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Chapter 52

Just as Hong-bi was faltering, unable to answer, Yeon raised her hand.

"Master, Hong-bi seems flustered—may I speak on her behalf?"

The tutor smiled gently.

"Is Young Master Cheong also speaking on behalf of the clan head?"

"No! I'm still young and haven't learned much, so I can't speak for my father!"

While Aran watched with a chuckle, the kind-hearted Yeon smoothed over Joo Hong-bi's mistake.

"Actually, this isn't my own thought, but listening to her, I think I can guess what Hong-bi meant…"

"Is that so? What did she mean?"

"If the Vermilion Bird Palace were to fall, one of the divine beast palaces loyal to the imperial house would disappear. So protecting the Vermilion Bird Palace is ultimately for the sake of loyalty to the imperial house, isn't it?"

Joo Hong-bi nodded with tearful eyes.

"Th-that's right! Th-that's what I meant to say, but I was too flustered…"

"That's understandable. Now, next…"

The tutor smiled gently and quickly moved on to the next topic as if it were nothing.

Just as everyone opened their books, relieved to have safely crossed the thin ice, Aran stared blankly at Geon-u, who was seated directly across from her.

Even while Hong-bi and Yeon were answering questions, he'd kept staring straight ahead—and now he hadn't even opened his book?

But perhaps her gaze had been too obvious.

The next moment, Geon-u suddenly turned to look at Aran.

The moment their eyes met, Aran was startled.

Because his once-sparkling golden eyes had become dull and vacant, as if he were a different child entirely.

It had only been half a year since she'd last seen him, yet he looked so different.

Those darkened golden eyes couldn't even focus when they met Aran's—they simply rolled away lifelessly like a stone.

Oh no.

Aran thought to herself.

If Joo Hong-bi wouldn't sleep tonight, she'd knock her out if she had to—she had to get to the Crown Prince's palace.

---

Aran continued to observe Geon-u.

His vacant eyes, his aimlessly twitching fingers—in contrast to his completely motionless upper body.

She didn't need to learn much more, but the lesson's content just washed over her ears.

When class ended, she wanted to exchange even a single word with Geon-u.

But as soon as the tutor left, Geon-u was the first to rise and return to the Crown Prince's palace.

His head nanny had come to fetch him.

She followed to catch even a glimpse of his retreating back—but the Vermilion Bird cousins practically left the lecture hall at the same time, already bickering.

"Ow! Why did you hit me?"

Hong-bi, who had been suddenly smacked on the head by Hong-woo, protested in a high voice.

Of course, Joo Hong-woo wasn't about to stop.

"You idiot! Why did you say that? Why did you bring up Grandfather's words there!"

"B-but Grandfather really did say that!"

"Have some sense! Because of you, our entire palace almost suffered! Do you even realize that?"

"B-but when I was in trouble, you didn't help me! Even the Blue Dragon, who barely knows me, helped!"

In truth, Joo Hong-woo had wanted to help too.

If the Vermilion Bird Palace ended up being gravely misunderstood, Grandfather would have been furious.

But he didn't have the wit to navigate out of that predicament.

Unable to admit that, Hong-woo attacked another of Hong-bi's weaknesses.

"What? You don't even have a proper ability!"

Aran looked at Hong-woo in disbelief.

Joo Hong-woo—who in her previous life had become the Vermilion Bird clan head after her uncle Joo Yeom-gang.

Born having manifested the fire ability from the start, he'd been cherished as if he were the Vermilion Bird god's favorite.

But the flame ability, which had been expected to grow stronger, remained just as it was in childhood, even when he came of age.

As a result, her uncle Joo Yeom-gang had been anxious until his dying day, unable to pass the clan headship to the inadequate Hong-woo.

After being rejected by Aran, he'd even lamented that heaven had abandoned the Vermilion Bird Palace.

Of course, that was utter nonsense.

Who had failed to recognize the great Vermilion Bird that heaven had sent?

That was Joo Sang-ryun and Joo Yeom-gang—Aran's grandfather and uncle.

