Home/The Beloved Young Divine Child of the Twelve Zodiacs/ch 29

Chapter 29

"This place is run by a master who's been making broth and noodles for a hundred years—it's so good that if you and I were eating and one of us died, the other wouldn't even notice, so be careful, little one!"

Doyoung's boasts were not empty—the noodles were truly excellent. While Arin finished one bowl, Doyoung managed three.

"Now that we're full, let's have some shaved ice for dessert."

"Young master, we're not here to eat..."

"As long as we get to the relief center eventually, taking a little detour is fine, right?"

Doyoung's persistence led them to have shaved ice as well. By the time they finished, Arin's stomach was about to burst.

"I'm too full to walk."

Seeing Arin panting, Doyoung offered her his back.

"Then I'll carry you."

Despite his matter-of-fact attitude, Arin hesitated.

"I might be heavy."

"Don't underestimate a tiger, little one."

"I'm not underestimating you!"

She had never been carried by anyone except her brother Ahyeon. Dogyeong usually just lifted her up and carried her around.

"My back is for you alone."

Remembering the promise Ahyeon had broken, Arin's expression dimmed. Unaware, Doyoung urged her.

"Then stop fussing and get on! I'm going to break my neck waiting!"

Under his pressure, Arin reluctantly climbed on. Contrary to her worries, she was as light as a feather to Doyoung.

"Hey! You're light as a feather! Are you even growing?"

"I am growing!"

"Then why are you so tiny? Are you going to sink into the ground? Hahaha!"

At his teasing, Arin puffed out her cheeks.

"I'm going to grow taller than you!"

"Eww, that's gross. You're cuter small."

"Hmph!"

Arin exhaled heavily. She was already self-conscious about being too small for the Geumho House. Everyone will know I'm not a real tiger. As that thought crossed her mind, her expression darkened.

Seeing this, Choryeong clicked her tongue. "Oh dear, our miss is pouting."

"Huh? Did I make her mad?"

"I don't know. No little one here!"

Arin turned away, and Doyoung panicked.

"I said it because you're cute... I don't care if you grow to eight feet! You're our household's forever adorable little one!"

After coaxing her with various words, Arin gave him a sideways glance.

"I don't want to be eight feet."

"Right, right. Eight feet is a bit much for me too..."

They finally arrived at the relief center after calming her down. There was a luxurious carriage parked outside. Recognizing the person about to board it, Arin's expression turned troubled. She quickly hid behind Doyoung.

"Oh!"

Hyeokjae spotted her and called out.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Arin."

"Huh? Who are you?"

Doyoung immediately tensed, wary of the man acting overly familiar.

"No need to be so guarded. Arin and I know each other."

Hyeokjae put on a friendly face, but Doyoung remained alert.

"Little one, do you know him?"

Arin couldn't bring herself to answer and only hesitated.

He was one of the elders who had strongly insisted she be cast out of the Red Serpent House—"We have no need for a half-wit who can't transform. She only lowers our standing, so expel her." His son, Hyeoksu, had been close to Ahyeon, so Arin had seen him often too.

"He's someone I knew from my previous place..." Unable to pretend otherwise, Arin reluctantly answered, and Hyeokjae seized the opportunity.

"Oh, you remember me. I'm relieved. I attended the banquet the other day, but it was hard to get a word with you."

He had already contacted the Red Serpent House and learned that the Geumho House had taken Arin. The adopted daughter Hong Sosso had stolen something the Divine Maiden had given Arin, and Hong Ijin was furious at having lost his daughter over it.

The reason is obvious—it's not because he misses Arin, but because he hates Geum Dogyeong.

Knowing Hong Ijin's inferiority complex toward Dogyeong made the situation all the more interesting.

It seems even the Geumho elders have no idea where she came from.

It was unusual for the Geumho head to adopt a daughter from a house he had bad relations with—clearly some important deal had been made. For a born merchant like Hong Hyeokjae, this was an irresistible topic.

"Hyeoksu is here as well."

"Ah."

"We're staying here, so feel free to visit if you have time."

Hyeokjae casually handed over a note with the address of his inn. Arin, unable to even meet his eyes, accepted it.

"Y-yes. I will."

"Oh, I'll also stop by the Geumho House soon. I have some trading business to discuss with the master."

With that, Hyeokjae took his leave and disappeared in his carriage. Arin was still staring at the ground. Irritated by her submissive attitude, Doyoung snatched the note away.

"Confiscated."

"Ah."

"Little one, from now on, people like that will come trying to flatter you—saying they used to play with you when you were little, or that you look like their dead sister."

He glared in the direction the carriage had gone.

"They're not worth your time. Ignore them. You don't need to be scared."

"I wasn't scared... I just didn't expect to run into him here."

And Hyeoksu was here too. Arin feared they would find out about her new life and interfere. They knew where she came from and that she couldn't transform.

"So you're not exactly on good terms?" Doyoung asked. Arin nodded. He grinned as if he had expected that.

"Then leave this to your brother."

---

Doyoung's solution was to march straight into enemy territory. After safely returning Arin to Maehwadang, he headed straight for the inn on the note. Remembering how Arin had been dazed ever since meeting Hong Hyeokjae, Doyoung ground his teeth. It seemed that man knew something about Arin's past—and it wasn't good.

I'll make sure he never shows his face in front of our little one again!

As he waited in the inn lobby for Hong Hyeokjae to appear, he spotted a boy who was his spitting image entering with a servant. Remembering he had mentioned his son, Doyoung's lips twisted like a villain's.

Perfect. I'll just ask that brat.

It would be easier to shake down a green boy than a grown man like Hong Hyeokjae.

"Hey."

Hyeoksu gave the rude stranger a sour look.

"Who are you?"

"Me? I'm Geum Doyoung."

At the brazen introduction, Hyeoksu thought he was some crazy fool. But then he noticed Doyoung's golden hair and eyes, and his eyes went wide.

"Don't tell me—are you from the Geumho House?"

"Oh, you know it. So your eyes aren't just for show."

His thuggish tone bewildered Hyeoksu.

"Did you need something from me?"

"Yeah. A lot."

Doyoung cracked his knuckles and grinned.

"First, how about we go somewhere?"

"W-where?"

Sensing danger, Hyeoksu tried to back away, but Doyoung slung an arm around his neck.

"I'll be taking this guy."

"Wha—?"

"Tell his father, and you know what happens, right?"

Doyoung muttered darkly and drew a finger across his throat. The servant stiffened at the killing intent and shouted,

"I won't say a word!"

Ignoring Hyeoksu's glare at the servant's clear betrayal, Doyoung said cheerfully,

"Alright, let's go."

Back   Next