The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 36

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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 36
The child was far more of a puzzle than he’d expected.
Baek Muje, who ought to have been at Baek Ryong Palace, lay cradled in Arin’s arms like a beloved pet.
“So from now on, I’m going to be really good to the little one. Whatever he wants, I’ll give it to him!”
“Yes, yes. You take good care of him. I have business with your father now, so let him go.”
“Got it. See you at dinner then!”
After Do Young left, Do Hoon headed toward his father’s study.
Geum Hee-taek, who happened to be leaving the study just then, recognized him.
“Ah, you’ve returned. I trust your journey was pleasant?”
“Yes, thank you. But Elder, what brings you here all morning and into the afternoon?”
“Your father enjoys tormenting this old man, it seems.”
Geum Hee-taek offered a good-natured smile. Truth was, he’d just finished a heated exchange with Do Kyung over Arin.
Hong Hyuk-jae had told him everything about Arin’s origins.
‘The daughter of Hong Jin, you say? Have you decided to make an enemy of the Hong Sa Family outright?’
‘We’re already enemies—no need to make a fuss about it now. But this old man’s resourcefulness is impressive. How did he even learn that? I’m sure I warned him not to pry.’
‘Yes, well. I didn’t want to know either. But what was I to do when the Hong Sa Family’s own man told me directly?’
‘Told you directly?’
‘One of the Hong Sa Family’s elders is staying in Geum Ho Village. He’s even sent several letters to your father.’
‘I haven’t the faintest idea.’
‘Of course not—the moment you saw the character “Hong” from the Hong Sa Family, you threw it away.’
‘You know me well. So who else found out?’
‘What do you mean to do with that information?’
‘I’ll have to ask them.’
‘……That’s exactly why I’ve already sent them out of the village! So please, Father, accept that and stay calm!’
He’d barely managed to smother the sparks of a fire about to blaze up before leaving.
“Well then.”
Weary, Geum Hee-taek bade farewell and hurried off.
The moment Do Hoon entered, Do Kyung—knowing him by footsteps alone—spoke.
“You’re back?”
Do Kyung’s expression was no better than Geum Hee-taek’s.
Do Hoon sat in the chair, pretending to notice nothing.
“Yes. I’m a bit late.”
“You’re not hurt?”
“As you can see.”
At Do Hoon’s curt reply, Do Kyung regarded him with a worried expression.
“Don’t you think it’s time to stop?”
“That wasn’t the only reason I traveled.”
“……I know that. But you’re away from the Residence far too long.”
Do Kyung ached at the sight of his son drifting about the world.
“It’s not your fault.”
……
“This wandering of yours has gone on too long. Besides, you have two younger siblings now, don’t you?”
At those words, Do Hoon’s expression turned cold.
“I have only Do Young as my sibling. I’ve heard that the girl is from the Hong Sa Family.”
“You too?”
It seemed that Hong Hyuk-jae, or whoever it was, had been spreading word of Arin’s origins here and there.
Do Kyung, who hadn’t expected the news to reach Do Hoon’s ears, was very much at a loss.
Do Hoon believed his mother had died because of the Hong Sa Family.
Do Kyung had long since found himself unable to break his son’s stubborn resolve to bear his sorrow that way.
Do Kyung wiped his face with a dry hand, the weariness plain to see.
“Once you meet Arin, you’ll think differently.”
“I doubt it. I’m not soft-hearted toward children like you are, Father. I don’t know how you’ve managed to win Do Young over, but don’t force the same on me.”
Do Hoon drew a cold line, and Do Kyung sighed.
He’d anticipated this from the day Do Hoon ignored the Welcome Ceremony.
Knowing time was needed, Do Kyung tried once more to soothe him.
“At the very least, don’t hate the innocent child based solely on her origins.”
“I have that much discernment.”
“Your face certainly doesn’t show it!”
Since Jin Kyung had passed, the sight of his son—who never smiled—weighed heavily on Do Kyung’s heart.
Finally, Do Kyung made his move.
“Assassins infiltrated during the Welcome Ceremony. It seems the Heuk Ma Gang is stirring again, so refrain from traveling for a while.”
