Chapter 10
Hanseojae, scorched by fire and collapsed, crouched in the darkness like something grotesque, having lost the calm dignity it once possessed.
Thinking it would be difficult to return once the shop was sold and they left, Iseo came to Hanseojae late at night.
The fallen beams and charred pillars seemed to revive the nightmare from eleven years ago. With a renewed ache in his heart, Iseo slowly stepped inside.
The ruined servants’ quarters and men’s quarters felt eerily desolate, as if something might leap out at any moment, but Iseo did not hesitate or feel afraid in the slightest.
He paused briefly, gazing blankly at the men’s quarters once used by his grandfather and father, then turned and headed toward the annex in the rear garden where his own room had been.
The annex, too, had been burned and partially collapsed, but the plum tree and irises in the small garden in front had grown even more lush over the long years, despite having no one to tend them. The plum tree was heavy again this year with fruit, and the irises planted along the wall shimmered in the moonlight.
The few years he had lived here had been the most peaceful and beautiful time of his life.
As Iseo reached out toward a plum, he suddenly realized someone was beneath the tree and jumped back in shock.
“Who goes there?”
“And who are you, helping yourself to fruit in someone else’s house?”
The man, who had been hidden in the tree’s shadow, rose to his feet, and moonlight poured over his gat. At a glance, his attire marked him as a nobleman of high status. The hat gleaming in the moonlight looked newly made, and the jade ornament and finely patterned robe were anything but ordinary.
“This house is…”
It’s my home. The words caught in Iseo’s throat before he could speak them.
“It may look abandoned, but it is a house with an owner. Don’t come and go as you please, taking things for your own benefit.”
Iseo, who had bowed before him, snapped his head up.
“An owner?”
“Tsk, for a thief, you’re awfully curious.”
Ryun clicked his tongue. A small fellow had crept in and reached for the plums, and he had intended to ignore it—until the boy noticed him first and leapt back.
Since things had come to this, he thought he might as well give him a warning, but the thief turned out to be unexpectedly inquisitive.
“I bought this house not long ago.”
“My lord… do you know what kind of house this is?”
“Ha! What a nuisance you are!”
Ryun clicked his tongue again. Meddlesome, for a thief. Truly an impertinent one.
“It belonged to Minister Hwang Yunseok, who once held office. Did you think I bought it without knowing that?”
“But—”
He was accused of treason and died without being reinstated.
Again, Iseo couldn’t bring himself to say the words. He feared revealing his identity, and besides, knowing something from eleven years ago would only invite suspicion.
The man clearly recognized his grandfather’s name, so he must know what had happened here. Yet he behaved as if none of it mattered at all.
Just how important was this nobleman? A flicker of curiosity crossed Iseo’s eyes.
“Tsk, enough nonsense. Leave while I’m still being polite. A thief has no business meddling in everything.”
Ryun waved his fan irritably.
He was speaking with great authority when, of all times, his stomach growled. Having skipped both lunch and dinner in his haste, it was as if his stomach were protesting. It was an embarrassingly ill-timed sound.
He could feel the small thief staring at him. Beneath the round, pale forehead lit by moonlight, the boy’s clear eyes didn’t seem particularly wicked—but suddenly self-conscious, Ryun barked,
“You brat! Why are you still here? Get out at once!”
“My lord, have you eaten dinner?”
“Ha! And what if I haven’t? That’s none of your concern. Leave while I’m letting you go nicely. If you don’t get out of my house, I’ll report you to the authorities.”
But the thief seemed not to hear. He set down the pouch of plums and rummaged through his clothes.
“Would you care for this, at least? I made some cloud rice cakes and dumplings earlier. They’re still soft, so they should be good.”
Iseo handed him rice cakes wrapped in oiled paper, then took out a small flask from his bundle and offered it as well.
When Ryun only stared without taking it, Iseo shook the bottle slightly as if urging him.
“It’s sweet rice drink. If you eat just the cakes, you might get indigestion—drink this with them.”
Ryun still looked doubtful, and Iseo urged him again, almost anxiously,
“Please, try it. This time I added pumpkin, so it should help with digestion.”
Ryun looked down at the neatly wrapped rice cakes in his hand. People often played tricks by poisoning food, so he was careful about what he ate. Perhaps that was why his mother, the Queen Dowager, barely ate and grew thinner by the day.
