If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 19

Museolwon (霧雪洹) was a territory covered on all sides by fog, snow, and water. For exiles, it was a place that occasionally offered respite, but for well-fed conquerors, it was a tomb.

Mu-yeong liked Museolwon. The entrance was treacherous, but the scenery became more brilliant the higher one climbed. In this world, there weren’t as many things one could obtain through effort as one might think. So he was pleased with the fairness of this place that showed brilliant scenery if one merely risked their life.

He had visited Museolwon every spring. Since it was now late winter, it had been nearly a year. Though hundreds of days had passed by the calendar, nothing had changed except for new trees growing and others disappearing, which satisfied him.

Mu-yeong liked things that didn’t change. In a world that transformed with time, unchanging things were rare.

Sometimes he traveled in search of eternal things. Perhaps he might search eternally, but even that would be included in eternity, so it wasn’t bad.

He had only sorted through a few tedious matters, yet it was already afternoon.

There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky, so the sun shone brightly. Sunlight streaming through the wide-open window illuminated the small table placed near the window. The empty dish on the table sparkled blindingly.

He admired the plum blossoms painted on the dish, then placed a spoonful of honey on the petals. The honey, warmed by the sunlight, gave off a sweet fragrance.

Closing his eyes slightly, he rested his elbow on the windowsill and cupped his chin. As a warm current flowed in like spring breeze, his hair swayed gently.

A yellow butterfly that had survived the winter in its adult form suddenly flew in and began circling around his hair. Then, discovering the honey, it landed delicately on the dish and began drinking the honey.

It was a momentary scene that could never be eternal. Life returned to Mu-yeong’s previously bored eyes.

Just then, the butterfly sensed a predator and tried to fly away. Mu-yeong didn’t allow it. He caught the butterfly’s wing and left the sarangbang, heading to the corridor behind. (t/n: sarangbang refers to the study or private quarters traditionally used by the male head of a household in Korean hanok (traditional houses).)

Past the corridor appeared another hanok in a ㅁ shape. In the center of the hanok was an indoor courtyard. Though it was winter outside, the courtyard was as warm as spring.

Mu-yeong descended to the wooden floor, looking at the green bamboo shoots of the bamboo pillars. Colorful butterflies rested on the fully bloomed flower petals in each flower bed.

The butterfly between his fingers was placed on a pink azalea. The butterfly that had flown away in surprise circled around before landing on the azalea again. It seemed to like the indoor garden. Joyful wing-flapping continued.

His gaze, briefly colored with satisfaction, moved to the floor. A dead butterfly had fallen there. Though not even a season had passed, it had already died having fulfilled its lifespan. Since life could never be eternal, there was no reason to feel regret.

He picked up the black butterfly, dipped it in preservative made from tree sap, then removed it. Soon he arrived at his bedroom and looked down at the windowsill where sunlight entered. Various colored butterflies lay dead on white cotton cloth.

Mu-yeong placed the black butterfly in an empty spot on the cloth, then picked up a purple butterfly he had dried earlier to examine it. Though the texture was hard, it was beautiful to look at, as if it possessed life force.

He soon threaded the butterfly’s back with fine silk thread and hung it from the rafters. Wind blew from the forest. The butterflies trapped in preservative swayed ethereally while hanging from threads.

He gazed with satisfaction at their appearance, as if they were alive and flapping their wings.

Several hours had passed since the sun had completely set.

It was chuksi (1-3 AM), when darkness was at its thickest. The time when luminous things appeared most vivid.

Mu-yeong put on his gat and went outside the sarangchae. He had somewhere to go today.

Just as he was about to set out on the road, he heard sounds from above. Precisely, from the roof.

A man lying diagonally on the roof waved his hand to greet Mu-yeong. It was Jiwoon, who had been staying here recently.

Jiwoon was someone interested in all worldly affairs who liked to look down from high places. As always, his eyes were colored with deep interest. It was because he expected interesting incidents.

Jiwoon had the hobby of going to watch when incidents occurred, or interfering to either escalate or resolve them.

Since that was his nature, Mu-yeong had no intention of understanding him. He merely found him quite bothersome.

“Getting more troublesome already.”

At Mu-yeong’s harsh words, Jiwoon responded leisurely.

“Already acting like this? How disappointing.”

Such was Jiwoon—Mu-yeong’s long-time friend but also a troublesome existence.

This visit too was because they were entangled in some matter together. Though Mu-yeong had invited him, Jiwoon wasn’t particularly pleased, and Mu-yeong didn’t like his visit either. That was exactly the kind of relationship they had.

Mu-yeong furrowed his brow.

“Don’t you plan to appear when the time comes?”

As if familiar with Mu-yeong’s reaction, he nodded leisurely, and instead reproached Mu-yeong who had stayed inside the sarangchae all day.

“What a carefree fellow.”

“…….”

“Time waits for no one.”

Jiwoon’s words weren’t wrong. Time always flowed alone and never returned. But Mu-yeong had walked the path he wanted without ever following time. This time too, he had no reason to be impatient.

“You seem to be the carefree one.”

Mu-yeong passed by Jiwoon. His leisurely steps headed toward the outer quarters.

Jiwoon yawned as if bored. Then he opened his mouth as if talking to himself.

“Still, that woman must really be to your liking.”