The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 23

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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 23
Hwi-seo quickly erased the surprise from his face, then bowed lightly.
“Second Brother. I trust you have been well.”
Hearing this, Hae-na hastily lowered her head. She could not afford to make the same mistake twice.
“I greet Your Highness, the Second Prince.”
Hyun-o tilted his head as he regarded Hae-na. After scrutinizing the child, he spoke.
“Who is this girl?”
His insulting question carried a crude, prurient interest.
Hwi-seo subtly positioned himself between Hae-na and Hyun-o.
“She is my guest.”
“Hwi-seo. I did not ask you.”
Hyun-o cut off his youngest brother’s words sharply and looked down at Hae-na.
His dark eyes held no malice, yet they were terrifyingly cold.
It was the gaze one might cast upon cheap wares scattered across a market stall.
Hae-na recognized this look all too well.
When I had been a servant girl in the Yeon Family, they would sometimes regard me with such eyes.
As something trivial and worthless—not even worth the effort of discarding.
Unlike some of the servants, they had not tormented me.
Yet I found their indifferent gaze far more unbearable than malicious eyes.
Then as now, I could not bring myself to ask them to stop looking at me that way. Instead, I lifted my gaze and met theirs directly.
Displeasure flickered across his dark eyes as they met my trembling, sunset-hued ones.
Hae-na spoke without flinching from his stare.
“My name is Hae-na. I am staying at the Yul Household through the kindness of Tamlang Seongggun.”
Hyun-o’s brow furrowed slightly at her words. As recollection dawned, he let out a sharp laugh.
“Ah, yes. Tamlang said he was bringing some child into the Yul Household as his younger sister, did he not.”
The words themselves were accurate, but his manner of speaking was thoroughly unpleasant.
Yet there was nothing to be gained by pressing the matter, so Hae-na kept her lips sealed.
“I wondered what made him fuss over her so much, what sort of remarkable child she might be…”
Hyun-o scrutinized the girl from head to toe. His gaze was appraising, almost dismissive.
“What a waste of anticipation. Tamlang is merciful, is he not.”
His tone was mocking.
Yet Hae-na’s face brightened suddenly, and she nodded.
“Yes. Tamlang Seongggun is truly kind and affectionate.”
Genuine affection suffused her voice.
Hyun-o let out an irritated, hollow laugh.
“Do not prattle on so carelessly. I was not asking you.”
It was a chilling warning.
Hae-na felt somewhat aggrieved, but she lowered her head obediently and spoke.
“I apologize. Earlier, Your Highness the Second Prince seemed to speak as though to yourself before asking me a question, so I thought you might be doing the same again this time.”
It was a sincere apology. Yet the gaze looking down at me felt sharp and stinging.
“It seems Tamlang Seongggun holds you in considerable favor. The way you thrash about without the slightest sense of propriety proves it.”
“….”
“Is that not so?”
Having been criticized for answering before, I pressed my lips together this time, yet Hyun-o asked with visible irritation.
Hae-na, who had been hesitating, answered straightforwardly.
“Yes. He is very kind to me.”
But now, for some reason, Hyun-o’s eyes flashed with anger as he glared at Hae-na.
Confused by his reaction, Hae-na simply held his gaze.
The Second Prince was violent and arrogant. He looked down upon the weak Hwi-seo and despised Seowan for not catering to his whims.
Yet as a member of the Tamlang Seongggun, he could not indulge his temperament freely, and his frustration had accumulated—until he encountered a child whom she cherished.
Unlike the insolent Tamlang Seongggun, the child appeared remarkably delicate.
He had expected that a few words would leave her bewildered and tearful, yet the child did not yield an inch, responding with crisp precision to every remark.
Those bright orange eyes seemed utterly bewildered, as though she could not fathom what wrong she had committed.
This only infuriated Hyun-o further.
“Silence, you insolent wretch. What gives you the audacity to wag your tongue?”
Hyun-o snarled menacingly. At that, Hwi-seo pulled Hae-na forward and concealed her completely behind his back.
“Please stop, brother.”
The boy’s golden eyes were piercing. It was a pathetic display for one who claimed to be a man.
“How amusing—you shielding this lowborn creature, Hwi-seo.”
