When the Black Moon Rises - Side Story 20
Side Story 20
When she opened her eyes, the room was already bright. She had fallen asleep without knowing when, and when she awoke, the room was empty.
As she rubbed her eyes and tried to sit up, the door opened cautiously. A large shadow loomed through the opening.
"You're already awake?"
"Just now. Where have you been?"
He was holding a small breakfast tray, seemingly from somewhere.
Placing the tray on the floor, he first poured water and offered it to her.
"I felt like I received too much yesterday. I went to distribute the things the king gave us to the people. And then they gave me this."
"I see."
Having just woken up, she didn't have much of an appetite. So, without glancing at the breakfast tray, she stretched her arms wide. The man, who had an embarrassed expression, suddenly apologized.
"I'm sorry. I said something unnecessary yesterday."
His complexion turned a little red.
"Even if I'm anxious, you must be more anxious than I am. What on earth did I say to you unnecessarily? I must have been crazy. Forget it."
"I'm not anxious, though?"
"Huh?"
"Why would I be anxious? You know what power I have. Besides, even if something happens to me, you'll come so I won't be lonely."
"......Huh?"
"If something happens to me, you'll follow me, right? We agreed on that yesterday."
"Huh? ......Yes. We did."
"If you're going to do that, what's there for me to be anxious about? We'll go to the underworld together without being lonely."
"......."
As if it wasn't the reaction he had expected, the man just blinked. Watching him, Sehwa burst into laughter.
"I'm telling you not to apologize. We already said everything we wanted to say yesterday."
The man eventually smiled sheepishly.
"I'm sorry because I feel like I spoke carelessly. To you too. ............And to our child."
"Over the long years, we'll have thousands of things to be sorry to each other for. Are you going to be like this every time?"
"......"
"If something like that happens, treat me better. Me, and our child."
"And you can't be lonely anymore. Because I'm your family. Because I'll make you a very large family."
"Family......."
"Think about it. Every day will be boisterously noisy."
She moved closer to him, who was sitting awkwardly.
"Children have boundless energy, so the three sisters alone will struggle. If you don't look after the children, I might get tired quickly. No. You'll get tired quickly too, for sure."
Strangely enough, now that she had said it out loud, it felt as if a scene of constant laughter and sighs from children whose faces she didn't even know was already unfolding before her eyes.
"No. I won't get tired. Girls are light, so whether it's three, four, or seven, I can carry them all on my back at once. Every day will be incredibly fun."
"Seven girls?"
Sehwa burst into loud laughter again.
"Do you like daughters that much? What if it's not a daughter?"
"A son would be even better."
"Even better?"
"Yes. I'll teach him martial arts and archery, and we'll go hunting together. Since there will be many things I can teach him, he can spend a lot of time with me, so it's even better."
"You said you wanted a daughter."
"A daughter is wonderful too. But even if we don't have children, as long as you are healthy, and therefore stay by my side forever, that's the best."
"I will. You know what my power is, right? Then you also know nothing will happen, right?"
He nodded.
"Then don't worry. Just think about the noisy future ahead."
"Yes."
His reddened face regained its color, and the corners of his lips curved slightly.
"I will."
The anxiety from last night was nowhere to be found on his face as he looked back at her. She, too, smiled again, seeing his relaxed face.
Meanwhile, the village had gradually started to become noisy. It seemed to be because of the peddlers, as they had heard yesterday.
They said it was the first time since the drought had seriously begun. Even though only a few peddlers had arrived, the villagers were as joyful as if a festival was taking place.
Baek Giha, who was massaging Sehwa's legs in the room, heard the laughter from outside and asked her.
"Are you really going to go there? Peddlers coming to a village like this probably don't have anything great."
"If we stay here, I feel like you'll keep doing this. My body isn't swollen yet, and my legs don't hurt. How long are you going to do this?"
"It was in the royal physician's precautions. It's too late if you start when your body begins to swell. Get frequent massages in advance."
"That was about calling the female physicians for a massage."
"I do it better. My hands are cooler."
"That's true, but I've already had enough, so you should get up now too."
"I'm worried. Won't you be tired? You walked so much yesterday."
"When did I walk enough to get tired? It was just a short walk from the palace to the capital gate. The rest of the time, I was riding on your back."
"Didn't you see the royal physician's precautions? He said to be absolutely careful in the early stages. Walking more than two hundred steps is definitely too much."
"Oh, come on. Stop it and let's go quickly."
Since she couldn't avoid contacting the Mystic Realm indefinitely, she had actually secretly sent a letter using her spiritual power.
She had to see the rabbit rock and visit Eulseonsa Temple before a reply came from the Mystic Realm. And in the midst of that, she had unexpectedly ended up staying overnight in Sugwanchon, so she felt a little rushed.
Even so, it seemed there would be time to briefly look around that market, so Sehwa and Baek Giha left the room.
