When the Black Moon Rises - Side Story 23
Side Story 23
The three sisters didn't come even after hearing that Sehwa was in the Human Realm.
"What are the sisters doing? Why didn't they come with you?"
"When did you run away and leave them behind, and now you're asking why they didn't come with you?"
"Don't tease me. Did something really happen in the Mystic Realm? Did the Ju Clan elders cause trouble again, not knowing their place?"
"No. It's not that."
"Something is going on, isn't it? Please tell me. If you don't tell me now, I'll have no choice but to return immediately."
"Well. It's nothing major, but ............... I'm talking about those exiles."
Exiles?
Sehwa blinked at the unexpected topic.
"By exiles, do you mean Merchant Choi's group?"
"Yes."
"What about them?"
"At the end of the wedding ceremony, didn't you change their true forms?"
Her mother, as if troubled, pressed her forehead once.
"That news spread so quickly that those who wanted to change their true forms flocked to the Baek Clan with mountains of gifts."
"Oh......."
"They didn't even make an appointment, just barged in, causing such a commotion, begging to see your face just once."
"It's not incomprehensible, but so many people have been deployed to manage the crowds that the situation is quite complicated right now."
...How could I not have foreseen such a situation?
"I'll return immediately. It's something I need to handle, so I'll just pack my bags and go straight with Mother-."
Cheon Sua stopped the flustered Sehwa.
"No. It's actually more helpful for you and Clan Head Baek to be here. It's probably better if you don't show yourself until the excitement has somewhat died down. If you were to return to the Baek Clan, wouldn't we have no choice but to lie?"
"Well, they already know they can't get what they want by throwing a tantrum. And they can't stay like that forever, so it will get better with time."
"I was careless. Do you think it can be managed?"
"Of course. Do you think only you and Clan Head Baek are capable? The Baek Clan Chancellor is quite good at his job. And the other Clan Heads who are staying there are also actively stepping forward to resolve the matter."
"......."
"Everyone was worried about you, so seeing that you weren't in the Mystic Realm actually relieved them. So, stay in the Human Realm for now. I'll send word when the matter is resolved."
As Sehwa hesitated to answer, hurried footsteps rapidly approached.
She turned to see Seong Ik-gwon running, forgetting his dignity.
"You've returned. I was just about to send palace attendants to the palace gate to inform you about the visitors."
"Inform us of what? Inform us to turn back and run away when we've returned to meet them?"
"Haha. No, it's not that. I was going to inform you to hurry a little more because esteemed guests had arrived."
"You speak well. We are returning now, so there's no need to inform us in advance."
Cheon Sua chuckled at Seong Ik-gwon's jest and gestured towards the carts lined up beneath the wall.
"First, the three from the far right are for you, so take them and organize them. I meant to tell you yesterday, but I completely forgot."
"Yes? For me?"
Seong Ik-gwon, surprised by the unexpected words, asked again.
He quickly turned around and saw carts laden with what appeared to be goods from the celestial realm.
She's giving him three of those?
His bewildered gaze soon filled with obvious excitement.
"I'm sorry they're not particularly grand, but I brought some grains from our home and some items that can be used here. It seems I'll have to keep my daughter here for a while."
"Not grand? That's an absurd thing to say."
"Haha. Is that so? Anyway, the grains might take a little time to grow, but if you harvest and consume them, you won't easily fall ill, and even if you get hurt, you'll recover quickly. I've written down the cultivation methods separately, but if there's anything you don't understand, write it down. I'll tell you when I come next time."
"We have already received immense grace from the celestials, and now such precious gifts in return for less than half a penny's worth of repayment... I don't know what to do."
"They are not so precious where we come from, so please accept them. This child might stay for quite a while, so you shouldn't feel burdened either."
"Even if you were to stay for generations, as long as you wish, it would be our pleasure."
Seong Ik-gwon's mouth, unable to utter words of refusal, was parched with joy at that moment.
"Clan Head Baek!"
Cutting into their conversation, a furious roar erupted from afar.
Cheon Sua, Seong Ik-gwon, and Sehwa looked up to see the men, whose atmosphere had been bad earlier, now looking distinctly worse.
Between the three Ju Clan warriors, the Divine Beast, one of only two in the Mystic Realm, listened silently to their words.
His back was turned towards her, so she couldn't see Baek Giha's expression, but she somehow knew.
That if she didn't save him, he would remain there forever, not uttering a single word of excuse.
Sehwa, feeling a sudden urgency, was about to ask her mother for permission and leave when.
"You, have you forgotten your promise to me not to do that?!"
A majestic voice erupted before Sehwa could even open her mouth.
It was Cheon Sua.
Cheon Sua, with a fierce expression, strode towards the four men.
Inserting herself between Baek Giha and the three Ju Clan warriors, Cheon Sua glared at the three warriors, who were much taller than her, all at once.
"What is going on here? I distinctly remember you promising me to speak nicely. What is it? Has that promise been nullified?"
"Ah, no, Madam. Nullified? It's a misunderstanding. I didn't break the promise; I just felt that Clan Head Baek didn't seem to understand my words."
"Then shouldn't you have just spoken quietly again? Why raise your voice? Do words become understandable if you shout like that?"
"Y-you..."
"Moreover, Ju Gahan, Ju Gayoon, I brought you because you were worried about Sehwa's health, but what are you doing interfering here? And what's with that disrespectful posture?"
The two brothers, who had been standing with their weight on one leg, hastily straightened their posture.
