The Blue Dragon Clan’s Very Suspicious Little Chick - 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

The Emperor’s bright voice rang through the Banquet Hall from where he sat at the head of the table.
“The Crown Prince, who has been unwell these past few days, appears entirely recovered today. Quite remarkable, given the minor incidents that occurred—it seems the blessing of the Four Sacred Beasts Festival is indeed auspicious.”
Four Sacred Beasts Festival blessing, nothing.
If Je Geon-u had recovered, it was undoubtedly thanks to Aran’s illusion.
That night, the Crown Prince had fallen asleep looking peaceful, as though cradled in his mother’s arms.
Aran lifted her head and studied the Crown Prince.
His complexion was so much improved from the previous day—when he’d been throwing tantrums and weeping—that her heart grew only more complicated.
The Crown Prince must have believed that meeting his mother had been a dream when he woke.
A single night of dreaming of his mother, and he could improve this much……
Perhaps the Crown Prince simply wasn’t receiving the proper support he needed.
The Emperor, feigning ignorance of everything, continued with a satisfied expression.
“Crown Prince, offer your greetings to the family heads of the Four Sacred Beasts, who support the four directions of the empire’s sky.”
Je Geon-u was only slightly taller than Aran, a child who had used illness as an excuse for seclusion all this time—yet he bowed with surprising composure befitting a crown prince.
“I offer my respects to the great lords. I am Je Geon-u.”
The great lords inclined their heads toward the Crown Prince with smiling faces.
“We are honored to receive Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Satisfied with this, the Emperor offered his next directive.
“Crown Prince, sit with the heirs of the Four Sacred Beasts Families. It is your first opportunity to make companions.”
As Je Geon-u approached, Aran could not help but glance back at Baek Sa-heum.
But Sa-heum, who had been breathing quickly with excitement, suddenly widened his eyes when he caught sight of Aran.
What……? Why again……?
Heavens, he has Spirit Perception, they say.
Surely he hasn’t recognized me now?
Even in human form?
Just as Aran flinched and tried to look away, Sa-heum opened his mouth dumbly.
“Uh, Se…….”
No, you can’t call me that right now……!
Desperate to stop him, Aran grabbed the nearest dish and thrust it toward Sa-heum.
“Se, you want rice cakes? J-just a good idea! These are really delicious!”
Shaking her head vigorously, she watched as Sa-heum, bewildered until now, finally managed a halting response.
“……Yes. Th-thank you.”
That’s not it at all!
Aran, exasperated, ground out her words through clenched teeth.
“Speak comfortably. We’re all about the same age anyway.”
Though his expression remained one of clear reluctance, Sa-heum managed a nod.
“Oh, y-yes……. I understand. Th-thank you.”
All the while studiously ignoring the piercing gaze Hyeon-mu was sending from across the table.

***

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Je Geon-u had taken his seat between Tae-o and Cheong-yeon.
Perhaps he had overheard the exchange between Aran and Sa-heum.
The moment Je Geon-u settled into his place, his gaze turned oddly toward Aran.
The atmosphere was somewhat peculiar, but he was the Crown Prince.
Everyone greeted him in unison.
“We are honored to receive Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Je Geon-u inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, but his eyes remained fixed on Aran. He asked abruptly.
“Who are you?”
Aran looked around, hoping desperately that the Crown Prince was not asking specifically about her, but the golden eyes—bright as the sun itself—were unmistakably directed at her.
Left with no choice, she opened her mouth to answer.
“……I am Aran, the youngest of the Cheongnyong Family.”
Je Geon-u regarded Aran with innocent eyes.
“You are not of the Cheongnyong.”
Everyone at the table knew this, yet even Ju Hong-bi—thoughtless and ill-mannered as she was—had never dared speak it aloud in front of Aran.
Tae-o’s eyes flashed with a dangerous gleam, when unexpectedly, Cheong-yeon spoke first.
“Your Highness, I am Cheong-yeon, the fourth of the Cheongnyong Family. Aran is family to us, even if she doesn’t share our blood.”
Aran found herself moved by the courage Cheong-yeon had summoned from somewhere within her timid heart.
Je Geon-u showed neither surprise nor objection at Cheong-yeon’s words. His face bore no displeasure.
He simply nodded, as though he had asked out of genuine curiosity.
“I see.”
As silence settled again, this time Cheong-min spoke.
“I’m Cheong-min, the third daughter of the Cheongnyong Family.”
When Geon-u gave a slight nod, Baek Sa-heum, who sat beside the Cheongnyong sisters, bowed his head with a trembling voice.
“I am Baek Sa-heum, the sole heir of the Baekho Family.”
He seemed to make a visible effort not to look at the Crown Prince, though to others it merely appeared respectful—a small mercy.
Once Baek Sa-heum’s turn passed without incident, the cousins from the Jujak Family introduced themselves, and finally came Tae-o’s turn.
“I am Hyeon Tae-o.”
Geon-u glanced upward at Tae-o, who was considerably taller than himself, then let his gaze drop away.
He then looked around the gathering and spoke.
“I’m Je Geon-u. Meeting people my own age in the Imperial Palace is something entirely new. Are you all friends with one another?”
Strangely, the question remained directed at Aran.
Aran found herself compelled to answer once more.
“Most of us met for the first time at this Four Sacred Beasts Festival. If it pleases you, Your Highness, you could certainly become friends with us as well.”
She had spoken with deliberate warmth, perhaps because the sight of him weeping alone the night before had seemed so lonely.
But Je Geon-u’s expression turned cold as he gripped his chopsticks.
“Really? Yet aren’t you all my subjects?”
Ah…?
She’d spent the entire night soothing him through his tears, and now he didn’t even have the grace to show gratitude.
If this one had been so inclined, he’d have already met the Judges of the Afterlife last night instead of wasting space in this world.
While Aran was thinking how satisfying it would be to give the Crown Prince a solid smack on the head, Ju Hong-u cut in with a cunning reply.
“A most just observation, Your Highness. All of us from the Four Sacred Beasts Families are indeed your subjects.”
Regardless of what Ju Hong-u said, Geon-u’s gaze remained fixed on Aran, as though asking:
But what about you?
Aran forced the corners of her mouth upward into a radiant smile.
“Of course, it is.”
Fortunately, no one seemed to notice how the forced smile trembled slightly at the edges.
And if his life span shortened somewhat as a result, well—that wasn’t her concern, was it, precious boy?

