Despite its heavy weight, the carriage picked up speed with surprising agility. It wasn't just my excited heart playing tricks on me. Unlike our journey north against the wind, this time a northerly wind was pushing the carriage from behind.
The horses, with the cold wind at their backs, seemed less tired, running hard without any breaks. Though we had started a bit late due to visiting the grave, we arrived at the inn about an hour earlier than before. As winter deepened, the sun set early, and the twilight was already painting the sky red.
After gathering for a meal, everyone went up to their rooms to rest. Being an inn in a small village, there were no detached houses. The guest rooms, furnished only with a bed and a table, were small and stark.
Of course, Tang Hye-seo and I didn't need much space. As we spent a dream-like, sweet time under one blanket, I was suddenly reminded of my days wandering as a swordsman. Even on gloomy days when I didn't want to go out, I often had to work in the snow and rain.
At times like that, the middle-aged wandering swordsmen would grumble, "On a day like this, I should just be in a warm blanket, patting my wife's behind." Now, I thought I finally understood what that felt like. Tang Hye-seo seemed to feel something similar from my chest and back.