Only then did he feel at ease enough to start writing — but sensing a gaze, he looked up to find Hwi resting his chin in his hand and staring intently at him. The disheveled yet somehow haughty posture made him look like a high-born idler.

Their eyes met, and Hwi curved the corner of his mouth in a smile. His face looking languid, perhaps because he had not been long out of sleep, made Yunseo's heart flutter.

But his beloved was a man who could even hear the sound of an accelerating heartbeat. Yunseo composed himself and focused on finishing the letter. After at last writing the final character and turning the paper face-down, Hwi spoke.

"I'm sleepy."

"Go in quickly then."

"Come warm my side."

Yunseo looked back and forth between the hand extended toward him and the remaining paper. He still needed to write a reply to send to a certain young woman — but Hwi saying he wanted to sleep was the first time, and he could not miss this opportunity.

He took Hwi's hand, rose, and they went to the bed together. The two men lying face to face pulled each other close, like two branches grown into one. Hwi's blinking eyelids were growing heavier. Yunseo, following his rhythm, alternately closed and opened his eyes.

Soon, Hwi drifted into the world of sleep. A full and brimming happiness settled grain by grain at the corners of Yunseo's mouth. Yunseo patted Hwi's back and closed his own eyes to seek sleep as well.

* * *

Entering Dongju, the air was noticeably cooler. It was weather befitting a region whose name contained the character for "winter." For that reason, they had to wear heavier outer garments, but the cool breeze felt pleasant.

Through the window, the art gallery they had set out for came into view. They arrived at the entrance and got out of the carriage. The building, exuding a refined atmosphere, was inviting. Yunseo looked over the gallery's exterior with interested eyes, then went inside with Hwi.

"Welcome."

A broker came out and received the two of them. He served tea, gave a brief introduction about the gallery, then went at once to fetch the painting. True to a gallery that dealt in the work of the famous painter Gupyo, his manner was clean and precise.

"Are you looking forward to it?"

"Yes. It's Gupyo's new work, isn't it."

Gupyo was a renowned painter who worked from the Northern Mountains as his base, and many sought his paintings. Yunseo too was fond of Gupyo's work, so being able to see one in person like this was truly an honor.

Before long the broker returned with Gupyo's new painting. He carefully set the work on the writing table. Yunseo stood and approached the table, letting out a sound of admiration.

The bold and rough lines conveyed not only a free and vigorous brushwork but also delicacy — it was a truly excellent landscape painting. Yunseo's eyes shone as he examined every corner of the painting, then he looked up.

"Truly outstanding."

The broker smiled and explained Gupyo's new work. Yunseo listened attentively, reacting here and there. Since the owner of this piece was to be Yi Sowon, he intended to listen well, remember it all, and pass it on to him.

He paid the price, and coming out with the carefully wrapped painting, his heart felt full. Hwi looked over Yunseo's proud expression and threw out a remark.

"Yi Sowon's admiration for you will deepen further."

"Isn't he endearing?"

The area around Hwi's eyebrows twitched. Yunseo laughed and recalled the first time he had met Yi Sowon.

"The one who was like a wildcat with its claws out has now become a curious house cat, hasn't he."

"My consort is truly magnanimous."

"Of course I should be magnanimous. Now isn't Yi Sowon's family us?"

Even after the year had passed, Yi Sowon had not come to request that the prohibition preventing him from meeting his father be lifted. According to what Court Lady Jo conveyed, he sometimes felt lonely and was occasionally seen with a downcast mood, but had improved in many ways compared to before. Moreover, he was quietly making an effort to get along not only with Yunseo but also with Noble Consort Hyeon and Seongbin — which could be called a positive change.

"Yes. I hope that he comes to be your younger sibling rather than a concubine."

"If Yi Sowon heard that, there would have been an uproar."

Yunseo grimaced and shuddered, then boarded the carriage. Going out even briefly had quickly made his cheeks go cold. When he closed the carriage window and covered himself with the blanket, warmth rose immediately — and he had no choice but to acknowledge Hwi's foresight in insisting on the carriage.

"It's warm. It's good that we took the carriage."

"It seems you have a fine husband."

"Indeed. Whatever else I may not know, at least I married well."

