The Blue Dragon Clan’s Very Suspicious Little Chick - Chapter 59

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

Chapter 59

Aran was exasperated, but she didn’t much care to dwell on it.
As Hong Bi had said, one could enjoy hot springs whenever one pleased in Vermillion Bird Territory.
Aran savored a bath all to herself.
She splashed about, paddling like a dog swimming.
Though Hong Bi didn’t enter the water herself, she watched Aran’s antics with amusement.
Her crimson eyes glittered as she asked,
“You nearly drowned yesterday, and you’re not frightened?”
“If I’d been able to get out of the water quickly enough yesterday, this would never have happened.”
Aran spoke as though it were a boast.
“Hyeon Tae-o simply blundered in without thinking.”
It was clear Hong Bi didn’t believe a word of it.
Instead, she dipped two fingers into the bath and flicked water at Aran. Splash.
“Ah!”
The moment water struck her face, Aran flinched—then immediately launched a counterattack.
“So that’s how it is……?”
Within moments, the water play tilted decidedly in Aran’s favor.
It was simple: Aran was inside the bath, while Hong Bi stood outside.
As her clothes grew steadily more soaked, Hong Bi raised both hands in surrender.
“Wait, wait! I’m still dressed—!”
But that was no reason for Aran to stop.
“What’s a damp underrobe matter?”
Then, with one sweep of her palm, Aran sent a surge of water forward.
Whoosh!
Hong Bi was drenched entirely.
“Oh……”
She hadn’t meant to soak her that thoroughly.
Aran was about to apologize when Hong Bi suddenly spun around.
“I’m going to step out for a moment!”
“Wait, are you alright? I’m sorry—!”
Hong Bi paid little attention to Aran’s belated apology and quickly withdrew.
Aran watched her retreating figure and tilted her head in confusion.
“Hmm……?”
When the white underrobe grew wet, a massive burn scar became visible across Hong Bi’s back.
Was that why she hadn’t bathed?
Wait—she’s a Vermillion Bird, isn’t she?
Vermillion Birds were born with some degree of Flame Resistance, so how could such a large scar have formed……?

