When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 66
Chapter 66
The luxurious ceremonial dress wasn't well-suited for leaning against the wall.
Especially the long, flowing skirt that kept getting stepped on by the attendants moving around.
Sa Yeonju tried to hide her miserable feelings while constantly pulling her beautiful skirt toward herself to keep it from getting dirty.
However, she couldn't completely erase the resentment from her eyes.
It wasn't just today - there was always an uncontrollable anger boiling up to the heavens in Sa Yeonju's heart.
But the problem was that she didn't know exactly who to resent.
Today it was Ju Kyunghyun who had her standing against the wall, but he was supposed to be the man she would marry and love.
Then should she resent Ju Myoungyoon, who brought her to the Ju clan's domain for no reason and let her experience things she couldn't have?
Or should she resent Madam Cheon, who abandoned her own daughter to care for the battlefield's people, allowing her to dare dream of the Elder's residence?
The arrows of blame inevitably turned toward Ju Sehwa, who was always with her.
Because she was the most envious.
The girl who had the most of everything in her world.
'Even today, receiving everyone's attention like that. Getting praised by the Mystic Ruler. Even receiving the Ju clan's divine object. And moreover.'
Her gaze briefly turned toward the Baek Clan Head.
'Even that Baek Clan Head seemed to like sister, didn't he?'
Her fingernails dug deeper into her clenched fist.
If her newly transformed sister was this beautiful, how handsome must the Baek Clan Head be behind that mask?
Moreover, for someone who had been at war with the Ju clan for so long, he didn't seem to harbor much hatred, and instead came across as having an exceptionally gentle nature.
'If I had known he was such a man, I should have volunteered to go.'
But even if she had, the six clans would have refused. Because she wasn't of the Mystic Ruler's bloodline.
'Why was I born as a Sa? What makes me inferior to those plain-looking Ju clan members?'
Just as her uncontrollable anger was about to surge at another attendant stepping on her ceremonial dress-
'Huh?'
She doubted her eyes and looked again.
Unbelievably.
'Gasp! The Young Lord is...'
Ju Kyunghyun was calling for her - her, whom both Ju Myoungyoon and Ju Sehwa had ignored.
And the place he was beckoning her to was beside him - the place for the Ju clan Young Lord's betrothed.
At that subtle chin gesture, all the resentment that had filled her heart moments ago vanished. Her nose even began to tingle.
So overjoyed, Sa Yeonju practically flew as she walked toward him.
"Young Lord. You called for me."
Ju Kyunghyun's gaze turned to Sa Yeonju.
Her favor toward him shone blatantly in those narrowed eyes of the Sa girl.
"Sit."
"Yes."
She seemed unable to hide her joy at being called by him.
Her voice was clear and soft like dew rolling over grass blades, and her consistently gentle nature wasn't bad either.
'Well, her face is... decent enough at this level. And she doesn't even have a bad relationship with Seowol, whom I took in as a concubine first.'
Though his guard Cheonryeong had shouted at him about whether there was any master who would marry a servant girl.
Actually, he had thought about taking this Sa girl as a concubine after marrying Sehwa.
Of course, that was because at the time, Ju Sehwa seemed to care quite a bit for this cousin.
"Why haven't you touched any of the food? Have you only been drinking? That will upset your stomach."
Sa Yeonju added as she refilled his empty wine cup again.
"Let me pick some side dishes for you. Here, please eat."
Ju Kyunghyun's gaze briefly shifted to Ju Sehwa.
But surprisingly, Sehwa was looking at him.
"Could it be jealousy?"
'Huh. Indeed. So she really was concerned about this child.'
A small laugh escaped between Ju Kyunghyun's lips.
What? So it was jealousy after all.
'Well, until just a few days ago, she was following me around calling me 'brother, brother'.'
Thinking about it, it didn't make any sense for that girl, who seemed like she would die for him and follow his every word, to suddenly act that way simply because she was going to the Baek clan.
As he grasped the situation, Ju Kyunghyun's heart lightened considerably.
After he drank the wine, Sa Yeonju happily refilled his cup again. Then she picked up some side dishes and placed them on the plate in front of him.
"Please try this too."
Actually, he had brought this Sa girl to show her being treated as a servant in front of Ju Sehwa, but...
"Please, go ahead."
Isn't he praised as a benevolent and virtuous person? Now that he understood the reason, was there really any need to show such behavior in front of others?
'Well, if it's just jealousy, it shouldn't be difficult to soothe. Besides...'
Whatever feelings the Baek Clan Head might harbor for Sehwa, hadn't the wise Mystic Ruler already declared that child as his betrothed?
'Right. Who would dare defy what was declared in front of all these clan members?'
Ju Kyunghyun raised his gaze to meet Sehwa's. A sigh escaped involuntarily at that moment.
Even if some Divine Beast from the records came here with tremendous spiritual power, or if that Baek Giha took off his mask, they couldn't compare to that child's beauty.
