The Dragon Family’s Beloved Baby Cat - Chapter 31

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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 31

 

***

 

Dawn broke.

 

From early morning, the Jinryong Clan was as busy as a battlefield.

 

It was the day the Head of the Manor would take his newly adopted youngest daughter to the Imperial Palace.

 

A newly adopted youngest daughter!

 

Youngest daughter!

 

Daughter!

 

Everyone in the clan was extremely excited upon hearing the news that the clan’s benefactor, who was once the young lady of Cheongbindang, would finally be officially registered as their daughter.

 

“Sehui, did you pack that too? Just in case the Imperial Palace sweets don’t suit her taste, pack some more yakgwa and yugwa.”

 

“Yes, Madam. I’ve packed all the different types!”

 

“Our baby really loves braised short ribs… It’s such a shame we can’t pack braised ribs. I should at least pack some jerky instead.”

 

Jaseonghwa, wrapped in thick fur clothing like armor to protect against the cold wind, gave various instructions to Sehui and the other maids.

 

“Oh right, the Imperial Palace might have severe drafts. Bring my knee blanket made from silver fox.”

 

She was even planning to send the knee blanket that Jin Saheon had gifted her, made from precious silver fox fur for use throughout winter.

 

Though they thought there couldn’t possibly be drafts in the luxurious Imperial Palace, all the maids found their mistress’s excited state over her newly acquired daughter utterly heartwarming.

 

The young lady’s upcoming trip was for official adoption.

 

It was completely understandable that their always perfect and composed mistress was excited.

 

“I’ve also loaded gloves quilted with the finest cotton and hot water bottles!”

 

Sehui, Moa’s personal maid, was equally excited, so the entire packing party was in full swing together.

 

Moa sat on the bed with her mouth agape, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

 

The wide floor was so covered with travel bags that there was nowhere to step.

 

Anyone would think they were moving permanently.

 

“Uh… Mom, are we moving?”

 

“Oh my, no dear. These are all emergency food and supplies for you.”

 

Jaseonghwa was tying bag straps with a determined expression, then stopped to open them again and stuff in more sweets.

 

“You can’t be hungry, cold, or bored. If those Imperial Palace people dare make our precious daughter uncomfortable, I won’t let it slide.”

 

Though Jaseonghwa was usually frail and gentle, when it came to her daughter, she was scarier than a tiger.

 

Sehui was also burning with a sense of mission as the personal maid.

 

“Young lady, don’t worry. I’ve packed everything from your personal chamber pot to emergency nap pillows and blankets! You just need to bring yourself!”

 

While Sehui was busy packing, Moa quietly moved around.

 

Moa looked around, then picked up her treasures that she had placed on the desk.

 

A smooth pebble she had found in the flower bed, two acorns, and a doll she had begged to be made in the shape of a cat.

 

‘I need to take this too.’

 

Moa slipped the pebble between the delicate silk handkerchiefs that Sehui had packed.

 

Bangjil might get lonely while I’m gone.

 

She also secretly tucked the acorns among the emergency food.

 

She planned to give them to small animals she might meet at the Imperial Palace so they wouldn’t be hungry.

 

“Huh? Young lady, what’s this?”

 

Sehui, who had eagle eyes, picked up the stone while inspecting the bag.

 

“Why is there a rock…”

 

“No! That’s Bangjil! He’s coming with me!”

 

When Moa startled and tried to snatch the stone back, Jaseonghwa burst into laughter and waved her hand.

 

“Just leave it. Moa wants to take it.”

 

“But Madam, taking such a rock to the Imperial Palace…”

 

“If our daughter takes it, it becomes a jewel, not a rock, doesn’t it?”

 

Sehui shook her head at the mother’s blind love.

 

However, she had no choice but to carefully place the rock and acorns in the safest pocket.

 

After the packing war ended, Sehui carried Moa into the bath and washed her thoroughly.

 

Then Jaseonghwa dressed her in the dress she had carefully selected.

 

“Wow…”

 

Moa stood in front of the large mirror, unable to close her mouth in amazement.

 

The light pink formal dress made of the finest silk had a very full skirt.

 

It fluttered like cherry blossom petals when she walked, and on the chest was a small dragon-shaped ornament symbolizing the clan.

 

The scruffy Moa was nowhere to be seen, and she looked like a perfect noble family young lady overflowing with elegance.

 

Only her habit of standing on one leg and hopping around like a wild animal proved it was still Moa.

 

“I don’t look like me…”

 

“No. This is also our daughter’s appearance.”

 

Jaseonghwa smiled warmly and placed a cute pearl ornament in Moa’s hair.

 

When they finished preparing and came outside, the waiting men of the Jinryong Clan all turned their heads in unison.

 

“…”

 

All three men lost their words as if they had made a promise.

 

Yeongang was the first to react.

 

His face turned red as a beet and he kept clearing his throat.

 

“What, what is this. A pumpkin became a watermelon with some stripes…”

 

“Brother Kang, am I pretty?”

 

When Moa asked, Yeongang jumped.

 

“Pre, pre, pretty… Very slightly cute!”

 

Yeongang couldn’t overcome his embarrassment and quickly turned his head away.

 

In Yeongang’s field of vision, he saw Dowoon covering his eyes with his hands.

 

“Brother, what’s wrong?”

 

“It’s so dazzling I can’t look. It seems a celestial being has descended to our house.”

 

At Dowoon’s playful flattery, Moa giggled and wiggled her body.

 

Finally, Saheon approached Moa.

 

He knelt down to meet Moa’s eyes, then adjusted his daughter’s outfit with a serious expression.