***

This was already their fifth night alone together.
Yet the Northern Hall where Aran and Hong Bi stayed was quieter than any night before.
Hong Bi, who had left the hot spring first, had extinguished the lamp early and was now lying in bed.
Aran lay silently on her own mat, but she didn’t think Hong Bi was already asleep.
“Are you alright……?”
When she asked softly, a faint sound of crying answered instead.
Was she weeping?
Even when Hong Woo habitually scolded her, she’d always seemed resolute……but now she wept over damp clothes?
No, that couldn’t be it.
It was more likely because her scar had been exposed.
For a Vermillion Bird, that would be shameful.
The Vermillion Bird Palace practiced selective rearing as though for show, so inferior Flame Resistance would surely be seen as a deficiency.
The fortunate thing was that Hong Bi believed Aran was simply a Beastfolk with a Heavenly Pattern.
So Aran could simply pretend she knew nothing of Hong Bi’s Flame Resistance.
Just as she was about to speak—
“……You know.”
A voice suddenly broke through the soft crying.
“I wish I hadn’t been born into the Direct Lineage of Four Celestial Palace either. Like you.”
The words were so perfectly echoed from what her younger self had once thought that Aran’s heart grew heavy.
There was nothing beautiful about it, really.
Later, when Hong Bi learned that Aran was a Vermillion Bird and possessed a great Supernatural Ability, she might feel betrayed.
But in this moment, Aran wanted nothing more than to comfort her.
“Why would you say that? Being born into Four Celestial Palace is a blessing.”
Yet Aran’s words were a lie.
In her past life, too, being born into Four Celestial Palace had been nothing but misfortune.
As expected, Hong Bi’s thoughts seemed to align with her own.
“Not for an inadequate Vermillion Bird like me.”
Aran, who had spent so long hiding even the fact that she was a Vermillion Bird, realized this was something she’d scarcely admitted even to Ok Dan in her previous life.
“You saw my body earlier, didn’t you? It’s covered in ugly scars.”
Hong Bi asked hesitantly.
“Can you keep it secret? If you can’t, tell me now. Because if you can’t, then I need to prepare…… for what comes next.”
Aran frowned in the darkness.
She understood the desire to hide one’s flaws. But what kind of preparation was she talking about?
What did she think would happen if the secret got out?
“I’ll keep it secret. It was my fault anyway—I was too rough with you.”
As Aran answered, sounds of rustling came from Hong Bi’s bedding. It seemed she was getting up.
“Really? You mean it?”
Hong Bi’s voice—bright with joy and gratitude—rang through the dark room. She hadn’t expected Aran to agree so readily.
Aran chose to pretend she knew nothing about Flame Resistance.
“Of course. What’s a few scars? People get hurt all the time.”
But then Hong Bi said something surprisingly frank.
“No, that’s not it. I’m a Vermillion Bird.”
“Hmm……?”
As Aran continued to feign ignorance, Hong Bi explained.
“Vermillion Birds don’t usually suffer burns this severe. I…… wasn’t born with the Flame Resistance that most Vermillion Birds have.”
This much aligned with Aran’s suspicion.
“Only my parents and my nanny know. If it becomes known that I don’t have Flame Resistance, I’ll be cast out from Vermillion Bird Palace.”
At those words, Aran gasped and sat up in bed.
“Then surely Hong Woo doesn’t know?”
In the darkness, Aran could see Hong Bi nod her head.
“It’s a secret especially from my brother. If he knew, he’d be the first to cast me out.”
Her voice wavered at the end.
Aran realized that Hong Bi was still crying.
She carefully descended from her bed and went to Hong Bi in the darkness.
When she reached out her hand, Hong Bi flinched, then hesitantly placed her wet hand in Aran’s.
“I understand your constitution.”
Aran gripped that hand tightly and asked what truly concerned her.
“But why are the scars so deep? Did you practice to build up your Flame Resistance or something?”
“No, nothing like that. That’s not something you can build through practice anyway…….”
Hong Bi shook her head, thankfully.
“There was an accident. I was nearby when Hong Woo and Uncle Baek were practicing their Supernatural Abilities, and I got hurt…….”
What followed was said very softly.
“If I said I’d been burned from that, Grandfather would find out about my condition…… so I couldn’t get proper treatment.”
Aran felt a surge of anger rise in her chest.
Aran in her past life—abandoned because she lacked a Heavenly Pattern.
Hong Bi—afraid of being discarded if her lack of Flame Resistance were discovered, unable even to receive proper treatment.
Were the two of them truly different?
Yes, Aran had no parents to protect her. But Hong Bi’s parents were alive and well, weren’t they?
“…… What about your parents?”
“They got me medicine in secret, without Grandfather knowing. But if I’d been ill for too long, he’d eventually find out…….”
Which meant they hadn’t treated her actively. That was why the scars had become so severe.
Aran asked, her lips trembling with fury.
“Isn’t there anyone who could help you properly?”
“There isn’t…….”
Hong Bi shook her head, then said desolately.
“If my aunt were still alive, she would have helped me…….”
Aran’s breath caught.
The aunt Hong Bi spoke of.
She was unmistakably Aran’s mother.
“From when I was very small, she was the only one who told me it was all right not to have a Supernatural Ability. But she passed away several years ago.”
Aran felt a deep relief wash over her.
She had never imagined her mother would have abandoned her, even if she’d lived—but seeing Hong Bi’s parents, one could never be certain.
Fortunately, Aran’s mother had been a good woman. She had been kind even to Hong Bi, who lacked a Supernatural Ability.
“……You must miss her terribly.”
Hong Bi nodded gently.
“Since she was as virtuous as a celestial maiden, I’m sure she went to a good place.”
Aran smiled in the darkness, thinking of Ok Dan, who might still be at the Vermillion Bird Palace.
“It’s not only parents who can help you. Even a caretaker or a maid—there’s surely someone close by who will cherish you with all their heart.”
“Do you really think so……?”
Hong Bi seemed unable to believe Aran’s words.
Aran decided to speak the name aloud herself.
“At the Azure Dragon Palace, there’s a maid I’m very close to. Her name is Ok Dan, and she’s truly kind. When I want to cry away from my family, I go to her.”
Hong Bi showed no particular reaction to the name Ok Dan.
Instead, she asked this:
“You also have times when you want to cry away from your family……?”
It was fortunate.
Because Aran had been born at the Azure Dragon Palace, Ok Dan had had no chance to form any ill will with Hong Bi.
Of course, the Azure Dragon Palace household had never made her cry alone, but Aran lied for Hong Bi’s sake.
“Well, I have times like that too. It’s nice to have a friend to share your heart with during those moments.”
Hong Bi nodded, and then made one more request.
“You really will keep this secret, won’t you?”
A secret—was that all?
Hong Bi did not yet know that tonight, there was one more person Aran had become determined to protect.
The Azure Dragon Clan’s Suspicious Chirp — Episode 59
E-book Release Date | August 5, 2026

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

UCI | G720:N+A101-20260722065.0059
List 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, duplication, distribution, and sharing are prohibited without written consent from both parties.

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