“This child is my benefactor who saved my life. Moreover, she is also Tamlang Seongggun’s half-sister. How could you call such a person lowborn?”
“That is precisely why she is lowborn. Is she not a woman who barely clings to life thanks to being saved by a half-brother like you?”
At those words, Hwi-seo’s body went rigid. Hae-na wanted to step forward in front of Hwi-seo, but he gripped her hand firmly, holding her back.
“How you treasure her. Do you intend to take her as a princess consort?”
Hyun-o sneered at Hwi-seo as he spoke.
“A half-prince and a lowborn woman of unknown origin. Truly a fitting pair.”
Each time Hwi-seo heard the word “half-brother,” his hand grew cold.
Hae-na decided she could not continue facing Hyun-o.
“Forgive me, Your Highness. It appears Tamlang Seongggun may be looking for us, so I shall take my leave.”
Before Hwi-seo could protest, Hae-na stepped forward and bowed her head respectfully.
Then, still holding Hwi-seo’s hand, she attempted to move away.
But at that moment, Hyun-o seized Hae-na’s wrist.
“Ah!”
The child staggered under the rough grip. Her wrist throbbed with pain.
“Insolent creature. I shall teach you a lesson myself.”
“….”
“An inferior must prostrate herself completely, her forehead touching the ground, when seeking permission from her superior. Do you understand?”
His dark eyes gleamed with menace.
“That one of the Yul Family does not even know such simple propriety. The slaughtered Yul clan must be wailing in the depths below.”
Hyun-o released Hae-na’s wrist as though discarding something filthy. The child staggered, nearly falling, and clutched her injured wrist.
Hyun-o wiped his hand with a handkerchief as though contaminated, then flicked it dismissively to the floor.
“Get out of here. Before my garden becomes any more defiled.”
* * *
Their visit to Cheonlim Garden ended just like that.
The children returned directly to Nok-yo Palace.
Kwon Court Lady found their early return puzzling, but Hwi-seo said nothing and led Hae-na inside.
“Show me your wrist.”
Hwi-seo spoke as he seated the bewildered Hae-na in a chair. Hae-na gently wrapped her hand around the wrist that had been grabbed.
“It’s fine! He didn’t grip it that hard, and it doesn’t hurt that much… Ow!”
Hae-na let out a foolish sound even as she continued her bright excuses.
It was because Hwi-seo had suddenly seized her hand.
Hwi-seo carefully took her hand with his other one and rolled up her sleeve.
Her exposed wrist bore large handprints, vivid and crimson.
“It’s really fine…”
“Be quiet.”
Hwi-seo’s face darkened as he spoke.
A faint shimmer of light wavered from the tips of Hwi-seo’s fingers as he carefully grasped her wrist.
At the same time, the throbbing pain began to subside.
Hae-na startled and pulled her hand away.
“Don’t!”
Because he had been holding so lightly, her wrist slipped free in an instant.
“You haven’t even fully recovered yet! What will you do if you hurt yourself again like this!”
Hae-na raised her voice, which was rare for her.
Just as Hae-na said, Hwi-seo’s already pale complexion had grown even more ashen.
“…This much is fine. Give me your hand.”
“I’m not fine with it!”
Hwi-seo insisted stubbornly, but Hae-na would not yield either.
The moment Hwi-seo, frustrated, tried to draw upon his strength, a sharp pain erupted within him.
“Ugh…”
At the sight of Hwi-seo’s face contorting, Hae-na sprang from her seat.
She seated Hwi-seo in the chair where she had been sitting and asked, flustered and uncertain.
“Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?”
Hae-na’s hand gripped Hwi-seo’s hand tightly.
Hwi-seo breathed slowly and deeply.
The pain had subsided, but the boy’s face remained dark.
Hwi-seo, who had been holding his head down slightly, opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry.”
I felt wretched.
For bringing Hae-na to Cheonlim Garden and making her encounter Hyun-o, for letting her hear such words, and ultimately for letting her get hurt.
I had been by her side yet could do nothing for her. I was disgusted with my own weakness.
Hwi-seo bit his own lip until blood came.
At that moment, two small hands grasped Hwi-seo’s face with a sharp, audible grip.

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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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