TYMIR Ch 32

At the warm words that seemed to soothe his heart, Yoonyi gave a bitter smile. His small face was still clouded with worry, like a fog.

“I was bored, but thanks to you, I got a good look around my territory, so it’s fine. Didn’t I tell you before? It is difficult for one who is not human to live mixed among them.”

As if about to depart suddenly again, the Mountain Lord stretched his front paws out long.

“If it is so hard to endure, how about you come with me now?”

Then he asked, rolling only his eyes to stare intently at Yoonyi.

“……L-Lord of the Mountain, why are you so kind to me?”

He was inwardly curious. The reason he offered a warm hand, both then and now, without change.

“Because you are neither human nor beast, I pity you.”

“That’s true……. Neither human, nor beast.”

Yoonyi’s gaze wavered. He murmured like an echo with a resigned, detached expression.

“Will you come with me?”

Once again, the gentle question cut through the air on the wind and entered his ears. Yoonyi quietly bit his lip.

“No, I am grateful for the offer, but I wish to stay here a little longer.”

“If you do, then come find me anytime using the method I told you.”

The Mountain Lord’s eyes curved slightly as he tapped the ground with his tail. The dry grains of dirt from his plump tail kicked up a cloud of fine dust and scattered in all directions.

“Th-thank you, Lord of the Mountain.”

“Don’t thank me. If I had my way, I’d rather not see you again in the future.”

“……Pardon? Why do you suddenly say such a thing?”

“When you come to find me on your own, won’t it surely be when you are more tired and weary than you are now?”

When Yoonyi asked back in a slightly trembling voice, the Mountain Lord replied, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Ah……”

“Farewell, among those who belong to neither this nor that, there should at least be one who gets along well with the humans.”

I hope nothing difficult happens to you. How could he say it in such a roundabout way? Yoonyi finally let out a short sigh. The Mountain Lord, who was watching him blankly, began to move again. The enormous tiger disappeared completely into the bushes in an instant, leaving no trace behind.

“The Lord of the Mountain is a kind person, just like the young master.”

Yoonyi moved his lips as if possessed. Then he covered his own mouth. How could he be thinking of him even at this moment? Still, thanks to the comfort he received, he felt a little better.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“Oh my, Yoonyi, where have you been all this time?”

As Yoonyi, who had been wandering for a long while, entered the main courtyard, Yeonggil’s wife hurriedly followed him.

“……Did something happen?”

“Over there, look.”

At his innocent question, Yeonggil’s wife abruptly pointed her finger somewhere. His wandering eyes soon followed her rough fingertip.

There, Hyowon, who must have returned at some point, sat with his back perfectly straight. Even Lord Kim and Madam Han, who had been keeping to their rooms claiming they were unwell for some reason, were there. The atmosphere was so congenial that it was strange at first glance.

At the unfamiliar sight, Yoonyi’s gaze turned to Hyowon again. A glimpse of his pale white skin was visible under his neatly worn gat. And in front of him, a beautiful young lady with a neatly braided ribbon in her hair was continuously covering her cheeks as if shy. What was he seeing right now? For a moment, his vision swayed.

“My, don’t they look so good together? Right?”

Yeonggil’s wife clapped her hands with a smack and continued to shower them with admiration. What on earth was going on? Yoonyi didn’t even dare to approach, watching Hyowon from a distance with empty eyes.

“……What is happening?”

The drawn-out silence broke, and Yoonyi’s voice trembled precariously.

“What do you mean? You heard, didn’t you? That Madam was looking for a match for young master Hyowon. Just when word came that Lady Hongyeon and her father, Lord Hong, were passing through here, Madam thought this was the perfect chance and quickly arranged a meeting.”

As if by a lie, all the coincidences had fallen perfectly into place. Lord Kim smiled, his eyes curving continuously, as if he was greatly pleased with the young lady who would become his future daughter-in-law. And the two people sitting opposite each other exchanged occasional glances while having refreshments. It was a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

“It turned out really well, didn’t it? But this is strange. I thought the young master would break up the meeting at once, given his temperament.”

Yeonggil’s wife, who had been watching for a while, belatedly tilted her head in confusion. Both in the past when they tried to arrange meetings a few times, and when he received love letters through servants, Hyowon would always show his discomfort and make a run for it.

But today, the atmosphere seemed truly different. It was as if he had become a different person overnight. Hyowon’s bright blue dopo was still reflected on the surface of his tear-filled eyes.

“Huh? Why are only the two of them coming out?”

Just then, Hyowon stood up first, and the young lady sitting opposite him also rose cautiously. The two of them looked so good together, like a pair of mandarin ducks. As Hyowon descended from the pavilion, his gaze was constantly directed behind him. Unlike his cool expression, he repeatedly stopped whenever the young lady following him fell behind, and like that, the two entered the inner courtyard.

“……I will go back to the sarangchae first.”

Yoonyi deliberately turned away, forcing himself not to watch, and turned on his heel.

