Cloud Candy and the Arrogant Servant
I'm Kim Se-gun, the loyal servant of Lord Kim Jong-seo. This was the first time in either of my lives that I'd ridden a rickshaw. They were faster than they looked, shook less, and were pretty cheap too. If I had to pick a downside, it was the sweat stench wafting from the rickshaw puller.
"Here we are! Pi-mat-gol off Jongno, sir!"
"Oh, thanks."
"Aw, no problem at all! Hehehehe!"
A boy about my age flashed a bright grin despite panting hard. Seeing him work so diligently already made me feel a bit ashamed compared to myself, just here for a fun trip to Hanyang.
"Alright, you get down too."
"Y-yes, sir...!"
I stepped out first and offered my hand to my fellow passenger. Takji, who grabbed it with his small hand, still looked dazed, his face blank with shock.
"Well then! Call me again anytime!"
"Sure. Take care."
"Nah, it's too early to head back! Peak hours right now! Hey! How was the rickshaw? Cheap, fast, comfy—like a bullet!"
The puller started hawking to passersby. While watching him, Eori's rickshaw arrived, and Takji bowed gratefully.
"Sir, thank you. I got to ride one thanks to you."
"Huh? Nah. You had to ride too. How else am I gonna get around Hanyang without you?"
Takji's job wasn't just attending me. He was also guiding me around the city, showing me the sights.
"Now do you believe I'm the Tiger-slaying Boy?"
"Eh, not really."
"Damn it, seriously. Believe me now. I even put you in a rickshaw."
Even after spending money on him, Takji still doubted I was the Tiger-slaying Boy. I ruffled his hair—half to tease, half to smack some sense into him—when I spotted Eori's rickshaw approaching from afar.
"Oh, here she comes."
The puller came huffing to a stop in front of us. Moments later, Eori—face flushed with excitement—practically shouted.
"M-my lord! Did you see that? The rickshaw was so fast!"
"Yeah, faster than I thought."
I approached and offered her my hand. She ducked her head shyly at the sight but soon grabbed it and carefully stepped down.
"Heehee, thank you."
"Just proper courtesy to a delicate lady."
"...?"
"...?"
Takji and the puller both gave me puzzled looks, even though it was obvious. Granted, Eori—taller and stronger than most adult women or even men—didn't exactly scream "delicate."
"Heeheehee."
But that innocent, childlike smile on her strikingly mature face was pure magic. I savored it a moment before turning to Takji.
"Takji, where's the best spot around here?"
"Ah! This way! Follow me!"
Takji led us into Pi-mat-gol. I kept holding Eori's hand as we wandered. Pi-mat-gol was the kind of street where commoners too lazy to bow to passing yangban grabbed a quick bite. High foot traffic meant vendors everywhere.
"Come on over! Fresh, steaming-hot castella cake right here!"
Whoa, castella in Joseon?
"Tang! Tang! Furu! Furu! Tang tang! Fururururu! Tanghulu that cured the Ming Empress—right here!"
Tanghulu too?! And what's with that jingle?!
"Honey twists the Ming envoys crave! Sweet, nutty, crunchy—never gets old!"
Ah, those I've had back home. Cheaper here, too.
The vendors' shouts were just like market day in my village. The only difference? All snacks here.
"Whoaaa...!"
Eori was lost in the feast of unfamiliar treats.
"Wow, looks delicious...!"
Aren't you from Hanyang? Takji was just as mesmerized, smacking his lips like a kid forced to eat bread during a rice strike.
"Oh! M-my lord!"
Eori, neck craning wildly, pointed at a passerby. The snack in that girl's hand shocked me too.
C-cotton candy? No way—is that cotton candy in Joseon?!
It looked exactly like it: fluffy texture, pulled apart by hand, melting sweetly in her mouth with that telltale wince.
"That one?"
Takji puffed up proudly, explaining to our wide-eyed stares.
"Yeah, that's cloud candy. Named that 'cause it's fluffy like clouds floating in the sky."
"Obvious from the look. But it's cotton candy, right?"
"Some call it that too."
"Yeah, me. Where do they sell it?"
"She came from that way, so probably there."
Makes sense. We headed that direction, spotting more people with cloud candy. Soon, we found the stall.
"Candy made by tearing clouds! Come one, come all! Sweet and fluffy cloud candy!"
Over a dozen people were already lined up—no hawking needed. I joined the end before it grew.
"Sir! I'll hold the spot! You and the lady keep looking around!"
"Nah. Waiting's half the fun. Right, Eori?"
"Yes. Heehee. It's fine."
Eori's head was full of cloud candy, not me. She nodded but stared straight at the stall.
