The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 47

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

Episode 47
“Would you prefer to stay near Maehwa Hall?”
“Because Arin is there.”
He answered without hesitation, and Arin looked up in surprise.
“Oh? Did I mention that I’m staying at Maehwa Hall?”
“Ah, I heard that place is where the direct line of the family usually stays. I thought it might be nice to remain close by.”
Muje caught himself, realizing his slip too late.
His explanation grew longer as he scrambled, but fortunately Arin didn’t seem to notice.
She had only just now understood what Maehwa Hall truly meant.
In hindsight, she’d felt something warm about the place the moment she first stepped inside.
‘Father really did bring me here to make me his daughter.’
When the weight of Do Gyeong’s affection became clear to her, her chest swelled with warmth, and a smile slipped out unbidden.
It was a moment when she felt herself truly blessed by fortune.
Muje, who had been watching her intently, found himself asking without thinking.
“……What are you thinking about?”
“What? Oh, I was just remembering old times. Would you like me to arrange a different room for you?”
As Arin changed the subject, Muje studied her quietly.
Part of him wanted to ask for a room change, but he knew exactly who had assigned him quarters so far away.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll visit you often.”
Distance wouldn’t prevent them from seeing each other anyway.
Muje decided it was better to bear the inconvenience himself than to cause unnecessary trouble.
More than that, he was curious about whose memory had made her cheeks flush so prettily.
As Arin explained the room to him, Muje reached out and gently caught the hem of her sleeve.
“May I ask—when you say old times, which time are you referring to?”
“What? Oh, I was just thinking about when I first met Father. I was thinking how fortunate I was to have met him then.”
At the word “father,” Muje felt a quiet relief wash over him.
During the Seol gathering, he’d heard often enough how much she respected and loved Do Gyeong.
“You and your father seem to have a very close bond.”
“Yes, we do. What about you and your father—how is your relationship?”
Muje hesitated before answering.
If she was asking whether his relationship with his father resembled hers with Do Gyeong, the answer was no—not at all.
Theirs was a distant, formal bond—they rarely quarreled, but there was little warmth between them.
Muje’s own father, the King of Yeonha Kingdom, was taciturn like his son.
The only subjects the two of them ever discussed at length were matters of state.
There was no room for emotional connection when each bore such weighty responsibilities.
Muje had never resented this arrangement deeply.
“I’ve never had long conversations with my father, to be honest.”
That was what he meant to convey.
But seeing the shift in Muje’s expression—how it had grown dry and withdrawn—Arin winced.
‘Oh no, it sounds like he and his father aren’t close!’
Arin spent every night chattering away with Do Gyeong until late, so the thought that Muje barely spoke with his own father troubled her.
She felt a pang of sympathy at his words.
Though Muje himself seemed unaffected.
Arin reached out and took hold of his hand, asking softly.
“Weren’t you lonely?”
Arin herself had endured the sting of loneliness during her time alone at Byeolgwan.
She’d spoken to passing ants just to hear her own voice.
Isolation had a way of withering the heart.
And if the Baekryong Clan was anything like Hongsa—if it was as rigorous and strict—she could only imagine.
Seeing Muje’s plight laid bare, Arin held his hand more firmly and spoke with genuine warmth.
“While you’re here with us, I promise I’ll take very good care of you.”
Muje, caught off guard by her sudden touch, felt his heart skip.
She had a way of approaching him without warning that never failed to unsettle him.
Whether cautious or boldly direct, it left him uncertain how to respond.
Especially since the sensation of her hand felt so different now than it had when she was in Beast Form.
“I…… Thank you.”
Muje lowered his gaze, desperate to hide the warmth flooding his face.
Though he couldn’t help the nervous dampness gathering in his palm.
He kept his eyes fixed on the ground, waiting for the tension to ease, when Arin spoke again.
“Is there anywhere in particular you’d like to visit?”
He had no particular desire to go anywhere. Muje was simply not the type who enjoyed wandering about.
But knowing how much Arin loved exploring outside, he gave it some thought.
Then, recalling a noodle shop where Arin had once enjoyed a meal, Muje ventured a suggestion.
“I’d like to have some noodles.”
“Oh! I know a noodle shop I absolutely love! Let’s go there together!”
Arin beamed and pulled Muje along as if she’d been waiting for exactly this.
Muje’s lips curved upward with quiet satisfaction as their hands remained clasped.
* * *
Now that Geumho Village had become familiar to her, Arin could venture out without a chaperone.
“This place usually has a huge line during lunch hour!”
Arin chattered happily as she led the way through Market Street, describing the village.
Despite the late hour, the noodle shop was still quite crowded.
Arin was looking about for an empty table when—
“Arin, over here!”
From across the room, Do Young spotted her and waved.
“Oh! Brother! Let’s sit over there!”
Arin discovered Do Young and tugged Muje in his direction. Though reluctant, Muje followed without resistance.
As they approached Do Young’s table—
The moment Do Young saw Muje trailing behind Arin, his expression darkened considerably.
“Who’s this?”
His gaze had shifted downward, fixed intently on the boy.
Do Young had been about to order his tenth bowl of noodles when they entered.
At the sight of his little sister walking in hand-in-hand with a strange boy, his eyes flashed with something dangerous.
“Arin! Who is that guy?”
He’d heard rumors that she’d been running about outside lately, but a boy?
His little sister was far too precious, too adorable, too delicate to be left in uncertain hands—and his voice grew sharp.
Unaware of her brother’s true feelings, Arin answered brightly.
“Oh, this is the nephew who came with Minister Garam!”
Though few were paying attention to their conversation, Arin was cautious nonetheless.
Do Young tilted his head, his expression unreadable as Arin simply beamed.
“Ah, that nephew.”
He’d heard Arin had invited him here.
The owner of that white lizard, if he recalled correctly.
‘Surely Arin doesn’t have some other motive, does she? That would be terribly awkward.’
Even knowing the boy was the heir to the Baekryong Clan, Do Young’s gaze remained cold.
It was precisely the same look Do Gyeong gave him.
‘Like father, like son.’
Muje paid little mind to whether Do Young approved of him or not.
What truly bothered him was that they’d arrived at the restaurant, and he had to let go of Arin’s hand.
It was then that Do Young, as if offering a handshake, intercepted the hand Muje had been holding.
“Welcome. If there’s anything uncomfortable during your stay, tell me. Not anyone else.”
The way he emphasized ‘me’ sounded almost like a threat.
For someone like Muje, who despised physical contact with others, this was deeply unpleasant.
Flick!
Muje brushed Do Young’s hand away as if swatting at an insect.
Do Young’s expression darkened as he watched his hand fall away in an arc.
“Huh?”
Muje wiped his hand with a handkerchief and spoke calmly.
“I am fine. Miss Arin has already offered to help.”
He made it clear that Do Young’s assistance was unnecessary.
But Muje failed to anticipate that this would only provoke Do Young further.
‘Is this kid challenging me?!’
Unaware of Muje’s fastidiousness, Do Young interpreted the gesture as a deliberate insult.
“Is that so?”
Do Young forced a laugh, his teeth grinding audibly.
That serene, untouched face irritated him in ways he couldn’t quite name.
“I hear the young lord wields a sword quite skillfully. I’d welcome a match with you sometime.”
Do Young’s confidence had grown of late, and he was eager to test himself.
But Muje, who had been called a prodigy since childhood, felt little enthusiasm at the prospect.
‘Arin’s brother is rather difficult.’
Muje, who had seen many people rush forward recklessly, break, and weep, murmured with concern.
“I suppose so. If you enjoy losing, I won’t stop you.”

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