The four people strolled slowly down the path lined with cornelian cherry trees, then headed toward a pavilion jutting out over the pond. They sat around the table and each took out the food basket they had prepared. The baskets contained all manner of different foods, and it was clearly and amusingly visible how each reflected the owner's tastes and preferences.

"Noble Consort Hyeon likes vegetables, and Seongbin likes fish."

"We have been found out."

Seongbin gave a nonchalant reply to Yunseo's observation at the end of his inspection. Before long everyone's gaze moved to the remaining baskets. Two of the baskets contained such similar food that it was difficult to tell them apart by owner.

Yi Sowon seemed to have truly childlike tastes. And they… fit his own preferences exactly.

"We are of one mind, you and I."

At the quiet murmur, Yi Sowon put on a deliberately indifferent expression and lifted his chin.

"If it were not for Your Majesty and I, we would have had a meager meal on a picnic."

"A healthy meal, wouldn't you say?"

Yunseo glanced at Noble Consort Hyeon and Seongbin and corrected his phrasing. They seemed accustomed to Yi Sowon even like this and appeared unbothered, and somehow this dynamic now felt familiar and natural.

Come to think of it, it had not been so long since they had come to spend time together so comfortably like this — yet they all felt like friends known since childhood. That people so different from each other had come together and were interacting like this was not an opportunity easily obtained.

"Now, let us eat."

When Yunseo picked up his spoon and chopsticks, the others began their meal as well.

A gentle breeze blew, and the long-hanging willow branches brushed the pond, making ripples. Amid the wafting sweet fragrance, their mouths were filled with a variety of flavors — it felt as though their feet might float off the ground of their own accord.

"It seems the flower came to find a friend."

Following Seongbin's words and her accompanying gaze, Yunseo turned around and found cornelian cherry blossoms fallen on the pine-pollen-yellow hem of cloth trailing below his chair. Since the color of the cloth and the color of the flowers were the same, the word "friend" could not have been more apt. Yunseo laughed cheerfully and praised Seongbin.

"Seongbin's keen eye must have made even the flower bow in greeting."

Laughter bloomed at Yunseo's lighthearted remark.

Having left the imperial palace with its many watching eyes and listening ears, their hearts were more at ease and conversation flowed freely. Yunseo forgot all decorum and dignity, had an early evening meal, and exchanged warm conversation with them. Topics ranged at random — childhood anecdotes, things that had happened in the palace, their experiences when they had bloomed.

They chatted on and on without noticing the time passing, and it was only when Noble Consort Hyeon told them that the sun was setting that they wrapped up the conversation and rose.

"I've tidied it up nicely for you to board!"

Going out of the pavilion, Huije pointed proudly at a small boat moored to one side. The palace servant standing behind her wore a rather uncomfortable look, so it seemed she had taken over the servant's work.

Yunseo swallowed his laughter and climbed into the boat. But instead of the passenger seat, he sat in the spot where the oar rests were — facing the stern — and Noble Consort Hyeon, who boarded after him, was flustered and asked.

"Are you planning to row?"

"I've always wanted to try it at least once."

"How can you do something that requires strength? Your body is still not well."

"My strength has dropped a little, but I'm perfectly fine. If not now, when would I ever get to?"

When Yunseo's eyes lit up, Noble Consort Hyeon swallowed a groan. Seongbin settled into her seat and added a word.

"Curiosity doesn't die until you act on it."

"I believe Noble Consort Hyeon is right. How can you do such a thing yourself?"

At the differing reactions, Yunseo turned up the corners of his mouth and gripped the oar with both hands.

Moving his arms with force to cut through the water, Yunseo was quite surprised. It was harder than expected. It seemed to require not just strength but also technique.

"You see. Don't push yourself — give up early."

At Yi Sowon's urging, a pointless stubbornness rose in him. Yunseo pressed his lips together and rowed. With four people sitting in it and the boat being fairly heavy, it was difficult — but as he gradually got the knack of it, he was able to move forward more smoothly.

"This person learns quickly."

When the boat moved well, Yi Sowon exclaimed in admiration. Yunseo smiled contentedly, and Seongbin smiled back — but only Noble Consort Hyeon could not erase the worry from her eyes.

The fact that his physical strength had not fully recovered was gradually making itself known. He was just about to stop when strangely, the arm rowing the oar became lighter.

Had he gotten the feel of it? When Yunseo lifted his head with a brightened expression, he noticed Noble Consort Hyeon's gaze moving somewhere and coming back — and he turned around. On the bank, Huije could be seen striking the ground with the tips of her feet and with exaggerated unnaturalness turning her head away in feigned indifference.

A helpless laugh burst out. Even when he took his hands off the oar, the boat continued to glide forward smoothly — and came to a gradual stop in the middle of the pond.

