YCHW Ch 23

Yoonso gazed calmly out the window at the steady drizzle of rain.

Half a month had already passed. Today was his birthday, the day he was supposed to undergo his coming-of-age ceremony, and the day he was meant to enter the palace. In other words, it was also the day when the Soga family could no longer deceive the imperial court.

He could delay his palace entry by citing illness or some other excuse, but that was unlikely to be overlooked so easily by the imperial court. Thus, it was certain that news would spread like wildfire before or even after this day passed.

Though his journey had been delayed due to falling ill along the way, had he been alone, he wouldn’t have made it this far from the capital in just half a month. Now that the day had arrived, his heart felt strangely detached and calm.

From the moment his plan to flee a month before entering the palace fell apart, or rather, from the time he escaped the family estate, he had gradually let go of expectations. From now on, neither hopeful anticipation nor pessimistic disappointment mattered. He simply wanted to live each moment without regret.

“Um… Is the master not coming today?”

It had been a day and a half since he last saw Hwi. He had faintly sensed Hwi’s presence in his sleep, but by the time he opened his eyes, Hwi was already gone. The thought that Hwi was so busy he couldn’t even sleep properly sparked concern.

The man guarding the guild hall merely smiled at Yoonso’s question, showing no reaction. It was unclear whether he didn’t know or was deliberately withholding information about his master’s whereabouts.

“I’m going out for a bit.”

Only then did the man nod, and Yoonso donned a raincoat. The rain was fortunate. On a clear day, wearing a raincoat would have drawn attention, but with most passersby covering themselves to shield from the rain, he could blend in naturally.

The sound of raindrops pattering under the eaves had a certain charm. Yoonso lowered his head to conceal his face as much as possible and headed toward the marketplace near the bridge, where crowds gathered most. The closer he got to the clamor, the more his heart thudded, despite his firm resolve.

Standing in a quiet alley, Yoonso observed the people’s movements. Despite the rain, the marketplace buzzed with people buying and selling, but nothing seemed suspicious.

There were no wanted posters or notices on the walls, suggesting that urgent news hadn’t yet reached this place. Or perhaps his father had pulled some strings.

Maybe he could rest easy today, at least. Yoonso stood there for a while, taking in the lively street atmosphere, then turned back. Having resolved to live without regret, he briefly felt a bold impulse to explore this beautiful village, but the mood didn’t quite take hold, so he returned to the guild hall.

By the time *Yusi (5–7 p.m.) arrived, the sky had grown noticeably darker. Staying cooped up inside for two whole days made him restless. To think that after living a sheltered life for so long, just half a month of wandering could stir such feelings—it was truly a stark contrast. Yoonso let out a wry chuckle and quietly descended to the lower floor.

Before he even reached the bottom of the stairs, his eyes met those of the man who seemed to have been watching him. Feeling inexplicably awkward, Yoonso fidgeted with his fingers and asked, “Is there anything fun to do around here? Like books or…”

The man’s eyes darted briefly before he led Yoonso to a room. It appeared to be a storage space for antiques, filled with miscellaneous items. Writing tools were present, but what caught Yoonso’s eye was a zither leaning against the wall.

“Thank you.”

After the man left, Yoonso picked up the zither and placed it on the table. Brushing off the accumulated dust and plucking the strings, a refined sound resonated.

As he touched each string, Yoonso recalled the time he first learned to play the zither. Truthfully, he didn’t enjoy playing instruments. Perhaps due to a lack of artistic talent, it always felt difficult, and his fingertips ached until calluses formed.

Now, he could play a piece with his eyes closed. But that was only possible through relentless practice, not enjoyment.

He had thought his skills were decent enough, yet his father never once praised him.

The instrument he had only wanted to avoid now stirred new emotions as it sat before him. Yoonso slowly moved his hands, producing notes one by one, then gracefully plucked the strings.

On days when he played the zither, Yeondeok would always sit in a corner of the room, listening attentively, and clap enthusiastically until her palms turned red once the piece ended. He wondered what Yeondeok was doing now.

If everything went well, could he exchange even a single letter with her after a long time? A bittersweet smile touched Yoonso’s lips as he thought of Yeondeok.

Just then, the melody took on a plaintive tone. He had chosen a piece at random, guided by muscle memory, and it seemed to calm his heart. But as he was about to stop, a hand suddenly reached from behind and continued the unfinished notes.

Startled, Yoonso turned his head and, seeing it was Hwi, relaxed his alarmed heart. How could this man appear so silently, like a ghost?

Before Yoonso could speak, Hwi placed his other hand on the zither and continued the melody, plucking the strings.

His hands moved effortlessly between the strings. Yet the melody was delicate, bold in its strokes yet intricate, like a painting of a landscape. The sorrowful, plaintive tune, under Hwi’s hands, sounded faintly resolute and detached.

Such skill was rare among ordinary men unless they had a deep interest in the zither. Yoonso let out a sigh of admiration, then suddenly flinched as his ear tingled. Hwi’s breath brushed against his ear, warming his skin.

Moreover, each time Hwi moved his hands, his chest lightly grazed Yoonso’s back before pulling away. Once Yoonso noticed it, he couldn’t divert his attention. Perhaps because Hwi had come from outside, he carried the damp, cool scent of wind and rain.

With all his senses heightened toward the man behind him, Yoonso licked his dry lips. Just then, the piece came to an end.

“…….”

As silence followed, Hwi’s right hand, which had rested still, suddenly plucked a single string. Staring blankly at the idle gesture, Yoonso’s face gradually paled.

Thump, thump, thump, thump…

Ding, ding, ding, ding…

Not only was his heart racing, but the zither’s clear notes seemed to run alongside it, as if mimicking his heartbeat!

Yoonso, horrified, stumbled backward, and Hwi, standing behind him, moved with him, causing his fingers to lift from the strings and the sound to fade naturally.

“…Do you hear it?”

His heart pounded so loudly in his ears that he could barely think straight. Waiting anxiously for Hwi’s response, he saw Hwi tilt his head and toss out a single remark.

“I heard it the moment I came in.”

Hwi’s voice didn’t register immediately, and it took a moment of processing before Yoonso could calm his startled heart. Hwi meant he had heard the zither’s sound upon entering.

Of course, no matter how loudly his heart raced, it wouldn’t be audible to others. Yoonso had overreacted to Hwi’s casual strumming.

“You startled me, coming in so quietly like that.”

“Your skill is quite impressive.”

Hwi replied nonchalantly, but Yoonso, suddenly worried that his ability might seem unusual for a mere servant, quickly responded.

“The young lady taught me diligently. It was a sort of game for us.”

The lingering palpitations left his chest aching. As he caught his breath, Hwi stared at him, then abruptly reached out. His hand touched Yoonso’s forehead, and Yoonso shrank back.

Hwi’s fingers brushed back stray hair, grazing Yoonso’s ear as they withdrew, and his eyes softened as they met Yoonso’s.

Yoonso blinked dazedly, then hurriedly tidied his hair. It must have gotten disheveled from wearing the raincoat earlier. Even as he tied his hair back, the pounding didn’t subside, and he bit his lips in frustration.

“What have you been up to?”

“Nothing much… I was just bored and playing the zither.”

“Then let’s go out.”

“Have you found some free time?”

“Yes.”

Though Hwi said he had time, faint fatigue lingered on his face. Even if he was like an iron man, capable of traveling long distances without enough sleep, perhaps spending so much time together allowed Yoonso to notice subtle changes in him.

Still, assuming there was a reason for Hwi’s suggestion to go out, Yoonso followed him quietly.