The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 69

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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 69
The cabinet, crafted from parasol wood, was a tall wardrobe fitted with two pairs of large doors.
Unlike the half-door cabinets common in noble households, this one bore no ornamental patterns or gilt—utterly plain and unadorned.
It resembled the sort of ordinary furniture one might find in a roadside inn, yet to Hae-na, it appeared somehow different.
“Wait. Just a moment.”
Hae-na strained to lower Cheon-eul’s arm, which had been blocking her view.
From Yeon-bi’s heart, bound in such a pitiful state, a spiritual core glowed with murky luminescence.
An imperfect spiritual core, fractured in places, revealing dark cracks between the fissures.
A similar radiance flickered from beyond the cabinet.
Unlike Yeon-bi’s, this complete sphere was extraordinarily small.
Yet it shone with unmistakable clarity, announcing its presence.
Seowan noticed Hae-na’s gaze fixed upon the cabinet and moved toward it.
Bound as she was, Yeon-bi’s eyes flew wide open as she thrashed against her restraints.
“You lowborn wretch, you—!”
The curses spilling from Yeon-bi’s mouth were choked off by the water gag.
Seowan did not glance back, continuing forward.
From the cabinet wafted the strong fragrance of osmanthus that usually emanated from Yeon-bi.
Yet as he drew nearer the doors, a faint metallic scent of blood became apparent.
Click.
The moment Seowan wrenched the doors open, a thick floral perfume and the stench of blood rushed forth.
Upon peering inside, Seowan went rigid.
Within the cabinet lay countless sachets of fragrance, and Hwa Yeon-bi—her limbs bound with cord, a gag forced into her mouth—lay collapsed and motionless.
With disheveled crimson hair and eyes slanted upward, the woman possessed a face perfectly identical to Yeon-bi’s.
“Mmph, mmph!”
From behind came the sound of Yeon-bi shrieking.
At that, the woman’s eyes within the cabinet slowly opened.
Irises of mingled gold and crimson were revealed.
As Seowan turned his head in bewilderment, flames erupted across the bound Yeon-bi’s body.
“Ahhhhh!”
Yeon-bi’s screams tore through the air.
She would burn her own body to ash if it meant severing the water-rope that enslaved her.
Whoooosh!
Yet it was brief—struck by a deluge of water, Hwa Yeon-bi went limp and still.
Her spiritual core shattered into fragments. Shards of light, great and small, began to scatter.
‘What?’
Hae-na’s eyes widened as she witnessed this.
Though the spiritual core had broken, the black cracks that had marred it did not vanish.
Rather, they spread into the spaces where the light had been, growing ever larger.
‘It was not a crack after all….’
Was that dark force what had been binding the spiritual energy?
Just as I leaned in for a closer look, the dark energy dissipated like smoke.
‘Where did it go?’
Hae-na’s head snapped toward the Female Overseer.
Fortunately, there was no darkness there. Instead, the faint light began to flicker with greater intensity.
What had seemed like a dim candleflame grew steadily larger, its contours gradually taking shape.
The moment it became complete, the cabinet was engulfed in flames.
Whoooosh—!
“Sister!”
Hae-na cried out in alarm, watching the inferno erupt before Seowan.
Yet the fire did not singe a single hair on Seowan’s head.
The white-hot flames burned fiercely without spreading to any corner of the room.
Crackle.
The massive cabinet could not withstand it long, crumbling into a handful of ash.
Patter, patter.
Through the swirling ash and billowing smoke, a woman in tatters walked slowly forward.
Her entire body was covered in wounds.
Between the tattered fabric of her garments, gashes were densely packed across her skin.
Most appeared to be old scars, yet several wounds still wept fresh blood.
Her gait was unsteady, as though she had not walked in a very long time.
The woman staggering forward lifted her head.
“Ah….”
The moment she parted her parched lips, her emaciated frame swayed.
Seowan rushed to steady the woman as she nearly collapsed.
Her breathing was shallow, her strength greatly depleted.
‘Who is this person?’
As Seowan, bewildered, glanced between the woman and Yeon-bi, Cheon-eul murmured softly.
“…Hwa-yeon-ri?”
At those words, Seowan and Hae-na’s gazes fixed upon him.
“Pagun Seongggun had a twin sister. However, she died young before this generation’s Pagun Seongggun was decided, and a funeral was held….”
