The Little Baby Snake of the Vermilion Bird Family - Chapter 31

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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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Chapter 31
“It grows a little bit every time I use my supernatural ability. Now, it feels like this little guy is truly my friend.”
Baeksa chattered away, her cheeks flushing a light pink.
At that, Hwaryeong poked her cheek as if he found her absolutely adorable.
“Still, don’t use it too much. What if it’s bad for your health? The Divine Beast Festival is coming up soon, too.”
“Yeah, you’re practically the main star of this festival. Well, though another kid did show up…”
Doeui trailed off.
Hwaryeong and Doeui seemed worried that Baeksa might feel uncomfortable because of the girl who had suddenly appeared.
Yet, their very attitude puzzled Baeksa instead.
‘I’m still an outsider, but she’s Myeongyeong’s daughter, which makes her family.’
Why were they walking on eggshells around her like this?
Besides, it bothered her slightly that Hwaryeong thought ‘something was off.’
Given Hwaryeong and Doeui’s personalities, they wouldn’t normally ignore Myeongyeong’s daughter.
It felt a bit strange that they hadn’t even gone to see the child yet and were spending their time with her instead.
“Ah, look at the time. We should probably head out.”
Gently setting Baeksa down from his arms, Hwaryeong stood up and stretched.
Doeui stared blankly at Hwaryeong for a moment before turning to advise Baeksa.
“Eat all of this yourself. You need to put on some weight. Look how scrawny you still are.”
“But don’t eat until you throw up!”
Hwaryeong chimed in.
After offering their final warm words to Baeksa, the two of them quickly departed.
Baeksa quietly waved as she watched their retreating figures, then curled her knees up to her chest.
‘If she really is Myeongyeong’s daughter, I want to change residences with her.’
Putting herself in the other girl’s shoes, she felt like she would want to stay here.
“Should I talk to the Family Head…?”
In truth, Baeksa loved this residence too.
Had she grown attached to it while living here?
No, rather than that, she simply liked this residence for reasons she couldn’t explain.
It felt as though she had arrived at a place she desperately missed.
So if someone asked her if she lacked the desire to keep living here, that wasn’t the case.
She merely believed that if there was a rightful owner, it should be returned to them.
Baeksa looked at her reflection in the translucent bead.
Her face was faintly reflected in the gleaming black bead.
“I’m so glad the Family Head found his niece, don’t you think so too?”
The bead shimmered as if responding to Baeksa’s words.
Smiling softly, Baeksa carefully tucked the bead back into her silk pouch.
***
Ahee adapted to the Vermilion Bird Family Estate at an astonishing speed.
The woman who had raised and cared for Ahee until now was currently staying at the Song Clan Residence.
Despite this, Ahee adjusted to the estate without a single mention of missing her mother or wanting to go home.
The servants of the Vermilion Bird Family Estate were left utterly speechless the moment they saw Ahee’s face.
Pure white hair and crimson eyes.
Even down to the white feathers.
Without needing any separate proof, Ahee bore a striking resemblance to the vanished White Vermilion Bird.
If they absolutely had to produce evidence, her remarkably similar face was the evidence itself.
“There’s no mistake, she’s definitely Myeongyeong’s daughter.”
“Who on earth did Myeongyeong have a child with…? And how did she end up in such a distant place?”
“Where in the world did Myeongyeong go?”
Whenever Ahee walked past, the servants whispered among themselves in bewilderment.
Naturally, none of the servants treated Ahee lightly.
The most beloved White Vermilion Bird of this estate.
Ju Myeongyeong’s disappearance remained a deep scar in the hearts of the servants even to this day.
Yet, after all this time, a girl presumed to be her daughter had returned to the estate, bringing immeasurable joy to the servants.
Furthermore, unlike Baeksa, Ahee wasn’t shy at all.
“Hello, Family Head. Do you mind if I walk with you? I wanted to walk together.”
Ahee spoke her mind clearly and brightly.
Combined with the lingering affection for the missing White Vermilion Bird and Ahee’s uniquely affectionate nature, she became a beloved young lady not long after arriving at the estate.
