If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 33

Today was the Sabbath that came to Museolwon every week.

Though it was morning, Museolwon was quiet without any sign of the servants. It seemed they had worked busily yesterday to pray without worry on the Sabbath.

In front of Yuseol was a flower vase that Myoyeon had left the evening before. Inside it, chrysanthemum flowers were showing off their pure beauty.

She had loved flowers since childhood. She liked them because they had good fragrance, were soft, and beautiful. Though she had never seen her face, she felt they resembled her mother. For a moment, she felt unexpectedly at peace.

That was the end of it. When she came to her senses, she fell into a nightmare again. What Jiwoon had said yesterday began circling in her ears. Even covering her ears, she couldn’t escape it at all.

“Then didn’t His Majesty give you poison with the intention of marrying this woman named Meisa? If that’s true, it’s utterly shameless.”

The hand that had been caressing the chrysanthemum petals trembled violently. She couldn’t stop it with strength.

She who had let out a long, rapid breath sat up with both knees raised and embraced her shins with both arms. When she buried her face between her knees like that, she felt somewhat safer. It felt like she had moved a little away from the world full of people’s malice.

But when she raised her head, Kim Seon and Meisa kept coming to mind, and their malice struck her again. Finally, Yuseol couldn’t even attempt to raise her head and closed her eyes.

Meisa was a girl who had often visited the palace with envoys for several years. She usually came in spring to enjoy flower viewing and returned in early summer.

Though ministers raised their voices saying they should be wary of foreign powers, the previous king disliked making enemies with neighbors who could become either foes or allies at any time. Fortunately, Kim Seon avoided Meisa, saying she lacked manners because she was born a princess and raised with much love, and she had truly believed that was the case.

Of course, Yuseol hadn’t liked Meisa’s visits either. Meisa enjoyed her days at the palace too much and was excessively interested in the crown prince’s affairs.

But while feeling uneasy about Meisa’s presence, Yuseol did nothing. The officials would handle it soon enough. The court ladies would give hints. Thinking like that, she waited for the day when Meisa would never come again.

During that time, it seemed things had been stolen away one by one without her knowing. Her quarters in Seonuigak, her status as Crown Princess-to-be, her place beside Kim Seon. Finally, even her life….

Was this punishment for hoping someone else would protect her and only relying on them?

The thought of wanting to go back pierced her heart. If only she could proudly restore her family’s honor and track down and execute the culprits of this affair, it seemed her life wouldn’t be too precious to stake.

Longing so desperately, she became dejected and smiled bitterly. How could someone who had already become dead under treason charges return to the palace alive and well? When she couldn’t even go to meet the family members who were in hiding…

She just endlessly caressed the flower vase. Because she couldn’t think of anything she could do right now.

After a long time of tormenting herself with self-blame, she bit her teeth again. She didn’t want to give up everything like this. It was a different reason from her intention to live courageously for the sake of the people here who had saved her life.

She didn’t want to fulfill the wishes of those who had tried to kill Han Yuseol. She wanted to show them the miserable and tragic world she had seen lately and make them shed tears of bitter grief. If she set her goal as living courageously until then, it seemed like she could become something. Yuseol’s eyes, which had regained their light, turned toward the lunch table that had gone cold.

She began eating the food that felt like grains of sand. When she imagined Kim Seon and Meisa repenting, her appetite returned. It wasn’t just her imagination—it really happened. When she came to her senses, the bowls had been completely emptied.

It was the moment when the lump that had tightly blocked her chest went down. Through the door where the sunset fell, the shape of someone sitting appeared.

Yuseol opened the door slightly. Jiwoon was sitting with his back to the door.

He really seemed like someone with nothing to do. Yuseol pressed her forehead with her palm and said.

“If you came to provoke me about yesterday’s incident, you may do so as much as you like. Just please don’t tell anyone about the contents of the letter.”

Hearing those words, Jiwoon made a worried face.

“That’s serious.”

“…What is?”

“I already told someone a little.”

Yuseol lost her words and stared at Jiwoon.

Jiwoon, who had been feigning ignorance for a moment, changed the subject.

“Your sister—do you miss her?”

Yuseol only blinked her vacant eyes. If she affirmed, she felt like she would burst into tears for some reason.

But even though she didn’t answer, she felt her eyes getting moist.

She didn’t want that….

She hesitated, then closed the door to hide her face.

“Later, later again….”

She wanted to say she’d like to have the conversation later. However, her voice was trembling so she couldn’t speak to the end and only looked at the floor.

Then the shadow that had seeped through the door seemed to move a little. Jiwoon’s calm, gentle voice was heard.

“If it’s that person, I might be able to bring her.”

“…….”

“Though it would depend on your feelings.”