The Little Baby Snake of the Vermilion Bird Family - Chapter 13

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

13
“There, all done!”
Sirang scooped Baeksa up in her arms.
She rinsed her with clean water, then thoroughly dried her with a soft cloth.
Cradled awkwardly in Sirang’s embrace, Baeksa spoke in a flustered voice.
“I-I am heavy. If you set me down, I can do it myself…”
“What? Not at all! You are as light as a feather! Even if you grew to three times your size, I could lift you with ease!”
As if to prove her words, Sirang briskly changed Baeksa’s clothes without showing the slightest hint of exhaustion.
Halfway through, the servant girls waiting outside peeked their heads in, wishing to help, but Sirang shook her head after checking Baeksa’s reaction.
Seeing this, Baeksa felt anxious, worried that Sirang was taking on too much work all by herself because of her.
“Um, Sirang… I think it is fine for me to meet the other servant girls.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. So you do not, do not have to do everything alone. And I, I can manage well by myself, too…”
“Ah, if that is your reason, then absolutely not! I want to keep our adorable young lady all to myself.”
Sirang replied playfully as she dried Baeksa’s hair and adjusted her clothes.
“Once some time passes, if you wish to greet the other servant girls, I will let you go with tears in my eyes, but I cannot allow it for a reason like that!”
She was firm.
“There is a whole line of servant girls itching to serve our adorable young lady, so I cannot let them steal you away just yet.”
“Th-that is…”
“It is true. Do you not believe me?”
Sirang asked, her eyes widening in mock offense. Baeksa shook her head hurriedly.
“No, I believe you!”
“Right? So, my sweet young lady, there is no need to worry. I am doing this because it makes me happy.”
“I, I do too…”
Baeksa hesitated for a moment before leaning in to whisper softly into Sirang’s ear.
“I really like you too, Sirang…”
Expressing such feelings was incredibly unfamiliar to her. The tips of Baeksa’s ears flushed a bright crimson.
‘How embarrassing.’
Yet she hated the thought of Sirang worrying about losing her position.
Even if countless other wonderful servant girls arrived, Sirang would always be the best servant girl to Baeksa.
Just as Sirang had treated her with nothing but tenderness, Baeksa wanted to be a good beast-kin to her in return.
Sirang beamed at the gesture. She spoke in a high, melodic voice that sounded like a skylark.
“My lady, I am trying to keep my composure, but I am overjoyed right now… This is the happiest day of my entire life as a servant girl.”
Sirang whispered as if sharing a profound secret.
“But since you still seem a bit shy, I will keep what you just said a secret for now. The other beast-kin might get jealous!”
Finishing her sentence, Sirang offered a mischievous grin.
She gently lifted Baeksa back into her arms and returned to the room.
Waiting inside was the Physician, who had already prepared the topical ointment.
Once Sirang settled Baeksa down, the Physician carefully rubbed the medicine onto the child’s hands and feet.
Her touch was meticulous and gentle, spreading the ointment even between the toes and fingers. Baeksa could not understand why the back of her ears tingled while her fingers were being handled.
When the child wriggled her toes, Sirang, who was assisting with the medicine, let out a bright laugh.
***
After finishing the medicinal bath and taking a short nap, evening had already arrived.
“My lady, please try some of this.”
Sirang walked in carrying a table laden with food. There was so much that another servant girl had to help her carry it halfway through.
Every dish was arranged in small, charming portions on delicate plates so that Baeksa could taste a little bit of everything.
That alone revealed how much care the chef had poured into this meal.
“I made sure everything prepared is easy on the stomach.”
Placing a spoon in Baeksa’s hand, Sirang gazed at the child with eyes full of anticipation.
Baeksa lifted a spoonful of warm meat broth to her lips.
The moment the pleasantly warm broth slid down her throat, her stomach instantly felt settled and comforted.
“How is it, my lady? Is it to your liking?”
“Yes…! It is delicious!”
“Wonderful! Try this one too. It is made from sweet potato stems, a real delicacy.”
Sirang placed various side dishes onto Baeksa’s spoon bit by bit.
Like a baby bird, Baeksa accepted every morsel Sirang offered.
As it was her first time receiving a meal prepared with such devotion, her eyes widened in wonder with every single bite.
“This one too, and this one!”
