If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 90

The palanquin passed the gravel road that had induced motion sickness. Finally, the palace could be seen, however distantly, along with its majestic fortress walls.

The palanquin, which had maintained a steady speed, gradually slowed down. It was because of the procession of people entering the palace for their respective business.

Yuseol took deep breaths to calm her overwhelmed heart for various reasons. Soon she examined the fortress walls that had been cultivated like a garden. Though the king had changed and many people had died, it looked as peaceful as last year. She felt a little sad at that fact.

Still, if it were to be a place of death, a beautiful and peaceful grave would be better. A bitter smile appeared on Yuseol’s face.

But when the palanquin moved a little more, she could see over a hundred scholars sitting spread out one by one on the grass beside the castle gate. They were in shabby condition as if they hadn’t eaten or dressed properly for a long time.

Yuseol examined them one by one. Then she saw a familiar man in the front row and opened her eyes wide. He seemed to be the scholar Yun Seonghyeon who had connections with her father in life. As if filled with resentment, he cried out as if wailing.

“Please reinvestigate Grand Minister Han’s death!”

“Please!”

The voices of the gathered people rang like a giant drum. The surrounding people seemed used to it, but Yuseol’s pupils suddenly wavered. It seemed she had finally met people who hadn’t forgotten her father’s death. Strength entered her hands with the desire to get down immediately and ask about the situation.

But then she would catch the officials’ attention….

When Yuseol didn’t know what to do, he said calmly.

“I heard the scholars are submitting a petition asking for reinvestigation of Grand Minister Han’s death and are collectively making appeals.”

“…….”

“I received information that it started after Grand Minister Han’s youngest daughter received the death poison.”

It was the first time she had heard such a story. She couldn’t believe that so many people had risked their lives to show courage. Grateful and sorry feelings rose in her chest. Yuseol’s voice trembled.

“I thought our family had been forgotten from people’s memories.”

Before long, the palanquin arrived in front of the castle gate. After several procedures were completed, they began to enter inside. The scholars’ appeal sounds gradually faded.

The great trees at the entrance were showing off their lush green foliage. White butterflies fluttered around the leaves.

Somehow the air was cold, but it felt like spring had come. It was a different paradise from outside the fortress where people suffered from livelihood hardships. How could one world be so unfairly different?

When they arrived near Kim Seon’s office, the palanquin stopped. Yuseol got down from the palanquin and took a deep breath. It had been a schedule of nearly ten days, switching between palanquin and horse. Her waist and legs were stiff with knotted muscles, but she was more worried about the palanquin bearers.

“You worked hard coming here.”

When she handed over three leaves of copper coins, the palanquin bearer brightened and withdrew. The minister who had been guiding the way in front of the palanquin looked at Yuseol.

“You’ve worked hard coming to the palace. Then I’ll guide you to where His Majesty is.”

The minister went ahead. Yuseol followed behind the minister together with Mu-yeong. It was already a situation where tension was rising to her solar plexus.

She repeated to herself not to make mistakes. She would act like a guest who had truly come to celebrate Kim Seon’s birthday. Also, she planned to show interest in the scenery, entertainment, and people here. And behind the scenes, she would search for her sister while finding out who was behind framing the Han family.

It was a plan so difficult that she wondered how she would accomplish it, but it seemed better than hiding and living in anxiety. Yuseol, who nodded, checked her clothing.

Then Mu-yeong, who had been walking while languidly appreciating the scenery, took something out from his sleeve and handed it to Yuseol.

“Take it.”

It was a flute about the size of a finger. When Yuseol received it puzzled, he spoke quietly so the minister walking ahead couldn’t hear.

“I’ll come if you call. Only when your life is threatened.”

Yuseol fingered the flute. She was curious again about why he acted badly then occasionally showed kindness.

But even if she asked, he probably wouldn’t answer properly. When Yuseol just stared at the innocent flute, he asked.

“Is there a problem?”

Instead of asking about his thoughts, Yuseol brought out her own thoughts.

“I’m grateful, but my heart isn’t comfortable just receiving kindness.”

For a moment, arrogance appeared in his eyes.

“Kindness, you say.”

If saying he would come when she blew the flute when her life was threatened wasn’t kindness, what would it be?

Yuseol’s gaze was colored with puzzlement. Then his cool low voice rang out.

“I’m thinking of following the flute sound to watch your ruined state.”

His threatening remarks were no longer surprising.

But she knew that if she engaged with him, she would keep losing. Yuseol closed her lips.

Then she became curious again. He would have seen even her receiving the death poison, so what more state did he want to see…

She asked quietly.

“Haven’t you already seen enough?”

He neither affirmed nor denied. He only looked at her with eyes of deep, mysterious color. The more she received that gaze, the more she felt the illusion of becoming a very close person to him. She averted her gaze as if fleeing from that illusion.