FBMR Ch 2

Faced with her impending death, Mohwa closed her eyes.

“I hear your father cherished you. Do you think he’ll come looking for you when your head is on display?”

What was Seo Mujin’s intention in saying that?

Was he genuinely curious?

Mohwa found Seo Mujin’s question, spoken as if he knew nothing, so absurd that she couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile.

Seeing that smile, the tip of Seo Mujin’s sword trembled.

But Mohwa, oblivious, answered his question.

“If he were the type to retrieve my head, he wouldn’t have abandoned his family and run away.”

This was the first time Mohwa had spoken since arriving here.

Perhaps that was why everyone held their breath, listening to her words.

Some murmured in surprise at her unexpectedly calm and clear voice.

Mohwa, too, was surprised by her own voice.

It seemed she had momentarily forgotten her fear, so stunned by the question about her father’s intentions.

Judging by the arrogant and cold tone of her voice, she clearly hadn’t intended it.

In the tense silence, Seo Mujin spoke again.

“Then, he might come to rescue you alive, not just your head.”

“Don’t get your hopes up. The rumors of my father cherishing me are all lies.”

“Oh. Are you perhaps not Chu Seongun’s biological child either?”

It was clear mockery and derision.

“…….”

Even if she told the truth, who would believe her?

Mohwa didn’t want to be further ridiculed, so she simply kept her mouth shut.

She glared at Chu Jaesung’s ugly head and cursed him inwardly.

‘Why couldn’t you just die quietly? Why did you have to say such a thing and drag me down with you?’

The blood dripping from Seo Mujin’s blade stained Mohwa’s clothes.

‘I wish it were my blood.’

Then she wouldn’t be afraid.

The heads of the two already dead, though wearing pained expressions, would now be at peace.

‘Why am I the last?’

Mohwa felt like she was receiving a greater punishment.

Unfortunately, Mohwa’s fear didn’t show on her face.

Unbeknownst to Mohwa, this further provoked Mujin.

Mujin was unsettled by Mohwa’s composure. She didn’t scream and beg for her life like Chu Jaesung, nor did she spew resentment and curses like he had.

She sat haughtily, awaiting death as if she were different from them.

It made him feel disgusted, as if he were persecuting an innocent person.

The girl, indifferent to the suffering of others, remained expressionless even in the face of her own misfortune.

She seemed almost out of her mind with fear, yet judging by how clearly she answered his questions, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Even if her mother was a stepmother, wasn’t it strange that she didn’t even blink at her younger brother’s death?

“Seeing as you don’t mourn your brother’s death, it seems he truly wasn’t Chu Seongun’s child.”

Seo Mujin sheathed his sword and turned around.

“Your Highness. Allow me to take this girl as my slave.”

“!”

Mohwa’s eyes widened at his unexpected words.

Amidst the commotion, the Crown Prince asked,

“Seo Mujin. Is this because of your personal resentment?”

“I can’t say it isn’t, but that’s not all. Chu Seongun and his remnants haven’t been captured yet. If we hold his cherished daughter hostage, he might try to rescue her. Or he might reveal himself.”

Mohwa sighed.

That was unlikely.

But Seo Mujin seemed to misunderstand her sigh.

“Do you think your being alive will be a burden to your father? It seems the bond between father and daughter is truly deep, as rumored.”

“I’m only sorry to make him wait so long.”

Mohwa resigned.

No, she was relieved, for now, not to be dead.

Being beheaded seemed like a very painful death.

Again, her emotions didn’t show on her face.

Seo Mujin silently seethed at her composure, even when faced with the possibility of becoming a slave.

‘Is it because her father is alive?’

He wanted to show this haughty woman, who didn’t hesitate to become a sacrifice for her father’s life, the cruelty and harshness of reality.

Chu Mohwa had to become the target of his pent-up rage, in place of Chu Seongun.

Just as Seo Mujin solidified his resolve to make her his slave, Kang Sahee stepped forward.

“Since Chu Mohwa was once betrothed to me, it would be better for her to become Seo Mujin’s slave than mine.”

Mohwa looked at Kang Sahee.

What would she be doing now if their engagement hadn’t been broken off?

At least she wouldn’t be a criminal here.

‘There are no what-ifs. It was an engagement that was never meant to be.’

Although Chu Jaesung was the reason for the broken engagement, seeing things today, she realized the Kang family would have found a way to break it off regardless.

“Did I say I’d spare her? You’re making decisions on your own.”

Crown Prince Jin Yubo spoke as if displeased, but he didn’t seem truly angry.

