The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 10

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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 10
A small hand gripped Hwi-seo’s tightly, warmth radiating between their palms.
“Tonight, the side gate. From the hour of the rat to the hour of the ox. You understand?”
Hae-na’s eyes, lifted to meet his, burned with resolve.
Not a tremor remained—only unwavering determination.
Hwi-seo let out a soft laugh at her unexpected answer.
“Braver than I thought. I took you for a coward who only knew how to cry.”
Hae-na’s lips pressed shut, her clenched jaw quivering slightly.
“I am a coward.”
Her quiet murmur trembled with unshed tears.
Her wide eyes glistened as moisture pooled within them.
“I’m terrified. What if we’re caught? What if I’m dragged back and—”
Hae-na wept silently, her breath catching.
The girl who ordinarily sobbed so loudly now shed tears in complete silence.
“But like you said, you’re so pitiful. If I stay here, you’ll only suffer more, grow weaker. So….”
Hae-na’s voice wavered as she struggled to swallow her tears, then fell silent.
She lifted her face, drenched with tears.
“I’ll help you. Just once. I’m not confident, but still….”
A sharp breath.
Hae-na drew in a deep breath through her nose, wiped her tears away with determination, and rose to her feet.
“I’ll do it. I’ll find a way, no matter what.”
There was something about the child standing now that made her seem impossibly tall.
Hwi-seo stared up at Hae-na, dazed.
“So you have to leave too. Never come back.”
Her small hand released his, fingers slipping away.
Hae-na dried her tears completely with her sleeve and looked at Hwi-seo one last time.
Without hesitation, she turned and walked away.
Her small silhouette grew smaller with each step.
Hwi-seo, who had been half-risen, collapsed back down.
He had never truly believed she would actually help him.
Because she was weak, prone to tears.
Yet Hae-na had nodded. Even as she wept in fear, she had agreed to help.
She didn’t even know I was of royal blood. Why would she go so far for a mere stranger?
Hwi-seo exhaled deeply, his head bowed low.
She must have known the consequences if her role in my escape were discovered. She was truly unpredictable.
The more he thought of her, the more his chest ached.
With his entire body already in pain, this was almost too much to bear.
Hwi-seo drew in a long breath and lifted his head.
This opportunity had come at last, against all odds.
He could not squander this chance, nor the debt he owed to that girl.
* * *
Hwi-seo escaped Yeon-ga with desperate determination and arrived successfully at the Palace.
He managed to convey that something terrible was happening in the Underground Facility beneath Yeon-ga, but lost consciousness before he could finish pleading for the life of a young servant girl there.
When Hwi-seo awoke, his first question to the palace attendants concerned news of Yeon-ga.
He asked whether any of the servants there had survived.
His heart sank when he heard Kwon Court Lady’s reassuring words that they had all been dealt with and he need not worry.
Fortunately, a few loose-tongued palace attendants gossiped about the young servant girl from Yeon-ga whom Tamlang Seongggun had taken with him.
They said she was a child who had worked in the Underground Facility.
To Hwi-seo’s knowledge, only one young servant girl worked in Yeon-ga’s Underground Facility—Hae-na.
Hwi-seo immediately petitioned Father King for the entry of Tamlang Seongggun and the girl into the Palace, and the King readily granted his son’s request, grateful to have him back from the brink of death.
Though I believed it must be Hae-na, I was terrified nonetheless.
What if it were another child? What if she had died alone and miserably that day?
But mercifully, that swollen-faced girl was indeed Hae-na.
“So it is you.”
Hwi-seo spoke, his rough voice steadying.
I longed to take my time and reminisce at leisure, but my body had not fully recovered, which was frustrating.
‘There is time enough.’
First, I needed to address the most pressing matters.
Hwi-seo tore his gaze from Hae-na’s tear-streaked face and opened his mouth.
“Kwon Court Lady. Give this child the jade token of Nok-yo Palace.”
Kwon Court Lady was startled at this.
The jade token of each palace served as both a pass and a precious treasure possessed only by the palace’s master.
To receive such a token was equivalent to earning the palace master’s absolute trust and support.
“Your Highness! How could you bestow such a thing upon a mere child…!”
“Not merely a child, but my savior. I owe my life and my return to the Palace to this girl—how could I begrudge her a jade token?”
At the resolute words of her young master, Kwon Court Lady finally brought forth the box containing the jade token.
At Hwi-seo’s gesture, Hae-na approached him uncertainly. Hwi-seo placed the jade token into the child’s hand with his own.
I had heard she was in danger, branded as the family of a traitor.
