Snowlight Chapter 10

 

Traditionally, the north was considered the path to the afterlife, so people never turned their heads toward the north while sleeping. It was the northernmost part of the capital. Wonhye in Wonyang-do was considered just as desolate a place as the north of the dead. A land of winter where bitter cold lurked year-round, it was a barren wasteland where nothing grew.

 

Among the people of the capital, it was taken for granted that women from Wonyang-do were lewd, while men were calculating and prone to betrayal. They were also universally considered lazy and stupid. Because of this, even when doing the same work, it was common for wages to be cut if it became known that one was from Wonhye.

 

By any measure, it was a bustling marketplace. Perhaps a market was in session, for as Yu Won entered through the city gate, stalls and stands were lined up in rows. It was teeming with people, from those carrying bundles on their backs to carts hauling goods. With trees adorned with colorful lanterns and neat walls everywhere, it was no less impressive than the main streets of any major city. It was a complete contrast to the rumors that it was teeming with ragged, starving paupers or that it was a haven for marauding bandits.

 

Here and there, merchants were frantically tapping their abacuses, haggling over silver hairpins, silver mirrors, and other silver ornaments.

 

He had long heard that Wonhye was home to a large silver vein, which had led to the development of silver craftsmanship.

 

However, what caught Yu Won’s eye more than the silver were the shops selling various byproducts of demonic beasts. The stalls were lined with rare items rarely seen in the capital: ointments made from the powdered bones of fire dogs and solidified mint, powder made from the dried and ground gallbladder of the black wind beast, powdered human-faced ginseng, and scarves woven from the fur of nine-tailed foxes.

 

In the capital, demonic beasts were regarded as wicked and harmful creatures and were burned to death on sight. There were various reasons for this, but the most significant was an incident in the past when the late king had used the heart of a black wind beast from the Daeguk mountains as medicine for a sickly princess, only for her to pass away. The princess’s death at that time caused a major uproar both within and outside the palace. Since then, the Four Great Gates have prohibited the import or export of any items related to demonic beasts, regardless of type, with violators facing the death penalty.

 

However, as the saying goes, “People curse behind the king’s back,” the organs of hunted demonic beasts were secretly traded. Rumors abounded that the heart was excellent for nourishment, or that the liver and testicles were superb for virility. But were demonic beasts easy prey? No apothecary was willing to risk their life selling them, given the danger of facing the death penalty. Yet in Wonhye, it was truly astonishing that not only individual traders but even professional importers operated openly.

 

As soon as they stepped out of the market, steam rose vigorously from the cauldrons at the taverns, and the smell of roasting pheasants, rabbits, and other meats filled the air. The young servant boy, sitting on the donkey, sniffed the air and swallowed hard. Yu Won, who had been walking blankly while holding the reins, rubbed his eyes, which were heavy with sleep.

 

He was so exhausted he wanted to lie down and sleep right then and there, but since he couldn’t even afford a single room, his top priority was to find the provincial governor. If he went there and explained his situation, he would at least be able to secure a place to stay.

 

After asking around and finally arriving at the governor’s residence, he found it to be a tiled-roof house much larger than he had expected. He had heard that the governor had converted his late father’s residence into his official residence, and just looking at the height of the walls, it was taller and more imposing than any ordinary nobleman’s house.

 

Standing before the grand main gate, his heart began to race. A memory from his childhood suddenly came to mind, standing all day long in front of a high-ranking official’s residence, holding his mother’s hand.

 

‘Stay calm.’ 

 

Unlike back then, he’s now in a position to formally request an audience. Calming his pounding heart and taking a few deep breaths, Yu Won barely managed to knock on the gate. He must have knocked about three times. After a long while, the gate creaked open. A young woman peeked her face through the narrow gap, just wide enough to slip a foot through.

 

The woman quickly scanned the two visitors. With a torn sash, a bloodstained skirt, and a shabby fur coat draped over it, their attire was hardly what one would expect from a young master of a respectable household. And that wasn’t all. His hair, with its headpiece fallen off, was short and unadorned, an appearance that would leave no doubt that he was a vagrant.

 

“What do you want?”

 

At her brusque question, Yu Won bit his dry lips. All he had to do was say he was from the home of Minister Hong Se Hwan of the Ministry of Personnel. Yet that simple phrase felt so daunting; his mouth wouldn’t open easily, as if it were glued shut. His heart pounded, and his breath caught in his throat.

 

“What is this? Are you mute beggars?”

 

Just as the woman muttered this in exasperation and reached to close the door,

 

“We, we’ve come from the residence of Minister Hong Se Hwan in Okyang…”

 

The young boy answered loudly on behalf of Yu Won, who had turned as pale as a sheet and frozen in place. The woman turned around and blinked in surprise.

 

“The residence of Lord Hong Se Hwan in Okyang?”

 

“Yes, the young master standing here is Hong Yu Won, the betrothed of the Governor.”

