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Chapter 1
So-ya was carrying a small pile of laundry on her head.
For the past month, she had been trying her best not to be seen and rarely stepped out of her room—but today was unavoidable.
If she didn’t do it herself, there would be no one to wash her clothes.
It had already been a month since she last did laundry, and her already worn-out clothes were beginning to smell faintly musty.
I should hurry back.
She just wanted to wash them quickly, dry them under the sun, and change into fresh, clean clothes.
With that thought, she hurried her short legs forward.
Then, from not far away, a burst of bright, bell-like laughter made her stop without realizing it.
“Really, big brother?”
“Yes, Lili. Whatever you want.”
There stood a young lord and young lady of the Vermillion Bird Clan.
The clan’s “true” young lady who had recently returned.
She had become the biggest topic of conversation among the servants of the household lately.
But So-ya’s gaze was fixed not on the adorable Lady Lili, but on the young lord standing beside her, gently guiding her through the manor.
He smiled warmly like a spring breeze, looking at the young lady with a gentle, soft expression—and So-ya stared at him, almost entranced.
It was a face she was seeing again after three whole years.
Then suddenly, his eyes landed on So-ya.
“……”
The smile vanished instantly.
As if what she had just seen had been a mirage, his face turned cold.
So-ya flinched, shrinking her shoulders as she set the laundry basket down.
Then she dropped to the ground and pressed herself flat, bowing her head like a criminal.
“I-I’m sorry, young lord…”
She could feel his sharp gaze fixed on the top of her head.
A cold voice echoed in her mind.
“Do not ever appear in my sight again.”
So-ya’s small body trembled.
Jeok So-ya had once been the cherished youngest daughter of the Vermillion Bird Clan—until the day of her first beast transformation at the age of six.
The nation of Taehwaguk, where beast-people lived.
In Taehwaguk, there were four great clans descended from ancient divine beasts who protected the imperial family and the empire.
The Azure Dragon of the East, the White Tiger of the West, the Vermillion Bird of the South, and the Black Tortoise of the North.
Awakened to ancient powers passed down through bloodlines, they governed the lands of the four directions and the beast-people who lived within them.
Among them, the Vermillion Bird Clan of the southern lands was the leader of 360 species of birds—and the master of fire.
The Vermillion Bird household was bustling since early morning.
Today was the sixth birthday of their most precious youngest daughter, So-ya—and the day of her first beast transformation.
Everyone was trying to hide their excitement as the clan head, Jeok A-yun, appeared holding So-ya in his arms.
“Oh my, the clan head himself…”
“So fond of the youngest young lady that he never lets her leave his arms. The rumors were true.”
The retainers whispered as they watched them.
Unlike Jeok A-yun, whose hair burned like flames, So-ya’s hair was pure white like snow.
Since the late lady had also had reddish-brown hair, many had once whispered about So-ya’s birth.
Rumors that the late lady might have been unfaithful and conceived the child with another man.
But Jeok A-yun immediately put those rumors to rest.
His late wife had been a pure, snow-like woman—no one was allowed to doubt her chastity.
Anyone who spread such filth would be personally punished.
Besides, everything would become clear today—on the day of the first transformation.
Direct descendants of the Vermillion Bird Clan would, upon transformation, become magnificent firebirds with radiant red feathers.
That was an unchanging law passed down since ancient times.
No matter what others said, Jeok A-yun’s faith in his late wife remained firm.
And so did his love for the last trace she left behind—So-ya.
After all, if she weren’t his daughter, there was no way such a small child could be so adorable.
“So-ya, are you ready?”
Jeok A-yun asked gently as he set her down.
“Yes, Father!”
So-ya replied, clenching her tiny fists tightly.
She was clearly nervous, her hands trembling slightly.
“Don’t be nervous, So-ya. You can do it,” whispered her older brother, Jeok Hwa-yu, the second young lord of the Vermillion Bird Clan.
“Yes! So-ya will do well, big brother!”
She smiled brightly.
With her father and brother cheering her on, her tension eased a little.
It would have been even better if her eldest brother, San-yu—who had gone off on imperial duty—were here too.
Surrounded by the encouragement of her family and retainers, So-ya walked toward the altar.
On the massive Vermillion Bird painting above, a blazing red bird wrapped in flames like the sun displayed its majesty.
So-ya knelt before it, hands neatly folded for the ceremony.
She imagined herself after her transformation, just as her father and brothers had taught her.
A magnificent baby bird like the sun—brilliant and proud, wrapped in flames.
Hehe.
Just imagining it made her want to giggle, even in such a solemn place.
She pressed her lips tightly together to hold back her smile and focused on her spirit core with earnest hope.
