When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 147
Chapter 147
Though his feet were heavy, Baek Giha had no choice but to mount his horse.
He promised to return quickly, so she wouldn’t have to join him.
He placed a lingering kiss on her fingertips and left the Baek Clan residence.
As Sehwa watched him go, turning around only after he was out of sight…
Youngsun, who had been away on an errand, hurried back to Sehwa’s side.
“My lady, the servants asked for your help,” Youngsun whispered, relaying their message.
Apparently, some evil creatures, which the Clan Head had been keeping contained, had escaped due to the servants' negligence.
They were fast and had tough hides, so they needed someone who could use spiritual power, and if this incident became known while the Clan Head was away, they would be severely punished.
So, they were asking for help in capturing the creatures secretly.
“If they call, we go.”
“I figured you would say that, so I brought the necessary tools. I’ll go right away.”
“Can you handle it alone, if it’s so urgent? Let’s go together.”
Sehwa and the three sisters, their eyes gleaming, quickly turned and headed towards where the message had come from.
To think they would start so soon…
Sehwa’s face was expressionless as she listened to Youngsun.
The servants who passed them in the hallway stared in surprise.
It was strange.
The residences of each clan in the Mystic Realm had undergone numerous expansions and renovations over the years.
It was common for newcomers to get lost inside.
Even with a map, it was difficult to navigate the hallways without actually walking them for several days.
Yet…
‘She’s clearly here for the first time, yet she’s walking around as if she owns the place, without any guidance…’
Half of the servants were determined to oppose Sehwa, unwilling to accept her.
The other half were waiting to see how things unfolded, having noticed the disappearance of several maids since yesterday.
But her confident and dignified demeanor as she walked through the hallways…
They could only stare blankly as she passed by.
Like a lone conifer standing tall and proud on a snow-covered field, she exuded an elegant aura that captivated their attention.
‘…No, wait. What am I thinking, admiring a Ju Clan member? I barely escaped the Ju Clan territory with my life, and now I'm being treated like a human being here…’
Some of the maids, realizing their fascination with Sehwa, scoffed at themselves.
Just as Sehwa, after glancing around, turned towards the servants' quarters…
One of them, recovering first, quickly approached her.
“Where are you going, my lady? The servants’ quarters are this way, I thought you might need some assistance.”
Sehwa’s gaze fell on the maid, who bowed her head respectfully.
“......”
But she didn't say anything.
Usually, in such situations, the maids would step forward, accusing the person of blocking their lady’s path, but there was no such reaction.
‘What’s going on?’
Then a gentle voice spoke, “What’s your name?”
“M-My name is Cheong Samno, my lady.”
“Alright, Samno. Then can you help me? I need more than just directions.”
Samno glanced up.
Intriguing, crimson eyes met hers.
“What… kind of help? I’ll do anything I can.”
“I think I’ll need more than just you, so let’s all go together. I know you have other duties, but I’ll take responsibility for that later.”
“…Everyone here? My lady?”
Instead of answering, Sehwa simply looked at Samno.
Samno’s face paled, and she quickly lowered her gaze.
…This was truly strange.
The elders had said that this woman was just a child who had recently undergone exuviation, but where was this oppressive aura coming from?
It wasn't just Samno who felt it; most of the surrounding maids also lowered their heads, their faces pale.
“N-No, my lady. I’ll obey. Where… where should we go?”
“Let’s go to the backyard.”
Sehwa gestured towards the backyard.
A dozen maids followed Sehwa and the three sisters.
“Are you sure they’re coming?”
“They said they wanted to support you, that they would do anything for the Lady of the House, that we would all be dismissed if anyone found out… I made it sound like they had no choice, but…”
“But?”
“They’re from the Ju Clan’s branch families. The Sa Clan is just as arrogant as the Ju Clan, how can I be sure they’ll help?”
Several people with sharp expressions were standing in the backyard of Baekseok Residence, where the leaves were already changing color prematurely.
On the other side of the residence, beyond the garden, a vast coniferous forest stretched out, connected to the snowy mountains.
Faint hoofbeats echoed from deep within the forest.
Their anxious gazes darted towards the entrance to the backyard every time they heard the sound.
‘Should we try something else?’
Just as they exchanged worried glances…
Thump, thump.
Footsteps finally approached, treading on the garden soil.
Their faces brightened as they looked up.
“What took you so—!”