Since they had left a generous amount for the night's lodging in the room, it wouldn't be rude even if they left without saying goodbye.
When they went out to the village square the woman had mentioned yesterday, merchants were displaying their goods.
It was quite bustling. It wasn't just a few peddlers. The scale was considerable, as if an entire merchant group had stopped by on their way to the capital.
There were foodstuffs like freshly made, steaming pancakes, dried fruits, and meat. And on the stalls lined up here and there, ornaments and accessories were plentiful.
A woman was chiding a merchant.
"It's true that food is scarce, but that depends on the time. Now, there's food everywhere that will rot before winter if we can't eat it all, so why do you keep recommending food? Ah, I don't need it, I'm going to trade this for that blanket, so bring that out."
"No, does this village only have robbers? There's a limit to haggling. We brought this with so much difficulty, yet you're trying to rob us without any conscience."
Curious about the content of the loud voice, Sehwa also squeezed through the crowd and looked at the goods brought by the peddlers. Then, the women she had seen yesterday spotted Sehwa and waved with friendly faces.
"Newlywed, you're here? Newlywed, come over here for a moment and try this."
A woman placed a small, crude cup in Sehwa's hand. Inside it was water emitting a sour smell.
"It's boiled dried plums. It's very sour, but they say it soothes the stomach, so try it."
"Ah, you're giving it to her to buy? Then the lady who ate it should pay for it, ma'am."
"Are you going to keep talking nonsense? You have to taste it first to decide whether to buy it or not."
While they bickered loudly among themselves, they handed Sehwa one by one the foodstuffs sold by the peddlers.
Unable to refuse things like hot boiled tofu or vegetable skewers, Sehwa took whatever they gave her.
"I'll hold it. Give it to me."
"This much is fine. Anyway, you should eat too."
"Does it taste good?"
"This? I haven't tried this yet. Just a moment."
Sehwa bit off a mushroom from the skewer she was holding.
"Mm. It's delicious. Try it."
Sehwa offered what she was holding, but instead of taking it, Baek Giha wiped the corner of Sehwa's mouth with his thumb.
"Was there something on it?"
"A little. You have this side to you too."
Licking what was on his finger, Baek Giha held Sehwa's hand and walked smilingly through the crowd.
Sehwa, too, was walking among the people, who were as crowded as in the capital, looking at what these peddlers were selling, when suddenly her hand was pulled.
When she turned around, Baek Giha, just like when they left the capital, had stopped again and was looking at something intently.
It was just as Sehwa was about to follow Baek Giha's gaze.
Holding her hand, he walked forward as if possessed.
His feet stopped in front of a certain stall.
'Is there something he wants to buy?'
As she scanned the stall, wondering what had caught his eye, Baek Giha first asked the merchant with serious eyes.
"What on earth is this? A toy? An ornament? What is it used for?"
"What? Ah, what are you talking about? Haven't you seen socks before? You're wearing socks too. These are baby socks."
What Baek Giha had carefully picked up was a tiny baby sock.
"Wear it? This? A foot goes in here? A human foot?"
Contrary to his voice and gaze that seemed to ask if that made sense, his fingers carefully stroked the sock, which was less than half the size of his palm.
The merchant burst out laughing.
"Of course, it's for a real person. Would you put it on an animal?"
"......I kept thinking, is it a doll's? Or an ornament?"
"Goodness me. Are you a new groom who hasn't seen a newborn yet? You'll faint when your wife gives birth. Do you know how small a newborn baby is? This small."
"......No way. Is it really only that big?"
"Of course. Look at this swaddling cloth too. It's this small."
While talking with the merchant, Baek Giha continued to gently touch the baby items as if he were touching a real baby.
"...It's too small. Do they really wear and put on things like this? Does that make sense? It feels like you're trying to trick me because I don't know anything."
"Ah, I'm telling you, it's true. They really wear and put on things that small."
"......It doesn't make sense."
Muttering as if bewildered and dumbfounded, Baek Giha looked straight at the merchant and said.
"Give me everything."
"Huh? What?"
"Everything here."
"Huh? Y-you want all of this here? You'll buy it all? Are you serious?"
"Of course. Give me everything, and if there are any items you haven't taken out yet, those too............. Oops."
Surprised by his unexpected impulsive behavior, Sehwa slapped his back.
"What are you talking about? Why are you buying all of this!"
"But this is too small, it's strange. I need to check if what that merchant is saying is true. And-."
"Enough, stop it. The baby isn't due for a long time yet, what are you going to do buying all those things now?"
"You're telling me not to buy it?"
Blinking his eyes in embarrassment for a moment, he held out what he was holding towards Sehwa.
"But did you see this? The yellow flower embroidery on this slipper."
"What about the embroidery?"
"Huh? Ah, I mean, the flower embroidery is like this............."
"Not only are the socks small, but the embroidery is also unbelievably small."
"Small……. So what I mean is. Um. That's right."
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