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5. The Wish-Granting Lantern

Hwi gazed down at the child, who sat huddled on the ground like a small chestnut. He had traveled here to visit his maternal grandfather, who had intentionally retired from the royal court to this remote countryside. Knowing that the eyes of the court were fixed on him, Hwi had moved in secret, accompanied only by a single guard.

He had pleaded with his grandfather to return to the capital, but the old man only smiled and changed the subject.

“You’ve come at a good time. Once the sun sets, the ‘Falling Fire’ festival will begin at Kkot-nae. It is a rare sight, so enjoy it before you leave. Only then will your journey here feel worthwhile.”

Though he felt a bit dejected, Hwi followed his grandfather’s advice. The streets were more crowded than expected. Sensing something strange, he checked his sleeve—his pouch was gone. He suspected the child who had brushed past him moments ago. He had chased and caught the culprit, only to find this child, sobbing and wiping away tears.

Feeling guilty for accusing an innocent child of theft, Hwi spoke up.

“Were you on your way to see the festival?”

Ga-heun nodded while wiping her eyes.

“I was headed there as well. Come with me.”

“It’s no use.”

“Has the festival already ended?”

Ga-heun shook her head.

“Then why is it no use?”

“I wanted to fly a sky lantern more than see the fireworks… but I lost my money pouch, so it’s no use now.”

“A sky lantern?”

“Yes,” Ga-heun replied, looking up. “When the fireworks end, you write a wish on a lantern and send it into the sky.”

“A wish?”

“Yes. I’ve never seen my father since he was sent away for military duty. I wanted to pray for his quick return, but… sigh.”

Hwi realized this child was deeper than she appeared. Her devotion to her sewing mother and her worry for her soldier father were admirable. Her heart was too beautiful to ignore, so Hwi reflexively reached out his hand.

“Come with me.”

“What?”

“I will buy the sky lantern for you.”

Ga-heun’s eyes sparkled. “But Young Master, weren’t you pickpocketed as well?”

“That is true.”

“Then what money will you use to buy it?”

Her face fell instantly.

“What the thief stole was not my money pouch, but something else.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I am a young master from a house wealthy enough to wear these expensive clothes. I have plenty of money, so let’s go. I’ll pay for the lantern to make up for my mistake in doubting you.”

Ga-heun smiled brightly and took Hwi’s hand. Fearing he might lose the small child in the chaotic crowd, Hwi gripped her tiny hand tightly and headed toward the river.

Ga-heun held the brush and carefully wrote her wish on the lantern, character by character.

[Please send my father home.]

“You know how to read and write the script?”

“My mother taught me.”

Hwi’s eyebrows shot up. It was unexpected that a mother struggling to make ends meet through sewing would think to teach her daughter literacy. Ga-heun handed the brush to Hwi.

“You write a wish too, Young Master.”

“A wish?”

“Yes, a wish.”

Though he doubted writing it would make it come true, the child was deadly serious. Fearing she would be disappointed if he refused, Hwi took the brush. After a moment of thought, he carefully wrote the three characters of his maternal grandfather’s name.

“Who is that?”

“You know Hanja (Chinese characters) as well?”

“I haven’t finished the Thousand Character Classic, but I know those characters are a person’s name.”

The little “chestnut” was remarkably clever.

“He is the one who will protect my parents and me.”

“He must be a very powerful person.”

Actually, it was the opposite. His grandfather had lowered himself further and further, fearing his influence might harm his son-in-law, daughter, and grandson. Seeing Hwi fall silent, Ga-heun spoke up cautiously.

“I hope his power grows even stronger. That way, he can protect you even more securely, can’t he?”

That was exactly what Hwi desired. This child, whom he had met only today, had seen through to the real wish he hadn’t even recognized himself when he wrote the name. Hwi stared at the beaming child.

“Shall we let it go now?”

“Let’s.”

They faced each other, holding the corners of the lantern.

“You have to pray earnestly in your heart. Very, very earnestly.”

“I understand.”

Ga-heun closed her eyes tight and prayed. Not wanting to spoil the moment, Hwi also closed his eyes and prayed with all his heart.

“One, two, three.”