Contrary to what he’d expected, Do Hoon’s expression grew serious.
“……As it happens, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you about that very matter.”
“What is it?”
“While traveling, I encountered a group from the Heuk Ma Gang.”
“……What?!”
Do Kyung shot to his feet and grabbed Do Hoon’s shoulder.
“Are you truly unharmed?”
Just as he moved to call for Eun Baek, Do Hoon stopped him.
“I’m fine, Father. You know well enough who I was traveling with, yet here you are fretting over nothing.”
“It’s only natural for a father to worry about his son!”
No matter that he’d traveled with the Chancellor of the Baek Ryong Family, a father could never be at ease about his own child’s safety.
As Do Kyung reached for Eun Baek again, Do Hoon lowered his voice.
“It seems they’re plotting something. It’s connected to the disappearances of street children as well.”
“Children vanishing from the streets? You don’t mean to say they’re conducting human sacrifices?”
“It’s not certain yet. I need to investigate further—whether they’re truly abducting children for sacrificial purposes, or if there’s someone else behind it.”
In other words, he intended to continue pursuing this matter.
Do Kyung’s eyes flashed with authority as he spoke decisively.
“You will drop this investigation at once. You’ve been running around with the Baek Ryong Family and now you’re dabbling in Heuk Ma affairs too?”
“Father.”
“Don’t even think of stepping outside the Residence for the time being. I’ll be watching with my own two eyes.”
This time Do Kyung was immovable, his resolve absolute.
Knowing his father would be sensitive about this, Do Hoon retreated a step.
“Understood, Father. I’ll do as you wish. Please, don’t be angry.”
“……I’m not angry.”
“Of course not.”
When Do Hoon offered a faint smile, Do Kyung sighed deeply.
With a son who bore such a striking resemblance to Jin Kyung, it was difficult to be harsh.
“Now that the family is together, we should share a meal. How about we eat out for once? It’s been a while.”
“Before I meet with the girl, there’s something I wanted to ask about.”
For the first time, Do Hoon showed interest in Arin, and Do Kyung brightened.
“By all means, ask away.”
But as Do Hoon’s next words came, Do Kyung’s expression darkened.
“I saw that girl in the company of the Baek Ryong Family’s young heir.”
“So you’ve already met him, then. Yes, your eyes wouldn’t deceive you about that.”
Do Young, being indifferent to others’ affairs, would never have suspected that the lizard beside Arin was the heir to Baek Ryong.
But Do Hoon, who frequented the Baek Ryong Family’s residence, could hardly fail to recognize him.
“It was something the Divine Maiden asked of me. He’ll return before long, so please pretend you know nothing.”
Of course, he worried about whether Arin might remain in such a situation, but he didn’t let it show.
“I see.”
Upon learning this concerned the Divine Maiden, Do Hoon asked no further questions.
More precisely, he lacked sufficient interest in Arin to be curious about anything more.
“Then I’ll take my leave. I’ll see you at dinner.”
* * *
The following morning.
Do Young came looking for Arin.
“Little one, your brother’s finally here!”
Only then did Arin realize that the boy she’d met last night really had been Do Hoon.
“Truly?”
“Yep! So tonight we’re all eating out together as a family—keep your schedule clear!”
At the word ‘family,’ Arin’s face lit up.
“Yes!”
Even now, it didn’t quite feel real that she’d become the daughter of the Geum Ho Family.
Yet somehow, a single word could make her heart soar.
As Arin beamed, Baek Muje, whom she’d nearly forgotten, licked her finger.
Only then did Do Young notice him, tilting his head in puzzlement.
“Huh? What’s that thing?”
“It’s been with me the whole time……”
“I don’t care about anything unless I can eat it.”
Do Young answered without hesitation, and Arin accepted his response immediately.
“Hmm. I’ve agreed to look after this one for a while. Her name is Seol, and she’s probably female. Isn’t she pretty?”
At the word “female,” Baek Muje’s tail shot up stiffly.
Seeing this, Do Young spoke up.
“Wait? Female? This one’s male.”

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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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