The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 49

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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 49
Hae-na sat submerged in a round wooden tub filled with warm water.
Only her head poked above the surface, her cheeks puffed out noticeably.
The rippling bathwater contributed to her expression, but something else weighed far more heavily on her mind.
“It’s really true….”
As Hae-na murmured softly, Seowan’s eyes narrowed.
With a flick of her hand, a column of water rose from the tub and cascaded over Hae-na’s head.
Hae-na squeezed her eyes shut.
The falling water didn’t splash back into the tub but instead enveloped her scalp and hair.
Soon, small whirlpools formed within it, beginning to wash her hair.
It was a silent command to stop talking. Hae-na kept her mouth closed and stared at Seowan.
Just moments ago, during that three-way confrontation with Cheon-eul.
‘Couldn’t you simply tell him you like him and propose marriage?’
The instant those words left Hae-na’s lips, Seowan exhaled deeply and scooped the child up into her arms.
‘Where did she hear such things? Why does she keep saying this?’
Her voice carried exasperation. I could feel she didn’t believe a word I said.
‘I’ll assume it’s just childish prattle and overlook it. Now, you should leave as well.’
With that, Seowan carried me into the Hall, still cradled in her arms.
I insisted several more times that Cheon-eul harbored feelings for her, but Seowan dismissed it as an absurd claim.
“If you wish to believe that so badly, I suppose it matters little. But don’t speak such nonsense in public.”
Seeing my sullen expression, Seowan spoke in a soothing tone.
I could only press my lips together, my face a portrait of injustice.
‘It’s not a matter of belief—it’s the truth.’
Seowan wouldn’t have seen it since she’d turned away while holding me, but I had.
With my face resting against her shoulder, I saw Cheon-eul’s expression clearly.
His face was complicated—a turbulent mixture of confusion, shock, and shame that disrupted his usually refined features.
It was the face of someone caught hiding something. It was also the face of someone discovering something about themselves they hadn’t known.
If what I’d said were false, why would Cheon-eul have worn such an expression?
Yet Seowan refused to acknowledge my reasoning. She insisted that a few expressions alone couldn’t serve as proper evidence.
Except when it came to matters involving me, Seowan was rational and meticulous.
I admired that quality in my sister, but today I resented it somewhat.
“Come out now. Your body must be thoroughly pruned.”
Seowan lifted me from the bath, my round eyes now slightly sharp with irritation.
After drying my body and dressing me in a robe, Seowan snapped her fingers lightly.
My damp hair became fluffy and dry in an instant.
Having brought no Servant Girl along, Seowan attended to me personally.
She distrusted leaving me in the care of those at Gaeyang Palace.
‘Sister hasn’t even bathed yet….’
Seowan rolled up her dust-covered sleeves and carefully applied fragrant oil with her rough hands. Seeing this, my expression gradually softened.
“Starting tomorrow, I must survey the land around Gaeyang. You’ll be tired, so sleep early tonight.”
Seowan took out a fine-toothed comb and began brushing Hae-na’s dark chestnut hair as she spoke.
She had no experience combing a child’s delicate locks.
Because of this, Hae-na’s scalp ached slightly each time the comb passed through, but she paid it no mind.
“Yes.”
Hae-na’s eyes gleamed faintly as she answered obediently.
Seowan was not the only one who had received the imperial decree to resolve Gaeyang’s troubles.
‘Surely Cheon-eul will go as well?’
If that were the case, perhaps I could continue the persuasion that had failed today.
A small smile played at the corners of Hae-na’s mouth.
* * *
Four days later.
Hae-na stood before the vast fields of Gaeyang, her heart deeply unsettled.
Spotting the child’s troubled expression, Cheon-eul approached Hae-na. He bent down to meet her eyes.
“Your complexion looks poor. Is standing for so long tiring you?”
His voice was gentle. Hae-na shook her head with a downcast face.
“No….”
