When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 117
Chapter 117
Sehwa gazed in awe at the cascade of light pouring down before her.
Her surroundings were completely white, making it impossible to distinguish between the sky and the earth.
The waterfall before her, originating from an impossibly high place and disappearing into an immeasurable depth, evoked a primal fear within her.
She didn’t want to approach it.
Even though she was afraid of being swept away by the falling waves of light and plunging into the unseen depths, her feet hesitantly moved forward.
It felt as if someone was pushing her towards the waterfall.
But just before reaching the waterfall, she was stopped by an invisible wall.
The transparent yet solid wall stubbornly blocked her from approaching the cascade.
As she cautiously observed the wall…
Sehwa felt an intense gaze upon her and looked up.
Something was watching her from afar, standing in the empty air.
It was enveloped in a blindingly white light, making it impossible to see its true form.
But its overwhelming presence and majesty were unmistakable, even from such a distance.
As their gazes locked, she felt her legs weaken. She felt an urge to kneel right there and then.
Just as she was about to succumb to the being’s power and lower her body…
The being vanished like raindrops scattering on the ground.
And at the same time, a realization dawned upon her.
“…Ah.”
Her gaze shifted to the shining waterfall.
‘If I fall into that waterfall… I won’t be able to remain human anymore.’
How did she know that?
Perhaps the vanished being had told her.
That one day, she would have to jump into it.
‘No…’
That she should prepare for that day.
‘I don’t want to…’
Fear gripping her, she hurriedly backed away from the invisible wall she had been leaning against.
She gulped and turned around.
For the sake of the others she had to protect, she hurried away from this place.
Without looking back, she walked away, almost running.
Sehwa finally awoke, blinking her heavy eyelids.
Her small, cold hand was held in someone’s firm grasp.
She had a feeling he would be here.
Following the warmth of his hand, her gaze met his gentle eyes, filled with concern.
“Did I… sleep for long?”
“…No. You woke up quickly.”
It had only been a day and a half.
Whenever she woke up, it was considered waking up quickly. He could wait as long as she needed.
His low voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
He had been so worried.
He had been so anxious that she wouldn’t wake up, he hadn’t known what to do.
She couldn't miss the hidden meaning in his voice.
She raised her other arm and wrapped it around his neck.
With the slightest pull, he easily leaned down towards her.
His strong, muscular body bent over her, gently pressing against hers.
As they lay intertwined, just as she was about to whisper something into his ear, which was close to her lips…
“You can do whatever you want, but just know that your mother is here.”
“!!!!!!”
“I don’t intend to interfere, but I thought you might be embarrassed later.”
Where did she get such strength?
Sehwa pushed him away forcefully and sat up.
Her mother, her face healthy and no longer pale, was sitting at the table in the large room, eating.
“Mother!!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your tender moment with Baek Giha. But I couldn't just leave in the middle of my meal.”
“??”
Sehwa blinked, speechless at her mother’s calm words.
Then she asked, “…Baek… Giha?”
“So, the Elder left first with our Chancellor and the Six Clans’ warriors…”
Cheon Sua shook her head as she listened to Baek Giha.
“What Elder? You should call him Father-in-law. Or Father.”
“…Madam…”
“What Madam? Call me Mother.”
“Mother.”
Baek Giha, without hesitation, used the title Cheon Sua had given him, his eyes reddening.
As Sehwa looked at her mother strangely, Cheon Sua simply shrugged.
“If you disliked it even a little, you wouldn’t be here, would you? I’m giving you my permission, so why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, it’s not that…”
Judging from how Baek Giha was only now explaining the situation, it seemed they hadn't had a chance to talk while she was unconscious.
‘But suddenly Mother?’
However, she did have feelings for Baek Giha, so pointing out the sudden change in title would only make her look strange.
‘…And honestly, I don’t dislike it at all…’
Sehwa blushed, unconsciously savoring the title “Mother.”
Baek Giha’s ears turned even redder as Cheon Sua’s gaze shifted between them.
Noticing this, Sehwa quickly changed the subject.
“Ahem. So what happened after that? I remember rescuing you, Mother, but after that…”
“Ah, after that…”
“Wait a moment, Baek Giha. Now that Sehwa is awake, can I speak first?” Cheon Sua interrupted.
“There’s something urgent I need to tell you first. About why I was suddenly captured by the Mystic Ruler and almost died.”
Cheon Sua lowered her voice.
She began her story from the point when she had secretly sent the coded letter to the Six Clans’ warriors.
About how she had acted to make them lower their guard after realizing she was being watched.
“To maintain my freedom of movement, it was best to leave the outpost once a day and treat people for free. And while doing so, I ran into… Yeonju.”
Sehwa nodded.
“I saw her too. It seemed like she got married. She was being called First Madam—.”
“No. She didn’t get married,” Cheon Sua denied, her eyes darkening.
“To be precise, someone who was already married consumed her soul and took over her body.”
“Sob… sob… sniff…”
The sound of crying filled the large room within the spacious residence.
Ju Suyeon’s condition had worsened since yesterday, and she was now wearing a white cloth over her head, her scalp melted.
Regardless of her appearance, the maids’ faces were pale from her incessant crying.
Afraid of becoming the target of her rage, they didn’t even dare to breathe properly.
Just then, a maid hurried into the room.
Ju Suyeon, her skin melted and muscles exposed, abruptly raised her head.
Unable to wait even for the maid to approach, she crawled towards her on the floor with her weakened arms.
“W-… Was it… a lie? Did… Did He change His mind… because I… left my older sister… and He was… angry…?”
When the maid hesitated, unable to answer, Ju Suyeon shouted, “Tell… me!”
Finally, the maid answered, her voice trembling with tears, “…The Third Madam said… that you should pray for your older sister’s safety, even in your current state… because if something happens to her, He will make you suffer even more.”
“Is that… all? Anything… else?”
“......”
Ju Suyeon burst into tears again.
“Waaah! Aaargh!”
How had she managed to survive this long? How had she clung to life and come this far, only to end up like this?
Even if the First Madam, possessing Sa Yeonju’s body, had been kidnapped by those ruthless people…
“Why… is it… my fault?! I was… attacked… what was I supposed to do?!”
But the realization that she could no longer switch bodies filled her with a fear greater than the pain of her melting skin.
Forgetting her pain for a moment, she asked, her lips trembling, “…So… they don’t know… where my sister is…? Did they send… anyone to look for her…?”
“No, Madam.”
When the maid shook her head, Ju Suyeon grabbed her wrist with her trembling hand.
The maid flinched at the sudden grip, but quickly closed her eyes and endured it.
“Tell them… to find her…”
“…Y-Yes?”
“Gather… all the warriors I can command… and tell them to find my sister.”
It couldn’t be true.
The fact that she couldn’t switch bodies had to be a lie.
Her Master must have said that because he was angry with her.
If she just brought back her older sister, he would calm down. And then he would let her switch bodies again.
Ju Suyeon, clinging to that single hope, glared menacingly at the maid, her grip tightening on her wrist.
“Tell them… to find her… now!”
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