"No matter what, how can we leave the housework to guests?"

"You strained yourselves pulling the cart, and it is late at night. If you fall ill because of it, I would have no face to show the two of you — so please leave it to us."

When he strongly urged her not to wash the dishes, after a few exchanges Cheongseon let out a laugh like a sigh, as though she had no choice.

"Then I will impose. The gods must have looked upon us with favor and sent us fine guests — I will take it easy with gratitude."

Yunseo flinched at the word "noble guest," then smiled and sent Cheongseon in. When only the two of them were left in the kitchen, a contented sigh escaped.

"Have you ever washed dishes?"

"I have not."

"Actually, neither have I."

When their eyes met, laughter burst out naturally. As Yunseo kept giggling, Hwi let out a short laugh and pressed both of Yunseo's cheeks with one hand, making his lips stick out. He pressed short kisses to the puckered lips several times and said.

"I will rinse with water, and you can wipe them dry."

"Pardon? I will rinse them."

"I could not get your lovely hands wet."

After pressing a kiss to Yunseo's fingers as well, he soaked the bowls in the rice rinsing water. Yunseo stood still, fiddling with his lips, then quickly went to his side and picked up a piece of hemp cloth.

As Hwi rinsed the bowls and passed them over, Yunseo wiped off the water and stacked them neatly. Doing this, it felt exactly as though he had become an ordinary couple in an ordinary household, and he found himself idly rising onto his tiptoes. He was going up and coming down repeatedly when Hwi's arm came up over his head.

He tried to rise onto his tiptoes again but was pressed down by Hwi's arm strength and could not rise. Yunseo struggled and shot Hwi a look.

"What are you doing?"

"How can you do such adorable things in someone else's house?"

"……What do you mean, adorable? You can just find it endearing."

"Even more than now?"

"Yes. Even more."

"Hmm. Then you would have a harder time."

"……I take that back."

"My. A man should not speak out of both sides of his mouth."

Hwi passed the last remaining bowl to Yunseo. Just as Yunseo was about to wipe it, Hwi shook the water off his hand and caught Yunseo's chin before pressing their lips together without delay.

A slightly bitter wine scent grazed the tip of his nose. The tongue that swept in probed the soft flesh as though tasting every corner, and saliva naturally pooled and a moan escaped. When the thing that had gone even deeper licked the surface of his tongue, his grip suddenly went slack and he almost dropped the bowl — but Hwi deftly caught it and put it in its proper place, then tilted his head.

It felt as though his entire body would melt from the tip of Hwi's tongue. Yunseo panted and hung from Hwi's neck with his arms. He traced Hwi's shoulder blades with his fingertips, and in the moment he curled his toes tightly, Hwi drew back his lips.

"I would like to cherish you more, but this is not the right place."

Hwi stared down at Yunseo fixedly and licked his own lip corner, then gently smoothed down Yunseo's fallen hair. Yunseo steadied his breath in Hwi's arms and nodded.

He glanced up and could see the laughter gradually filling Hwi's eyes as he gazed at him. Even as he was soaked through with that laughter, his body felt not heavy at all but as though he might float up. Unable to hold it in, Yunseo hugged Hwi. The low sound of Hwi's laughter spreading into his ear made his heels lift once more.

"Let us now sleep."

Hwi lifted Yunseo just as he was and strode out of the kitchen into the room. He laid Yunseo down, put out the candle, and came up onto the bed.

When his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, Hwi's silhouette became visible. Yunseo traced the line of his face with his gaze and then asked.

"How was today?"

No answer came for a while, but he did not rush. The faint sound of Hwi's breathing and the quiet of the room that felt cozy even submerged in darkness brought a sense of peace.

"Unexpectedly good."

At Hwi's low voice flowing out as though something that had been condensed was dissolving, Yunseo's lips drew a gentle arc.

"I thought it would only be a pity and regret…… but rather, it was longing and good."

It was both sad and joyful that Hwi had someone who brought him longing in a positive sense. He was deeply grateful to this person called Sino who had stayed by young Hwi's side. If only he had been alive, if only he could have seen Hwi together with him — how wonderful that would have been.

Under the blanket, Yunseo took hold of Hwi's hand. Hwi curled his fingers and clasped Yunseo's hand in return.