 

“So, you mean he’s going to be the Governor’s wife…?”

 

The young boy nodded vigorously, and the woman looked even more bewildered. Surely the matchmaker should have dropped by to give her a heads-up, yet she seemed completely unaware.

 

Could it be that the engagement itself never actually happened? Come to think of it, for someone marrying into such a prominent household, the procession was rather meager.

 

“What’s going on? Why are you loitering by the gate like that?”

 

A middle-aged woman with her hair neatly pinned up suddenly approached the gate. The flustered woman hurriedly explained the situation.

 

“Oh, Mother, there are some people outside claiming they’ve come to marry the Master.”

 

“The master?”

 

“Yes, they say they’re from Okyang and were sent by Lord Hong Se Hwan’s household, but judging by their appearance, it seems like they might be lying to beg.”

 

No sooner had the maid finished speaking than the woman threw open the main gate with her own hands, rushed out, and took Yu Won’s hands in hers.

 

“You must be Lady Hong Yu Won, the third child of Lord Hong Se Hwan, the Minister of Personnel, correct?”

 

“Huh? Ah, yes…”

 

“My name is Yeom Ok Hwa. I had already heard from the captain that you would be coming this way sometime this morning. But since I hadn’t heard a word from you, I was so worried.”

 

“The captain?”

 

“Ah, I mean Lord Kwak Hyeon Wook.”

 

Hearing the familiar name, Yu Won let out a soft “Ah.” Before they parted, he had said he wouldn’t have any reason to stop by Wonhye, so when did he find the time to pass on the message? Whatever the case, he had gone out of his way to let her know. For that, he was simply grateful.

 

“You must be exhausted from the long journey; please come inside.”

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

At Yeom Ok Hwa’s words, Yu Won supported the young boy and stepped through the main gate.

 

Even the tiled roofs visible over the wall looked impressive, and once inside, the compound was vast and spacious. He hadn’t visited every nobleman’s residence, but this one was certainly on par with a high-ranking official’s estate.

 

As they passed each building, Yeom Ok Hwa explained its purpose.

 

The building immediately visible after passing through the main gate was the servants’ quarters, consisting of a wing and a pantry where the steward and servants lived. The section separated by a wall was the main residence where the master lived; the large house on the west side was the guest quarters, and the smaller house on the east side was the private quarters.

 

“If you go out the back, you’ll find the inner courtyard.”

 

Yeom Ok Hwa said. Though it was partially obscured by the buildings, a faint, sweet scent of flowers wafted through

the air.

 

“I suppose there are flowering trees inside the house. I can smell something lovely coming from this area.”

 

“Ah, it’s probably the scent of magnolia blossoms.”

 

“Magnolias?”

 

“When His Excellency came to this northern province, His Majesty bestowed upon him twelve magnolia trees. Since flowering trees are a rare sight here, it seems they bloomed just in time for the young master’s arrival.”

 

Magnolias. They seemed to harmonize perfectly with the house, which had an indescribable air of tranquility and neatness.

 

Soon, Yeom Ok Hwa led them to a house located at the very far end of the estate. Compared to the other houses they had passed, it was very small and had only a single sliding door.

 

“You will be staying here until the wedding ceremony.”

 

The young boy stopped in his tracks and let out a sigh. He seemed exhausted from walking on his injured ankle. Yu Won glanced at his face and said to the woman,

 

“Excuse me, the child who came with me has sprained his ankle. If it’s not too much trouble, could you have a doctor take a look?”

 

“I was just about to have a doctor called to check on your condition.”

 

Soon after, a servant’s voice was heard from outside, announcing that the physician had been brought in.

 

The elderly physician skillfully examined the young boy’s feet. The ankle, which had been swollen just half a day ago, had recovered so much that it was almost unrecognizable.

 

“No need for treatment. He can run around right away.”

 

“So… does that mean he’s fully recovered?”

 

“You’ll know as soon as he tries walking, won’t you?”

 

Clicking his tongue in disapproval, the doctor turned to look at Yu Won.

 

“In my opinion, you were in far greater danger than he was.”

 

“Me…?”

 

“Haha, you suffered frostbite on your hands and feet, didn’t you realize?”

 

At the elder’s words, Yu Won finally looked down at his hands. From his fingernails to his fingertips, they were pale and bloodless. Now that he’d heard the diagnosis of frostbite, he felt a faint discomfort when moving his fingers. The elder pricked the tip of his toe to check and clicked his tongue.

 

“In this condition, how could you have tried to brush it off as if it didn’t hurt?”

 

“It didn’t really hurt, so I didn’t realize it.”

 

“When you’re sleep-deprived, your body becomes numb, and you might not feel the pain. It’s a kind of survival instinct. Still, since you still have the strength to move, if you take medicine and keep warm, you’ll recover quickly.”