“Seo Mujin also survived as a slave to take his revenge. There’s no reason this girl can’t do the same. I don’t want to leave any loose ends, so just execute her.”

The sharp command fell.

Then Seo Mujin countered.

“Your Highness. I had the protection of Your Highness and the Kang family, but this girl has no one. What could a powerless girl possibly do?”

“Do you think I don’t know your resentment? I say this because I’m worried you might lose yourself to petty revenge and bring danger upon yourself.”

“If that’s your concern, please trust me. I intend to use Chu Mohwa as bait to catch Chu Seongun. Her living as a slave would be a far more agonizing punishment for him.”

As soon as Seo Mujin finished speaking, Kang Sahee added,

“Chu Seongun is more cunning than he appears. We must capture him. Keeping Chu Mohwa might be a useful strategy.”

The debate continued for quite some time.

Mohwa’s life teetered on the edge of death several times due to their tongues.

Each time, her heart clenched, until she became numb to their words.

Whether she lived as a slave or died here, her life was headed for ruin.

Suddenly, white snowflakes began to appear in her dazed vision.

The sight of the pure white snowflakes falling into the red pool of blood was so surreal that she tilted her head back to look at the sky.

‘It’s really snowing.’

It was said that on the day Seo Mujin became a slave, torrential rain poured down, washing away all the blood.

But today, the filthy blood was staining the pure snow.

It would have been better if it had rained.

Then she might have cried.

Perhaps her tears had frozen, or perhaps her emotions had dried up like the cold, dry air, but not a single tear flowed.

She was still gazing at the snowy sky when…

She turned her head at the sudden stillness and found everyone staring at her as if she were insane.

“…I permit Chu Mohwa to be taken as a slave.”

The Crown Prince’s permission was granted.

Of all the words she had heard, those seemed the loudest.

She wondered what Seo Mujin’s expression would be like now that he had gotten what he wanted.

Their eyes met.

A sneer flickered in Seo Mujin’s eyes.

Thump, thump, thump—

Her heart, which had seemed to disappear, now pounded fiercely.

For the first time, the thought crossed Mohwa’s mind that becoming Seo Mujin’s slave might be more agonizing than death.

⋆˖🌺°.

Seo Mujin ascended to the rank of General, the same position his father, Seo Jonghak, had held.

Kang Sahee became a Grand General.

The family of Han Cheolhu, the former Grand General who had retired a few years ago, wasn’t spared either.

A bloody wind blew once again, but this time, the people welcomed it.

The only ones who feared this bloody wind were the relatives and associates of the former coup conspirators.

Seo Mujin returned home with the gifts bestowed by the newly crowned Emperor Jin Yubo.

Seo Mujin’s old house no longer existed.

Chu Seongun had deemed it unlucky, torn it down, sold it off, and other houses had been built on the site.

Jin Yubo offered to give Chu Seongun’s house to Seo Mujin, but Seo Mujin refused.

Seo Mujin found a house near Kang Sahee’s.

It seemed somewhat modest for a General, but it was a grand house for a man living alone.

Chu Mohwa, one of the Emperor’s gifts, also set foot in that unfamiliar house for the first time.

Having endured the pointing fingers and ridicule of the people all the way, Mohwa felt a sense of relief as she passed through the gate and was enclosed by the walls.

But that feeling didn’t last long.

Servants were already waiting in the house to greet their master.

Judging by their attire, most of them were soldiers who also served as servants, and there weren’t many slaves.

Seo Mujin greeted them before turning to Mohwa.

Mohwa, accustomed to praise, wasn’t used to the contempt and ridicule.

Having been intimidated on the way, she flinched at his disdainful gaze.

Seo Mujin was pleased to see her more shaken than before, but it wasn’t enough.

What had been the despair and pain he felt when he became a slave ten years ago?

Looking at Mohwa’s clear, untainted eyes and delicate face, Seo Mujin felt a surge of nausea.

“Take her and teach her. She’s been raised with privilege and is ignorant of many things.”

“Yes.”

Mohwa stood calmly, though she couldn’t possibly miss the way he referred to her as “that girl.”

Seo Mujin’s twisted rage churned within him.

“Show her no mercy. If she acts as if she’s forgotten her place before me, I will hold you all accountable.”

The servants bowed even lower at their master’s stern first command.

And Mohwa intended to obey him.

‘I lived obediently as Chu Mohwa anyway. Living as an obedient slave might be easier than I thought.’

Mohwa had already spent many days in prison.

So, she didn’t think a slave’s life would be any worse than that.

That was Mohwa’s biggest mistake.