129 – EP.6 Festival Night-2

***

The second festive night passed without incident.

As Emma said, it was a place to select the village queen, and the women of the village danced with me and showed off their charms.

In-ho was too far away to see only people moving, but he could still feel the lively atmosphere of the scene.

Each dances, and men pass by, throwing artificial flowers.

The dance becomes more intense and splendid as the flowers pile up.

Eventually, when the village queen is decided, she puts a crown made of white flowers on her head.

With the queen in the center, women line up and circle the streets.

“Is that harmony on your head?”

Seeing the procession approaching the mansion, In-ho asked Emma.

“No, it’s made by weaving flowers that bloom in winter.”

A colorful garland swayed from the queen’s head.

“This year’s queen is prettier than the last one.”

When Emma spoke calmly, In-ho looked up at her with an incomprehensible face.

“Is Emma prettier?”

At Inho’s mischievous words, Emma’s face turned redder than the colorful garlands.

The second day passed like that, and the last day of the festival.

Since it was the finale, there was a lot of noise from early in the morning.

Even In-ho, who was able to concentrate on writing until the first and second days, stopped writing and went around the garden on the last day.

Emma brought up the story again, asking if it would be like blocking the noise with a wooden board, but Inho said that she would just have to endure it for today.

The tumultuous atmosphere continued into the evening, and Inho sat down at the table and looked over Emma’s energetic dishes.

Perhaps to celebrate the festival, there were more items than usual, and all the menus were filled with Inho’s favorite foods.

– Mulberry

Emma opened the wine bottle and poured wine into Inho’s glass with graceful movements.

A slightly viscous, reddish drink poured into his glass.

“I don’t have much, but… I hope you enjoy it.”

Emma said politely and sat across from In-ho.

“I don’t have anything prepared. The table will bend?”

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Drool flowed from Inho’s mouth, his eyes wide open at the feast.

For the first time since coming here, I felt my appetite rise.

Inho grabbed a knife and sliced the steak on the bowl.

Baked to the right degree, it cuts well without much effort.

Inho put the meat in his mouth along with the brownish sauce and mumbled.

The gravy that came out with every bite made my tongue tingle.

“delicious.”

Plain evaluation without rhetoric. It was something In-ho said every time, but Emma smiled proudly.

“Since the owner enjoyed the meal, I think I’m already full.”

“Eat anyway. You don’t often get a chance to eat something delicious like this.”

I won’t have any money left to continue eating food of this quality.

Inho swallowed his words behind his back.

“I… Master.”

Emma cautiously took her luck on In-ho, who was cooking steak.

“yes?”

“If you’ll allow me… can I have a drink too?”

Emma’s gaze turned to the bottle, and Inho nodded happily.

“Because I can’t drink it all anyway. Emma drinks too.”

“thank you.”

Emma grabbed the bottle and poured a drink into my glass.

“Shall we toast?”

Holding up the glass with his index and middle fingers, Inho suggested.

“Yes, of course. What should we do with a toast?”

“Uh… well, I’m not sure. Would Emma do it?”

One day, recalling the toast that Soyou Namgung had forced, Inho laughed awkwardly.

You can’t come all the way here and say ‘wet it.’

“Well, it’s not enough, but I’ll post a toast.”

Emma thought for a moment about her toast, then raised her glass slightly and said,

“For the master’s happy time.”

“for.”

– snap

Their glasses clashed with a clear sound, and the meal proceeded happily.

***

After drinking for the first time in a while, Inho got greedy and begged for another glass.

Emma refused, but because of In-ho’s persistent request, she raised the white flag and decided to drink the rest while In-ho and her watched the fireworks.

The sun had already gone down when the table was set in his room.

The winter year was short.

Still watching the noise outside, Inho sat down in an armchair while Emma poured another drink.

Before we knew it, the highlight of the festival, the dance time, had begun.

When the piled firewood was lit, it became a huge campfire.

People gathered around a campfire, and the village queen, chosen the day before, started dancing with her favorite pair.

Exciting music played, and each pair of people started dancing.

“Emma. Aren’t you sorry?”

Taking a sip of alcohol, Inho asked. The expression of Emma, who was drinking with her, became cold.

