Farewell Hanyang, Homeward Bound
"Eori! Unload the luggage! Let's find another carriage!"
Just as we were finishing our preparations to depart, news of the abdication arrived. The king was stepping down, and the crown prince was ascending the throne.
In Confucian Joseon, you couldn't just accept the throne outright when the king offered it. For several days, you'd have to beg in sackcloth and ashes to be relieved of the burden, and even after accepting, the enthronement ceremony would take a month or two.
The crown prince, that crazy bastard. Telling me to stick around Hanyang for another month? If that were the case, I'd have taken the Mugwa exam here too, and our wedding—and our wedding night—would've been delayed just as long.
...But in the original history, the Mugwa is held in Hanyang anyway.
Either way, we had no reason or leisure to wait until the coronation day. As soon as we were packed, we left Hanyang.
"Ma, ma'am. We'll do it."
"Me, me and sister will handle it..."
Geum-ok and Eun-ok, who had decided to come with us.
"Hee hee. It's fine."
Eori, dressed in male attire, shook her head as she unloaded the luggage from the horse onto the carriage.
"It's not as heavy as it looks."
"B-but that's our job."
"It's, it's our job..."
Even after refusing twice, the sisters wouldn't back down easily. In the end, Eori gestured toward the inside of the carriage as if she had no choice.
"Then go in there and receive the luggage, okay?"
"Yes! Ma'am!"
"We'll do it! Ma'am!"
"Hold on. I'll lift you up."
The cargo hold was lower than the driver's seat, but it might still be too high for Geum-ok and Eun-ok. Eori lifted each sister one by one and placed them in the cargo hold.
"There. Now receive the luggage."
"Yes! Ma'am!"
"We'll work hard!"
Geum-ok and Eun-ok's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm for the labor. Eori watched them fondly before moving the rest of the luggage.
"What? Last time from Geomunpo to Hanyang, it was 30 nyang."
"That was then, sir. Prices in Hanyang have skyrocketed, so 50 nyang is even a bargain compared to elsewhere."
"Prices—you mean like the Han River banks? How do they double in a month? The country would go bankrupt."
The country wouldn't just sit idly by. I was busy haggling with the coachman who would take us to Geomunpo.
"Fine! Got it! Then 40 nyang! How about 40 nyang? That's rock bottom! Rock bottom!"
"Still too expensive..."
"At 40 nyang, we can't even cover the feed for the horses."
"Sigh, alright. Deal. Horses need feeding, after all."
"Hee hee hee. I'll get you there safe and fast—"
"Eori! Unload! Let's find another carriage!"
"Sir?!"
"Thanks for your time. Eori! Just unload! They won't take us!"
"W-wait! Uh! 38 nyang! 38 nyang, how's that?!"
This bastard. Me, who sniffed out the first Ponzi scheme?
"Sir? Are you really unloading?"
Eori, in the middle of moving luggage, asked with a flustered face. Geum-ok and Eun-ok peeked out from the cargo hold, staring at me.
"Hmm..."
I met their gazes but deliberately delayed my answer. It worked like a charm.
"35 nyang! 35 nyang isn't bad either!"
"Deal! 35 nyang! Eori! Load it up!"
Not half, but I'd knocked off a third. Victory for me.
"Urgh! Thought I had a sucker!"
This guy? I paid 5 nyang more than last time coming here! Leaving the resentful coachman—who didn't even appreciate it—behind, I approached Eori.
"Eori. Heavy? Sorry. Haggling took longer than expected."
"Hee hee. No, sir. He was trying to rip us off, wasn't he?"
"Still. Sorry for making you work."
"It's truly fine. You know I'm strong."
"Yeah. And I know our Eori's pretty too."
"Aang, sir."
Eori pouted shyly, telling me not to say that. Naturally, even that was cute, so I gazed at her fondly.
...Ah.
That's when I suddenly realized Takji wasn't there. The one who'd grimace in disgust whenever we shared sweet moments.
"That punk. Told him to come along."
Like with Geum-ok and Eun-ok, I'd half-jokingly invited Takji to join us. But he'd flatly refused.
"If I go with you lot, I'd have to watch that all the time. Don't wanna see it."
Cheeky bastard. After all I'd bought him in Hanyang. I'd get him back next time I was in the capital, I thought, as I loaded the luggage.
All that was left was to tie the horses to the back of the carriage.
The horse borrowed from Kim Jin-sa. Father-in-law's wedding gift, Darong. And the new one bought in Hanyang, Chorong.
I hadn't planned to buy more horses originally. But with the luggage piling up, no choice.
