If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 51

Yuseol began walking up the stone wall path past the yard. She walked carefully, examining the dirt ground and avoiding stones.

When she reached the inner house, a gate with the deep fragrance of old pine appeared. As usual, soldiers were guarding the front. The front yard of the inner house was empty.

Yuseol, who had been planning to pass by quickly, slowed her steps with relief. Then she examined the upper path she was visiting for the first time.

It was a path connected to the forest. The end of the path was covered in pure white snow. It was a sight of two seasons mixed in one space.

Yuseol walked toward that place. Though her breath rose to her chin, she could endure it because of the faint hope that she might be able to meet Geon.

How long had she walked like that?

The dusty dirt path ended and a floor piled with snow appeared. Animal footprints were carved in it. She felt as if Geon might come running at any moment.

Yuseol walked up again carefully, soaked in anticipation. Snow flowers blooming on the green pine trees welcomed her. When the wind blew, the fluttering snowflakes looked like white jewels.

Yuseol, who had stopped briefly, exhaled her overwhelming breath and examined the snowy path. Then she carefully parted her lips.

“Geon….”

Even if he had deliberately not come to find her until now, it would be fine, so please come running to her now….

Yuseol’s desperate call echoed.

“Geon! Are you there?!”

The whooshing sound of wind came like an answer.

Without being disappointed, she walked again and arrived at the end of the hill. A snowy field appeared. Pine trees piled with snow were forming a round clearing.

But in the center of the snowy field she had thought was empty, a man was standing. Seeing his overwhelming physique, Yuseol knew that the man was Mu-yeong.

He had loosened the front of his robe. When the wind blew, his abs were revealed through the fluttering front panels. Snow clung to the muscles divided into several lines. His body temperature was so hot that it quickly became water drops and flowed down.

Seeing the muscles that moved subtly with each breath, Yuseol hastily turned her head. Her speechless lips could only tremble without forming any words.

Had he been training? In any case, should she run away like this? She pondered repeatedly.

Then a low voice rode the wind and approached Yuseol.

“How did you walk all the way here?”

He made an expression of genuine curiosity. Then he began arranging the loosened front of his robe. All his thick finger joints were reddish. The atmosphere suggested he had been here for a long time.

Yuseol answered while staring only at the white pine trees.

“A few days ago, someone saw a wolf going up to this place, so I came to check.”

Yuseol’s gaze fell to Mu-yeong’s feet. The snow was disturbed as if something large had been lying there.

Geon used to like being buried in the snow….

Yuseol asked with suspicious eyes.

“Are you hiding him? Geon?”

At the brazen question, Mu-yeong raised one corner of his mouth. Then he picked up the gat he had placed on the ground, shook off the snow, and answered.

“How would I hide such a large dog right now?”

Yuseol couldn’t argue back and closed her lips. If it was Geon with his strong wild nature, he wouldn’t have obediently listened to that man’s words either.

Her eyes, tinged with disappointment, looked around. She couldn’t see any caves or private houses where he could have hidden Geon.

Should she go back….

She looked back at the path she had come. The slope wasn’t steep, but it was downhill.

She had originally planned to go down leisurely, so there was no problem. But she didn’t want to keep showing her limping figure to that man….

Yuseol lightly bit her lower lip with her front teeth, then released it and said.

“I’ll look around more, so if you were thinking of going down, please go ahead.”

Her eyes, contrary to her confident words, were hoping he would go down first.

He, holding his headband in his hand with only his gat on, slowly walked down. His tall height, which seemed to be over six and a half feet, made his legs look even longer since there was no excess around his pelvis. His legs quickly passed by Yuseol. Yuseol looked at the hem of his clothes fluttering in the wind.

Then he suddenly stopped and stared at Yuseol’s ankle.