"Warriors, harassing one person with multiple others. I must have raised you poorly."
"M-Mother. We're not like that-."
"Enough. You two, step back."
"B-but, Mother."
"Now!"
"....."
At Cheon Sua's imposing presence, the two brothers faltered and stepped back.
Her gaze then turned to the elder warrior standing before her.
The seasoned warrior, who had always been dignified even in the face of death, unconsciously swallowed dryly.
Unable to endure the brief silence that followed, Ju Myoungyoon spoke first.
"Madam. As I said before, I was merely expressing my slight displeasure that Clan Head Baek was moving so carelessly with someone who is pregnant......."
"Are you going to raise your voice like that every time something displeases you about your children? Don't you think it's a parent's duty to slowly inform a child about things they don't know until they understand?"
"A child? Clan Head Baek is-"
"Are you going to raise your voice like that even if your grandchild doesn't understand your words? Are you going to get angry every time your young grandchild displeases you?"
"Ah, no, dear. Why go that far?"
"Ah, I understand. Stop it. I said I'll stop."
Ju Myoungyoon, who had intended to conclude with words like, 'It's because it's our first grandchild, so we're just overly worried,' or 'We trust you'll do well, but please take good care of them,' ended up being forced away in a manner not much different from the two Ju Clan brothers, without properly finishing his conversation.
Watching them, Cheon Sua turned around.
"Clan Head Baek. Why are you listening so intently to what he says?" [The term Cheon Sua user here is 서방 (seobang), which generally means husband but can also be used when referring to a son-in-law. Since there isn't an equivalent term in English, I've just used the term 'Clan Head'.]
Baek Giha, who had suddenly been treated like a child, and even equated with his soon-to-be-born offspring, stood dumbfounded before stiffening.
"......Yes?"
"Are you perhaps upset by his attitude or by what I just said?"
"Ah, no, Madam Cheon. Absolutely not."
"He's been dealing with the unyielding Ju Clan elders for a long time, so his way of speaking has become like that. Please try to understand him. You can't deal with those blockheads with a soft voice."
Cheon Sua gently held his hastily waving hand and said.
Baek Giha, his face flushed, nodded repeatedly.
"Of course. Besides, it was my fault for coming without even sending a letter. Father-in-law merely said what he rightfully should, so Madam Cheon, please don't worry about it."
"......."
"I mean it. I was wrong this time. I will be careful in the future so that you two elders don't have to worry, and your daughter's health too."
"You are my son too."
"......."
"Sehwa isn't my only daughter; you are my son too."
Baek Giha's fingertips were completely cold from how nervous he had been in front of Ju Myoungyoon.
Cheon Sua gripped Baek Giha's hand firmly again.
"So, you don't have to just listen to whatever your father says. If you need to, hide behind me. Understood?"
"......M-Madam Cheon."
"It's alright. I'll take your side no matter what. I'll take my son's side no matter what happens."
"......."
Baek Giha had never in his life heard anyone speak to him like a child.
Perhaps that was why.
Whether he should nod. Or shake his head. Whether he should simply say 'yes'. Or politely decline, saying it's alright.
At this moment, as if his mind had turned to mush, he simply couldn't figure out how to react.
Sehwa, who had approached, also watched Baek Giha's reaction with a little surprise.
He looked as lost as he had been last night in Sugwanchon.
Cheon Sua, who had been gazing at his face with warm and affectionate eyes, now turned to Sehwa and said.
"Anyway, don't worry about the Mystic Realm and rest comfortably here. If anything happens to you, I'll drop everything and rush here, so be sure to send word immediately."
"......Ah, yes. But don't worry about me. I'm living without any shortcomings here."
"Alright. Then I'll return first without worry. Clan Head Baek, don't just look after her; take good care of your own health too. Understood?"
"Yes? Ah, yes. Yes. I will."
Cheon Sua patted his stiff shoulders a few times and then left the palace, gesturing for the three Ju Clan warriors to go ahead.
The three warriors, unable to hide their desire to say more, turned back to look at them several times.
But each time, Cheon Sua's booming voice echoed again, so they eventually had to leave without adding another word.
The Mystic Realm attendants whom Cheon Sua had brought with her also returned, and even Seong Ik-gwon, who tactfully took his palace attendants and left, eager to examine the contents of the carts he had been given.
Then, as if the place had never been crowded, everything quickly became quiet.
Sehwa let out a hollow laugh at the incongruity.
"It's like a typhoon has passed. I didn't expect them to leave so quickly."
But Baek Giha seemed not to have even noticed the surroundings emptying, his face still a little unsettled.
She went to his side and took his hand.
"What's wrong? Did Mother say a lot before I came?"
"Huh? Ah, no. It's not that......."
"......"
"It's not that."
He tried to say something, then closed his mouth again, then tried to speak again, then closed it again.
"You can take your time. I'll listen to everything."
Hearing those words, Baek Giha strangely felt something welling up inside him.
What is this? It felt like his chest ached. And something felt like it was burning inside.
Just like when they left Sugwanchon.
"We'll become a family like that too."
The same feeling he had when he heard those words.
But it was also a little different from anticipation. And similar to joy, but also a little different. He couldn't quite pinpoint what this subtle emotion was. Nor could he explain in detail to her why he was feeling this way.
So, in the end, the only thing he could manage to say was something incredibly foolish.
"......Yes. You listen to everything."
But his wife didn't mock him in the slightest.
She simply embraced him warmly, as if she already knew all the unspoken feelings in his heart.
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