“Huh? You’re not waiting for the young master?”

Ignoring the question that followed him from behind, Yoonyi moved his legs quickly. The path to the small sarangchae was even quieter than usual. Yoonyi, who was walking under the wall with his head down, slowly came to a halt. The image of the two, like a pair of mandarin ducks, still seemed to flicker before his eyes.

“……What is this disgraceful behavior.”

He truly could not understand himself. Even the faint scent of powder had felt like it would make the ball of fire deep in his chest erupt, but seeing the two of them together now made his stomach churn as if he had indigestion. For the sake of the future, that was the right thing.

Yoonyi stealthily took out the norigae he had kept in his clothes. The transparent jade gleamed faintly whenever the sunlight touched it.

“Why would you give me something like this.”

A complaint unexpectedly slipped from his lips. Startled, Yoonyi glanced around. Everyone had flocked to the main building, so thankfully there wasn’t even an ant here. Yoonyi shoved the clutched norigae deep into his clothes and walked toward the small sarangchae.

🎐⋆｡🍥

Hyowon’s slow steps came to a stop under a well-tended plum tree.

“Young master, why did you ask to see me alone?”

The woman who had been diligently following him spoke. Her tone was so delicate it could have faded away on a passing breeze.

“I must first offer my apologies. I am sorry.”

“……Pardon?”

Hyowon bowed his head and replied in a calm tone. At the incomprehensible apology, the woman’s neat eyebrows trembled.

“I will be direct. I would like you to withdraw from the marriage.”

“Young master, are you doing this because you are perhaps not pleased with me?”

The eyes of Hongyeon, the daughter of Lord Hong’s house, wavered pitifully.

“No. You are too good for me.”

“If that is so, then why? At the very least, could you tell me the reason……”

His expression was as cold as the midwinter night sky. It was hard to believe he was the same person who had exuded such a gentle atmosphere just a moment ago. At Hyowon’s starkly changed attitude, Hongyeon’s voice trembled pitifully.

A reason. Hyowon suppressed a sigh at Hongyeon’s words. She was a woman who was too good for him in every aspect, but that could not be a reason for marriage.

“There is someone I have held in my heart for a long time.”

“Is that so. ……Actually, I have seen you from afar before, young master.”

The eyes of the man who, just a moment ago, had been sitting like a scarecrow with a vacant expression, regained their vitality. Hongyeon, who had been watching him blankly, continued to speak calmly.

“What do you mean by that……?”

“You may not know, young master, but I am aware that there has been talk of marriage since I was a child. So I came to see you secretly without my father knowing.”

“Is that so.”

He had never known, as he had run away every time the topic of marriage came up. He had thought today’s event was simply a coincidence, but since when had this been planned without his knowledge? It was truly confusing. However, Hyowon swallowed everything and replied like a person devoid of emotion.

“You were so upright and wonderful, I thought I would like you to be my husband. But it seems I am too late.”

Hongyeon, who had just entered her sweet sixteen, blushed red. She lowered her head slightly as if to hide it.

“……Could you not marry me, and take the one you hold in your heart as a concubine?”

Hongyeon, forcing back her tears, barely managed to part her lips.

“I cannot do that. That would be a disservice to both people.”

After all, his own mother was a concubine. He had never met her to know if she was loved or what kind of person she was, but embracing two people was a cruel thing in many ways. Thus, Hyowon replied coldly.

“I knew you would say that, young master.”

“……If so.”

Then a faint smile appeared on Hongyeon’s face. Hyowon, who was watching her quietly, asked nonchalantly.

“Yes, I will speak to my father and have this matter canceled.”

“I am truly grateful, and again, I am sorry.”

Hongyeon lifted the corners of her mouth into a wide, relieved smile. Her beautifully raised lips drew an elegant curve. Not having the confidence to face her directly, Hyowon bowed his waist again.

“To think you would bow your head like this… I don’t know who she is, but I envy her.”

Hongyeon murmured with a bitter expression as she watched Hyowon’s posture.

“I hope you too will meet a good person, Lady Hongyeon.”

“I must. My father so wishes for me to marry.”

“I will escort you.”

“No, it’s alright. Please, go directly to your quarters.”

At that, Hyowon was about to turn his body to go back the way he came. But then, Hongyeon’s voice, which had been calm all along, gained strength.

“Why do you say that?”

“From a while ago, you weren’t looking at me, but have been continuously looking towards the small sarangchae, have you not?”

Although his body was here, his mind had been on Yoonyi the whole time, and it seemed his actions had revealed it. Hyowon bowed his waist again, his neck flushing red.

“For understanding me like this. I am truly ashamed.”

“Still, I feel relieved to have at least had this one conversation. So you don’t have to feel so apologetic.”

“Thank you.”

The worry that had pooled on his face vanished as if evaporated by the setting sun. The summer sun had tilted silently without a sound. Hyowon gave a light nod and coldly turned his back.