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Chapter 29
“Elder, I have brought the mother and daughter.”
Songhyeon responded slowly.
“Bring them in.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than his subordinates led the pair inside.
A little girl with snow-white hair stood there, holding her mother’s hand.
Songhyeon glanced at the mother once before gesturing for her to leave.
“You wait outside.”
“Y-Yes.”
The widow bowed deeply.
As she backed out of the room with repeated bows, only the child remained inside.
She looked exactly like Myeongyeong.
It wasn’t simply because of the white hair. Even her facial features were the spitting image of Myeongyeong’s.
Looking at the girl with satisfaction, Songhyeon spoke.
“You haven’t forgotten what I told you before, have you?”
The little girl nodded with a slightly nervous expression.
“No.”
“Good. From now on, you are practically a member of their family. There will be no way for them to tell the difference.”
Gripping the girl’s shoulders firmly, Songhyeon continued,
“So you must listen carefully to everything I say from this moment onward. Understood?”
His hands tightened around her shoulders.
“This matter will greatly change your fate.”
A sinister smile spread across Songhyeon’s face.
“You may live a life of luxury forever… or lose your head with a single stroke. It would be wise to conduct yourself properly.”
At those words, the girl nodded tensely.
However, she did not appear especially shocked, as though this was not the first time she had heard such things.
Following Ju Jeokseo’s orders, his subordinates searched everywhere for information regarding Baeksa’s mother, but they found almost nothing.
It was only natural. Even within the imperial palace, Baeksa’s origins were unclear.
And as for the mysterious pearl, they learned nothing about that either.
Yonyeong dug through countless ancient texts, researching snake beastfolk and dragons, but nowhere was there any mention of snake beastfolk creating pearls.
The identity of the baby snake seemed to sink deeper and deeper into mystery.
Of course, Ju Jeokseo did not concern himself with it.
No matter how the child had been born, his decision to accept her as family would not change.
Meanwhile, time passed quickly, and before long the day of the Divine Beast Festival was just around the corner.
“Little one, look at this.”
Lifting Baeksa into his arms, Ju Jeokseo walked over to a set of clothes hanging in the corner and showed them to her.
Still in his embrace, Baeksa’s eyes widened in amazement.
The sky-blue silk outfit was as beautiful as the robes of a fairy.
Along with it came an elegant silk hair ornament that looked obviously expensive and precious.
“It’s yours. The tailors worked tirelessly to make it for you.”
“For… me…? But… the clothes I’m wearing now are already pretty enough.”
“But for the Divine Beast Festival, you should wear something even prettier. It will be the first time you’re being introduced to the people of the Southern Lands.”
“It’s so pretty! It looks like a little fairy’s outfit! Squirt, try it on now!”
Hwayeong bounced excitedly as he shouted.
“I agree. It would be nice to try it on now. The Family Head will surely feel rewarded for giving it to you.”
Doui added his own comment.
Ju Jeokseo also seemed to think she should wear it immediately and gently set Baeksa down.
Sirang, who had been waiting behind them, stepped forward with the clothes and lightly took Baeksa’s hand.
“I’ll help you change behind there.”
With practiced ease, Sirang led Baeksa farther into the room and removed her clothes.
Since she had changed the child’s clothes many times before, her hands moved skillfully.
Seeing that the wounds and bruises on Baeksa’s body had faded significantly, Sirang let out a sigh of relief.
Children’s skin bruised easily, but it also healed quickly.
She was truly grateful for that.
The wounds were healing as fast as the child smiled.
Sirang sincerely wished for all of Baeksa’s scars to disappear.
Pushing aside her thoughts, she quickly dressed the girl.
She slipped Baeksa’s arms through the silk sleeves and tied the skirt ribbons neatly behind her.
She carefully brushed the girl’s lovely hair and fastened the beautiful hair ornament in place.
Baeksa glanced toward the mirror standing in one corner.
The reflection staring back at her looked like someone else.
I look like Yeoryun unni.
The girl reflected in the mirror was astonishingly cute and beautiful.
The shabby appearance she once had was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a healthy little fairy-like girl stood there with rosy cheeks.
As Baeksa awkwardly fidgeted with her fingers, Sirang clapped her hands together.
