[CYM] 42 – Birthday River Date

The tips of her shoes stopped in front of the pavilion. A dandy was leaning lazily against a red pillar, dangling a fan and speaking in a languid voice.

            “You kept your promise.”

            After the lantern festival, the young master had been using his cards wisely.

            Today was July 7th, the young master’s birthday. So he had ensnared her with the excuse of wanting to spend his birthday in a special way.

            Was that all? Whenever there was a chance, he would sit her down by his side and attempt something. It was probably because of the memories of playing together during the lantern festival. He wouldn’t stop handing her soft balls to juggle, or he would come to her house and watch her pull weeds, asking when she would be finished.

            When he left a basketful of precious fruits on her head with the poor excuse that he had found them along the way, she couldn’t help but sigh. Her increasingly warm feelings seemed of no concern to him; he did as he pleased.

            “So, where shall we go today?”

            “I don’t know of any place.”

            He had lured her out on this hot and humid day under the pretext of celebrating his birthday. She had been troubled and wanted to refuse, but she was speechless when he said he would pay her if she came. She thought he was teasing her, but he was serious. It was his way of enticing her.

            “Yes, play is play and money is money. There was no reason to refuse if she was to be paid. Knowing that his offer was not made in jest, Beodeul willingly accepted it.

            ‘What about the time?’

            ‘Two hours.’

            ‘That long? What kind of work is it?’

            ‘I’ve added a bit more to the agreed price.’

            The coin purse was hefty. She didn’t know what this was all about, but this was a transaction, and she was the subordinate, so she had no choice but to accommodate the employer’s request.

            ‘Still, your friends would know many more interesting and beneficial places than I do. Do I go anywhere other than the fields and the marketplace?’

            ‘I would have dismissed everyone else based on your word alone.’

            Was it possible that those five uncharacteristically friendly creatures were all the friends he had?

            Beodeul sighed and was presented with a ripe, yellow-fleshed melon. Without refusal, she sat down beside the young master and crunched into the sweet fruit. She wondered where she could take this noble, who seemed to have his eyes, ears, and mouth attached to the sky, so he could amuse himself.

            ‘The most plausible place would be the Octagonal Pavilion’s Cloud Bridge where the lantern festival was held, but it would be a bit much to take him there twice.’

            After some thought, the place Beodeul ended up taking the young master was the riverbank of the Soru River. If they tread on the sizzling marketplace in this weather, they would collapse within half an hour, so it seemed better to catch a refreshing river breeze.

            The recent wall posters, as well as the sudden disappearance of the goblins, were annoying. Her mother had told her to pay no mind and to prepare for the upcoming spirit festival, but it wasn’t something she could just put aside if she wanted to.

            Walking along the vibrant river, Beodeul fell deep into thought. Somehow, she found herself walking ahead like a noble, while the young master followed like a puppy. Her steps were always hurried, while the young master’s were leisurely and relaxed.

            ‘Doesn’t it feel cool? In the summer, many people come here for boat rides and to fish.’

            The breeze gently tousled the young master’s hair, revealing his bright forehead. His dark eyes gleamed with the light reflected off the water’s surface, a sight that could make the passing breeze jealous of his beauty.

            ‘You might be disappointed I could only bring you to such a place.’

            ‘Not at all.’

            While looking at the young master, Beodeul wondered. The goblins that had attached themselves to him, she had seen them at the pavilion, but why had they moved to him, of all people, leaving his brothers untouched? If goblins were to latch onto the weak, there would be no healthy patients in this world.

            ‘You mentioned you have brothers.’

            From what Beodeul knew, the young master’s two older brothers were the worst of the worst, filled with greed and despicable behaviour.

            ‘What are your brothers like? Were you close with them?’

            He looked out toward the river’s horizon before meeting her gaze.

            ‘My eldest brother Namsoo went to the capital to study when I was ten, and the younger one... I hardly ever see him.’

            Such was the state of brotherhood. Well, she had guessed as much, considering their absence from the young master’s life.