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Chapter 23
“Doui-nim, it must have been really hard for you.”
Back in her room, Baeksa fiddled with her fingers and murmured softly.
When she heard that he constantly suffered headaches because of unwanted voices filling his ears, the little snake had been shocked.
He had never shown any sign of it on the surface.
‘Still, I’m really glad my scales can help.’
Baeksa wiggled her fingers.
She had never imagined that her ability could be used like this.
She had always believed that her power only worked through direct contact and that it was an ability meant to harm others.
But now…
‘My ability can help people too…?’
At this rate, perhaps one day she would even be able to absorb the contamination from the pond in the lord’s beloved garden.
‘It would be nice if that happened…’
Throughout her life, Baeksa had always wished for small things.
What she wanted was usually something as simple as sharing a warm meal with someone or receiving a slightly kinder gaze.
Or perhaps for Yeoryun and Songra to leave her alone for just a single day.
But lately, Baeksa had begun wishing for bigger things.
Like now.
Wanting to become someone who could help others.
The thought felt strange and somewhat presumptuous, but she didn’t dislike it.
Because of that, for the first time, Baeksa felt that perhaps her ability wasn’t so bad after all.
‘Please take care of me until then.’
While the child sat under a warm blanket, rolling the marble in her hands, Sirang entered carrying a large stack of books.
“My lady, look at these! The lord gave them to you!”
“The lord did?”
“Yes! He said you might get bored, little snake lady, so he wanted me to read you lots of interesting stories.”
Smiling brightly, Sirang opened one of the books in front of Baeksa.
Completely captivated by the fascinating story she had never encountered before, Baeksa listened attentively while gently placing her hand on the book.
Meanwhile, the small marble hidden inside her silk pouch sparkled brilliantly.
But because it remained concealed within the pouch, no one noticed its glow.
After completing their morning training, Hwayeong and Doui visited Ju Jeokseo’s office.
“Father, come to think of it, today is…”
Hwayeong paused upon seeing his father dressed more formally than usual.
“The meeting! Right! You have the meeting today, don’t you?”
Indeed, today was the day of the Southern Land beastfolk council meeting.
It was a gathering of Ju Jeokseo, the ruler of the Southern Land, and the nobles who governed its various regions. Most important matters concerning the South were decided there.
In truth, the Southern Land functioned almost independently from Haeseoguk.
Because of that, the council played an extremely important role.
Quickly realizing something, Hwayeong spoke up.
“They’re definitely going to talk about Baeksa today, aren’t they?”
“They probably will.”
“Father, no matter what those old men say, you can’t throw the little snake out! She was abandoned by the imperial palace, so she’s not really part of the imperial family anymore!”
“I’ll handle it. Now go.”
“Besides, with an ability like hers, if she falls into the hands of bad people…”
“Son?”
“Ah! What if someone deliberately tries to take the little snake away?”
“Doui, drag him out immediately.”
“Yes, Lord.”
Doui grabbed Hwayeong and practically dragged him out.
Even as he was being hauled away, Hwayeong continued shouting that they absolutely must not send the little snake away.
Watching the scene, Ju Jeokseo quietly chuckled.
‘Looks like he’s become attached after seeing her only briefly.’
He had no idea that Hwayeong had already met Baeksa in his bird form.
Naturally, he thought his son was quite a strange fellow.
‘In any case, I have no intention of sending her away.’
Originally, he hadn’t thought it necessary for her to stay with the Jujak family.
There was no mistress of the household at present, and both of his children were boys.
Even the guest they were currently sheltering was a man.
Because of that, he thought it might be difficult for him to properly care for a young girl.
Perhaps it would have been better to find a suitable guardian and let her grow up elsewhere under proper protection.
But after witnessing her ability, he changed his mind.
‘Someone could use that child.’
Just because they were abandoned beastfolk living in a forsaken land did not mean everyone here was kind.
There were plenty of people who would exploit or mistreat the weak and vulnerable.
And an ability that could absorb anything…
Not only that, but one that could even absorb contamination from the land itself.
That also meant it could be exploited in countless ways.
‘That cannot be allowed.’
She was only seven years old.
It had not even been a month since her own father abandoned her.
The safest way to ensure she never suffered such wounds again was for him to protect her personally.
At that moment—
Knock. Knock.
A sound came from outside the door.
Ju Jeokseo rose from his seat and looked toward it.
“Come in.”
The one who entered was Joyeong.
After giving a respectful bow, he reported,
“My lord, it is time for the meeting. Everyone has already arrived and is waiting.”
“Has it gotten that late already?”
Ju Jeokseo stood up.
The end of his long belt hung down to his knees.
As he brushed back his crimson hair, he spoke.
“Yeong-ah, I will attend the meeting now. There is something I want you to do in my place.”
“Something you want me to do?”
“Yes. Go and investigate the snake beastfolk.”
“The snake beastfolk? What exactly should I investigate?”
“The marble.”
Ju Jeokseo answered directly.
“Find out whether snake beastfolk can create marbles. Any related material will do. Gather it together with the information on abilities that I previously asked you to research and report back.”
“That’s quite a mountain of work… Understood!”
Though grumbling, Joyeong still bowed obediently.
Leaving him behind, Ju Jeokseo headed straight for the council chamber.
The chamber was located within the inner hall of the Jujak family’s estate.
The beastfolk of the Southern Land lived without the Emperor’s rule and followed the Jujak leader almost as if he were their king.
It was only natural.
The spacious chamber was filled with nobles and officials responsible for governing the Southern Land.
“The lord has arrived.”
As the attendant outside announced softly, the doors opened.
Immediately, every noble in the chamber rose to their feet.
Some were bird beastfolk, while others belonged to different races.
The moment Ju Jeokseo stepped inside, everyone bowed deeply.
“We greet Jujak Singun!”
Jujak Singun was the title held by the Ju family in ancient times, back when the Southern Land was still part of Haeseoguk.
That title had continued to be passed down through the generations.
Once Ju Jeokseo took his seat, the meeting began.
The proceedings moved smoothly.
Reports were presented one after another.
One region was suffering from severe contamination.
Another area had beastfolk starving due to food shortages.
Elsewhere, a local noble had been abusing the beastfolk under his authority, and requests were made for punishment.
As always, Ju Jeokseo handled every matter calmly.
Officials were dispatched to contaminated regions.
Food supplies were ordered for starving communities.
One by one, each issue was resolved.
Eventually, only the final agenda item remained.
Yet no one brought it up.
The nobles merely exchanged glances and hesitated.
Silence filled the room.
The first to speak was Taega.
“Singun, I have heard a certain rumor…”
Carefully choosing his words, he continued.
“Not long ago, it is said that the imperial carriage abandoned none other than an imperial princess in the Southern Land.”
The head of the Taega family continued.
“And now there are rumors that this princess is currently residing within the Jujak estate. We wish to ask for an explanation.”
“That is correct. She is currently staying in this estate.”
At Ju Jeokseo’s answer, the nobles exchanged meaningful looks.
As though they had expected it, they sighed heavily.
“However, Singun, it is absurd for the imperial princess to be sheltered within your household! She carries the bloodline of the imperial family, whom the beastfolk of the Southern Land despise to the very core of their being!”
Another noble nodded in agreement.
“If that rumor is true, then she should immediately be cast back into the contaminated lands. Singun, how can you welcome the daughter of our enemy as a guest of your household?”
The atmosphere in the chamber instantly turned cold.
For a moment, complete silence fell over the room.
