Blooming even in the mud - Chapter 99

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Blooming Even in Mud Side Story Chapter 4
 
 
 
The soft, low voice pierced through the darkness and reached Yoo Seo-hwa’s ears.
“I have been there twice before. It was the exact same land, but strangely, when I first set foot on it, it felt no different from any other battlefield, yet the second time was exceedingly difficult.”
“……I want to hear it.”
This time, Gyeong Won-ui did not ask if she was alright. Instead, he stroked her hair and pressed his lips gently against her forehead.
“It is a long story. Since I am not gifted with words, you will find it tedious.”
“This night is long too, and we have many nights left together.”
A faint sound of breathing escaped Gyeong Won-ui’s lips. Yoo Seo-hwa was certain that he must be wearing a small smile.
“Then, where would be a good place to start…….”
Taking the tranquil darkness as their companion, the distant past slowly unraveled from within the thickly coagulated scabs of old wounds. Yoo Seo-hwa closed her eyes, buried in the warmth and heartbeat of her lover, and sank into the spool of ancient memories.
It was truly a long night.
 
* * *
 
They received smooth permission to visit from the Emperor and the Empress, as well as from the imperial prince who had newly been enfeoffed as King Ning.
However, they could not set out immediately. It was because Su-yeon was far too young to embark on such a long journey.
“Should she not at least be able to toddle?”
Toddling. Would the day ever come when this tiny baby, who could not even roll over properly yet, would take her first tottering steps?
Contrary to Yoo Seo-hwa’s worries, which were not really worries at all, Su-yeon grew rapidly. Even without anyone helping her from the side, she rolled herself over with an energetic heave-ho, and before long, she was crawling all over the place.
The moment one took their eyes off her, she would cross the threshold and be in the next room. Yoo Seo-hwa and the Wet Nurse truly could not let their guard down for even a single second.
“Does she not feel any pain in her knees or palms while crawling like that?”
She had even grumbled like that to Gyeong Won-ui out of sheer disbelief. Gyeong Won-ui smiled faintly, kneading and relaxing the child’s palms.
What a bustling child she was; even amidst that, she babbled away, making baby sounds, and flailed her arms and legs.
“Is it not good that she is so full of life?”
“It is a relief that her sleeplessness is improving as she grows, but she is so active that it is almost a worry.”
Before Yoo Seo-hwa’s eyes, the future of her daughter falling while climbing trees, just like her own childhood self, vividly came to mind.
“Uwoong! Babbaaa!”
Had a bug flown past her eyes? Or had she spotted a fluttering speck of dust?
Su-yeon, who had been flailing her short, chubby limbs, struck the face of her father, who was kneading her hand, right on target. It hit with such a sharp smack that it sounded as if he had been slapped across the cheek.
“Su, Su-yeon! You must not do that to your father.”
“What of it? She is a child who does not even know what she is doing yet.”
Yoo Seo-hwa gaped in dismay, but Gyeong Won-ui, utterly charmed regardless, gently kissed the cheek of the daughter who had just slapped him.
While it was lovely to see such an affectionate father and daughter, at the same time, Yoo Seo-hwa grew a bit terrified of how many accidents she would cause once she started toddling.
And finally, the day came when Su-yeon took her first steps.
Objectively speaking, it was a truly bizarre posture. Her short, chubby arms were stretched straight out to the sides, and her wide-spread legs were awkward.
Since standing was an unfamiliar posture, her belly protruded forward while her bottom stuck right out behind her.
Yet, in Yoo Seo-hwa’s eyes, she was the most lovely and adorable thing in the world. The deep emotion she felt a couple of months ago when she first saw the child standing tall on both feet rushed over her once more.
From that day on, she had faced the child, holding her hands, and practiced waddling along with her.
Today was the day Su-yeon stood up straight all on her own, without any help.
“Su-yeon, Mommy is right here.”
As she crouched on the floor and clapped her hands, a broad grin spread across the child’s face. She decided to pretend not to notice the drool trickling down from her lips for a moment.
“Woo, woo!”
“Yes, it’s Mommy, Su-yeon.”
Finally, Su-yeon took her first step. Her stiffly extended leg stomped against the floor with a thud, as if stamping a seal. And then, another step. Then another step right after.
Su-yeon walked forward with earnest, waddling steps across the room, which an adult could have crossed in an instant.
With every step she took, the distance narrowed by a fraction. Yoo Seo-hwa’s joy swelled just as much as the narrowing distance.
Just as she seemed about to fall, she instinctively flailed both arms wildly to find her balance, only to land plop right on her bottom on the very next step.
“Wahhh…….”
Since a thick carpet had been laid out, it could not have hurt, but Su-yeon twitched the bridge of her nose as if she had been startled. Yoo Seo-hwa quickly put on a smiling face and coaxed her, saying it was alright.
“It’s alright, Su-yeon. There’s nothing scary at all. Let’s try it one more time.”
Gaining courage, Su-yeon gripped the wall and pulled her body up again. To think that such a tiny child could stand up on her own without even crying. It was so admirable that it made the bridge of her nose tingle with emotion.
Her worry about the child causing accidents once she started walking had vanished from her mind long ago.
“Our Su-yeon is doing so well. Just a little more.”
Waddle, waddle. One step. Another step. And then, the child’s bright, babbling laughter.
Finally, Su-yeon tumbled right into Yoo Seo-hwa’s open arms.
“Good job, our Su-yeon!”
“Kyahaha!”
Yoo Seo-hwa let out a beaming smile and lifted the child high into the air. Whether it was because her mother was happy or because she was held by her mother, Su-yeon also flailed about in pure delight.
Since Gyeong Won-ui was away for his attendance at court, it was a great pity that he could not witness the child’s very first steps with them. He would have been so happy, considering how exceptionally sweet and proud this moment was.
“Su-yeon, shall we walk one more time for your father when he comes home later?”
“Uwoong!”
Although Su-yeon could not properly understand speech yet, she nodded her head vigorously as if she had understood her words perfectly.
That evening, Su-yeon waddled toward her father once more, bringing a full smile to Gyeong Won-ui’s face as well.
The thrill that this tiny child gave them was so immense and overwhelming.
She had suffered greatly while carrying the child and had a difficult time with labor pains during childbirth, but the joy brought by the child was far greater. Yoo Seo-hwa smiled happily, thinking how fortunate it was that she could bring their child into Gyeong Won-ui’s arms.
 
