episode_0127

***

Perhaps because it was a world with few things to enjoy, the festival started earlier than Inho expected.

The sun had just risen, but people were already out on the street, walking around in groups of twos and threes, holding drinks.

No, I might have been drinking it since yesterday.

The festival is said to last for three days.

People from outside come to have fun, and since it is one of the few days off a year, residents’ wallets that have been closed will also be opened.

Maybe that’s why the merchants prepared themselves like soldiers going into battle and were ready to face this moment.

A loud noise passed through the tightly closed iron door.

Inho stood up and rubbed his puffy eyes.

“……”

He closed and closed his hands a few times.

Unlike the day before and yesterday, the strength is gradually weakening.

Inho, who was looking at his hands, raised his arms and stretched.

– smart

“Master, this is Emma. Did you wake up?”

“Yes. Come in.”

As soon as the words fell, the door opened.

Emma brought with her a small basin made of silver.

Inho washed his face with water from the basin and brushed his teeth.

In-ho rinsed his mouth with water and spat it out, and Emma picked up the basin filled with the water he had just washed.

“You don’t plan on going out today, so I prepared comfortable clothes.”

She left behind the clothes she bought at the clothing store last time.

After the door closed, Inho changed his clothes and left the room.

I carefully went down the stairs and saw Emma, who had thrown away the water, preparing breakfast.

Breakfast was warm soup and bread.

Inho’s heart wanted to eat meat from morning to evening, but he was disappointed that his body couldn’t keep up.

“Cream soup topped with sliced mushrooms and white bread.”

As we sat down at the table, Emma briefly explained about the morning.

“There are also other jams you can try.”

She raised a small bell containing apple jam and strawberry jam, respectively.

With familiar hand movements, Inho scooped up the jam with a knife and spread it on the bread.

“Emma, sit down too.”

At his words, Emma carefully sat down across from him.

Eating alone felt awkward, so I started eating with Emma, but she seemed to not have gotten used to it yet and made unnatural movements at every meal.

‘But it’s a lot better than the first day.’

On the first day we had a meal together, Emma’s appearance became as rigid as a robot.

“The bread is delicious. Soft and soft.”

“Yes. It looks like it was baked pretty well.”

Bake the bread in the oven the night before.

“The soup is just right. The seasoning is good too.”

Inho praised the soup as he munched on the bread.

“Thank you.”

Emma smiled brightly, obviously happy to be praised.

– Waaaa!!

The shouting from outside could be heard all the way to the restaurant.

“Is there any competition at the festival?”

“There are activities in which village men participate, such as ball kicking and tug-of-war.”

“From this morning?”

“The schedule is full, so it seems like the preliminaries are being held in advance.”

“I see.”

As Inho answered indifferently while eating soup in succession, Emma noticed him.

“I… master. If it’s noisy, should we do something?”

“Action? How?”

“I was wondering if adding a wooden board to the window would make the sound less.”

“It won’t be of any use. And don’t lose your strength for no reason. It’s not that loud, so why.”

This time, Inho said as he tore the bread and dipped it into the soup.

“If that’s what the master says.”

Emma must have realized that what she said was unreasonable, so she immediately took a piece of bread and put it in her mouth and chewed it.

Aside from the noise outside, it was the same breakfast scene as usual.

***

After breakfast, Inho went into the study.

Emma started her morning routine. Today is the day to do laundry and put away groceries.

– Wow!!

– at there!

– Catch me~

Because the noise was louder than usual, In-ho, who was writing, often turned his head to look out the window.

The streets are definitely more crowded, and you can see street vendors everywhere.

“Is the festival food a little different?”

He became curious about the food sold at street vendors.

– Cough! Cough!

Inho mumbled and took a sip of the tea Emma brought him, then coughed.

His cough did not go away easily.

– big, large

“Wow, I thought I was going to die.”

Still stroking his neck in discomfort, he tried to get back to writing.

“Huh?”

As I was looking away, a familiar young man standing in front of the gate caught my eye.

It was Hans.

On the day I stayed at the hospital, there was a story I heard from a nurse.

[Miss Emma beat Mr. Hans.]

Emma’s sudden move was somewhat unexpected.

You didn’t have to watch the video to see how Emma’s anger at not being able to protect her owner was expressed.

