If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 15

She circled the outskirts of the village over and over. Even as she breathed in the refreshing breeze, the questions swirling in her mind refused to fade.

Why had he been standing outside the sleeping woman’s room?

His shadow flickered in her mind again. For some reason, the day she arrived at Museolwon suddenly resurfaced in her memory.

That day, the snowstorm had been especially fierce. The frightened palanquin bearers panicked before eventually abandoning the palanquin and fleeing.

Yuseol had assumed they were repairing it, so she waited endlessly. As she grew numb from the cold, Geon tried to rouse her before stepping outside the palanquin.

When Yuseol briefly regained consciousness, she grew frightened and went searching for Geon, only to collapse in the snow. Just as she was about to lose consciousness completely, she saw a man in a white robe walking toward her from afar.

His steps were unwavering even in the storm, and Yuseol somehow knew he would save her life. She felt that certainty without any logical reason.

A thick, misty scent emanated from his hand as it neared her face. Closing her eyes at the inexplicable familiarity, she heard a low voice.

“This again.”

“…….”

“Pathetic.”

She remembered him as being exceptionally tall and well-built, his voice deep and calm. The more she recalled, the more the man named Mu-yeong flickered in her mind.

Could that man have been Mu-yeong?

Lost in thought, Yuseol grew restless and decided to seek him out herself.

He was likely staying in the guest quarters of the inner residence. Her steps carried her toward the inner halls—a place she had never ventured before.

He was likely staying in the sarangchae of the main quarters. Yuseol’s steps turned toward the main house—somewhere she had never set foot in before.

It was around the time the fog thickened. The grand, ᄃ-shaped residence exuded a sense of stately elegance.

But guards stood watch at the gates, preventing her from freely exploring.

Yuseol peeked past the wooden porch into the inner chambers before bowing her head. She had no idea where he was. She couldn’t just stand there waiting….

Moreover, the unusual structure—complete with a staircase leading to the second floor—intimidated her, and she retreated without daring to proceed. The only thing she gained was the feeling of being the protagonist in a silent landscape painting.

This time, her steps led her toward a small side gate. She thought she might check the waterfall and river below—perhaps, like before, he was enjoying a swim there.

She walked endlessly down a sloping path bordered by a low stone wall separating the forest. By the time her breath grew ragged, the massive gates of the lower village came into view.

The memory of drinking poison here was vivid. Her heart pounded erratically. Yuseol quickened her pace, passing through the gates before descending the slope a little further.

The roaring sound of the waterfall grew louder, and the forest she had glimpsed from the corner of her eye abruptly ended. A vast, open space lay ahead, veiled in a fine mist.

Feeling as though she had stepped into a paradise-like abyss, Yuseol ventured inside. To the right was a small waterfall, and below it, a river. The waterfall’s dark waters suggested great depth, while the opposite side was shallow enough to reveal the stony riverbed.

Yuseol moved toward a towering tree near the rocky bank and scanned the river. But there was no sign of anyone.

Half disappointed, half relieved, she exhaled. Though she had wandered aimlessly to ask about Geon’s whereabouts, she wasn’t sure she was ready to face him directly.

The day was fading. The violet sky, indigo river, and pale mist blended into a dazzlingly beautiful harmony.

Yuseol, shivering slightly, lost herself in the scenery, inhaling the fragrant scent of the river. Then, a faint breeze swept through, carrying the mist toward her.

Something caught her eye near the cliffside—where she had assumed no one was. A man stood before an easel, painting.

Despite the distance, Yuseol recognized him as Mu-yeong. Though they had met only a few times, she had grown familiar with his appearance.

Her heart suddenly raced. After searching for him all day, it was only natural.

Now, all she had to do was approach and speak to him. But as she watched him absorbed in the breathtaking landscape across the river, she hesitated and hid behind a tree.

She didn’t want to disturb him. Yet, she also wanted to know what he was doing. Her eyes began observing him intently. He seemed to be painting, his gaze fixed on the canvas.

Perhaps he was capturing the scenery here. But in a place where the mist rolled in endlessly, even in brief moments, it would be difficult….