Chapter 509 – The New Year

With a vacant expression, Ebony gazed upon the back of her master. She had neither seen nor imagined Lee Si-heon in such a state of collapse.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

Ebony was all too familiar with the expression he bore when he executed his betrothed in his dreams.

“I love you,” he whispered.

The slick sensation of blood flowing over his hand. The palpable rhythm of a beating heart. The pool of blood spreading grotesquely across the floor, originating from his elbow, seemed inconsequential. The pair, murmuring declarations of love, clung to each other tightly, their bodies trembling. Ebony observed them from between the doorframe.

Despite the pleas of the young girl, the master refused to relent. It made Ebony wonder if she would act similarly under such circumstances. Although she comprehended his reasons, Ebony couldn’t help but harbor a degree of resentment towards his resolution.

“Master. My dear master,” she softly spoke.

But that man, the master who had always been so composed, did not hesitate to shed tears in the embrace of another.

A gentle pat, pat on her shoulder.

Turning her head, she saw a white-haired woman, her noble grace radiating from her, gracing her with a gentle smile.

“Let’s be quiet for now. Let’s allow them some time of their own,” the woman suggested gently, pressing a finger to her lips.

Ebony wanted to observe the master a little longer, but under the subtle coercion of the woman’s gesture, she found herself nodding and following into the woman’s chamber.

“Do you have any questions?” the woman inquired as they entered the room.

Clasping her elbow, Ebony nodded in affirmation.

“Who is that person?” Ebony asked.

“Hmm, what kind of relationship do you think they have?” the woman replied.

“A betrothed,” Ebony said.

The woman bore striking resemblance to the one she had seen in her dreams. Although she had aged, she still exuded a hardened beauty, like a flower blooming along a cliff edge. Her face was not out of place if referred to as master’s betrothed.

“Puhuhu,” the woman, Alba, chuckled, her laughter echoing throughout the room.

“A betrothed, you say? That’s one way to see it. From now on, they won’t be left alone. But it’s a bit different,” Alba divulged.

“Then what is it?” Ebony queried.

“Like the relationship between you and Lee Si-heon, Ebony. They share a mentor-student bond,” Alba explained.

“Mentor-student?” Ebony echoed, recalling the term.

It was something she had heard from Lee Si-heon before. Alba nodded, a look of excitement gleaming in her eyes.

“The master, who was on the verge of death, has awakened. It’s not a fuss,” Alba stated.

“Why did the master awaken?” Ebony asked, puzzled.

Alba smirked, tidying up the bedding, and responded, “Someday, our little sprout will know. He’s a bit of a crybaby too, isn’t he?”

“What?” Ebony questioned, taken aback.

“Lee Si-heon… So, your master has been coming here almost every week without fail. It would’ve been nice if he was here to see me, but that wasn’t the case. After all, he doesn’t trust me.”

His mistrust. Perhaps he wasn’t here for me after all.

Such phrases were beyond comprehension from Ebony’s perspective, yet due to habits ingrained from living in the slums, she could only nod as if she understood. In the darkness, ignorance was a crime, a ticket to death.

“Would you like some?”

Alba offered Ebony a fruit basket from an unknown source, filled to the brim with mulberries.

Audi. The sweet fruit dripped with purple juice.

Once it touched her lips, a subtle sweetness wrapped around her tongue and spread out.

“Let him enjoy for a while, it’s the moment he’s been dreaming about for years.”
“Yes.”
“Shall we move on to the main topic?”

Alba said as she passed the fruit basket to Ebony.

“What happened at the tower?”

* * * * * * * * * * *

“Si-heon.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve heard the story. Three years have passed.”
“That’s true.”
“I heard that you’ve become a king.”
“I had no choice.”
“I’m not blaming you, I just wanted to confirm the facts.”

After such a long time, the embrace of his master smelled of ripe peaches.

Cheondo, as delighted to see him as he was to see her, had no intention of releasing him from her embrace. His master was cradling his head against her bosom, tenderly stroking his hair.

