The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 22

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

Chapter 22
“Of course. I’ve been well!”
Hae-na answered brightly without hesitation, and Hwi-seo’s narrow cat-like eyes widened slightly.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Truly?”
“Yes!”
Hwi-seo scrutinized Hae-na from head to toe. This foolish little thing would smile without complaint even when in pain, so I found it impossible to trust her words entirely.
Yet fortunately, Hae-na’s claim appeared to be truthful.
Her cheeks and hair gleamed with vitality, the swelling on her cheeks and the backs of her hands had been completely healed, and her nails—once shattered—had grown back smooth and pristine.
Upon confirming that the silk she wore was the exceptionally rare fabric from Cheonchu, Hwi-seo finally released her.
Previously, her body hadn’t recovered enough to sustain lengthy visits.
I devoted myself to recovery, and once I could manage basic movement and daily activities, I immediately sent a letter to the Yul Household.
Whether Hae-na knew of this or not, she simply continued smiling radiantly.
“Did you have no intention of coming until I called for you?”
“Huh?”
“I gave you the jade token, yet you never once visited. You said you were worried about me.”
Irritation welled up inexplicably, and Hwi-seo spoke curtly. At this, Hae-na’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I was allowed to visit?”
Since their previous meeting had ended poorly, Hae-na often worried about Hwi-seo.
‘Is he still in much pain? What if it’s gotten worse?’
Yet it never occurred to her to visit him. It couldn’t have.
Hae-na was a child living under the roof of the Yul Household, and Hwi-seo was the Fourth Prince of the Cheonmang Kingdom.
“The jade token is a precious treasure bestowed only upon the Palace Master. Those who possess it receive treatment befitting the Palace Master himself. The right to enter and exit freely is naturally your privilege.”
Hae-na blinked her large eyes.
“I didn’t know….”
Her vague response made my earlier irritation seem utterly pointless.
Whenever I was with this child, I always seemed to lose. Hwi-seo released a small sigh when—
“Wait, you gave me something like that?!”
Hae-na asked in startled surprise. When she’d received it, the Kwon Court Lady had been so alarmed and tried to stop her, so she’d never imagined it was such a precious treasure.
At this, Hwi-seo’s gaze shifted away evasively. The tips of the boy’s ears had turned slightly red.
“It’s nothing special.”
“Nothing special? It’s incredibly precious! Why did you give it to me?”
“You helped me. I simply wanted to prove it.”
“You could have proven it another way, but to go so far….”
Hae-na, her expression growing forlorn, trailed off and fell silent.
She recalled Hwi-seo from moments before, asking with a fresh face why she hadn’t come to visit.
“…Were you waiting for me?”
Now Hwi-seo’s ears were completely crimson. Seeing this, Hae-na tried to comfort him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know I could visit. I’ll come often from now on. I promise. All right?”
“That’s enough!”
Hwi-seo sprang to his feet, his face flushed crimson.
Hae-na extended her pinky finger toward him.
Hwi-seo bit his red lips and stared at that small finger before sighing and slowly linking his pinky with hers.
As Hae-na broke into a bright smile, Hwi-seo withdrew his hand. Then, after a moment, he quietly offered it again.
“Come here. I’ll show you the Cheonlim Garden.”
* * *
The Cheonlim Garden was an immense garden situated on the western side of the Palace.
Planted with countless flora, trees, and flowers, the garden boasted a kaleidoscope of beauty that never withered, regardless of season.
This was because the Royal Family, descendants of the sun’s divine will, personally maintained it.
The power of the Tae Clan, the Royal Family, was vitality itself. They could nurture wilting sprouts into towering plants and heal those on death’s door with ease.
The Cheonlim Garden was both a testament to and a proof of the Royal Family’s might.
“This area is managed by my second brother. That section is tended by my sister, and beyond the bridge is my eldest brother’s domain.”
The current generation of royals each oversaw different sections of the Cheonlim Garden.
The size of one’s assigned territory and the condition of the plants within it served as evidence of that royal’s power.
“I see…”
Most nobles knew this fact, but it was the first time Hae-na had heard of it.
Flowers that bloomed at night, trees that bore fruit only once every few years, plants that grew in winter—
