you had finished unpacking that morning and had gone to the gift shop and bought a bracelet made out of wood, wrapping it in the cloth he lent you after that clumsy fall.
you snuck out of the house that afternoon and found the trail leading to the tree.
you pant as you stepped out of the weeds to the tree.
"i'm sorry, am i late?"
you found mino under the tree, pouring wine from a pot into a cup.
"not at all."
you smiled and scooted over and sat nearly him. "you prepared this?"
he nodded. a little help from the servants, of course.
"rice cake and.... sikhye? you made this?"
he looked at you with amusement.
sikhye isn't really common outside the places of the higher ranks.
he must be an aristocrat then?
"yes. you don't like?"
you looked at him and smiled. "no, it's my first time tasting it."
after finishing the dessert and ate delicious pieces of rice cake, you pulled out the cloth and handed it to him with two hands.
"i've brought you this back." you smiled.
he smiled back and took it.
from his hand, you leaned towards, closer to him and opened the folded piece of cloth, revealing the small piece of jewelry.
"and this is my thanks. thanks!" you looked at him after you clasp the bracelet around his arm, and in a dangerous distance.
time stopped.
"this is awkward." you laughed, pushing away, putting gently down his arm and tucking a few strands of hair behind your ear.
"there! pretty." you cheered.
he smiles at it and looks at you. "thank you." he paused. "may i ask a question?"
you nodded.
"how old are you? i'm 25."
you looked up and looked back at him. "23."
"young." he replied.
"you, come here almost how many times?" you asked him back.
"when i have my free time. i like the wind here."
"hmm..." you hummed. "why?"
"it brings me peace... and luck..." he looks at you, and you responded with a smile.
both of you felt the wind blow, you stared at mino who had his eyes clothes as he let the wind blew over his face, his beautiful blonde hair waving along with the breeze.
he looks so calm.
-
while both of you hung out under the tree, in another scene, a gloom figure sat on a chair.
a servant came in and whispered something in its ear.
"they are together again."
the figure waved its hands and motioned the servant out, following a slam of his fist on the arm rest.
and a groan as the figure caressed its aching forehead.
