Chapter Index

    ***

    The next day, Inho, who was tired of walking around the house and garden, called Emma.

    “I want to go out on the street.”

    Emma seemed to think about Inho’s words for a moment, then nodded as if she had made up her mind.

    “I will prepare to go out.”

    Emma sat Inho down and started getting ready to go outside.

    First of all, I have to trim the beard that has grown back since the last shave.

    A little disheveled hair.

    Going out clothes are more formal than what you wear at home.

    A perfume I got from somewhere.

    As the decorations began in earnest, Inho momentarily regretted saying something for no reason.

    After an hour of suffering, In-ho and Emma, who were ready to go out, went out the front door.

    – Caen

    Emma closed the iron gate and checked the lock a couple of times.

    “Did you lock it?”

    “Yes.”

    Emma said, shaking the tightly closed gate back and forth.

    The cold winter wind passed through the mansion.

    The chill swept over the back of the coat Inho was wearing, and Inho shivered for a moment from the chill.

    “Master, aren’t you cold?”

    “It’s okay. Isn’t Emma cold?”

    Inho’s eyes scanned Emma from bottom to top.

    She was wearing the same maid uniform she wore at home, but she didn’t put anything on top of it.

    “I’m fine.”

    Emma smiled and reassured Inho.

    “Um… okay.”

    Inho looked at her slightly red hand and tried to say something, but quickly stopped.

    The old gentleman and the young maid walked down the street.

    The streets were buzzing with the upcoming festival. Inho thought of a shopping street preparing for Christmas.

    There was a pile of firewood in the center of the village, and Emma said that on the night of the festival, they lit a fire and danced around it.

    “That’s what Hans recommended.”

    As Inho muttered to himself, Emma, who had been walking next to him, suddenly stopped.

    As Inho cleared his throat and looked the other way, Emma turned her head and looked at her master.

    “Sir, I tell you again… I will not dance at the festival with a man like that.”

    He thought that Emma really disliked Hans.

    In places where the sun shined, there was a well-maintained stone floor where people came and went, but in shady areas, snow that had not yet been cleared was piled up.

    Inho looked at the snow he hadn’t seen in a long time for a moment, then picked up his pace again and looked around the street.

    There was no time to rest if he had to cover the entire street with his slow legs.

    As she went out for a walk on the street, Emma took out her wallet and went out to buy necessary items.

    Following her guidance, we visited a store she regularly visited, and the store owners welcomed In-ho greatly.

    “Oh my, Teacher Inho! How is your health?”

    Is it because his condition became known in the weekly magazine? The attitude of the merchants seemed to be a mixture of pity and kindness.

    The butcher added an extra piece of meat especially for him, and the vegetable shop owner gave him a few potatoes as a bonus.

    A middle-aged woman selling snacks on the street gave him a free bag of snacks to eat when he was bored.

    When I stopped by the clothing store and bought some clothes, I was stopped by the idea that they would give me a hat for free.

    “Should I not have accepted it? I just end up with a lot of baggage.”

    Emma had to carry a lot of baggage due to the unexpected gift, so In-ho said he was sorry.

    But Emma was so happy that the smile on her face did not disappear.

    “No, it’s okay. It’s a gift from the owner. Rather, I feel grateful.”

    Emma was in a very good mood because people did not treat her master poorly.

    On the one hand, Emma was relieved. If someone had made a mistake with Inho, she wasn’t going to let it go.

    ‘I’m glad my master didn’t do anything bad.’

    It was a village with good security, but as things are not always 100% safe, the danger of thugs and pickpockets was everywhere.

    Emma, who had been watching her surroundings intently, was able to let go of her nervousness when Inho entered the cafe, asking to have some coffee.

    “Ah, Teacher Inho.”

    The barista welcomed Inho. This is because it was the place where In-ho wrote most of his novels, other than his home.

    As a long-time regular customer visited, the barista did his best to make sure he was in a good mood, and two cups of coffee with a strong aroma were placed on In-ho and Emma.

    “Master, I’m fine.”

    This time, Emma, sitting across from Inho, twisted her body as if she were embarrassed.

    It was refreshing to see her, who always had a calm face, look shy.

    “Let’s take a break. You had a hard time carrying your luggage.”

    Inho picked up the coffee and took a sip.

    The warmth of the coffee went down my throat and spread throughout my body.

    My body, which had cooled down after walking around outside, warmed up again.

    “Good.”

    “It’s warm and sweet.”

    “Oh, did you add sugar?”

    “Yes. I’m not good at drinking bitter things.”

    Emma asked when she added it, stirring the coffee with a spoon.

    Inho and Emma didn’t really talk. We just watched the street scene seen through the window of the cafe as if we were watching TV.

    Young people dragging decorations for the festival, merchants selling goods, children running around and their parents stopping them.

    Inho felt comfortable in the quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

    “This is my first time experiencing something like this.”

    “What?”

    “Spending time like this with the owner.”

    “Oh, really? Surprisingly, I guess I was very knowledgeable.”

    “We have had tea time together, but I meant that this is the first time we have had coffee face to face.”

    In case In-ho misunderstood, Emma explained it in detail.

    “So.”

    “Yes?”

    “So what do you think?”

    When Inho asked as if it was no big deal, Emma slightly averted her gaze.

    Her cheeks heated up slightly.

    “Anyway. Good.”

    “Then let’s drink together often.”

    Inho smiled, showing his teeth, and Emma also smiled and nodded.

    As the two continued to admire the street, someone passing by the cafe suddenly stopped walking and put his face close to the window.

    “Mr. Lee…. Oh, I’m sorry. Master.”

    An unpleasant sound came out of Emma’s mouth as she recognized the face on the window.

    Just 3 seconds like that. The cafe door burst open.

    “Emma!”

    It was Hans who opened the door and came in with a cold breeze.

    “I-C… Bad luck.”

    Inho pretended not to notice what Emma said softly.

    “Master, may you excuse me for a moment?”

    Emma slowly stood up as she saw Hans approaching.

    Inho took another sip of coffee and nodded.

    “Emma… Uh, uh… Why? suddenly? Ouch, ouch!!”

    Emma grabbed Hans’ ear and dragged him out of the store.

    “Haha, that’s bullshit.”

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