The garden, which had transcended the boundaries of season and time, was both mysterious and beautiful.
“Which land do you manage?”
Hae-na asked brightly. At her question, Hwi-seo, who had been walking while explaining, faltered.
“My plot lies beyond there, near my eldest brother’s garden. Right now, since my spiritual power hasn’t fully recovered, my eldest brother helps me tend to it.”
There was a subtle edge to Hwi-seo’s words.
Hae-na knew that he spoke in this tone whenever he had to reveal his weakness.
“I’d like to see your garden later. I’m sure it’s very beautiful.”
“There’s no need. Even when I tended it myself, it was small and unremarkable.”
A cold reply came to her careful words. Simultaneously, Hwi-seo’s aura wavered.
“Ugh…”
Hwi-seo let out a short groan and curled inward. The rare flowers and exotic plants growing around the boy withered in sympathy.
“Are you alright?!”
Hae-na gasped in alarm and steadied Hwi-seo.
Cold sweat beaded on the boy’s pale forehead as he breathed slowly.
“It’s fine. I’m just not fully recovered yet.”
Hae-na gazed at him with a helpless expression.
Hwi-seo, whose face had been contorted with pain, pulled his lips into a smile and gently pressed the space between Hae-na’s brows.
“Relax that face, you fool.”
Still wearing a worried expression, Hae-na grasped the hand touching her forehead firmly.
“Get better, get better…”
Hae-na murmured softly, gently stroking Hwi-seo’s hand.
It was something she had often done back when the two of them were trapped in Yeon-ga.
Every time Hwi-seo winced in pain, I bounced on my feet anxiously.
I barely managed to grasp his hand through the bars, and with tears welling up, I kept stroking the back of his hand over and over.
‘You’ll be okay, you’ll be okay.’
Whenever I did this, Hwi-seo’s expression would ease somewhat.
Watching me desperately caress the back of his hand, Hwi-seo slowly regulated his breathing.
Perhaps it was just my imagination, but holding hands with me like this felt slightly more bearable than enduring it alone.
The two conflicting forces raging within Hwi-seo’s body gradually subsided.
Once the pain faded, I could see my own hand firmly grasped in both of hers.
I felt oddly self-conscious about the cold sweat dampening it.
“I’m fine now.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
Hae-na checked my complexion once more before finally releasing my hand.
I casually wiped away the sweat pooling in my palm.
“Does this happen often?”
Hae-na asked with concern. I shook my head.
“No, these days it only happens very rarely.”
While I partly wanted to reassure Hae-na, my words were truthful.
“The lunar force hasn’t completely drained from my body yet. First Prince Un-heon visits me frequently and has helped me improve greatly.”
A faint smile crossed my face as I spoke.
I followed First Prince Un-heon quite closely.
When I was young, it was First Prince Un-heon who often sought me out instead of the King, who was busy with state affairs, or the Queen, who managed the inner palace.
“First Prince Un-heon is truly remarkable. Among all the royal family members throughout history, few could manipulate another royal’s spiritual power. And his territory in Cheonlim Garden is the largest as well….”
Without realizing it, I had been rambling on, but I stopped when I saw Hae-na smiling at me.
Seeing my embarrassed expression, Hae-na giggled.
“You really do like First Prince Un-heon.”
“…Be quiet.”
“It’s okay to just say you like him. I really like my sister too.”
At those words, I turned to look at Hae-na.
I had already been worried after hearing that Tamlang Seongggun was protecting Hae-na. It was because of the rumors about her being fierce and cold-hearted.
“You… Does Tamlang Seongggun treat you well?”
Tamlang Seongggun Yul Seowon was hardly one to cherish blood relations—she was the one who had withered the Yul Clan’s bloodline with her own hands.
My quiet question bore no fruit as Hae-na nodded enthusiastically.
She had just opened her mouth to explain how kind and magnificent her sister was.
“I see a pair of rats have wandered into my garden.”
A languid and arrogant voice rang out.
Footsteps echoed—thud, thud—and a shadow fell over us children.
Hwi-seo spun around in surprise, and Hae-na quickly turned toward the source of the voice.
Standing there was a figure dressed in deep purple robes. With dark crimson hair pinned up in an ornate jade hairpin and a waistband embroidered with golden thread, the appearance was extraordinarily striking.
“It’s been a while, Hwi-seo.”
The Second Prince spoke with a wry smile.

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