The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 25
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 25
“Gasp—!”
Hae-na was so startled she couldn’t even scream.
She’d sensed no presence whatsoever. So where had this hand come from?
“Oh my, quite frightened, aren’t you?”
A low, gentle voice reached her ears. The Kitchen Master withdrew his hand with an apologetic smile.
Silver hair, half-pinned up with a hairpin, swayed in the breeze. Eyes where green and gold mingled mysteriously gazed down at Hae-na.
“G-Geomun Seongggun.”
Hic. A hiccup followed the end of Hae-na’s words.
“My apologies. Had I known you’d be so startled, I would have announced myself.”
Hic, hic.
Hae-na couldn’t respond, only hiccupping. The shock had been too great for the hiccups to subside.
Cheon-eul observed Hae-na covering her mouth with both hands, his eyes filled with bewilderment.
“Whatever shall we do? If you were to cry, I’d have no face to show Seowan.”
At the same moment, a gentle breeze caressed Hae-na’s hair like a tender touch.
The pleasant fragrance carried on the wind slowly calmed the child.
Hae-na drew a deep breath and swallowed her hiccup.
“…I’m fine now. Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Cheon-eul answered with a light laugh. Hae-na’s large eyes rolled about expressively.
“I should be going. Please, enjoy yourself.”
Though somewhat reluctant, Cheon-eul was both my elder and a guest at the Residence.
Besides, I had plenty of time left to wander the Yul Family Garden, so I bowed politely and attempted to withdraw.
“Enjoy? Enjoy what?”
But Cheon-eul’s question caught me by the ankle. Seeing his puzzled expression, I became equally puzzled.
“This place—the Garden, of course.”
“The Garden? Yeoga’s Residence has a grand one as well. I don’t particularly enjoy such things, so I only visit when guests arrive.”
Hae-na’s eyes widened. After blinking several times, the child asked innocently.
“Then what reason did you have for coming?”
At that question, Cheon-eul chuckled softly. His jade-gold eyes narrowed with amusement.
“You truly are Seowan’s sibling. How is your manner of speech so identical to hers?”
Hae-na had never considered her speech similar to Seowan’s.
Unlike my quiet, timid voice, Seowan’s words were always clear and resonant.
Yet pleased to be told I resembled my sister, Hae-na pressed her lips firmly together.
Cheon-eul, his laughter subsiding, continued with a serene smile.
“I came to see you. I regretted not speaking longer at our previous meeting.”
There was no malice in his gently smiling face. Yet Hae-na couldn’t answer immediately and hesitated.
It was because of the explanation of Cheon-eul written in the book Seowan had given her.
[Avoid meeting him if at all possible.]
At their first meeting too, Cheon-eul had appeared without sound. I recalled how Seowan had been deeply wary of him, her vigilance sharp as a blade.
‘But their relationship didn’t seem all that terrible….’
Paradoxically, Seowan—who had been throwing cold remarks—seemed very familiar with this situation. When asked if they were friends, she hadn’t immediately denied it.
Two conflicting thoughts collided in Hae-na’s mind.
Hae-na, who had been frowning with her small brow furrowed in contemplation, finally lifted her head.
“Geomun Seongggun.”
“There’s no need to address me so formally. Would you call me Cheon-eul instead?”
The words I was about to speak died on my lips. Blinking slowly, I nodded hesitantly.
“…Cheon-eul. Does your sister—I mean, does Tamlang Seongggun know that you’re here with me?”
At my cautious question, Cheon-eul smiled softly. His lips curved upward in a graceful arc.
“Of course not.”
His answer came so naturally that for a moment, I thought he had said otherwise.
“Seowan doesn’t even know I’m inside the Yul Family Residence. I slipped in without permission.”
At his gentle continuation, my mouth fell open.
“But… isn’t that something you shouldn’t do?”
“It is. But I had no choice. Seowan dislikes me entering the Yul Family Residence.”
My gaping mouth showed no sign of closing.
Only after Cheon-eul let a small breeze slip through it did I finally press my lips shut.
At that sight, Cheon-eul chuckled. As I gazed at his beautifully drawn face, my lips trembled as I spoke carefully.
“Still, you shouldn’t do things that aren’t allowed….”
It was a very small voice, but a clear objection nonetheless.
“The master of this residence is your sister, Tamlang Seongggun. No matter who you are, if you wish to enter the Yul Family Residence, you should seek permission from Tamlang Seongggun….”
I clasped both hands tightly and continued speaking with my head bowed.
A flicker of surprise crossed Cheon-eul’s jade-green eyes as he looked down at me.
I could see my small, round chestnut-brown head trembling slightly.
Yet I didn’t close my mouth until I had finished what I needed to say.
“You’re right.”
After a brief silence, Cheon-eul replied. At his cool agreement, I lifted my head.
“I’m an uninvited guest, so I should leave now. What a shame. I wanted to talk with you more.”
Cheon-eul feigned a sorrowful expression. Instantly, my face flooded with alarm.
“This will be the last time I can even see Seowan from a distance. I won’t be able to come to the Yul Family Residence anymore.”
As he continued in a melancholy voice, I didn’t know what to do. Soon, my face crumpled into a tearful expression as I shook my head.
‘Oh no.’
I had only meant to tease this bold child a little, but now it looked like I might actually make her cry.
If Hae-na cried, Seowan would truly forbid me from ever setting foot in the Yul Family Residence again.
Just as I was about to say it was a joke and salvage the situation, Hae-na lifted her head.
Her gentle eyes were still cast downward. But her sunset-colored irises were looking directly at me.
“I’m sorry. I cannot let in a guest whom my sister hasn’t permitted.”
“….”
“But… I think there might be something I can help you with.”
Hae-na clenched her small fists tightly.
“I’ll go with you when you ask for her permission. Since she’s a kind person, she might agree if you explain the situation well.”
Cheon-eul fell silent for a moment. Yet the child’s round face remained resolute.
A short laugh burst from Cheon-eul’s lips. He quickly covered his mouth with a firm hand, his shoulders shaking with mirth.
Hae-na appeared utterly bewildered by his sudden laughter.
Cheon-eul made an effort to compose himself.
“Thank you. It seems I should ask for permission soon—do you know where Seowan is?”
At those words, Hae-na’s face brightened. The child nodded and began leading the way, gesturing for him to follow.
The wind caught Hae-na’s crimson robe as it billowed behind her. Watching the tiny girl—barely half his height—Cheon-eul smiled quietly to himself.
Cold-hearted Seowan would never believe him, but Cheon-eul genuinely adored her.
Seowan was more earnest and desperate than anyone he knew.
In a world where everything felt tedious and predictable, only Seowan overflowed with vitality.
When he heard she had suddenly taken in a younger sister, Cheon-eul laughed. He loved the variables she created.
He was curious to see what kind of person Seowan would become because of this child.
Quiet, shy, ordinary—that was his initial assessment of the girl.
Yet her steady amber eyes forced him to revise that judgment.
Sensing his gaze, Hae-na turned to look back. When their eyes met, the child broke into a bright smile.
Cheon-eul smiled back at that face.
“We’re almost there. She’s probably inside.”
Hae-na explained kindly and quickened her pace. Soon the two of them stood before Seowan’s Office.
“Sister, it’s Hae-na. May I come in?”
At Hae-na’s cautious call, footsteps echoed from within.
As they drew closer, it seemed Seowan was walking toward the door.
Click.
The door opened, and Seowan appeared in light casual clothing. She had begun to bow naturally when she froze.
The moment she saw Cheon-eul’s smiling face, Seowan’s expression—which had been soft and relaxed—twisted instantly.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————