Everyone rose and greeted Taehu. She wore a disinterested expression as she made her way in and nothing about her was largely different from usual, but the innate dignity flowing around her clearly conveyed that she was the Empress Consort of this country and Hwi's mother.
"Sitting beside Your Majesty it feels as if seeing a full painting. It seems as though all the beautiful scenery of this Suwollu was made for His Majesty alone."
Someone's admiration had made Taehu's attention turn to Yunseo. Of the red-season robes she was wearing, in particular this space suited her well. A glance from within the bedchamber hung on the hanging moonflower paintings and he kept looking sideways at her.
"Even so from the moment I entered the moonflower decoration was truly splendid — I had always thought it was. Moonflowers are a tenacious plant that endures easily — surely it must be the Empress Consort's?"
"I did not know such talent existed before."
"They are so meticulous — since they received the Emperor's touch these things of that degree can come out."
With Taehu's single line, the interest turned to Yunseo. Yunseo watching from far away could feel the young man shooting him a glance and suppressed his laughter.
"The writing of this young man is truly fine — the young man's sincerity toward serving the Empress Consort is so overflowing that seeing such sincere blossoms here is truly a feast for the eyes."
"Hoh, is that so."
People were praising the decorations of the pavilion one after another and a gaze lingering too long was felt. Looking back, Hwi was staring at him. For no reason he opened his eyes wide and he tilted his head and looked away.
"Even young children perfectly match the beat."
At the murmur that came from nowhere he involuntarily twitched his brow. Yunseo put a smile on his lips and whispered back into the inside of his mouth.
"As someone you don't know, I am a past private person."
As Hwi let out a breath as if vexed, the profit that had been flowing as if at all times guarding Hell here suddenly rushed in. Yunseo, flustered, went to take up a teacup but Hwi had already taken up the liquor cup and stood.
"On this fine day, I cannot let pass without a single cup."
Hwi lightly lifted the liquor cup toward Taehu and the court attendants poured from the Taehu's cup. Following that the plain virtue ended and court attendants went one by one pouring each person's cup. Everyone raised their cup and after drinking the musicians began to play their instruments and the dancing started.
Taehu and those in her immediate circle could not naturally have had the opportunity to talk with Hwi and tell him things, and they talked with each other. Watching them freely give and take stories among themselves, he had the feeling of having become a spectator of a banquet.
But then his gaze turned to the flower consorts seated in their places — they too were separated from different seats but were quietly exchanging conversation.
"Is this how it always is alone?"
"Did you think it would be lively?"
"I had several things to say prepared…… if they come over it feels uncomfortable, that's sincere."
"As much as they are uncomfortable, you should bear it."
"Don't say things that are no good."
"Why. Are you looking at me with those eyes."
"What kind of eyes?"
"Pretty eyes."
For no reason he looked away and Hwi took Yunseo's hand off and brought his lips to it. He lastly laughed and raised Yunseo up.
At the confident remark, Yunseo made a laughing face and picked up his liquor cup instead of looking at Hwi who was trying to play tricks. He drank a single sip of liquor and set it down — Inchinhwang met his eyes. Exchanging greetings with his gaze he also answered with a smile.
Time passed and the atmosphere ripened and suddenly the crowd let out a single exclamation and the air filled up. Yunseo after greatly looking around the inside of the pavilion clapped once. Court attendants came in carrying paper held in their hands, each entering in a row.
"What is this?"
At the bewildered response Yunseo stood from his seat.
"I have prepared a small game for the Empress Consort's birthday. This is a lantern, and it is said that writing a wish on the lantern and sending it up, that wish will be fulfilled. Court attendants — write whatever character you wish on the lanterns and they will send them up."
Yunseo's explanation came to an end and then, holding, touching, the words came from everywhere. They were mostly interested. Yunseo put on an appropriate smile and looked around at them and turned his head toward Hwi.
"What character will Your Majesty write?"
"You write one."
Going without holding back and looking straight through at him — it seemed almost like a desire. Yunseo thought of what wish he had sent up together with him that time and wet his lips then hesitated.
"Peace. I will wish for peace."
And so Yunseo conveyed his character to the court attendant and Hwi looking at him from the side said something to the person standing on his side.
"What did you write?"
