The Morning Star Baby Wants a Family - Chapter 81

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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 81
The children’s eyes immediately turned toward the Main Gate.
“…Your Highness… is currently….”
“If you would just leave… it would not be so discourteous….”
Faint voices that sounded like they were bickering drifted through.
It had apparently been going on for quite some time, as the Palace Attendants were glancing uncomfortably toward the Main Gate.
“What is happening?”
Hwi-seo, his brow furrowed, called out to Kwon Court Lady, who stood waiting a few paces away.
Hae-na turned over the voice she had just heard in her mind.
‘I feel like I’ve heard it before….’
While the child was lost in thought, Kwon Court Lady, having received Hwi-seo’s command, approached the Main Gate.
She opened the door to personally drive away the uninvited guest.
But at that moment, a foot wrapped in violet skirts boldly crossed the threshold.
“Pagun Seongggun! What on earth is the meaning of this…!”
Kwon Court Lady’s angry voice rang out sharply.
Hae-na’s eyes widened as she saw the woman standing confidently before the Main Gate.
A woman with wavy crimson hair elegantly pinned up bowed gracefully.
“It has been quite some time, Fourth Prince. And you too, Hae-na.”
Her fierce golden eyes curved softly in a smile. It was Yeon-ri.
‘Why is she here?’
Hae-na had not even known that she had returned to the Capital.
Yet here she was, appearing suddenly at the Palace, and in Hwi-seo’s residence no less.
“Pagun Seongggun. What is the meaning of this?”
Hwi-seo, blocking Hae-na’s path, spoke in a cold voice. Yeon-ri laughed with perfect composure.
“I asked the Gate Keeper to inform Your Highness of my arrival, but the fellow responded with a blatant lie to humiliate me.”
Yeon-ri paused briefly, her cool gaze turning toward the Gold Guard standing before the Main Gate.
“He claimed that Your Highness was indisposed, a transparent falsehood. I caused a small commotion as a result, so I beg your forgiveness.”
Yeon-ri smiled beautifully once more, but Hwi-seo’s expression did not soften.
“There would be no reason for you to visit my residence.”
At his cold question, Yeon-ri’s eyes widened slightly.
“Is that so? I recall that I was quite fond of you before.”
At her absurd remark, Hwi-seo’s face twisted further.
“I heard you were recuperating at your private residence due to poor health. It seems that is indeed the case.”
Hae-na was somewhat taken aback.
She had never heard such sarcasm from Hwi-seo, who was usually so affectionate, if occasionally blunt.
“I am the master of Nok-yo Palace, and I have not granted Pagun Seongggun permission to enter. Please leave now.”
Even as a child, he was of royal blood. The boy’s voice carried an authority that could not be challenged.
“Do not treat me so coldly. I came simply hoping to see your face.”
Yeon-ri, laughing with apparent ease, gave a light shrug of her shoulders.
Her gaze turned toward Hae-na, who stood behind Hwi-seo.
“Most importantly, I have business with that child.”
Hwi-seo’s eyes turned fierce in an instant.
Hwi-seo knew all too well how much this vicious woman despised Hae-na.
Whatever business she spoke of could not be anything good. He could not simply hand Hae-na over.
“Leave at once. Otherwise—!”
“Wait, please!”
At that moment, Hae-na grasped Hwi-seo’s arm firmly.
Hwi-seo’s startled eyes turned toward her. The delicate lines of his face still bore traces of his fury.
“It’s all right. She wouldn’t do anything wrong.”
Hwi-seo’s brow furrowed immediately.
“How could you possibly know that?”
At his sharp question, Hae-na’s lips parted slightly.
The truth was, this woman was Hwa Yeon-bi’s twin sister. I had met her when I went to Gaeyang.
But I could not tell him that directly.
More than anything, I myself was puzzled by Hwa-yeon-ri’s actions.
‘She hasn’t revealed her identity to the world.’
She had not disclosed who she truly was.
The Pagun Seongggun known to the world was still Hwa Yeon-bi.
‘Though they do resemble each other somewhat…’
Her demeanor had subtly changed. Even those who did not know her true identity would find it strange.
‘What could she be thinking?’
My mind was in turmoil.
But one thing was certain—Yeon-ri did not harbor the same malice toward me that Hwa Yeon-bi did.
“That’s enough. Step back. I will—”
“You’ve reformed.”
