When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 26
Chapter 26
At that moment, the atmosphere in the banquet hall where Sehwa was present took a sharp turn for the worse.
Someone gritted their teeth and crumpled the letter Sehwa had distributed in their hands.
While some quickly tucked the letters into their sleeves, others glared at her with distorted expressions.
"It seems everyone has received similar letters."
Ju Suyeon was among those who watched Ju Sehwa with a chilling gaze.
"I thought it strange when someone who never attended any banquets suddenly sent word they would come."
Ju Suyeon methodically folded the letter she was holding and pushed it into her sleeve.
"Did you come to search for someone to send to the Baek Clan in your place? Using these letters to threaten us?"
Hearing those words, Sehwa burst into laughter, causing Ju Suyeon's eyes to grow even more venomous.
"What's so funny? Are you happy about finding someone to be dragged away as a prisoner in your place?"
"Isn't it amusing that you immediately interpret this as a threat and start questioning me? I didn't expect you to be this stupid."
"What did you say?"
"Fine, let's say it's a threat. Then what will you do? Will you run to your parents, show them the contents of the letter, and complain about being threatened?"
"..."
"All talk and no action, when you can't even do that. If you've seen the contents, you should be hanging onto my legs asking how I knew such secrets. Instead of trying to whisper and persuade me not to expose anything, what good does it do to confront me about threats? Will the contents of the letters change?"
"...Then what do you want? You must want something to bring these here. Since I'm too foolish to guess your intentions, why don't you just tell me plainly?"
"What's there to discuss about threats and intentions between blood relatives? Blood ties are so important. Do you think I would do something to harm my blood relatives who share the Ju surname?"
Ju Suyeon looked at her with unreadable eyes.
"...Then why did you show us these?"
"You'll find out soon enough. But I have something I'm curious about first. What kind of person did you all think I was, to dare assign me such a place?"
Sehwa asked while gesturing with her eyes toward the seat next to Sa Yeonju.
As silence fell and the atmosphere grew heavier, those in the banquet hall glanced at each other before speaking one by one.
We heard you were weak.
They said you were born without spiritual power and had an uncertain future.
That you frequently went down to the human realm to hide this.
That exuviation would be impossible for you forever.
"Ah. So those were the rumors."
Sehwa let out a snicker and casually drew up her spiritual power.
"!!"
"Huh!"
The power of the Baek Clan's Divine Beast merged with her original spiritual power, blooming like flames above her body.
Those undulating flames were so intense that their heat and pressure could be felt even from afar.
However, as if this level of power was nothing, its owner's expression didn't change at all.
Everyone who witnessed this let out a collective gasp.
They all knew that this Elder's daughter hadn't even undergone exuviation yet.
'This much spiritual power without even going through exuviation?'
'Impossible!'
'It can't be, it just can't be!'
"I didn't want to waste energy on such absurd rumors, so I let them be until now. But I thought I shouldn't leave it alone anymore. So I ended up showing off against my wishes."
When Sehwa's gaze turned to Ju Suyeon, she flinched.
"I must ask about the source. Who was it?"
"...W-what?"
"Who spread such words to all of you?"
"That's..."
As they hesitated, their gazes gradually converged on one spot.
When everyone's eyes turned toward her, Sa Yeonju, who had been watching the banquet hall with a pale face, showed surprise on her expression.
However, she quickly put on a pitiful expression and appealed to those around her.
"W-what? Why is everyone looking at me? When did I ever say such things? I've never said anything bad about Sister."
"Whether it's good or bad isn't for you to judge."
Sehwa poured herself a drink from the bottle on the table and added with a smile.
"You should think about how your words have affected others' impressions of me."
"...Sister, please don't be too angry with me. I was just worried about you."
Sa Yeonju spoke as if about to cry.
"How could I have spoken ill of you? There were no lies. Well, of course I was mistaken about things like your spiritual power, but I really thought that was true."
"Never mind that. Yeonju. If you're sorry to me, why don't you try eating some of the food placed beside you?"
