The Little Baby Snake of the Vermilion Bird Family - Chapter 30

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Vermilion Bird Family was thrown into complete chaos.
A young girl had appeared just before the Divine Beast Festival.
A child with white hair and white feathers, just like the White Vermilion Bird of this estate.
The girl brought by Songra looked exactly like a young Ju Myeongyeong, as if she had returned from the dead.
Ju Jeokseo rushed out in a single breath, his gaze shifting back and forth between Song Hyun and the girl.
He guided the two into the Reception Room and then fixed his eyes on Song Hyun.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“My subordinates recently revisited the place where the last traces of Lady Myeongyeong were found,”
Song Hyun spoke respectfully.
“And there they discovered this child. She resembles Lady Myeongyeong so perfectly, and furthermore…”
Song Hyun glanced down at the child.
“Go on, show him.”
“Ah, yes!”
The girl brought her hands together and channeled her Abnormal Ability.
Fwhip!
A white flame suddenly flickered to life within her palms.
The Abnormal Ability of the Vermilion Bird Family—Flame.
That white flame was undeniable proof that the girl possessed the bloodline of the Vermilion Bird Family.
“Because she commands such a Supernatural Ability, I was certain she must be Lady Myeongyeong’s daughter, so I rushed to bring her to the Divine Bird.”
“The Spirit Treasure did not react when I visited that place.”
If the child truly were Myeongyeong’s daughter, the Feather Fan would have detected some trace of its master’s presence.
Therefore, it was impossible for her to be Myeongyeong’s daughter.
Even as that thought crossed his mind, Ju Jeokseo’s eyes remained locked on the girl’s face.
Regaining his composure, he spoke coldly.
“Are you implying that you found what I could not?”
“Divine Bird, please hear me out! It is only natural that Your Lordship could not find this child.”
“And why is that?”
“A widow found this abandoned girl and raised her alone. Out of fear that the biological mother might appear and take the child away, she kept her hidden away from the world.”
Song Hyun continued.
“Of course, I cannot declare with absolute certainty that she is Lady Myeongyeong’s biological daughter, but look at this face.”
Not a single tremor shook his voice.
“She is the spitting image of the Lady Myeongyeong I remember.”
It was exactly as the Tae Clan Head said.
The child truly looked identical to Myeongyeong.
Yet, that was precisely why it felt so strange.
‘If she resembles her this much, why do I feel no affection whatsoever?’
When he had first found Baeksa.
When he first gathered that tiny child collapsed in the snow into his arms, Ju Jeokseo had reflexively thought of Myeongyeong.
As he cared for, protected, and raised that child, the sentiment had only deepened.
Yet strangely, he felt none of that from this girl, who resembled Myeongyeong far more than Baeksa did.
Instead, an unpleasant sensation wash over him, as if someone were mocking his sister’s face.
Staring intently at the child’s face, Ju Jeokseo shook his head.
“If this child is Myeongyeong’s daughter, then who is the father? Myeongyeong was not a woman to give her heart to just any man and bear a child.”
“I am unaware of that part, however…”
Song Hyun shifted his gaze back to the girl’s face, as if no further words were necessary.
The girl, possessing hair as white as fresh snow and a pair of crimson eyes, blinked prettily.
Her face resembled Myeongyeong’s so perfectly that she could easily be called a miniature version of her.
Which made it all the more jarring.
If one were to place this child and Baeksa side by side, this girl was the one who looked more like Myeongyeong.
Yet, far from feeling a fond and welcoming warmth, an odd sense of aversion kept bubbling up.
‘How could I feel this way if we shared the same blood?’
Of course, if Song Hyun’s words were true, the timeline aligned reasonably well.
In fact, did not Myeongyeong’s final trail vanish right where the child grew up?
But why.
‘Why do I feel…’
Ju Jeokseo asked.
“Child, how old are you?”
“I am nine years old.”
At nine, she was around the same age as Baeksa.
Just as he had left open the possibility that Baeksa might be Myeongyeong’s child, he could not rule out the possibility that this girl was her daughter either.
No, it went beyond merely ruling it out.
With a face that resembled her this closely, anyone who saw this child would proclaim her to be Myeongyeong’s daughter.
But why did a child who had never appeared until now suddenly show up before his eyes?
Furthermore, was he truly supposed to believe that his sister, who was a mere seventeen when she left, had vanished after giving birth?
Ju Jeokseo was plagued by confusion.
