The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 6

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 6
A moment of silence settled between us.
Startled eyes gleaming sunset gold met calm blue ones in a steady gaze.
“How… how did you…?”
At my inadvertent murmur, Seowan extended his hand.
Only then did I realize I had collapsed to the ground, and I scrambled to my feet with a flutter.
I brushed the dirt from my skirt with practiced efficiency and offered a proper bow.
And instead of stammering, I asked politely.
“Oh, hello. What brings you here?”
Seowan glanced between the child tensing visibly and his own hand, which now had nowhere to go, then withdrew it.
“You called for me.”
“I did?”
The child’s eyes widened in surprise. Then Seowan pointed toward the pond.
“All water within Cheonmang Kingdom flows through me. I can sense it wherever it moves, and at close distances, I perceive it as clearly as seeing and hearing directly.”
I opened my mouth slightly.
As the child’s mind grasped the explanation, her face flushed crimson.
In other words, he had heard everything I called out to the pond—including calling for my sister!
“What was it you wished to summon me for?”
Seowan asked this kindly, having rushed over in one breath.
I hesitated before finally forcing out an answer.
“It was just… practice. I wanted to call you sister if we ever met… but I had no intention of troubling you by seeking you out. I didn’t mean to summon you at all.”
I had planned to remain quiet and unobtrusive, yet I had managed to cause quite a commotion on my very first day.
“I’m sorry…”
I lowered my head dejectedly, my hands clasped together.
Looking down at me, Seowan asked.
“Did you want to see me?”
At that, I lifted my gaze slightly.
My head nodded without hesitation, and Seowan’s brow furrowed.
“Why?”
Why? Did such a grand reason need to exist?
I wavered.
But no matter how hard I searched my mind, no answer came, so I carefully opened my mouth.
“Just… because?”
It was an honest answer.
Yet the furrow between Seowan’s brows deepened further.
“Is there something you desire?”
“Pardon?”
“What troubles you? Or have you decided you wish to request a new reward?”
“No!”
I waved my hands frantically in alarm. What I had already received was more than enough.
“then you would have no reason to want to see me.”
Seowan still wore the expression of someone who simply could not comprehend.
At that, Hae-na felt a twinge of frustration—small, but unmistakable.
“Because you’re family…”
Hae-na murmured softly.
“Because you’re my sister, I wanted to see you. I never intended to be a bother to you, truly.”
At those words, Seowan’s expression shifted into something I had never seen before.
She looked startled, almost as though struck by shock.
She gazed down at Hae-na as one might observe an incomprehensible creature.
Then she opened her mouth bluntly.
“I abandoned you.”
Despite the harsh words, Hae-na neither wept nor recoiled in shock.
In a small voice, yet with unwavering clarity, she replied.
“You didn’t abandon me.”
“I did. With my own hands.”
Seowan answered coldly, her voice leaving no room for argument.
“The fact that you grew up in Yeon-ga for eight years is because I left you there. That truth cannot be denied.”
At that, Hae-na’s lips trembled slightly.
Seowan’s unrelenting attitude frightened me, yet I could not concede.
“But you came back for me…”
The small voice escaped from Hae-na’s lips despite her efforts.
Ha.
An exasperated sigh burst from Seowan’s mouth.
‘I thought she was a timid, meek child.’
Yet unexpectedly, she spoke her mind with clarity. She seemed to possess considerable stubbornness as well.
Noticing Seowan’s gaze, Hae-na flinched. The child lowered her head deeply.
‘I’m going to be scolded.’
She could tell from experience.
At Yeon-ga too, she had been scolded frequently for this habit of speaking.
‘If that’s how it is, just accept it—why does such a small child talk so much?’
‘Just do as you’re told!’
The servants at Yeon-ga always said that to Hae-na.
Each time, she would clamp her mouth shut, only to fail in the end and speak one more word, earning another scolding.
‘The Chief Steward listened to everything I said…’
Hae-na had always been a child full of questions.
Seo Chief Steward never grew angry at her endless inquiries, nor did he tell her to obey silently because she was young.
He always listened to Hae-na’s questions and answered them.
But after Seo Chief Steward died, no one at Yeon-ga listened to what Hae-na had to say.
My sister is not like him.
Hae-na liked Seowan, but she knew that Seowan did not welcome her in return.