'To think that child will become my wife.'
Yes. No matter what, this was destined to be.
Though it slightly bothered him that she had shown such a sharp response toward him and acted improperly without knowing her place.
'Well, since both Ju Myoungyoon and Madam Cheon were constantly absent from the residence, she probably didn't have the chance to learn proper conduct. I can teach her that well enough after marriage.'
Just imagining Ju Sehwa in wedding attire with red rouge on her lips made Ju Kyunghyun's throat go completely dry.
Even if it was the Mystic Ruler's words, if she really disliked it, she would have shown such signs.
'But she didn't show any such signs and just quietly listened...'
Thinking that perhaps she had been pretending not to care while actually waiting for the Mystic Ruler to make his intentions clear made her seem quite cute.
Anyway, since the Mystic Ruler had declared it, no one would dare defy it, so now it would be fine to think of that child as his wife.
'I should try to soften her heart before the marriage, but how...'
Would it be better to arrange a separate occasion? He didn't want to create a situation where face would be lost in front of others.
As he was contemplating methods, it happened.
A clear voice flew toward them.
"When will the wedding be?"
Sa Yeonju, who had been picking side dishes for Ju Kyunghyun, also turned her head toward the source of the voice.
Sehwa was calmly smiling at them.
'W-wedding? She asks when?'
Ju Kyunghyun's startled expression crumbled.
'This child really... The Mystic Ruler's command just came down moments ago, yet how can she so hastily press for marriage in front of so many people?'
Ahem. Clearing his throat, Ju Kyunghyun opened his mouth.
"It should be before you leave for the Baek clan. Since it's your wedding, you decide. When would be good? Though since time is short, even if the preparations are somewhat lacking-"
"What do you mean by that? Why would I marry the Young Lord? I was asking about the Young Lord's wedding with Yeonju."
"What? What are you saying? Didn't you hear the Mystic Ruler declare you as my betrothed earlier? Are you saying you'll defy the Mystic Ruler's command now?"
"Young Lord, do you wish to kill me? What frightening words. How could I defy the Mystic Ruler's command?"
"? Then what do you mean? Why do you say you won't marry me?"
"The Mystic Ruler merely showed mercy because he pitied me going to the Baek clan. He just said that to help me receive slightly better treatment in the Baek clan, didn't he?"
Sehwa continued in a voice full of admiration and emotion.
"But how could I enter into an engagement with the Young Lord when I don't know what will happen to me after going to the Baek clan? So I already submitted a request not to marry the Young Lord. The Mystic Ruler has granted permission as well."
'?!'
Those who had been secretly listening to their conversation were shocked at this point.
'What? She says the Mystic Ruler has already granted permission?'
'Then what was that declaration earlier about?'
"I am endlessly grateful for the Mystic Ruler's consideration of me, but I cannot let the Young Lord be sacrificed as well, which is why I am speaking honestly here."
"..."
Ju Kyunghyun, dumbfounded, could only gape before slamming the table.
"What sophistry is this! If the Mystic Ruler said you are my betrothed, that's how it should be understood. When did the Mystic Ruler approve such a thing? Who told you that? Are there witnesses?"
Sehwa pressed her chest as if too shocked to continue speaking.
"H-how can you say such things? Young Lord, you knew as well. When you came to my residence for the handover, didn't you say 'Are you so sad that the marriage with me fell through?' All the attendants at our residence heard it."
Ah.
Come to think of it, he had gone to that child's residence the day he heard the news, but he had been so angry that he had forgotten about it momentarily.
Sehwa continued in a voice full of indignation.
"Even if you brought anyone from there right now without giving me time to relay a message, they would all give the same answer, yet Young Lord, do you not even remember your own words?"
"Sehwa, that..."
"I considered everything for the Young Lord's sake, from deciding to go to the Baek clan in another's place, to understanding when you left without looking back even once while leaving me to exuviate on the street. Even though I could not guarantee my future, I first requested to nullify our marriage because I dared not stand beside the Young Lord. Yet the Young Lord continues to misunderstand me and keeps mentioning the noble Mystic Ruler's existence, pressuring me to the point where my heart trembles so much I can barely live."
"..."
'This, this child. To speak such nonsense in front of so many listeners...'
Ju Kyunghyun's heart felt like it would burst as he struggled to find the right words to respond.
But before he could say anything after receiving what felt like a hundred words in return for one...
Those beautiful eye corners curved down pitifully, and clear teardrops began falling between them.
The soft sound of clicking tongues.
Whispers about how pitiful the young lady was.
Suspicious voices asking if there had been so many such incidents.
Being as sensitive to others' gazes as he was, Ju Kyunghyun was well aware that all eyes in this banquet hall were now focused on them.
Just as he hesitated, too shocked to think of what to say...
"Sister, how can you speak like that? You're the one making others misunderstand the Young Lord."
A trembling, pitiful voice cut in between them.
It was Sa Yeonju.
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