The Dragon Family’s Beloved Baby Cat - Chapter 38
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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 38
“It was my oversight.”
Jin Saheon rubbed his face wearily, looking troubled.
“I didn’t expect Father to have deteriorated so much… It was too horrific a sight for a child to bear.”
The child was so spirited and cheerfully dealt with all sorts of strange events that he never imagined she would be so deeply shocked by this.
He had simply thought that Moa would need to face Jin Wonbaek once to break his curse… That was all he had in mind.
“Perhaps now that she’s truly become family, now that she has a place to act spoiled, she’s allowing herself to hurt.”
Jaseonghwa speculated that Moa’s composure in the face of any shock might have been because, as an orphan, she had to endure everything alone.
“But… we can’t leave her like this.”
Jaseonghwa rubbed her chest, recalling Moa crying out for Grandfather while groaning with fever.
“The child is tormented by guilt. She might think that Grandfather is in more pain because she opened the door.”
“Then what should we do?”
“Let’s cover her dark memories with very bright and happy ones, so Moa won’t be consumed by them.”
“That’s… wise advice.”
Jin Saheon nodded.
They couldn’t let the child remain darkly sorrowful like this.
“First, even if we can’t cure Father’s condition, we should find a physician who can help make him less painful.”
“Good. And I’ll send word to the Imperial Palace. We can’t send her in this state.”
Jin Saheon planned to make excuses about travel fatigue requiring several days of recovery and ask for a delay in the palace entry deadline.
“I think we also need to hold a feast celebrating Moa’s adoption. Make it so boisterous that the child won’t have time to be sad.”
“That’s right. We need to show that we’re doing well too.”
If they held no celebration after such joyous news, the Emperor or other Sega might find it suspicious anyway.
“Inviting all the other Sega would take time, but we could immediately hold a feast inviting nearby noble families and common people.”
“If she receives boisterous congratulations, Moa will forget those frightening memories somewhat.”
To show their strength externally while making Moa thoroughly happy.
The couple suppressed their grief and resolved to hold a feast as soon as possible for their daughter.
***
Several days later.
The front courtyard of Jinryongseoga was transformed into a much livelier atmosphere than usual.
Since they had made excuses to the Imperial Palace, they omitted grand formalities, but it was a substantial feast with opened storehouses for the people and invited local dignitaries.
“Congratulations on becoming the youngest daughter of Jinryongseoga!”
“A ray of hope shines upon the clan!”
“The table legs might break! Jinryongseoga’s generosity is truly abundant!”
In the center of the courtyard, whole cattle and pigs sizzled as they roasted, and the rich aroma of fine clear liquor spread thickly on the wind.
Colorful lanterns hung like stars visible in daylight, and cheerful flute music stirred excitement.
People laughed and chattered while enjoying alcohol and meat.
A picture-perfect scene where everything appeared flawless.
However, Moa sat frozen alone, feeling strangely out of place.
“Moa, are you uncomfortable?”
Jaseonghwa asked worriedly about the child.
The guest of honor, Moa, wore splendid silk clothes with her hair charmingly tied up and adorned with pearl ornaments, sitting beside Jaseonghwa.
“No…”
Shake shake.
Moa shook her head.
But on this good day, the child’s expression wouldn’t brighten.
Her gaze kept turning toward the back of the manor where no music could be heard, toward the annex where Grandfather stayed.
‘It’s so noisy here and everyone’s laughing… but Grandfather is suffering alone over there.’
Guilt and alienation.
The people’s laughter sounded like sharp noise to Moa instead.
Even while sick, she had asked several times to be taken to Grandfather, but her family only shook their heads with stern faces.
Moa’s face was shadowed with accumulated frustration.
“Oh my, why does the young lady look like that? She’s still cute though.”
“I heard she got sick after returning from the Imperial Court.”
“Is she a sickly young lady?”
Among the invited nearby noble families, a strange current flowed regarding Moa’s attitude.
As Moa couldn’t focus on the feast and couldn’t properly eat the delicacies as if they were mixed with coarse sand.
Yehui, who guarded Moa’s side like a shadow, quietly whispered to her.
“Young lady.”
“…Yes, Sister Yehui.”
“You must smile.”
Yehui’s voice was low but utterly resolute.
Moa looked at Yehui with tearful eyes.
“But Grandfather is in pain, so I can’t just laugh and chatter alone. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“I understand. But young lady.”
Yehui gestured subtly toward the surroundings and whispered.