“Was it difficult?”
“Yes. Very.”
“Your body must be tired, too.”

The master’s laughter met his eyes. Her warm breath brushed against his cheeks.

“You’ve been through a lot, indeed.”

Cheondo gently pulled him closer, and they collapsed onto the bed. He and his master were lying on the same bed, wrapped in each other’s arms.

“What about the other two?”

Upon hearing his question, Cheondo closed her eyes momentarily, speaking with a grim expression.

“So far… there’s no response.”
“Could it be…”
“That’s unlikely. It might take a little more time.”

Would he never see Zodiac and White Peach again in his lifetime? The thought sent tremors of fear coursing through his body, but his master, sensing his unease, pulled him closer into her embrace. Her large bosom was a comforting barrier for the moment.

-Swoosh.

Cheondo, who was hugging him, pressed her lips affectionately onto his forehead.

“Don’t worry too much. The old ones will rise soon.”
“Yes.”
“What has happened in the meantime?”

He couldn’t reply. He had been sobbing for a while, but the master merely waited. Eventually, he mustered the courage to speak.

“I’ve roamed the world in a daze.”
“Ah, experience fosters growth.”

“Sometimes, I found myself trapped in the dungeon for months on end… My accursed sexual desire has often been my undoing.”
“You speak of lust as if it is the king’s power?”
“Yes, damnably so. Have you ever felt carnal desire whilst watching a monster? Once lust has its clutches on you… Even the feeblest of monsters could best me. In such battles, it’s common for an organ to be torn asunder and on the day I returned from gathering magic stones, there was no one to be found.”
“No one… Ah. You mean you’ve resolved your relationships. I understand. You are gentle, so you must have attempted to settle this alone.”
“I was intensely lonely. The cold was unbearable, and I was weary of the incessant bickering of those damned fools.”
“…So, has it ended?”

I shook my head. I had much yet to do.
The tasks pile up, the weight on my shoulders grows.
Now, I must even confront myself from another world.

“Lift your head.”

As I raised my face from the chest where it was buried, Cheondo delicately wiped the corners of my eyes.

“Mmm.”

A tender smile spread across her lips, inciting an irresistible urge to kiss them.

“You’ve done well. You’ve filled my shoes admirably.”

I suspect I am indeed fond of this woman.
Realizing this sent my heart racing at an incredible speed.

“What will you do next?”
“…The wound in my abdomen has yet to heal, let alone my body. The sage suggested I stay here for a while to recover.”
“That seems a wise course.”

I encircled Cheondo’s waist with my arm. The embrace was incredibly comforting.
As if reverting to childhood, my quickened breath spread towards Cheondo. She bore it without a trace of discomfort.

“However.”

Cheondo, who was gently stroking my hair, said.

“The sage woman has a daughter. A charming child. She bears a striking resemblance to you.”

A shiver ran through me.

“…Yes, that’s so.”
“Did your lust extend that far?”

That was an event from three years ago,

“Well, Master. You see, it was not that I wasn’t considering Hwangdo, but during the selection for forest keeper, I drank and inadvertently…”
“Tsk!”

-Bang!

“Ugh!”
“Playing around with your cock, huh? Damn you.”

A harsh word that I would never have associated with Cheondo.
Perhaps she was trying to lighten my mood, Cheondo’s cheeks were slightly flushed as she used uncharacteristic and somewhat vulgar language.

“What are you laughing at? You, with a horde of women, what are you intending to do with a girl of unknown origins? Were her embraces so delightful to you?”

Cheondo, feigning anger, lashed out at me.

-Thump!

I was hit on the head again. I’ve lost count of the times.
Even this felt good in its own way, and with tear-streaked cheeks, I burst into chuckles.

“Ha, ha, ha.”
“The master is scolding, yet where is the one who dares to laugh?”
“But it feels so good.”
“What’s so good about it… Hmph.”