“Is that all you have to say?”
Just then, Seowan’s voice drifted down from above.
“It seems there’s more. If you have something to say, speak freely. I’m listening.”
Hae-na’s head snapped up instantly. Seowan’s expression remained unchanged from before.
Still cool and distant, yet without the sharp edge of anger—a calm, measured countenance.
Hae-na’s face brightened. Her gentle smile radiated like the afternoon sun, warm and luminous.
“Thank you. And, and I….”
“….”
“I’m so glad you’re my sister.”
For Seowan, this was incomprehensible. What could possibly be admirable about such a person?
“Actually, I’ve had so many questions I wanted to ask. May I?”
Hae-na spoke with her cheeks flushed a delicate pink, her expression entirely free of malice.
People despised Seowan or looked down upon her, feared her or coveted her.
Never before had anyone shown her such pure, genuine affection.
Uncertain how to respond, Seowan simply nodded quietly.
Hae-na’s face grew even brighter.
The girl took a careful step closer and began to chatter eagerly.
“Is there anything you particularly enjoy? I mean, food, for instance?”
“I have no particular preferences. I don’t care much for sweet things.”
“There are so many flowers in the Garden—did you choose them yourself? Which flower do you like best?”
“The gardener selected and planted them. As for flowers… I prefer trees.”
As they exchanged questions and answers, Seowan felt herself enveloped in an unfamiliar sensation.
These preferences were ones she herself had never truly examined until now.
Hae-na asked several more questions, and Seowan answered each one gently.
Delighted by her responses, Hae-na laughed brightly, while Seowan, unsure what to do, simply gazed at the girl’s radiant face.
* * *
One week after that unexpected encounter with Seowan.
‘Today’s the day…!’
Hae-na’s eyes sparkled as she sat up immediately. Her fists clenched with determination.
On that day when she first had such a candid conversation with her sister, Hae-na had learned so much.
Preferences she’d never known her sister possessed, and the reassuring truth that Seowan didn’t dislike her as much as she’d feared.
It was truly a joyful and fortunate discovery.
Emboldened by this, Hae-na resolved to seek out Seowan.
A full week had passed from decision to preparation.
She’d asked the Cook to prepare Seowan’s favorite dishes, and inquired of Chung-yeon when Seowan typically took her morning meal.
Now, with all preparations complete, Hae-na intended to find Seowan and invite her to share breakfast together.
‘She’s busy at midday, and prefers a simple meal alone in the evening, she said.’
Morning was perfect.
If she hurried with her preparations now, she could arrive precisely when Seowan took her breakfast.
The moment Hae-na’s feet touched the floor beside her bed, she heard movement beyond the sliding door.
“Miss, you’re awake?”
“Yes!”
Chung-yeon entered the room with a soft laugh.
She was one of the few who knew of my plan, and a steadfast ally.
For me, who had waited for this day alone, Chung-yeon brought clothes even more beautiful than usual.
A white blouse embroidered with butterflies paired perfectly with a soft lavender skirt.
“Master will truly adore it.”
Chung-yeon patted my tense shoulders and whispered.
“I hope so….”
If he finds it bothersome, I’ll leave at once.
After steadying myself one last time, I left the room.
My room in the Separate Quarters was quite a distance from Seowan’s room in the Main Residence.
As I hurried across the Garden, a commotion echoed from the direction of the Main Gate.
‘What is that?’
The moment I tried to look, Chung-yeon smoothly blocked my line of sight.
“Come now, Miss. We must hurry. You’ll be late.”
“Oh, yes!”
Fortunately, I quickly turned my attention away.
After walking briskly for some time, I swallowed hard before Seowan’s door.
“Master, Miss has arrived.”
Before I could prepare myself, Chung-yeon announced my presence.
The door opened before I could protest, and Seowan appeared, dressed and tying back his hair.
“What is it?”
Seowan asked, his dark ash-gray hair gathered up.
Flustered, I stumbled through the words I had prepared.
“I thought it would be nice if we, ah, no. What I mean is, if you’d have breakfast with me… it would be good. For me, that is. I mean, it’s good for me.”
Ugh.
My words had tangled hopelessly, and I clamped my mouth shut.
Tears glistened in my wide eyes.
Hah.
Chung-yeon couldn’t help but let out a stifled laugh.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————