His voice, tinged with disbelief, trailed off.
The woman, who had been breathing weakly, slowly opened her mouth.
“Yeon-bi… where is Yeon-bi?”
Seowan’s gaze turned toward Yeon-bi, who lay collapsed on the floor.
Then, between the disheveled crimson hair, eyes gleamed with the ferocity of a beast.
The woman launched herself upward in an instant.
Her gaunt foot came down hard upon Yeon-bi’s body.
Thud!
All three stood frozen, unable to utter a word.
The woman, gripping Yeon-bi by the collar with brutal force, roared out.
“This wretch deserves to be torn apart and killed!”
Cheon-eul, startled, hastily covered Hae-na’s ears and eyes.
With a sharp crack, a skeletal hand struck Yeon-bi across the face.
“You dare betray me? Today I’ll rip out your entrails and braid them like rope. I’ll tear this body to shreds, you wretched creature!”
The Female Overseer spewed vicious curses as she began beating Yeon-bi without mercy.
Thwack, crack, smash!
The way she kicked, stomped, and grabbed by the collar to slam cheeks together was no amateur’s work.
It was astounding how such strength could surge from a body that could barely walk.
Both Cheon-eul and Seowan stared, their minds reeling.
“Ah… sister. Cheon-eul…”
It was then that Hae-na, cradled in Cheon-eul’s arms, whimpered.
Seowan snapped back to awareness and approached the Female Overseer.
“Wait, please calm down first…”
“Calm down? Did you just tell me to calm down? If I let this wretched thing live, I won’t be able to close my eyes even in death! By any means necessary, I―!”
The Female Overseer, who had been shrieking, suddenly went rigid.
Her strength, pushed to its absolute limit, had finally given out.
She lost consciousness while standing, her fists still clenched, still aimed at Yeon-bi.
It was a formidable sight.
Even Seowan regarded her with weary eyes.
Hwa Yeon-bi, already haggard from the fire she herself had set, looked even more wretched.
Seowan and Cheon-eul were equally dumbfounded.
“First…”
Cheon-eul squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and summoned the wind.
A fresh breeze swept through the room, dispersing the smoke and the scent of blood, and laid the standing Female Overseer gently on the floor.
“We must take her to Gaeyang Palace.”
His voice was carefully composed.
Just then, hurried footsteps thundered from beyond the door.
“Ah, ah, ah, miss! Everything you requested has been prepared!”
* * *
The supplies Yeon-bi had prepared for her escape proved remarkably useful.
The three of them rolled the unconscious Twin Sisters in a mat, loaded them onto a cart, and moved toward the Back Gate of Gaeyang Palace.
For now, the existence of these two had to be concealed, and Seowan and Hae-na’s Quarters were ideal.
After dismissing all the Palace Attendants, who were already few in number, Seowan selected two empty rooms and laid them in each.
Unable to summon the Royal Physician, Seowan treated them provisionally himself.
The bodies of Celestial Beings were far sturdier than ordinary people, and their recovery was swift.
Given that Cheon-eul’s back had nearly healed and Seowan could move his right arm in just a week, Pagun Seongggun would surely be the same.
‘…Whichever one it turns out to be.’
The thought gave me a headache.
It was Yeon-bi who had wielded Pagun Seongggun’s power, however weakly.
So she was a fake, and the real Pagun Seongggun existed elsewhere.
Seowan’s brow furrowed deeply.
Hae-na, nestled in her sister’s arms, gazed up at her with worry etched across her small face.
“Don’t worry. She’ll wake up soon.”
They were now in the room where the woman presumed to be Hwa-yeon-ri lay unconscious.
Once both Hwa-yeon-ri and Hwa Yeon-bi awakened, there was no telling what they might attempt, so surveillance was essential.
According to Hae-na, the one suspected of being Pagun Seongggun was Hwa-yeon-ri, and it was for this reason that Seowan, who possessed a force antithetical to hers, had come to this place.
“I’ll stay still too. I promise.”
Hae-na spoke again with firm resolve.
Before entering the room, I had emphasized countless times how important it was for her to remain quietly in my arms.
Each time, Hae-na had nodded obediently. This moment was no different.
It was just as the child grasped my collar tightly to reassure her sister.
“Mmgh….”
The woman who had been lying still released a faint groan, then slowly opened her eyes.

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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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