When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 141
Chapter 141
The quiet Baek Clan residence was suddenly in an uproar.
Lamentations and complaints filled the air, swirling around the polished marble pillars and floors.
“H-How… how can the Clan Head make a Ju Clan member our Lady of the House…?”
Not only Baek Clan members lived in the Baek Clan territory.
The Ju Clan had relentlessly oppressed and persecuted those mystics who didn't belong to the Seven Clans.
So, those who escaped the Ju Clan territory had flocked to the Baek Clan, the leader of the Six Clans.
Many of those working in this residence had fled the Ju Clan in this manner.
They had prayed for the Ju Clan’s downfall when the Six Clans allied and waged war against them, yet…
Now, their Clan Head, the only Divine Beast in the Mystic Realm, the one who had defeated the Ju Clan and become their pride, was going to make a Ju Clan member the Lady of the House?
Were they going to ally with the Ju Clan again?
And what about the missing children? Were they going to forget about them?
“We don’t know the details yet, so let’s wait and see. Something might have gone wrong.”
“What could have gone wrong?! It’s clear that a Ju Clan member will be our Lady of the House!”
“But the Chancellor is personally selecting her attendants, so it seems he’s aware of it. Doesn't he care? Does he think this is acceptable?”
“I can't believe it. I understand that she’s incredibly beautiful and possesses immense spiritual power, but… she’s still a Ju…”
The servants in the Baek Clan residence could only lament and complain. They couldn't believe what was happening.
Someone, who had been listening quietly in the corner, their lips pressed together, suddenly stood up. “I’ll chase her away.”
“What?”
“I’ll chase her away! I never wanted to see a Ju Clan member again, let alone have one become the Lady of the House! It's unacceptable!”
“Deokgeun, what are you planning to do?”
It was a young man with a gaunt figure.
This man, called Deokgeun, had escaped the Ju Clan territory after being abused and treated like a slave, driven by the death of his younger sibling.
Hatred and resentment towards the Ju Clan burned within him.
“I’ll join you,” a woman with a similarly gaunt figure stood up, echoing his words. “Munju, you too?” “What do you mean ‘you too’? Anyone else?” “…But we settled here thanks to the Clan Head’s mercy. Isn’t it disrespectful to go against his wishes?” “Yes, what if we get kicked out of here too?”
As a heavy silence fell over the group, Jemunju burst out, “You idiots! We can do it secretly! And even if we’re indebted to him, how can we just accept a Ju Clan Lady of the House?! We escaped the Ju Clan with our lives, how can we serve one as our Lady of the House?! We should be grateful for his mercy, but still!”
“......”
Someone stood up quietly at Jemunju’s outburst. “She’s right. And it seems like it'll take more than just a few of us to oppose someone like her…”
He was offering his help.
“Think straight. We can hide the fact that we escaped from the Ju Clan for now, but how long can we keep it a secret? Can we keep it hidden even if she becomes the Lady of the House?”
“Right. And who can guarantee that the Ju Clan Lady of the House won’t send us back to the Ju Clan territory?”
After a brief silence, someone else stood up, and then another.
Soon, everyone in the room was standing.
Their eyes gleamed with determination, their gazes sharp.
They nodded, sharing an unspoken plan.
And someone was watching them, hidden in the shadows of the pillars.
The figure quietly slipped away before the group dispersed.
“Oh my god. So… you really… got married? Just the two of you?”
“Goodness. No wonder Clan Head Baek looked at you like he was about to melt.”
“We were so worried that something might happen when you returned to the Ju Clan territory, and when you went to the Human Realm…”
“Right! And while we were worrying, you two were having a secret wedding!”
Sehwa chuckled at the three sisters’ words and warned them, “I’m telling you this because you need to know, but don’t make a fuss. I haven’t even told Mother yet.”
“…The young masters will be alright. And we’re definitely coming with you to the inauguration ceremony.”
“That’s right! Don’t even think about leaving us behind! We’re not leaving your side this time!”
She was grateful for their unwavering loyalty and support.