"...What?"
"There's a table prepared for me next to you, isn't there? Try eating some of the food on it, one by one."
"...Food? S-suddenly?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I found it strange that you offered it to me twice already."
"...Why is that strange? I just thought since there was already a table set for you-"
"That's enough."
Ju Sehwa said with a gentle smile.
"If you eat it, I'll pretend none of this happened. Go ahead and try it."
"Are you saying you'll trust me? ...But I'm not hungry right now, so I'll eat a little later."
"Yeonju."
"Yes?"
"Didn't I care for you like a real sister when you came to our household alone? Even when you were addicted to gambling and not only squandered your generous monthly allowance in days but also searched through my room and my mother's room, I pretended not to know."
"!!!"
"On the day we returned early and you couldn't get what you wanted, you searched through our two brothers' rooms while they were at the frontlines, didn't you? You were beaten by a servant who mistook you for a thief and were bedridden for days."
"Si-Sister!"
"You vomited all over the floor in our brother's room, and we had to tear up the entire floor. But did I ever scold you for that? I only nursed you with the utmost care. After how I took care of you, you won't even eat one dish placed beside you for my sake. How truly sad."
The banquet hall suddenly became noisy.
'Goodness. They say she was beaten so badly she vomited after being mistaken for a thief.'
'Could her swollen face today be from...'
'Actually, I was thinking the same thing. You know how when you rush to heal with mystic realm medicine, the skin takes on a slightly bluish tinge? Doesn't she look like that?'
Sa Yeonju could only open and close her mouth as she heard the whispers about her.
Looking around, she shouted.
"It-it's not true! I never did that! It's not true!"
"..."
"..."
But the expressions of those around her had already twisted slightly.
Sa Yeonju bit her lip and shook her head in denial.
"Why are you all acting like this? You believe those words? After all our years of friendship, you can't trust me but believe my sister whom you've just met today?"
A low laugh cut through her cry.
Sehwa urged with a smile.
"Alright. Then empty all the dishes placed on the table next to you. If you do, I'll publicly apologize for lying. I'll swear on my name to everyone here that you're not that kind of person. How about it?"
She pointed to the table with her chin and added.
"So stop the useless talk and eat."
"..."
"..."
Sa Yeonju trembled.
As the standoff continued, someone carefully advised Sa Yeonju.
"Yeonju. You were the one who first spread stories that could be misunderstood. This isn't something to be stubborn about."
Someone next to them chimed in.
"Yes, that's right. I would be angry too if I were her. The Young Lady might have made up things out of anger, but she's offering to apologize on her name if you eat, so why hesitate?"
Someone else from another place added.
"That's right. You probably don't want to comply after hearing such things. But there's no need to stand your ground in a battle of wills. It'll all be resolved after eating some delicious food."
While it might hurt her pride, if you consider cause and effect, wasn't Sa Yeonju in the wrong first?
It seemed like something that could end with an apology and a drink, so why was she being so resistant?
As everyone looked at Sa Yeonju with confusion, Sehwa added casually with a slight smile.
"You can't eat it, can you? Because you put something in it."
"...!"
"...!!"
The hall instantly became chaotic again.
Youngsun, who had somehow approached Sa Yeonju's side without notice, lifted the table.
"Give it back!"
A startled Sa Yeonju rushed at Youngsun, but she was no match for Youngsun's sturdy build.
Youngsun kicked away the charging Sa Yeonju and placed the table next to Sehwa.
"Here it is, Young Lady."
"Wh-what is this! What are you doing! Why are you taking that away? Are you trying to secretly put something in it! To frame me!!"
Sa Yeonju caught herself mid-shout.
No. She shouldn't get more excited here.
These Ju clan members were the kind who were weak before the strong and strong before the weak.
The more she panicked and broke down, the more all her efforts to be accepted by this group would go to waste.
Realizing this, she desperately put on a facade of sadness.
Her effort wasn't in vain, as large teardrops finally streamed down her pitiful face.
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