With this jade token, she would be able to escape that peril.
The hand that touched mine for a moment was rough and warm. I meant to tell her not to cry, but a cough erupted instead of words.
“Cough, cough. Cough!”
As I coughed convulsively, Hae-na’s tears stopped abruptly in alarm. The alarmed palace attendants rushed forward.
The commotion sounded distant. I watched Hae-na being led away by the attendants’ hands, growing farther from me.
Her round eyes were brimming with tears. I managed to curl my lips upward and whispered.
‘We shall meet again.’
* * *
Hae-na left Nok-yo Palace with a dazed expression.
In the hand of the child whose eyes were still flushed red hung a smooth, jade-green token.
Palace attendants passing by cast glances at the two of them.
But most eyes fixed upon the jade token Hae-na held.
The Palace is a place where even the walls have eyes and ears.
The small commotion that had just occurred within Nok-yo Palace was already spreading far and wide.
Hae-na found herself at a loss under the torrent of gazes.
Seowan simply held Hae-na and placed her on a horse, making no effort to restrain the palace attendants.
She was taciturn, but not foolish. At this rate, Hae-na’s troubles would resolve themselves without Seowan lifting a finger.
Just as expected, six days had barely passed when—
Servants from all manner of noble houses came knocking at the gates of the Yul Family Residence. Without exception, they carried expensive and precious items for children in their hands.
And for good reason.
The child they had been denouncing as a remnant of traitors was actually the Prince’s benefactor—how could their hearts not race?
Moreover, the current Tamlang Seongggun followed only the King’s commands and belonged to no faction.
As a child receiving the favor of such a Tamlang Seongggun, if handled properly, one might even draw Tamlang to their side.
Seowan did not remember the names of the houses that sent gifts, but neither did she refuse the presents that arrived for Hae-na.
Since it was expected, no one in the residence was surprised by this turn of events.
Save for one person—Hae-na alone.
“W-what is all this?”
Hae-na, awakened by the commotion, opened the door to the room beside her bedchamber and asked, her face drained of all color.
“My, you’ve risen quite early. The noise must have been dreadful, hasn’t it?”
Chung-yeon, who had been organizing the items, approached the child with a smile. Hae-na blinked as she gazed upon the mountain of boxes stacked before her.
The boxes, piled far higher than her own height, appeared extraordinarily valuable judging by their timber and craftsmanship.
From within such boxes, even more precious ornaments, garments, shoes, and toys were being continuously unpacked.
“These are gifts that have arrived for you, young lady. Shall we first change your nightclothes and then have a look?”
Chung-yeon spoke affectionately. Hae-na gazed up at her with a vacant expression.
“For… for me?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Why, why, why?”
Unlike Chung-yeon, who appeared delighted, Hae-na was so startled that fear gripped her.
“I think these have come by mistake. All of this—”
“By mistake, young lady? Not at all! They’ve definitely arrived addressed to Miss Hae-na!”
A cheerful voice cut short Hae-na’s stammering words.
It was a plump maidservant with a weathered, good-natured expression.
“I knew this would happen, I tell you. A tiny child like this—a traitor? Nonsense! All those ignorant people running their mouths, and now they come crawling back, eager as can be!”
Her round, freckled cheeks moved ceaselessly as she poured out her words.
Even as she organized the items with quick, practiced hands, the woman caught sight of Hae-na and broke into a broad smile.
“Oh, that’s right—I’m Young-seo. My, young lady, you’re even more adorable up close. You remind me of my youngest sibling!”
Young-seo brushed off her hands and reached out to pat Hae-na’s head.
A maidservant with a calm demeanor, who had been organizing other items nearby, caught her hand.
“The young lady is startled.”
“Oh my, look at you. Your manner of speech will startle her even more!”
At the sharp remark, the woman’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. Her gaze then turned toward Hae-na.
“I am Hee-won. I have come to serve you from this day forward, young lady.”
Her tone was blunt. Yet instead of growing frightened, Hae-na stared directly at Hee-won.
‘She resembles my sister a little.’
Though their appearances differed entirely, the atmosphere they emanated felt kindred.
Interpreting Hae-na’s reaction in some way, Hee-won’s expression grew troubled.
Young-seo, catching sight of this, burst into delighted laughter and struck Hee-won’s shoulder.
“See? I told you she’d be frightened, didn’t I? Now you’re in for it. The young lady will soon be registered with the Yul Clan!”
Hae-na, who had been scrutinizing Hee-won’s face intently, widened her eyes.
“Me?”

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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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