When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 54
Chapter 54
When he saw the woman who had come in place of Ju Kyunghyun, claiming to have the Mystic Ruler’s blood, the first thought he had was that they had been tricked.
A delayed anger had been directed at this woman.
Most of the clan members must have had the same feeling.
That was why Baek Giha had also stood by and watched the things that happened to this woman. Unless she was Ju Kyunghyun, he didn't think that she was worth his attention.
The humiliating treatment that Sehwa had to endure in the Baek Clan during that time was too numerous to list.
Even though it wasn’t her fault, everyone had treated her as if she was the culprit who had kidnapped their children.
And one morning...
While walking down a corridor, he saw a commotion in the distance and noticed that the clan members were once again heaping excessive insults on this woman.
This woman had always seemed arrogant and never yielded with her words.
She had lifted her chin as if the Baek Clan members’ aggressive attitude couldn’t affect her in any way.
‘With that attitude, the bullying will only get worse.’
But, what did it matter? Let her be.
It was at that moment, as Baek Giha was turning away with a cold expression, that he thought he saw something and quickly turned his gaze back.
The woman who had always been so unyielding had lowered her head. What was more, she was kneeling as if she was a criminal.
They were too far away for him to hear what they were saying clearly.
Still, the senses of a divine beast caught a few sentences that slipped between her lips.
“I cannot agree with your claim that the Ju Clan is guilty just because the criminal hid in the Ju Clan’s territory.”
Her black eyes, filled with a will that seemed to allow no rebuttals, stared ahead.
But those eyes were completely red.
What had they said to make that woman, who had never been like this before despite all the various insults, show such an expression?
“However, it is true that we have been turning a blind eye to the pain of the Six Clans, claiming that it wasn't the Ju Clan’s business because we hadn’t suffered any harm ourselves. Therefore, as a member of the Seven Mystic Clans, it is difficult for me to avoid responsibility for that. I am sorry for not properly understanding that pain until now.”
Those were not words that one would expect to hear from a youngling who hadn’t even completed her exuviation yet, and who still needed to receive sufficient protection from her family.
Much less, from someone who had been dragged to a foreign clan that was waiting to capture her like a mouse.
He had already found out that she wasn’t a docile person.
Even if someone had ordered her, if she didn’t mean it, she wouldn't have apologized even if they beat her to death, so perhaps that was sincere.
After that, she walked past him between the pillars of the palace.
Ignoring him, as if she hadn’t seen him there at all.
It wasn’t that he was being boastful, but Baek Giha was confident in his appearance. He was a divine beast after all.
It was only natural since mystic beings grew more beautiful with the more spiritual power they possessed.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that he was the most handsome being in the mystic realm as the only divine beast there.
Perhaps it was because he had only ever seen people become rigid with awe upon seeing his face?
The woman, who ignored him and walked through the morning mist, seemed like a phantom.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, he had gone to ask the Baek Clan members what had just happened and what they had said.
Someone, who was still crying, perhaps thinking they would be punished, replied hesitantly.
That she hadn't said much. She had just said to return her children, and that if the Ju Clan had just taken responsibility, she wouldn’t have lost her children. That was all that she had said.
‘She didn’t budge even with all those words thrown at her, but she knelt down so easily after hearing those?’
For something that wasn’t even her fault?
After that incident, he had become quite curious about her.
Because her reaction was different from what he had heard about most members of the Ju Clan, who were said to be only interested in enjoying luxuries.
It must have just been to get out of the situation. She must have found a way to escape from the harassment while preserving her pride.
If it was a mask, he wanted to take it off and see what lay behind it. That’s what he had thought at that time.
But then— “Huh? You were asking me why I was treating you so well?”
Once again, she said those words and pulled Baek Giha out of his thoughts.
He quietly observed her face, with its slightly sharp eyes and beautiful proportions, that was now turned to him.
The trigger was just a trigger, it wasn’t everything.
After that, he had gone through many things, and that initial resolution had disappeared, and he had found himself always worried about whatever she did.
He would start observing her a little longer because he was curious about what she was thinking.
With her rose-like thorn personality, he would wonder at how well she took care of her attendants.
He had watched out of interest and learned more details about how she would react in different situations.
How she endured the things that she disliked.
And how she took care of her people, even in the middle of it all.
He had slowly lost his heart as he witnessed those countless moments.
“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”
“If you just explained it simply, I would understand. Or are you just acting like it’s so difficult?”
Haha. Baek Giha burst out laughing.
See, she never yielded, not even once.
Baek Giha straightened his body, which had been leaning on the pillar.
Slowly approaching her, he hesitantly touched her elegant jawline.
How much he had wanted to touch that face in his previous life.
“I thought you were unique.”
After confirming that she wasn’t resisting, his thumb slid to her mouth and caressed her red lips.
“You seemed like you had so much to say, but you wouldn’t open your mouth easily. But when you did, your words were so sharp. And you had a lot of anger inside. But even with that, you were also kind, and you had a strong resolve.”
“……”
“Strong.”
“……”
“Not giving in, even when weak.”
“……”
“And beautiful.”
It seemed that he had been observing her in more detail, and for longer, than she had realized.
Sehwa’s face blushed at the long parade of adjectives that seemed as if they would never end.
Avoiding his gaze, Sehwa pushed his hand away.
“That’s enough. Stop it. You’re not even one of my brothers.”
“That’s right. I don’t want to be like a brother,” Baek Giha said resolutely, drawing Ju Sehwa’s chin back with his fingertips. “You already know what I want to be to you.”
He used his thumb to softly stroke the tense muscle that was in his grasp again.
Her red lips were clearly visible against her snow-white skin.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he was overcome with the urge to kiss her sweet lips, caressing them with a gentle, flowing touch.
Putting a little more strength into his touch, he turned her gaze, which had been directed elsewhere, back to him.
“I have something I want to ask you.”
“……Go ahead.”
“In your mind.”
“……”
“In here, inside this chest. Am I there, even just a little?”
“……”
“Even just a little is enough. That alone would allow me to wait for a long time.”
“……”
Sehwa’s long eyelashes, casting long shadows, trembled finely.
His gaze was so grave and heavy that she found it difficult to meet his eyes.
So she tilted to the side, but Baek Giha followed her gaze and met her eyes again.
His warm eyes met hers as he spoke, “You’re already inside my heart. You know that, right?”
“……”
“You’re the only one there.”
He said it was so strange. Their hearts weren’t connected, but after she entered in here, he felt as if he could do anything.
As he said this, he pulled Sehwa’s hand and placed it against his firm chest. He let her feel his heart, softly vibrating, before smiling slightly. “So, when you feel the same way, look back at me.”
Sehwa stared blankly at his beautiful face illuminated by the moonlight.
This foolish man would probably never know how she felt unless she told him.
When his face had already become the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and the most important thing for her.
Since he had come into this heart of hers.
But she wouldn’t say those words.
She had things she had to do, and she had decided not to involve him in that path.
However, it wasn't as if her heart wasn't fluttering.
Every one of his words made her heart pound softly, like a sigh.
As she felt his touch on her cheek without brushing it away, she thought about someday.
Someday, in the future.
After resolving everything. If you are still waiting for me then.
At that time...
‘At that time, I too…'
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