 

“You’re beautiful.”

 

“Yes! Mom and Sister Sehui made me really pretty!”

 

Then Moa, who had been reading the mood, glanced at Yehui standing like a shadow beside them.

 

Worried that Moa might struggle at the Imperial Palace without knowing proper etiquette, Yehui had decided to overcome her fear, cover her face with cloth, and follow Moa.

 

‘Right, proper gestures.’

 

Moa, who had agreed to learn etiquette befitting a noble family’s daughter from Yehui, belatedly realized what she should do and stood up straight.

 

“Mom, Dad, thank you.”

 

Moa gracefully bowed, recalling Yehui’s greeting.

 

She looked as cute as a small peach blossom petal fluttering, and Jaseonghwa nodded while holding back tears that seemed about to fall.

 

Even though she was going with her husband for just a short while, thinking about sending her far away to the Imperial Palace kept bringing up worries.

 

What if someone bullies Moa.

 

The Emperor must accept Moa right away.

 

Though her etiquette is still lacking, she hoped everyone would think of her as a precious young lady and treat her accordingly.

 

That’s why she had spent days gathering all kinds of jewelry and precious items.

 

The luxurious outfit Moa wore was all armor prepared by her mother.

 

“Our beautiful baby.”

 

Jaseonghwa patted Moa’s head carefully so as not to mess up her hair, then held Jin Saheon’s hand once and saw the father and daughter off.

 

“Since my child is accompanying this trip, I entrust her to your care.”

 

“Yes, sir!”

 

To ensure that assassins wouldn’t target the carriage carrying his precious daughter.

 

This time, contrary to his usual habits, he decided to bring along a guard unit of warriors.

 

The warriors, seeing the rumored young lady for the first time, were also captivated by her incredibly adorable and cute appearance and filled with enthusiasm.

 

Soon, a huge carriage bearing the Jinryong Clan’s emblem began racing toward the Imperial Palace.

 

Inside the carriage rode Saheon and Moa, Somi and Yehui together.

 

Yehui was recalling the conversation she had separately with Sehui at dawn.

 

‘I heard all about what you did.’

 

Sehui, who had cared for Moa from the moment she arrived at Jinryongseoga, had the fierce demeanor of a mother hen protecting her chick.

 

Yehui felt ashamed watching Sehui like that.

 

A mere commoner servant and herself, someone of noble birth.

 

However, Yehui was in a position where she could never hold her head high before her master, Moa, for the rest of her life.

 

‘But you can give Miss something that I cannot.’

 

Moa would eventually have teachers to instruct her in various accomplishments.

 

Even so, having a close aide from a former noble family would be a tremendous advantage.

 

She would be a servant who could be presented in any setting while also preventing Moa’s mistakes in advance.

 

‘Miss said this: Sehui unni and Yehui unni, you two are like sisters! If you don’t break Miss’s trust…’

 

‘I absolutely won’t! I’ve devoted my life to Miss!’

 

‘Then I’ll think of you as a sister. Let’s serve Miss well together.’

 

Before dawn, before Moa woke up, the two had shared such a conversation.

 

Yehui’s gaze turned to Moa, who had fallen asleep from the carriage’s vibrations.

 

Moa, who had given her a place to belong, a new sister, and a protective shelter.

 

Though anger and fear surged when she thought of the Emperor, thinking of Moa gave her strength to overcome even that.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, at the same time, in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace.

 

A young boy, Danhwi, sat perched on the railing of a shabby pavilion, staring intently at a piece of paper.

 

He was the Emperor’s one and only younger brother and sole heir.

 

This was because the Emperor had no offspring yet.

 

For such a precious status, Danhwi’s appearance was far too shabby.

 

Clothes that had once been fine.

 

But they no longer fit his grown body, with sleeves and pants riding up at the wrists and ankles, making him look like he was wearing stolen clothes.

 

‘Why do I look at this every day?’

 

A portrait of some girl he had obtained when summoned by the Emperor once.

 

The paper had flown toward him by chance, and after picking it up, he hid it away, afraid that even that action might be criticized.

 

Since then, this paper was all he had to look at, so he gazed at it alone every day.

 

What had become of this child?

 

What had his brother done? Had this child ended up like him?

 

He wanted to have a conversation with this girl.

 

‘Brother would never let us meet.’

 

Danhwi knew well that he was the Emperor’s only blemish.

 

The previous emperor had tried to pass the succession to his youngest son, who was still young, instead of his eldest son with his violent tendencies.

 

Fortunately, perhaps by divine will, Danhwi possessed an immense amount of divine power essential for an emperor.

 

So he thought that if Danhwi grew up like this, he would be perfectly suited to become emperor.

 

All that was needed was time.

 

The current Emperor, realizing this, committed treason and succeeded in stealing the throne from his young brother.

 

That was the Emperor’s greatest weakness—his secret that he had been hiding all this time.

 

To keep this secret, the Emperor hid Danhwi from public view.

 

Under the pretense of loving him so much that he couldn’t bear to let him outside, he kept him hidden in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace.

 

He was periodically draining and using his brother’s divine power.

 

‘A child like me… I really want to meet her.’

 

The Emperor wouldn’t have had the girl’s portrait made without intending to use her.

 

Danhwi thought the Emperor was using Moa.

 

Though he didn’t know why they should meet, and had no reason.

 

After staring at Moa’s face every day, he wanted to meet her at least once.

 

‘That’s probably impossible…’

 

While he was thinking this.

 

The carriage carrying Moa entered the Imperial Palace.

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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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