“Am I too late? I apologize.”
“M-My lady!”
They stared, dumbfounded, blinking repeatedly.
Not only had the single set of footsteps they had expected multiplied endlessly, but Ju Sehwa herself was walking at the front.
“M-My lady… what are you doing here? And who are all these people…?”
“You asked for help, didn’t you?”
“Y-Yes, but I only asked your maids…”
“What are you talking about? You should ask for help from anyone when there’s an emergency. You must have been desperate to ask even my maids, whom you barely know, for help.”
“No, that’s not… what I meant… we asked for someone who could freely use their spiritual power…”
“It’s alright, there’s no need for further explanations. Let’s take care of this quickly. I’ll see to it myself.”
“…My lady…”
“I told you to move.”
When the maid blocking Sehwa’s path hesitated, Sehwa’s gaze sharpened. “Didn’t you say it was urgent? Why are you stalling? Unless you have some ulterior motive!”
“I-I don’t…”
“Move!”
The maid, intimidated by Sehwa’s aura, hurriedly stepped aside.
Everyone in the tense backyard froze, their mouths closed.
The faint sound of hoofbeats from afar became clearer.
Sehwa, looking towards the source of the sound, quietly ordered Youngmoo, “Bring the horses. Judging from the direction of their approach, we’ll need them.”
The anxious maid spoke again, “My lady, are you… really going yourself? We can handle this on our own…”
And did this woman even know how to ride a horse?
It was common knowledge in the Mystic Realm that Ju Clan women always used palanquins, even for short distances.
Sehwa smiled, intentionally using the words that would provoke them the most. “Of course. I’m the future Lady of the House, I can’t neglect my duties.”
“…!”
The warmth in their eyes disappeared instantly.
‘…She’s already calling herself the Lady of the House…’
Their original plan had been to tarnish her reputation by having the maids involve her in this incident.
Things hadn't gone exactly as planned, but whether they took one step at a time or two steps at once, it didn't matter, as long as they were moving forward.
Just then, Youngmoo, who had gone to fetch the horses, said, “My lady, I apologize, but I’m not familiar with the location of the stables yet.”
It was absurd for those who had been serving Ju Myoungyoon and Cheon Sua to not know where the stables were.
But those who were looking for an opportunity immediately took the bait.
“Then I’ll go fetch the horses, my lady.”
As soon as Sehwa nodded, several maids ran towards the residence.
They returned shortly after, each holding the reins of a large, black warhorse with a flowing white mane.
“My lady, what should we do? We tried to find gentler horses, but it seems the Baek Clan cavalry has gone out on patrol, and these are the only ones left.”
They didn’t even realize that the fact they were able to bring these warhorses proved that someone higher up was behind this.
Sehwa simply nodded and stepped forward, suppressing a laugh.
“You can’t ride such a spirited warhorse, my lady, so I’ll—”
“Give me the reins.”
“…What?”
The maid, not understanding, asked, “You’re going to ride it?”
Neigh—!!
These warhorses usually had designated riders and only obeyed their commands.
Even the maids wouldn't have been able to bring them without the tools given to them by the elders.
As expected…
The moment Sehwa took the reins, the large black horse began to thrash about.
The maids’ faces paled at the horse’s terrifying display of power, worse than they had anticipated.
They hurriedly backed away, afraid of being trampled, when the warhorse, unable to free itself from her control, reared up before Sehwa.
Neigh—!!
“Kyaaa!”
They hadn't anticipated this.
As the maids closed their eyes, unable to bear to watch…
A sudden silence fell.
‘…?’
There was no sound of bones breaking or the horse thrashing.
‘What happened? Did the horse avoid her?’
As they cautiously opened their eyes…
…they saw Sehwa and her entourage sitting calmly on top of the giant warhorses, looking down at them with an amused expression.
“…?”
What… what was this…?
Why were those ferocious warhorses, which looked like they had come straight from hell, so docile…?
“You all seem to be in no hurry, so we’ll be going first,” Sehwa said, scanning the group. “I’ve memorized all your faces, so you better follow us! If you don't, I'll tell the Clan Head about your suspicious behavior.”
“!”
With that, Sehwa and the three sisters kicked their horses’ flanks.
Leaving the bewildered maids behind…
The warhorses, as if they had been working with Sehwa for a long time, galloped effortlessly towards the forest at the edge of the backyard, responding to her slightest commands.
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