Luckily, the line moved fast. Chatting with Eori, we were suddenly at the front.
"Welcome! How many cloud candies?"
"Two—no, three please."
One for Takji, one to share with Eori. But seeing her drool, sharing might get me bitten.
"Yesss! Three it is! Haa! Haa! Hngh!"
Squeak squeak squeak!
The vendor sweated buckets, pedaling something. A small cup in the center spun rapidly. Manual motor, foot-powered.
"Sugar in!"
One guy pedaled while the other made it. He poured sugar powder into a perforated metal cup and twirled a stick around it.
"Whoaaa...!"
"Whoaaa...!"
Sugar threads spun out, catching on the stick. Eori and Takji were glued to the magic.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Enter the intruder. A boy my age, dressed like Takji, coughed loudly and cut in.
"Hey, three cloud candies here."
...This punk?
So brazen I just stared blankly till he ordered. Snapping to, I tapped his shoulder lightly.
"Excuse me. We were first."
"What?"
He scowled back like I'd cursed. Then smirked.
"Don't know who I am?"
"Who?"
"Hah. From the countryside? Heard of Lord Kim Jong-seo, Uijeongbu Left Deputy?"
W-wait, that Kim Jong-seo? The one who pioneered the Four Garrisons and Six Commands with Yi Jing-ok? The one later killed by Grand Prince Suyang?
Is this punk his son? Grandson? Nephew?
"I'm his loyal servant, Kim Se-gun."
"You little shit. Wanna get hit?"
"Wh-what?! How dare you! You heard who I am!"
Even Kim Jong-seo himself couldn't cut here, yet this lowly servant punk acts like this? I grabbed to drag him aside, fury boiling.
"S-sir! You can't!"
Takji held me back.
"Even from the countryside, you know Lord Kim Jong-seo!"
"Yeah."
"Then why?!"
"This punk cut first."
"Still can't! He's Lord Kim Jong-seo's servant!"
"Ahem! Not just servant—loyal servant!"
Takji's fuss emboldened the punk, who puffed his chest proudly.
"Defying me is defying Lord Kim Jong-seo! Hmph!"
"Ha! Bullshit!"
"What?"
"You crazy fuck. Serving him doesn't make you him. Does serving the king make you king? What kind of logic is that?"
"H-hey! Insolent!"
He raised his voice in panic at my unyielding stance, then pulled his "killer move."
"It's Lord Kim Jong-seo's order! He commanded me to buy three cloud candies!"
"Did he order cutting in too?"
"What?"
"Did Lord Kim Jong-seo order you to treat His Majesty's subjects like idiots and cut the line?"
"N-no, that's not...!"
Dragging the king into it turned his face pale. I had the upper hand now, so I played my last card.
"Fine. Show me the order."
"Wh-what...?!"
"You said it's an order. Documents exist for that. Did Lord Kim Jong-seo write one saying buy three cloud candies even if cutting the line? No paper?"
"N-no...!"
"Dude, you joking? Even the king issues edicts for commands. Is Lord Kim Jong-seo above him? No document, ignoring folks' convenience, cutting line for candy? Really?"
"...!"
He looked ready to cry. Whether Kim Jong-seo actually ordered it or not, this was enough. I pointed to the end of the line.
"Whatever. Go stand there and buy. Then it's not my problem. Got it?"
"Y-yeah. Got it."
"Don't drop honorifics, fuck."
"S-sorry!"
"Hey! Where you going! Line up!"
I just raised a fist, but the punk bolted in terror.
"Here! Three cloud candies!"
Perfect timing—the vendor handed over three. Huh?
"Why are these so huge? Too big."
Ours were adult-man-head-sized; others were baby-sized. The vendor bowed unapologetically.
"Aigoo! Sorry! Our skills are rough! Forgive us, folks!"
Other customers behind us nodded.
"It's fine! No issue!"
"What can ya do? Take it!"
"Hurry! Our legs hurt!"
With them saying that, no choice. I handed one to Eori, one to Takji.
"Heehee! Thank you!"
"H-huh? Y-you're giving me one too?"
"We eat, you starve? Now believe I'm the Tiger-slaying Boy?"
Takji stared up, baffled, holding a cloud candy bigger than his head. Then he grinned slyly.
"Buy me castella, and I will."
"Ugh, fine. Deal. Believe then."
I roughly ruffled his hair and left the stall, ignoring the murmuring crowd.
What? Did the Tiger-slaying Boy just diss Lord Kim Jong-seo's house? Gotta report—wait, no, make contact first. Brothers said just watch, but this is a chance. Make an impression on them. You can do it...!