The words tumbled from Hae-na’s small lips.
“You apologized for how badly you treated me until now, and you promised you would never do so again.”
As her words continued, Hwi-seo’s face twisted strangely.
He looked as though he were hearing something utterly absurd.
“Isn’t that right, Pagun Seongggun?”
Hae-na turned her gaze to Yeon-ri, who was covering her mouth and laughing as though she found the situation quite amusing.
“You promised me you wouldn’t do anything to harm me.”
Hae-na’s sunset-hued eyes fixed intently upon Yeon-ri. Her words carried a subtle thread of truth woven through them.
‘Look at this.’
Yeon-ri’s eyes narrowed.
She would have liked to tease a little, but the Fourth Prince’s piercing golden gaze was fixed upon her.
“Of course. I remember, naturally.”
Despite her cool reply, Hwi-seo regarded Hae-na with stern eyes.
“My sister and Cheon-eul know about it too.”
Only after Hae-na added this quietly did Hwi-seo’s expression relax somewhat.
Hwi-seo, his expression displeased, regarded Hae-na with narrowed eyes.
“You go through life suspecting everyone, you fool.”
At his rebuke, Hae-na felt a surge of indignation. He doesn’t even know what I know.
“Don’t call me a fool….”
As she murmured softly, a shadow fell across both children.
“Have all the misunderstandings been cleared up now?”
Yeon-ri, who had drawn near without warning, looked down at them both with a smile.
“If so, I would like to attend to my business. Might I take this child with me, Your Highness?”
At her gentle words, both children’s faces puffed up like indignant cats.
“What business do you have with me, Pagun Seongggun?”
It was Hae-na who spoke first.
“I’m to bring you to Tamlang Seongggun. Since Tamlang Seongggun is at Nokchung Palace at the moment, I thought I might as well pay my respects to the First Prince as well.”
To anyone’s ear, the latter was the true purpose.
Before Hae-na could shake her head, Hwi-seo stepped forward.
“Hae-na is my guest. If you wish to see my brother, rather than resorting to such schemes, you should simply submit a formal request and obtain proper permission to enter the Palace, should you not?”
At his perfectly reasoned words, Yeon-ri let out a small “ah” and opened her mouth slightly.
“Brother, is it? The Fourth Prince still maintains good relations with the First Prince, I see.”
Yeon-ri, observing the two resolute children in turn, tapped her lips thoughtfully.
Soon, she smiled radiantly and spoke.
“Then will Your Highness accompany us as well?”
* * *
A white porcelain teacup filled with clear tea was placed before Seowan.
Yet rather than lifting the cup, Seowan gazed down at it intently.
Several figures flickered across the rippling surface, and soon the image of a child with a crimson jade hairpin reflected within.
Whether something joyful had occurred, Hae-na stood beside him with a radiant face, clutching the dark-haired boy at her side.
It was as Seowan chuckled softly at the sight of her small mouth chattering ceaselessly.
“The First Prince has arrived.”
A Palace Attendant’s voice came from beyond the door.
The sliding door opened, and a man with honey-colored hair pinned up in a formal topknot entered the room.
“I fear I have kept our honored guest waiting far too long. My apologies.”
The man’s quiet, deep voice carried a gentle demeanor.
His face was neither as stern as King Tae Mu-jin’s nor as beautiful as Fourth Prince Tae Hwi-seo’s, yet it emanated a soft dignity.
“I pay my respects to the First Prince.”
Seowan rose from his seat and bowed respectfully. First Prince Tae Un-heon smiled warmly.
“There is no need for such formality. One who will marry into our family through my uncle is as good as family to me.”
Un-heon, speaking kindly, turned his gaze to Cheon-eul.
“Whenever marriage was mentioned, you would subtly evade the subject, yet here you are bringing such a precious match. I am genuinely moved, Uncle.”
At Un-heon’s unguarded words, Cheon-eul also laughed lightly.
“My, I never expected Your Highness to concern himself with my marriage. I am relieved to have eased your worries at last.”
The two appeared less like uncle and nephew than like intimate friends without pretense.
In fact, Cheon-eul, who was the Queen’s cousin, was not much older than Un-heon, which made the impression even stronger.
However, the relationships of those of high station cannot be judged by appearances alone.
Seowan recalled the conversation I had shared with Cheon-eul.

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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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