Home/The Beloved Young Divine Child of the Twelve Zodiacs/ch 71

Chapter 71

"How long have you known?"

"Not long."

"...Are you okay?"

At his hesitant question, Arin looked at him.

"I'm just sad that I'm a burden to my family. Because of my shortcomings, I keep causing them trouble."

"..."

"Don't tell them I know. I just felt a little stifled..."

"I won't. I understand that feeling."

"You do?"

Arin looked surprised—to her, Muje was a flawless twelfth-year. He hesitated, then spoke.

"Actually, I have a problem that others don't know about. That's why I was staying at the Village of the Twelve Spirit Beasts."

"Staying there? But I've never seen you there..."

"We've met before—just not in this form."

Deciding that showing was better than telling, Muje transformed. Arin stared, speechless, and covered her mouth with her hands.

"Ah!"

Shining silver-white scales, and reddish-gold eyes gazing at her. Arin was frozen in shock at the revelation that Muje was Seol. He nervously watched her, then returned to human form and continued.

"Sorry I didn't tell you sooner. As you know, my stay in the village had to be kept secret."

"...I see."

"Are you angry?"

He studied her expression worriedly. Arin didn't answer right away—her lips just moved.

"I'm just a little surprised. ...And I'm worried I might have done something embarrassing."

She touched her warm cheeks. Memories of all the things she had done to Seol, not knowing it was Muje, came flooding back—she didn't know where to look. When she averted her gaze, Muje, growing anxious, took her hand.

"I enjoyed being Seol too. So don't worry about any 'mistakes.'"

"But why did you have to hide your stay in the village? I heard being admitted early is something to be proud of..."

"It wasn't an official admission."

Muje smiled bitterly.

"I can't control my own power. Staying transformed was the only way to manage it."

It was an unimaginable problem for the prodigy Muje. Arin murmured sympathetically.

"So that's why you pretended to be Seol."

"Yes."

Then he whispered, as if sharing a great secret.

"I only have half my Yeouiju—the Black Demon clan stole the other half a few years ago. That's why my eyes are so reddish—my Yeouiju doesn't obey me."

Arin gasped.

For a White Dragon, the Yeouiju was the source of their power—like having their spiritual core stolen. The eyes she had thought so pretty were actually a sign of his pain.

"Are you okay now? Does it hurt?"

Arin moved closer, worried. Her concern pleased him, and he leaned his cheek against her hand.

"It used to hurt, but... thanks to you, it's a lot better now."

"Because of me? I haven't done anything..."

"When I touch you, my power calms down."

"..."

Now that she thought of it, Muje's eyes had recently been closer to gold. She was surprised that her power could help him.

"I can help you?"

"Yes. But if you don't want to—"

"No, I want to help. If it hurts, you can hold my hand anytime!"

She clasped both her hands around his.

"So please don't be in pain, Muje."

Her earnest whisper made him bite his lip. Then he grumbled, almost sulking,

"In times like this, you should say 'let me think about it'—what if I become too dependent on you?"

He had kept this secret ever since his Yeouiju was damaged—even his father had been desperate to hide it. He hadn't expected Arin to accept and comfort him so naturally. It felt liberating—like a wall he'd always been up against was no longer so oppressive.

Arin patted his hand.

"You can lean on me. We're friends."

It was exactly what he had wanted to hear—yet strangely, he felt a pang of disappointment. Ever since he learned Arin was a daughter of the Red Serpent House, he had felt a conflict.

Arin, meanwhile, was grateful that Muje had trusted her with his weakness. She remembered how he had been considerate of her inability to transform, and her heart warmed.

"Thank you, Muje. For keeping my secret. I'll keep yours too."

She felt somehow lighter. The wind blew, and she smoothed her hair.

"It's strange—knowing you're Seol makes me feel even closer to you."

"You don't hate me?"

"Hehe, not at all. How could I hate you?"

Arin smiled.

"You're so kind."

At her words, Muje couldn't form a reply—he just stared at her.

"I like you too."

"Huh?"

"...I feel the same."

He mumbled, covering his mouth with his hand. The moment he said it, he realized—I must like her. He couldn't meet her eyes, staring at the lake instead. His reflection in the water was red as a sunset.

---

On the night of the Yeonhaje Festival's eve, crowds gathered at the Twelve Spirit Temple. It was the day the heirs—soon to be the next heads of the Twelve Houses—would showcase their abilities. Seats for the heads and direct-line families were arranged at the front.

Arin sat between Dogyeong and Doyoung. Beside her was Hwang Bo Youngjae of the Hwangwoo House.

"Good to see you again—been well?"

Youngjae greeted her warmly, and Arin waved back. Doyoung blinked.

"How do you two know each other?"

"We met at the gathering last time. I even gave her snacks that day—didn't you eat together?"

"Oh, that day."

Doyoung scratched his cheek sheepishly, feeling guilty for not protecting Arin because of his stomachache. If he had been there, those rumors wouldn't have spread.

Arin answered brightly, "Thanks to Youngjae, I had a great time that day."

"Glad to hear it. More importantly, are you feeling better? His Highness was quite angry that day."

"His Highness was?"

"Didn't you know? He scolded those badmouthing you and left."

At Youngjae's mention of that day, Doyoung hurriedly tried to stop him, worried Arin would learn about the rumors. But Arin remained calm.

"Yes. It's okay."

Doyoung was the one startled. "Little one, you knew?"

"Yeah. I'm okay."

"Really?"

"Really."

Arin even grinned, and Doyoung sighed in relief.

"I've been so worried."

"Hehe, thanks."

Seeing the siblings' good reaction, Youngjae added,

"Yeah. Lately, more people are curious about how you got close to His Highness than about your background."

"What?"

"I heard you were invited to the Crown Prince's residence too?"

"Ah. How did you know?"

"Plenty of people saw you two together at the detached palace. I'm surprised you didn't know."

Arin was puzzled by the shift in the rumors—she was so used to spending time with Muje that she hadn't realized it was becoming a topic of conversation.

Youngjae narrowed his eyes. "Looks like His Highness was looking out for you. Thanks to that, the bad rumors about you have died down."

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