The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 36
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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 36
Upon hearing those words, Hae-na burst into tears.
Knowing how readily Hae-na cried and understanding that these were not tears of sorrow, Seowan remained unperturbed and gently soothed the child.
Nestled securely in Seowan’s embrace, Hae-na sniffled and giggled. The incident seemed to have concluded.
“Come in.”
That was before Seowan settled Hae-na back onto the bed and spoke those words.
The servant girls who had been waiting entered, carrying an array of medicinal broths and salves for wounds.
The moment the door opened, a pungent odor wafted through the air.
Hae-na involuntarily grimaced.
The servant girls expressed their worry and relief, offering the child the medicinal broth and salve.
Thus Hae-na found herself drinking three bowls of a dreadfully bitter medicinal broth and having a potent-smelling salve generously applied to both her arms.
“Ugh….”
As Hae-na made a face at the bitter taste lingering on her tongue, Chung-yeon smiled calmly and spoke.
“I deliberately omitted the licorice root when preparing it.”
Hae-na looked up at Chung-yeon with an expression of betrayal.
But Chung-yeon regarded her with stern eyes instead.
“Miss, do you have any idea how worried I was? If Chung-su hadn’t held me back, I would have jumped in after you.”
Hearing those words, my heart sank. Simultaneously, I felt the weight of the worry I had caused Chung-yeon.
“This is your punishment for this incident. Originally, I intended to have you copy the phrase ‘I will not engage in dangerous acts again’ a thousand times, but given how severe your arm wounds are, I’ve changed my mind.”
Seowan, seated at a nearby table sipping tea, spoke. A thousand times—how fortunate. That was my thought in that moment.
“Next time, it will be a thousand copies.”
Seowan’s cold words fell like a blade.
As Hae-na’s face fell, Seowan’s eyes narrowed.
“Do not worry about receiving punishment. Instead, resolve not to do anything dangerous. This time was sheer providence.”
“….”
“You may destroy the entire household and play, or throw tantrums demanding new clothes and toys every day. But anything that threatens your safety is absolutely forbidden.”
My sister’s warning was cold, yet for some reason, my heart fluttered.
Hae-na’s expression soon softened, and she nodded.
Then, light shimmered from Seowan’s shoulder.
It was the same as what had gleamed from her heart in that dark, murky water.
Hae-na’s eyes widened as she gazed at her sister.
Neck, legs, feet, then shoulder again. The light seemed to traverse Seowan’s entire body.
Unlike before when it appeared ready to burst at any moment, the luminescence was now stable enough that upon close inspection, one could discern it was composed of countless threads of light.
Soon the light that had reached her heart faded away. Noticing Hae-na’s gaze, Seowan set down her teacup with a puzzled expression.
“What is it?”
To my sister’s question, I could not immediately respond.
It was a phenomenon I had never experienced before. Moreover, the luminescence was not visible on anyone else’s body.
It shimmered only from Seowan’s form.
Observing the child’s expression and sensing something amiss, Seowan dismissed the attendants.
Once they were alone, Hae-na spoke carefully.
“Sister, I actually saw something inside your body while I was in that water.”
“….”
“There were shimmering threads all tangled together, and every time they glowed, you suffered. When I touched them, the knots gradually unraveled and seeped into my hands.”
As Hae-na continued speaking, Seowan’s expression grew grave.
Hae-na felt a flicker of fear, but she pressed on, knowing she had to finish.
“But I can still see that light. Inside your body.”
* * *
The moment the child spoke those words, Seowan’s heart plummeted.
Returning from the unstable state preceding a rampage had always taken considerable time.
In fact, returning at all should have been impossible.
I had already lost control of most of my power. Yet somehow, I forced it down, clawing my way back to command.
But yesterday, when Hae-na fearlessly threw herself at me, the raging force subsided with almost laughable ease.
I had already sensed that the pain ravaging my body had calmed the moment Hae-na placed her hand over my heart.
But I had convinced myself it was a mistake.
‘I had hoped it was merely a one-time coincidence.’
Yet now, Hae-na pointed at me and said she could see that same light.
Throughout history, no star had ever possessed the power to interfere with another’s spiritual force.
The Tae Royal Family had occasionally produced those capable of touching another’s spiritual essence.
But even that was limited to blood relatives who shared the same power, and impossible for celestial beings of other stars.
Above all, the countless stars in the night sky had already chosen their bloodlines.
There was only one star without a master—the moon.
Seowan swallowed a heavy sigh.
If this truth were revealed, every celestial being in Pyeongwan Kingdom, including the royal family, would hunt Hae-na.
She was the first celestial being of the moon to appear in Pyeongwan Kingdom’s thousand-year history.
The ability to calm another’s spiritual force meant the opposite was equally possible.
The applications were limitless.
‘Hae-na might eventually awaken to those methods herself….’
I glanced at my younger sister.
Hae-na sat quietly, blinking her eyes with innocent docility.
‘She cannot.’
Spiritual force manifests differently depending on the nature of its wielder.
I was proof of that. While past Tamlang Seonggguns nurtured and cultivated life, I took it away.
Hae-na possessed an inherently gentle and virtuous nature. She could never harm others to protect herself.
She had even felt remorse for the children trapped in the Yeon-ga Underground Prison.
If such a thing ever happened, guilt would consume her entirely.
Above all, Hae-na was far too young.
The child who had calmed my spiritual force had collapsed, deathly pale. Her small body could not bear the strain.
If yesterday’s ordeal occurred again, and if she succeeded….
I could not even bear to imagine it.
“Hae-na.”
Seowan slowly closed and opened her eyes, calling out to the child.
Hae-na sprang from the bed and pattered toward her with quick, eager steps.
Seowan settled the child in place and knelt to meet Hae-na’s gaze directly.
“Let me ask you to make one promise with me.”
Hae-na nodded, her expression bewildered and uncertain.
Seowan carefully took the small child’s hands in hers.
“What you witnessed must remain a secret. You must not speak of it to anyone.”
“That light, you mean?”
“Yes, that.”
Hae-na asked with a troubled expression.
“Not even to the people at the Residence? Not even to Chung-yeon?”
Seowan nodded firmly. Hae-na hesitated, unable to answer immediately.
The power that had swirled around Seowan’s body had retreated from view. Yet if one looked closely enough, it would soon become visible again.
‘What if others see it too?’
Hae-na was not skilled at deception. More than that, if she ever encountered someone like Seowan had been yesterday….
“What if it seems like I need to help you the way I did before?”
Hae-na asked hesitantly. Her goodness was almost foolishly pure—I wondered whose nature she had inherited. Seowan smiled bitterly and replied.
“Then come to me and ask. If the light you see changes, or if you think you might be able to handle that light in a different way, you must tell me first.”
At those words, Hae-na’s face brightened considerably. Seowan emphasized once more to the nodding child.
“This is a promise you must keep. No matter what happens, you must.”
“Yes! Even if a blade pierced my throat, I wouldn’t tell!”
Hae-na declared with spirited determination. The child’s resolve was excessive. Seowan spoke with an exasperated expression.
“…If a blade pierces your throat, then tell me. Nothing is more important than your life.”
At that, Hae-na’s face grew puzzled before she broke into a radiant smile, her cheeks flushing like peach blossoms. She was truly a child of many colors.
Seowan smiled faintly and stroked Hae-na’s hair. Since taking the child in, I had found myself smiling quite often.
Seowan brushed the child’s soft hair back and spoke.
“And I intend to register you into the Yul Clan.”
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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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