“Master. If you’re talking about Hans again…”

“It’s not like that.”

Feeding, Inho laughed.

“You’re the same age as the people dancing over there.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

At Inho’s words, Emma tilted her head.

“Sometimes I thought you might want to play with your peers and have fun.”

“I don’t want to hang out in a crowded place like that. I prefer to be in this mansion.”

“still….”

In-ho slurred his words, and Emma gulped down the remaining half of the drink in her glass.

– gulp

After passing the drink without a break, Emma wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and stood up quietly.

“I… Master.”

“yes?”

“Well, if you care about me that much… would you dance with me?”

“Dancing?”

Inho was startled and looked at Emma.

Emma ran her fingers through her hair, slightly averting her master’s gaze.

“That, it’s just… I’m sorry… I don’t think I’m playing well… Bird, if you think about it…”

“……”

As Inho stood still with his mouth slightly open, Emma’s face turned even redder.

“That, that, that… I made a mistake…”

“Nope.”

“yes?”

“Dance, let’s dance.”

Inho smiled softly.

***

– Pyu yu woo woo boo!

Flowers made of flame embroidered the sky.

The artificial form created by red, blue, and yellow firecrackers presented beauty to viewers.

Under the night sky where fireworks spread out, the paired people continued to dance while holding their bodies closely.

Also, a couple was dancing on the second floor of the mansion.

“It’s a little awkward. I don’t know how to dance.”

When Inho, holding Emma’s hand and supporting her waist with one hand, spoke with an awkward smile, Emma shook her head.

“I-I don’t know anything either. Wouldn’t it be enough if I just… danced?”

Emma was desperate that her awkward master would bite the horse.

“Yes. Let’s work hard with the clumsy.”

Inho smiled and slowly moved his legs following the sound of music outside.

Their dancing to the music was a bit crooked, but it didn’t look ridiculous.

In the middle of the dance, Emma put her head on In-ho’s chest and said in a crawling voice.

“Gam, thank you.”

“what?”

“That’s just a ridiculous request…”

“No. If that’s what Emma wants.”

The owner was benevolent.

They continued dancing.

– Boom, boom, boom!

As the fireworks reached the finale, the size of the exploding firecrackers became larger and more colorful.

From time to time, the primary color light that came in through the window illuminated their profiles.

Maybe because he’s gotten a little more proficient, Inho squeaks less than before and leads Emma.

Emma surrendered herself to her master’s footsteps.

“Lord, Master.”

Round and round, as we approached the window, Emma called In-ho.

“yes?”

“Oh, isn’t it strange today?”

“Hmm… It’s not strange. I just didn’t know that Emma had a childish personality, but I want to know today.”

“Huh… I see. Ah, I think it’s because I drank.”

“It could be. Alcohol is a drink that makes people honest.”

“That, so…”

“???”

“Ho, is it okay if I play a little more uh, kidding?”

Emma stuttered.

“Sue, I’m drunk… Lord, I want to play a fool of my master.”

“Yes. Tell me.”

When In-ho, who could not be unaware of Emma’s feelings, agreed, Emma took a deep breath.

Emma took a deep breath in and exhaled through her nose to control her mind, and as if she regained her composure, she raised her face buried in her chest and looked straight at In-ho.

“Master. Just once… just once… will you hug me tight?”

Seeing his longing for affection, yet saddened by his face, Inho couldn’t think of the option of refusing the request.

As he danced, he stopped, and they stood tall as they folded into one.

Inho let go of Emma’s hand and spread his arms wide.

“ah….”

Inho hugged Emma tightly.

His arm was bony, but it felt oddly strong today.

“Thank you every time, Emma. You make me feel at ease.”

In-ho’s voice whispered in Emma’s ear.

“Me, me too… I’m always grateful to my master.”

Emma responds to In-ho’s words.

“Because of the owner, there is a meaning to my life.”

Overwhelmingly, Emma’s voice sank and tears ran down her cheeks.

And as if to illuminate the scene, the last firecracker exploded splendidly and scattered yellow light.

The festival ended like that, and four months have passed.

The mansion they live in is now past the end of winter.