When the Black Moon Rises - Chapter 231
Chapter 231
When he first thought that he should bring the Clan Head seat to himself, it was just because of other elders' requests, however, now that seat felt like it was necessarily needed.
‘Yes. When many people are gathered, I will request for the Clan Head seat in front of them. Let’s see if he can still act the same after I become the Clan Head.’
Ju Sanghyun pressed down and hid his gaze that was getting sharpened.
While they were called elders of the Ju family in a high position, in truth, they hadn't even gone outside the territory often.
Since all the most flamboyant and beautiful things in the world were in the Ju family, they thought that there would be nothing much to see even if they went outside.
However, the White Stone Pavilion in early winter was beautiful like a painting.
The pure white marble mansion was fresh as if it was born in this season, and the flowers that were in full bloom out of season made the mansion stand out beautifully.
Decorations for the wedding ceremony were flamboyantly lined up, but they didn’t look messy at all.
The eyes of the Ju family elders who saw the White Stone Pavilion for the first time widened in front of the scenery that just made admiration come out.
‘Ah, no. It’s easy to just decorate well on the outside. How can they compare to the scenery of our Ju family boasting history and tradition.’
Besides, since it was the leader of the alliance’s wedding, while they anticipated that all of the Six Clans would attend.
‘However, I thought that just some envoys would come at most, but what's with this scene.’
Inside the wide wedding hall, all the families’ warriors were lined up wearing their families’ symbolic colors.
When was the last time they saw such a majestic scene.
Even the Mystic Ruler’s enthronement ceremony wasn't this organized.
‘Moreover, what are all those many black clothes? How can such lowly things be in this place?!’
The place where Ju Sanghyun’s gaze touched, the exiles were standing aligned.
As if they were part of one family that stood shoulder to shoulder with the Seven Clans of the Mystic Realm, fully equipped with ceremonial attire.
The faces of the Ju family elders who had been managing their expressions with effort were distorted even more.
“At the Mystic Ruler’s enthronement ceremony a while ago, just three including the attendants attended from all of the Six Clans. ……Just seeing this place, I would think that what was being held now is the Mystic Ruler’s enthronement ceremony.”
“Moreover, what are all those criminals? What's their connection to the wedding ceremony that they’ve been called to this place?”
“Are you setting them up to pressure us once again by making us perceive our crimes?”
Wasn't the group in black ceremonial robes over there those they directly stole everything from and banished to the Human Realm?
Whether it was according to the Mystic Ruler's orders, and whether they knew or not, those people were their fault and a source of shame.
It was already awkward just with that, but those lowly bloods who had no family were standing shoulder to shoulder with the noble elders.
Besides, surrounding the bride’s carriage as if they were her backing, their appearances with proudly straightened shoulders seemed extremely arrogant.
To make matters worse, Myoungyoon who had arrived beforehand signaled to Ju Sanghyun and the elders.
Telling them to leave and stand in their family seats even though their roles of escorting the bride and leading her to the altar weren't even finished yet.
It was the moment when they were stepping aside because they were curious about what was going on.
Those wearing black ceremonial robes came forward as if they had talked about it beforehand.
And then, they began escorting the bride’s carriage as if they were her blood relatives.
The elders faltered at the ceremony that didn't make sense.
How, how dare they! How far were they going to proceed with the ceremony so arbitrarily?
The elders’ anger flared to the top of their heads at once.
“Th, that!”
“Elder Sanghyun! Is it alright even for them to be like that?”
“What's going on! While the elder’s daughter’s name is recorded on the Ju family register, how can she get escorted by those lowly exiles of unknown origins? We came all the way here!”
“Even if it’s temporary, isn’t Elder Myoungyoon the Clan Head of the Ju family now! How can he be the Clan Head and simply watch us be insulted like this?!”
“Elder Sanghyun, Elder, please say something too.”
“Shh.”
Ju Sanghyun whispered, grinding his teeth.
“How can I permit such a thing. But if I want to get the Clan Head seat, in the end, I need Myoungyoon’s and the Six Clans’ agreement.”
“……That’s true, but.”
“I’m also holding it in only because of that one reason. So let’s see just how far they will go.”
“But Elder, even if you bring the Clan Head seat after our Ju family’s reputation gets tarnished, what good will it be?”
“That is correct. Please step forward, Elder, so we don’t get insulted like this anymore.”
