When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 52
Chapter 52
“Jealousy?”
“Yes. Up until a few days ago, she was infinitely affectionate and kind. Her attitude changed after the Mystic Ruler summoned her, and at that time, the only issues were the trip to the Baek Clan and the cancellation of the engagement with the Young Lord…”
Unable to follow the flow of his words, Ju Kyunghyun asked, “That may be true, but how does that connect to jealousy?”
“Didn’t the Young Lord say that Lady Sehwa suddenly brought up her cousin? That she said something about you being a good match.”
“She did.”
“That cousin also happened to be the first to mention the conditions for Lady Sehwa’s trip to the Baek Clan to the other Ju Clan members.”
As the guard glanced around cautiously, Ju Kyunghyun urged, “Continue.”
“Moreover, she was also seen waiting together with you… So…”
“So?”
“Perhaps Lady Sehwa misunderstood, and thought that you had feelings for her cousin?”
“So you’re saying that Sehwa is angry because while she is being sent to the Baek Clan, it seems I'm favoring that Sa girl?”
“Similar, but not quite. Perhaps she thought you were trying to send her to the Baek Clan so you could marry her cousin.”
Ju Kyunghyun scoffed at the absurd suggestion. “What nonsense. Has anyone ever heard of a master marrying a servant? Unless that Sa girl had exceptional spiritual power, which she doesn’t.”
“I see. I misspoke.”
“……”
“Young Lord?”
“……No, that’s not it. There’s a logic to what you're saying.”
Ju Kyunghyun’s gaze deepened as he considered his guard’s speculation.
“That Sa girl has suddenly started to stick by my side. It’s hard to say there is absolutely no connection. Don’t you think?”
“Yes. I believe so as well.”
“Then what should we do? I can’t just leave Sehwa like this.”
“Hmm…”
Cheonryeong, faced with a difficult problem, thought hard before cautiously suggesting, “If her attitude changed so drastically, I don’t think she will believe you even if you deny it. Perhaps you should just summon her cousin directly?”
Ju Kyunghyun frowned.
“Summon her? If I were to personally call for that girl, wouldn’t that just be like adding fuel to the fire?”
“That’s why you should summon her and say that it’s not true in front of Lady Sehwa. Show it to her through your actions, not through words.”
“Actions?”
“Yes. If you treat the cousin according to her status in front of Lady Sehwa, wouldn't she realize the truth?”
“You mean show her that a servant is treated as nothing more than a servant?”
“Yes.”
“……Ha.”
Ju Kyunghyun’s pride was weighing heavily on him.
To go so far as to put on such an act. Was it really necessary?
‘I, Ju Kyunghyun. I, the Young Lord of the Ju Clan.’
But even as he thought that, the image of the child he had seen a moment ago kept coming to mind.
And, thinking about it that way, the guard’s suggestion didn’t seem so bad.
‘Though, I don’t want to show that I’m trying to appease her.’
As Ju Kyunghyun’s worry deepened, his smooth, long fingers tapped quickly on the armrest.
‘Seeing that even Ju Myoungyoon is not showing up, waiting here to see the Baek Clan Head would only damage my dignity. While the Mystic Ruler's orders are important, I should probably return for now.’
He hesitated for a moment, but in truth, the result was already decided.
‘Though her attitude is vexing, it might not be best to take such a strong stance.’
He was only trying to placate that child before her trip to the Baek Clan.
Having convinced himself, Ju Kyunghyun slumped back in his chair and waved his hand coolly. “So, is that Sa girl still in the human realm? Bring her here.”
“Young Lady!”
“Young Lady!”
“Youngchae! Youngmu!”
That afternoon, the two sisters, who had been sent on an errand, returned.
The two sisters, who had hurriedly run into the residence, froze in place as they saw Sehwa waiting for them.
After a long moment, Youngmu was the first to open her mouth. “Young Lady. Could it be that… you have undergone exuviation?”
Youngchae scolded Youngmu, “Youngmu, are you blind? Even if you looked at it upside down, it’s clear she has completed her exuviation, why would you even ask that?”
“Hey! Did I ask because I couldn’t see? I asked because it is hard to believe even when I’m seeing it.”
“That’s true.”
She felt so sorry and regretful for not having been by her side at such an important moment.
Youngchae wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve in an instant.
“You’ve really worked hard. I truly congratulate you on successfully completing your exuviation!”
“Ah, what the. I was going to say that first. Young Lady, I truly congratulate you!”
“Ah, now that I think about it, I also hadn’t said that yet. Young Lady, I too, congratulate you!”
Then, even Youngsun joined in, and the three sisters, who had been reunited after a long time, smiled together at Sehwa.