He wanted to convey warmth rather than a hundred words. He hoped Hwi would experience more varied emotions going forward and share them with him. So that they might walk through thousands of nights together just like now. Yunseo wished it and tightened the grip of their joined hands.

A faint rustling sound reached his ear. Not enough to disturb his sleep, so he had let it pass and rolled over, when a hand came to his shoulder.

"Yunseo."

Hwi's voice heard early in the morning naturally brought a smile to his lips. He raised his eyelids and through blurry vision Hwi's face came into view.

"I am going to Sino — would you like to come?"

The so-gently kind tone softly cleared away the drowsiness. He nodded and lifted his arms, and Hwi pulled him up to sit.

While Yunseo washed his face with the water Hwi had prepared, Hwi fixed his hair. After finishing washing up and putting on his outer clothing, the cozy scenery of the room with sunlight filtering in came into his eyes. A warm and peaceful atmosphere different from what he had seen at night settled onto his shoulders.

He took Hwi's hand and went outside. Somewhere a bird was chirping. The two walked slowly up the hill connected to the rear garden. When they reached the top of the gentle hill, a single grave covered in lush green grass came into view.

The grave was situated in a sunny spot where nothing blocked the sunlight. Even sitting there alone, it did not give off a desolate or solemn feeling. On the contrary, a kind of indistinct, familiar warmth came over him, and Yunseo let go of Hwi's hand, clasped both hands together, and bowed his head in greeting.

Hwi opened the lid of the wine bottle he had been holding in one hand and sprinkled it toward the grave. It was wine Sino had enjoyed drinking while alive — something Hwi had brought all the way from the imperial palace.

Inside, Yunseo introduced himself to Sino. He had never met him, but having heard stories through Hwi, he felt nothing but fondness toward him. He could only hope to be to his liking.

"The house is right behind, so he would not be lonely."

"Yes. He always said that people must live seeing the sun, so he would like this spot."

Yunseo took Hwi's hand again and sat down on the ground. They sat side by side and looked at the grave without words. The glance he stole at Hwi's face felt peaceful, and a pleased smile rose to his lips.

After spending a good while like that, footsteps approaching from behind were heard. He turned his head — and Hongro was coming this way with something in her hand.

Since Hongro did not know the circumstances of Hwi and himself, the sight of them sitting down in front of someone else's grave would seem strange. Taken aback inwardly, he rose, but Hongro checked the grave with a calm expression and then rested her eyes on the wine bottle placed before it.

"Is that the wine our Sino liked?"

Hwi, who had turned and risen belatedly to look at Hongro, slowly opened his mouth.

"Yes."

Hongro looked at Hwi for a moment, nodded, and held out the pouch she had been carrying.

"He told me that someday a man who looks heartless but is not in spirit would come looking for him, and to give this to him."

Hwi, who had been quietly turning Hongro's words over, laughed with a suddenly blank expression and accepted the pouch.

"Thank you."

Hwi bowed his head politely in response to Hongro's greeting. Her words left a quite deep and lingering resonance. Hongro then turned and slowly walked back down the hill. Yunseo looked down at the pouch with curious eyes.

"It seems Sino-nim anticipated that Hwi-nim would come someday."

"So it seems. Even I had not anticipated it."

Hwi's eyes, holding sunlight, landed on the pouch with a warm light. Hwi opened the pouch and took out what was inside. It was a hairpin carved from wood — carved quite skillfully, but with a roughness that showed it was not the work of an artisan.

Was it a precious object holding memories……? Yunseo tilted his head and looked at Hwi. A radiant stillness was cast over Hwi's face as he looked down at the hairpin. Yunseo gazed at him as though enchanted and asked.

"What is this?"

"In commoner households, there is a custom where a father makes a hairpin by hand and gifts it to his son. He performs the coming-of-age ceremony with that hairpin."

Yunseo let out a quiet exclamation. He had heard of that custom before and knew it. But it was a distant thing for him, of aristocratic birth, and for Hwi, of imperial birth. While a skilled artisan could make a pin carved from brilliant precious stones, they could not receive something carved directly by a father's hand.

This hairpin was one proof that Sino had regarded Hwi as his own son. Or proof that Hwi was just as precious an existence to him. And it would also be a wish that Hwi, who would come someday, would not be too sad.