The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 29
“This place has been passed down for a hundred years, and the owner personally makes the broth and pulls the noodles himself. They’re so delicious that two people could eat together and not notice if one of them keeled over—so be careful, little one!”
The noodles were as delicious as Do Young had proclaimed.
By the time Arin finished one bowl, Do Young had already demolished three.
“Since we’ve eaten our fill, dessert should be something sweet—shaved ice, perhaps?”
“Young master, we didn’t come out just to eat…….”
“We can still make it to Guhwel Won even if we take a detour, can’t we?”
Pressed by Do Young’s insistence, Arin managed to finish the shaved ice as well, though her stomach was about ready to burst.
“I’m so full I can’t walk.”
As Arin panted from eating too much, Do Young patted her back supportively.
“Then just let me carry you.”
Despite his matter-of-fact tone, Arin hesitated and didn’t immediately agree.
“I’ll be too heavy.”
“Don’t underestimate a tiger, little one.”
“I wasn’t underestimating you!”
She’d never been carried by anyone except Ahyeon.
Do Kyeong was the type to toss her around casually, but it was different.
‘I’ll carry only you on my back.’
Remembering the promise Ahyeon had made but failed to keep, Arin’s expression grew distant.
Unaware of her mood shift, Do Young pressed on.
“Stop your fussing and get on! Your brother’s neck’s about to snap waiting!”
Yielding to Do Young’s pestering, Arin climbed onto his back.
Contrary to her worry, Do Young found her weightless.
“Wow! You’re light as a feather, really! Are you even growing?”
“I—I am growing!”
“But why do you stick to the ground like that? At this rate you’ll sink right through the earth, won’t you? Ha ha ha!”
As Do Young teased, Arin’s cheeks puffed out indignantly.
“I’ll grow taller than you!”
“Ugh, that’s too creepy. You’re cute because you’re small, little one.”
“Hmph!”
Arin exhaled sharply. Her small stature had already been a sore point among the Geumho Family.
‘Everyone will know I’m not actually a tiger.’
As that thought took hold, Arin’s expression grew steadily darker.
Cho Ryeong noticed and clicked her tongue.
“Oh my, our young lady’s pouting.”
“Huh? Is the little one upset?”
“I don’t know. The little one’s gone!”
When Arin turned her head away sharply, Do Young floundered.
“I really meant it as a compliment! I don’t care if you grow to eight feet tall! You’re our house’s eternal darling, little one!”
After coaxing her with words, Arin glanced at him sideways.
“Not eight feet.”
“Right, right. Eight feet would be weird for me too…….”
Having barely soothed Arin, they arrived at Guhwel Won.
A fine carriage happened to be waiting in front of the building.
Recognizing the person about to board it, confusion flickered across Arin’s face.
She quickly hid herself behind Do Young’s back.
“Oh!”
Hyeok Jae, having spotted her, called out.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, Arin.”
“Huh? Who is this person?”
Do Young immediately adopted a guarded stance toward the man who spoke so familiarly.
“There’s no need to be so cautious. Arin and I are acquainted.”
Though Hyeok Jae’s expression remained pleasant, Do Young’s wariness did not ease.
“Do you know him, little one?”
Arin couldn’t bring herself to answer and fidgeted uncomfortably.
She’d thought that once she left Hong Sa Village, she would never encounter those people again.
‘A half-blood who cannot restore their status to the Hong Sa Family is of no use. Rather, such a person brings dishonor to the family—we should sever ties.’
He had been one of the Elders who vehemently insisted on casting her out.
His son Hyeok Su was very close to Ahyeon, and so Arin had seen him often.
“Someone I knew from where I used to live…….”
Unable to pretend ignorance any longer, Arin reluctantly answered, and Hyeok Jae seized the opportunity at once.
“Oh, so you do remember me. I’m relieved. I attended a gathering some time ago, but we didn’t manage to meet then.”
He had already sent word through his network and learned that the Geumho Family had taken Arin away.
The woman they had adopted as a daughter—So So—had apparently stolen something the Yeoryeong had given to Arin.
Lee Jin, having lost his daughter over the matter, was said to be seething with rage.
‘The reason’s obvious enough. Not because he cares about the girl—but because he resents Do Kyeong.’