But Cheon-eul paid no heed and lifted Hae-na gently into the air.
A soft summer breeze brushed against the child’s cheek. As Hae-na drifted weightlessly, she turned her head.
About twenty paces away, Seowan stood with her eyes closed, knees bent, her hand touching the ground.
“Sister.”
Hae-na called out to Seowan in a drawn-out voice. Though it was not a loud call, Seowan immediately turned her head.
The moment Seowan’s gaze fell upon the two of them, Cheon-eul hesitated.
Soon after, Hae-na’s floating form descended slowly to the ground.
“I should be going now. We’ve played far too long.”
Cheon-eul turned away with a faint smile. As Hae-na watched his retreating figure, a rough and warm hand settled upon her shoulder.
“What is it, Hae-na.”
Seowan looked down at her with eyes tinged with slight concern.
“Did that man trouble you?”
She reached out and brushed back Hae-na’s disheveled hair.
Hae-na laughed without spirit.
“No. I just missed you, sister….”
Despite the hollow answer, Seowan did not scold her and simply lifted the child into her arms.
Hae-na’s face darkened as she buried it against her sister’s shoulder.
Just as she had anticipated, the two of them had been exploring Gaeyang together for the fourth day.
But unfortunately, Hae-na’s prediction had proven accurate only up to that point.
Cheon-eul had begun subtly avoiding Seowan.
He still treated Seowan with a gentle smile and soft voice, yet something was distinctly different.
‘Even the distance between them has changed.’
Over these past four days, Hae-na had not once witnessed the two of them standing close and conversing.
Seowan had never been one to give her presence to anyone, but Cheon-eul was different.
He always stood within three paces of Seowan. Even when separated, the moment he spotted her, his body would turn toward her.
Because of this, Seowan often found their eyes meeting, and Cheon-eul would laugh at the sight of her eyes crinkling with displeasure.
‘But now he won’t even look at me….’
Hae-na, her face buried against Seowan’s shoulder, fidgeted.
Cheon-eul’s jade-green eyes had always gazed directly at Seowan. It remained so even when the two of them raised their voices.
But now, the moment Seowan looked his way, Cheon-eul was quick to avert his gaze.
‘He did the same thing earlier….’
Watching Cheon-eul’s retreating figure, I recalled what had just happened.
A small sigh escaped my lips.
I thought I must have seen it wrong. More precisely, I had hoped I’d seen it wrong.
So I had tried to keep the two of them together, even interrupting Seowan’s work, but my attempt ended in failure.
And it was because of Cheon-eul.
Something was wrong with Cheon-eul. I couldn’t fathom what it was.
Just as I was about to bury my forehead firmly against Seowan’s shoulder, Cheon-eul, who had been gazing out at the field, slowly turned his head.
His subdued gaze fixed on Seowan. He stared at her intently.
Those transparent jade-green eyes were fixed on the woman’s back.
Eyes brimming with indescribable emotion lingered on her softly undulating ash-gray hair.
Soon Seowan’s body turned slightly, and her profile came into view.
Whatever she was saying, her red lips moved. Beneath her thick lashes, blue eyes were visible.
Eyes like the deep night sky gleamed brightly in the sunlight. Her straight gaze curved slightly upward.
At that smile, Cheon-eul’s expression went blank. He gazed endlessly at Seowan’s smiling face.
Unaware that Hae-na was watching him with wide eyes.
‘What?’
I had only my eyes peeking out from Seowan’s shoulder.
Seowan laughed at the sight of me, saying something, but I had no mind to respond.
My wide-open sunset-colored eyes blinked rapidly.
No matter how many times I closed and opened my eyes, what I saw didn’t change.
Cheon-eul was gazing at Seowan. And with a very tender expression.
‘Then why did he avoid looking before?’
It was an attitude I simply couldn’t understand. My brows furrowed strangely.
The confusion didn’t last long. I suddenly looked up at Seowan and cried out.
“Sister, please put me down!”

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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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