The Dragon Family’s Beloved Baby Cat - Chapter 112
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 112
A massive three-legged crow.
The black bird with three legs fully revealed its form.
-Kiiiii….
Goseol slowly folded its wings.
‘…What was that just now?’
While its body was growing, it felt a strange sensation.
A feeling as if it was about to become someone else.
It was certain that a human-like figure had flickered before its eyes.
‘…Wasn’t this my original form?’
No, that couldn’t be right.
Goseol was a spirit beast.
It had been in bird form since birth.
But why… why did it feel so strange?
-Kiii….
Goseol lowered its head.
The Milky Way flowing beneath its feet reflected Goseol’s appearance.
Black feathers, three legs, a sharp beak.
It was definitely its familiar form, and yet.
‘…Is this really me?’
Questions led to more questions. But no answers came.
Goseol looked down at its body for a while, then slowly blinked.
It found itself wanting to see Hwi.
Then the gently rippling Milky Way became clear, and something was reflected in an instant.
It was the figure of a young boy in rough training clothes, sweating in a dusty place.
-Kuu…!
It was Goseol’s master, Hwi.
‘Hwi…!’
Goseol flapped its wings.
Soon it forgot about the questions regarding its identity and began helplessly watching its master.
***
At the same time, in the Imperial Palace.
“Gone?!”
The Emperor’s shout echoed through the garden.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Goseol has disappeared. Even the stakes are gone without a trace….”
“What do you mean?! It was bound… no, it was tied up, so how did it disappear!”
Unable to openly mention the binding spell, the Emperor grabbed the eunuch by the collar in frustration.
“I, I have no idea! There are no traces at all, and no witnesses!”
“Did it soar into the sky or sink into the ground! Find it immediately!”
The Emperor threw the eunuch aside.
“Search the entire capital if you have to!”
“Yes, yes!”
The eunuch hurriedly retreated.
Left alone, the Emperor trembled with uncontrollable rage.
‘Who is it? Who dares?’
To steal away a spirit beast bound with binding spells required considerable skill.
‘Is it someone from the Twelve Families?’
But there was no evidence. Even with suspicions, he couldn’t be certain.
“Grrrk…!”
The Emperor gritted his teeth.
As his anger rose, the smell of blood surged up his throat again.
The feeling of a blade scraping from his chest to somewhere in his abdomen made him curl up and barely suppress his screams.
The Imperial Palace had been chaotic lately, to the point where it felt like everything he stood on was crumbling.
If word got out that there was something wrong with the Emperor’s health, who had barely recovered, it could cause major problems.
‘Unable to catch even such a thing, should I have the Taeeui’s head?’
After barely enduring and holding back from rolling around undignifiedly, the pain subsided a little after about an hour.
While feeling the lingering pain and trying to calm his anger, he heard the eunuch’s voice from outside.
“Your Majesty, Jin Saheon, head of the Jinryong Clan, requests an audience.”
“…What? Tell him to enter.”
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.
‘The Jinryong Clan at this time?’
Suspicion arose, but he granted the audience for now.
Soon Jin Saheon entered and knelt before the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, I have come to report the results of the Twelve Families Council.”
“The Twelve Families Council?”
The Emperor’s voice became sharp.
“Yes, what were the results?”
“The replacement of the head of Saryeom House was recognized as legitimate.”
The Emperor’s eyebrows twitched at the unwanted news.
“…You mean Saem Lin was recognized as the head?”
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s face immediately contorted.
Rin was the impudent child who had driven out Saemho, whom he had carefully planted, to become the head, and had dared to betray him, the Emperor.
The very fact that the Guardian Spirits had recognized that Rin was infuriating.
‘…Impudent creatures.’
The Emperor inwardly gritted his teeth.
But outwardly, he pretended to be calm and asked.
“Is that all? Were there no other discussions?”
“There was nothing else, Your Majesty.”
Jin Saheon answered calmly.
The Emperor stared intently at Jin Saheon.
‘Did this man steal Goseol?’
Suspicion arose. The timing was far too suspicious.
If it was Jin Saheon, he might have some secret method to dare sneak in and out of the Imperial Palace to steal Goseol.
But Jin Saheon looked far too confident and upright.
As if a culprit wouldn’t come so openly like this.
‘Or did he come on purpose for that reason?’
The Emperor opened his mouth to test Jin Saheon.
“Master Jin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Have you seen any suspicious individuals near the Imperial Palace recently?”
“What kind of suspicious individuals do you mean? Has something happened at the Imperial Palace?”
At Jin Saheon’s question, the Emperor couldn’t continue his interrogation.
If Jin Saheon wasn’t the culprit, it would mean revealing that there had been an intruder in the Imperial Palace.
