The black and white sides exchanged polite greetings and divided into offense and defense.

The white side, assigned to defense, entered inside the rectangular line drawn on the courtyard floor, while the black side guarded outside it. The most notable thing was that one Yongrin stood behind each one Yeongchunhwa.

The event proposed for the Yongrin and Yeongchunhwa's solidarity was a bean bag game. The rule was that if the attacking side hit someone on the defending side with a bag filled with beans, that person was eliminated, and if the defending side caught the bag, the thrower was eliminated.

The one who had proposed this game was the second consort. Being in practice the only one among the inner court who had spent an ordinary childhood playing with friends, and it being a game well-suited for Yongrin and Yeongchunhwa to enjoy together, it had passed with unanimous approval.

To this, a rule was added that only the Yeongchunhwa could throw and catch the bags, and the ones getting hit had to be Yongrin. Yongrin were permitted to help the Yeongchunhwa, but directly touching the bags themselves was not allowed.

The prior concern about what to do if all the nimble Yongrin simply dodged the bags with ease was made to look foolish when, once the game started, players from the defending side began dropping out one after another. It was because the Yongrin had reflexively grabbed bags flying toward the Yeongchunhwa in order to protect them.

The sight of a court noble looking helplessly at a Yongrin — unable even to scold him — and the Yongrin fidgeting in front of him made laughter burst out.

"I did not expect a picture like this."

"Good heavens, there goes my dignity."

The sight of the Yeongchunhwa guarding the front of the Yongrin while the Yongrin hid behind the Yeongchunhwa and focused intensely on dodging was quite fresh. On the faces of the court nobles who were protecting the Yongrin with spirit while concentrating on the bags with frightening focus, delight was evident.

Passionate cheering continued from the spectators' seats. Wagers had been permitted this time — the miscellaneous duties of the Yongrin Guard and Yeonwiwon were at stake — so everyone fervently hoped their own side would win.

"It is good to see everyone enjoying themselves."

"Since most enter the palace before coming of age, they would be more enthusiastic about ordinary things — you have well grasped that desire."

"It is thanks to everyone helping to make the event go smoothly."

When the sides switched and the courtyard was reorganized, Yunseo also observed the reactions of the court consorts sitting beside him. They too appeared to be enjoying it even more than when they had watched the polo match.

"Do you not wish to participate yourselves?"

"This one is happy just watching."

"This person would like to try once, but I think no one would throw a bag at me."

When he deliberately put on a dejected expression, the senior consort laughed softly. Just then, the court noble sitting in the farthest seat poked his head out.

"Then could you not play with us?"

At the unexpected suggestion from an unexpected person, Yunseo's eyes went wide before he narrowed them with a smile.

"Very well. Then will this court noble be on the same side as me?"

"……If that is what Your Majesty wishes."

"What an honor."

At that convenient moment the game began again and the pleasant conversation naturally came to a stop. As he looked around the courtyard, he felt a gaze on his cheek. Hwi was staring at him, and Yunseo tilted his head quizzically. At that, Hwi curved the corner of his mouth upward.

"You seem pleased."

"……That I am, are I not?"

Unable to understand the meaning and giving a vague reply, Hwi smiled and gazed at Yunseo for a moment before turning his head. Yunseo, with a slightly bewildered air, took hold of Hwi's hand. Hwi's fingers curled inward and enclosed Yunseo's hand securely.

A cloud covered the sun and shade fell. The sky had been clear just in the morning, but dark clouds had spread widely before he knew it, as though rain might come. Because of that the air was quite cool. Taking a sip of the freshly poured tea a palace servant had brought, the cold air quickly dispersed.

Yunseo surveyed the lively scene of the courtyard as though sketching a picture in his mind. The sight of Yongrin and Yeongchunhwa as one side, helping, cheering, and enjoying themselves was very pleasing to see. In this moment at least, all those gathered here seemed not like Yongrin or Yeongchunhwa but simply ordinary young people.

Experiencing the plan he had built in discussion with the court consorts being realized so successfully was rewarding as well. When he was young he had never once imagined holding a position or rising to an important role, but he now felt keenly that this place too had its own joys.

The bean bag game ended in a victory for the black side. The black side savored the joy of victory, while the white side consoled each other despite their disappointment. The flushed cheeks of the younger court nobles gave a sense of how hard they had run about.

The next game prepared was blind man's bluff.

It was a game where the blindfolded person caught others, but here all the Yongrin including the seeker would be blindfolded. Instead, the Yeongchunhwa riding on a Yongrin's back would give advice — catch him, dodge him — which counted as a form of cooperation.

When the drummer beat the drum to signal the start, from that moment on the Yongrin began to dash about nimbly.

"They are completely…… fish in water."

Rules had been placed on the Yongrin so the game would flow more excitingly, and all of them were made to cover their eyes — yet they moved with ease as though their vision were perfectly clear. The concern that they might get hurt without being able to see, just as Hwi had said, had proved unnecessary.

"We also train in wielding swords while blindfolded — avoiding and catching each other is the easiest thing in the world."

He had wondered if the seeker would never manage to catch anyone at all, but players ended up running into each other while trying not to collide and getting caught by the seeker, and the seeker had been selected as the most agile person, so the game proceeded quite excitingly.

