Chapter 9: The Ice Flower Beneath the Lake

“Did you wake up because of me?”

Even so, Myeong felt that he had to say something. If the wolf had truly woken because of him despite sleeping so soundly, he had to apologize.

“I’m sorry. If there’s anything I can do to help, please tell me. I have work to do, but I’ll put it off and help you with all my heart.”

Myeong had work that needed to be done, but he did not want to accomplish it at the expense of hurting someone else. He asked if there was any way to help the wolf recover his strength.

“What’s this work of yours?”

Perhaps the mention of work had piqued his curiosity, because the wolf showed some interest. Myeong smiled brightly at that interest. They had only just met, but perhaps because they had spent the night together, Myeong felt more fondness toward him than fear.

“I’m looking for an ice flower.”

He would find the ice flower blooming magnificently beneath the frozen earth of the winter lands. At Myeong’s determined declaration, the wolf raised his head and looked toward the ceiling of the cave. It was almost as though he were letting out a long sigh.

“You really are something. Do you know about the ice flower?”

“I know it very well.”

I-gyeol shed his wolf form and rose onto two feet. His stiff shoulders were still protesting, but it had been a long time since he had taken human form. Meanwhile, Myeong stared blankly up at the beautiful Winter King.

“Wow…”

Myeong could not help but gasp aloud in admiration. Long black hair flowed over a face as white as the moon, thick and lustrous. His long, narrow eyes held his fierce nature in their very shape, yet there was something bewitching about them.

Beneath his straight, high nose were red lips pressed firmly together. Even the beautiful immortal who had been born from a magnificent rose could not compare to him.

I-gyeol found it amusing to see Myeong staring at his face with his mouth hanging open, practically drooling, and lifted the corners of his lips. At least the little thing had eyes that worked properly. I-gyeol twirled a strand of his hair around his finger as he observed Myeong.

Clap, clap.

Myeong softly applauded by bringing his palms together.

‘Are all winter-born beings this beautiful?’

He simply could not take his eyes off him. Then Myeong noticed his own shabby appearance and bare feet and squirmed awkwardly in embarrassment.

“You’re truly beautiful.”

Unable to even meet I-gyeol’s eyes, Myeong stared only at the floor as he showered him with compliments. Pretty, amazing, wonderful, the best… His praise was pitifully limited because he had never been taught much, but even so, Myeong continued sincerely, his ears turning red.

“I know.”

I-gyeol gave a short reply while looking down at Myeong’s small head. When it came purely to appearance, the Winter Wolf’s beauty rivaled even the flowers of spring. However, his foul personality was far more famous, so few people actually praised the Winter King’s looks.

“Why are you looking for the ice flower?”

Leaning against the wall, I-gyeol spoke to Myeong. Each time he moved, the long white fabric hanging from his body rustled softly. The garment had no patterns and was not even properly sewn; it was merely a piece of cloth. Yet draped over I-gyeol, it looked elegant.

Myeong fidgeted with his fingers and stole another glance at the hem of I-gyeol’s clothing.

“Suha told me…”

“What’s that?”

When I-gyeol asked who Suha was, Myeong inhaled and prepared to boast. He knew that even compared to a winter-born being, Suha would not reach I-gyeol’s ankles, but Suha was still someone worth bragging about, being the strongest among the spring servants.

Myeong wanted to tell him that spring was not home only to shabby little things like himself. So he began listing as many of Suha’s good qualities as he could.

“Suha was born from a peony, so he’s incredibly strong. He’s the best among the flower servants…”

“Keep it short.”

I-gyeol cut him off with his arms crossed. Myeong immediately closed his mouth at the cold response.

‘Winter-born beings really are as fierce as the cold wind.’

“There’s an ice flower beneath a lake in the winter mountains.”

“Who said that? That guy?”

“Suha.”

“Who cares.”

I-gyeol casually dismissed the name of Suha, whom Myeong had envied precisely because he possessed everything Myeong did not.

“You said you know the ice flower well. Is it really beneath the lake?”