“Whew. Not knowing you were here, we went to the human realm.”
After coming back to Sehwa’s room and drinking some water first, Youngchae joked and laughed.
“We heard you had gone back to the Ju Clan, and were hurrying here. I met Youngmu while she was heading to the human realm, so I grabbed her and came back here together.”
Sehwa looked at Youngmu and asked, “How did it go? Did you deliver it to the branch elders as I told you?”
“Yes. Here is the letter to your cousin, no, to Sa Yeonju, from the elders.”
Sehwa, receiving the letter from Youngmu, quickly unfolded it and began reading it.
“Ha. It does not disappoint.”
The corners of her mouth crookedly tilted upwards.
Sehwa, crumpling the letter and tucking it into her sleeve, looked at Youngchae and asked, “What about the spirit stones? How many did you get?”
“The identity token of an elder family’s young lady worked wonders. We got quite a bit of them.”
Youngchae nodded confidently, saying that everyone was surprised at the Young Lady's request, and had readily given them spirit stones.
“I've already moved everything within the Ju Clan territory to the Elder’s secret residence. When the manager asked if we needed the ones remaining in other clan territories as well, I told him we did. He promised to get them by the end of the month, so we’ll get them on the first day of the new month.”
However, Youngchae looked around worriedly, as if someone might overhear, and spoke quietly, “When we were leaving, only a few human men, who were sent by Sa Yeonju, followed us, but after we entered the mystic realm, a mystic warrior started following us. I don’t know who sent him.”
“Then, what about the spirit stones? Did they see you moving the spirit stones to the residence?”
“No, that’s not the case. They started following me when I was heading to the human realm to report to you. But I don’t think it would be possible to hide the spirit stones we will receive later.”
“It’s fine. The fact that we used a status tag to leave records was meant to be revealed anyway. We just needed to buy some time.”
At those words, Youngchae smiled with relief, saying that was fortunate.
“Alright. Then, I’ll tell you about the current situation.”
Sehwa briefly explained the situation.
That she had arranged for Sa Yeonju to be ostracized among the young mystics of the Ju Clan.
That she was treating Ju Kyunghyun rudely without regard for his status.
That the Baek Clan Head was staying in the residence, and that a banquet to welcome him would be held in three days.
And, that she was likely going to be told about her trip to the Baek Clan during that welcoming banquet.
Not only Youngchae and Youngmu but even Youngsun was left with her mouth hanging open.
“Three days? To make the announcement where the Baek Clan Head is? Doesn’t that mean you have to leave immediately afterward?”
“That’s right. It seems like an order was given that we have to leave immediately to prevent the Six Clans from having time to object.”
“Well, it probably is going to be like that.”
“Oh my goodness. I haven’t even packed my bags yet.”
Youngsun spoke with a tearful face, "Ah, Young Lady. Just three days? You didn't even tell me about that."
“I only woke up today. I didn't find out until recently.”
Youngmu carefully asked, “But, will it be alright to treat the Young Lord like that? For now, you might have the upper hand with the trip to the Baek Clan as a hostage, but won’t the remaining family members be in danger after you leave?”
Youngchae also agreed in a low voice. “Yes. Also, if you have to leave in three days, wouldn’t it be hard to execute everything you have prepared?”
“It’s fine. While that might be the Mystic Ruler’s plan, I won’t be leaving right after three days.”
“What?”
“Young Lady. Surely you are not planning to defy the Mystic Ruler’s orders?”
“That’s not it. What I mean is that in three days, on the day of the banquet, the Mystic Ruler will change his mind.”
“??”
At Sehwa’s words, the three sisters looked at each other, at a complete loss.
‘Why would the Mystic Ruler suddenly change his mind that day?’
Even though it wasn’t a full moon, the moon was very bright.
Perhaps it was because she had slept soundly for a week. Even though it was late at night, sleep wouldn’t come.
Looking at the moonlight that was spreading softly through the window, Sehwa carefully left her room so as not to wake anyone.
‘That moon, I saw it from the Baek Clan too, so why does it look so different here?’
Was it because she had returned to her own home after so long?
The moonlight that was bathing the garden in a bluish light felt strangely different than it had when it had shone over the Baek Clan.
Even the sound of the insects chirping was comforting.
How long had it been since she had walked around so leisurely?
How many years had it been since she had seen these longing scenes again?
After living in the Baek Clan for so long, and spending a considerable amount of time in prison, before being executed right away, it had been nearly twenty years since she had seen this residence's views. About seventeen years.
Although there was much to worry about and much to think about, wouldn't it be okay to enjoy this peace, just for tonight?
Sehwa felt a strange but familiar feeling, as she walked through the garden that was so different from what she remembered.
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