The Beloved Baby Deer of the Hwangryong Family - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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She couldn’t bring herself to tell them, not wanting to disappoint Yi-ryeong and Li-gon. Even knowing that this too was deceiving the two of them.

“Are you saying it’s not brave just because you were born that way?”

“Yes…”

Seo-yu answered while holding back her tears.

Hyeon-rang, who had been silent with a thoughtful expression, soon spoke toward the wall.

“Eun-hyang.”

“Yes, Family Head.”

Seo-yu’s eyes widened in surprise at the voice heard nearby.

In the office where no one had been just moments before, Eun-hyang was gradually appearing.

Seo-yu’s eyes grew round at the wondrous sight, as if someone was painting a picture with a brush against the wall.

“You’re surprised. I’ve been in this spot from the beginning.”

“B-but how…”

“Our Chilmyeonseokcheok Family can use Camouflage Technique. Just now I had changed to the same color as the wall.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Heh.”

At the sight of the child momentarily forgetting her sadness and expressing admiration, Hyeon-rang let out a low chuckle. Seo-yu quickly shut her mouth in embarrassment.

‘But why did he call for Eun-hyang?’

Just as she was wondering, Hyeon-rang, who had risen, tapped around his eyes toward Eun-hyang.

“Eun-hyang, if it’s alright, could you show her?”

“Of course.”

This time Eun-hyang approached and met Seo-yu’s eyes. Then she carefully brushed away the long hair that always covered her eyes.

This revealed a purple eyepatch that couldn’t normally be seen. It was the same color as her hair, so she hadn’t noticed it before.

Following her hair, Eun-hyang removed even the eyepatch.

“Ah…”

Seo-yu unconsciously let out a gasp.

Eun-hyang’s left eye was clouded white. The pupil, which had a faintly bluish tinge, was quite different from a normal one.

‘It’s glaucoma.’

And it was very severe. At that degree, that eye probably couldn’t see at all.

“My eye has been like this since birth. Just like your horn, Miss. I don’t cover it because I’m ashamed, but because it’s easier to focus when I keep it closed.”

As if to prove her point, Eun-hyang put the eyepatch back on and stepped back with proper posture.

To Seo-yu, who was staring blankly at Eun-hyang as she moved away, Hyeon-rang spoke quietly.

“They say every child in this land fights a war in their mother’s womb before being born. The bodies we have are the result of earnestly striving to face the sun.”

The result of striving in their mother’s womb…

Seo-yu had always thought she must have done something wrong to be born this way.

That’s why her father had abandoned her at the Great Antlered Deer Family and left, why he had never once come to see her—she had blamed herself for it all.

“Looking at your horn, Seo-yu, I can tell how hard you tried in the womb to meet the sun.”

“…”

“Now do you understand why the children said you were wonderful?”

Seo-yu placed her trembling hand on her own horn.

The blunt, short horn was the same ugly shape as always, but somehow it didn’t feel as hateful as before. She even thought it looked quite cute.

‘The youngest has round eyes, nose, and mouth, and even round horns. So incredibly cute.’

‘If I had just one horn, would I have been that cute too?’

‘Wake up from that dream, Hwang Li-gon.’

It didn’t take long for him to realize that it was all thanks to the twins.

“I want to see them.”

Seo-yu revealed the feelings she had been holding back.

“I want to see Yi-ryeong and Li-gon. Will they forgive me?”

She wanted to meet them and apologize. To say she was sorry for lying, and to ask if she could still be their youngest sister.

“Shall I make you a promise?”

Hwang Hyeon-rang smiled warmly.

“Those children have never hated you, not even once.”

* * *

Swish, swish.

Seo-yu carefully moved her brush while searching through her memories.

Even though it was her one day off, she hadn’t read any books and instead stayed up all night drawing two paintings that were gifts for Yi-ryeong and Li-gon.

“Whooo—”

Ga-ram let out an exclamation of admiration when she saw Seo-yu’s completed painting, which she had been carefully blowing on to prevent the ink from smearing.