“It’s doing quite well. What, you want it too?”

I-gyeol asked Myeong. Myeong’s face brightened as he clasped both hands against his chest.

‘How easily everything is falling into place.’

Myeong liked the wolf very much. His beautiful face certainly helped, but somehow, ever since meeting him, everything seemed to be going smoothly. The wolf’s warmth had even saved him from freezing in the cold. It would not be wrong to call him a benefactor.

“Can I take it?”

“You came here to take it, didn’t you?”

“But… I heard it’s the Winter Wolf’s treasure. Is it really all right to take something like that without saying anything?”

I-gyeol looked down at Myeong as though he could not believe how shameless he was. Under that gaze, Myeong lowered his eyes in embarrassment. He knew that saying he wanted permission while having come to steal a treasure was absurd.

“Um… I still think I should ask for permission.”

Even so, Myeong intended to cooperate as much as possible. He would gladly fulfill a wish in exchange for the ice flower.

“You’re out of your mind.”

But I-gyeol merely snorted and scratched inside his ear. Then he began clearing a path toward the entrance of the cave with a wave of his hand. After opening a path all the way to the entrance with a single gesture, I-gyeol turned back and looked at Myeong.

“Are you coming or not?”

“I… I’m coming.”

Myeong hurriedly put on the shoes he had taken off and gathered up the bag he had tossed aside.

“I’m ready! Aren’t you cold, Wolf-nim?”

I-gyeol was wearing nothing but a thin white garment, so Myeong worried that he might be cold. He took one of his own small pieces of clothing out of his bag. It obviously would not fit I-gyeol’s large frame, but perhaps he could at least drape it over his shoulders.

“Get that dirty thing away from me.”

I-gyeol cleanly rejected Myeong’s consideration and walked ahead. Myeong followed behind him with quick little steps. Standing this close, the difference in their heights was enormous. Myeong had to tilt his head almost all the way back just to see I-gyeol’s face.

“Are all winter-born beings this tall?”

‘He seems even bigger than Suha.’

Myeong looked up at I-gyeol as he asked. I-gyeol looked down at Myeong, who barely reached his chest.

“You’re the size of a rat’s tail.”

“I am a little on the small side.”

Myeong smiled gently.

‘But I’ll grow someday. If I receive a name from the God of Spring and gain more strength…’

By then, surely he would become taller.

Outside, the sun had already risen, turning it into a bright morning. The snowstorm had stopped, and the cold wind blew gently. Myeong stared at the snow sparkling in the reflected light, unable to resist its allure, and reached down to touch it with both hands.

“It’s snow.”

Myeong deliberately spread his hands to show I-gyeol the snow because it was so pretty. But I-gyeol simply slapped Myeong’s hands away, sending the snow tumbling to the ground. Myeong stared down at the fallen snow and rubbed his palms together to warm his frozen hands.

“It’s amazing to me, but I suppose you must be tired of seeing it because you see it so often.”

Despite the wolf rejecting him again and again, Myeong did not lose heart. Instead, he simply laughed as though I-gyeol were the one lacking consideration.

All the way to the nearby lake, Myeong excitedly continued talking to I-gyeol. I-gyeol eventually grew tired of it and scolded him to shut his mouth, but even that did not last long.

“Wolf-nim, look at this. Look at that, too.”

Only after I-gyeol pinched Myeong’s mouth shut did Myeong finally remain quiet.

Following I-gyeol’s footprints left behind in the snow, Myeong soon arrived at the frozen winter lake. Surrounded by mountains, the lake lay silently beneath a sheet of ice. Not a single tree grew nearby, nor did even the smallest living creature breathe.

Myeong blew warm breath onto his hands and gazed at the lake. The stillness of the air somehow made the place feel lonely.

“It’s a huge lake.”

It was the first time Myeong had ever seen a lake this large. He whispered in a small voice, perhaps worried that I-gyeol might complain about him being noisy.

Soon, I-gyeol began using his power to break through the ice covering the lake.

With a tremendous roar, the shattered ice resounded throughout the mountains.

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