The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 28

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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 28
Hae-na didn’t leave the Market until the sun began its descent toward the horizon.
In the child’s hand was a small pinwheel. It was a gift from Cheon-eul.
When he asked what pleased her most, she pointed without much thought at the first thing that caught her eye, and Cheon-eul promptly paid for it.
Before she could even refuse, the crimson pinwheel was pressed into her palm.
Hae-na protested several times that it was unnecessary, then offered her thanks with shy hesitation.
As she walked, the pinwheel spun and stopped in rhythm with her pace.
So captivated by it was I that I nearly stumbled over the threshold of the Yul Family Residence’s Main Gate.
“Oh!”
My body, about to pitch forward, lifted gently into the air. Soon the child was set down slowly within the Yul Family Residence.
“Th-thank you.”
Hae-na’s cheeks flushed crimson as she bowed her head. Cheon-eul smiled softly.
“By now, Seowan should have returned. Go and show him you’re safe.”
“Yes, of course!”
Just as Hae-na answered brightly, a man with pale blue hair emerged from the Main Residence.
His expression was not unkind, yet it could hardly be called gentle either.
Cheon-eul’s eyes met his. In the instant the man’s gaze lowered, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Hae-na, facing away, didn’t see it, but Cheon-eul observed it clearly. The man, Chung-su, was regarding Hae-na with displeasure.
Soon he approached the two of them.
“It’s been some time, Geomun Seongggun.”
Chung-su bowed respectfully to Cheon-eul, then his eyes turned toward Hae-na. With a small sigh suppressed, he offered her a light nod.
“Welcome, Miss.”
Chung-su left those words behind and departed. His manner was quite blatant.
Hae-na watched his retreating figure in silence. Then the child lifted her head.
“Cheon-eul. May I ask you something?”
“By all means.”
Cheon-eul answered gently. Hae-na’s face was perfectly clear.
I wondered whether she hadn’t noticed Chung-su’s attitude, or whether she had but remained unbothered.
“Does he… dislike me?”
The child’s straightforward question answered the latter.
Cheon-eul suppressed a slight smile and replied.
“Well, he doesn’t seem particularly pleased, that’s certain.”
At those words, Hae-na fell into contemplation. Cheon-eul regarded the child with half-closed eyes before speaking.
“But there’s nothing quite like hearing it from the person themselves.”
Hae-na’s lowered head lifted.
Cheon-eul offered his suggestion kindly.
“Why not ask him directly?”
Had I or Seowan stepped in, the matter would have been resolved quickly.
But I sensed that Hae-na might be capable of resolving this alone.
Hae-na didn’t answer hastily. The hesitant child spoke:
“That gentleman always seemed busy. I heard he was the steward of the Yul Family Residence….”
“You are Seowan’s sister. How could anyone in this household dare refuse your command?”
At Cheon-eul’s light words, Hae-na pressed her lips firmly shut. The child shook her head.
“I don’t want to summon him by force like that.”
Her round, gentle face had become quite resolute.
Cheon-eul gazed down at Hae-na lost in thought once more, then asked quietly.
“Then, what of this method?”
Cheon-eul bent down and whispered something into the child’s ear.
Upon hearing those words, Hae-na’s eyes widened.
“Will that work?”
Her expression was uncertain. Cheon-eul smiled gently.
Five years had passed since he’d been coming and going from the Yul Family Residence as an uninvited guest.
He knew well enough what sort of person a high-ranking servant like Chung-su was within the household.
“Give it a try.”
Cheon-eul replied with a soft tone.
* * *
Four days later.
Hae-na blinked her widened eyes. The man with neatly pinned-up blue-green hair quietly averted his gaze.
It was exactly as Cheon-eul had said. Chung-su had truly come looking for Hae-na.
Four days ago, what Cheon-eul told Hae-na was simple.
‘Go to Seowan and ask him to find you an etiquette tutor.’
He added that she should ask for someone who wasn’t too unfamiliar, and to request it be done as quickly as possible.
Hae-na couldn’t understand how that request would lead to meeting Chung-su. Seeing the confused child’s expression, Cheon-eul had laughed.
‘Even if you don’t meet him, isn’t it a good thing to gain a tutor? Learning proper deportment will surely prove helpful.’
It was a reasonable argument.
Having lived her entire life as a servant girl in a merchant family, Hae-na had the etiquette of a servant ingrained in her bones.
Living as Seowan’s sister in the Yul Family would mean receiving treatment as a young lady, and she couldn’t afford to embarrass Seowan through improper conduct.
With a nod, Hae-na went to find Seowan that very evening upon his return, and spoke exactly as Cheon-eul had instructed.
‘Very well. I shall arrange it.’
Seowan seemed somewhat puzzled, but readily nodded in agreement.
Hae-na smiled brightly. Rather than thinking about meeting Chung-su, she was more focused on the prospect of learning etiquette.
Yet remarkably, today, four days later.
Chung-su had arrived at her room carrying all manner of books.
‘How did this happen?’
It was astonishing. Both that an etiquette tutor had been found so quickly, and that an opportunity to speak with Chung-su had come about so readily.
Hae-na gazed at Chung-su with sparkling eyes.
Upon seeing those bright, gleaming sunset-colored eyes, Chung-su’s expression darkened.
His heart was precisely the opposite of hers.
Naturally, Chung-su had no desire to become Hae-na’s tutor. Yet he was here only because of his master’s merciless command.
When Seowan ordered Chung-su to teach Hae-na, he had jumped up and refused.
“Why are you asking me? I’m busy. Wouldn’t it be better if the lady caring for Miss Hae-na handled this herself?”
She was already an inconvenient charge. To expect him to sit with such a child and teach her etiquette—he’d be fortunate if she didn’t cry.
“Besides, that… you know what I said about Miss Hae-na, don’t you?”
One careless word against Hae-na would bring a deluge of trouble, so Chung-su chose his words with utmost care.
But Seowan didn’t even blink.
“I’m not the only steward. If we’re talking about being busy, Chung-yeon has more on her plate, and besides, you know all the etiquette protocols.”
Chung-su had no rebuttal and wore a resentful expression.
He was right. Unlike Chung-yeon, who’d learned only the necessary etiquette after becoming a servant of the Yul Family, the overly meticulous Chung-su had made a fuss about learning everything.
Insisting he mustn’t be looked down upon by others, he’d painstakingly studied court etiquette that held no practical use for him, only to teach it all to Seowan.
I should have just kept quiet. As Chung-su regretted the past, Seowan’s cold voice cut through.
“And regarding your discretion—I know you’re not foolish enough to fail at this.”
Seowan’s deep blue eyes were glacial. The message was clear: do well, unless you wish for death.
In the end, Chung-su reluctantly made his way to Hae-na’s room.
After Chung-yeon, who’d been conversing warmly with the child, cast a murderous glance at Chung-su and departed, he found himself alone with Hae-na.
“….”
“….”
An awkward silence filled the space between them.
Hae-na simply blinked her round eyes and gazed up at Chung-su without uttering a word.
“Ahem, hem.”
Chung-su cleared his throat unnecessarily. The situation was uncomfortable. And that child… no, that young lady—why was she staring so intently?
‘I should be the one to speak first.’
Hae-na likely had no idea who he was or why he’d come.
Chung-su picked up a cup placed nearby, moistened his throat, and composed himself.
And as he set the cup down, Hae-na’s innocent voice reached him.
“Um, do you… perhaps dislike me?”
“Cough, hack, splutter!”

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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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