Home/The Beloved Young Divine Child of the Twelve Zodiacs/ch 5

Chapter 5

"Stay here and don't move."

Sosso snapped the order and whisked into the training grounds. Arin stood rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on the gate. She was beneath a large wisteria tree; her small frame was completely hidden by its foliage.

After a moment, Sosso emerged with Ahyeon. Arin was glad to see her brother after so long, but she dared not approach. Then Sosso cried out.

"Brother, my feet hurt!"

"We can't have our Sosso's feet hurting."

Ahyeon promptly crouched down in front of Sosso, presenting his back. Arin watched as Sosso, giggling, climbed onto Ahyeon's back. They looked every bit the affectionate siblings.

Arin recalled the times Ahyeon used to carry her, and tears burst forth. Now Ahyeon's back belonged not to Arin, but to Sosso.

Just then, Sosso's eyes met hers. Sosso wrapped her arms around Ahyeon's neck, as if to flaunt her position, and raised her voice.

"Brother, I'm your only little sister, right?"

"Of course. Who else could there be but our Sosso?"

Sting.

Arin felt a dull ache in her chest. Ahyeon's words pierced her painfully.

"My prettiest little sister in the world. Your brother would pluck the stars and the moon for you."

"Really? Truly?"

"Of course! For me, there's only our Arin."

"You said there was only me," Arin whispered.

She wiped her tears on her grimy sleeve and slipped away. She could not bear to watch them any longer. She ran as far and as fast as she could, straining with all her might until their images faded. Blinded by tears, she collided with Geum Dogyeong, who happened to be passing by.

Thud!

Arin flew backward—her body was so light, and his sturdy frame so unyielding, that she simply bounced off him. Dogyeong hurried to the child who had crashed into his leg and fallen.

"Are you all right?"

"I-I'm so sorry. Hic—sniff."

Arin dusted herself off and bowed deeply, her voice thick with sobs. Seeing her weeping, Dogyeong's eyes wavered with concern. She seemed hurt, so he grew gentler.

"I apologize. I'm still not familiar with the paths here. Are you badly hurt?"

"N-no, it's my fault. I-I wasn't looking where I was going..."

Arin wiped her streaming tears and babbled incoherently. Dogyeong studied her. She was far too young to be a servant doing household chores. And she was so thin. Frowning at her bony wrist, he thought, Do these people starve their children?

Her condition looked too dire to simply ignore. Her face was flushed red, and her whole body trembled like an aspen leaf. After watching her for a long while, Dogyeong let out a sigh. Arin, thinking it was displeasure directed at her, stifled her sobs and kept apologizing.

"Sniff—I'm so, so, huff—sorry."

"What are you always sorry for? You've done nothing wrong."

He pressed his forehead, looking at the child who kept swallowing her tears while watching his every move. He knew that if he left her like this, the image of her crying would haunt him.

"Do you like sweet rice cakes?"

"Sniff—huh?"

"I asked if you like sweet rice cakes."

Arin blinked blankly for a long time, then slowly nodded.

"Then let's go."

Without further ado, Dogyeong scooped her up. Her weight was so light that he grumbled under his breath.

"This household must be starving its children."

Arin, unaccustomed to human warmth after so long, stiffened like stone.

"Relax. I won't eat you."

At his rebuke, Arin cautiously leaned against him. She was too exhausted to resist anyway—she had not eaten properly for a long time, and the sudden running and crying had left her completely drained.

He carried her to a guest room. As soon as they entered, he set her down on a cushion. Then he took out a box of sweet rice cakes from his bundle and placed it before her.

"Eat."

"Are you sure I may have some?"

"Why? Afraid I poisoned them?"

Arin shook her head vigorously at his question. Though the man before her was taller than her father and intimidating, she did not want to offend someone who had shown her kindness. Besides, it had been ages since she last had a sweet rice cake; her mouth was already watering.

She took one carefully and took a big bite. As the sweetness spread through her mouth, a smile bloomed on her face.

"Pretending you don't like it when you do."

Dogyeong chuckled, picked up a cake, and popped it into his mouth. In fact, these were his own snacks—specially made for him by the Geumho House because he had a sweet tooth. He had been saving them, but this was the only thing he had to console a crying child. He pushed a cup of green tea toward Arin, who was eagerly devouring the cakes. Though she kept glancing at him warily, she drank the tea in big gulps.

She must have lived on tenterhooks. Why is she so wary?

All of it irked him. She was so small—perhaps only five years old. Her soft vermilion hair, the color of trumpet vines, was unkempt and hanging loose, almost hiding her face entirely. He watched her for a while, wondering whether she was eating the cake or her own hair, when his eyes fell on Yeoryeong's luggage. The Divine Maiden always kept her hair neatly bound—perhaps she had an extra ribbon.

He rummaged through the bag and found one. He pulled the child toward him.

"...?"

Startled, Arin stopped eating. Dogyeong said, "I'm going to tie your hair. Just keep eating."

His tone was gruff for addressing a child, but Arin smiled brightly and quietly focused on her cakes.

She listens well, though.

She should have been wary of a stranger, but she wasn't. If anything, he was bothered by her terrified eyes, as if she feared he would leave. But it was not his place to meddle in another family's affairs.

Clumsily, Dogyeong began to gather her hair. But tying a little girl's fine, soft hair was not as easy as he had thought. In the end, he simply bundled it all together and tied it high, as he did for his own sons. It was still better than her loose, tangled mane. He thought the yellow ribbon suited her remarkably well.

"Done. You can keep this."

It wasn't even his to give—but Yeoryeong would have done the same.

"Really?"

Arin gently touched the ribbon, which looked to be made of fine silk. Her hesitant, slurred speech and her careful handling of it—as if she feared it might wear out—made Dogyeong chuckle.

"Little thing, always asking. When an adult gives you something, just say thank you."

"Thank you."

"All right."

He chuckled and pinched her soft, rice-cake-like cheek. It was softer than he expected, and he was surprised. Arin blinked her innocent eyes.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to."

As he withdrew his hand and apologized, Arin shook her head.

"It's, it's okay."

"It's not okay. When something like that happens, you say, 'I don't like it,' 'No,' 'Don't do that.'"

Already, the fact that she had willingly followed a stranger was a problem. He was contemplating where to even begin teaching her when she murmured in a small voice.

"But... I didn't dislike it."

"What?"

Arin, who had longed for human touch, liked that he treated her so casually. It almost felt like returning to the old days...

"You may do it more if you like."

At her bold reply, Dogyeong's mouth fell open.

"You have no shame, do you?"

With a deliberately gruff answer, he slowly moved his hand back to her chubby cheek.

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