The Beloved Baby Priestess of the Twelve Zodiac Gods - Chapter 69

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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 69
“What? Don’t tell me you’ve been running your mouth carelessly?”
Lee Jin’s growl was immediate, and Ah Hyun thumped his chest in exasperation.
“Would I have come scurrying to Father if that were the case? Do Hun beat me half to death under the guise of sparring, and that’s the truth!”
Ah Hyun thrust forward his blistered palm, voice trembling with indignation.
His hand was still tingling, still trembling at the memory.
Lee Jin paid no mind to his son’s injury, his face grave as he worked through the situation.
Arin’s expulsion from the Hong Sa Family Estate had become public knowledge.
If word got out that she’d been confined and abused in the Separate Pavilion, it would be the family’s ruin.
“If it wasn’t you, then who on earth——”
Lee Jin massaged his throbbing temples, muttering irritably, when——
“Hic!”
So So, hovering awkwardly in the doorway, clapped a hand over her mouth.
But the hiccups, startled into being, showed no sign of stopping.
“Hic! Hic.”
Swallowing hard did nothing to help.
Eyes wide with fright, body quaking.
Lee Jin’s eyes turned vicious as he pieced together what must have happened.
“It was you, wasn’t it? So So?”
“P-please, I’m sorry. Hic! I d-didn’t m-mean to, hic!”
So So’s eyes glistened with tears as she looked between Lee Jin and Ah Hyun.
Neither of them softened.
“How much did you tell? Don’t tell me you mentioned the Separate Pavilion?”
“No, no! I didn’t tell that part! Really, I didn’t!”
So So’s body went rigid with shock as she rushed to explain.
She had nearly let it slip, but Mu Je had stopped her — though she wasn’t about to mention that.
“Hah.”
Lee Jin splashed cold water on his face.
Unintended or not, this was a direct hit against the Gold Tiger Clan.
At least the fact that Arin had been confined in the Separate Pavilion hadn’t come to light. For that much, he was grateful.
He didn’t even want to imagine what that mad beast would do if it had.
‘Since he seems to care for Arin, at least he won’t make trouble over idle gossip.’
For now, the best course was to wait for the rumor to die down quietly.
Having calculated his next move swiftly, Lee Jin turned on So So.
“You’ve disappointed me greatly.”
“F-Father——”
“I brought you here to befriend the Crown Prince, and instead you mingle with gossips. Do you have any idea how serious a mistake you’ve made?”
“……”
“You are not to leave the Dormitory for the time being. And if you let your tongue wag again, I won’t bring you next year.”
With that, Lee Jin turned and left in a hurry.
It was a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
Not being brought to this gathering — where acknowledged heirs were present — meant only one thing.
So So’s body went cold at the thought that she might be cast aside.
Ah Hyun, watching her, let out a heavy sigh.
“Just bear it until Father’s anger passes. He doesn’t mean it.”
“Brother.”
“I need to rest too.”
Ah Hyun withdrew quietly into his room, as if he had no strength left to comfort her.
Left alone and still trembling, So So was startled when Yeon arrived moments later.
“Child, what’s the matter?”
“Mother!”
So So collapsed into Yeon’s arms and began to cry.
‘Why does everyone blame me?’
It felt unbearably unfair. No one had ever asked her to keep a secret, yet she was the only one being condemned.
“What is it, hmm?”
“Wahhh!”
So So could only sob, unable to speak.
What would happen if Yeon found out that Arin was here?
The thought alone terrified her.
“There, there, my daughter. What could make you so sorrowful?”
“I had a terrible dream.”
“You did?”
Yeon, unaware of what had happened, patted So So’s back gently.
Even that small comfort wasn’t enough—So So burrowed deeper into Yeon’s embrace like a spoiled child.
‘They’re my family. I can never leave!’
* * *
Word that Arin was the daughter of the Hong Sa Family Estate spread like wildfire within days.
The tigers who heard this news first went into an uproar.
