episode_0023

“Hey, Sang-ah, the girl is unharmed for now, right?”

“Yes, she was quite startled but she’s unharmed for now. Her feet were hurt a lot as she was dragged barefoot.”

“That despicable scoundrel. A weakling who couldn’t resist being dragged by his hair, how amazing is that? Right?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“First, it’s a criminal trial, so we need to interrogate the culprit, and after the confession, it seems like there might be a severe punishment based on experience. Fortunately, you intervened before things escalated, so you might avoid the death penalty or hard labor; all that’s left is the kidnapping charge… Maybe about 80 strokes of the cane?”

Does this mean that guy will escape being my scapegoat because of me? Han Namu-kun should deeply understand this favor.

“Well, it might seem a bit lacking, but caning is a serious punishment. Besides, I said I would consider leniency if he came to apologize, but he might not even go that far.”

“Right. But in my opinion, those guys aren’t the type to have much sense. So let’s think about proceeding with litigation. Even if he doesn’t confess voluntarily during the preliminary questioning, under duress, considering his nature, he might spill everything. However, it would be better if you have solid evidence just in case, do you have any?”

“Um….”

Come to think of it, is there any evidence?

No, wait, the winged robe!

Wait? Can he actually retrieve the winged robe? If he asks the henchmen to find it?

“Oh.. yes! He must have Heesun’s robe hidden somewhere. If we investigate where it is hidden and the robe is found, wouldn’t that be a decisive blow?”

“Is that so? Alright, I understand.”

“Also, that robe is precious to Heesun. Can it be returned if found?”

“Of course, once the litigation is over, I’ll bring it back.”

Thank goodness.

‘Heesun… will be able to go home.’

It should be a relief, but there was a somewhat painful feeling in my heart. Of course, it would be nice to go together on a palanquin ride, but who knows when the opportunity will come… Even though there is a winged robe, wanting to wait for him to go together may just be my selfishness.

For now, it’s better to send him first.

Yes. It’s for the best. Maybe I can go to Heesun beforehand and ask him to speak well?

A little… no, very regretful… Let’s send him. Yes… that’s the right thing to do.

Suddenly, my heart felt heavy.

I don’t even know why.

I forcefully ignore the weight on my heart. First, I need to resolve the legal issues.

“By the way, Gil-yong Ajae, does Heesun also have to participate in the litigation there?”

That was the most worrying part.

What if that greedy magistrate catches sight of our Heesun and becomes covetous?

“No, no. Can we ask our precious niece to come and go? Moreover, there is no law that requires a woman who has suffered such a terrible incident to attend the litigation. Just let you attend instead. The henchmen will listen outside your house for circumstantial evidence. Anyway, since I will go there too, there’s nothing to worry about, and… hehehe… I also want to see our precious niece once.”

“Oh, you’re calling her our precious niece again… Fine, I understand for now. There’s no need to hesitate, and if I’m going to live here for a while, please feel free to come visit anytime.”

“Alright, keep that in mind. I also need to go home for a moment now. Ahem! I need to quickly hand over the money to the steward and manage the estate again. By now, they must be struggling without me.”

The face of Ajae mentioning going home had a sense of satisfaction usually seen in men who feel they can finally fulfill their long-neglected duties to their wives.

I felt sorry and envious for that old man, Yong. Why did Heesun’s face come to mind at that moment? Suppressing bitterness, I nodded politely and headed back to the marketplace.

“Oh! The hunter has appeared!”

“What?”

“What!? Where, where?”

“Sang Orabi! Why are you so late these days?”

“Sang-ah, my mom made this, you should try it.”

“Sang-ah!”

“Hey!”

“Sang Orabi!”

…

It’s chaotic as soon as I reach the village.

Why are they all so curious about me and why can’t they give me anything?

Sigh…

I smiled and struggled to move away from each person, sweating profusely.

Especially when Heesun buys a mirror, a hairpin, or flower shoes, suddenly their eyes light up, asking strange questions like who it’s for, if I have a wife, making some even cry…

Why are they doing this… Is it so fun to tease a lonely widower? Snickering about selling themselves, talking about strange things, leaving me feeling uneasy. He has a wife now! Bringing in a mistress… Oh, they’re really mischievous.

But why is this load so heavy…

Sweating profusely, I head back home.

Heesun bought a lot of gifts, how happy will she be? Thinking of her face made my steps feel light as a feather.

Just as I was about to say I found a way to get wings, the image of her flying away in them made the burden on my back suddenly heavier.

“No, why does it feel heavier than what I bought?”

Puzzled, I knelt down and unloaded the burden.

“Why, what’s this, rice cake, and who put this expensive snack here…”

I don’t know how it happened, but there was a pile of food stacked like a mountain.

Even forcibly squeezed in between were things I didn’t notice, making me wonder ‘how did I not feel this?’

“Truly… such a warm neighborhood….”

Tears welled up unexpectedly.

For some reason, today felt both happy and sad, almost like nostalgia hit again.

But like this…

The villagers’ warm hearts dissolved all the bad feelings.

In a way, this place is almost like a second hometown.

Things will work out well, and when I return to Korea, I’ll probably feel nostalgic for this place… That’s for sure.

Before going back to Korea, I’ll have to repay this kindness….

Wiping my moist eyes with my sleeve, securing the load again, I headed back home.

As time passed, home drew closer.

In the distance, smoke rose from my small sanctuary.

