If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 121

Although finding out Sahwa’s true identity was the most urgent matter, Meisa was also curious about Sahwa’s makeup techniques. It seemed there might be a secret to her exceptionally radiant complexion.

Meisa had sent court ladies to Yanghui to find out the secret. She had instructed them to befriend her rather than press her for information.

The court lady replied in a somber voice.

“They say they haven’t gotten close enough to that girl Yanghui to have a private conversation yet.”

Meisa crunched on a peanut, which was among the snacks she was given, and ordered.

“Find something that girl would like and give it to her as a gift.”

The court lady looked at Meisa as if asking what she meant. Meisa irritably narrowed her brow.

That girl, Yanghui, was a commoner who had probably never even smelled the air of the palace her entire life. So, she must be feeling an illusion that she was now somebody. If that illusion was amplified, she might just spill everything she knew.

“Can’t you even understand that I’m telling you to put her in debt so you can get information from her?”

“Yes, I’ll do as you commanded, Lady.”

The court lady went out as if she were fleeing. Waiting for the outside to become quiet, Meisa put the insect-eating plant powder into the ointment the court lady had brought and began to stir it with a silver spoon.

It was already time for Kim Seon to take a break.

He used to come by around this time, but there had been no news of him. It had already been three days.

Meisa had a feeling he had changed. Just a month ago, he was a man who, though reluctantly, would move to accommodate her unreasonable requests.

Lately, he had more questions and was busier. The loving look in his eyes, which had always been the same, now felt as if it had cooled down.

He said he was too busy with court affairs to even get a good night’s sleep. Believing his words, Meisa heard some unpleasant news. It was the fact that he had met Sahwa again yesterday. The expression “ran into each other by chance” might be more accurate, but Meisa could not hide her annoyance and anxiety.

If he had acted like a man, it wouldn’t have been like this. But he had no interest in such things and mostly enjoyed languidly resting together.

But that was something that could be done with anyone. The area under Meisa’s eyes twitched.

Going to meet him in the royal court a few days ago seemed like a mistake. If she hadn’t gone to confront him then, he might have come today.

Should she get a hold of some old books he might like and go see him?

No, she should meet that person first and get some advice.

Meisa’s expression, which had been full of irritation, relaxed as she closed the lid of the ointment. Instead of worrying like this, she wanted to find an answer by meeting that person, who was always wise.

That person was a benefactor who had helped her settle here while she was on a trip. It was probably about half a year ago when they started communicating more often.

It was a beautiful day. A technician from Hwanghae began to build a pagoda for offerings behind the royal court, and Meisa had followed the path where the materials were being transported.

The man who approached her at the ferry terminal that day praised her beauty and whispered that she was the one who would become queen. He also said that he would help her become queen if she wished.

Meisa didn’t know the man’s identity or intentions, so she laughed it off, but she kept thinking about his words for several days. It was truly the sweetest flattery she had ever heard.

Even if his words were a lie, Meisa had nothing to lose, so she began to follow the man.

Furthermore, the man helped her get money. He had put in effort to bring a powder extracted from a blue rock, which was only found in Hwanghae, into this country.

He truly seemed to only want her to become queen and did not accept any compensation.

Gold coins began to accumulate in Meisa’s ceramic jar. The money was more valuable because it was earned by her and her cousins, not her father’s money, which she had always used.

But while Meisa was happy with this dream-like reality, she also questioned the man’s sincerity. What in the world did he want that he would give others wealth and power without expecting anything in return?

Meisa, who had been reminiscing, looked at the door and said.

“I’m going to meet the Chief Secretary, so prepare to leave.”

The man was the Chief Secretary of this country. He seemed to love the king and this country more than anyone else.

However, the Chief Secretary did not like the Crown Princess-to-be, Han Yuseol. He said it was because if she became queen, her father would seize power.

He wanted to give the king sole absolute power. And he always encouraged Meisa by telling her that she had the power to do so.

Meisa wanted to become a wise queen who knew how to protect power, just as he wished. So, she wanted to prove herself with actions, not just words.

She felt that deeply scarring Sahwa and Museolwon would be a great achievement. Therefore, she would use a vile trick to erase Sahwa’s makeup.

If that was not enough, she was even willing to use a last resort to achieve her goal and planned to dig a trap that Mu-yeong would inevitably fall into, entangling him in it as well. His face was too handsome to die as a traitor, but he was a threatening presence, so there was no other way.

Meisa got up to go out and felt her inner pocket, as if checking the situation. A finger-sized bottle was inside. It was the blue powder that had been on many people’s lips lately.