If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 87

Yuseol didn’t want to drag an innocent person into this. For a moment, her posture wavered subtly.

It was an atmosphere where even a small spark could spread into flames. A deadly edge settled in her eyes that had been kind.

At that moment, one of the masked men discovered the scholar and looked at him. Soon, as if they knew each other, he subtly moved aside.

The scholar was naturally narrowing the distance as if he had a purpose. Yuseol’s eyes, which had been filled with worry, coldly hardened.

The atmosphere seemed like they were in the same group. Perhaps he was a military officer from the court sent by Kim Seon. At the fact that he wasn’t someone who had come to help but an enemy, she felt despair. She couldn’t control her trembling hands.

She gripped the sword strongly with both hands and clenched her teeth. When the scholar approached, she could take him hostage and flee with Yanghui. When he entered range, she planned to threaten him by putting the sword to his neck. So that the masked men couldn’t rashly approach.

Right on time, the man approached to within ten steps of Yuseol. He looked like a death god in blue clothes. His shuffling footsteps grew louder and the insect sounds fled. The evening in the pine forest where moonlight was dim was colored with fear itself.

But Yuseol waited without wavering, aiming for an opportunity. Just a little more. Closer. The fine hairs on her forearm holding the sword stood on end.

Then the man stopped three steps ahead.

Now was the time. Yuseol, who stopped breathing for a moment, instantly stepped forward with her left foot and bent her upper body. The deadly sharp sword touched the scholar’s nape. The movements of those who had been watching for an opportunity froze in place.

It wasn’t an easy situation. The man was too tall to subdue at once, and the surroundings were too dark. Moreover, the masked men were surrounding the palanquin in a circle, so she couldn’t immediately flee with Yanghui either.

Enduring the anxiety that she might fail, Yuseol tried to move behind the man’s back. Then suddenly the man’s lips smiled shamelessly.

Yuseol vaguely felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Her posture, which had been flawless, instantly crumbled.

In an instant, the man wrapped his hand around Yuseol’s hand holding the sword. She put strength in her arm to avoid being subdued, but the difference in strength was too great. The sword blade that had been at the man’s nape instantly turned toward Yuseol’s neck. Even though it didn’t touch, a chilling killing intent crept up.

It was just before being cut. She couldn’t control her heart that seemed about to explode and her rising breath. With her narrowed vision, she was only dimly seeing the legs of the masked man standing opposite. That such a thing would be her last sight—bitter resentment surged.

She felt like she should wail to feel better inside. But she didn’t want to die while collapsed. Hadn’t she already done that once?

With her mind gone pale, she desperately tried to think of anything. Then she urgently grabbed the man’s wrist. She earnestly hoped he had enough mercy to listen to her last words.

“I have a request. Please let me be the only one to use this place as a grave.”

It was a mournful voice. But the man seemed to have no intention of listening to last words, only looking down at her from behind. He held the sword to her white neck while smelling her scent. Hot, quiet sighs continued slowly.

It was when that sight was reflected in the sword blade. The man’s low voice spread familiarly around Yuseol’s ears.

“We meet again.”

Yuseol’s rapidly beating heart stopped with a thump, then the pounding grew as if about to explode. It felt like being hit by an unexpected accident. Just hearing the voice, Mu-yeong’s figure was drawn before her eyes.

But how. He should be at Museolwon!

“Could it be, my lord?”

She, who had been dazed, turned around to face the man. Though his eyes were hidden by his gat, his smooth jawline was unmistakably his.

The tension that had been tautly filling Yuseol’s entire body snapped.

“But how…!”

For a moment, her mind became distant, not knowing what to do. Then insane emotions began to rise into her empty chest. The relief that she wouldn’t die was only a little. Frustration and deep resentment at being toyed with again overflowed.

Yuseol’s eyes were dyed red.

“‘We meet again’?”

“…….”

“How did you come all the way here? What would you have done if I had just cut you down?”

She had thought she would die here. She had felt all kinds of emotions while pondering how she could flee, how she could save Yanghui. Not knowing she was in that man’s grasp.

“I was sincere.”

His expression was unreadable. He seemed to be smiling calmly, but also seemed sad.