Chapter 14. The Lowest and Noblest One (4)
The long night finally passed, and morning dawned over Buwan Port.
Amid the lively bustle of the harbor, the sharp scent of the sea rushed straight into their noses.
The priests of Beopsindang and Cheongyeon walked along the rows of stalls lining the harbor.
Their steps felt as light as their comfortable clothes.
After spending every day in the same routine inside Beopsindang, this little trip to Buwan Port almost felt like a picnic.
Seongha personally held a parasol for noblewomen over Cheongyeon.
But his efforts kept going to waste because Cheongyeon would constantly wander out from beneath the parasol and beam happily under the sunlight.
She would run far ahead, then whenever she discovered something interesting at one of the stalls, she would hurry back to Seongha's side.
Sometimes she matched her steps with his, and sometimes she tugged at his sleeve to pull him along.
Seongha appeared indifferent, but his attention never left her.
Contrary to what Seongha had initially worried about, Cheongyeon quickly learned and understood almost anything.
It was thanks to her curious and flexible personality.
Now, rather than someone who had descended from the heavens, she sometimes looked like an ordinary person of the Hui Kingdom.
“You really mean I can buy anything I want? Really?”
Cheongyeon asked as she lifted a large basket.
She could choose anything she wanted.
There was only one condition.
She could buy only as much as would fit inside the basket.
“Of course. Consider it repayment for the precious tea you treated me to before.”
Seongha nodded, then gestured toward the street lined with stalls.
At first, Cheongyeon seemed unable to believe the freedom she had been given.
She hesitated whenever merchants called out and beckoned her toward their stalls.
But before long, she became completely absorbed in choosing things and paying for them.
“Try guessing how much this should cost.”
Standing behind her with his hands clasped behind his back, Seongha offered advice.
“You should bargain a little more for this one.”
Cheongyeon obediently followed everything Seongha taught her.
She bent her fingers while counting, and at times held objects in both hands while comparing them with a deeply serious expression.
“All right. This time, I'll try it myself.”
Cheongyeon's bright smile had a strange power to open people's hearts.
Even merchants who had initially seemed unfriendly would throw in an extra measure for free.
Some even started talking about recent market prices or complaining about the hardships of their lives.
Whenever they did, Cheongyeon somehow managed to learn ten things from a story that should have taught her only one.
“Priest, they said it's cheaper if I buy five bags at once instead of just one.”
Cheongyeon turned toward Seongha with an awkward smile and held up several bags of seeds.
Her basket was already close to overflowing, so she seemed to be cautiously watching his reaction.
Compared to the amount of money Seongha had with him, the price of the seeds was practically nothing.
Even so, he deliberately put on a stern expression.
“Five bags... I'm afraid the basket is already full. I don't think we can fit anything more.”
By now, Cheongyeon's basket was packed with all sorts of things.
There were bundles of grain to give as snacks to the birds in the rear garden, along with combs and mirrors she intended to give to Nuchin, Jeongyo, and the other maids.
They were simple things, but each one had been chosen with considerable care.
“I suppose there's no helping it this time. It's heavy, so hurry and give it to me.”
Seongha took the basket from Cheongyeon.
Then, trying to hide the smile creeping onto his lips, he covered his mouth with one hand and cleared his throat.
“What are you planning to do with all those flower seeds? At this rate, the entire grounds of Beopsindang will turn into a flower garden.”
“They're not just flowers. They can also be used as medicinal herbs, and you can even cook the leaves as vegetables. Do you think I spent all those years alone in the heavens doing nothing?”
Cheongyeon stayed close beside Seongha as she eagerly explained everything she wanted to do with the things she had bought today.
Seongha's expression was much softer than it usually was inside Beopsindang.
He had always been poor at expressing his feelings.
Perhaps that was why, whenever he was around bright and straightforward people, he could loosen some of the tension he constantly carried.
“Hah, seriously.”
Manwoo chuckled and shook his head.
“Priest Jin, how exactly am I supposed to purchase supplies for the event with such a tiny budget?”
“……”
“I think even the Son family's ancestral rites cost more than this... Even the most infamous miser in the kingdom wouldn't be able to compete with you.”
As the one responsible for Beopsindang's finances, Manwoo was still worrying over the budget for the Sibojeol event even during their outing to Buwan Port.
Then he looked at Seongha with a teasing smile.
“And yet, anything the Heavenly Maiden chooses goes straight into the shopping basket. Isn't this discrimination a little too obvious?”
“Goods purchased by the state and things bought privately with one's own money are completely different. Shouldn't Beopsindang set an example for other government officials by remaining honest and frugal?”
“That's exactly my point. I've spent years living at Beopsindang, but this is the first time I've ever seen Jin Seongha actually spend his own salary.”
“……”
“I thought you were planning to bury all that money somewhere and take it with you as travel expenses for the afterlife.”
Manwoo walked leisurely with his hands behind his back, then gave Seongha a light smack on the back.
“And now you're even buying gifts for a woman.”
At his friend's teasing, Seongha raised his chin and pretended not to hear him.
Manwoo waved his hand as though there was simply no helping him.
“Still, this is the first time you've actually looked like Jin Seongha, eldest son of the great noble Jin family.”
Manwoo wished that Seongha would live comfortably, enjoying the authority and privileges he had been born with just like the children of other noble families.
How nice would it be if the two friends could both marry and start families, then grow old together while playing games of baduk and exchanging cups of alcohol?
Rather than living as a flawless, perfect High Priest, perhaps it would not be such a bad thing for Seongha to relax a little and become more honest with his human emotions.
While thinking such things, Manwoo suddenly found himself standing in front of a stall selling rings.
His gaze wandered helplessly among the dazzling jewelry.
Then he spotted a beautiful jade-colored ring, the kind his older sisters had taken with them as part of their wedding jewelry.
Manwoo hesitated for a long time.
When he imagined Eunseong's delighted face, a small impulse stirred inside him.
He quickly glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then hurriedly paid for the ring.
