TYMIR Ch 35

“Maybe it’s best to do it before the weather gets any hotter.”

Madam Han murmured, gazing languidly out the open window.

“……Wh-what is this.”

“My lord, my lord, what is the matter all of a sudden?”

But Lord Kim’s expression was anything but ordinary. His eyes, so dark they held a bluish tint, were shaking violently. When Lord Kim’s body briefly swayed, Madam Han quickly approached and gripped his arm.

“To ask to withdraw from the marriage… what kind of bizarre……”

Lord Kim, who had been silent for a long while, finally managed to force out a single word, his face dark. His wrinkled eyelids trembled noticeably. A series of sighs escaped from his slightly parted lips.

“……Withdraw from the marriage?”

Madam Han’s gently curved eyes narrowed sharply, and a subtle strength entered her fingertips.

“That’s right. Why on earth would Lord Hong suddenly act this way?”

Lord Kim crumpled the letter in his hand and muttered limply. His face darkened as if he couldn’t understand the reason. Despite the serious atmosphere, Seunghun continued to stuff his mouth full of meat. Standing in the middle, Yeonim didn’t know what to do and just silently darted her eyes around.

“It was when Hyowon took Lord Hong’s daughter out. Is it possible some other words were exchanged then?”

Madam Han’s lips, which had been pursed as if chewing over a memory, opened, and a chilling voice flowed out.

“That can’t be. Did you not see as well, my lady? The atmosphere was so good.”

Lord Kim shook his head as if in disbelief and retorted firmly. After all, just yesterday, Hyowon had uncharacteristically remained gentle and stayed until the end.

“One can never know about that. I’m only saying this now, but I have no idea what Hyowon is thinking.”

Madam Han glanced at Seunghun, who was stuffing his cheeks with rice until they were plump, and let out a deep sigh.

“Hah, what on earth are we to do about this.”

“My lord, perhaps the reason he is reluctant to marry is because he already has another in his heart……”

An unabating sorrow settled upon his deeply wrinkled face. Madam Han, watching him quietly, let the words flow out like water.

“Another?”

Lord Kim’s eyes shot open so wide that his brow furrowed, and he asked. As his aura twisted menacingly, the air in the room froze cold.

“It is shameful to even speak of, but there is a rumor that keeps circulating……”

“A rumor? Is there something else in this house that I do not know of?”

Madam Han, who had been stealing glances, managed to speak with difficulty. But before she could finish, Lord Kim cut in sharply.

“M-my lord, this servant has also heard something.”

“How dare you interfere!”

Yeonim, who had been darting her eyes about, cowered and spoke up. At that, Madam Han’s eyes widened as she immediately shouted.

“……It’s fine, go ahead and speak.”

Lord Kim pressed on his throbbing head and lifted his weary face.

“It is about the male servant that Young Master Hyowon keeps by his side……”

“I was wondering what you were going to say!”

Just as Yeonim, filled with fright, managed to open her mouth, Lord Kim suddenly roared like a clap of thunder. His voice echoed so loudly that a startled Seunghun dropped his spoon and his eyes welled up with tears.

“Do not be so angry, my lord. I have heard it as well.”

“What? How long are you going to go on about that servant…. No. No. It’s fine, everyone may leave.”

Madam Han tried to stop him and added a word. At that, Lord Kim’s fiercely blazing gaze seemed to stab at her, but then, on some whim, he waved his wrinkled hand in the air, telling them to leave. At this, Madam Han took Seunghun and carefully stood up.

“My lady, did I perhaps speak out of turn again?”

“No, the master needs to know what he needs to know.”

As soon as they were out on the veranda, Yeonim asked, beads of cold sweat on her brow. Madam Han shook her head, her eyes cold.

“What on earth is he thinking.”

Stepping out into the courtyard, Madam Han even stopped walking and stared intently at the master’s quarters.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“It truly feels like summer is here now.”

Through the lushly grown trees, the deep blue sky of early summer spread out like a painting. As Yoonyi occasionally narrowed his eyes against the beating sun, Hyowon, who was watching him, made a shade over his smooth forehead with his hand.

“Y-Young Master. You don’t have to do this, I’m fine.”

At the canopy that appeared before his eyes, his plump earlobes immediately turned a reddish hue like cherries.

“What do you mean, you’re fine? You’ll get wrinkles if you keep scrunching your face like that.”

“Are you teasing me again?”

Hyowon’s hand, which had been gazing at him, slid down from his forehead and gently stroked the space between his eyebrows. At the playful tone dripping from his words, Yoonyi’s eyes immediately widened in a glare. The corners of his once-gentle eyes were now raised quite sharply.

“How could that be?”

Hyowon’s head tilted to the side, and then he quietly whispered into Yoonyi’s flushed ear. At the hot breath pouring out, Yoonyi subtly fidgeted one of his shoulders. The slowly walking horse had now entered a familiar field. When they first came here together, the scent of flowers had clung thickly to the blowing wind, but where the flowers had withered, green grass now grew up to their waists.