Gifts from people, souvenirs from here and there, clothes from the crown princess, celadon from the crown prince, errands from villagers, and more.
Two horses couldn't handle the weight. In the end, we had to buy Chorong.
"Whew! At this rate, the horses'll bolt!"
Still sore about missing the sucker, but he did his job. Once the coachman helped tie the horses, we were ready to go.
"Alright, departing! Should arrive before 2 if no issues!"
The coachman shouted as he climbed into the driver's seat. We, already in the cargo hold, slowly pulled away from Hanyang.
"Wowww...!"
"Waaah...!"
Geum-ok and Eun-ok acted like it was their first time in a carriage. They leaned out over the edge, taking in the scenery.
"Hee hee."
Eori, sitting beside me, watched them with a fond smile. As if she hadn't done the exact same.
"Girls. Dangerous. You might fall."
Falling from a moving carriage was risky enough, and our horses were following behind. It wouldn't end with just bruises!
"Kyaa!"
"I said it's dangerous!"
Geum-ok lost her balance and nearly tumbled from the carriage. If I hadn't grabbed her hand, she really would've fallen.
"Be careful. Told you it's dangerous."
"Y-yes. Ma'am. I'll be careful...!"
Geum-ok, thoroughly startled, blushed deeply in embarrassment.
"If you wanna look, sit here."
Not ignoring their excitement, I sat them at the outermost edge of the cargo hold. I held their hands to prevent any falls.
"...!"
Geum-ok quieted down considerably. Probably spooked from nearly falling once.
"Sir?"
Then Eori called me. Her voice sounded oddly hollow, unlike usual.
"Y-yeah?"
I turned to her, shoulders tense. Eori, right beside me, stared with her pitch-black eyes.
"Once we get home, you'll hold the wedding right away, sir?"
"Y-yeah. Of course. We got the royal decree for it. What's wrong?"
"Hmm..."
Eori tilted her head, gazing at my hand clasped with Geum-ok's. Seemed like that was bothering her.
"No, it's dangerous. What if she falls again?"
"I'll do it."
"You hold Eun-ok's hand instead. She might fall too."
"No. I'll hold Geum-ok's."
"Uh, fine. Okay."
Jealous over a 13-year-old kid? In the end, I moved to the opposite seat and held Eun-ok's hand.
Eun-ok, who was turning 10 this year, was excitedly peering outside.
"Wowww! Hee hee hee!"
"Eun-ok. Fun?"
"Eh? Y-yes, ma'am. So fun..."
Too excited to even notice I'd grabbed her hand. Eun-ok's bright smile froze in tension.
Fearing a misunderstanding, I quickly explained.
"Might fall. Holding so you don't. If you don't like, I'll hold your sleeve."
"N-no...! Hold my hand...!"
"Okay? Wow, Eun-ok. Those flowers over there are blooming so pretty."
No wonder they're sisters—Eun-ok blushed and tensed up just like her sister. It somehow reminded me of young Eori.
"..."
Eori's gaze on me now resembled a murderer's.
"Sir. I'll just hold both."
"No, that'd be uncomfortable."
"It's fine. Like this. Excuse me."
Eori scooted over to my side, sat Eun-ok on her lap in a hug, and took Geum-ok's hand, keeping her word.
"Sir, relax."
"Uh, yeah. Okay."
I returned to my original seat, sitting a bit apart from Geum-ok. Only then did Eori's hollow gaze soften a little.
"I'll lie down a bit. Call if something happens."
I went to the innermost part of the cargo hold and lay down. Couldn't stretch my legs fully with Geum-ok at the edge, but otherwise, it was decent.
Finally heading home.
Home, then wedding with Eori.
No—first, deliver the royal decree to Kim Jin-sa.
When Kim Jin-sa heard I was marrying Eori, he'd bellowed that he'd never allow it, not even over his dead body.
Now, refusing would mean his dead body. Defying a royal decree.
I could already imagine his face. Especially the moment he'd kneel and bow to me reading the decree. So looking forward to it.
"Hee hee hee."
"Ma'am?"
"Don't mind him. He does that sometimes."
Geum-ok and Eori said something, but I didn't catch it clearly.
Anyway, even after arriving home, plenty to do besides the wedding. Prepare for Mugwa academy entrance, go to Jeonju for the exam if time, follow King Sejong's secret orders once enrolled.
Myeonsinrye migyo. What the hell was it that even King Sejong issued a secret command for it?
What could it be?
Even as I pondered, the carriage rattled toward Geomunpo.
