If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 42

The golden oil lamp hanging from the ceiling swayed greatly from side to side. The man’s shadow grew enormous and then returned to its place.

Startled by the sound, Yuseol opened her eyes drowsily.

Light began to circle in Mu-yeong’s pupils. Yuseol appeared between those lights. She was looking around the room in a daze, then recognizing Mu-yeong and wrapping herself in the blanket in surprise.

“Wh-where is this place?”

Soon she trembled as if anxious. It was as if she had encountered a beast threatening her life.

However, Mu-yeong wasn’t particularly interested in hunting, and conversely had enjoyed collecting. His subjects were mainly beautiful things like artworks or butterflies. Whether this was good or bad for her was unknown.

“Here, it’s my bedchamber.”

That answer was all, without any explanation. She looked around the room with wary eyes.

Clatter clatter. The butterflies hung from the rafters with thin thread bumped against each other in the slight breeze, making hard friction sounds. It was a bizarre discord that only dead things could produce.

Deep tension appeared on her face. If the distance narrowed, she seemed ready to flee even at the cost of her life.

“W-why am I here…?”

He who had only intended to check her life or death relaxed the strength in his legs that had been about to move and leaned against the wall. Then he took out a bright yellow daffodil from the vase. It had a good fragrance. It was strange that he felt it particularly so now.

“Now that you’ve regained consciousness, it would be best to return.”

She was blinking as if trying to understand the situation. Her small face with delicately formed cheeks was unsatisfactorily flushed. Her red lips were anxiously pressed together.

In that state, she exhaled sharply and looked around where she sat. Soon she tried to get up but sat back down in pain.

She was like a deer that had forgotten how to walk. He who had been enjoying the daffodil’s fragrance watched that sight throughout.

She struggled desperately to stand up on her own, then caressed her ankle that was bound with cloth after applying herbs. She had a troubled complexion.

“Though it’s presumptuous, I hurt my ankle yesterday so it’s difficult to stand. If you could give me something to lean on or call Myoyeon, I won’t bother you further.”

The way she bit her lower lip as if this situation was extremely humiliating was quite audacious. Mu-yeong’s lips, who had been thinking of leaving the room, opened unpleasantly.

“Myoyeon is busy.”

He began observing her movements. Though his pupils were cool, they flashed as if they would ignite at even small provocations. He didn’t know why this happened. However, since there was time left before leaving Museolwon, he could slowly figure it out.

Then she who had been at a loss looked toward Mu-yeong’s legs.

“Then… please give me something I can lean on to stand.”

Mu-yeong’s gaze slowly swept around the room. In the corner by the window, there was a thick bamboo rod used for hanging ceiling lamps.

He seemed to show meaningless kindness as he picked up the rod and began approaching Yuseol.

One step, two steps, and three steps. The distance narrowed to right in front of her. She who had been stiff turned her head as if avoiding him who had come close.

The formal smile that had appeared on Mu-yeong’s lips disappeared, and an unpleasant smile was overlaid on top of it.

The rod that had been heading toward Yuseol’s hand to be easily received was slowly withdrawn.

When she belatedly tried to grab it, Mu-yeong crossed his arms as if showing off while holding the rod.

“Why did you go to the forest?”

The conversation that hadn’t been smooth to begin with suddenly jumped in a different direction.

She who had been hesitating raised her head and met Mu-yeong’s eyes. Her face with fine features and pure whiteness shone like an artwork under the oil lamp.

He had eyes as if evaluating a work he had observed for a long time. She who had been anxiously looking at the rod stared at the floor in confusion.

“I was walking in the forest a little and twisted my leg and fell. But was it you who saved me, Lord Mu-yeong…?”

“Yes, will you repay me?”

She was about to affirm but suddenly shrank her shoulders, recalling yesterday’s him. It was both a defensive reaction to a man who could take anything if he wanted, and an answer to what he had said to her yesterday.

“Warm my bed. Give up the dog.”

Whoosh. The candle flame flickered in the wind that seeped through the window gap. Mu-yeong’s eyes darkened and then brightened repeatedly in the candlelight. The woman’s form appeared in those pupils and was swallowed countless times. Strangely, the more this happened, the more intense hunger he felt.

“I asked if you’ll repay me.”