***

Possessed by an Evil Spirit, and yet the audacity to be so arrogant.
Should I simply wipe him out entirely, clean and simple?
The following day, in the bright clarity of the Garden, Aran mulled over Je Geon-u.
She twirled the Jeolmaeksan Bracelet around her wrist absently before shaking her head.
It made no sense, though.
How could she simply abandon a child whose complexion had changed so much after dreaming of his mother for just one night?
A mere five-year-old, left to fend for himself in the Crown Prince’s Palace—what could he possibly have learned by now?
If nurtured properly, he might yet become a worthy Imperial Dragon.
Even as she harbored such hopes, her thoughts kept circling back to the same thorny question.
But how was she to find the time to raise him?
How could she possibly manage them all alone when they were scattered across every direction?
Was there even a way to remove the Evil Spirit clinging to him?
Yes, she should ask Baek Sa-heum again—see if that Evil Spirit has changed in any way.
“Wow! It folded again!”
Aran watched the children gathered in a corner of the Garden.
Before a Shame Plant with pink blossoms, Cheong-min was bouncing up and down.
Not to be outdone, Cheong-yeon touched a plant on the other side.
“Look here too! Here as well!”
When her pale fingertips brushed the leaves arranged in neat rows, they folded in on themselves as though shrinking away.
Baek Sa-heum, who had come to the Eastern Pavilion to play on what he called his last day, had taught the twins about the Shame Plant.
The Shame Plant grew mainly in the Western Region of the Continent, though it seemed it had taken root even here in the Imperial Palace.
Cheong-min, who had found and folded every last Shame Plant, asked with an envious tone:
“Do you have a lot of these plants in your palace? That would be so much fun!”
“We do have plenty of Shame Plants in our palace…”
Baek Sa-heum stepped back a pace, seeming burdened by Cheong-min’s enthusiasm, and answered slowly:
“But I never had a single friend to play with.”
“Oh…….”
Cheong-yeon quickly found herself drawn into Baek Sa-heum’s position, tears welling in her eyes.
“Then why don’t you visit our palace sometimes? The youngest of Hyeon-mu’s household comes by all the time!”
“Really……? You mean it?”
Aran let out a quiet laugh at the children’s exchange, but a sudden chill crept across her shoulders.
“I do what I can, but the Baekho Palace doesn’t have anything like that.”
“Then, what if you brought him along with you……?”
Cheong-yeon thought she’d come up with a good idea, but it was enough to sour Tae-o’s mood.
“Why would I?”
Aran finally stepped forward, positioning herself between Tae-o and the others.
“Since the Baekho Palace is quite far from the Cheongnyong Palace, it’ll be hard to see each other often. But you can write letters.”
“L-letters……?”
Baek Sa-heum seemed flustered for some reason, and Tae-o let out a low chuckle.
“Does the Baek family’s infant even know how to read?”
“Tae-o.”
Aran rebuked Tae-o and turned back to Baek Sa-heum, whose darkened complexion had gone sickly pale.
“You, you all know how to read……?”
His expression was as shocked as when he had first seen Je Geon-u entering the banquet hall.
The Cheongnyong Family’s Somewhat Suspicious Chick — Chapter 45
E-book Publication Date | August 5, 2026

Author | Ravioli
Publisher | Odd Eye
Submissions/Inquiries | [email protected]

UCI | G720:N+A101-20260722065.0045
Price | 100 Won

© Ravioli 2026

This e-book is protected under copyright law.
This e-book is published under contract with the author, and unauthorized reproduction, distribution, sharing, or public posting is prohibited without written consent from both parties.

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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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