The red hues of the sunset mingled with the deep blue-green of the sky to create the graceful scenery of evening. On one side, the moon had already risen and was giving off a clear light. As the stars began to twinkle one by one, all four people looked up at them in silence.

"It is a first."

Noble Consort Hyeon suddenly spoke. Her low voice naturally drew everyone's attention. Looking endlessly up at the sky flowing toward night, her face seemed unusually at ease. Her gaze fell at last to Yunseo.

"A feeling like this, I mean."

The corners of Yunseo's mouth slowly crumbled. He didn't even need to hear what feeling it was to understand. And everyone present here would be of one heart.

"Thank you. It is thanks to all of you that I endured well and arrived here."

He was looking in turn at Noble Consort Hyeon's eyes, firmly ripened with resolve, at Seongbin's deep smile, and at Yi Sowon's sheepish expression — when:

The Yongrin began lighting the lanterns hanging in rows from the cornelian cherry branches, and a feast of yellow light spread over the pond. The beautiful and mysterious atmosphere, like being in another world where countless full moons were looking up at the human world, drew simultaneous gasps of wonder from all four people.

It is a moment when it is good to be alive.

The thought flitted across him suddenly. But it was not a fresh one. It was a feeling that had surfaced tens, hundreds of times since waking again and greeting life. Yunseo savored this instant with all five senses and carved it deep into his chest. It felt like a scene that would not be erased even after a long time had passed.

* * *

Yunseo let out a low groan while dipping his brush in ink. More than an hour had passed and he had only written a single page.

Writing was not at all easy. He had tried to start by writing about his own experience of suddenly blooming as an Eternal Spring Flower overnight — but he was struggling with how to set the standard. He was trying hard not to be too personal or too specific, but he needed an objective perspective.

He was just letting out a deep sigh when suddenly a window opened and a voice came through from beyond it.

"What is it that you're finding so hard?"

Startled, he turned to find Hwi standing outside the window. Yunseo smiled broadly and quickly stood up to go to the window.

"Why did you come this way?"

"On my way here I thought you seemed to have lost your tail."

"My tail?"

At the out-of-nowhere remark, he tilted his head — and Hwi raised his hand and tickled his cheek with a long swaying piece of grass. It was a green bristle grass, with a fuzzy fringe.

He couldn't hide his bewilderment, but what came first was laughter. Imagining Hwi finding the bristle grass and picking it to bring it was enough to make him seem terribly endearing.

"It's not my tail — whose tail did you bring?"

"My, what a blunder."

"If you give it to me, I'll look after it carefully and find its owner."

He held out his palm, and Hwi handed over the bristle grass. It was fun matching each other's rhythm like this, and he was smiling when he reached out his other hand. Hwi took Yunseo's hand and came in through the window.

"What were you doing?"

"I was writing a memoir. But it wasn't going well and I was mulling it over."

"Let me have a look."

Yunseo swallowed his embarrassment and showed Hwi the writing he had been in the middle of. Hwi read through the single page quickly with a careful expression and asked.

"Why were you troubled when you've written it so well?"

"Just… I wondered if it was too personal."

"Since it is your experience, it cannot help but be personal. On the contrary — directly expressing the emotions and thoughts of that time might resonate more with readers."

"Do you think so?"

Hearing Hwi's words, he felt reassured and proud at the same time. He was toying with the pages when Hwi suddenly lifted him up and sat him on the writing desk. Yunseo instinctively wrapped his arms around Hwi's neck.

"I'd also like to hear from others… but I'm not sure who to start with."

"Is there anyone in particular you'd like to hear from?"

"Hmm… oh! I heard there's a married couple."

Yongrin and Eternal Spring Flowers could only wed after their early thirties, but in reality those who actually held a wedding ceremony were almost nonexistent — and even when they were joined as husband and wife, more often than not it ended in ruin. In those circumstances, hearing that there was a pair still maintaining a married relationship naturally sparked his interest.

"You mean Hanmi. His partner is—"

"Noble Consort Ju. Noble Consort Ju Daeung."

"Would you like to meet them?"

"Yes. It seems there would be much new to hear and learn."

"Then let me arrange an occasion."

During the conversation Hwi's gaze had been directed at Yunseo's lips the entire time, so Yunseo could anticipate the kiss to follow. Hwi gently caught Yunseo's lower lip. A moist sound flowed, then tongues tangled and a thick resonance sprung up.

A large hand stroked down Yunseo's back and pulled him in. Hwi's body touched between Yunseo's parted legs. The tongue that pushed deep inside lapped persistently at the soft flesh. It was as though everywhere Hwi caressed, a sweet pooling formed.

Swallowing the rising saliva, Hwi bit down on Yunseo's lip. The sharp sensation brought pleasure instead. Yunseo, his lower body stirring, unknowingly ground his groin against Hwi's body. It had only been kisses since he had recovered, not anything more — and the anticipation of it made his insides burn with heat.