When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 56
Chapter 56
"Why don't you blame it all on Baek Giha? Then you wouldn't have had to face such harsh criticism from the Mystic Ruler."
Cheonryeong, his guard, advised with a gloomy expression.
Ju Kyunghyun had originally intended to pin everything on Baek Giha. How difficult would it be to fabricate a few incidents to avoid responsibility?
However, he had learned something new that was so concerning that he missed his chance to speak with his father while debating whether to bring it up.
'Could Father really be pursuing a marriage alliance between Sehwa and the Baek Clan Head?'
"Young Lord?"
"Hm? Ah, it's fine. It's true that I failed to help that child with her exuviation. What's the point of bringing up someone else's name?"
Indeed. He could always frame someone later.
If he waited and tried later, he might even be praised for attempting to cover up someone's faults.
"How could that be your fault, Young Lord?"
"Well, that's true. Did I deliberately ignore her exuviation? I had to meet Baek Giha first, so I was in such a hurry that it happened unintentionally."
"Exactly. That's right."
"If I had delayed what the Mystic Ruler ordered while helping with the exuviation, Sehwa would have also faced harsh criticism from him, wouldn't she?"
Ju Kyunghyun sighed into the air and added.
"I had to ignore it to avoid causing her any harm. You're the only one who understands my intentions, Cheonryeong."
"That's because I made up my mind to serve you as my master, always admiring your noble character."
"Yes, thank you. ...By the way, Cheonryeong. Did the Mystic Ruler, Father, really intend to arrange a marriage between Sehwa and the Baek Clan Head?"
"I stake my life on it being true."
"But why suddenly pair the Baek Clan Head with her?"
"In my humble opinion, Lady Sehwa always follows Elder Myungyoon's words, no matter what they may be. And Elder Myungyoon would never challenge the Mystic Ruler's authority."
"..."
"Since Lady Sehwa is also of the Mystic Ruler's bloodline, the Baek Clan Head wouldn't dare treat her carelessly. Perhaps he intended to establish superiority over the Baek Clan Head through this marria—"
"What?! What nonsense is this!"
Ju Kyunghyun shouted violently.
"Are you suggesting that the Mystic Ruler, the ruler of the Mystic Realm and head of the Ju Clan, couldn't stand above the Baek Clan Head without such measures! Are you trying to diminish the Mystic Ruler's dignity!"
Finally realizing what he had said, Cheonryeong's face changed color as he hurriedly knelt and prostrated himself.
"I spoke out of turn. Please execute me."
"If you utter such nonsense again, I will rip out your tongue and behead you as an example!"
"I will keep it in mind."
Cheonryeong rose with a pale face after bowing several times.
Ju Kyunghyun clicked his tongue with a displeased expression and turned away coldly.
"I am being generous in forgiving such nonsense. You would not be alive if others had heard this."
"I understand. I am deeply sorry."
"Good. Be more careful with your words. And is it certain that she rejected it?"
"What?"
"The marriage alliance between Sehwa and the Baek Clan Head."
"Ah, yes. I heard it through the detached palace. Though it was impudent of her to defy the Mystic Ruler's words, I heard he permitted it as her reasons were understandable."
Ju Kyunghyun's eyes narrowed.
'It's definitely strange that Baek Giha went to help with her exuviation too. For a child he's never even seen before.'
His expression was only slightly furrowed, but a storm was raging inside his chest.
'Come to think of it, his sudden arrival here is the strangest thing. Could he have come to negotiate some kind of deal with Father about the marriage alliance?'
Countless doubts and speculations were swirling and piling up like invisible fallen leaves.
'At first, I thought he came to take me away, but if that were the case, there would be no reason for him to stick so closely to Sehwa while remaining unseen.'
His gaze sharpened.
'Was Sehwa's sudden change in attitude not because of jealousy, but because she wanted to push me away due to her arranged marriage to Baek Giha? Or was it from the shock of being forced to marry someone she didn't want?'
Yet all these thoughts kept reaching strange conclusions.
'Couldn't they send someone else, besides her?'
Thinking about it, there should be someone who could take her place.
'Do the young clan members really need to go? Ju Myungyoon also carries the Mystic Ruler's blood. He would be more reliable as the one responsible for the disappearance incident.'
Ju Kyunghyun's gaze traced back to that moment when he had encountered her after her exuviation.
Even her shadow, visible through the paper windows, had been so beautiful.
He still couldn't forget the surprise and shock when that shadow walked slowly and opened the door to reveal herself.
The abundant hair half-let down contrasting with her white, slender neck.
The perfect collarbone and white skin visible below her soft shoulder line.
Her eyes, which should have been deep black, shone with a fresh purple hue like well-ripened grapes.
His throat went dry just thinking about how those eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
That fiery passion and brilliant beauty, inherited directly from the Red Dragon's temperament, which couldn't be hidden even behind her transparent and pure exterior...
"...My Lord. Young Lord."
"What?"
"Perhaps you could send Lady Sehwa a gift?"
"A gift?"
"Yes. To congratulate her on her exuviation."
At those words, Ju Kyunghyun realized his own oversight.
That's right. He had forgotten to send an exuviation congratulatory gift.
"If you send something generous, Lady Sehwa will surely be moved by how much thought you've put into it. Others will also think there must be some mistake in the story about you not helping with Lady Sehwa's exuviation and leaving."
Ju Kyunghyun's expression brightened for once.
"Yes. That would be good."
After patting his guard's shoulder, Ju Kyunghyun walked away quickly.
That day, Ju Myungyoon summoned the heads of the merchant groups operating within the Ju Clan territory.
After exuviation, her height and body shape had changed significantly, making her previous clothes fit awkwardly.
The merchant group heads rushed over without hesitation upon receiving the letter from the most respected elder in the Ju Clan territory.
Long lines of carriages kept arriving at the inner court where Sehwa was staying.
The Ju Clan members, who spent far more lavishly than other clans, were always valuable customers to the merchant heads.
This remained true even in the current situation where they had to pay enormous war reparations.
Orders for ceremonial clothes for banquets never ceased, and there was still constant demand for new and precious accessories.
The young mystic beings who hadn't undergone exuviation even crossed over to the human realm to enjoy banquets unrelated to the war.
Amidst all this, the Elder's daughter had been so well hidden that it was difficult to catch a proper glimpse of her.
Despite all the rumors flying around about her being a cripple or a reject, she had remained quiet, and now they say she's completed her exuviation?
At the thought of finally being able to confirm the identity of this subject of rumors, the three merchant heads who arrived at similar times hurried into the inner court while jostling each other.
That's when it happened.
"Welcome, all of you."
Someone greeted them before they could even offer their greetings.
The footsteps of those entering through the open door of the inner court stopped right there.
"...Ah."
That short gasp was all there was.
They couldn't take another step forward, standing at the doorway and swallowing their breath.
'W-who is this person?'
The room was bright and cheerful with its windows wide open, but the person sitting inside wearing jade-colored clothing was even whiter and more radiant.
Her graceful facial features seemed perfectly proportioned as if crafted meticulously by the gods, and the delicate features within held a strange dignity that could enchant any viewer while being breathtakingly beautiful.
She wore only a single thin jade hairpin as an ornament.
Yet with just her transparent skin, smooth neckline, and distinctly colored lips, she sparkled more brilliantly than anything else in the room.
Her eyes, caught in the sunlight streaming through the window, shone with a beauty as precious and enticing as well-aged wine.
From the simple raising of her hand to the slight tilt of her head.
Every movement was flawlessly elegant and enchanting.
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