If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 81

Yuseol’s wavering gaze examined the floor. There was a handkerchief. The flower embroidery done with blue thread looked very familiar to her eyes. It was something she had made in the palace to give to Kim Seon.

Confusion appeared in Yuseol’s pupils. She remembered giving the handkerchief to the marketplace to help with the thanksgiving offering.

There was absolutely no reason for it to fall from that man’s possession. The conversation with Myoyeon shimmered in bewildered Yuseol’s ears.

“The handkerchief you gave to put in the marketplace has been sold. This is the remaining half after taking half of the money received.”

“But the marketplace hasn’t opened yet…?”

“The items people put out are stored in the warehouse. Good items sometimes sell in advance.”

Could that man have purchased the handkerchief and given such a large sum?

But why….

Yuseol’s pupils, filled with questions, reached Mu-yeong. Then they began to ripple as if seeking an answer.

“This is my handkerchief, isn’t it?”

However, no answer came, and Yuseol’s heart beat increasingly louder. Hearing a sharp ringing in her ears, she picked up the handkerchief and examined it.

“Why do you have this handkerchief? This is something I gave to Myoyeon to help with the thanksgiving offering.”

He was calm. With a face as if there was nothing to hide, he gestured with his hand as if asking for the handkerchief back.

Yuseol was dumbfounded and handed over the handkerchief while at a loss for words. Only then did his low voice, giving an answer, sound utterly cold.

“I collect rare items. I simply paid a price worthy of it.”

He looked down at Yuseol as if asking what the problem was. She bit her lower lip with a face that couldn’t be convinced at all. This study also had countless antiques. They would all have historical value beyond the worth of their materials.

Compared to them, she thought the handkerchief wouldn’t have such value.

“Don’t you have more than enough rarer items overflowing here?”

An arrogant low voice spread from between his crossed arms.

“Isn’t this handkerchief something the Crown Princess-to-be made for the king before her deposition?”

“…….”

“Could there be anything rarer than this?”

The area under Yuseol’s eyes trembled palely.

“That’s….”

It felt like her breath was choking. That it was worth giving a large sum of gold coins because it was a handkerchief made by the Crown Princess-to-be just before her deposition.

Yuseol swallowed the surging sorrow and thought. She shouldn’t have asked about the handkerchief. No, she shouldn’t have come to the study. She shouldn’t have even looked through the door crack….

“My misfortune seems to feel like value to Lord Mu-yeong.”

He made no denial whatsoever. Yuseol felt sharp pain in her chest.

As expected, it would be a night without sleep.

***

The village was busy from dawn.

It was the day Kim Seon was to return to the palace. As all the palace people who had filled even the empty houses in the lower areas came out, the entire village became noisy.

Yuseol, who had finished dressing early, came out to the courtyard to see Kim Seon off.

Mu-yeong was beside her, but she didn’t want to talk because of yesterday’s incident. That feeling made her endlessly appreciate the scenery.

Dew had settled on the morning inner courtyard. Transparent water droplets had also formed on the white seeds of dandelions.

However, they couldn’t stay long and suddenly flew away with the flower seeds in the wind. Before long, they would settle in a place they liked and bloom flowers. A beautiful dandelion field was drawn in Yuseol’s mind.

Then the sound of people’s footsteps rang out from the side courtyard. Kim Seon was walking out with his ministers.

He spotted Yuseol in her light purple jeogori at a glance and smiled gently. Yuseol naturally bowed her head.

“I greet Your Majesty the King.”

Her mood was strange. It was in an unpleasant direction.

It was the first time she properly felt his gaze. That is, only after almost all her family members had died by his hands.

It seemed like sorrowful air was passing through the courtyard.

Kim Seon and Mu-yeong exchanged greetings. Yuseol, who had been endlessly staring only at the ground, also left Kim Seon a greeting wishing him well. It wasn’t an empty lie with a hollow heart, but she truly hoped he wouldn’t die for the time being. Because that’s what was necessary for him to pay the price for driving the innocent Han family to ruin as traitors.

The soldiers and palanquins that filled the mountain path endlessly began to slowly leave.