“Oh my, how can you draw so well?”

“Really?”

“Yes! You could even work as a court painter. Oh, but it’s a secret from Master Hyeon-ya. He’ll scold me for trying to steal his disciple.”

Feeling a bit reassured by those words, Seo-yu smiled brightly.

Since she couldn’t write, she had drawn pictures in the dirt countless times to ask about the names of medicinal herbs she saw on the mountain later, and that seemed to have helped.

However, worry soon appeared on Seo-yu’s face.

“Will they… like them?”

“Of course they will. No one could dislike receiving such wonderful gifts.”

Ga-ram replied confidently and whispered playfully.

“Besides, didn’t the Family Head tell you his secret method for making up?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

Seo-yu nodded her head.

‘Seo-yu, if you’re still worried, let me tell you one good method. With this method, the twins will be absolutely delighted.’

She actually had doubts about whether that method would work, but since it was a method he had taught her, it seemed worth trying once.

‘Alright. I can do this.’

Having prepared herself mentally, Seo-yu was about to go look for the twins.

“Um, Ga-ram. I’m going to…”

Knock knock.

“Youngest, are you inside?”

“We’re here…”

The sound of knocking on the door was followed by cautious voices.

It was Yi-ryeong and Li-gon. Seo-yu felt her chest tighten at their hesitant tone.

In the past, they would have come right in without even asking.

“Yes, I’m here! Please come in.”

Seo-yu answered cheerfully, hiding her trembling.

Stay strong!

Ga-ram, who had mouthed the words through the crack in the door, quickly moved aside.

“Can we really come in?”

“Aren’t you going to uncle’s today?”

The two people peeked their heads through the slightly opened door, taking turns asking. Their cautious expressions made her heart ache even more.

‘I’m the one who did wrong, yet they’re the ones being more considerate.’

Feeling even more upset, Seo-yu quickly opened the door wide.

Soon the two entered. Seo-yu resolved to apologize without crying no matter what.

“Yi-ryeong-nim, Li-gon-nim. I…”

The moment she began to speak after taking a deep breath, their eyes met.

Yi-ryeong and Li-gon burst into tears without warning.

“We were wrong, youngest!”

Yi-ryeong ran over sobbing and hugged Seo-yu.

“We’re sorryyy!”

Li-gon also embraced Seo-yu from the other side while apologizing.

“We shouldn’t have asked you to show us Beast Transformation! It doesn’t matter if you can’t do it!”

“We just thought it would be cute, but waaaah!”

Seo-yu was flustered by the Twins constantly apologizing. She had definitely intended to apologize, but they were doing it instead and even crying first.

“No, no. You two didn’t do anything wrong…”

Seo-yu, who had tried to speak calmly, ended up bursting into tears as well.

“I’m the one who did wrong! I lied.”

Once the tears started, she couldn’t stop them. Seo-yu wailed.

“A-actually, *sob*, I can do Beast Transformation. But it’s so ugly and weird, *sniff*… I was afraid you two would be disappointed, so I lied and said I couldn’t do it.”

“S-so you can do Beast Transformation?”

Yi-ryeong asked back with her tear-stained face. Seo-yu answered while trying to hold back more tears from her guilt.

“Yes, *hiccup*. I can do it, but I lied…”

“Thank gooodness!”

Before she could even finish speaking, Li-gon shouted loudly. His relief was obvious.

“We thought youngest was sick somewhere… We learned that not being able to do Beast Transformation means there’s something wrong with your body. So we were really worried…”

“See, Hwang Li-gon. I told you our youngest wasn’t sick!”

“I’m really so relieved…”

The Twins hugged Seo-yu tightly and cried. Seo-yu also cried along with them for a long while.

Only after repeating “I’m sorry,” “I’m even more sorry,” and “No, we were wrong” several times could the three of them finally calm down.

“Ah, well… I have gifts for both of you.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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