"Secret."
"Hey. Tell me please."
"The Emperor is not without dignity."
He wanted to poke him and pinch him but there were many watching eyes so he could not bring himself to. Yunseo made a mental note to ask later and let out a breath.
Soon the court attendants took the lanterns away. It was now a matter of sending what they had sent up here — and from outside the pavilion the people watching let out admiration.
The waters surrounding Suwollu were crowded with numerous small lantern boats floating. Lighting the lit lanterns from the lantern boats from below the lanterns began to rise up into the sky one by one ascending. The dark characters engraved on the lanterns' colour resembled moonflower petals. Everyone's wishes written on them flew out as pieces in a direction toward the moon.
Yunseo watched the familiar ache of his own making the lanterns and turned to look at Taehu. The main person of the banquet Taehu had her lips barely parted, her gaze unable to leave the wind-scenery outside the pavilion. In her deep eyes following something, something distant glittered. As if dreaming.
Wishing it would all go over into her robes, Yunseo took Hwi's hand and averted his eyes. His own peace was shooting without hesitation toward the sky, and he wished that his wishes would reach everyone present here.
He thought he hadn't drunk that much but his cheeks felt hot. His head felt heavy and his insides felt like they were swirling — though it did not come out, Yunseo looked around the inside of the pavilion and leaned his head toward Hwi.
"I'll get some air."
"Shall I go together?"
"No. Please stay by the Empress Consort's side."
Not to follow meaning he gave power to his eyes and Hwi gave a short laugh and lightly stroked Yunseo's risen cheek. Yunseo suppressed his embarrassed expression and stood from his seat.
The summer night breeze was lightly brushing the moisture of his clothes and swaying them lightly. Yunseo took a deep breath and exhaled and signaling toward the court attendants with his hand to keep their distance, he took Yeondeok and slowly moved away from the pavilion.
He stopped when the scenery of Suwollu entered his eyes to the full. The pavilion softly lit up with flowing lanterns was beautiful. Around it the lantern boats floating on the moat and the dancers aboard them were wearing white clothes in a cool breeze waving light red robes and it was as if flowers were dancing one after another in the sky.
"Pretty, isn't it?"
"Yes, how did you prepare something like this?"
"I went to a village during the spring festival that sends lanterns and at the time that scenery stayed with me…… I wanted to see it together with everyone."
"More than anyone else it would be better, wouldn't it. If the person who walks the road well were together it would be safe and pleasant."
"Going outside is a dog's life. Seeing it from here is enough for me."
Yeondeok humming a boat song had his eyes on the scenery of the pavilion. Yunseo looking at Yeondeok's face smiling with pleasure let out a laugh. So it was good to be able to share good things with him too.
With the intention of returning in a state of ease he was about to put his arm around Yeondeok's shoulder. Footsteps drawing near from behind — Yunseo swallowed a breath and looked back. To follow or not, why was he following — but he found out the other party was not Hwi and was slightly flustered.
"Enjoying the cool breeze?"
"Yes, I came out for a bit of air. There is nothing uncomfortable in your seat, is there."
Did he follow me out? Yunseo with a little doubt looked at the good-natured smiling Inchinhwang. Inchinhwang's gaze flowing sideways at Yeondeok who was standing there — Yeondeok quickly stepped back. Yunseo did not miss that flow of gaze.
"I have put in much effort here and if there was anything uncomfortable I would feel bad. It has been many banquets but this is the first time a seat is beautiful like today."
"You flatter me. That Inchinhwang enjoyed himself makes this person glad too."
The feeling facing him of the face of Inchinhwang grew deeper. For some reason the mood was getting subtly heavy and the cause was unknown. He just felt like finishing the conversation and leaving — he felt a clumsy eagerness. Yunseo held on to his internal flustered feeling and maintained his smile.
"Lanterns, truly a sincere thought. When I went to Sancheonghyeon I saw the people of the riverbank sending up lanterns and that day comes to mind. Has Your Majesty ever seen such scenery?"
"Unfortunately this person has never left the institution, so I have only heard it by rumor."
He reflexively lied and thankfully no hooks caught. His own path, whether Inchinhwang knew of it or not — but that was something to attribute to circumstance, a past matter of history — and it would not be good to have it come out.