The Dragon Family’s Beloved Baby Cat - Chapter 84

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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 84

Moa cried for a long time.

But she didn’t throw a tantrum.

She just wept like she was wailing, holding Danhwi’s hand tightly.

“If oppa really doesn’t go…”

Moa asked through her sobs.

“Our family will be in danger, right?”

“…Yes.”

Danhwi nodded his head.

He couldn’t bring himself to lie.

It was too unfair and miserable that they had fallen into such a wretched situation for the crime of having a villain as family.

“…I understand.”

Moa said, wiping her tears with her sleeve.

“I’ll let oppa go. No, that’s not right. I don’t have the right to let you go or not.”

“Moa…”

“Still.”

Moa gripped Danhwi’s hand even tighter.

“Don’t forget that I’m always on oppa’s side… stay healthy…”

Seeing her sad face, Danhwi extended his pinky finger first.

For the promise ritual that Moa had taught him.

“I’ll definitely come back. Stronger. I’ll come see you with a healthy body.”

Moa hooked her pinky finger with his.

The two small fingers interlocked perfectly.

“…When?”

“Before Moa becomes an adult. For sure.”

“I’ll wait. If you don’t come, then I’ll call you a liar.”

Moa nodded her head.

Tears flowed down again, but this time she didn’t wipe them away.

“You must.”

Just then, something sparkling on the window floor caught Moa’s eye.

Seeing the faintly glowing object, Moa’s curiosity was triggered even in this serious situation where tears were dripping down.

“…What’s that?”

Moa tilted her head and bent her knees to pick up the object.

It was a small, transparent blue crystal.

“Is it a jewel?”

Moa tilted her head, unable to understand why a jewel would be lying by the window.

[That bird was crying earlier and it fell and changed into that. It’s a spirit’s tear.]

Somi whispered beside Moa while floating.

“This is Goseol’s tear.”

The crystal in her palm was slightly warm.

[Since it’s a tear shed during contracting, it’ll be connected to that human child.]

“With oppa?”

[If that human child is okay, it’ll be warm, and if he’s in danger, it’ll become cold. Probably.]

“Probably?”

[It’s my first time seeing this too.]

Somi said honestly.

Moa held the crystal in her hand. Then she felt it was lukewarm but had a faint pulse like a heartbeat.

“Are you talking to Kkabuyi again…?”

Danhwi asked, looking around.

Then Moa realized she had spoken out loud and shook her head with an awkward smile.

“Something like that. Anyway, can I take this, oppa?”

“…Of course.”

Danhwi nodded his head.

“I can really check if you’re okay?”

“Yes, this really moves.”

Moa squeezed the lukewarm crystal gently.

Then she looked at Danhwi’s still pale complexion with a slightly sad face.

‘Since it’s not completely warm, it must be because oppa is sick.’

Moa hugged the crystal tightly to her chest.

“I’ll check every day.”

“…Yes.”

“Since I can know when oppa is in danger, then I can do something about it.”

Moa said while wiping her tears.

“I can go rescue oppa.”

Danhwi felt his heart grow heavy seeing Moa like this.

This young child saying she would come rescue him.

Moa was much smaller and younger than him. It would suit her perfectly to wiggle her chubby cheeks and happily eat delicious food in a comfortable place.

“…Thank you.”

Danhwi patted Moa’s head.

“But don’t do dangerous things.”

“If oppa is in danger, I’ll do dangerous things too.”

“Moa.”

“So stay safe and take good care of yourself.”

Moa said stubbornly.

Danhwi suddenly found himself laughing.

This stubbornness.

She had been like this since they first met.

***

Since Danhwi said he had something to say and Moa was making a fuss, Jin Wonbaek, Jin Saheon, and Jaseonghwa all came over to Cheongbindang.

Danhwi had neatly arranged his blankets and was sitting properly in front of them.

“I have something to tell you.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Danhwi.

Danhwi hesitated for a moment, then fastened his belt that was placed in front of him.

The belt made of patterns symbolizing the Crown Prince fit perfectly around the boy’s waist.

“Now… I intend to return to the Imperial Palace.”

Danhwi’s face became completely hardened into the appearance of the Crown Prince, unlike what he had shown beside Moa.

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

They roughly guessed Danhwi’s intention from seeing him wear the belt instead of the dragon robe that had become irreparably tattered.

“Your wounds haven’t even fully healed yet…”

Jaseonghwa muttered with a pitying face.

“I can move sufficiently. His Majesty must surely be pressuring the Jinryong Clan.”

“We served you because we wanted to.”

