YCHW Ch 22

A faint smile flickered across Hwi’s lips before vanishing. When he had rented the entire top floor for just a single night’s stay, Yoonso had suspected he was overflowing with wealth, but his assumptions were nothing compared to the reality.

“And I plan to stay there for five days.”

“What?”

The shocking news made Yoonso’s neck stiffen. He pulled the reins to stop his horse and asked, “Why do you intend to rest there?”

“I plan to handle some merchant group business I haven’t attended to in a while. If I finish the work early, we might leave sooner, but five days should be fine.”

Hwi glanced at Yoonso as he replied, but Yoonso couldn’t muster a response. A few hours’ delay was something to endure on a journey, but five days was far too long. Especially with only two days left before the palace entry deadline—if they delayed further…

Hwi, assuming Yoonso’s agreement, didn’t wait for a reply and rode ahead. Yoonso gazed at Hwi’s upright back, which hadn’t faltered once during their long ride, and sank into thought.

Should he part ways with Hwi here?

If he left first, he could reach Yehang sooner, but there was no guarantee of arriving safely. If he missed the palace entry deadline, the imperial court would surely send soldiers, and traveling alone would make him an easy target.

Unable to reach a conclusion, Yoonso arrived at the guild hall in a state of confusion. A neatly dressed man stood guarding the entrance on the first floor, greeting Hwi respectfully.

“If you need anything during our stay, ask him.”

“Yes.”

The tall, friendly-looking man with a deep dimple on his right cheek smiled broadly and bowed to Yoonso. Caught off guard by the polite gesture, Yoonso hurriedly returned the bow.

Though he decided not to mention his name, the man also remained silent, standing still with his eyes lowered.

“He can’t speak.”

“Oh, I see.”

Yoonso gave a nod to the man, who wasn’t looking at him, and followed Hwi to the second floor.

After unpacking, Yoonso looked out the window and saw a narrow canal separating the guild hall from the houses across it. Perhaps because it was by the water, the village exuded an especially serene atmosphere.

“I’m stepping out, so stay put.”

“What? Do I not need to come along?”

“You’re a hassle.”

Hwi tossed out the blunt remark and left the room. Come to think of it, despite saying he needed someone to attend to him, Hwi was a man who handled everything on his own. His solo trip to the capital must have been because he disliked unnecessary formalities. In that case, wasn’t Yoonso just a useless burden?

Seeing the subordinate guarding the guild hall, it was clear Hwi could easily find someone to attend to him if needed. Even if Yoonso left first, Hwi wouldn’t miss him.

The problem was Yoonso himself. It was sheer luck that he’d met Hwi and managed to travel this far with him—otherwise, it would’ve been quite a struggle.

Yoonso let out a heavy sigh and leaned against the window. A damp smell wafting from somewhere made his heart feel even more unsettled.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. Whenever his mind was troubled before sleep, he seemed to wake like this. Letting out a small sigh, he noticed a large figure sitting in the middle of the room.

As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he recognized the figure’s owner. Hwi sat in a chair, arms crossed, staring into space.

It seemed Hwi suffered from insomnia. Throughout their journey, Yoonso had never once seen him sleep. It could be that Hwi slept later and woke earlier, unnoticed by Yoonso, but even so, it would be an unusually short rest.

Yoonso quietly got up, roughly tying his hair. As he grabbed a nearby hairpin, a sharp sensation grazed his fingertip.

“Ah.”

A splinter from the worn wooden hairpin left a small scratch on his finger. Feeling the sting, Yoonso swallowed a sigh, finished fixing his hair, and sat across from Hwi. Hwi’s gaze shifted to him.

“Can’t sleep?”

“Why are you awake?”

“How could I sleep soundly when you’re not resting, sir?”

“Wipe the sleep from your eyes before you speak.”

Yoonso quickly touched his eyes, but there was nothing there. Glaring at Hwi, he noticed a tea set on the table.

“They say drinking tea helps when you can’t sleep.”

Lighting a candle, the area around the table glowed softly. Hwi’s eyes were clear, as if he hadn’t even tried to nap. Compared to him, Yoonso rubbed his own bleary eyes and placed the teapot on the brazier to heat the water.

As he brewed the tea, a bittersweet yet fragrant aroma spread gently. It had been a while since he’d brewed tea himself. The scent calmed him, and Yoonso took a deep breath.

“The fragrance is wonderful. This must be high-quality tea.”

“That’s enough. Go back to sleep.”

“You’d be bored alone, so I’ll keep you company.”

Yoonso poured the steeped tea into a cup and placed it before Hwi. After sipping his own share, his foggy mind cleared quickly.

“Did your work go well?”

“Are you trying to impress me?”

Hwi’s unexpected question made Yoonso pause, holding his teacup and staring at him. For some reason, a laugh bubbled up, and Yoonso’s eyes crinkled as he spoke.

“What would I gain by impressing you, sir?”

Hwi fell silent for a moment before replying.

“You could gain a lot. Fine tea like this, the comfortable inn you slept in, or even countless gold coins.”

Those were far too extravagant to be given just for making a good impression. Were the wealthy so different? Though Yoonso had grown up comfortably, there seemed to be a significant gap between him and Hwi.

“What would I do with such riches?”

“You must know the endless possibilities that wealth and power can bring.”

“I know there are things even that can’t buy.”

Yoonso met Hwi’s gaze with clear, unwavering eyes, responding without hesitation.

It was said that becoming a court official would bring wealth and power, easily within reach if he entered the palace. But what Yoonso wanted most was freedom—something he could never grasp, even growing up in a privileged household.

Hwi looked directly at Yoonso, then lifted his teacup. After a sip, he set it down and slowly traced the cup’s round edge with his fingertip.

The soft candlelight, the gentle tea aroma, the rhythmic motion of his hand, the comfortable silence. A fleeting sense that this moment might never come again washed over Yoonso. He let out a breath—part sigh, part awe—and a faint smile curved his lips.

“Not everything has an ulterior motive, just like how you’ve been kind to me all this time.”

Hwi’s hand, circling the teacup, stopped. Though Yoonso had only spoken the truth, his cheeks inexplicably flushed, and he laughed like dandelion seeds scattering in the wind. Hwi’s fingers left the cup, curling into his palm.

When Yoonso opened his eyes again, he realized he’d dozed off. When had he fallen asleep? Searching his memory, he glanced around and found himself seated in a chair, not his bed.

His head rested on someone’s shoulder. Looking down, he saw Hwi’s hand—long fingers, blue veins prominent on the back.

How had he fallen asleep on Hwi’s shoulder? Perhaps Hwi, seeing him nodding off, had come over and offered his shoulder. But why hadn’t he woken Yoonso and taken him to bed?

Strangely, Yoonso felt he understood why. Perhaps Hwi, too, cherished this fleeting moment. Instead of waking him, he might have chosen to preserve this time by letting Yoonso rest against him.

The thought brought a lump to Yoonso’s throat. Though he sat still, his heart trembled. At the same time, a selfish desire not to leave this night behind surged within him.

Yes, he’d wait the five days and go with Hwi. Traveling alone to Yehang risked capture, so he wanted to do everything he wished without regret before reaching Yehang. By Hwi’s side.

Even with his resolve firm, his heart still churned like a boat tossed in a storm. Unable to name this emotion, Yoonso squeezed his eyes shut. He wanted to fall back asleep quickly, to hold onto this moment forever, untainted.