Bright laughter poured from Yunseo's lips without pause. After a long time returning to a child-like state of mind with no stray thoughts, there was no chance for his mouth to close.

Every so often Hwi's gaze landed on Yunseo's cheek. Whenever he felt it, Yunseo turned to Hwi and giggled like a child.

As players were caught and eliminated from the courtyard and finally only one pair remained, the game was over. Since there were prizes for the seeker and the remaining pair, laughter bloomed on their faces as they looked at each other.

"Your Majesty. May this subject dare to offer one suggestion?"

Just as the event was about to be concluded, Huije stepped forward. Yunseo waited with a puzzled yet open expression for the opinion Huije would put forward.

"Today is a historic day when our Yongrin and Yeongchunhwa have gathered in one place, and since both of Your Majesties have prepared such a harmonious occasion, would it not be fitting, in commemoration of this, to hold a blind man's bluff game in which both Your Majesties participate in person?"

"For us — myself and the Empress — to participate?"

"Yes. Of course we shall be the seekers, and Your Majesties must run away."

The gazes of both sides concentrated on Yunseo and Hwi. The court nobles stirred with looks of "why is she doing that," while the Yongrin were animated with interested expressions as though waiting for Hwi's consent.

Hwi raised one eyebrow and turned to look at Yunseo. His heart was beating with excitement, but he could not undignifiedly beg to play. Without showing any particular reaction and simply watching Hwi quietly, Hwi gave a faint smile.

"Very well. To the one who catches this body and the Empress, I will grant fifteen days of leave."

At the unprecedented prize, cheers erupted from all around. Everyone clamored to say they would participate, and it took quite a long time just to narrow down the participants.

For smooth proceedings and safety, the number was reduced and reduced to twenty pairs who would be the seekers. Yunseo took Hwi's hand and descended to the courtyard, whispering quietly.

"Can you avoid being caught?"

"If I do not wish to incur resentment, I should let myself be caught appropriately."

Which was to say, if he wanted to not get caught, he could. Yunseo was impressed, and Hwi gave a short laugh.

Huije came forward shortly, bowed in respect, and tied a small bell to Hwi's ankle. Hwi gave his foot a light shake to make the bell sound, then wrapped the black cloth over his eyes. Yunseo held his hand in front of Hwi's face and waved it.

"You cannot see, can you?"

"I can feel your hand waving."

"I will behave quietly so as not to interfere."

"Even if you danced on top of me I am confident I would not be caught, so do not worry."

Twenty pairs of Yongrin and Yeongchunhwa surrounded Hwi, standing at the center of the courtyard. Before the drummer beat the drum, Yunseo pretended to whisper in Hwi's ear and kissed his cheek.

"I trust you."

The corner of Hwi's mouth curved up widely and freely. Then the drummer beat the drum, and from all sides the Yongrin charged in unison.

Hwi leapt high and instantly escaped the narrowing circle. There were Yongrin who anticipated his movement and ran in the same direction, but Hwi made one more leap in midair and broke free from pursuit.

He moved so lightly that even the sound of the bell was faint. Whether to hear it more clearly, the Yongrin kept their mouths firmly shut and even suppressed their own noise.

When a Yongrin's hand shot in and came near, Yunseo suppressed a scream and gripped Hwi's neck more firmly. Hwi bent his waist and pushed through the gap between the Yongrin rushing in one after another. When he stepped on the pavilion railing and leapt diagonally upward, a shiver like his heart dropping and then bouncing back up ran through his body.

Before he knew it, the hazy dark clouds had scattered and sunlight poured through the gaps. Yunseo threw his head back and could not hold back his laughter.

Hwi's heartbeat and the movement of his muscles felt beneath his palms. The hands of Yongrin flying tantalizingly close before barely pulling away. The wind that swept coolly across his cheeks each time they kicked off the ground and rose and fell. The dizzying sensation of feeling as though he himself were using sacred power.

Normally Hwi would not have participated in such a game and would not have been inclined to. And yet he was participating for him.

He was happy. Even though they must go to the Hell Realm the moment signal fires rose, the fact that at times like this he could be simply, wholly happy made Yunseo feel even more buoyant.

Hwi turned his head and even pressed his lips to Yunseo's cheek in a leisurely gesture. Yunseo buried his lips in Hwi's nape and bit down on his laughter.

The Yongrin who had been charging in haphazardly changed their strategy and began closing in in a tight formation from all sides. Just as Hwi was bending one knee —

For a moment, his body vibrated.

Yunseo blinked and looked down. Hwi's feet were not moving — they were still planted on the ground.

But what was this shaking……?

Beneath his palm, Hwi's shoulder was slowly stiffening. The courtyard that had been filled with vitality and enthusiasm fell silent in an instant. The Yongrin, one by one, stopped in place and pulled down the black cloths covering their eyes.

Hwi too tore off the cloth at the moment, and a Yongrin flew in to enter the courtyard.

"Your Majesty! Three signal fires have risen! But the scale……"

The Yongrin lowered his voice with a dazed expression.

"It is estimated to exceed three signal fires."

A single sharp silence bored into his ears. Yunseo and Hwi simultaneously turned to look at each other. It was a meeting of gazes like gazing out at a vast, boundless sea.