If You Claim the Fallen Heiress - Chapter 92

An unsettling energy circulated around Yuseol’s face as she thought. She wondered if it had been Meisa’s luck that she accomplished everything so swiftly. Hadn’t the former king passed away overnight, and even the Prime Minister followed after him? Right on time, suspicions of treason arose regarding the Han family, who was the Prime Minister, and even Han Yuseol, who was the Crown Princess-to-be.

Kim Seon purged all related parties and newly selected Meisa. If Meisa had orchestrated things hoping for such a situation….

But how would that be possible with court ministers watching? It would seem impossible unless they were all in cahoots.

While Yuseol was pondering deeply, Mu-yeong entered through the main gate. Discovering him, Yuseol stopped thinking. She wondered whether to just sit there like this or bring up talk about the weather with him. It was because of her feelings that she couldn’t pretend not to know him after only receiving help.

She asked toward him as he passed through the courtyard.

“Did you go for a walk?”

Mu-yeong didn’t look like he had been on a walk, but he didn’t bother to correct it.

“Something like that.”

Yuseol looked toward the gate area and said quietly.

“I’ve been invited to a gathering of women. I’ll probably be going to the young lady of Hwanghae’s quarters.”

Clouds gathered over the clear sky. For a moment, his gaze turned toward Yuseol.

She wanted to hear him say to be careful, even if it was just courtesy. While Yuseol hesitated in the awkward atmosphere, he casually asked.

“Shall I go with you?”

It was a tone like answering a child who had something they wanted. Feeling somehow like she had become a laughingstock, Yuseol bit her lower lip.

“No, I’m just letting you know.”

Her voice, which had been eating mint leaves all along, cracked. Yuseol, who cleared her throat, looked at Mu-yeong.

He was looking at the mint leaves she held in her hand. She put the mint leaves in her pocket and turned her gaze to the ivy in the courtyard.

Then as he entered his room, he said quietly.

“Be careful.”

Click. The door closed. Yuseol’s dazed gaze looked back at Mu-yeong’s quarters.

Their awkward relationship, worse than strangers, seemed to keep bringing strange feelings. She exhaled the breath that had risen in her chest.

Then palace ladies could be seen between the gates.

“We’ve come to escort you, Lady.”

Yuseol, who had been waiting just in time, followed behind them. She could feel the glances of the palace ladies who kept looking back.

It seemed like they were whispering invisibly. Probably rumors were circulating that a woman resembling Han Yuseol had appeared in the palace.

Yuseol naturally massaged her coldly stiffened hands to release tension.

The place they approached was the women’s quarters in front of Seohwagak. Wildflowers were blooming under the beautiful bridge. She used to make flower crowns with dandelions there.

“We’ve brought Lady Sahwa.”

As they entered the women’s quarters, a palace matron announced the situation. From inside the tightly closed door, Meisa’s voice rang out with dignity.

“Tell her to enter.”

Yuseol stepped up onto the wooden floor. She wanted to act calmly, but her vision went black with tension.

Soon she clasped her two hands together and recalled Myoyeon’s advice.

“Lady, I introduced you to the Chief Secretary as the daughter of a trading company and Lord Mu-yeong’s lover. I also added that you’re very suspicious and don’t have a gentle personality, so if you face a difficult situation, frown or show your temper. I, Lord Mu-yeong, or other people will see that and help tactfully.”

In the palace, there was no one to help, and she couldn’t show her temper, so she should rather reduce her words. She didn’t think she needed to be particularly kind. If she was consistently taciturn, they would just think she was that kind of person. Yes, like Mu-yeong who was endlessly taciturn.

The palace ladies standing on both sides opened the door for her. Yuseol entered the room and calmly stopped. Women were sitting in front of a square refreshment table. Seeing Yuseol, they stood up and examined her face.

Yuseol also stared directly back at the women. They were all faces she knew without exception. The woman sitting in a position close to Meisa was Lady Seo, the wife of Grand Minister Kim who had taken the Prime Minister position after her father passed away. The Left Minister’s wife and the aging Minister of War’s wife also occupied seats each.

Since they had always followed power, Yuseol had expected these people would attach themselves to Meisa. However, she couldn’t hide her surprised expression when she saw the woman in her twenties sitting close to the door. It was Deok-eun, her childhood friend.

Yuseol opened her mouth while bowing her head in confusion.

“I greet the young lady.”

Because of Deok-eun, her chest felt strangely queasy. It seemed to be because of memories of competing together over the Crown Princess position when they were young. At that time, Deok-eun had refused to be selected as Crown Princess, saying the palace was stifling, and married a scholar….

Deok-eun had laughed at Yuseol, calling her foolish for approaching it with fierce dedication. Yuseol had countered that Deok-eun was immature for not meeting her parents’ expectations.

Ridiculously, now Han Yuseol, who had spoken so smartly, had become a dead person.

Yuseol chewed silently. It seems you were right.

Even dressed up splendidly, it was a day when she felt utterly shabby.

In contrast, Meisa’s smile was more radiant than other days.

“Please come. Everyone has gathered and been waiting.”