If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 28

He was nothing but a scoundrel. Really. Yuseol could no longer move with composure and bit her teeth. She felt like writing down all of that man’s words and actions and posting them on a bulletin.

Her voice, suppressing emotion, rang out in the courtyard.

“That would be nice.”

Soon she looked at him with a sharp gaze.

“If you continue to keep Geon confined… I won’t just stay like this either.”

Her manner of speaking was quite resolute. That seemed to stimulate him instead.

Soon he opened the door completely and tapped the threshold with his index finger.

“Come here.”

Since he was telling her to come, she felt like moving away. It had been like that from their first meeting whenever she got close to him.

But if she kept running away, it would really become ridiculous. She walked confidently and stood in front of where he had pointed.

His gaze fell to her old, worn straw sandals. She couldn’t understand why he looked at her shoes of all things.

He slightly narrowed his brow as if something displeased him. A cool low voice rang out in the courtyard.

“If you won’t just stay like this, what are you thinking of doing?”

Though not grand, Yuseol had plans too. She planned to examine the inner quarters thoroughly when the time came, then post notices looking for Geon at the village entrance. Since Geon might not be in the village, she also planned to visit houses around the forest area whenever she had time.

Since she didn’t want to reveal these plans in detail, she pressed her lips firmly shut.

“I can’t tell you that right now.”

He chuckled. The Han (韓) character earring adorning his right ear swayed. Yuseol’s eyes followed the ornament drawing a parabola. Though she was pretending to be calm, she actually wanted to get back even Geon’s earring.

“If you’d return even that earring, I’d be willing to wait longer.”

There was a reason she had come to find this man despite her frustrated feelings. Though she had interacted with many people, she had been most comfortable and happy when with Geon. Spending day after day secluded in a dark room, she deeply missed the times spent with Geon. Because Geon was Han Yuseol’s friend, shadow, and warmth. Here in Museolwon, from the moment Geon appeared leaving deep footprints in the pure white snow field, that hadn’t changed.

That’s why it was so devastating that Geon had disappeared overnight. It felt like waking up suddenly from a long, pleasant dream. Since it wasn’t too late yet, she wanted to find and hold onto even traces that Geon had been by Han Yuseol’s side.

Her voice adding words seemed to tremble slightly.

“Please, if you could give me even the earring, I would be grateful.”

He, who had shown no emotion, poured tea into a teacup and said coldly.

“Then warm my bed.”

The conversation seemed to jump around erratically. Like a carriage passing over a road full of rocks. The thoughts in her head swayed and shook. The only method was to stand well-balanced at the center.

“I can’t do that.”

If she could at least know for certain why he took Geon, she could guess that man’s intentions. But that man gave no clues and only behaved badly. She couldn’t tell if his demand to warm his bed was sincere either.

It vaguely felt like he was enjoying this time. She had a premonition that when the time came, he would reveal Geon’s whereabouts and leave suddenly. That was really strange.

“Actually, I’m not sure if you really intend to return Geon.”

In terms of liking vague games, Mu-yeong was similar to Geon. When bored, Geon would also take Yuseol’s flower shoes in his mouth and hide them somewhere. She would go around suitable places and find norigae and rings that Geon had picked up from somewhere.

She could respond to such games, but the problem was that what that man had hidden was Geon. She closed her eyes tightly with a frustrated heart.

She thought she could do anything for Geon, but she couldn’t comply with that man’s demand. She hadn’t completely removed the other person she had kept in her heart yet. Since it was something she experienced without preparation, she needed time. First times were all slow and difficult, so it would be good if as much time as possible was given.

She opened her lips calmly.

“Above all, right now I still have….”

Then she hesitated. There was no reason to explain everything to that man, was there?

Then instead of her answer, a cold low voice pierced her ears.

“That has nothing to do with me.”

Whoosh. The sound of wind pierced the silence.

Though two people were in one place, it felt empty as if no one was there.

She bit her lower lip with both hands neatly folded. Because it seemed like he was asking, “You don’t think I’d seriously date someone like you, do you?”

She wasn’t sure how to answer. Her lips, frozen from the cold, stung. She couldn’t endure any longer and turned around.

It was a night when everything became embarrassing.