Chapter 8: The Dreamer and the Practice

It was a meeting where neither side could find a trace of welcome. However, Yeo Jae Won had no reason to remain sunken in gloom, replaying the conversation with the Noble Consort over and over.

On the way back to the residence from the Imperial Palace, inside the jolting carriage, he kept his eyes closed and cleared his mind of stray thoughts. When he finally stepped inside the main gates, he saw the doors wide open and workers moving about busily.

“The mother-of-pearl cabinet should go later… Ah, Your Highness. You have returned?”

Eunuch Oh, who had served at the residence for a long time under Eunuch Seok, bowed deeply in greeting. Noticing Yeo Jae Won’s somewhat stiff expression, Eunuch Seok stepped forward to reprimand Oh, but Jae Won raised a hand to stop him.

Crossing the threshold, Yeo Jae Won said nothing. However, it had been only a few hours since Seok had reported that he would handle the preparations quietly, knowing the Prince disliked unnecessary commotion. Eunuch Seok shot a glare at Eunuch Oh before hurrying after his master.

“Your Highness, I crave your pardon. I intended to move the large furniture first and bring in the smaller items later…”

Eunuch Seok’s voice trailed off tentatively.

Yeo Jae Won stood still, arms spread wide as they had been when he donned his official robes, while two court ladies worked swiftly to help him change.

“I shall remind Eunuch Oh once more of the protocol,” Seok added, becoming fearful at his master’s silence.

Once the ladies finished and Jae Won adjusted the sleeves of his dark navy robe, he turned to look at the eunuch with an indifferent face.

“It will take at least fifteen days for the party to reach the capital. There is no need to rush.”

The worry vanished from Eunuch Seok’s face; he had feared a thunderous reprimand for the noise.

Yeo Jae Won started to walk past him but stopped abruptly.

“Ah, you said there are no pear trees?”

“Pear trees… Your Highness? Shall I look once more?”

Jae Won couldn’t quite remember whose voice had spoken the words lingering in his mind. It was a strange thing; he couldn’t think of a single person in this residence who would say such a thing to him.

Soft like a ripe fig, gentle as silk fluttering in the wind—whose voice was it that had asked if they might plant a pear tree? Who on earth was this person from his dreams?

While signing documents later, Yeo Jae Won frowned, his deep eyes clouded as he shook his head.

“No. Instead, plant one in the annex.”

Because of his persistent questioning, Eunuch Seok had assumed the Prince wanted a pear tree for his own viewing. Planting it in the annex was extremely odd, but he did not argue. He simply replied, “Yes, I shall see it done,” and withdrew.

Yeo Jae Won, about to head to his study, stared over the wall toward the annex, which was currently noisy with the gathering of workers.

At the crack of dawn, a pale light seeped quietly through the window frame. Following his old habit, Ahnok, who had been sleeping curled up, slowly opened his thin eyelids.

It’s morning.

Shortly after the brief thought crossed his mind, Ahnok pushed back the plush blanket and sat up. Although this was the shabbiest building in the King of Baekya’s estate, it was several times larger than the room in the thatched hut on the outskirts where he used to live.

By that logic, the rooms he occupied in the Prince of Myeong’s residence and Gyoyeong Palace were even larger. Yet, no matter how grand a room was, it could never be as cozy as that tiny space in the outskirts.

Scanning the room with a bitter gaze, Ahnok opened the small window beside his bed. The distant sound of a small bird chirping on a branch reached him—a scene of profound silence and peace.

The more peaceful it felt, the more Ahnok was forced to recall the tragedy that had struck Baekya-bu—one he hadn’t personally witnessed the first time.

This place, too, will one day be stained with blood. The thought came unbidden.

“Um… Master Ahnok. Are you awake?”

The cautious voice creeping in from outside the door belonged to Han-wol, a servant the King of Baekya had assigned to him a few days ago.

“You may enter.”

“Yes. I have brought your washing water.”

Perhaps because it was an old building, the hinges creaked every time the door opened. Han-wol struggled slightly as he brought in a basin filled to the brim with water.

Because so much had happened in his previous life, Ahnok couldn’t quite remember who had been by his side during his stay at the Baekya residence. At the time, the King and Queen of Baekya had decided that servants from the Prince of Myeong’s household—trained in strict etiquette—would be better, so they only provided staff to serve him until he reached the capital.

It wasn’t that he was hurt by it. Ahnok wasn’t used to being served, nor had he ever desired it. However, even that had been viewed as a flaw in the capital. He remembered the whispers that the Prince’s consort—the supposed third son of the King of Baekya—had arrived for his wedding without a single servant of his own.

He knew now that it was merely an excuse to look down on him, but the memory still stung.

“If the water has cooled, I will warm it again,” Han-wol said tentatively, after waiting a long time for Ahnok, who sat as still as if he were performing a ritual before the basin.

Ahnok finally let out a small “Ah” and reached out. The water was lukewarm. This boy must have woken before 5:00 AM to diligently fetch water from the well, boil it, and transfer it to the basin.

Whether it was pity, gratitude, or both, Ahnok mulled over the feeling before speaking slowly.

“You must have woken up early.”

“Pardon?”

“To warm the water and prepare breakfast for me… I wondered if you lost sleep because of it.”

Han-wol stared at Ahnok blankly as the latter lightly wetted his hands.

“It is only what I am supposed to do…”

Due to his shy nature, Han-wol hesitated before answering. Ahnok offered a faint smile and washed his face. After drying himself thoroughly with a silk towel, Ahnok looked at the boy.

“Thank you.”

Han-wol, who had been busy preparing to clear the basin and bring in the meal table, widened his eyes in surprise. He waved his hands frantically in the air.

“A-ah, no! Please, don’t say that!”

Ahnok simply gave the flustered boy a bright smile.

The large, heavy tides of fate could not be changed. Nor did Ahnok consider himself strong enough to endure the pain he already knew was coming. But if he had to live, the only thing he could change was himself.

Of course, Ahnok didn’t intend to step forward and aggressively shake the world. He simply planned to try the things he hadn’t been able to do before because he was terrified or intimidated.

He couldn’t do anything grand, but at the very least, he could express gratitude or show his apologies. And sometimes, just as he had with Seol Ga Hyo and Seol Ga Muk, he could talk back to the insults thrown his way…

In truth, this was a form of practice. Practice so that when he eventually stood before Yeo Jae Won, he could finish saying everything he wanted to say without faltering.

Before long, Han-wol returned with a simple breakfast. Steam rose from the freshly cooked rice.

“Have you eaten, Han-wol?”

“Yes, I ate early.”

The answer seemed honest enough. Although the number of side dishes was modest, it was a light morning meal centered around seasonal spring greens.

In reality, he had no appetite. Ahnok’s time was still flowing from the moment he was twenty-seven. Having prepared himself for death, it was natural that he felt no desire to eat just to survive.

Still, it was a meal prepared early in the morning; perhaps he should try a little. Ahnok slowly picked up his spoon. But before taking a bite, he looked up with a smile.

“Go and rest. I will take the table back to the kitchen myself.”

At those words, Han-wol’s face fell. The boy had only ever worked under Seol Ga Muk; he had never seen a superior like Ahnok and was currently experiencing no small amount of distress.

“I am always in the side room, so please call for me when you are finished!”

He spoke hurriedly as if fearing Ahnok would refuse, then bowed respectfully and shut the door.

A soft laugh escaped Ahnok. He wondered if his own timid nature had appeared that way to others once. To the twenty-year-old Ahnok, perhaps—but to the twenty-seven-year-old him, there were many things that now appeared in a new light.