I’m quite pleased with my reflection in this year’s fortune mirror.
To welcome the New Year, I’ve cut my black hair short, and it now flutters around my neck. My eyes, which seem purple or navy blue up close but appear simply black from afar, are clearly reflected in the mirror.
I’ve chosen to wear my most neat and expensive clothes today. It’s a winter suit made of wool handwoven by a master craftsman, thick yet not cumbersome.
It’s the perfect fit for a successful entrepreneur like me!
“Master Danju?”
Grandpa calls out to me with a hint of reluctance in his voice. I turn away from the mirror to look at him.
“Yes? What is it?”
“You seem so excited just to go see your fortune…”
“Just my fortune? Don’t jinx it with such talk.”
I might sound superstitious, but I don’t believe in omens. There’s just one exception: the fortune drawn from the fortune-teller’s basket on New Year’s. And so far, it’s been spot on.
Humming a tune, I straighten my clothes. From the age of twenty-two to twenty-six, I’ve only drawn the best fortunes. I’m confident this year, at twenty-seven, will be no different.
“Shall we head out?”
“Are you dragging this old man along again?”
“Would you rather I go alone?”
I feign surprise, widening my eyes, and Grandpa sighs as if he’s annoyed. But in truth, he enjoys these outings with his granddaughter, even if he pretends otherwise.
“You should consider hiring a maid.”
“That’s not my style.”
“But you are a noble…”
“Ah, who sees me as a noble!”
I feign annoyance, and Grandpa’s grumbling subsides. Ah, that’s refreshing.
I understand where Grandpa is coming from. I became a full-fledged noble at twenty-two, but I’ve never taken on a maid or a knight. Now that I’m twenty-seven, he must feel it’s a pity.
However, I have no intention of hiring a maid or a knight anytime soon. There are plenty of people already working for me. I don’t need a cultured, high-nosed noble-born maid or a handsome knight.
“Let’s get going.”
Pretending not to notice, I put on my coat and start walking. Grandpa follows, grumbling all the while. Ah, isn’t this much better?
“Wow, Grandma has really moved up in the world.”
As soon as I enter the fortune-teller’s place, I can’t help but be impressed.
When I first came here with my parents at seventeen, it was nothing more than a shabby tent. Now, it’s transformed into a mobile shop, complete with a horse to pull it.
The interior has expanded and become much cleaner. Focused on mobility, it’s neither incredibly sturdy nor flashy, but it’s well-maintained, which lifts my spirits.
In fact, this mobile shop is my gift. It’s not that Grandma’s fortunes have made me lucky, but I still feel grateful.
Bent with age, Grandma greets me with a wrinkled smile.
“Welcome, Count.”
“Oh, please, not ‘Count.’”
I wave off the formality and take a seat.
A luxurious silk cloth covers the wooden table between Grandma and me. Of course, that’s also my gift!
I rest my arms on the soft silk and prop my chin, looking at Grandma, who smiles back kindly, just like my real grandmother.
“So, will it be fortune cookies again this year?”
“Yes. I have a really good feeling today.”
Grandma offers me a basket filled with individually wrapped cookies, rustling against each other. Ah, that sound of paper. It’s like the sound of good fortune coming my way.
I rummage through the basket a few times before selecting one.
Unwrapping the paper, I snap the fortune cookie in half. A small, rolled-up note falls out from the empty space inside.
The note rolls across the silk-covered table, my success or failure for the year at stake. I swallow nervously and gently pick up the note with my thumb and forefinger.
Oh, it has to be something good.
I unroll the note and squint at the letters. My heart pounds wildly as the words come into focus.
[This year, there will be nothing you desire that you cannot have. Crops will overflow, and a bountiful autumn seems to stretch on endlessly.]
“Wow!”
I let out a cry of joy without realizing it, clenching the note in my fist and punching the air. I pop the cookie into my mouth and chew with delight, savoring my happiness.
I told Grandpa I’d get a good fortune, but sitting here, I was actually nervous. But, as always, my intuition was right.
I’m going to have the best time this year. Ah, I’m so happy!
Grandma doesn’t even blink at my excitement, just smiles. I pull out a pouch full of bronze coins from my pocket and place it on the table with a clink.
The sound of metal is enchantingly clear.
“Thank you, Grandma.”
“Fortune is what you make of it.”
Even as she says this, Grandma sneakily pockets the pouch. Seeing that, I can’t help but smile. Maybe it’s because I’m in such a good mood, but Grandma fiddling with the pouch looks incredibly cute.
“I’ll come again next year!”
I say cheerfully and stand up. I need to go outside and show Grandpa the note, brag about it!
Then, I notice another basket near the entrance, filled with folded notes.
Noticing where I’m looking, Grandma explains from behind me.
“It’s something new, just for fun. You can try one if you like. It’s on the house.”
“Really? What is it?”
A sign next to the small table with the basket reads:
[The Trickster God’s Blessing or Curse
Test your fortune. Half the notes are blessings, half are curses! (Effects last for 1 year)
Types of blessings: Eating late-night snacks without harming your health / Having a good bowel movement every morning / Seeing people’s original hair color even if dyed / And more
Types of curses: A 50% chance of failing to choose the right menu item at restaurants / Public restrooms you visit are likely to be dirty / Suddenly getting cold water while showering / And more]
I laugh at the absurdity. A blessing that lets you eat late-night snacks without health consequences? Tempting.
“Should I draw one?”
“Yes.”
Grandma is busy with something else and doesn’t really look my way.
Since it’s unlikely to be a real blessing or curse, I pick the top note. Then, without checking it, I head outside. Grandpa is waiting for me next to the carriage.
I wave the note as I climb into the carriage. Grandpa quickly sits next to me and closes the door. The carriage starts with a jolt, heading back to the mansion.
“Grandpa, look at this? It’s some sort of blessing and curse note, and Grandma gave me one for free.”
“Is that so?”
Grandpa glances at the note indifferently and loses interest. He doesn’t even ask about my fortune for the year.
“Why’s that?”
“Aren’t you a bit too obsessed with fortunes?”
“I know what you’re worried about, but I don’t believe in them that much.”
Anyway, he worries too much.
I hum a tune and unfold the note. Since my fortune is already good, it would be nice if something fun came out.
I carefully unfold the note, which was meticulously pressed at the corners, and check the content.
[Be kind! From now on, the last word is yours.]
…Huh?