The playful facade on Cheondo’s face started to gradually fade. Her eyebrows, previously furrowed in feigned anger, relaxed, and a bashful smile graced her lips.

“Heh. Were you startled? I’m not angry. I was the one who closed my eyes first, leaving you behind. So, do I even have the right to be upset?”

Although I knew it was a jest, my heart refused to calm down when her twisted face suddenly softened into a smile. She was beautiful.

I was aware of her intentions to tease, yet… there was something about her delight that made me want to play along.

“I wasn’t surprised.”

As I cheekily responded, giving her shoulder a light tap, she chuckled in reply.

“Your reaction says otherwise! How incredibly startled you must have been! Heh.”

My teacher, with her innocent expression, was as adorable as the Cheondo from my dreams and as emotive as the Cheondo from our past. The array of emotions she seldom showed me resonated deep within my heart, perhaps because she had come back from the brink of death.

However, there wasn’t enough time to prolong this moment.

“Teacher.”

“Yes?”

Cheondo, wiping the tear that clung to her eye corner, nodded. I patted her back, and she leaned in, accommodating her posture for my comfort.

“There’s still so much to do.”

“I know. I wish I could recover soon to assist you.”

“Yes.”

The trials of the king were ongoing. A reunion was sweet, but there were more pressing matters to attend to.

I looked at Cheondo, my gaze burning with intensity. She met my eyes without hesitation. Would she accept me if I subtly crossed the line?

As I slowly moved my face closer to hers, Cheondo gently moved her lips-

-Smack!

-Far from accepting, she blocked me, striking my lips with her hand, just like a cat defending its territory.

“I told you, there was someone else.”

But that person was me. Why did this feel like such a defeat?

“Anyway, a man who has many women…”

Having received a severe blow to my lips, I had no choice but to pull back, my face cloaked with disappointment.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Azalea raised the child of the man she had first fallen in love with.

[Beep!]

At first, it was a tumultuous journey.

[Beep, Mom. When is Dad coming?]

Back then, I lacked the courage to tell her the truth, nor did I have enough time to soothe her sorrow.

[Dad, if you’re not here, I won’t eat. Beep.]

Enduring it all was a struggle, but the child kept scratching at her mother’s tender heart. Yet, strangely enough, it never became tiresome.

How would this little life grow after losing its father? Would it become too skewed? I was more concerned about my child than myself, worrying about her future.

Life is vast, often too vast to contain even a single individual. For Azalea, the task of nurturing her child superseded her own tears.

As she raised Shiba, a child in her care, she began to understand the sentiments of a mother’s heart.

‘My own mother… she must have felt this way too,’ Azalea pondered.

There were moments, when she had succumbed to the allure of another man, where her hatred was so potent she wished him dead. Yet, when she reminisced about the harmony of her former household, she realized that her love for Shiba was akin to her mother’s love for her.

‘The circumstances are uncannily similar. Father is gone, and Mother…’

Still, she had refrained from infidelity. Despite the forces beyond control, her mother had committed an inexcusable sin.

But understanding her mother’s feelings over time, Azalea managed to forge a simple conversation with the woman she once despised.

‘[…Are you alright?]’
“Yes, I’m okay. Mother.”

‘Now I understand.’

Azalea had grown.

‘Being a mother is incredibly challenging, and one can’t help but love their own child.’

‘[I worry about you.]’
“It’s okay. My sisters look after me well.”

Despite the criticisms for raising a daughter whose father’s name remained unknown, and despite the relentless chatter on Mescom, she had managed to come this far.

‘[However…]’

Knock, knock, knock.

“Yes, Mother, a visitor is here. I’ll hang up now.”
‘[…Take care.]’
“Yes.”

Azalea was a mother at the tender age of twenty, raising a child not connected by blood. It had been her choice, but the burden was undeniably severe for her young self.

Se-Young and Byeol, aware of her plight, had been considerably considerate. Thanks to them, Azalea had fulfilled her duties like a sturdy wooden post, standing tall to this day.

‘Do you have a moment, Azalea?’
“Yes, just a moment.”