An emergency family meeting was called while Arin was out playing with Mu Je.
Do Young brought his fist down with a growl.
“Are they insane? What nerve does the Hong Sa Family Estate have, flaunting this all over?”
It was already widely known among the Twelve Zodiac Families that Arin had been expelled from the Hong Sa Family Estate and registered with the Gold Tiger Clan.
Furthermore, several families had begun attempting to divine the Gold Tiger Clan’s hidden intentions.
With the two families having been at odds for so long, the air was thick with unfavorable speculation.
“At least it hasn’t come out that Arin can’t perform Spirit Recovery.”
Despite Do Hun’s measured tone, his eyes burned with intensity.
“So what? The mere fact that Arin was expelled has made her out to be a problem!”
The atmosphere was already such that everyone believed Arin had been cast out of the Hong Sa Family Estate because something was wrong with her.
The rumor itself had played out in favor of the Hong Sa Family Estate.
Do Gyeong already knew through So Cheon where this rumor had originated.
‘It began at a gathering of the Twelve Zodiac young masters. The Hong Sa Family Estate’s adopted daughter testified directly, which spread the rumor even faster.’
‘Another false daughter, then.’
From their first meeting, Do Gyeong had disliked the girl.
She’d deceived Arin with cunning words and even stolen her Hair Ribbon, wearing it as if it were her own.
He’d shown mercy considering her young age, but now it was clear she showed no sign of remorse whatsoever.
Seeing Lee Jin himself feign ignorance for the family’s sake made his blood boil.
If things continued this way, Arin would be branded with a mark of shame.
‘How can a man who calls himself her father be so utterly callous?’
The slur that the Gold Tiger Clan had stolen the Hong Sa Family Estate’s daughter, nor the false accusation that they’d taken a flawed child—neither of these angered Do Gyeong.
What truly infuriated him was that Arin, the girl he cherished above all else, was being dragged through this filthy scandal.
In all of this, Do Gyeong’s only concern was Arin.
Then Do Hun turned to Do Gyeong and spoke.
“What will you do? Will you simply sit idle?”
“We can’t sit still! Why should our little one have to listen to such talk? The Hong Sa Family Estate abused Arin!”
Do Young, already knowing the full extent of Arin’s past, looked ready to storm the Hong Sa Family Estate himself.
Do Gyeong’s heart yearned to do exactly as Do Young suggested.
But this wasn’t something that could be resolved by simple clarification.
Revealing that the Hong Sa Family Estate had abused Arin would inevitably expose her inability to perform Spirit Recovery.
He couldn’t expose Arin’s flaw himself.
Lee Jin remained silent for the same reason.
He knew Do Gyeong couldn’t speak of what he’d chosen not to reveal out of love for Arin.
Do Gyeong swallowed hard against the churning emotions and finally spoke.
“For now, let’s be careful that Arin doesn’t hear these rumors until the Gathering Festival ends.”
“Of course we will. But are you really going to let the Hong Sa Family Estate get away with this? I can’t bear the injustice!”
“It’s just a rumor. Time will settle it.”
As Do Gyeong adopted a defensive stance, Do Hun’s eyes narrowed.
“That doesn’t sound like you, Father.”
Even Do Hun, who usually played the role of restraining his father, was taking a combative tone.
The normally gentle youth had already made one of the Hong Sa Family Estate’s sons unrecognizable during a sparring session, suggesting his anger ran deep indeed.
“Exactly, Father! We can’t just take it lying down—that’s not the tiger way! If our opponent provokes us, we bite back, don’t we?”
With Do Young joining in as well, Do Gyeong felt a headache building.
“All of this is to protect Arin.”
When Do Gyeong spoke firmly, Do Hun replied.
“Is there perhaps another reason we’re unaware of? If so, please tell us.”
“……There isn’t.”
“There isn’t?”
“That’s right. There isn’t…….”
As Do Gyeong tried to deflect, Do Hun began reciting the evidence he’d gathered one by one.

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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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