Festival Night – 2

The second night of the festival passed without incident.

As Emma had said, it was a competition to choose the village queen, where the women of the village came out and danced, showing off their individual charms.

Inho was too far away to see anything but the shapes of people moving, but he could still feel the lively atmosphere of the scene.

Each person danced, and the men passed by, throwing artificial flowers.

As the flowers piled up, the dance became more intense and flamboyant.

Eventually, when the village queen was decided, she wore a crown made of woven white flowers on her head.

With the queen in the center, the women lined up and circled the streets.

“Are those artificial flowers on her head?”

Watching the procession come close to the mansion, Inho asked Emma.

“No, they are made by weaving together flowers that bloom in winter.”

The colorful crown swayed on the queen’s head.

“This year’s queen is prettier than the last one.”

Emma said calmly, and Inho looked up at her with a puzzled expression.

“Emma is prettier, though?”

At Inho’s sincere words, Emma’s face turned redder than the colorful crown.

Thus, the second day passed, and then came the last day of the festival.

Perhaps because it was the finale, noisy sounds continued from dawn.

Even Inho, who had been able to concentrate on writing on the first and second days, stopped writing and walked around the garden on the last day.

Emma brought up the idea of blocking the sound with wooden boards again, but Inho said that he only had to endure it for today.

The boisterous atmosphere continued until evening, and Inho sat at the table, scanning Emma’s cooking, which seemed to have a lot of effort put into it.

Perhaps to commemorate the festival, there were more dishes than usual, and the menu was filled with all of Inho’s favorite foods.

-Pop

Emma, who had opened a bottle of wine, poured wine into Inho’s glass with graceful movements.

The slightly viscous, reddish drink filled his glass with a trickle.

“I haven’t prepared much… but I hope you enjoy it.”

Emma said politely and sat opposite Inho.

“You haven’t prepared much? The table is about to break.”

Inho’s eyes widened at the sumptuous feast, and saliva flowed from his mouth.

He felt his appetite returning for the first time since coming here.

Inho picked up a knife and continuously cut the steak on his plate.

Cooked to the right doneness, it cut easily without much effort.

Inho put the meat in his mouth with the brown sauce and chewed.

The juices that came out with each chew resonated on his tongue.

“Delicious.”

A simple evaluation without flowery language. It was what Inho said every time, but Emma smiled as if she was proud.

“I feel full just seeing you enjoy it, Master.”

“Still, eat. You don’t often get a chance to eat something this delicious.”

If he kept eating food of this quality, his remaining assets wouldn’t last.

Inho swallowed the rest of his words.

“Um… Master.”

Emma cautiously spoke to Inho, who was cutting the steak.

“Yeah?”

“If you allow me… may I have a glass too?”

Emma’s gaze turned to the bottle, and Inho readily nodded.

“I can’t drink it all anyway. Emma, you drink too.”

“Thank you.”

Emma grabbed the bottle and poured wine into her glass.

“Shall we toast?”

Inho suggested, holding up his glass with his index and middle fingers.

“Yes, of course. What should we toast to?”

“Uh… well, I don’t know. Emma, do you want to do it?”

Inho smiled awkwardly, recalling the toast that Namgung Soyou had once forced him to say.

He couldn’t very well say ‘Drink up’ after coming all the way here.

“Then, I’ll offer a toast, though it may be inadequate.”

Emma pondered the toast for a moment, then slightly raised her glass and said.

“To the Divine Doctor’s happy times.”

“To your health.”

-Clink

Their glasses clinked together with a clear sound, and the meal proceeded pleasantly.

Having not drunk alcohol in a long time, Inho became greedy and asked for another glass.

Emma refused, but Inho persistently pleaded, so she surrendered, and they decided to drink the remaining alcohol while watching the fireworks.

By the time they set up the table in his room, the sun had already gone down.

The winter days were short.

Watching the still-noisy outside, Inho sat in an armchair, and Emma poured him another glass of wine.

Before long, the highlight of the festival, the dance time, began.

When the piled-up firewood was lit, it became a huge bonfire.

People gathered around the bonfire, and the village queen, who had been chosen the day before, began to dance with her chosen partner.

Cheerful music flowed, and people paired up and began to dance.

“Emma. Aren’t you disappointed?”