“These people have loose tongues. If you show a sad face, rumors that ‘Jinryong Clan has problems’ will spread from the Imperial Palace to the empire’s edge by tomorrow.”
“…Rumors?”
Yehui explained to Moa the meaning of today’s gathering.
It was both to welcome Moa and simultaneously to show everyone that Jinryongseoga was doing perfectly well.
As Yehui stayed by her side like an advisor explaining things, light gradually entered Moa’s eyes.
“A feast isn’t just a place for fun. It’s also a battlefield to show our enemies that we’re strong.”
Yehui spoke emphatically while adjusting Moa’s disheveled clothes.
Her touch was delicate, but her eyes were sharp to protect Moa.
“Some of these people might be spies. Others might be merchants connected to the Imperial Palace.”
“Eek.”
Moa gasped in surprise for a moment.
“They’ll use even a single tear from you as a weakness.”
“R-really…?”
“Yes. If you want to protect your family, you must smile the brightest in the world right now. That’s the battle you can fight.”
Moa’s eyes widened.
My smiling isn’t just playing around, but becomes a shield protecting my family.
Her guilt about Grandfather soon transformed into the thought that she must protect everyone.
Moa pressed her lips together, then nodded resolutely.
“I understand. I can do it.”
Moa wiped away the moisture gathered in her eyes.
Then she pursed her lips and lifted the corners of her mouth brightly.
After taking a deep breath, Moa turned toward the crowd.
“Thank you for coming!”
Moa smiled brightly like a flower and offered everyone the butterfly-like bow Yehui had taught her.
People’s eyes instantly melted at her spirited and lovable appearance.
“It was good to place Yehui by Moa’s side.”
“It’s fortunate there are people who care for the child.”
Jin Saheon and Jaseonghwa’s eyes reddened as they watched.
Their daughter, who maintained her dignity while rotting inside, was so admirable and lovable.
***
That night.
After the banquet ended, the manor was immersed in deep silence.
Moa lay on her bed with wide-open eyes.
With her blanket pulled up to her nose, the events of the past few days flashed through Moa’s mind.
‘When I was screaming… Dad, Mom, and my brothers all came running.’
When she woke up screaming, the door would bang open before long.
Dad who came running without even putting on shoes, her brothers who woke up and came with swords in their disheveled hair, Mom who hugged her warmly.
Honestly, it felt so good.
Even when she had cold and scary dreams, when her family’s warmth touched her, it was as cozy as being buried in clouds.
That feeling of the whole family stamping their feet and worrying about her alone was overwhelmingly happy for Moa, who had been an orphan.
But.
Moa pressed down on a corner of her heart.
‘Everyone… looked like they had dark circles under their eyes today.’
Jin Saheon’s face from during the day came to mind.
Though he smiled at her, he looked very tired from staying up several nights.
Mom and her brothers were the same.
‘Brother Yeongang… it’ll be hard if he doesn’t sleep properly again.’
Every time she woke up, her family couldn’t sleep either.
‘If I cry again, everyone will wake up again, right?’
She didn’t want to make her family suffer anymore.
As much as she was loved, she wanted to protect everyone.
‘I need to become braver.’
She didn’t want to act like a baby anymore, crying and waking people up.
She felt like becoming more mature and not worrying her family would let her meet Grandfather again.
‘I’ll definitely save Grandfather. I’ll protect our whole family!’
It was the moment Moa clenched her small fist and made that determined resolution.
Ding!
With a clear and pure notification sound, Samyeongrok appeared.
-Main Mission: Heal ‘Jin Wonbaek’
‧Rewards:
(Stage 1) Beep Beep Vroom Car
(Stage 2) Guardian Spirit Growth Stage 3
·Upon failure, ‘Jinryong Clan’ annihilation
‘Annihilation…?’
It was a difficult word, but with Somi’s help, when Moa learned it meant ‘the whole family disappears,’ she gasped.
‘No way! I absolutely won’t let that happen!’
Rather than fear, she felt defiant.
Moa bit her lip and glared at the words in the air, nodding her head.
“I can do it. I’ll heal everything.”
Moa’s eyes shone without wavering.
It was right after she accepted that weighty mission.
[…Little one.]
Then, the voice that had been calling Moa occasionally for several days was heard.
‘I knew it, I didn’t mishear!’
It was always noisy when her family or Sehui and Yehui were around, so Moa was confused about whether she had misheard.
Every time she said someone was calling her, everyone just worried about Moa, saying they didn’t hear such sounds.
[…Come here.]
‘There really is something there!’
Moa bolted upright.
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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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