Anyway, it seemed that in the Vermilion Bird Palace without Aran, Joo Hong-bi was playing the role of the unwanted one.

Had Hong-bi's ability manifestation also been delayed?

Aran didn't particularly pity Hong-bi—she had her own problems—but Joo Hong-woo was utterly insufferable.

"What ability do you have?"

When Aran suddenly asked, Hong-woo looked around in disbelief.

"What? Are you talking to me? You dare speak to me unasked, when you're not even a direct-line member of a divine beast clan?"

What is he, the emperor?

Just as Aran snorted, a cold wind blew in from somewhere.

Joo Hong-woo flinched, and a chilly voice drew closer.

"If someone asks about your ability—which is clearly nothing special—you should be grateful for their interest and answer politely. Otherwise, you'll have a bad dream tonight."

The owner of the voice was, of course, Taeo.

Since Taeo was the only one who knew Aran was a Vermilion Bird and knew her abilities—or so Aran thought.

But Hyeon Taeo had also scared Joo Hong-bi excessively the previous day, robbing Aran of the chance to use her abilities.

With that mouth of his.

Just then, Joo Hong-woo snapped.

"What do you mean by that?"

He stepped forward toward Taeo and said.

"Hey, Black Tortoise. Even if the rumors of your powerful abilities are true, you're still three years younger than me, and in the imperial palace, you can't use your abilities anyway…"

Taeo casually stepped closer and asked.

"Is that so?"

At that, Joo Hong-woo flinched and stepped back.

The Black Tortoise youngest, who had been about the same height half a year ago, was now looking down at him.

Taeo smirked crookedly and asked.

"Suppose I can't use my abilities. Then what changes?"

"Well, I…"

Just then, the twins emerged from the lecture hall with a timid Sa-heum.

Even if he was a detestable cousin, she didn't want to see him being humiliated by the Black Tortoise youngest?

Hong-bi quickly approached Yeon.

"Th-thank you for earlier."

"It's nothing. You were startled too."

She throws around "older sister" so casually.

Aran was inwardly displeased, but she didn't stop smiling at Yeon.

My pretty child. How clever and kind.

As Aran's gaze shifted away, Joo Hong-woo tried to slip away quietly.

But without Taeo's permission, such a thing was impossible.

"I asked what ability you have."

Anyone watching would think Taeo was genuinely curious about Joo Hong-woo's ability.

But Aran would bet all her head feathers that Taeo didn't even know Hong-woo's name.

Joo Hong-woo snapped angrily.

"Fine, I'll tell you! I have the Vermilion Bird clan's unique fire ability! What use is that to someone who's not even a direct-line member of a divine beast clan!"

"Oh my, I thought it was something special."

Aran grinned and patted Hong-bi on the shoulder.

"Older sister, don't feel intimidated. That kind of flame can be made into a fire poker in no time. Are you envious of a human fire poker?"

"A f-fire poker?"

Even though it was clearly an insult to the Vermilion Bird, Hong-bi's lips seemed barely able to suppress a smile.

It seemed the contempt she'd suffered from Hong-woo had been considerable.

Just then, Joo Hong-woo strode toward Aran.

"You lowly girl, know your place!"

The fist that had been aimed at her—just as he'd done to Hong-bi—was caught in Taeo's grip long before it could reach her.

Only Hong-woo was flustered; Taeo's expression was utterly blank…

"Ahhh!"

When Hong-woo suddenly screamed, everyone's attention turned to them.

One of the nearby inspectors frowned and began approaching.

Taeo quietly released Joo Hong-woo's hand.

"What happened?"

When the inspector asked, Joo Hong-woo, as if he'd been waiting, tattled.

"He suddenly came at me and used his ability!"

"An ability?"

Taeo tilted his head and rolled up his sleeve, showing the restraint.

"I'm wearing my restraint properly."

The inspector confirmed the restraint on Taeo's wrist and shot a sharp look at Joo Hong-woo.

"Young master of the Vermilion Bird Palace—are you questioning the imperial palace's restraint?"

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