“Divine Bird!”
Song Hyun prostrated himself so low he was practically pressed against the floor.
“I dare to beg of you, please keep this child by your side and care for her at least until the Divine Beast Festival.”
“Until the Divine Beast Festival?”
“Yes. As Your Lordship mentioned, there is no way to prove it right now, so I shall take this child into my care once the Divine Beast Festival concludes.”
A subtle twitch.
Ju Jeokseo reacted to Song Hyun’s proposal.
Not missing that window, Song Hyun drew something from his robes.
“However, Divine Bird, please look at this.”
What Song Hyun placed before him was a Platinum Hairpin.
It was an item Myeongyeong always carried with her, a possession that had vanished along with her when she disappeared.
“How did you get your hands on this…”
“I am told that when this child was found, this hairpin was tucked inside her Swaddling Clothes.”
“Then why did you not show me this first?”
Despite Ju Jeokseo’s interrogation, Song Hyun remained silent.
With a conflicted expression, the Family Head looked at Song Hyun once, and then at the young girl.
Ju Jeokseo questioned the child.
“What is your name?”
“It is Ahee, Divine Bird.”
Ahee answered in a clear, bright voice.
“Ahee, you may stay here for the time being.”
Ju Jeokseo slipped Myeongyeong’s Platinum Hairpin into his robes.
“I will ensure you want for nothing during your stay. However, I require time to investigate whether you are truly my sister’s daughter.”
He continued speaking, still unable to identify the source of the lingering déjà vu and wariness.
“Stay in the Guest Room until the Divine Beast Festival. A maid will assign a room to you.”
***
“Lady Myeongyeong’s… daughter?”
Baeksa asked, her eyes widening into perfect circles.
Hwaryeong, who was feeding her fruit while she sat on his lap, nodded.
“Yeah, they say Old Man Song brought her. So she’s staying in the Guest Room right now.”
“I snuck a quick peek, and she looks exactly like Lady Myeongyeong’s portrait.”
“I haven’t seen her yet, something feels off about it.”
Hwaryeong popped a grape into Baeksa’s mouth.
Doeui asked back.
“What does?”
“Think about it. It hasn’t been that long since Baeksa arrived, and suddenly another kid with white hair shows up? It just feels strange for some reason.”
Hwaryeong shrugged his shoulders.
When Baeksa first arrived at the estate, Hwaryeong had gone so far as to transform into his bird form just to meet her.
Because this side of him was unfamiliar, Baeksa blinked her eyes and fidgeted with her hands.
And yet.
‘If she is Lady Myeongyeong’s daughter, it is something to celebrate.’
She had heard that the Family Head had missed Lady Myeongyeong for a very long time.
So now that a person presumed to be Lady Myeongyeong’s daughter had appeared, how happy he must be?
Although Hwaryeong and Doeui claimed something was suspicious, such doubts did not easily cross Baeksa’s mind.
She merely believed that Heaven had bestowed a blessing because the Family Head was a good person.
‘By the way, if that is the case, would it not be best for me to vacate this Residence…?’
With eyes full of worry, Baeksa looked around the Residence she was occupying.
This place was originally the Residence where Myeongyeong had stayed.
Because it was the warmest place in the entire Vermilion Bird Family Estate, they had allowed Baeksa, who had been rescued while frozen solid, to stay here.
But now that the true owner had appeared, it felt right to move her quarters.
“For now, they decided she’ll stay until the Divine Beast Festival. Father possesses Aunt’s Spirit Treasure, after all.”
“Right, he probably figures the Spirit Treasure will react in the meantime if she’s the biological daughter.”
“They said she was found with Aunt’s belongings, so logistically it seems to fit… I don’t know, why do I feel so uneasy?”
Hwaryeong muttered.
“Most of the time, my uneasy gut feelings turn out to be right.”
“You do have an strangely good intuition for things like this, Young Master. Little snake, eat some more of this.”
Doeui placed a sweet snack into Baeksa’s hand. Baeksa nodded while leaning comfortably against Hwaryeong’s chest.
“Thank you, Master Doeui.”
“How is your Bead doing? Is it alright?”
“Yes, look at this.”
Baeksa pulled the Bead, which had grown slightly larger in the meantime, from her clothes to show them.
The Bead was much rounder and far larger than before.
At first, it had been so tiny and misshapen that one couldn’t tell if it was a bead or a pebble, but now it finally possessed the look of a fairly precious treasure.

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