The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 65

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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 65
During the walk to the Crown Prince’s Palace Reception Room, Mu Je answered several questions with such earnestness that even Gon, who stood lower in rank, received his gentle attention—a side of Sipiji that rarely showed itself.
Moreover, each time he spoke, he covered his mouth with his hand, apparently being cautious about his newly growing front teeth.
Even that carefulness and charm made a smile bloom across Gon’s lips.
‘Now that I think of it, he suddenly asked me to help him dress this morning.’
He was the type who despised being touched by others’ hands and preferred clothes he could easily put on and remove himself.
Gon’s intuition, honed from watching Mu Je since infancy, gleamed with sudden clarity.
‘This lovely young lady must be the reason.’
Had he not dressed up from morning and attended to his duties specifically for an afternoon engagement?
Just then, Mu Je entered the Reception Room.
“My apologies. My master detained me unexpectedly.”
“Oh no, it’s fine! I heard the Crown Prince always has much to attend to. So if you’re too busy, we could postpone this—”
“Not at all. I have plenty of time.”
At Mu Je’s decisive words, Arin broke into a bright smile.
“Shall we go?”
When Mu Je extended his hand, Arin placed hers on top of his.
Gon, witnessing this, nearly bit his own tongue in shock.
‘His Highness… he offered his hand first.’
Even in situations where propriety demanded it, he had always been repulsed by contact with others.
That he would initiate a gesture toward Arin left Gon utterly bewildered.
And his amazement did not end there.
“Crown Prince… I mean, Your Highness.”
“You can call me by my name.”
“But we’re in the palace.”
“But it’s just the two of us.”
Having suddenly become invisible, Gon widened the distance between them and, by sheer force of will, suppressed the corners of his mouth from rising any further.
But that was far from all.
“Is that a peacock? The males are so much more vibrant and beautiful than the females.”
“That’s because they need to impress the females to survive.”
“Ah, I see.”
“There’s a giraffe over there.”
“Wow! I’d love to see it!”
He was answering even Arin’s most trivial questions without missing a single one.
Ordinarily, he would respond curtly to inquiries and fall silent.
Even a few minutes of observation made it clear that Mu Je treated Arin with singular regard.
‘A daughter of the Gold Tiger Clan…’
Gon’s lips itched with the urge to report this joyous news to the King.
Meanwhile, Mu Je’s mind was considerably tangled.
It was because of something his father had said that morning.
‘During the Yeonha Festival this time, the heirs will demonstrate their Beast Transformation and display their power. I have already arranged with the lord of the Gold Tiger Clan that this should work in your favor, so do not worry yourself too much.’
‘Could I not simply abstain? My power has stabilized considerably of late, and besides, the Priestess is here—’
‘That cannot be. What if someone discovers your weakness? And what of a possible attack from the Black Horse Clan?’
It was his father’s consideration for his protection, yet there was one complication.
Arin would be attending that event as well.
‘I still haven’t revealed to her that I am Seol.’
Of course, now that he had grown as close to Arin as he was to Seol, he no longer needed to play the lizard.
Yet the reason he had not spoken honestly until now was his inability to predict how she might react.
It was a strange thing indeed.
He had never before worried about wounding someone.
But the thought that Arin might be hurt by this left his heart uneasy.
And so he kept postponing, kept drawing out the moment.
A lie begun lightly had snowballed into something unwieldy, and Mu Je found himself equally trapped.
“I heard there’s a gathering of the Twelve Zodiac families’ heirs this afternoon. Will you be attending, Crown Prince?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t usually attend such gatherings.”
“Right. I heard the heirs meet separately.”
During the Yeonha Festival period, exchange among the Twelve Zodiac families was particularly brisk.
For Arin, who was still unfamiliar with members of the other families, the prospect of entering a room full of strangers weighed heavily on her mind.
Arin fidgeted with her fingers, speaking hesitantly.
“The truth is, my older brother Do Young came down with stomach trouble this morning and can’t attend. My older brother Do Hun has a prior engagement—”
Sensing her unspoken wish that he accompany her, Mu Je offered a subtle smile.
“Would you prefer it if I went?”
