If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 84

The heavy rain that had come all day changed to drizzle around evening.

Mu-yeong was in the quarters in front of the dead camellia tree, Sahwa. Mountain wind was blowing in through the slightly opened window of the bedroom.

Having just finished bathing, he was wearing long flowing robes over his body clad only in undergarments. His long legs were revealed between the fluttering front panels as he walked.

But his usually unhesitating steps stopped in front of the writing desk. Yuseol’s handkerchief was placed on top of the desk.

Mu-yeong rubbed his eyes that were about to become cloudy. Water droplets that had fallen from his wet hair flowed down his fingers.

He didn’t particularly like getting wet. He only inevitably wet his body in river water when he needed to cool down from surging heat.

However, lately things weren’t going as he wished. He, who had narrowed his brow, approached the window.

Cold wind blew in. Mu-yeong, who possessed exceptionally keen senses, focused on the scent carried by the wind. He could sense the fragrance of orchid buds, the smell of rain, and Yuseol’s scent. Like camellia flowers, it was close to scentless but fresh—a fragrance that would disappear in a few days.

Mu-yeong’s face was colored with indifference as if that was what he had hoped for. However, his clouded pupils swayed uncontrollably.

He closed his eyes. Familiar darkness visited for a moment.

In his world within the darkness, there had always existed only one tree. But at some point, the form of a woman began to appear in front of that tree.

The woman was dressed in light pink silk clothes with worn-out straw shoes. Her hair was fluttering in the wind, and she was looking at Mu-yeong with anxious eyes. Just as she always had when facing him.

Then a man in gonryongpo walked leisurely from far away. The woman’s gaze turned toward the man out of habit. Life began to return to the woman’s pupils that had wavered anxiously in front of Mu-yeong. Within those pupils, the king’s gonryongpo shone elegantly. (t/n: ‘gonryongpo.’ Royal robes worn by the king.)

It was a color everyone envied. Of course, to Mu-yeong it had no value whatsoever.

But for some reason, he had become quite interested in gonryongpo lately. He couldn’t understand why that had suddenly happened. Dark longing he didn’t even know about himself spread across his face.

He let time pass just like that. It was the most familiar thing to him.

But today he opened his eyes before long. Sensitivity dwelled in his eyes that had been cool.

It was strange. He had only tried to enjoy momentary pleasure until leaving.

He could now somewhat guess the reason his feelings had changed. His world had been too easy until now. What he wanted came into his hands naturally, and there was nothing he couldn’t obtain. For such a person, she was the only thing he wanted but couldn’t completely possess.

But why hadn’t he possessed her?

Probably because he could have her anytime he wanted, he thought. Could there be any other reason? He, who had been languidly stroking around his eyes, rang the bell next to the window frame.

A clear bell sound rang and time passed. A shadow appeared in front of the quarters. It was Myoyeon.

“Are you inside? I heard the bell sound and came to see you.”

“Come in.”

When his command fell, Myoyeon entered with his two hands politely clasped together.

Mu-yeong spoke quietly.

“Are the preparations going well?”

He was asking about Yuseol’s entry to the palace. Myoyeon answered as if he had been waiting.

“Yes. Things are going well. The village ladies are hurriedly making clothes, Lady Yuseol is organizing her luggage, and the palanquin bearers are also preparing thoroughly.”

Mu-yeong showed no interest.

“I’d like my private soldiers in the capital to be prepared as well.”

“Yes. I’ll send a letter immediately.”

Though they hadn’t exchanged many words, the conversation was abruptly cut off.

Myoyeon, who had been staring at the floor, looked at Mu-yeong’s expression with a face that had something to say. It was because of Yuseol entering the palace alone. Having encountered her often, he had already grown fond of her, and Myoyeon hoped she would return safely.

“Is that all we need to prepare?”

“Yes.”

After hesitating for a long time, Myoyeon carefully asked.

“Is there anything else I could help with separately?”

Silence visited again. He was staring at Sahwa beyond the window. The sight of it standing blankly in the rain, completely burned black, was pitiful.

Somehow it overlapped with her wandering around until dawn searching for her dog wearing worn straw shoes. A strange sigh spread from between his teeth.

“I’ll think about it.”

It was a night when the boredom that had lingered all day disappeared.