As they released their hands simultaneously, the lantern rose slowly into the sky. The child clasped her hands together as she watched it. Hwi prayed along with her—hoping the heavens would grant this child’s wish so she could finally meet her father. He also watched the lantern rise, hoping his own wish would be fulfilled.

As they watched the lanterns for a while, Hwi noticed one that failed to rise and fell to the ground. Standing next to it were two children, likely siblings. The girl was weeping, wiping tears with her sleeve. Ga-heun hurried over to her.

“Why are you crying?”

“My lantern… it won’t go up. It just falls to the ground.”

“It’s because you’re greedy!” her older brother shouted. It was clear he was only snapping because he was upset for her.

“I am not!”

“You are! It’s because your wish is too big.”

As the siblings continued to bicker, Ga-heun stepped between them.

“What did you wish for?”

“I prayed that no one in our family gets sick. And that we don’t go hungry every meal.”

“See? It’s because you prayed for all nine members of the family!”

“Then should I only pray for myself to eat well? Could you do that, Brother? Could you pray to be the only one who lives well?”

The boy fell silent. After a moment, his ears turned red as he muttered, “I… I also prayed for our whole family to live well.”

In the end, the siblings shared the same heart. Hwi was about to buy them a new lantern when Ga-heun spoke.

“It’s not because of greed. it’s because it’s heavy.”

“What?”

“The heart that thinks of family is big and heavy. Devotion to parents and love for siblings are never ‘light’ feelings.”

Hwi’s eyebrows arched in surprise at her words.

“If it cannot float in the sky…”

Ga-heun suddenly tore the lantern paper. The boy’s face turned red with anger.

“What are you doing?! You ruined it!”

“Pay us back!”

The siblings, who had been fighting just a moment ago, now united against Ga-heun. But Ga-heun calmly continued tearing the paper.

“I have a good idea, so just wait.”

She wasn’t just tearing it randomly. With her small hands, she shredded the paper into strips and began folding them into shapes. She wove them together around the center. Gradually, it began to look like a flower.

“There. All done.”

“Wow! It’s beautiful. It looks like a lotus lantern.”

“But this can’t fly in the sky.”

“We can float it on the river.”

It was a brilliant idea.

“Won’t the wish arrive late then?”

“The Dragon King of the river will recognize the heart put into this and make sure it comes true.”

The siblings’ faces brightened instantly. They relit the candle and went to the riverbank to set the flower lantern afloat. Fortunately, it didn’t sink and drifted slowly with the current. The children stood side by side, hands clasped in prayer.

The sight felt as though it was being etched not just into Hwi’s eyes, but into his heart.

‘A heavy heart… that sounds about right.’

He wished for all the people to eat their fill and for an era of great peace to arrive. To achieve that…

‘The King’s tyranny must end.’

Hwi watched the lantern bobbing away, carrying his own heaviest wish. Like the children praying with innocent faces, Hwi also prayed desperately.

After finishing their prayers, they walked back until they reached a fork in the road.

“I have to go this way,” Ga-heun said.

“It is late. Can you go alone?”

“I walk this path all the time. I see some people I know, so I’ll be fine.”

Seeing several people passing by nodding to her, it seemed she was telling the truth.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t asked your name. If you tell me, I will be sure to pay you back for the lantern later.”

“The price of the lantern was the cost of my doubting an innocent child. You don’t need to pay me back. My name is…”

Even though she was a country child who wouldn’t recognize his status, he couldn’t simply give away the name of a royal prince.

“Call me the ‘Lantern Young Master.’ And your name?”

“I won’t tell you either.”

“Fine. I’ll just call you ‘Chestnut’ then.”

“No!”

Her shouting was so cute that Hwi wanted to tease her even more.

“Chestnut.”

“Ugh! It’s bad enough my friends tease me, but now you too? I hate it, I really do!”

Ga-heun stomped her feet. Hwi, who hadn’t realized “Chestnut” actually was her nickname, laughed even louder. But seeing her eyes turn sharp and her feet stomping, he couldn’t tease her anymore.

“Alright. I won’t call you that.”

“Lantern Young Master, you are mean one moment and kind the next. You’re a very confusing person.”

“You figured it out quickly. Everyone says that about me.”

Her sharp eyes narrowed. “How can a person be so fickle, moving between mean and kind?”