“This is truly wonderful. To see both the spring flowers and the green of summer together this year.”

At the sound of a gentle laugh, Yoonyi slightly tilted his head back. A distinct face was forming a refreshing smile.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

Yoonyi’s cheeks, which were intently taking in the sight, flushed red like spring flowers that knew no season.

“I hope we can see them together next year, too.”

“Yes, let’s do that for sure. As if that would be a difficult thing.”

“But, Young Master, where are we heading now?”

But the horse still showed no sign of stopping and continued forward. At this, Yoonyi tilted his head and asked.

“You’ve been wanting to see it for a while.”

“I have?”

“Me, shooting my bow.”

At the clear eyes looking up at him, Hyowon rubbed the tip of his nose and replied.

“Are you really going to show me you practicing?”

His composed tone immediately shot up high. A wide smile spread across Yoonyi’s face as he repeatedly looked behind him.

“Didn’t I tell you before? That we’d go together when the weather warmed up.”

Yoonyi gently placed a hand on his flat chest. As if proving it was still alive, his heart pounded violently.

“……You remembered that?”

“I have never forgotten a single thing about you, Yoonyi.”

Yoonyi turned his body almost halfway around to face Hyowon. He couldn’t even meet his eyes and just fidgeted with his lips.

“Especially the day you disappeared in those mountains……”

In the jet-black eyes that had shown no agitation, a flicker of anxiety appeared. Hyowon let out an occasional sigh. He still looked as though he hadn’t escaped the fear of that time.

“Were you that frightened?”

“……What a thing to ask. Just thinking about it still makes my heart drop.”

After a long pause, Hyowon finally managed to form the words. Not only that, but his large, bony hand quietly moved to his chest.

“I am sorry, Young Master. I will never disappear without a word again.”

“Yes, that is all I need.”

As Yoonyi hesitantly continued, Hyowon, looking pleased, curved his lips into a gentle smile and wrapped his hand so tightly around Yoonyi’s small one that it was barely visible.

And so, the horse carrying the two of them moved forward slowly, its hooves making a cheerful sound. The lush blades of grass below brushed against their dangling legs, tickling their delicate skin. Simply because everything was so peaceful and good, Yoonyi squeezed the hand he was holding even tighter.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“Whoa.”

As a firm hand pulled sharply on the reins, the advancing horse let out a whinny and slowly came to a halt. Hyowon leaped down without using the stirrup and naturally extended a hand. After a moment’s hesitation, Yoonyi, his face deeply flushed, took his hand and dismounted.

“……Is this the place?”

Yoonyi’s eyes sparkled as he looked all around. The trees were so dense and lush that they seemed to cozily enclose the area like a castle wall. But for some reason, despite never having been here before, the place felt strangely familiar. So, he inhaled deeply, filling his lungs. A comforting scent was mixed in with the occasional breeze.

“Young Master, is this mountain perhaps connected to the one behind the estate?”

Yoonyi, who had been breathing in with his eyes closed for a long while, revealed his jet-black eyes and asked. The familiar scent wafting in the air. It was none other than the Mountain Lord’s.

“How did you……”

At the sharp question, Hyowon’s pupils trembled minutely. The weeds that had gently grown up to his ankles continuously tickled the top of his traditional socks.

“I think I know why you never brought me here before, Young Master.”

Seeing his strangely anxious reaction, it seemed that although it was some distance from the estate, he hadn’t felt at ease because they shared the same mountain range. Yoonyi slowly stroked the back of the hand that was tightly gripping the bowstring and continued.

“Even now, I’m afraid you’ll suddenly disappear like you did then.”

“You are truly incorrigible.”

Hyowon’s gaze, which had been cast downward, peeked up, and he let out a petulant whine. That charming coyness was so much like his younger self that Yoonyi smiled softly.

“It’s the truth, but why won’t you believe me?”

“That’s enough. Please stop.”

Hyowon’s lips jutted out in a pout. Yoonyi reached out and gently touched the moist lips with his fingertips, as if caressing them. Each time, Hyowon’s sturdy body flinched.

“Thankfully, the weather is just perfect for shooting a bow.”

A fiery blush rushed up his straight neckline. Hyowon barely managed to compose his voice and abruptly changed the subject. At his clumsy appearance, Yoonyi let out a small laugh. The deep blue sky still spread out wide above them. And in the distance, on a target smaller than a fingernail, arrows were stuck as densely as the quills on a hedgehog, speaking to his long hours of practice.

“I am so glad I came.”

Feeling as though he had stepped into Hyowon’s secret space, Yoonyi couldn’t hide his overflowing joy.

“Since you like it so much, I am happy too. Come over here.”

Hyowon spread out the robe he had been wearing flatly under a large tree that cast a warm shade. Then he patted the surface lightly with his palm.

“Y-Young Master?”