“Oh my! You look exactly like a fairy, Miss!”
“I-I… a fairy is…”
She was about to say that such a title didn’t suit her when—
“Are you finished?”
Ju Jeokseo’s voice came from outside the door.
Sirang stood up and answered,
“Yes, we’re done!”
The door swung open immediately, and the three impatient men walked inside.
Feeling embarrassed for some reason, Baeksa lightly grasped the hem of her skirt and looked up at Ju Jeokseo.
“F-Family Head… does it look okay…?”
“Okay?”
Ju Jeokseo strode over and effortlessly lifted her into his arms.
“Among all the beastfolk in the Southern Lands, there isn’t a single one who could surpass you in beauty or cuteness. The clothes have been blessed by their owner.”
Embarrassed by his praise, Baeksa twisted her body shyly and giggled.
She had gradually become accustomed to everyone’s kindness and casual affection while living here, but it still made her blush.
And because this was the finest outfit she had ever worn, she was secretly afraid she might damage it.
“You look like a fairy floating above the clouds.”
As though trying to ease her worries, Doui casually remarked,
“It suits you so naturally that it feels like it was always your own. If you show up wearing this, everyone’s eyes will be on you.”
“N-No! They can’t stare too much! My little sister will wear out!”
Hwayeong clung to Ju Jeokseo’s arm and hugged Baeksa tightly.
Ju Jeokseo watched them quietly before wrapping one arm around Hwayeong as well.
“Wow, Father is the best!”
Then he looked at Doui with an expression that seemed to say, Do you want one too?
“I’m good.”
Doui recoiled in horror and took a step backward.
Seeing that, Baeksa burst into cheerful laughter and buried her face in Ju Jeokseo’s chest.
Fidgeting with her fingers, she said,
“Family Head, thank you so much for giving me such beautiful clothes. I’ll be very careful not to ruin them.”
“It doesn’t matter if they get ruined. I’ll simply have new ones made for you.”
“But if they’re ruined… I think I’d be very sad.”
Baeksa shyly stroked the edge of her skirt as she answered.
In the little girl’s heart, this single outfit had already become more precious than everything she owned.
She resolved to wear it with the utmost care throughout the Divine Beast Festival.
“What if you’re so pretty that all the beastfolk spend the whole festival staring only at you?”
Hwayeong frowned deeply, looking genuinely worried.
“If strangers ask you to go with them, you absolutely mustn’t follow.”
“But strangers wouldn’t ask her to follow them in the first place, Young Master. I’ll be by her side.”
Doui responded.
Hwayeong shrugged and stuck out his tongue.
“Enough. Stop bickering, both of you.”
Ju Jeokseo interrupted them before turning to Baeksa.
Looking at her warmly, he gently bumped his forehead against hers.
“But Hwayeong is right. There will be many beastfolk at the Divine Beast Festival, so you must be especially careful.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
Smiling sweetly, Baeksa lightly touched her little forehead against Ju Jeokseo’s.
“Don’t worry.”
Once every five years, the festival held to offer prayers to the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast—the Divine Beast Festival.
The festival was held at Jeokryusan, the largest mountain in the Southern Lands.
All the beastfolk of the Southern Lands gathered there to enjoy delicious food and give thanks for the blessings of the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast.
It could easily be called the greatest event in the Southern Lands.
Naturally, everyone in the Vermilion Bird Clan was excited as the festival approached.
Baeksa’s formal registration into the family was also scheduled to take place during this year’s festival, so everyone had been busy thinking of a name for her.
Amid all the bustling preparations, an unexpected guest arrived at the Vermilion Bird Estate.
“Did you hear? They say she’s Lady Myeongyeong’s daughter!”
“Her daughter? Then where is Lady Myeongyeong?”
For some, this was the guest they had waited their entire lives to see.
For others, it was someone they had never wished would come.
Songhyeon, the head of the Song Clan, arrived bringing with him a little girl who looked exactly like Myeongyeong.
“Divine Lord, I request an urgent audience.”
Holding tightly onto the young girl’s hand as if afraid to let go, Songhyeon spoke.
“This humble one has found Lady Myeongyeong’s daughter.”
