As the old man said so many things in one sentence, the subtle differences in accents and facial expressions made Ruhae and Kyosul feel as if he were speaking to someone else.
Who was it?
âHill⌠. â
Kyosul murmured, trembling unconsciously.
Hill.
That was the only subject that the fortune teller mentioned in that sentence.
That fortune teller called Ruhae and Kyosul a bird and rain respectively.
If that was the case, the hill was clearly not referring to them.
How could he talk about somebody else when he was trying to tell their fortunes?
He seemed to announce someoneâs existence that was inseparable from their lives.
When Kyosul was trying to ponder over it more, Ruhae embraced her tightly.
When she was wrapped in his arms, she could shake off the anxiety that filled her whole body.
âWe stayed outside too long. Arenât you tired? Letâs go back,â Ruhae whispered gently.
When she heard his kind and comforting voice, all the distracting thoughts in her mind disappeared. She nodded silently.
As the night drew on, the fever of the festival became hotter.
Leaving the festival behind, however, they walked back with a heavy heart. There was silence when they entered a secluded alley nearby. Their short deviation at the festival was over. They had to end it.
They were not supposed to look like lovers anymore.
Kyosul had to go back to her original place as the Crown Princess while Ruhae returned to being another prince.
***
Though they returned to the palace and their original positions, the festival continued. During this festival period, even the Imperial Palace was also in the thick of pleasure and excitement. While the Central Place was somewhat noisy and disorderly with the festival, other palaces were rather quiet. As a result, it was easy for the lovers to meet privately during the festival because there were fewer people that had to avoid and watch out. As they couldnât miss this golden opportunity, Kyosul and Ruhae met and spent time together almost daily, but Ruhae became strange for the past several days.
Since he returned after enjoying the festival on the market street and after he met that strange fortune teller, he often looked at Kyosul with sad eyes. When they met secretly, he was particularly worried and anxious.
âObviously, he is bothered by that fortune-tellerâs prediction.â
Today, Kyosul returned to the Dongbi Palace at sunset after spending all day with Ruhae. After dinner, she spent the evening leisurely, but she stood up abruptly as she couldnât stand it anymore.
She quickly looked around her room. The court ladies at the Dongbi Palace were reduced by half as it was dark. After dinner, her nanny did not keep an eye on her.
She carefully walked out of her room. Muffling her steps, she quickly left the palace and headed for the south, bathed in the moonlight.
The Namchon Palace was as familiar to Kyosul as the Dongbi Palace.
Without looking around, she immediately knocked on the window of Ruhaeâs room.
Knock, knock, knock.
There was no light lit in the room. It was impossible that Ruhae had already gone to bed and didnât hear her knock. She began to feel cold in her fingertips, when a dim shadow came over the window.
When she knocked on the window strongly, he opened window wide.
âKyosul!â
Ruhae, who found Kyosul outside the window, shouted in surprise and looked around, muffling his voice.
âHow come you came here all of a sudden? At this time? Itâs dangerous! â
âDonât worry. Even my nanny didnât know I came here. I came to see you today because I have something to tell you right now. â
âNow⌠?â
Ruhae thought deeply, while Kyosul acted quickly. Of course, it was very rare that she came at this time. As he was so surprised, he just looked at her blankly, she reached out through the window.
âAre you going to keep me standing outside?â
Ruhae pulled her with both hands through the window. As she crossed the window into the room, she got to the point even before she closed the window.
âTell me honestly.â
âWhat?â
Ruhae turned back to her after closing the window with a latch. Unlike him who kept looking around and expressing concern about her sudden visit, she focused on the topic, looking only at him.
âYou are still bothered by that ridiculous fortune-tellerâs prediction, right?â
His eyes widened with surprise.
â⌠Did you notice it? â
âVery much.â
She grabbed his hands. They held hands tightly and sat side by side on the bed, looking at each other. She didnât ask why he paid so much attention to that fortune-teller. As she was in the same boat, she could know without asking.
It was because of the relationship between the Crown Princess and the prince.
It was because each of them had their own official spouse.
Nevertheless, they were attracted to and loved each other.
Just like she suddenly came and brought the topic, she continued, âYou told me the fortune-teller was trying to deceive us with his three-inch long tongue, right? Thatâs a typical trick people like him use to make money by deceiving suckers on the streets.â
He just grinned as she enthusiastically spoke. Excited by his laughter much more, she spoke heatedly, âDo you remember him when he spat out words we couldnât understand and then suddenly lost interest in us and got lost in thoughts?â
âAs if he were possessed by a spirit,â he said.
âRight. That was so fake. Very awkward. So, I noticed his trick. â
âDid you notice it, too, at that time?â
âNo, actually I was a bit confused at the time, but when I came back, I pondered over it. Perhaps he would have asked for more money if I had asked more questions.â
He stroked her hair as if to calm her down. Her head was even hot as she spoke passionately.
âI know, I know. I think so. It just keeps occurring to my mindâŚ.â
Ruhaeâs eyes grew unfocused again. She thought of his sad eyes when he looked at her these days. She grabbed his hands with both hands.
âI already forgot everything. I donât remember what the heck he rambled about because he said too many strange and awkward words. â
âRight. Nonsensical sentences. â
âIt looks like you were tricked because you are so smart. As you try to find out its meaning and interpretation by yourself⌠â
âYouâre right.â
He pressed long kisses to her finger. With his lips still on her fingers, he continued to talk, âItâs not because of that fortune tellerâs prediction. It just amplified the anxiety that was already in my mind. I didnât control my fears and made you worry. Iâm still stupid.â
His lips tickled her fingers. When his breath reached her fingers, she was touched by the warmth conveyed through her fingers.
âIf we had not maintained this relationship or if we had not had any concern at all, we would have laughed off his prediction, ignoring it as just pure nonsense. â
âYou bet. But for this relationshipâŚâ
This relationship.
Something they could call âthis relationshipâ bothered them.
âBut you have to remember this one thing.â
As if trying to forget the pain, she looked at him, straining her eyes.
âYou are the only person that I can give my heart to,â she said.
âYes, same to me.â
He put his hands on her cheeks. She put her hands on the back of his hands and spoke slowly.
âDonât worry.â
Every word reflected her genuine feelings. Her fingers crossed his.
âDonât worry, donât be nervous,â she said tenderly, which touched his heart strongly.
âIf no one knows this, or even if we canât tell this to anybody elseâŚâ
Each of her words was emphasized.
As if not to miss her tone, he listened carefully.
âBecause you are my man, and I am your woman.â
My man.
My one and only love.
When Kyosul said that, there was silence between them for a while. Even though they didnât talk, their intense gazes spoke volumes. After looking at her for a long time, He leaned his forehead on her shoulder.
âIâm leaning on you who cried inside the sedan chair.â
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It was anxiety and fear he brought upon himself.
But now he realized that he didnât have to go through it by himself. He realized it through this young woman before his eyes.
The month-long festival to celebrate the birthday of Ohyulje ended with the gathering of all the royal families again for a splendid banquet. The royal families who had spent a month or so in the palace returned to their homes a day or two after the banquet.
All the palace people who were busy preparing for the festival were exhausted. And they received special allowances and vacations as they volunteered to serve royal families at the Imperial Palace banquet during the festival period when no one was forced to work. The special bonus they received was bigger than any other cash award.