Home/The Beloved Young Divine Child of the Twelve Zodiacs/ch 11

Chapter 11

Is he gone?

Arin carefully raised herself. She had planned to escape through the window, but voices came from the next room.

"Head Hong has agreed to hand Arin over."

Gulp!

Arin nearly screamed. Just as Sosso had said, her father had sold her to the Geumho House. She stopped her escape and pressed herself against the wall to eavesdrop. The man's voice reached her ears.

"She seems to have a good appetite. A little feeding and she'll plump up nicely."

"Good news."

"Since everything is settled, shall we depart immediately?"

"Yes, we should."

Oh no!

At the words "depart immediately," Arin could wait no longer. She placed a pre-written note neatly on the blanket and fled through the window.

---

Dogyeong glared at the document Yeoryeong handed him. It stated that Hong Ijin had expelled Hong Arin from the Red Serpent House and would not claim custody in the future. Thus, Hong Arin was no longer a member of the Red Serpent family.

Dogyeong asked skeptically, "He signed it easily?"

"There was some resistance, but he showed no attachment to the child. His only concern was how to explain it to the White Dragon House."

"He truly is unfit to be a father to the very end."

If he had cared for the child at all, he would not have given her up so readily. Geum Dogyeong glared at the neat handwriting once more, then tucked the document into his bosom.

"Still, it's fortunate. With such a written pledge, he won't be able to deny it later."

Now all he had to do was raise her with utmost care. Of course, it would take time for Arin to accept him as her father. Moreover, he had yet to inform the Geumho elders or his sons. The elders could be pressured, but the sons might be a bit more troublesome.

Just then, Yeoryeong asked about Arin.

"The child—has she woken?"

"Yes. She woke last night, devoured two bowls of chicken porridge, and went back to sleep."

Dogyeong chuckled, remembering how Arin had scraped the bowl clean. The way she chewed with her tiny mouth was so endearing that he kept wanting to feed her more.

"She seems to have a good appetite. A little feeding and she'll plump up nicely."

"Good news."

Yeoryeong smiled with satisfaction. Now only the departure remained, and she was about to speak when—

"Before that, let's have a physician check on her."

"I've already summoned one, so don't worry."

Yeoryeong clicked her tongue at Dogyeong, who was already acting like a father. Meanwhile, Dogyeong was thinking about what Arin might like. The Geumho House, which had guarded the Divine Maiden for generations, was stocked with all manner of delicacies—especially seafood and fish from the nearby coast, which were superb.

I wonder if she's ever had fish? Though she seemed to prefer meat.

Whatever it was, he would give her more than she had ever had in this house. Now that he had a daughter, a new vitality rose in Geum Dogyeong's face.

"Are you that happy? Your mouth is already grinning."

"Me?"

Belatedly touching his own lips, Dogyeong looked sheepish. He had been smiling like an overjoyed fool without realizing it.

"Then I'll take my leave now."

Feeling embarrassed, Dogyeong hurried back to the next room.

"Child?"

Seeing the empty room, Dogyeong looked puzzled. For a moment, he wondered if Hong Ijin had double-crossed him, and his blood surged—but then he spotted a small note on the blanket. He swallowed hard.

[I don't taste good.]

"...What is this?"

Dogyeong stared at the note for a long time. He could sort of grasp the meaning, but he had no idea why she had left it. Just then, Yeoryeong's voice came from behind.

"Surely you didn't frighten the child?"

"Of course not."

"Then why leave such a note?"

"I only fed her and put her to bed!"

"Think carefully. Did you ever threaten to eat her, the way you do with your sons?"

At Yeoryeong's interrogation, Dogyeong's brow furrowed. After a moment, he recalled his first words to Arin: "Relax. I won't eat you."

"I think I did say I wouldn't eat her," he muttered uncertainly.

"Sigh."

Yeoryeong pressed her forehead as if she had expected this.

"The child must have overheard our conversation. Being abandoned by her father, she must have been shocked."

"Ah."

As Dogyeong let out a foolish exclamation, Yeoryeong snapped,

"What are you standing there for? Go find her!"

---

Unfortunately, Arin could not easily escape the Red Serpent estate. On her way out, she ran straight into Hong Sosso.

"You!"

The moment Sosso saw Arin, she charged at her with blazing eyes.

Slap!

Sosso shoved her in fury, and Arin tumbled to the ground. Sosso mounted her and grabbed her hair.

"Ouch! L-let go!"

"You planted that ribbon on purpose to humiliate me, didn't you? Huh?!"

Sosso had spent the entire night thinking about why that ribbon had been there. And she had reached one conclusion: Arin had deliberately set a trap for her before leaving.

And now, here was Arin before her.

"Do you know what kind of disgrace I suffered because of you?"

"It hurts! Let go!"

Arin tried to push Sosso away, but Sosso was bigger than her head—she could not overpower her. Just as Arin was about to be dragged by her hair, she hooked her leg and tripped Sosso.

"Sosso!"

Hong Ahyeon appeared out of nowhere, pushed between them, and shoved Arin hard.

Roll, roll.

Arin was thrown far back by the force. Stunned, Sosso stared blankly at Ahyeon, worried he had seen her bullying Arin—but Ahyeon yelled at Arin instead.

"You! Didn't I tell you not to set one foot outside the annex? And here you are wandering around, let alone causing trouble?!"

"B-brother."

Startled, Arin called out to him, and Ahyeon flinched. Arin, whom he had not seen in a long time, was gaunt and shabby.

"Your only sister now is Sosso."

"What do you mean? What about Arin?"

"Arin is a disgrace to our family. If it gets out that a half-wit was born into the Red Serpent House, you and the entire family will become a laughingstock."

"But..."

"Our house must be perfect. Don't you realize your own position could be at stake? If you mention Arin before me again, I will not forgive you—even you."

His father's warning flashed through his mind. His father's word was absolute, and Ahyeon had fully agreed. After all, a twelfth-year who could not transform was no twelfth-year at all. Though he pitied Arin, it was unavoidable for the family's sake.

Steeling his heart, Ahyeon shouted sharply,

"Why would I be your brother?!"

In that moment, Arin gazed at him as if she had lost the world.

At the same time, Sosso burst into tears.

"Waaah! Brother! She suddenly attacked me—waaah!"

"Sosso, don't cry. Your brother will handle it."

Ahyeon wiped Sosso's crocodile tears with his sleeve, then glared at Arin as if he would kill her. The household atmosphere had been terrible since yesterday; his father's fierce expression suggested the Divine Maiden had something on him. And now, in the midst of all that, Arin had sneaked out and caused a ruckus.

"Do you have any idea how bad things are right now?! Just go back quietly!"

Just as Ahyeon was about to roughly grab the fallen Arin's wrist—

Jingle.

A clear bell sound reached Arin's ears. In the next moment, a golden mouse bravely planted itself in front of her.

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