If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 53

“Who did you hear it from?”

“Yesterday, I heard a servant talking about it.”

A cool smile appeared at the corners of Mu-yeong’s mouth.

“It seems like now is the time you should be worrying about your own situation.”

Yuseol answered without backing down.

“Whatever my situation is, if you harm Geon, I won’t stand for it.”

Mu-yeong’s hand, which had been adjusting his gat swaying in the wind, stopped. His pupils pierced into Yuseol’s face. They were the same color as the water of a lake under a bright, sunny day. However, before she could feel the mystery and beauty, they changed to a light of contempt.

“What will you do and how?”

The light of contempt soon changed to interest. As if it would be enjoyable in its own way if she struggled desperately to find Geon.

“Try it.”

He turned around calmly. Yuseol felt the illusion of hearing low mockery. A deep emptiness washed over her heart. It seemed like that man was gradually taking away the tiny bit of emotion and strength she had left.

***

The sun set quickly.

Evening. It was the end of the day. Moonlight began seeping through the half-open window.

Mu-yeong, who had been in the library on the second floor, sat on the windowsill. It was already time when he should have headed to his bedroom, but lately he couldn’t fall asleep early. His hand, made only of bone and muscle and therefore more solid, rubbed his tired eyes.

Then soft footsteps echoed in the corridor. Myoyeon’s gentle voice followed.

“It’s Myoyeon. I heard you were here, so I came to see you.”

Mu-yeong naturally swept back his hair. The top of his head was black hair, but the color became closer to gray as it went down. It was also a color that breathed wild beauty into his face, which was as clean as a beautiful boy’s.

He answered languidly.

“Come in.”

The library door opened. Myoyeon entered and stood in front of Mu-yeong, taking out a handkerchief from his sleeve pocket.

“As you instructed, I brought the item that Lady Yuseol put up for the market.”

Mu-yeong received the handkerchief. His water-colored pupils began quietly appreciating the embroidery. It was a work where the delicate color expression on the pure white cloth stood out.

Mu-yeong crumpled the handkerchief in his grip and said without emotion.

“I’ll purchase this.”

“What? You will, Lord Mu-yeong?”

Mu-yeong placed a bundle of gold coins that had been rolling around beside the windowsill into Myoyeon’s hand.

Myoyeon, whose eyes had grown round, looked back and forth between the handkerchief and the gold coins. Since Mu-yeong had been generally merciful to people, it wasn’t something to find strange.

However, the mercy he had shown to Yuseol was different in nature, so there had always been questions. Myoyeon, who had been hesitating, shook his head and lowered his gaze to the floor.

“Then I’ll use half of the money you paid for the ritual, and give half to the lady.”

“Do that.”

Myoyeon, who had bowed his head politely in greeting, left the library.

“Then please rest.”

The door closed soundlessly. In the late night hour, the fragrance of old books wafted richly from the library.

Mu-yeong, who had been savoring the scent, unfolded the handkerchief that had quickly become crumpled. On the pure white cloth, flower embroidery the size of a finger joint was carefully stitched stitch by stitch.

However, no matter how rare the colored thread used, it was still just a handkerchief. An ordinary person would appreciate the coloring for a moment and then put it aside.

But Mu-yeong didn’t take his gaze off the handkerchief. He was like a beast that had discovered an interesting toy. His eyes continued to contemplate how he might stimulate the owner of the object next.

Perhaps it was because he couldn’t find anything more interesting to pass the time.

He touched the embroidery that protruded in small bumps with his thumb. A softer texture than expected seeped into his skin. A subtle fragrance similar to flower scent accumulated in his lungs. It was Yuseol’s fragrance that had begun filling Museolwon at some point.

He felt as if the still-distant spring had vaguely come right before his nose. He, who had looked bored, held the handkerchief to his face and breathed slowly. In an instant, blue veins rose beside his sharp Adam’s apple. Thick veins also bulged on the back of his white hand.

He felt his breathing begin to quicken and leaned his back against the fixed window. The tips of his previously white ears were tinged red.

Feeling the abnormal temperature, he swept his hand across his ear as if to lower the heat. Even so, with his heated water-colored eyes, he was persistently staring at the handkerchief in his hand. Unlike before when he had been emotionless, his pupils shone darkly.

Mu-yeong impulsively began feeling the texture of the handkerchief. A soft sensation similar to what he had experienced not long ago was transmitted to his fingertips.

“Haa….”

He sighed lowly and lowered his head. Though his eyes were hidden by the black hair in front, it couldn’t hide his lips that had come alive with wildness.

He bit his reddened lips and stroked his chest with a controlled hand filled with strength. His unsatisfied gaze continued.

He slightly narrowed his brow and made a face that deeply craved something. It wasn’t the face of a man who had lived ascetically until now, devoting time to cultivation.

His eyes, rippling like those of a beast, looked down at the handkerchief again. Small characters were written in the corner.

漩 (Seon)

He knew that this was a man’s name and the one who should have become the owner of the handkerchief. His smooth face darkened.

Mu-yeong bit his lower lip and slowly stood up, then closed the window. The handkerchief he had been holding the entire time fell to the floor.

However, his breathing soaked in desire didn’t easily subside.