Is Heesun preparing dinner? Is the tablecloth set nicely? I’m not good at setting tables… Even if the result isn’t great, I should praise her immensely.

Thinking of Heesun’s face,

my heart suddenly raced with excitement.

Closer to home. Instead of a cold hearth, a warm lower room awaits, with a beautiful woman waiting… Our home. Our home.

“Heesun! Orabi’s here!”

In a rush, I called out for Heesun first.

Where could she have gone?

First, I put down the luggage, carefully unpacked Heesun’s gifts, then went to find her.

She wasn’t in the room… nor in the kitchen? Seeing the fire burning in the hearth, she must not have gone far….

After wandering around for a bit, I saw Heesun coming from afar, carrying a large water jar on her head.

With her slender body, somehow she managed to carry it gracefully, pouring water gently, but it seemed too precarious, so I hurried over.

“Hey Heesun! Why are you carrying that heavy thing? Put it down there! No, leave it there, you might hurt your back. I’ll carry it for you.”

In response to my urgent shout, Heesun slightly turns her body to look at me.

Her body slowly turns due to the heavy jar on her head.

Our eyes meet.

A bright smile blossoms,

It’s like a beautiful peach blossom, my heart flutters.

“Oh, brother!”

Heesun calls me with a clear voice like a cuckoo bird, urging me forward while holding the heavy water bucket in her arms.

“Huh…?”

I am at a loss, unable to do anything in my anxiety, but Heesun approaches quickly without hesitation.

“Oh, brother! Oh my!”

She rushes towards me, stumbling as if she didn’t see the rock, my heart pounding as time seems to stop… My mind goes blank as I lurch towards her.

Only Heesun. Only Heesun is visible.

“Heesun!”

Crash!

The dropped water bucket shatters and splinters fly, and suddenly Heesun is in my arms.

“Are you hurt? Where did you get injured?”

I examine Heesun carefully, checking for injuries, making sure her muscles aren’t strained.

“Sorry… I broke the water bucket…”

Suddenly, I’m angry.

What’s the big deal about a water bucket? Even if there were hundreds or thousands of them, they couldn’t replace you.

I inexplicably become furious with her for only caring about the broken bucket.

“Why are you worried about that stupid bucket? Who asked you to do this? Who would be grateful for such a thing? You almost got hurt! Don’t ever do this again! I’ll take care of everything. Understand!”

“Ugh! I-I’m sorry, brother… I just dropped the water…”

“Answer me! Do you understand?”

“Y-yes…”

Was I so surprised by my anger? Her face turning red and looking down made my heart ache.

Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to be injured.

“Phew…”

I hugged Heesun tightly in relief. My hands trembled as I held her.

“Uh… Brother! It’s a bit suffocating…”

She seemed to say something in my arms, but I ignored it and just hugged her tighter.

“At least inside… I’m embarrassed outside….”

I could feel Heesun’s heart beating rapidly…

Gradually, my mind calms down.

I slowly release the grip on her arm, and Heesun slowly slips out of my embrace.

“What happened? Brother?”

Heesun’s voice, full of concern, rings in my ears, but none of it reaches me.

I am captivated by the sight in front of me…

Just when I thought I had calmed down, my heart starts racing again.

As if in a daze, I look at Heesun who has slipped out of my arms.

Did her mother’s clothes fit her too much?

Due to the spilled water, her wet skirt hangs heavily, barely covering her naturally shaped hips, revealing Heesun’s belly button, with delicate curves in sight.

The blouse that was already slightly transparent, now soaked, clings to her body, highlighting her cute pink fruit-like figure.

This attire was more provocative and revealing than that of an Arabian woman.

I am mesmerized by her exposed white abdomen, and I engrave every detail into my mind as if to devour it.

The soft-looking belly, different from the firm female models, the adorable soft abs, and the small navel in the middle… all of it was a captivating sight that I couldn’t look away from.

An instinct tells me that I must engrave this sight into my mind without missing a single detail.

The clothes, soaked and revealing her figure completely… it was something that could not be called clothing.

It simply existed to accentuate a woman’s lines… to exist to stimulate a man…

The tempting chest that seems to pierce through the jacket.. The shyly rising fruit that blushes as if embarrassed tempts me with its pink color… The faintly visible dark hair on the wet skirt below the waist…. It disturbs my mind as if demanding to reveal my color.

“Brother?”

I thought I would be patient as time passed…

“Are you listening, brother?”

I thought it was fortunate that I could endure well even when dealing with that woman…

“Your face seems a bit dazed, has something unpleasant happened in the village?”

A huge desire was bubbling up inside me, ready to burst out as much as the desires I had suppressed so far.

The only visible things were the slender waist of Heesun between the jacket and skirt.. and the flat, snow-white abdomen. How soft and tempting that place looked….

“Do you have a fever? Your face looks a bit red? Are you okay, brother?”

As if checking for a fever, she raised her hand, and as the jacket lifted off my head, the waistline became more pronounced, and her beautiful abdomen filled my sight.

“Hmm.. Hmm…”

A sound of an oppressed animal suddenly came out of my clearly human mouth.

“Oh my! Ah!”

In the end… I… lose my mind…!

It felt like a bang in my head.

My eyes rolled back as I roughly grabbed her thin waist and pulled her strongly towards me before burying my face in her navel.

In the overwhelming last moment, her face that seemed to be smiling broadly at one point was visible….