Home/The Beloved Young Divine Child of the Twelve Zodiacs/ch 76

Chapter 76

Now that the White Dragon King knew, he would do everything in his power to link his son and Arin. It was especially troublesome that the weakness of the Crown Prince had been exposed to the world.

As Dogyeong's expression grew complicated, Arin looked up at him.

"Dad."

At her worried voice, he composed his face.

"I'm not annoyed—I'm just troubled because my daughter is so remarkable."

"I should have been more careful..."

"Fortunately, thanks to the heavy rain, no one noticed your power."

Of course, it was that same rain that had forced her to use it. Just then, Dohun and Doyoung came running, accompanied by a mouse sent by Geumgeum.

"Father!"

Dohun spotted him and Arin, raising his voice. Doyoung rushed over and screeched,

"Geum Arin! Where were you? Do you know how worried we were?"

"Brother..."

Arin pouted, apologetic for always making everyone worry. Doyoung was about to launch into a scolding, but Dogyeong stopped him.

"It's resolved, so quiet down. No need to draw attention."

"But look at her—she's soaked like a wet puppy! What were you doing while she got drenched?"

Naturally, Doyoung turned his ire on Dogyeong. At the blatant filial disrespect, Dogyeong's brow twitched. Arin, with nothing to say, just averted her gaze. She had gotten her nice clothes and accessories soaked and lost.

"Ugh."

She groaned as reality set in.

"Finally realizing you messed up, are you?"

At Dohun's brief scolding, Arin nodded.

"I'm sorry."

"Looks like a daughter is worse than a son—turn my back for a second and she disappears."

As Dogyeong clicked his tongue, Arin hid her face and muttered,

"But you said I could do whatever I want..."

"Look at that—now she talks back."

"Hehe."

When Arin tried to smile her way out, Dogyeong, Dohun, and Doyoung all softened.

Doyoung lowered his hands from his hips and said, "Fine! I'll let it slide because you're cute!"

Dohun added, "Honestly, compared to Doyoung's messes, this is nothing."

"Right! If it were me, I'd have broken a leg by now!"

At Doyoung's thoughtless agreement, Dogyeong laughed dryly. They clearly had no intention of scolding her. As an adult, he should set an example.

Back at the quarters, Dogyeong planted his hands on his hips and declared,

"As punishment, no lullaby and no Dad tonight."

"Hmph."

Arin looked up at him pitifully, as if thunderstruck.

"I'm scared to sleep alone."

"And this scaredy-cat ignored my warning and went outside the formations?"

"Ugh..."

Unable to deny it, Arin squirmed. After a moment, she tugged at his sleeve.

"I'm sorry. You don't have to sing, but can't we sleep together?"

She blinked her big eyes, and Dogyeong faltered. He forced himself to look away and spoke sternly.

"No."

"Pff..."

She trudged off to the bath with Choryeong, looking defeated. Her repeated backward glances were pitiful.

Once in the next room, Dogyeong leaned against the wall and sighed.

"Hah—she's my daughter, but she's so cute it hurts."

He had almost fallen for her pleading eyes and ended up pinching her cheeks instead of punishing her. That night, he had to restrain himself from going to her room, as if he were the one being punished.

---

The next day, the Twelve House heads gathered in the meeting room, as if by prior arrangement. They had all sensed the strange commotion last night. The rain that had fallen for about half an hour was unmistakably the power of the White Dragon—a force that dulled the senses and scattered energies. The widespread thunder and lightning seemed designed to conceal something. It was too crude and incomplete to be the White Dragon King's work.

Most unusual was the Black Demon power mixed within the rain—a strange combination that all the heads had felt. White Dragon and Black Demon together required an explanation from the White Dragon.

As they waited for Baek Hyeonje, Cheong Haeju rested her chin on her hand and murmured,

"Honestly, throwing a feast while staging a show elsewhere—are they just mocking us?"

She then glanced at Hong Ijin.

"You must have been surprised, Head Hong—that power yesterday was clearly Baek Muje's."

At her probing remark, Hong Ijin didn't answer immediately, tapping the table. The widespread rain formation was too powerful to be a child's work—but it was dangerously incomplete. It was a reckless method that could easily injure the caster if it broke.

They were hiding Baek Muje's problems.

Hong Ijin, having stayed awake all night, had come at dawn. Just then, Baek Hyeonje and Geum Dogyeong entered together. Hong Ijin's gaze turned sour.

"How is it you two came together?"

Cheong Haeju smiled coquettishly and straightened her posture.

"Hm—so Master Geum was in on this game?"

Her mocking tone and cold gaze hung in the air. In the unusual tension, Baek Hyeonje spoke.

"I know you've all come because of yesterday's commotion. I'll explain everything."

The two were late because they had been wrapping up last night's business. Hyeonje had many questions after Jicheon reported Arin's abilities.

"So it wasn't the Divine Maiden—it was your daughter who improved my son's condition. Did you know about her power and take her from the Red Serpent House?"

"I only learned of it after taking her in. Her condition was very poor when I found her."

"Poor?"

"She was confined to the Red Serpent annex and had been neglected. If I hadn't found her, she would have died."

"Are you saying Head Hong abused her? Why?"

"Arin cannot transform."

Hearing of her inability, Hyeonje immediately understood—Hong Ijin had always been obsessively focused on status and twelfth-year abilities. Yet Hyeonje hadn't thought him so poor as to cast out his own child.

"A pathetic father—not knowing his own daughter held such great power."

"Don't worry about losing Arin—Hong Ijin already signed a document relinquishing custody."

"Hmm, it may not be that simple. He'll try to approach and persuade her. What if she chooses to go back? Then you can't stop her."

At Hyeonje's concerned question, Dogyeong laughed.

"Then I'll just work harder to make sure that doesn't happen."

"Master Geum."

"Hong Ijin is unworthy of being a father. And I'm not foolish enough to let a thug take a child I've taken into my arms."

Having seen how much Dogyeong adored Arin, Hyeonje knew he meant it. Hesitating, he broached a more important topic.

"You're well aware that she was originally intended to be Muje's match."

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