Looking at the three sisters affectionately, Sehwa poured tea from the cups they had brought, then asked, “Why did Youngmu bring the tea herself? I heard the Baek Clan has tea servers.”
She already knew the answer.
She had experienced the Baek Clan's situation enough in her past life to know what was going on.
As expected, the three sisters exchanged glances, their expressions darkening.
“Why? Did something happen?”
“Don’t even ask. The Baek Clan servants are all so strange. They pretend not to hear anything we ask.”
“We haven’t made a fuss about it because we don’t want the Elder and Madam to worry, given the current situation, but…”
“Honestly, it’s so frustrating that I want to grab them by the collar and shake them.”
“No, don’t do anything,” Sehwa said, stopping the sisters, who looked ready to take action, and smiled. “I’ll take care of it.”
“…What?”
The sisters, who had been about to argue that they wouldn’t stand for anyone disrespecting the Elder or Sehwa, were stunned.
“What are you going to do? Shake them?”
“Yes. So you just stay put.”
Sehwa raised her slender wrist and brought the small teacup to her lips.
The tea, smooth and fragrant, was so delicious that she understood why Baek Manyong had complained so much at her residence.
She placed the empty cup back on its saucer and smiled. “Kind words and goodwill aren’t going to help in this situation. It’ll just be a waste of time and effort.”
“So what else can I do? I'll have to put them in their place.”
No matter who they were, they would eventually learn how to treat her if she kept at it.
“My lady, I’ve brought you some tea.”
A maid with a solemn expression opened the door, holding a tray carefully.
Her downcast gaze and careful movements showed how dedicated she was to serving the person in this room.
She approached Sehwa, who was sitting by the window.
“I’m Jae Ulji, assigned to temporarily attend to you, my lady. I’ve brought you some tea.”
“Place it there.”
Youngsun, standing behind Sehwa, gave the order, and the maid replied politely, “Yes,” and placed the tray on the table quietly.
Her respectful demeanor made the three sisters’ complaints about the Baek Clan servants seem unfounded.
“This is Hyangra tea, a specialty from Maju Province in the Baek Clan territory. I prepared it for you, thinking you might be tired from your journey.”
She poured the tea gracefully.
A refreshing, invigorating fragrance filled the room.
Even Youngsun, who wasn't particularly fond of tea, was impressed.
“It’ll soothe your throat and chest, and help you sleep better.”
Sehwa closed her eyes and savored the pleasant aroma.
“I see. Thank you for offering me such fine tea.”
“It’s my duty to serve you with utmost care, whenever and wherever. …And…”
The maid hesitated, glancing at the three sisters standing behind Sehwa, and curtsied slightly. “I apologize for our previous… lack of hospitality. We didn't know you were the future Lady of the House…”
“......”
“We… those of us working in this residence… we’ve been frustrated by the lack of progress in the disappearance cases. Some of us even harbored resentment…”
Youngsun’s voice was sharp as she asked, “Why are you suddenly saying this? Did you have a change of heart?”
The maid’s face hardened, and she lowered her gaze further, biting her lip several times before answering, “I know this might sound presumptuous, but… I came to my senses as soon as I realized you were the future Lady of the House. I was also worried about incurring the Clan Head’s wrath and being dismissed…”
“......”
“We shouldn’t have been so disrespectful to those we should be serving. Please forgive us, just this once. From now on, we’ll serve you, our Lady of the House, with all our hearts.”
Her sincere expression and earnest apology seemed genuine.
Sehwa smiled gently. “It’s alright. Thank you for telling me. Why would I dismiss someone who’s willing to serve me with loyalty and sincerity? Don’t worry, I won’t hold it against you.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you, my lady. I will serve you faithfully.”
“Good. Then could you bring me some more tea?”
“More tea? Ah, it must have gotten cold. Shall I prepare a fresh pot?”
“No. I just enjoyed the aroma so much that I don’t think this will be enough.”
“I see. Then I’ll prepare some more right away.”
“Yes. Could you bring about ten more pots?”
“What?”
The maid blinked, as if she hadn’t heard correctly, and asked, “…Ten pots?”
“Yes. Can you do that?” Sehwa smiled kindly.
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