Trap

Slowly and surely, I am approaching.

The obstacles blocking my love can now be counted on one hand.

I will firmly imprint myself upon him.

I will carve my name into his soul.

I will eliminate all the nuisances by his side.

In every universe, in every dimension,

Only I will remain.

Only I. Only I. Only I. Only I. Only I.

“What…”

“Young master? What’s wrong?”

Chunhyang, who had come down from the swing, approached me as I stared blankly down the hill.

“Huh?”

Chunhyang looked at me with a worried expression.

I slowly reached my hand out towards the bottom of the hill.

“Here…”

“Ah, the flowers are in full bloom. It’s such a beautiful sight.”

Looking down again, the back of the hill was a harmony of various flowers and lush green trees.

What was it that I just saw?

Even after rubbing my eyes hard, the scenery didn’t change.

“Perhaps you haven’t fully recovered yet? I shouldn’t have suggested going on an outing…”

Chunhyang looked up at me, wrapping her arm around mine. I smiled to quickly erase the worry from her face.

Chunhyang, still concerned, hugged my arm tightly to her chest.

Her fragrant scent wafted over me. It smelled like flowers.

“I’m fine. I must have seen something for a moment.”

“Then we should return home even more, shouldn’t we?”

“But it’s been a while since we’ve been out.”

A cloud passed over Chunhyang’s face. Chunhyang made a small sound and furrowed her brow slightly.

“The outing isn’t what’s important. Being with Young master is what’s important.”

Chunhyang pulled my arm. I was pulled by her gentle strength and came down the hill.

Even as I descended the hill, the scene from before flashed in my mind, but the scenery behind the hill remained unchanged.

A picture of various flowers and lush green trees in harmony. The field of bright yellow flowers, which had boasted its color as if to give me goosebumps, was nowhere to be found.

It’s a strange thing.

Chunhyang and I went down the hill and walked along a street lined with waist-high walls. The people we encountered along the way smiled and greeted us.

“Young master, how are you?”

“How are you?”

As I received the greetings, my walking speed naturally slowed down.

“Lady, hello.”

“Chunhyang, how are you?”

Chunhyang was following me about three steps behind, bowing her head.

Before I knew it, the sun was high in the sky, and people were basking in the spring sunshine. Perhaps it was because of the heat of the sun in the middle of the sky?

Sweat beaded on my forehead and neck. I wonder if it’s because I’m not exercising enough.

While heading home through the crowd, I noticed a group of people gathered together.

Seeing the letters written in ink on a large piece of paper, it seemed like a notice had been posted.

“Young master?”

“Ah, it seems like a notice has been posted there. Shall we take a look?”

I squeezed into the crowd, and the people recognized Chunhyang and me and made way for us.

Realizing once again my noble status, I stood in front of the people.

White is paper, and black is letters.

Even if it were written in a neat style, there wouldn’t be many letters I could read, but seeing the scribbled letters made my head spin.

“It seems to be a story about the new magistrate coming down,” Chunhyang said to me as I stared intently at the notice.

“Well, they can’t leave the position vacant forever.”

After Byeon Hakdo was punished for corruption, the position of magistrate of Namwon had been vacant.

It is right that the vacancy should be filled as soon as possible, so it is right for a new magistrate to come down…

In fact, it seems a little late. It has been quite a long time since Byeon Hakdo’s corruption was revealed and Yi Do-ryeong went up to Hanyang.

“I hope a fair and just person comes,” Chunhyang’s words, having suffered harshly under Magistrate Byeon, were filled with sincerity.

I raised my hand to stroke Chunhyang’s head, but realizing that we were outside, I lowered my hand.

“It would have been okay if you just did it…”

Chunhyang seemed to have a slightly disappointed expression, but let’s pretend I didn’t notice.

When I returned home, Bangja and Hyangdan, who had finished their chores, were canoodling on the porch.

I felt a little sorry that they were so startled, jumping up as if they hadn’t expected Chunhyang and me to return so early.

“Ah, ah… Young master! You’re home early.”

Bangja indirectly said, “Why are you home early?” and Hyangdan suddenly ran into the kitchen to bring out refreshments.

Chunhyang giggled as she watched Hyangdan, her braided hair fluttering, enter the kitchen.

“I interrupted a good time.”

When I said to Bangja with a smile, Bangja’s dark face turned red.

It seems that Bangja’s smoothness disappears when it comes to Hyangdan.

“If… if you were coming home early, you should have given us a heads up.”

He’s telling me to go out again. If a movement to abolish the class system in Joseon society were to begin, I am sure it would start from this house.

I replaced my answer by looking at Bangja with a pathetic gaze.

Bangja, realizing that his words were foolish, scratched his head and left the spot.

Watching Bangja trudge back to his room, Chunhyang burst into laughter.

“It seems Bangja was very disappointed.”

I smiled at Chunhyang, who was speaking as if she was enjoying it.

Hyangdan brought out refreshments to end the small commotion, and Chunhyang and I ate them with the heated spring air.

We idled away the time, and night came.

In the room where the bedding was spread out, Chunhyang looked at me and asked.

“Young master, are you feeling alright?”

It seemed that Chunhyang was still concerned about what had happened in the morning.

I flexed my biceps as if to tell her not to worry, showing off my good health, and Chunhyang covered her mouth and laughed.

Watching Chunhyang’s eyes curve like a crescent moon, I realized that things were going in the wrong direction.

“Then, will you lie with me tonight?”

“Ah… uh… yes…”

There is no man who would refuse to mingle bodies with an exquisite beauty.

However, since physical strength is definitely a thing, I had no choice but to hesitate in answering.

Because if we do it once, we have to do it at least four or five times.

Are you saying that’s because I’m amazing? No. Chunhyang’s recovery rate is getting faster day by day.

Gulp. I swallowed involuntarily due to the tension.

“Then… I’ll turn off the light.”

Chunhyang smiled seductively.

Ah… I think I’ll have to get up a little late tomorrow.