* * *
 
They had promised to travel to King Ning’s Residence once Su-yeon started walking, but unfortunately, it was the season when the weather turned cold. For the sake of the child’s health, it would be better to wait for the season when the ice melted and the gentle spring breeze blew.
Along with the astonishment of Su-yeon, who was seeing snow properly for the first time, the long winter passed, and spring returned with budding sprouts and fully blooming flowers.
From the Gyeong Clan Residence, carriages heading to the distant north toward King Ning’s Residence departed through the gates.
When she had first thought about visiting King Ning’s Residence herself, Yoo Seo-hwa’s imagination had been like this: since it was a long journey toward the past, they might head there in a somewhat subdued and solemn atmosphere.
However, the reality into which the child had infused herself was different.
“Euwah! Ahwoo, woo!”
Su-yeon, whose speech was just on the verge of breaking through, pushed out sounds with all her might, constantly displaying her curiosity. When she rode the carriage, she glued herself to the window, and when she got off the carriage, she ransacked everything in sight.
She would waddle along with the wind, only to tumble face-first onto the ground by her own momentum. Even so, seeing her jump right back up without crying and bustle about made one wonder whether to call her admirable or a little troublemaker.
Traveling with the child, it was impossible to become gloomy even if one wanted to.
“This child is really…….”
Just now, Su-yeon had made a huge fuss upon seeing a brilliantly blooming spring tree by the roadside, causing them to halt the carriage. The journey, which had already been planned generously because of the child, was slowing down even further.
Although she thought it would be better to arrive at King Ning’s Residence even a day earlier if possible, she could not simply push forward when the child was enjoying herself this much.
Giving Su-yeon a shoulder ride, Gyeong Won-ui let out a chuckle.
“It would have been a disaster if we had not come together with Su-yeon.”
“This child will not even remember traveling right now once she grows just a little older anyway…….”
“You and I can remember it and tell her the stories later, can we not?”
It was an answer typical of Gyeong Won-ui, who was endlessly soft on his own child, but Yoo Seo-hwa could not stop worrying either.
“At this rate, the vacation you fought so hard to get might end in the middle of the journey…….”
It was at that moment. A petal fluttered down and landed softly on the bridge of Yoo Seo-hwa’s nose.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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