Please let me become a beautiful baby bird.
Everyone held their breath as they waited for her transformation.
Bang!
“Pyaa!”
With a cute little chirp, So-ya finally completed her first beast transformation.
“……”
“……”
“……”
A freezing silence fell over the hall.
Everyone’s faces froze in shock.
The clan head, Jeok A-yun, turned pale as if he might collapse at any moment.
Where So-ya had transformed—
There was no brilliant red-feathered divine bird of the Vermillion Bird bloodline.
Only a pitiful baby bird with shabby white fluff.
“Peep?”
So-ya tilted her head, unable to see herself, and took a step toward her frozen father.
“Pyaa!”
She reached out to grab Jeok A-yun’s hand with a bright smile.
But at that moment—
Smack!
Jeok A-yun shoved her hand away.
Her small body lost balance and fell heavily to the ground.
“P-pi…?”
So-ya sat stunned on the floor, looking up at her father in confusion.
A flicker of shock crossed Jeok A-yun’s face—but only for a moment.
“Take away the child’s spirit core and lock her in the Cold Palace.”
“……!”
His voice was cold as he looked down at her.
“Anyone who speaks of today’s events will not be forgiven.”
Without another word, he turned and left.
“Pii…?”
So-ya blinked, watching her father’s retreating back.
Father is angry.
His eyes had been so cold that it felt like her heart itself was freezing.
Why is he looking at me like that?
Then she noticed something small on the ground beneath her feet.
Dandelion seeds?
No… that wasn’t it.
It was her own fur, shed when she fell.
Her eyes trembled.
Something was wrong.
As a direct descendant of the Vermillion Bird Clan, she should have had brilliant red feathers like her father and brothers—but why…
I failed the transformation.
Looking at her shabby white fluff scattered on the ground, she realized it.
Because I failed, Father is disappointed…
She was confused and shaken.
At that moment, a shadow slightly smaller than her father approached.
It was her brother, Hwa-yu.
If it was her brother, maybe he would fix this confusion.
“Pyaa…!”
So-ya ran toward him, trying to hug him like always.
But the moment she touched him—
Thud.
Something like her soul was violently pulled out.
A small orb glowing white rested in Hwa-yu’s hand.
Her spirit core.
The moment it was taken, her beast transformation broke.
“Ugh….”
Back in human form, So-ya collapsed, gasping for air.
“B-brother… why…”
“Drag that thing away immediately.”
She flinched.
At his cold voice, her body trembled.
The face of her once-kind brother was filled with disgust.
“B-brother…?”
“Why are you all standing there? Take her away.”
Two soldiers grabbed her trembling arms.
“Brother, why…? It’s me… So-ya…”
“Brother?”
Hwa-yu’s face twisted.
“Who do you think is your brother?”
“Is it because I failed the transformation? Because you’re disappointed? I’m sorry… I’ll do better next time—please, I can do it again…”
Tears poured down her face.
“Please… don’t. I’m scared…”
But even as she shook and sobbed, his expression remained cold.
He bent down slightly, meeting her eyes.
For a brief moment, hope flickered in So-ya’s face—
“You’ve deceived everyone until now.”
His voice was ice.
“Do not ever appear in my sight again.”
“If I see that disgusting face again, I might cut off those useless wings of yours.”
“……”
At the murderous threat, So-ya covered her mouth, swallowing her cries.
The soldiers dragged her away.
That was how Jeok So-ya, the once-beloved youngest daughter of the Vermillion Bird Clan, was imprisoned in the Cold Palace.
At first, she didn’t understand.
Why her father and brother were so angry.
Maybe it was because she failed the transformation.
Because she had white fluff instead of brilliant fire feathers.
If she succeeded next time… maybe they would smile at her again.
Yes. That must be it.
Left alone, she tried to transform again—but without a spirit core, it was impossible.
Even knowing that, she forced herself, injuring her body until she coughed blood and collapsed.
No one came to check on her.
No healer ever visited.
But her fragile body stubbornly refused to die, even while coughing blood and groaning in pain.
Because of this, the servants of the Cold Palace thought she was faking illness to gain the clan head’s attention.
So-ya would lose consciousness, wake up, try again, cough blood, and collapse—over and over.
Only later, after overhearing whispers from the maids, did she understand.
She was proof of her mother’s alleged infidelity.
I… wasn’t Father’s real daughter.
Only then did So-ya finally stop trying to transform.
That was three years ago.
Everyone forgot about So-ya—the once-beloved youngest lady of the Vermillion Bird Clan.
Her father… her brother…
And then, one month ago.
The real young lady of the Vermillion Bird Clan returned.
