Blackwood Manor
November 15th, 1805
Corin’s 16th Birthday
“Sebastian, release your grip!” Corin whined in a teasing tone as he trudged forward with his younger brother on his leg. Sebastian had a proclivity for adhering to his elder brother, particularly on occasions of import, and today was no ordinary day in the Blackwood house. Today marked Corin’s sixteenth year of life, and Sebastian had decided the greatest gift of all was, of course, his own attachment to Corin’s right leg.
“No! I am your gift! See?” Sebastian said, gesturing to a diminutive pink bow which his mother had affixed upon his head. Corin couldn’t help but laugh, and swiftly scooped the toddler from his leg, tickling Sebastian until his face turned a shy rose color.
“I possess a plethora of fine pairs of boots, Sebastian. I hardly require human restraints upon my ankles as well. I would much prefer to celebrate my day with my favorite brother." Corin uttered, a smile overcoming him as he lovingly regarded the pair of vibrant hazel eyes gazing up at him. Sebastian and Corin had been inseparable since Sebastian’s birth. Despite a notable age gap, Corin reveled in having a sibling within the household. Sebastian equally adored his older brother, and if he wasn’t clinging to Corin’s leg, he was often riding his brother’s coattails wherever Corin ventured. “Besides,” Corin said, “Who else would help me craft a cake for the picnic…?” Corin’s smirk broadened as he quickly dropped his brother to his feet and darted toward the kitchen. Both boys went bounding through the expansive dual doors, their laughter resonating within the manor.
The cook, Pierre, was engaged in preparations for the large picnic baskets which were already toppling with stale breads, pastries, fruits, cheeses, and traditional Korean dishes. Seung-Jae, Corin’s father, had procured an assortment of rice cakes, and annually, he meticulously hand-fashioned 만두 (dumplings) and persimmon punch for the boys’ birth days.
“I’ve been waiting for you boys for hours! The firewood is nearly entirely consumed!” Pierre exclaimed, bustling around the now considerably heated hearth.
“We’re ready!” Sebastian said, positioning himself atop a small stool so he could reach the counter. Corin was already fast at work combining the flour and sugar in a large, wooden mixing bowl.
“Let me!” Sebastian whined, reaching for the spoon to stir. Corin smiled and moved behind his little brother to help him stir the large pot. “I wish to add the eggs myself this time!” Sebastian said proudly, reaching toward the neat row of eggs sitting nearby.
“Oh, no,” Corin lurched across him, pulling the eggs out of Sebastian’s reach. “Last time you cracked the eggs you dropped shells in the pastry. I’ll crack them, and you can pour them, alright?” Corin spoke softly as to not perturb his little brother, and he slowly began cracking and passing the eggs so Sebastian could dump them into the mixing bowl. The giddy smile on Sebastian’s face made Corin’s heart soar. The affection Corin held for his brother was unparalleled, and even upon a day of his own commemoration, Corin felt compelled to fulfill Sebastian’s every desire.
“Let me stir on my own!” Sebastian whined, tugging at the bowl. Corin’s grasp faltered, and some of the bowls contents went spilling all over Sebastian’s shirt. Corin burst into laughter, slowly attempting to dust off his brother. Sebastian’s eyes began to fill with tears, and Corin looked down at him with an apologetic smile. Without a second thought, Corin grabbed a handful of the dry mixture and tossed it atop his own head, rendering his hair a resplendent shade of white.
“Look, it’s snowing!” Corin exclaimed, sprinkling the powder around in the air. Sebastian began giggling as well and cast more white powder onto the front of Corin’s apron. Soon the pair were covered head to toe in flour.
“That is enough from you two!” Pierre exclaimed, aghast at the powder-covered scene in front of him. Pierre snatched the bowl and ushered the boys toward the door. “Your father will be here soon anyway. Shoo! Go!” Pierre called, swatting at them with a kitchen cloth.
“Will you call us when it’s risen? We’d like to add some cream!” Corin called, lifting his brother back into his arms. Corin barely had time to finish his sentence before Pierre slammed the kitchen doors in his face. Giggling and sneezing from nostrils filled with assorted cake ingredients, the boys stumbled through the halls.
“Boys!” Corin heard his mom yell from the entryway. They bounded over to their mother whose hands were filled with an array of assorted decorations in hues of green—Corin’s favorite. “What on earth happened to the two of you?” She exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock at the sight of her sons covered in flour.
“Never mind, we don’t have time. Go get cleaned up and help me arrange these in the garden.” She instructed, dispensing ribbons, blankets, and cushions into the boys’ arms. Despite the presence of numerous servants, the Blackwood family was accustomed to orchestrating private, familial affairs on their own.
The boys dropped the supplies in the garden before running up the stairs toward their respective rooms to change and wash up. Marie, sighing from mental strain at the thought of the mess they made for Pierre, made her way to the kitchens to assess the damage and finalize the food preparations.
Seung-Jae eventually arrived home from his trade meeting just in time to finish up his dumplings and help his wife, Marie, finish packing the provisions for the picnic.
“Bonjour, 나의 사랑 (my love).” Seung-Jae said, wrapping his arms around his wife’s waist from behind, his lips tenderly grazing her nape as she sealed the lid of the final basket.
Pierre cleared his throat loudly out of discomfort while putting the finishing touches on the cake Corin and Sebastian had nearly ruined just hours prior.
Seung-Jae straightened, “Ah, Pierre, thank you for your help. You are dismissed. I believe my family and I would like to continue the festivities…in private.” He had barely glanced over at Pierre as he spoke, his eyes fixated upon his wife. Marie smiled and turned to face her husband, the sun’s luminance casting his hair in a radiant glow.
“Hello…” She smirked, leaning in for a kiss. Before their lips could meet, Seung-Jae pressed his finger to her bottom lip.
“As much as I’d prefer this, I believe we have some hungry boys waiting in the garden for us.” He smiled brilliantly down at the woman he loved. It took every ounce of strength to force himself to reach around her and grab the picnic baskets instead of her waist again. “Let’s go celebrate our son.” He said, reaching out his hand for hers as they walked toward the garden together. The fervent affection of the Blackwood couple was no secret to those around them. Though their tale of love and their encounter remained shrouded in mystery, the devotion between them was palpable.
The sun was beginning to set as the family finally finished up their birthday preparations. As Corin and Sebastian elatedly arranged the picnic setting upon a grassy patch in their garden, their parents both walked out, bearing baskets brimming with treats. The boys watched with bated breath as an unending succession of trays laden with confections and customary Korean foods, amassed before them.
“생일축하해 창우야 (Happy birthday, Chang-Woo)” Corin’s dad said, patting his son’s hair lovingly.
“Make a wish, my love.” His mother held out a small, misshapen birthday cake with a singular, green candle in the center. Corin looked around at the smiling faces of his family, everything glowing a soft orange from the sun’s setting haze.
With unwavering resolve, Corin made his wish: for every birthday to be exactly like this one.