It was that time.
Strong exclamations not hiding any admiration burst out behind him who was enraged.
The bride was stepping down from the palanquin.
The musicians played their instruments powerfully in time.
The bride revealing the appearance of her wedding dress for the first time was breathtakingly beautiful.
The bride didn’t step down from the palanquin even once on the way here, and didn’t even go inside the bride’s dressing room that had been prepared in front of the wedding hall.
But how is she so neat without a single disorder like that?
On her startlingly clear skin, a faint blush contrasting with the bright red ceremonial robe was risen, but that couldn’t look more fragile and soft.
The hem of the ceremonial robe fluttering at each step was pitiful, like a branch hanging down full of flower buds.
The deer-like long and thin white neck that was visible below her ebony hair that had flamboyant decorations made those watching’s mouths burn dry.
Perhaps they had installed some mechanism on the paving stones leading to the altar? Wherever her steps touched, transparent light spread out like morning sunlight.
The Seven Clans’ attendees standing along the road stared, mesmerized, at the eternal moment while the woman was passing before them.
At that moment, Ju Sanghyun discovered something.
‘……Th, that!’
He was late to notice because he had lost his soul at the bride's beauty for a moment.
Around this time, Ju Myoungyoon should be coming down and holding the bride's hand to come up to the altar, but
Ju Myoungyoon had come down at some point, and was sitting in the Clan Head’s seat before them, and those following behind the bride were only the exiles wearing black.
Doing a wedding ceremony alone without being guided by parents was something only allowed for the Clan Head.
‘Is Myoungyoon even declaring that he’ll make that daughter get on the Clan Head seat?’
Ju Sanghyun's face flared up.
While he had been waiting until the wedding ceremony ended, he came out to the front at once at the thought that he would never be able to become the Clan Head if he did so.
He approached the bride with his head bowed and held out his hand.
Sehwa’s gaze reached his hand for a moment, and then came up to Ju Sanghyun.
The red lips opened, and a clear and soft voice asked,
“What is it?”
Ju Sanghyun, after watching Ju Myoungyoon once, answered.
“Elder Myoungyoon is not doing his role. The bride’s family has to lead the bride to the top of the altar.”
“So, are you calling yourself my father right now, Elder?”
Her tone wasn't aggressive.
As if she was asking since she was truly curious, it was even a bit innocent.
“You and I share the same blood, and I’m no different than your uncle, so what is there that I can't act as a father instead?”
“…….”
“Even if the order holding up the Mystic Realm until now is temporarily disordered, because it's a time like this, there are things we have to protect more and things we have to continue more.”
Sehwa just watched him quietly instead of answering.
“You also wouldn't not know how much the Ju Clan is being insulted at this ceremony right now. I’ll give you one piece of advice. It won’t be good for you either to treat your family carelessly like this.”
Ju Sanghyun bit his lips and added,
“Do you think that the seat of Lady of the House of the Six Clans is just a good seat? While one can absorb the other among family and family, they cannot equally be mixed as one.”
“Elder.”
“Just listen. Even if you became a Divine Beast, Clan Head Baek is also a Divine Beast. He became the leader of the Six Clans before you. If you happen to oppose him, at that time, would the Six Clans support you? Or support Clan Head Baek?”
Ju Sanghyun cut off his words resolutely, as if telling her not to misunderstand.
“Your side is only our Ju family that gave birth to you and raised you. To not even grasp that simple principle. No. You also know that, so you must have tried to increase your power by setting up those exiles behind you.”
While the musicians were flustered, they didn't stop playing, so the content of the conversation didn't spread around.
However, those around were already quietly focusing on the two's appearance of whispering suddenly in the middle of the ceremony.
Ju Sanghyun, looking back at those gazes, shook his hand and urged.
“Hurry up and grab it. Even if it’s to fix this messed-up ceremony even a little. So, notify that our Ju family is beside you.”
“…….”
“I told you to hurry up and grab it!”
It was that moment.
Laughter like beads scattered from Sehwa’s lips with rouge on them.
Leaving the afterglow of laughter that she couldn't erase completely at the corners of her lips, she asked,
“I’ll also ask one thing. Is this the shared thought of all the Ju family elders?”
“What?”
“Answer.”
“It is.”
The corners of Sehwa’s lips painted red rose upwards.
“Then indeed, you are enlightening this foolish blood relative, Elder.”
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