Waiting patiently until the child chewed and swallowed completely, Sirang offered the next dish.
Everything was seasoned perfectly for a child, suiting Baeksa’s palate flawlessly.
It was a luxurious feast unlike anything she had ever experienced. The sheer number of side dishes seemed to rival what Yeoryun used to eat.
‘Back then, I could not even dream of eating the leftovers…’
Leftover food from imperial royalty usually went to the servant girls who attended to them closely.
Because of that, Baeksa never even had the chance to touch what Yeoryun left behind.
Yet here she was, surrounded by such exquisite food. Baeksa grew anxious, fearing that this might all be a dream.
Even though she knew it was a foolish worry, she could not help it because reality felt too surreal to believe.
Chewing happily with her cheeks full, Baeksa unconsciously swallowed the food in one large gulp.
Swallowing her food whole was the natural instinct of a young snake.
However, Baeksa immediately peeked at Sirang with anxious, cautious eyes.
When she was in the Imperial Palace, she had been scolded repeatedly for eating that way, with people calling it vulgar.
She had tried for a very long time to fix the habit, but perhaps because she was still young, her instincts were difficult to suppress.
“Oh dear, if you swallow it all at once, you will get indigestion. Please eat carefully.”
To her relief, Sirang did not scold her. Instead of reprimanding Baeksa, she simply wiped away the food smudged near the child’s mouth.
Smiling softly, Baeksa quietly continued her meal.
By the time the feast drew to a close, Baeksa’s stomach was round and plump like a ball.
“I, I think I ate too much…”
“Not at all, my lady. This is the proper amount for a normal child. Eat without worry! You need to gain a little more weight.”
Sirang assured her while clattering the plates away. Baeksa nodded shyly.
After clearing the table, Sirang prepared the bedding so the child could rest comfortably.
She laid down a warm, fluffy mattress and brought over a cotton quilt that smelled wonderful. It was thicker and softer than any blanket Baeksa had ever seen.
“Rest well now, Lady Baeksa. Tomorrow might be a bit busy for you.”
“Busy…?”
“Well, um… The truth is, the Second Young Master has caught wind of your presence.”
The Second Young Master?
‘Ah, he must be the Family Head’s second son.’
If so, then unlike her, he was essentially the true master of this Vermilion Bird Family.
But why was he only finding out about her existence now?
‘They said I was asleep for two days, so today makes exactly three days since I arrived.’
Had the other beast-kin in the family been hiding her presence from him?
Why?
When Baeksa’s round eyes filled with bewilderment, Sirang shifted her gaze uncomfortably before replying.
“Well, our Second Young Master is not a bad person, per se… It is just that he is a bit energetic, and, well, very energetic…”
Sirang let out a deep sigh.
“We knew for a fact that you would not be able to get any proper rest if the Second Young Master found out, so we were hiding your presence carefully. But Lord Jo Yeong went ahead and told him that you were staying here.”
Listening to Sirang, Baeksa thought of Yeoryun and Songra.
Those two also fell into the ‘energetic’ category. The palace attendants always praised them, saying it was wonderful to see Yeoryun and Songra so lively.
At the same time, they looked down on and belittled Baeksa for being timid and quiet.
‘Is he a beast-kin just like Songra and Yeoryun?’
Yet even if that were the case, it did not matter.
‘The Family Head has been so kind to me…’
Even if the Second Young Master tormented her or treated her like a toy just like Songra and Yeoryun did, she was confident she could endure it.
She wanted to repay the kindness she had received.
If she could repay her debt through such means, she would gladly accept it.
Noticing the slight stiffening of Baeksa’s expression, Sirang quickly added more words.
“But, but he really is not a bad person!”
Sirang defended him urgently.
“Once you meet him, I am certain you will grow to like the Second Young Master.”
Until the very end, Sirang urged her not to worry too much, repeating that he was not a malicious person.
Before leaving, she did not forget to light some pleasant-smelling Sleeping Incense.
Inhaling the scent of the Sleeping Incense that Sirang had lit, Baeksa began to nod off.
‘What kind of person is he?’
She hoped he would be a beast-kin who was at least a little kinder than Songra or Yeoryun.
But even if he turned out to be worse than those two, she resolved never to show her displeasure.
Making that silent promise to herself, Baeksa drifted off to sleep.

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