If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 113

“I’ve cleaned it well, so now I’ll properly grind it. While I’m at it, I’ll make a beautiful, fine powder and apply it to your eyes and cheeks, Lady.”

“So that’s what it’s for.”

“Yes, I will make you more radiant than any other woman in this world.”

Yanghui began to pound the seashell with a pestle, thump-thump. Her expression, her touch, and her breath all held the passion to make Yuseol the most beautiful woman. The light flashing in her eyes with each pound of the pestle added to her credibility.

“I hope our master will be pleased, too.”

BANG-BANG-BANG! The sound of the mortar continued endlessly.

Yuseol just stared at the innocent mortar. Her usually calm face was becoming clouded with turmoil. Mu-yeong was a man who had made her feel anxious and even fearful whenever she thought of him until recently. Lately, she felt a strange flicker in her chest, and she was frustrated that she didn’t know why.

Yanghui, who was observing such a Yuseol, had a curious look in her eyes. Then she hesitated for a moment and asked carefully.

“Do you also wish for that, Lady?”

Yuseol’s lips, which had been slightly parted, closed. There was no sign of them opening again. Time passed meaninglessly. In Yuseol’s mind, only the thought that he would be leaving soon lingered.

“…I don’t know.”

The shells, which were like coarse sand from the seashore, were gradually being crushed into tiny pieces. The loud sound of the mortar became quieter.

At that moment, Yanghui, who had been imagining something, suddenly let out a deep sigh.

“I’m also worried that His Majesty the King will find you more beautiful than our master.”

Yuseol, who had already experienced a similar incident at the pavilion, froze. Just the thought of it made her uncomfortable, which was a huge problem. Beyond feeling uncomfortable, she felt a sense of injustice that made her chest feel hot. She couldn’t bear to think of Kim Seon, who had abandoned Han Yuseol, whom he had promised to marry, met with Meisa, and still couldn’t take his eyes off a new woman.

Yanghui put more shells into the mortar. At that moment, Yuseol picked up a little of the shell powder and felt its texture to calm her mind. She repeatedly told herself that if she openly resented Kim Seon, she would ruin everything. Yes, she had much more she could do right now.

In the future, she would disrupt his relationship with Meisa and find their weaknesses. In the meantime, she would find her sister and help her escape, then she would leave the palace as if she had nothing to do with any of it. And she wanted to help the scholars reveal the truth behind her father’s death. She didn’t know how much she could accomplish, but she had no time to be swayed by her resentment.

Yuseol took a long breath and thought to herself over and over, as if she were hypnotizing herself. That she was Sahwa, that her life in the palace with the king was exciting, and that the king’s interest in her was not bad….

A dark smile appeared on her face.

“Still, it would be good if he thought I was pretty.”

Yanghui looked at Yuseol as if she had heard something unbelievable.

“Is that so?”

Yuseol endured the heavy feeling in her heart and nodded.

“Yes, that’s how I feel.”

The pestle in Yanghui’s hand began to spin inside the mortar. Yuseol wanted to end the conversation here and return to her room. Since it was still difficult for her to say things that were contrary to her feelings, she wanted to practice alone. She didn’t want to act awkwardly in a situation where many people’s lives were at stake.

“I should go back to my room now. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Yuseol slightly pressed down on the floor and got up. As she turned toward her room, she saw a man standing against the opposite wall. It was Mu-yeong. He was lightly leaning his back against the wall, watching Yuseol.

Thump-thump! Yanghui pounded the mortar again. The heavy vibrations reached Yuseol’s feet. Each time, she felt her heart beating wildly and let out a shaky breath. In her head, she was retracing what she had just said.

She had talked about Kim Seon. It seemed she had expressed a positive feeling toward him. She had thought it was something anyone could hear. That was before Mu-yeong appeared in front of her.

“…Hello, my lord.”

At Yuseol’s words, Yanghui was startled and got up to greet him. Mu-yeong didn’t even look at Yanghui and only watched Yuseol.

As a chilling aura emanated from his eyes, Yuseol couldn’t find anything else to say and averted her gaze. Her heart, which she thought would calm down once the sound of the mortar stopped, was now beating even faster.