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After a long trip leaving Pilju Hall, Jeok-yeon and Biseol rested next to a tree as snow fell. The dim sky seemed to weep with frosted tears. Decades passed, and the 4th Prince transitioned into womanhood. The unforgiving cold could hide her growing pains, but summer would reveal the changes. While reminiscing about her childhood with her mother, a sudden thought occurred to her.
"Biseol, do you want to have a snowball fight with me?" asked Jeok-yeon.
She grabbed a handful of snow and formed it into a ball. When he saw the snowball in his master's hand, Biseol felt uneasy.
"Um... is that what children play during wint-?"
"Yes!"
Before he could finish, a snowball landed on his face, hurtling from Jeok-yeon's direction. When she saw it catch him unprepared and smack him good, she started worrying whether Biseol was aware of how a typical human child would react to such teasing.
"Oh, no, your pretty face!" exclaimed Joek-yeon.
Biseol turned red, unable to hide his embarrassment at her casual remarks about his face. He couldn't help but wonder: What makes it pretty in the eyes of a human?
He made a snowball and threw it back without looking in her direction. He wouldn't allow her to see how her words affected him. The snowball landed on her bosom, and a loud cry escaped from his master.
"Owwww! My chest!"
"Forgive me, master! I wasn't looki-!" cried Biseol in remorse. As he approached his master, he could have sworn he saw her smirk.
"I was joking!" interjected Jeok-yeon, "Here!"
Several snowballs landed on his head like a hailstorm. It covered the lower half of his body as well as his slick hair. He didn't mind the freezing cold, though.
"Hahaha! You look like a winter tree now!" Jeok-yeon continued teasing.
Winter tree? Biseol recalled something from their trip to a nearby village last year.
"Speaking of winter... I heard about this tradition where nearby villagers gift each other when midnight comes on the 25th of this month."
This time, he saw a genuine smile from his master.
"Oh, is that so? You're learning to live like a villager now, Biseol. Here, have a present. I bought it while we were visiting that village."
Biseol was speechless while Jeok-yeon offered a box the size of his palm. He couldn't believe his master was thoughtful enough to give him a present, let alone carry it with her for a year now. Moreover, he, too, had something in return.
"Master, I also bought one for you. Will you open it when we arrive at the palace?" Biseol asked shyly. He couldn't explain why he felt that way. Was it because he was afraid of rejection? Would his master like it?
"Gladly! But let's visit another village first. I heard their chocolate is the best in the Empire of Yeol. Let's take a break before we return to the palace," said his master.
---
It was already midnight of Mid-winter. They were now facing a fireplace while Jeok-yeon was drinking a cup of chocolate.
"Ah, the scent of hot chocolate gives me warmth. Biseol, are you having fun today? People are celebrating at this hour."
In front of her, Biseol was staring at the wisp of heat escaping from his master's mouth. It took him a minute to realize she was asking him a question.
"Yes, master. Although I don't understand why they have to exchange presents once a year because of this one person," replied Biseol thoughtfully.
Jeok-yeon chuckled in amusement. She picked up the present that she put under the tree.
"Why don't you open your present now?"
"As you wish."
Biseol opened a box that revealed a black ponytail with a plum flower in it. He could stare at it for hours, mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the first gift given by his master.
"Do you like it? I'll put it in your hair," inquired his master with a twinkle in her eyes.
Put it in my hair? Biseol couldn't erase from his memory the last time someone touched his hair. The villagers who put him in shackles were terrified of touching his bare skin, so they grabbed his hair to prevent him from escaping.
"...Thank you, Master."
A moment later, Jeok-yeon braided his hair with the gift. Surprisingly, her hands were light and had a calming effect. "You have soft silky hair, Biseol. I'm sure the girls will fall in line just to touch them."
Again, Biseol was blushing.
"But Master..."
...aren't you a girl, too?
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