As Yoonyi approached reluctantly with wide eyes, Hyowon quickly grabbed his dangling wrist and pulled. His bottom landed softly on the edge of the robe.

“I was worried your legs might be uncomfortable after the long ride, you see.”

Hyowon added with a soft smile. His heart felt as if it were melting into a puddle at such tenderness.

“I’ve practiced a lot, but now that you’re here to watch, Yoonyi……”

“Are you nervous?”

Hyowon, who had picked up his quiver, suddenly trailed off. He shyly glanced down at his feet. At this uncharacteristically awkward sight, Yoonyi barely managed to swallow a chuckle.

“It’s only natural, when my beloved is watching.”

When Hyowon finally lifted his head, a deep blush had spread across his cheeks and clouded the area around his eyes. Yoonyi quickly stood up and gently stroked the flushed skin with his smooth fingertips.

“……Yoonyi?”

“You will certainly do well. What are you so worried about?”

There was a strength in his calm, flowing tone. Yoonyi, his eyes still curved in a gentle smile, held out the bow.

“Thank you.”

Taking it, Hyowon pressed his lips to Yoonyi’s rounded forehead like a stamp and then slowly walked towards the target. His back, reflected in Yoonyi’s eyes, gradually grew distant. Soon, his prominent, bony hand nocked an arrow and drew the bowstring back so far it looked as if the bow might break.

His slender eyes gazed at the distant target, as if taking aim. At the sight of the man, all playfulness gone and replaced by a serious demeanor, Yoonyi’s own mouth felt dry. All surrounding sounds faded away, and the nocked arrow powerfully cut through the wind before, with a thwack, it pierced the very center of the target.

🎐⋆｡🍥

“Were you bored?”

“Not at all.”

Around the time the arrows in the quiver were running out, Hyowon, who had been staring at the target with sharp eyes the entire time, rubbed the tip of his nose and walked closer. Yoonyi answered, his eyes shining brightly.

“I’m sorry. I tend to get focused when I’m doing something.”

“Young Master, you were always like that, unaware of your surroundings when you focus on one thing.”

“Was I?”

“Yes, you’ve been that way since you were a child.”

Yoonyi beamed, looking as if he found Hyowon as adorable as when he was a child.

“Honestly, you never miss a chance to bring up my childhood.”

“But it’s true. Even when you were barely taller than my waist, once you picked up a book, you would hardly ever put it down……”

Hyowon’s cheeks puffed out slightly, as if he didn’t quite appreciate the stories of his childhood. Although his face was slim now that the baby fat was gone, it somehow looked chubby. As Yoonyi continued to speak with a smile on his face, a dark shadow suddenly fell over him.

“Stop.”

“Young Master!”

As a light kiss, like a sunshower, fleetingly passed over his fidgeting lips, Yoonyi cried out, his face completely flushed.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, a raindrop went plink on his cheek. At this, Yoonyi tilted his head back as if mesmerized and looked up at the sky. The once-clear sky, on some whim, had summoned dark clouds from afar and had become deceptively pitch-black. The mountain forest, dense with trees, quickly grew dark all around.

“It looks like it’s about to pour.”

Hyowon, who was quietly surveying the surroundings, grabbed the slender wrist that flickered before his eyes. As the warm body heat spread in an instant, Yoonyi blinked slowly.

“Let’s find shelter from the rain for a bit before we go.”

Hyowon clasped their hands together and turned around frantically. After just a few steps, pat-pat, the thin raindrops grew heavier and began to soak the dry ground. As the heavy sensation of the rain falling on their shoulders spread through their bodies, their steps became more urgent.

“There, Yoonyi.”

Hyowon’s fingertip, which had been searching through the rain, pointed somewhere. When he turned his gaze, he saw a concave cave.

“Go inside, Young Master.”

As soon as they stepped inside, the falling raindrops turned into a downpour with a thunderous noise.

“We would have been in real trouble if we were any later.”

“I know, Young Master.”

Yoonyi muttered, staring blankly outside. The rain poured down fiercely, as if determined to submerge the entire world. The dry earth couldn’t withstand its force and was being gouged out.

“The weather was so nice just a moment ago.”

“I guess summer is summer, seeing how fickle it is.”

When Hyowon muttered, sounding a little disappointed, Yoonyi quickly curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

“You’re a little wet. Young Master, let me dry you.”

Out of habit, Yoonyi took out a dry cloth from his robes. Then, starting with Hyowon’s sharp nose, he began to gently wipe away the moisture. Hyowon, who was calmly receiving the touch, tilted his gaze downwards. His hair, having absorbed the raindrops, was a darker shade than usual. His white jeogori, soaked in that short time, clung tenaciously to the lines of his body, subtly revealing the fair skin beneath.

“……What’s wrong?”

Hyowon’s eyes trembled minutely, as if something was uncomfortable. Not only that, but he also subtly shifted his body. At the unfamiliar reaction, Yoonyi approached him with an innocent face and asked.