But somehow, this slightly clumsy yet bold thief didn’t seem like the type to do such a thing. It was an unfounded feeling, but the boy’s eyes, urging him to eat, held a strange mix of excitement and curiosity. Not malice, but the passion, goodwill, and consideration of someone who made food shone through.
After hesitating, Ryun took a bite, almost pushed along by that gaze. His eyes widened slightly.
“Did you make this?”
“Yes! How is it? It’s made from freshly pounded glutinous rice, so the flavor and nuttiness should be exceptional.”
Without realizing it, Ryun stuffed an entire piece into his mouth. Walnuts, chestnuts, jujubes, and pine nuts blended together, each bite bringing a deeper, richer taste. Watching him, Iseo held out the flask again.
“You might choke. Have some of this.”
Ryun took a sip. A gentle sweetness spread, along with the nutty aroma of pumpkin. It was a flavor his mother liked.
“Hmm.”
As he paused mid-sip, Iseo asked worriedly,
“What is it? Does it not suit your taste?”
“No. Did you make this as well?”
“Yes.”
Iseo nodded, looking pleased.
“Do you live in this village?”
Ryun had told Danyang to keep an eye on someone else, but things didn’t always go as planned. Since this impudent thief seemed skilled, he thought he might keep him around.
“I used to, but I’ll be leaving soon. I stopped by to pick some plums and make syrup to take with me. There’s no fruit in this area as good as the plums here.”
In truth, Iseo planned to drink plum tea made from these fruits whenever he missed Hanseojae after leaving. But he couldn’t say that, so he gave a vague answer.
“Is that so? Then it can’t be helped. Since you’ve eased my hunger, I’ll give you a gift.”
Ryun stood and began picking plums. Though Iseo wasn’t short, when Ryun rose, the bright moon was obscured by his gat, and his long sleeves draped down so that, for a moment, it felt as if the world were filled entirely by him.
As Iseo stared blankly, Ryun grinned.
“It’s only right to repay someone for good food, isn’t it?”
With his long arms reaching up, the wide sleeves of his robe seemed to cover Iseo’s night sky.
In no time, he had filled an entire pouch and more. Yet many plums still remained on the tree.
Looking at the fruit in his hand, Ryun asked,
“Are you going far?”
Iseo didn’t know. For now, he only wanted to leave. He had no plan for where or how.
When Iseo said nothing, Ryun continued,
“How about this? These plums are quite heavy, so it’ll be hard for you to carry much more. If you’re staying nearby, come back anytime and take more. It’s the least I can do in return for filling my stomach.”
“Thank you, but this is enough.”
Though he had come and gone secretly, he had still thought of this place as his home. Learning that it now had a new owner left a bitter taste in his mouth. But knowing that, he could no longer return freely.
“I didn’t realize the house had an owner. Please think of the food as an apology. Even so, I’m satisfied just that you enjoyed it.”
Holding the rather heavy pouch, Iseo bowed his head. Then, with a quick glance around, he bid Hanseojae a final farewell.
In every sense, it was the last time. He would never return, and now that there was a new owner, he had no connection to it. Only the good memories of childhood would remain.
“Thank you for the plums.”
After finishing his greeting, Iseo turned away.
“Wait!”
Calling out to stop him as he disappeared into the darkness was a purely impulsive act. Iseo halted and looked back.
“If you ever come to Hanyang—if it’s this time of year again and you want to pick plums—come here anytime.”
Though his face was hidden in the dark, it was clear he was smiling. Iseo bowed once more and walked away.
Ryun watched the small, pale figure until it vanished completely into the darkness, until nothing remained but night itself. By the time the moon emerged again from behind the clouds, even the trace of him was gone.
Only the small flask left at his side showed that someone had been there.
A sudden emptiness came over Ryun. Just moments ago, he had been enjoying the moonlit night alone, but now the moon no longer felt poetic—only lonely.
“I suppose I should head back as well.”
As he rose, something white on the ground where Iseo had stood caught his eye. Picking it up, he found a coarse cotton handkerchief. It was so worn that his palm showed through the loose weave, yet it had been folded neatly, revealing its owner’s character.
“For a boy, he’s surprisingly meticulous.”
Clicking his tongue, Ryun tucked the handkerchief into his sleeve. A scrap of worn cloth was of no use to him, and he might never meet that impudent thief again—but somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to leave it behind.