After the lighthearted remark, laughter burst out. Hwi also laughed quietly and pressed his lips to Yunseo's forehead. They bantered for a while before setting the carriage in motion.

"You said you were meeting the garrison commander."

"Yes."

"Then I'll go to the smithy in the meantime."

"Go ahead."

The reply came a little later than usual, but it was earlier than before. Since they spent time apart for a few shichen every so often when they arrived somewhere, they had grown accustomed to it. After each brief parting there was always a reunion. It was strange — merely having been apart briefly, yet seeing each other again was always so welcome. Those days, the bond between them would grow even more tender.

The carriage arrived at the smithy and departed leaving Yunseo behind. The smithy attached to Dongju Fortress was the place that supplied the most weapons to the north, and where skilled blacksmiths were gathered.

Guided by the royal guard in charge of escort, he entered the smithy. The sharp yet lively sound of hammers striking iron rang out here and there, and air laden with heat hit him forcefully. Yunseo looked around the smithy with curious eyes.

"What brings you here?"

A smithy assistant came forward and asked politely. When Yunseo gave a false name, the assistant led him to a guest room prepared within the smithy.

The assistant opened a chest prepared in advance. Inside it was a bow with graceful lines and a small dagger with delicately engraved honeysuckle patterns.

The bow was to be given to Noble Consort Hyeon, and the dagger to Seongbin. Even accounting for the commission letter sent in advance, the speed of production was fast. Nor had they sacrificed quality for that speed — it was entirely understandable how the reputation of being the finest smithy had come about.

Yunseo checked the bow and dagger carefully, paid, and then quietly asked.

"The ornament I commissioned separately…?"

"Ah, here it is."

The assistant presented a small box. When Yunseo opened it and confirmed what was inside, a smile formed at the corners of his mouth. Yunseo nodded and paid for this as well.

Having obtained everything he had set out to get, he felt tremendously at ease. Yunseo returned with a light step.

Hwi had not yet returned, so the house was quiet. To attend to official matters in his absence, he sat at the writing desk and took out documents. About half a shichen had passed as he reviewed the documents while drinking the warm tea a servant had prepared, when he heard the sound of someone entering.

Yunseo quickly rose and headed toward the door. Hwi would not be unaware of his presence, so he couldn't surprise him — but his plan was to run into his arms the moment the door opened. Waiting with an innocent heart, the door opened only as wide as two fingers could fit through.

While he was puzzling over this, Hwi appeared through the gap. His eyes found Yunseo without wandering and immediately curved into a smile. His anticipation deflated, Yunseo flung the door wide open.

"You've stolen my fun."

"Did you want to play hide-and-seek? My, I should have pretended not to notice."

"I wanted to do this, didn't I?"

He spread his arms and held Hwi tightly — and Hwi laughed and pressed his lips to the top of Yunseo's head. Yunseo gladly received the kiss and asked.

"Did the conversation go well?"

"Yes. Did you finish your business?"

"Yes."

"Shall we go out together then?"

"I'd like that. Where?"

"Let's go to the Northern Mountains. We can't skip the Northern Mountains when we've come all the way to Dongju."

The Northern Mountains was a place name, but it was also the name of an actual mountain situated in Dongju. He didn't know which it meant, but with Hwi it didn't matter where, so he nodded without asking.

They left the house and had been chatting for only a short while when the carriage came to a stop. If it were the Bugsan district it would have taken longer — so it was certainly a mountain flank bordering this area.

"Are we climbing the mountain?"

"Yes."

It felt somewhat out of nowhere and was puzzling, but since there was still snow unmelted at the summit of the Northern Mountains, if they climbed to the top the view would surely be breathtaking. He was preparing to get out of the carriage when Hwi gripped his shoulder.

"Get on my back."

"Pardon? I can climb."

"It would be better to get there and back before sunset. Quickly."

At the rare urging from Hwi, Yunseo hesitantly stepped forward — and in an instant Hwi had hoisted him onto his back. Hwi wrapped his arms firmly around Yunseo's thighs and leapt lightly.

Cool wind poured down sharply. Yunseo unwound the scarf from his neck and wrapped it around both his and Hwi's necks together. On the breeze, Hwi's quiet laughter drifted through.