Of course, rumors that Myeongyeong’s spirit treasure had not yet reacted spread far and wide, but the servants figured it was only a matter of time given how much Ahee resembled Myeongyeong.
An elderly servant caring for Ahee murmured in a choked voice.
“How can you look so completely identical to Myeongyeong…?”
“Do I really look that much like her?”
Ahee whispered back, lowering her voice.
In fact, because the spirit treasure hadn’t acknowledged Ahee as the biological daughter yet, the girl wasn’t officially recognized as Myeongyeong’s child.
Therefore, Ahee could not call Ju Myeongyeong her mother just yet.
Even so, because the servants firmly believed Ahee must be the biological daughter, they felt sorry that she couldn’t call Myeongyeong her mother.
“Of course, it’s truly a startling resemblance. There’s a portrait, so make sure to ask the Family Head to show you next time. And also the residence where Myeongyeong used to live…”
Tears welling in her eyes, the servant girl suddenly cut herself off.
She had belatedly remembered that there was a beast-kin currently staying in that residence.
And Ahee knew that as well.
She knew that a girl with white hair similar to hers was staying in this estate.
That she was living in the residence of the White Vermilion Bird, who was ‘Ahee’s mother.’
A few of the servant girls found this situation quite uncomfortable.
Of course, since the official procedures hadn’t been completed, it was understandable not to recognize Ahee as Myeongyeong’s daughter yet.
Still, they felt it was absurd to make a child who looked so identical and even possessed Myeongyeong’s belongings stay in a guest room rather than Myeongyeong’s residence.
“Um, Lady Ahee. If you want to visit that place, I’ll get permission for you. Lady Baeksa is staying there right now, but just looking around should be…”
Just then, Ahee’s eyes sparkled as if she had spotted something in the distance.
“Mmm, no. It’s fine. I’ll ask for permission and visit next time.”
She replied casually, then snapped her head around.
At the end of Ahee’s gaze were Hwaryeong and Doeui.
“Hwaryeong!”
Smiling brightly, Ahee trotted over toward Hwaryeong and Doeui.
Every time she ran, her neatly braided hair fluttered adorably.
“Where are you two heading? Are you going to see the Family Head?”
“Yeah, we have something to tell the Family Head. Why are you out here?”
“I was just taking a walk. From over there to all the way over here.”
Ahee asked with glittering eyes.
“If you’re going to see the Family Head, do you mind if I come along? I want to see the Family Head too.”
As Ahee blinked her eyes, the estate servants smiled broadly, finding her incredibly cute.
However, Hwaryeong and Doeui were the exceptions.
When the two of them were with Ahee, they didn’t smile or joke around as much as they did with Baeksa.
As if sensing the awkward atmosphere, the girl took a step back.
“Um, did I overstep? I just… wanted to thank the Family Head for giving me such pretty clothes.”
“Ah, no. You can see him. Sure… let’s go together.”
Hwaryeong nodded with a reluctant air. At his response, the girl smiled radiantly and tightly linked her arm with Hwaryeong’s.
Yet, for some reason, Hwaryeong didn’t welcome Ahee approaching him so affectionately.
Ahee hadn’t done anything wrong in particular, so he couldn’t understand why he felt this way.
***
That evening, Baeksa sat alone in the front yard.
Perhaps because both Hwaryeong and Doeui were busy today, they didn’t show up for their secret appointment during the Hour of the Sheep.
However, she wasn’t disappointed.
‘The two of them are busy, after all.’
In fact, she was grateful enough that they had come out to see her all this time.
It was just as Baeksa was thinking that while fiddling with a flower petal.
“Lady Ahee. You can’t come in here without permission…!”
Sirang’s troubled voice rang out as she tried to block someone.
Hearing that voice, Baeksa, who had been squatting, lifted her head.
In that exact moment, their eyes met.
“It’s a snake beastman.”
Baeksa blinked.
Standing in front of Sirang was a girl with hair just as snow-white as hers.
Her round, crimson eyes were lovely, and the shape of her eyes was sharp, just like Hwaryeong’s.
The moment their eyes locked, Baeksa recognized exactly who the girl was.
‘It’s Ahee…!’

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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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