“Only if you have the time, Prince.”
“Am I standing in for Do Young?”
“N-no, that’s not quite…!”
Arin’s flustered stammering dissolved into laughter from Mu Je.
He tilted his head toward her, voice dropping to a whisper.
“I’ll come once I finish my schedule.”
The tenderness in his gaze was overwhelming.
Arin’s cheeks flushed crimson; she could only blink and roll her eyes away.
* * *
So So took immense pride in having been invited to the Yeonha Festival as a member of the Hongsaga Clan.
‘If they brought me here like this, they must be acknowledging me as one of them now.’
Arin’s face flickered briefly through So So’s mind—the girl she’d encountered days before.
The way everyone’s eyes were drawn to her, unable to look away. It grated that a Branch Line girl was so beloved.
‘Good riddance. Now I’m the only daughter of the Hongsaga Clan.’
So So admired her carefully arranged appearance in the Mirror.
She looked forward eagerly to the afternoon gathering of the Twelve Zodiac Animals’ young heirs.
Perhaps she would see again the boy she’d glimpsed a few days ago.
Brimming with anticipation, So So arrived at the meeting place and quickly befriended the others.
Everyone treated her with kindness.
A Branch Line member registering into the Main Line was exceedingly rare, and curiosity focused on her all the more intensely.
Since Hong Yi Jin had already handled the clearing of her background, there was nothing to feel awkward about.
“A Branch Line member succeeding at Beast Transformation—the heir of the Hongsaga Clan must feel threatened.”
“Oh my, compared to Ah Hyun, I’m still quite far behind.”
“I don’t know. The fact that the clan leader brought you to the Yeonha Festival shows how much he favors you, doesn’t it?”
In the Twelve Zodiac Animals clans, power was measured by one’s Zodiac strength.
Whether one came from the Main Line or Branch Line mattered little.
Everyone assumed So So had been registered because of her exceptional ability and envied her for it.
So So feigned modesty while subtly inflating her own worth.
“Father does cherish me greatly. When I first came to the Hongsaga Clan, he personally came to fetch me.”
“My goodness.”
For a clan leader to move in person meant the matter was of utmost importance.
So So had deftly conveyed to them that her value was considerable.
Just then, Cheong Yu Hui of the Cheongmyohga Clan spoke up.
“Speaking of which, didn’t the Gold Tiger Clan gain an adopted daughter? Do you think she’ll come today?”
Her tone carried the air of someone hoping for something entertaining to unfold.
Once the Gold Tiger Clan was mentioned, attention scattered from So So.
“Oh, if you mean her, I saw her in the City Center. Such an adorable young lady. Remarkably tiny—the clan leader just carried her along like that.”
Sightings of Arin tumbled forth from various voices.
So So bristled at Arin becoming the subject of conversation.
She worried the girl’s name might reach Hong Yi Jin, the Lady Yeon, or Ah Hyun.
Of course, she knew that girl’s existence couldn’t remain hidden forever.
Then someone murmured carelessly.
“Though she doesn’t seem to be from the Gold Tiger Clan’s Branch Line. Her hair was reddish—just like the Hongsaga Clan’s.”
In that moment, every eye turned to So So.
Caught off guard by the sudden attention, So So grew uncomfortable.
“If we’re distinguishing clans by hair color, then I’d be from the Black Horse Clan?”
Cheong Yu Hui chuckled lightly, tossing her lustrous black hair with amusement.
The Cheongmyohga Clan’s leader had an abundance of children, most born to different mothers.
Consequently, their hair colors varied widely.
Being chosen from so many meant one possessed strength.
“Ha ha, well, that’s true.”
“I wasn’t singling anyone out.”
“Of course not. I’m not bothered by it anyway. These pastries are quite delicious, though.”
As Cheong Yu Hui smoothly steered the conversation elsewhere, the frozen atmosphere gradually thawed.
Thanks to her intervention, any attempt to link Arin with the Hongsaga Clan dissolved entirely.
So So exhaled in relief, and Cheong Yu Hui, sharp-eyed as ever, caught it and opened her mouth.
“Shall we take a walk for a bit?”

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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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