 

Physician Noh wrapped Yu Won’s hand in a towel soaked in warm medicinal liquid and began massaging it here and there. Feeling a prickling sensation as if being pricked by needles, Yu Won swallowed a groan and closed his eyes tightly.

 

Physician Noh carefully applied medicine to the wounds on Yu Won’s knees and lower back before standing up. Yeom Ok Hwa, who had been waiting in the courtyard, introduced the two maids standing behind her.

 

“These girls will attend to you, my lady.”

 

“Attend to me?”

 

“Yes, the physician said that as long as you don’t soak in the water for too long, soaking in warm water will help improve your circulation. These two will be by your side to help with your bath and dressing.”

 

At those words, Yu Won finally realized that he had not yet revealed that he was a man.

 

“Madam, I am… that is, I am not a woman…”

 

“There’s a screen beside the tub, and I’ll provide you with a bathrobe to wear when you enter. Unless someone deliberately comes in, no one will see you.”

 

Even after he confessed that he was a man, not a woman, Yeom Ok Hwa remained unperturbed.

 

As he stepped into the bathing chamber, thick steam pooled against the ceiling like a cloud. Citrons floated gently on the surface of the water, filling the tub.

 

“Just put this on before entering the bath.”

 

The garment the servant handed him resembled a petticoat. Yu Won accepted the garment with his face flushed and his head bowed. It was as thin as a dragonfly’s wing. When draped over his naked body, it was barely there, his skin faintly visible through the fabric, but it was better than being completely naked.

 

Yu Won stepped onto the footstool and carefully lowered himself into the tub. The water was just the right temperature.

 

“Ah…”

 

As he submerged himself up to his shoulders, his frozen body seemed to melt away. The hot water alone was a luxury, but the scent wafted from the water thanks to the citrons floating on the surface and the dried white jasmine petals. For Yu Won, who had washed himself with cold water even in the dead of winter, it was a luxury no different from paradise.

 

“I apologize, my lady. May I come in for a moment?”

 

“Ah! Yes, that’s fine.”

 

The servant, who had entered after parting the screen, bowed deeply and held out a tray in both hands. After examining the small flask, Yu Won cautiously asked,

 

“Um, what is that?”

 

“The one in front is a cleansing water made by simmering cypress and mint leaves. You can use it to rinse your hair. The ones behind are bamboo salt and cloves.”

 

They were all expensive fragrances, the sort typically used only by the wealthiest families in the capital.

 

When he emerged from his bath, a new set of clothes lay neatly folded in the corner. After all, the jeogori and jang-ot he’d been wearing until just a moment ago were in such tatters that they were beyond repair, so it was certainly better to be given new clothes.

 

Since he’d come here dressed in a skirt, albeit just for show, as a bride-to-be, he’d expected the new outfit to be a jeogori as well. To his surprise, however, it was a plain pair of baji* and a jeogori.*

 

‘Did they give me men’s clothes since they know I’m not a woman?’ 

 

The female servant who had opened the gate at first didn’t even seem to know there was a wedding, yet now she was bringing things over as if she’d been preparing all along, which was puzzling.

 

Fortunately, the fit wasn’t too big or too small. In fact, it fit perfectly, as if someone had taken his measurements.

 

When he returned to his quarters, a woman other than Yeom Ok Hwa was standing there.

 

“My name is Han Mi Ri, and I am the head maid of this household. I thought you might be hungry, so I prepared a meal.”

 

The lunch spread was a feast unlike anything he had ever seen before. Soup, grilled fish, various vegetable side dishes, meat fried in oil, rice cakes, and more. Not only was it more than he could eat alone, but for Yu Won, who rarely ate meat, much of it was too heavy.

 

Since no one had said he couldn’t share it, Yu Won, after some hesitation, gestured toward the young boy sitting in the corner, who was gulping down his saliva.

 

“You come and eat too.”

 

“Huh? But this is the young master’s meal. How could you possibly share a table with someone like me?”

 

“I don’t care about that sort of thing, so don’t worry about it and just pick up your chopsticks.”

 

There was no one watching, and Yu Won wasn’t actually of noble birth to begin with. Besides, even if he were, what difference would it make? It was much better to share the food than to let it go to waste.

 

“Don’t be shy. Okay?”

 

He held out a chicken drumstick to the young boy, who had been just sucking on his finger. The boy shuffled over, carefully took the chicken, and began tearing into it voraciously. He wasn’t just eating the meat; he was busy gobbling down anything he could get his hands on, whether it was rice or rice cakes.

 

“You’re going to choke. You have to chew slowly and thoroughly before swallowing.”

 

The boy, who had been shoveling meat into his mouth in a hurry, patted his chest, coughing. Eating that hastily, it was no wonder he choked. Yu Won hurriedly handed him a bowl of soup, and without even looking at it, he drank it all in one gulp. Only after catching his breath did the boy realize how quickly he’d been eating, and he gave a sheepish, embarrassed smile.