, through the gently curved pine trunks, the glittering blue waves came into view. Yun-seo stopped in place and let out a distant exclamation.
The azure water stretched endlessly as if embracing the clear sky. The undulating waves were brilliant, as though they contained sprinkles of powder scattered by the sun. It was similar to a lake but with a different landscape. This scenery was beyond comparison.
Yun-seo stared blankly at the magnificent view surrounding him, then let go of Hwi’s hand and ran forward. As he pushed through the pine trees, a moist breeze brushed his cheeks, and soon a snow-white sandy beach appeared.
He slowly walked across the sand, which looked like finely ground jewels, until he reached where the waves crashed. The edge of the sea, adorned with white foam, approached and receded like the swaying skirt of a dancing performer.
“Ah…”
So this is the sea. Now he instantly understood why the great poets had praised the ocean so much, why they sang that they would have no regrets if they could just stay by the sea and catch fish.
It was just water—water that existed widely and deeply—yet it was so vast and beautiful that it reduced him to a mere speck. He didn’t mind that. The fact that he belonged here as just a tiny dot filled him with profound emotion.
“This must be your first time seeing it.”
Hwi, who had arrived shortly after, stood close beside Yun-seo. Yun-seo nodded and, unable to contain his emotions, grabbed Hwi’s arm.
“You must have seen the sea before, my lord?”
“I’ve seen it, but I’ve never been this close to it.”
“Really? Why not? When it’s so beautiful…”
“I was always in a hurry on official business and only saw it in passing.”
“To have to pass by such scenery—you must have had many hardships, my lord.”
“Because of that, I get to experience it for the first time with you.”
He was about to feel disappointed, but hearing Hwi’s response—that this was a first for both of them—made his face bloom brightly. Seeing Yun-seo like this, Hwi smiled briefly and stroked his head.
Yun-seo quietly accepted his touch, then stepped back with Hwi as the waves came closer, threatening to wet their feet.
“Why? Aren’t you going in this time?”
“I’d like to, but… will I be able to swim?”
The lake had been calm, so jumping in hadn’t been intimidating at all, but he worried that if he entrusted his body to this undulating sea, he might be swept far away in an instant. While he was contemplating whether to at least dip his feet in, Hwi swiftly removed his outer robe and tossed it aside.
“Then I’ll carry you.”
“What? But you’ve never been in the sea either, my lord.”
“If you understand the principle, you can know something without having tried it.”
His confident, relaxed expression shone brilliantly, without the slightest hesitation. As if hypnotized, Yun-seo nodded, and Hwi immediately lifted him onto his back and removed his shoes and foot wrappings. While his exposed bare feet curled their toes in shyness, Hwi strode into the seawater.
When the water reached their thighs, Yun-seo’s feet were suddenly immersed in the sea. Despite the day being thoroughly mild with warm sunshine, the water temperature was quite cold. The moment Yun-seo timidly kicked his feet, Hwi suddenly lowered his body and submerged completely underwater.
Yun-seo clung tightly to Hwi’s neck, his eyes wide open, holding his breath. Hwi gently parted the water with his long arms and descended deeper.
Hwi swam gracefully without even kicking, moving through the seawater as if it were his home with just subtle movements. Yun-seo thought that if mermaids from the books he had once read truly existed, they might look something like this.
Just as Yun-seo was getting accustomed to it, Hwi surfaced to allow them to breathe, then plunged deep inside again.
As they approached a nearby reef, silver-scaled fish quickly darted past them. On the rocks where seaweed swayed, there was something Yun-seo had never seen before. The crimson object looked just like five fingers attached in different directions, which was fascinating.
When Yun-seo pointed at it with his hand, Hwi unhesitatingly detached it from the rock and held it out to him. Yun-seo was startled but couldn’t resist his curiosity; he lightly touched it and then jerked his hand back, shocked by the strange texture. When their eyes met immediately afterward, they burst into laughter. Seawater entered his mouth, and he quickly closed it as Hwi hurriedly returned to the surface.
“Puha!”
After spitting out the water that had filled his mouth, the bitter taste lingered on his tongue, causing his brow to furrow involuntarily. Even that was enjoyable, and Yun-seo shook off the water droplets on his eyelashes, laughed, and hugged Hwi tighter.
“How do you swim so well? It seems you swim better than the fish, my lord.”
“You’re flattering me without even moistening your lips.”
“I’ve never flattered anyone before!”
As he retorted with a deliberately innocent face, Hwi laughed cheerfully. His elongated eye corners were so pleasing to look at that Yun-seo tilted his head to gaze at him and ended up laughing along.
*Real estate agent: An intermediary who deals with property transactions, similar to today’s real estate agents.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
