If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 91

They reached the front of Taejeongjeon, the king’s office. The retainers and palace matrons who had come to greet them were standing with their heads bowed. The tension that had somewhat relaxed invaded Yuseol’s chest. Her clasped hands trembled.

She could see an elderly woman with graying hair neatly parted and pinned with a hairpin. It was Head Palace Matron Jo, who had cared for Yuseol since she entered the palace as a child. Even when leaving for Museolwon, Yuseol, who had believed she would return again, couldn’t even exchange proper farewells with Matron Jo. It was a sad day when worry was greater than joy at this situation.

Then Matron Jo slightly raised her head to examine Yuseol’s face. Yuseol averted her gaze pretending to appreciate the mugunghwa that hadn’t bloomed yet. It seemed like she was examining her face after receiving instructions from Kim Seon. It would be natural since Kim Seon had probably summoned Sahwa to clarify her identity.

But she decided not to be afraid. It was something she had already expected. Until her identity was completely exposed, they too could only watch Sahwa. Before that, she had to find and bring out her sister by all means.

At the right time, Kim Seon and Meisa came out of Taejeongjeon. Their footsteps coming down the stairs looked more leisurely than ever.

The voice of the waiting eunuch was heard.

“His Majesty the King arrives!”

Yuseol modestly bowed her head. Kim Seon stood in front of her, looked alternately at Mu-yeong and her, and smiled.

“You’ve worked hard coming such a long way.”

Meisa added a word from the side.

“It’s joyful to see you again like this.”

A jingling sound came from Meisa. Following the sound, Yuseol’s eyes caught Meisa’s golden hair ornament. It was something that women of this country, where frugality was a virtue, didn’t use. The same was true for the three-layered golden necklace.

She had heard that Meisa had always come to this country empty-handed from before. Then the palace matrons whispered that she very boldly took royal items.

If Meisa still thought she deserved to be treated accordingly, those ornaments would also be mixed with the people’s lifeblood. While the people suffered from livelihood hardships and bandit groups.

Yuseol answered with a darkened expression.

“I am deeply honored by your invitation.”

Meisa was as leisurely as if lending out her own home.

“Since there’s time until the banquet, please stay comfortably and enjoy yourself meanwhile.”

Behind her was Kim Seon.

Complex emotions appeared in Yuseol’s pupils, slightly hidden by the veil.

About two hours had passed.

Yuseol had given simple greetings to Kim Seon in front of Taejeongjeon and returned.

The good weather from morning continued. The clouds reflected in the small pond were beautiful, and the scent of the wind was fragrant.

Yuseol appreciated the scenery of Cheonghweru (t/n: a palace pavilion—)where the stream and pavilion harmoniously matched. She deliberately erased the East Palace visible in her peripheral vision from her sight.

It was already noon. She returned to Daeunjeon, which had been assigned as her quarters, and sat on the wooden floor.

Daeunjeon was structured with three houses connected on one vast wooden floor. Mu-yeong would use the central inner house among them, and Yuseol and Yanghui decided to use one house on the left.

Yanghui, who had just finished unpacking in the servant’s room, couldn’t hide her joy at the splendid and antique atmosphere of the room.

Yuseol looked out at the courtyard. From time to time, she ate the dried mint leaves that Myoyeon had thoughtfully prepared. Through the wide-open main gate, the East Palace was faintly visible. It seemed like distant memories of her childhood were rising.

Then a palace matron appeared in front of the main gate. Yanghui, who had been absentmindedly touring the quarters, ran to the front of the gate.

Yanghui’s face when she returned a little later was colored with worry.

“The young lady of Hwanghae has invited women from yangban families to the palace today. She wishes Lady Sahwa to attend as well.”

It had already begun. Since she had come in on her own feet, there would be no way to avoid it, so Yuseol was calm.

“Tell her I’ll prepare.”

Yanghui went to the front of the gate and conveyed Yuseol’s intention.

The green scenery of the courtyard no longer entered Yuseol’s eyes. Only Meisa’s face mixed with mockery shimmered frighteningly.

Princess Meisa of a foreign country was the daughter of a shaman who had received the king’s favor for liking superstitions. She was heard to have been born as the youngest of eight siblings and grown up receiving extreme love and care from the king.

But pushed by the power struggles of her brothers who coveted power, she had turned her steps to this country. Until now, had she wanted to make her position, fragile enough to break at even small shocks, solid?

Yuseol recalled the third day she had spent with Meisa in the palace. Meisa had come to find Yuseol, who was swinging with the Head Palace Matron, and showed interest in Yuseol’s accessories.

Yuseol had gifted the silver ring she was wearing. But while Meisa was grateful, she didn’t understand Yuseol. Then she proudly said that her mother had taught her to protect herself even by taking others’ things. Subtly looking down on Yuseol, who had no mother, was a bonus.

Even after that, Meisa often appeared and took away the attention of the palace matrons who assisted Yuseol. From then on, she had sensed that Meisa was greedy, but who would have thought it would become like this?

She was curious about how big that greed might be. Could she even be coveting this country?

If so, she would be very happy now. If she just married Kim Seon, the country would roll in on its own.