Inho asked, taking a sip of his wine. Emma, who was drinking with him, had a cold expression.

“Master. If you’re going to bring up Hans again…”

“That’s not it.”

Inho chuckled.

“You’re about the same age as the people dancing there.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Emma tilted her head at Inho’s words.

“I was just thinking that sometimes you might want to hang out with friends your age and have fun.”

“I don’t want to play in such a crowded place. I like being in this mansion more.”

“Still…”

Inho trailed off, and Emma gulped down the half-full glass of wine.

-Gulp Gulp

Emma, who had swallowed the wine without stopping, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and quietly stood up.

“Um… Master.”

“Yeah?”

“If, if you’re so worried about me… would you dance with me?”

“Dance?”

Inho looked at Emma in surprise.

Emma twirled her hair with her fingers, slightly avoiding her master’s gaze.

“I, I just… if you feel sorry for me… and think I don’t know how to have fun… th, then…”

“……”

As Inho remained still with his mouth slightly open, Emma’s face turned even redder.

“Th, th, th… I misspoke…”

“No.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s dance.”

Inho gave a gentle smile.

-Phew woo woong Pop~!

Flowers made of fireworks were embroidered in the sky.

The artificial shapes created by the red, blue, and yellow fireworks presented beauty to the viewers.

Under the night sky where the fireworks unfolded, the paired people continued to dance with their bodies close together.

And, on the second floor of the mansion, a pair was also dancing.

“It’s a little awkward. I don’t know how to dance.”

Inho, who was holding one of Emma’s hands and supporting her waist with the other, said with an awkward smile. Emma shook her head.

“I, I don’t know anything either. Isn’t it enough just to… have the intention to dance?”

Emma was desperate, fearing that her awkward master would take back his words.

“Okay. Let’s do our best, even if we’re clumsy.”

Inho, who smiled, slowly moved his legs to the sound of the music coming from outside.

Their dance, which moved to the music, was somewhat clumsy, but it didn’t look ridiculous.

While they were dancing, Emma put her head on Inho’s chest and said in a barely audible voice.

“Th, thank you.”

“For what?”

“It’s just… it’s a ridiculous request, but…”

“No. If it’s something Emma wants to do.”

The master was benevolent.

They continued to dance.

-Pop Pop Pop!

The fireworks had reached their finale, and the exploding fireworks were large and more spectacular.

Occasionally, the primary colors of light coming through the window illuminated their profiles.

Perhaps because he had become a little more skilled, Inho was less clumsy than before and led Emma.

Emma entrusted herself to her master’s steps.

“M, Master.”

Whirling around once and getting closer to the window, Emma called out to Inho.

“Yeah?”

“D, don’t you think I’m a little… strange today?”

“Hmm… I don’t think you’re strange. I just didn’t know you were the type to act spoiled, but I found out today.”

“Hoo… I see. Ah, maybe it’s because I drank alcohol.”

“That could be. Alcohol is a drink that makes people honest.”

“Th, that is…”

“???”

“W, would it be okay if I acted a little more… spoiled?”

Emma continued hesitantly.

“I, I’m also drunk… and I want to act spoiled with you, Master.”

“Okay. Tell me.”

Inho, who couldn’t possibly not know Emma’s feelings, gave his consent, and Emma took a deep breath.

Exhaling the deeply inhaled breath through her nose, Emma calmed her mind, and, having regained her composure, lifted her face from his chest and looked straight at Inho.

“Master. Would you… just once… just once… give me a hug?”

Inho could not imagine rejecting the request of that face, which was filled with a longing for affection and yet tinged with sadness.

He stopped dancing, and they stood still as one.

Inho released Emma’s hands and opened his arms wide.

“Ah….”

Inho hugged Emma tightly.

His arms were thin, but today they felt strangely strong.

“Thank you as always, Emma. Because of you, I find peace of mind.”

Inho’s voice whispered in Emma’s ear.

“I, I’m always grateful to you too, Master.”

Emma responded to Inho’s words.

“Because you’re here, Master, I have a reason to live.”

Emma’s voice was choked up as if she was overwhelmed, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

And, as if illuminating the scene, the last firework exploded spectacularly, scattering yellow light.

Thus, the festival ended, and four months passed.

The mansion where they lived was now passing through the end of winter.