I’m so upset, how can I ever think of coming back again?

He thought that the power of love was truly amazing.

Hans pondered for a while before looking at the mansion’s bell.

The confident look I showed before was gone.

“… gone.”

Hans, who was contemplating in front of the mansion, lowered his shoulders and turned around to disappear into the street.

I don’t know if he was taking a step back or forever, but In-ho hoped that he would meet a good person in some form.

Even though he seemed a little tactless, he didn’t seem to have a bad personality.

– smart

While thinking about Hans’ future, Emma knocked on the study door.

“Master, is it okay if I come in?”

After finishing her morning routine, Emma asked Inho.

Is it an illusion that the time it takes to finish the morning routine is getting faster these days? Inho thought.

“Yes. Come in.”

As soon as Inho finished speaking, Emma opened the door and came in.

“Is your writing… going well?”

Emma sat down on a chair at a reasonable distance and asked.

“Yes. It will be a masterpiece. Are you sure. This is a story announcing the perfect return of writer Kang In-ho.”

“If the owner evaluates it that much, it will definitely be a work that will be passed down to future generations.”

“Yes. I think I’ve almost written it all… I’ll be finishing it starting tomorrow… Collock!”

– Cough, Cough.

Inho, who was talking excitedly, coughed.

Inho covered his hand with his mouth.

“Are you okay?”

Emma jumped up and tried to approach him, but Inho held out his hand in the opposite direction.

“Wait a minute, there was a saree. Don’t worry.”

Inho spoke in a hoarse voice, and Emma did not erase the worry on her face even as she sat down.

“Emma. I have a question. What food is sold at street vendors?”

In response to the owner’s question, Emma put her finger to her chin and thought about something.

“Bread like sticks coated in sugar and cinnamon powder, or steamed rice dishes with seafood… There is something like salt-pickled pork leg.”

“If I haven’t prepared dinner, should I eat that?”

“Yes. Then, I will go out and get it after lunch.”

***

Since we decided to eat festive food in the evening, we ate lunch similar to breakfast.

It was because Emma said that if I ate a fatty lunch, I might not be able to eat properly in the evening.

After eating lunch and quickly finishing her afternoon routine, Emma put on the fur clothes she bought her last time over her maid uniform and went out.

In-ho waited for her, looking out at the street through the window of his study.

Emma’s shopping took about an hour.

He came with both hands full of something, but the shape of the envelope was different.

It seemed like they had bought various types of food for the owner who was curious about festival food.

Since it was street food, Emma carefully laid out the food on the table, thinking that it had to look good in order to fit into the owner’s mouth.

“Oh, it tastes pretty interesting.”

Inho said as he put a stick in his mouth, and Emma ate the same.

“Still, the one made by Emma tastes better.”

“Mu, of course. I am confident that even if it is the same food, I can make it taste better.”

Emma, who was eating snacks, was startled by Inho’s sudden compliment.

“What is that?”

“This is the salt-pickled pork front leg I mentioned earlier.”

“Is it like hamong? Can you pass it to me?”

“It is very salty, so please do not eat a lot at once.”

“Okay.”

In-ho and Emma ate festive food while chatting a lot.

I could hear children singing outside.

“It looks like the first day of the festival is coming to an end.”

Emma said while listening to the singing voice.

“On the first night, the neighborhood kids gather together and sing.”

When Inho looked at her, wondering what she was talking about, Emma explained further.

“What about the second and third days?”

“The second day is the day to elect the village queen. Village women gather together to dance, and people who see them throw artificial flowers to the person who dances the most beautifully.”

“It’s a popular vote.”

Yes, that’s right. Emma responded to Inho’s words.

“The third day, as you know, is the day to light firewood piled up in the center of the village and dance in pairs. At this time, the queen of the village can dance in the best position.”

“Oh… I see.”

“Yes, we set off fireworks while dancing. It will be a nice sight. You can see the fireworks from the owner’s room.”

“Okay, then we can watch the fireworks on the last day. By any chance… can I drink alcohol that day?”

Inho noticed and asked Emma for permission.

“Alcohol… are you talking about?”

“Yes, I wanted to make you feel better.”

“There is some alcohol in the storage… I will check it. If I don’t have anything suitable, I will buy it tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

“Instead, please don’t drink too much.”

Emma said what she had to say.