That would be far too humiliating.
It would mean there was a major security breach in the Imperial Palace, and also that the Emperor wasn’t properly controlling the Imperial Palace.
‘How natural.’
No matter how he looked at it, Jin Saheon didn’t seem to be lying.
He wanted to interrogate further, but there was no evidence and no certainty.
In the end, the Emperor waved his hand dismissively.
“Enough. Now withdraw.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Then I shall take my leave from the palace.”
Jin Saheon bowed respectfully and withdrew.
‘Who is it? Who on earth…!’
Of all things, Goseol! Unbearable rage surged up within him.
His chest felt tight.
“Kugh…!”
Suddenly, a fishy smell rose from his throat.
“Cough!”
The Emperor coughed up blood.
Bright red blood stained his dragon robes.
“Your, Your Majesty!”
The eunuchs came running from outside.
“Call the imperial physician! Quickly!”
***
A few days later.
Yehui visited the separate quarters of the Inhose household where the Crown Prince was staying.
She wasn’t as neat as usual due to traveling the long distance carrying bundles of medicinal herbs and other supplies for the Crown Prince, but her expression was bright.
It was because she planned to deliver Moa’s letter and good news.
“You asked for me?”
Soon the door opened, and Danhwi entered the room wearing rough training clothes.
He was covered in dust and sweat from training for battle at the Inhose training grounds until just moments ago, but his eyes were clear.
“Bukgung Yeohi, maid of Jinryongseoga, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Yehui bowed her head respectfully.
Danhwi realized she was Moa’s maid and his expression instantly brightened.
“You are Moa’s…”
“That is correct. I am the young lady’s maid. However, today I have come not only on behalf of the young lady, but also by order of the Master.”
“Master Jin went so far as to send Moa’s maid all the way here…? There is news of Moa, right?”
Danhwi looked puzzled, then asked about the most important thing – news of Moa.
The hardest thing about being here wasn’t the harsh training.
It was the longing to see Moa.
Yehui was momentarily surprised inside, then answered obediently.
It was because the Crown Prince’s eyes looked so desperate when asking for news of Moa.
“Of course there is also a letter that the young lady sent.”
“I see… that’s good.”
Danhwi’s face lit up for a moment before he forced himself to regain his dignity.
Yehui pretended not to notice and first held out the bundle.
“These are supplies including medicinal herbs that the household has provided. This time the amount is small because I came alone since there was news that had to be delivered secretly, but the Master said he would send more soon.”
“Tell him I received them well. I’m grateful.”
“And…”
Yehui looked around and checked her surroundings.
After confirming there was no one around, she spoke in a low voice.
“May I come closer for a moment?”
“You may.”
Yehui approached Danhwi and whispered softly in his ear.
“There is news about Goseol that I must tell you.”
“Go…!”
Danhwi almost shouted Goseol’s name loudly but came to his senses.
He realized that since this was a matter requiring extreme caution, Yehui was being so careful even within the Inhose household.
However, he couldn’t hide his tense expression and likewise whispered quietly.
“What happened to Goseol?”
“Please be at ease. Goseol has been rescued. He is now in a safe place.”
“A safe place?”
“A place where His Majesty’s hands can absolutely never reach.”
Danhwi’s eyes widened.
“Where? Where is he?”
“I don’t know that either. They didn’t tell me the specific location.”
At those words, Danhwi fell silent for a moment.
But soon he nodded.
“Dangerous information is better protected when fewer people know it.”
Even if he was the owner, Danhwi could fully accept it for Goseol’s safety.
Since Yehui had come, it was surely something the Jinryong household had done, and he could trust them completely.
“Instead, they say Goseol can watch over Your Highness. Though Your Highness cannot do the same…”
Yehui trailed off.
Then Danhwi’s eyes reddened.
“Goseol is… watching me?”
Even if they were apart, even if it was one-sided, they were still connected.
That alone made his heart swell.
Especially since Goseol could now live safely without suffering.
“Then I… must show Goseol a side of me that won’t bring shame.”
“…Your Highness.”
“If Goseol is watching.”
Danhwi wiped away the tears that suddenly spilled out.
“I must work even harder. Become stronger and healthier.”
Danhwi’s eyes became firm.
“When we meet again, I must have become an even more grown-up master.”
“Truly…”
Admirable.
Yehui wanted to praise him like that, but couldn’t bring herself to treat the Crown Prince like a child, so she swallowed her words.
Instead, she quietly held out Moa’s letter.
“And this is the letter the young lady sent.”
It was an envelope written in still large, bold handwriting that read ‘To His Highness the Crown Prince.’
Danhwi received the letter with a moved expression and opened the envelope.
“This is…”
And soon his face turned bright red.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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