The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 42

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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 42
Hae-na listened intently to her sister’s words, her bright eyes fixed and attentive.
Seowan explained the situation at the Royal Palace simply, speaking as though it were nothing of consequence.
“Nothing will change dramatically. In fact, things may improve instead.”
“Really?”
Hae-na asked with a hint of skepticism. Seowan nodded in affirmation.
It was not a lie meant to reassure the child—it was the truth. The Cheonmang Kingdom remained in a state of peace without major conflict.
Merely possessing Tamlang Seongggun as a military asset would prove invaluable.
Moreover, now that she who had maintained neutrality all this time had finally moved, the other families who had been watching cautiously might also make their decisions.
The scales of power tip swiftly the moment one side grows even slightly heavier.
“You seemed close to the Fourth Prince as well. Since the First Prince holds the Fourth Prince dear, your friendship will be of great benefit to me.”
There was no deception in Seowan’s expression as she spoke. Hae-na nodded, her anxiety eased.
“Then is there nothing else you need me to do? Nothing I can help with?”
“There is nothing special for you to do. After meeting His Majesty, you need only write a response declining the marriage proposal… or perhaps you won’t need to write one at all.”
As Seowan finished speaking, she let out a short sound—ah—as though something had just occurred to her.
Hae-na tilted her head, watching her sister. Seowan continued matter-of-factly.
“I will likely marry.”
“What?”
“Do not worry. It concerns me, not you.”
“What?!”
At her sister’s remarkably casual tone, Hae-na’s mouth fell open.
Hae-na stared at her sister, unable to form words.
“M-m-marriage?”
“Yes.”
Wondering if she had misheard, Hae-na asked again. But Seowan nodded with an untroubled expression.
That serene face left Hae-na’s mind in turmoil.
According to what she had heard from Chung-su, Seowan was someone who had declared she would never marry.
Yet she was suddenly changing her mind?
“Is there perhaps someone you hold dear?” Hae-na ventured hesitantly.
Seowan shook her head as though hearing it for the first time.
“Certainly not.”
“Then what is it…?”
“I intend to choose a suitable man from among those of the families supporting the First Prince and marry him.”
At Seowan’s utterly composed demeanor, Hae-na’s face went pale. The girl grasped her sister’s sleeve and spoke.
“That is not so different from me marrying the Second Prince.”
Seowan’s brow furrowed immediately.
“It is entirely different. The man I marry will not be crude and contemptible like that wretch.”
“Of course not!”
Having cried out thus, Hae-na fell silent for a moment. The girl’s lips moved softly as she murmured.
“You said you did not wish to marry. And…”
Seowan must have had clear reasons for not wanting to marry.
Besides, given the context, wasn’t her reason for marrying ultimately about me, not about anything else?
I couldn’t say I didn’t understand Seowan’s position.
Based on what Chung-su had told me, the Seven Star Families often formed alliances through marriage, and it was clear that Seowan had chosen marriage as a way to enter the First Prince’s faction.
I understood that, but still.
“But that’s a marriage without love….”
I knew I was saying something foolish.
Yet despite that, I wished my sister would marry someone she loved.
Marriage was a grave matter. It meant choosing someone to spend a lifetime with.
Seowan often seemed lonely. She had from the very first moment I saw her.
Whenever I noticed, I would run to her, but I was too small and too young.
I had wished for her to have someone dependable to lean on.
Someone who could care for my sister in my stead, someone who could cherish and love her more than I could.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s only a marriage in name anyway.”
But a marriage like this?
I bit my lower lip hard. Soon I lifted my head.
“If marriage is absolutely necessary, then I’ll do it.”
At my resolute gaze, Seowan’s face crumpled.
But I continued with a firm voice.
“I’m a member of the Yul Clan too. So….”
“Don’t say such nonsense.”
Before I could finish, Seowan cut me off decisively.
“I cannot ask such a thing of you. Never speak of it again.”
Her stern attitude made me feel wronged.
“Then is it alright to burden my sister with such a thing?”
Seowan had a tendency to be overly protective of me. Every time I saw that, it hurt.
But Seowan still shook her head with a firm expression.
“It’s only natural that I do this rather than you, who are still young. I won’t hear any more of your arguments on this matter, so put it out of your mind.”
Young. I won’t listen, so stop. In the end, the words I hated most came from Seowan’s lips.
I looked at her with resentful eyes, but she said nothing.
With a tearful expression, I stared at Seowan with reproachful eyes, but she remained silent.
* * *
That day, I was eventually led out of the office by Chung-yeon’s hand.
I had dinner with Seowan, but the two sisters didn’t exchange a single word.
Seowan thought I was being stubbornly unreasonable, and I was hurt in my own way.
That night, lying in bed, I kicked off my blanket several times.
The words Seowan had spoken seemed to lodge themselves deeply in my heart.
When I heard such things from others in the Yeon Family, it was only slightly unpleasant, but hearing it from Seowan was different.
I let out a deep sigh. It was the first time my always gentle and kind sister had been so stern.
‘I understand, but….’
Just as I dislike Seowan’s marriage, she must feel the same way.
Hae-na sat up and wrapped her arms tightly around my knees. Why must I be so small and weak?
“I’m upset.”
The child buried her dejected face against my knee. But it lasted only a moment before Hae-na lifted her head sharply.
The shadow that had darkened Hae-na’s expression vanished, replaced by determination. She clenched her fists.
‘Dwelling on such thoughts won’t help anything.’
Surrendering to despair changed nothing. But taking action, any action at all, created change.
Hae-na recalled her time at the Yeon Family. Back then, she couldn’t free the children trapped in the Underground Facility, nor could she stop the experiments.
Instead, she had smuggled away portions of the children’s meals that contained moonstone, obtained salve, and secretly distributed it to them.
Opening the back gate of the Yeon Family had been such a trivial act. Yet that day, Hwi-seo escaped the Yeon Family.
‘This time will be the same.’
Do what you can do!
Hae-na fell asleep with unwavering resolve. And the moment dawn broke the next morning, she sought out Seowan.
“Sister!”
Seowan, who had risen early to drink her tea, noticed Hae-na. Her eyebrows twitched slightly.
‘She seemed so downcast before.’
The spirited child had quickly regained her composure.
When Seowan smiled faintly, Hae-na approached her sister with purposeful strides.
“Have you chosen your marriage partner yet?”
Seowan’s expression hardened instantly.
“I told you this isn’t something you should concern yourself with, Hae-na.”
“Still, there’s something I want to say.”
“Chung-yeon.”
Before Hae-na could finish speaking, Seowan called for Chung-yeon.
Chung-yeon, who had been standing outside the door, entered and scooped Hae-na into her arms.
“Take her away.”
“Yes, mistress.”
Hae-na found herself cradled in Chung-yeon’s embrace, utterly bewildered.
Before she could blink three times, Hae-na was expelled from the office.
Her confused expression slowly crumpled into tears.
But before tears could fall, Hae-na wiped her eyes firmly with her sleeve.
‘…I won’t give up.’
She hadn’t intended to offer to marry in Seowan’s place—Seowan had been adamantly opposed to that.
Instead, Hae-na planned to persuade her to choose someone who would cherish her.
‘She might listen to at least this much.’
Hae-na’s eyes sparkled as she steeled her resolve once more.
‘I’ll bring it up at breakfast later!’

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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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