“I’m grateful. But…”

Danhwi shook his head at Jin Saheon’s words.

Then he opened his mouth again.

“Before that, there’s one thing I must say.”

“Please speak.”

“Goseol is this palace’s spirit.”

Silence descended.

Jin Wonbaek’s eyes sharpened.

Jin Saheon and Jaseonghwa also held their breath.

“…Surely you don’t intend to shock this old subject into collapse?”

Jin Wonbaek asked, unable to hide his astonishment.

“Father… Before the Former Emperor passed away, he abdicated the throne to me.”

Danhwi’s voice was calm.

“The Heavenly Deity bestowed Goseol upon us.”

“…!”

“But my older brother interfered with the contract using forbidden arts. He stole Goseol and imprisoned me in the Abandoned Palace.”

Danhwi paused to catch his breath before continuing.

“Yesterday, I completed the contract with Goseol.”

A heavy silence fell.

No one could easily open their mouth.

Jin Wonbaek slowly asked.

“If that is true…”

“My older brother is a usurper.”

Danhwi said calmly.

“And I am the true Emperor.”

The air in the room froze.

Jaseonghwa covered her mouth with her hand, and Jin Saheon’s face hardened.

“I thought Goseol came along because of Moa… So you intend to return?”

“That’s right.”

Danhwi nodded at Jin Saheon’s question.

“If I fight the traitor now, the country will be split in two.”

“That’s…”

“I don’t want the people to shed blood. So I need time to build my strength.”

Since he couldn’t wage civil war, he meant to wait for his time while growing stronger under Dan Hyeonwoo.

Enduring hardships to accomplish revenge.

A path not easy even for adults, yet a mere nine-year-old child intended to walk it.

Jin Saheon gazed at Danhwi for a long time.

Seeing the determination and resolve in the child’s eyes, Jin Saheon knelt down.

“Jin Saheon, Head of Jinryong Clan, pledges loyalty to Your Majesty.”

“Head of the Jin Family…!”

Danhwi rose in surprise.

“From now on, I will support Your Majesty in reclaiming your rightful place.”

Jin Saheon bowed his head.

Behind him, Jin Wonbaek and Jaseonghwa also knelt and bowed their heads.

Danhwi looked at them while holding back tears.

It was the first time.

The first time someone had acknowledged him as Emperor.

“…Thank you.”

Danhwi said with a trembling voice.

“I will surely repay this kindness.”

“It is not kindness.”

Jin Saheon raised his head.

“I am merely doing what is natural as a subject.”

***

Preparations for departure were complete, and Jin Wonbaek and Jin Saheon decided to personally escort Danhwi.

The justification was simple.

“Since Crown Prince has been injured, we will personally escort him.”

“We are sufficient to escort His Highness ourselves.”

“We explained the circumstances, yet how dare you look upon the carriage His Highness rides with such insolent eyes?”

The ones facing Jin Saheon were Imperial Guards who had rushed from the Imperial Palace.

Unlike the Imperial Palace Guard who protected the palace and Emperor at close range, these were soldiers who directly faced external enemies.

Even if the Emperor couldn’t come personally, he had sent soldiers all the way to Jinryongseoga.

Naturally it was to apply pressure, but Jin Saheon and Jin Wonbaek didn’t bat an eye.

“His Highness is currently suspected of summoning demons to the Imperial Palace, so His Majesty ordered us to bring him directly.”

“My granddaughter’s testimony differed greatly from His Highness’s, so I must personally meet His Majesty and offer counsel.”

When Jin Wonbaek spoke decisively, Jin Saheon continued.

“I must ask His Majesty how the Imperial Palace security became so lax, Father.”

Everyone understood the meaning behind those words.

They were going to humiliate the Emperor.

Moa glared at the guards, then looked at Danhwi through the carriage window and waved her hand.

She also waved to Goseol standing beside the carriage.

-Kuuu…

Goseol also looked at Moa with sad eyes.

“Goseol.”

Moa hugged Goseol’s neck.

“Take good care of big brother.”

-Kuuu.

Goseol cried out powerfully.

“We shall depart, Your Highness.”

Jin Saheon deliberately spoke respectfully for the Imperial Palace Guard to hear, then mounted his horse and spurred it forward.

Soon the group began to move.

Danhwi looked back through the carriage window.

Moa was waving her hand.

She was forcing a smile even while tears streamed down her face.

Though he was returning to the hellish Imperial Palace, knowing that Moa and Goseol were watching over him, he thought he could endure it.

Danhwi’s eyes became resolute.

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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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