Do Young found the whole situation rather fascinating, knowing full well that Lee Jin harbored an inferiority complex toward Do Kyeong.
‘The Elders of the Geumho Family seemed to know nothing of this child’s origins.’
It was unusual for a Family Head to take a daughter from a rival house as an adopted child.
Some significant transaction must have taken place.
For Hyeok Jae, a born merchant, it was a tantalizing subject indeed.
“Hyeok Su happens to be staying here as well.”
“Ah.”
“We’re lodging here, so do visit us when you have the time.”
Hyeok Jae smoothly produced a note with the address of the Yeogwan where he was staying.
Arin accepted it without even meeting his eyes.
“Yes, of course.”
“And I’ll be sure to visit the Geumho Family soon. I have matters to discuss with the Family Head regarding some Merchant Guild dealings.”
Hyeok Jae took his leave and disappeared in his carriage.
Even then, Arin kept her gaze fixed on the ground.
Do Young, dissatisfied with her oddly submissive demeanor, snatched the note from her hands.
“Confiscated.”
“Hey!”
“Listen—from now on, you’re going to have all sorts of people like this fawning over you. They’ll say they played with you as children, or that you resemble some dead sibling, that sort of thing.”
Do Young’s eyes narrowed as he watched the carriage carrying Hyeok Jae disappear into the distance.
“They’re not worth your time, so ignore them. And there’s no need to look so frightened about it.”
“I wasn’t frightened… I just didn’t expect to run into him here.”
And besides, Hyeok Su was here too.
Arin was afraid that they would discover she was living a new life and try to interfere.
They knew everything—where she came from and the fact that her status could not be restored.
“You’re not particularly close to them, are you?”
Arin nodded at Do Young’s question.
Then Do Young declared with the confidence of one who had anticipated this.
“Then leave it to me.”
* * *
The solution Do Young proposed was, quite simply, an invasion of enemy territory.
After escorting Arin safely to Maehwadang, Do Young headed straight for the Yeogwan indicated on the note.
Recalling Arin, who had seemed to lose herself after meeting Hyeok Jae, Do Young’s jaw clenched with irritation.
It appeared that this man knew something of Arin’s past that even she seemed unaware of—and whatever it was, it was nothing good.
‘I won’t let him show his face in front of our little one ever again.’
He was waiting in the lobby of the Yeogwan for Hyeok Jae to appear.
When he saw a boy who looked almost like a mirror image of the man, entering with his attendant, Do Young’s lips twisted into something resembling a villain’s grin.
Recalling that Hyeok Jae had mentioned coming here with his son, Do Young felt fortune smile upon him.
‘Perfect. I can just ask him instead.’
It would be far easier to shake loose the tongue of a green, fumbling boy than to deal with a fully grown man like Hyeok Jae.
“Hey.”
Hyeok Su looked at Do Young, who had suddenly addressed him with casual speech, with obvious displeasure.
“Who are you?”
“Me? Do Young, from the Geumho Family.”
When Do Young introduced himself so brazenly, Hyeok Su thought he was dealing with a madman.
Then, confirming the man’s golden hair and golden eyes, Hyeok Su’s eyes widened.
“You can’t be from the Geumho Family?”
“Right. Good eyes after all, then—thought maybe they were just for decoration.”
The gangster-like manner of speech left Hyeok Su bewildered.
He felt hated, even though he’d done nothing wrong.
“Is there something I can help you with, sir?”
“Yeah, plenty.”
Do Young cracked his knuckles and grinned wickedly.
“So, want to go somewhere with me?”
“W-where to?”
Hyeok Su sensed the danger and was about to back away.
Do Young hooked an arm around his shoulder in a gesture that looked almost companionable.
“I’ll take this one with me?”
“Y-yes?”
“You know what happens if you tell his father about this, right?”
Do Young murmured something ominous and made a throat-cutting gesture. The servant attendant, gripped by the killing intent that followed, snapped to attention and cried out.
“Not a word, sir! My lips are sealed!”
In the face of such a transparent betrayal, whether Hyeok Su glared or not hardly mattered—Do Young simply grinned and spoke cheerfully.
“All right then. Shall we?”

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