When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 58
Chapter 58
After a while, one of the merchant heads hesitantly spoke, "For the Young Lord to do such a thing..."
Everyone present understood the unspoken meaning behind those words: How could he treat the Young Lady so coldly? She had volunteered to go to the terrifying Six Clans alliance for his sake. She had been so frightened that she began her exuviation without warning on the road, and even after completing it, remained unconscious for a week—clearly having been at death's door. Even if carrying out the Mystic Ruler's orders was urgent and important, to simply cast aside someone who had risked their life for him like this...
"I will make sure to relay your exact words to the Young Lord."
The embarrassed servant clutched the letter to their chest and turned away sharply.
Even after they had left, seeing Sehwa's continued displeasure, the merchant heads tried to soothe her mood with gentle suggestions.
"All the items we've brought are of the highest quality. Perhaps you'd like to examine them?"
The merchant heads headed toward the inner chamber, trying to outdo each other in their eagerness to please. Following their lead, Sehwa gestured to Youngsun, who directed people to move the mountain of gifts into the inner chamber.
"Are you going to accept those?"
"!"
A voice suddenly interrupted.
Startled by the unexpected presence, Sehwa turned to face him.
"Have you been watching this whole time?"
"...Yes."
"What do you mean, 'am I going to accept them?' Of course I am!"
"Why? Wouldn't it be better to return them?"
"What did you just say?"
Though Baek Giha knew Sehwa was looking at him in disbelief, his somber gaze remained fixed. As he had leaned against the pavilion pillar listening to her conversation with the others, he couldn't help but notice how many times they had mentioned "Young Lord."
'Could it be? Is she still concerned about Ju Kyunghyun?'
He wanted to ask, but doubted he would get a straight answer. Even if she were still attracted to him, she would never admit it.
'Since she believes she can change the future, perhaps she thinks she can also change her relationship with that Young Lord?'
Just then—
Slap!
"!"
"Return them? What do you mean return them? My head is already hurting from trying to figure out how to extract everything I can from this!"
Baek Giha found himself momentarily mesmerized by Sehwa's sparkling eyes as she trembled with anger.
"Don't even think about saying such things to me. This is just compensation. For my seventeen years. Understand?!"
"Ah, I understand."
"If you understand, then help me think of ways to get even more out of him. My goal is to reduce that Young Lord to poverty and throw him into the same prison cell where I was confined."
"Throw him in a cell?"
"Of course! I'm going to pay him back equally—no, even more than what he did to me. Do you think I've forgotten any of that suffering?"
"..."
"What's with that expression? Why are you looking so grim? Do you think I can't do it?"
"No."
He gently stroked her pink fingertips, careful to keep the gesture hidden from others' eyes. Having some idea of what tortures she must have endured, he quietly added:
"You endured well."
"..."
"That time... you endured it well."
These words never failed to make her eyes glisten with emotion.
"If you understand that, then don't ever tell me to return anything again."
Sehwa deliberately maintained a cold expression as she walked one step ahead of him.
"Did she really say that?"
"Yes, Young Lord."
The servant produced the letter that hadn't even been accepted, holding it out once more.
"Huh."
She had exposed everything in front of all those people?
Even as anger surged to his head, it was problematic that her demand for compensation for helping with the exuviation was actually quite satisfactory. After all, such duties typically fell to those who were betrothed before the exuviation.
'While expressing her resentment, is she actually hoping to become my betrothed again?'
Should he consider this behavior impudent?
Or should he take it as a sign she's leaving room for reconciliation and try to get closer?
Just then—
"Young Lord."
Someone quietly entered the room and called out to him in a gentle voice.
"You're here."
"Yes. Why do you look so troubled? Is something worrying you?"
"No. Don't concern yourself."
"But still... You know well that your health isn't yours alone, don't you? When you look this tired, Seowol becomes so worried."
"I know, so there's no need to worry. Though I appreciate your concern."
"Didn't you say before that Sister Sehwa's cousin is good at massage? Why don't we summon her to attend to you?"
"I've already sent guards to bring her."
Seowol's expression changed briefly at those words before returning to normal.
"Then when no one else is around, let Seowol give you a massage for a moment. Though I won't be able to if someone comes..."
"Enough. What's the point when you'll jump and run away at the slightest footstep?"
"But Young Lord, you're going to be betrothed to Sister Sehwa, aren't you? You can't make Seowol your betrothed. What if I end up living alone forever because of misunderstandings? How will you take responsibility?"
"Didn't I tell you to stop this?"
At Ju Kyunghyun's words, Seowol blinked her large eyes as if completely innocent.
"But I'm worried about you. Should I offer some advice? You look so troubled... Maybe I can help think of a solution?"
"..."
"I heard about it too. They say Sister Sehwa agreed to go to the Baek Clan in your place? Is that what's worrying you?"
"Where did you hear that?"
"What?"
"I asked where you heard that!"
"Y-Young Lord."
"Answer me now!"
"...E-everyone is talking about it! It's been several days already!"
"What did you say?"
"It's been quite a while... When everyone is saying the same thing, how can I tell you where I heard it...?"
Her pure and gentle eye-corners suddenly began spilling clear teardrops.
"What did Seowol do wrong? I was just trying to look after your concerns..."
"You said everyone has been talking about this for quite some time?"
"Yes. When Seowol heard someone saying that—"
Ju Kyunghyun quietly gestured with his chin, and his guard Cheonryeong appeared and bowed.
"Find out where this talk about going to the Baek Clan started and how far it has spread."
"Yes."
"We need to handle this before word reaches the Mystic Ruler. Understand?!"
As soon as Cheonryeong left the room with a determined expression, Ju Kyunghyun waved away even the servant who remained bowing before him.
The girl who had dried her tears slowly approached Ju Kyunghyun.
"Don't blame Sister Sehwa too much. She must have been so shocked that she needed to confide in someone..."
Slender, long fingers came around behind Ju Kyunghyun and began massaging his thick shoulders through the silk fabric.
"Though sister was wrong to tell people so early... You must have a headache too, Young Lord."
"No. If it spread that long ago, it wasn't Sehwa."
"What?"
"She was in the Human Realm then. And the young clan members she met who hadn't undergone exuviation are still there."
"But Sister Sehwa has been back for a while now... It's been about a week."
"No, she was unconscious for a week due to exuviation aftereffects."
"..."
"Some wicked ones must have crossed early from the Human Realm to the Mystic Realm and spread this. We'll have to catch them all."
"...Ah, I see. Then at the banquet the day after tomorrow, will you enter together with Sister Sehwa?"
"Well, we'll need to do that to quell these unnecessary rumors."
"..."
"First, I should try to appease her. Hey! Is anyone there?"
"Yes, Young Lord."
At Kyunghyun's call, the servant guarding the door immediately entered the room.
"Send more precious items to her, like what we sent today. It must be done today."
The fingers that had been gently massaging Kyunghyun's temples froze in surprise.
"How can you send more when you've already sent some?"
Growing annoyed with the questions, Ju Kyunghyun waved his hand, and the girl with the pure face stepped back with a disappointed expression.
"Can I come back when you have dinner later?"
"It's bothersome. Eat by yourself."
"You always say that, but then you let me eat with you anyway."
The girl smiled cutely and left the room, saying she would return later.
Even Ju Kyunghyun, who had been frowning, couldn't help but shake his head with a chuckle at her cute behavior.
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