Azalea left her dish, wiping her moist, youthful hands on her apron. Affixed to the cupboard was a small note, a shopping list for the day: pork, onions, eggs, yogurt, and more. Shiba’s favorite recipe for braised short ribs was also listed.

Azalea exited the kitchen. Her dressing table, adorned with cosmetics from the academy, was seldom used since she became a mother. There was no one she needed to impress. Instead, a picture of Si-heon from his school days was displayed next to her cosmetics.

Nine in the morning.

Azalea smiled at the picture.

“…Si-heon.”

Her smile faded, edges of her mouth drooping.

“Stay strong.”

She yearned to see his face that day. She had held on for a long time, her love for him was unchanged.

To her, Lee Si-heon was the first person who made her fall in love, the first person for whom she applied makeup.

‘I miss him.’

His thoughts inundated her mind that day. She had yearned for him for a long time. Today, being a special day, intensified those feelings.

She would remember that single phrase and face each day, drawing comfort from her own daughter when hurt unexpectedly.

The swiftness of Shiba’s growth, to the extent that she was tempted to parade the deceased Lee Si-heon as a token of pride, was astounding. It was a paradox that filled her with melancholy for reasons she could hardly fathom.

When Shiba parted ways with her, she was the only one left. The companion destined for her had already taken leave.

“Azalea!”

Azalea unlatched the door to welcome her visitor.

“Sister?”

“Panting, panting…. Why have you stayed inside for so long?”

“I was just doing some dishes.”

“Assign such chores to the housemaid.”

Sometimes, Azalea preferred to do things herself. Her dream had always been to become a housewife in a modest family home.

“Besides that… huff. Close the door for now.”

“Why are you rushing…? Sister, why are you so lightly dressed in this cold?”

“It’s a serious matter. Don’t misunderstand, just listen. Is there anyone else here?”

“Only me.”

Se-Young, gasping for breath, seized Azalea’s shoulder and ushered her into the room. Drained, she sank to her knees, compelling Azalea to do the same.

Azalea, damp with sweat, worried about her sister’s odd behavior. She appeared haggard and wearied.

“I’ll fetch a glass of water for you.”

“No need for that. Just listen.”

Se-Young replied tersely. She grasped Azalea’s shoulders and pulled her close. Azalea’s head turned towards Se-Young, who then whispered into her ear.

“Lee Si-heon, he’s alive.”

He was alive.

“……”

Azalea was momentarily stunned by the unexpected revelation.

“What do you mean…?”

Azalea opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, struggling to respond. Her disheveled hair fell over her shoulders, her hair tie had loosened. Her lovely pink hair fluttered in the air.

“He’s alive. Si-heon. Your and my boyfriend.”

Understood.

She had doubted her ears, but this time she comprehended clearly.

Azalea unconsciously clamped her mouth shut.

“…Really?”

“Really.”

“You’re not lying?”

“I saw him with my own eyes. Though I couldn’t bring him back, I am certain he’s alive.”

She covered her mouth and tears began to stream down her face. Unable to find the words, Azalea bowed her head. Soon, a sound of sobbing was heard, muffled by her covered mouth.

“Sob, sob.”

Winter wind seeped in through the open door. Though still chilling, the sun was bright.

“Wailing. Sister… is it really true? Is Si-heon really alive?”

Azalea cried like a young girl, as if she had returned to her academy days. Se-Young held her and patted her back. There was still much to say, but for now, she left Azalea to her tears.

“Isn’t it April Fool’s Day?”

“What April Fool’s Day in winter….”

“Crying, wailing….”

The man who had greeted her every day for three years. The man Azalea yearned for, her short yet poignant love, was back.

-Rustling!

The wind turned the pages of the calendar. From this day forward, may only good fortune find us.

Enveloped in an embrace, the two women basked in an overflowing joy for a spell, offering each other solace and blessings.

[January 1st]

A morning dawned when all had reclaimed something lost.
It was the commencement of a new year.