The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 45

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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 45
Arin blinked at the sudden question.
Her parents and Ahyeon had turned cold the moment they learned she couldn’t perform Beast Transformation.
Was that all? Even the servants of Hongsа House had ignored and tormented her.
Back then, she’d thought it natural.
Only after coming to Geumho House did she understand.
Living with Do Gyeong, who embraced even his most wayward child, Arin had been healed.
At the same time, she came to realize how poorly she’d been treated and despised in Hongsа House.
The moment she left Hongsа House, Arin had severed all lingering attachments.
So she had no thought of returning, nor any desire to see it again.
“No. Not at all.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I have Father. He saved me. I’m truly happy as Arin of Geumho House.”
Arin made it clear, with unmistakable force, where her identity belonged.
Do Hoon felt a wave of relief wash over him.
He’d worried she might still harbor lingering affection for Hongsа House.
If she did, he could never truly accept her.
Arin gripped Do Hoon’s hand tightly and spoke.
“You know, I’m going to live happily here with my brothers and Father.”
That was right. Family wasn’t determined by blood alone.
Do Gyeong had accepted Arin as his daughter with all the strength of his heart.
“So I’ll always be on your side.”
“…You really are strong.”
Do Hoon felt overwhelmed by the presence that radiated from her small frame.
And he was beginning to understand why his father and Do Young had become so protective of Arin.
“Me? Strong?”
Do Hoon spoke with sincerity to the embarrassed Arin.
“Yes. You have a stronger heart than any golden tiger I’ve ever seen.”
“Hehe.”
Arin was delighted that Do Hoon recognized her as a golden tiger.
“That’s right—I’m a tiger!”
Even if she couldn’t perform Beast Transformation, she was a Twelve Zodiac Beast who loved the golden tiger more than anyone.
Do Hoon reached out and gently stroked Arin’s hair.
“Yes. You’re absolutely right.”
* * *
After Arin departed, Hong Ijin had lived for some time without thinking of her.
When he’d read the letter, his conscience had pricked him—but only briefly.
Forgetting a child who was of no use to the family was easy enough.
What troubled him more was Soso’s slow progress in her training.
“Why does your skill not improve at all?”
When Hong Ijin spoke in a tone of disapproval, Soso’s shoulders flinched.
Ever since that festival day when she’d fallen out of favor with the lady of the house, Hong Ijin’s manner toward her had changed.
Especially after learning how paltry her Twelve Zodiac Beast Ability was.
She’d thought everything would be fine once Hong Arin disappeared.
But Soso remained anxious, still treated like a stone that had tumbled into this household.
Before, her mother had defended her, but lately she just pretended not to notice.
That wasn’t all.
After Arin left, her mother had begun tending to the Annex where the girl had stayed.
As if she were trying to ease her guilt that way.
Soso wrung her hands and muttered softly.
“The teacher doesn’t seem to suit me. I really can’t figure out what they’re saying.”
Her subtle implication that the teacher was at fault made Hong Ijin’s eyebrows rise.
“Are you asking to change teachers?”
“They’re a good person, but I just don’t think we’re compatible.”
“I’ll look into finding you another one.”
Hong Ijin had a look as if he had much to say, yet he accepted Soso’s opinion.
She beamed with joy.
“Patriarch, are you here?”
Someone knocked on the door, then entered without waiting for permission.
Hong Hyeokjae paid no attention to Soso as he greeted Hong Ijin.
“It’s been a long time, Patriarch.”
“Did your trip go well?”
“Yes. I witnessed something quite remarkable there.”
Hong Hyeokjae settled into his seat with a grimace.
Ever since Geum Huitaek had threatened him, he’d fled Geumho Village like a coward, and his pride still smarted from the humiliation.
Especially when he thought of the shame his son had endured—his hands still trembled with rage.
‘Father!’
The memory of seeing his son arrive in tatters haunted him.
His precious boy, raised like gold and jade, brutalized by some whelp from Geumho House—the fury of it burned without mercy.
But when Geumho’s three elders caught wind of what had happened and withdrew their support, he’d had nothing to show for it but the long ride home.
‘Worthless tigers. I won’t forget this insult.’
Hong Hyeokjae had returned grinding his teeth, and immediately sought out Hong Ijin.
It was just as Hong Ijin was gesturing for Soso to leave.
“I saw Miss Arin at Geumho House.”
At the mention of Arin, Soso’s footsteps faltered.
Hong Ijin waved the remark aside carelessly.
“Yes, I sent her there. Has she been doing well?”
“Doing well, you say? Ha! Indeed—she’s being raised like a precious jewel. Why else do you think my son got beaten to a pulp by their young master?”
At Hong Hyeokjae’s pointed insinuation, Hong Ijin’s head tilted slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“Surely you knew? I assumed you’d already spoken with the Geumho Patriarch.”
“That girl was taken by the Priestess, if I recall correctly. She seems to be serving as a handmaiden at Geumho House.”
“Ha! A handmaiden? You truly know nothing.”
Hong Hyeokjae laughed derisively.
“Miss Arin has been formally adopted into Geumho House. They’ve even opened up Maehwa Hall—a place reserved solely for direct bloodline—and held a grand reception welcoming her.”
“Arin’s been adopted into Geumho House?”
Soso cut in before Hong Hyeokjae could finish.
She’d been certain the girl would be treated like a servant there.
‘I’m suffering here because of her, falling out of favor with my parents. And she’s doing well?’
Jealousy flared hot and sudden—Arin was being cherished, formally adopted, treated like family.
She knew better than to interrupt, but the bitterness spilled out anyway.
Hong Ijin’s face darkened.
“You dare speak when your elders are talking?”
“I… ”
Soso’s expression turned sheepish, but Hong Ijin’s voice cut through like ice.
“Enough. Get out.”
There was a time when he would have coaxed her gently.
Since Arin left, her standing had steadily worsened, and she hated it.
But Arin had departed and was thriving.
“Y-yes, I’m sorry.”
Soso hurried from the study, her lips pursed, her eyes downcast.
When she reached her quarters that evening,
Soso stood alone in the room still filled with Arin’s possessions and faced the truth.
She was nothing but a replacement, and Arin’s departure had not improved her standing one bit.
Yet Arin was being loved there, and the knowledge burned.
“Why does everyone love only you?”
Soso hurled the Red Coral Hair Pin—Arin’s prized possession—onto the floor.
Still seething, she stamped on it.
“Ahhhhh!”
The maid outside heard the scream and clicked her tongue.
“Tsk, that temper of hers.”
The servants had grown accustomed to Soso’s outbursts by now, and the maid quietly withdrew.
There was no sense standing near when she was in such a rage—it only brought trouble.
* * *
On the dawn of Jin Gyeong’s death anniversary,
Do Gyeong visited her tomb alone.
He wanted these hours before dawn—time for just the two of them, undisturbed.
“I’m here, my love.”
Do Gyeong laid flowers that Jin Gyeong had loved in life before the grave, then collapsed onto the grass without ceremony.
“We have the daughter you always wanted. I know you would have adored her.”
He swept gently across the grave, where dawn dew still clung to the stone.
When the cold moisture touched his fingertips, he thought of Jin Gyeong, whose hands and feet had always run cold.
“Why are they still so cold? It breaks my heart.”
In life, he had warmed her hands and feet every night.
Now that he could no longer do so, a quiet sorrow settled over him.
“Thanks to Arin, Do Hoon seems a bit brighter these days. Just as you always said—a household truly needs a daughter.”

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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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