Chapter 128
“Happy birthday, Miss. I made this myself.”
“Wow, it’s so pretty. Thank you!”
Okhee handed me a winter hanbok that she’d spent months sewing by hand every night. It was a pink jeogori (upper garment of hanbok, traditional Korean attire) and a blue chima (skirt) made from precious silk.
Various kinds of flowers she’d embroidered herself were beautifully in bloom along the sleeve ends and the ribbons.
She also gave me a jobawi (traditional silk winter cap with earflaps) that her husband had bought, saying it would look good on me.
Next, Jin also presented a norigae (traditional decorative pendant) wrapped in a fine silk cloth.
“Congratulations.”
“It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
It was a cute norigae of jade-green thread with a jade bead hanging from it.
Jin smiled, which was rare, as he saw my bright, beaming face. Now that I thought about it, the norigae was a color similar to his own hair.
Then I held out my palm to Feyden. Feyden, grumbling as always, plopped the gift he’d been keeping tightly hidden behind his back into my hand.
“Was I supposed to leave your present with someone?”
“Huh?”
Seeing his gift, I involuntarily let out a strange sound.
What is this.
“I liked it, so I bought it.”
He said it in a tone like, “I just happened to pick it up.” I knew I should say thank you, but my lips wouldn’t move, so I hesitated to express my thanks.
“Don’t you like it? What’s with that face?”
“It’s a silver dagger… Only someone who uses swords would give something like this. You don’t actually mean for me to use it on someone, do you…?”
Did he know that a silver dagger could also serve as an accessory like a norigae? I asked just in case, but, as expected, Feyden’s answer was obvious.
“What else? You think it’s for peeling fruit or something? It’s a dagger.”
“…Right. Thank you.”
Hoping I’d never have any reason to use the little silver dagger on a person, I held everyone’s gifts close to my chest.
“Thank you all so, so much for celebrating my birthday!”
Pressed by Okhee, who urged me to hurry and get changed, I put on the hanbok, attached the norigae and the silver dagger, tied a ribbon in my braided hair, and stood before everyone.
“How do I look?”
Since there wasn’t a full-length mirror, I spun around in front of everyone for them to see.
Okhee was delighted, saying it fit me perfectly, and Jin also quietly said in his low voice that it suited me well.
“What about you, Feyden?”
Excited by everyone’s compliments, I turned to Feyden, but for some reason, he didn’t answer.
Was he disappointed because the silver dagger he gave me wasn’t clearly visible? Should I hang it over the ribbon?
“You look as lovely as a bride.”
As I was wondering to myself, I saw Feyden’s face suddenly flush crimson.
“Miss, you could get married right now.”
Once more, I spun around in front of Feyden and asked what he thought. Okhee, still gushing over my outfit, pounded her chest with emotion. She kept glancing blatantly at Jin.
“Oh dear. Why did I only have one son? At this rate, our family line will die out.”
I gave up on getting an answer from Feyden and patted Okhee on the shoulder. She’d been talking about marriage for two years now.
Jin, whose age of twenty-two was considered far too late for marriage by Dongguk’s standards, hadn’t even dated, let alone shown any interest in women. No wonder Okhee, who had only one child, was so worried.
Suddenly fearful that Jin might truly never get married, Okhee one day spoke as if the problem lay with me.
She insisted the only reason Jin never even thought about marriage was because he liked me.
Because of that far-fetched logic, Okhee never missed a chance to subtly pair Jin and me together, always making every effort.
“Hm? If I could see a grandchild who looked just like Miss, I’d have no regrets left…”
“Aww, ma’am, I told you I have no plans to get married! And if you have something to say, you should tell Jin, not me!”
“Stubborn as an ox! If you’d listened to me, you would have already. You have no intention of granting your old mother’s only wish.”
And so, with Okhee’s sighing complaints, my birthday gift ceremony ended in a muddled fashion. Claiming a headache, Okhee went off to lie down in the warm room with Nari.
Looking embarrassed, Jin came over to me and bowed his head, apologizing on his mother’s behalf.
“It’s really fine. There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Jin. She only says those things because she’s fond of me.”
Because he looked so sorry, I lightly tapped his forearm and asked playfully,
“But really, am I not much of a bride candidate?”
“…Pardon?”
“You’ve been steadily refusing for over two years now, so I’m starting to feel hurt.”
I exaggeratedly slumped my shoulders, and Jin, clearly flustered, looked around for what to say.
Honestly, teasing him is so much fun. He looks every bit the general, but inside he’s got the heart of a gentle puppy.
Before Jin could get more flustered and sincerely start apologizing, I quickly changed the subject, saying it was a joke.
“I was kidding. I tease you every time, but why do you always fall for it, Jin?”
When I laughed, Jin’s tense shoulders finally relaxed.
“Ah…”
“Sorry for teasing you.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s not that I don’t think you’re not fit to be a bride or anything, Estira…”
“I know, I know. I know Jin’s not interested in me.”
As he was busily trying to explain, he suddenly closed his mouth. His wandering green eyes met mine directly.
“…Hm?”
Faced with that serious gaze, I was the one about to get flustered.
“I’m… not uninterested.”
Jin’s deep voice filled the air around us.
“…What?”
As his unwavering eyes looked straight into mine, the playful smile faded from my lips. Sometimes, Jin would catch people off guard with words like that, stirring their hearts.
What was I supposed to say?
While I was swallowing dryly, caught off-guard by his sudden confession, a strong arm wrapped around my shoulder, pulling me into an embrace.
It was Feyden.
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