Home/The very suspicious chick of the Blue Dragon clan/ch 21

Chapter 21

Well, I did say that, but that was earlier…

Just then, Hwi winked and whispered in Aran's ear.

"Little one, I don't translate strange things. No one here is disappointed—who are you apologizing to?"

Aran didn't give up and kept pressing.

"Pik-pik. Piyat?"

(No. I accidentally heard Father say he was disappointed yesterday. I'm not trying to blame him—I'm truly sorry, so can't you just translate it properly this time?)

At that, Hwi suddenly looked straight at Cheongun.

"Father, did you tell Aran yesterday that you were disappointed? She says she heard you. If you did, then I'm the one who's disappointed."

Aran was so startled she flew right up from Hwi's palm.

"Pi—peep!"

(Hey, how could you tattle like that—!)

They say there's no one you can trust in this world.

Since Hwi always knew how to distinguish what to say and what not to say, Aran had spoken honestly to him…!

While Aran flew awkwardly around her new room, a question formed in Cheongun's sandy eyes.

"Disappointed in Aran? For what?"

Huh? Well…

Wait, are you backtracking now?

I clearly heard it yesterday!

---

So here's what really happened…

"What if the young miss is upset? I don't think she'll be able to do it by tomorrow."

After hearing about Aran's condition from So-rim, Huirim expressed his concern first.

"Indeed. What if Aran is terribly disappointed?"

"So-rim says she seems quite anxious—more than usual. This is really unfortunate."

And Cheongun had merely worried about Aran along with him.

"Pit…"

(No, I couldn't hear properly because of the distance…)

Instead of translating Aran's words, Hwi lightly scolded her.

"That's a bad habit, eavesdropping, Peep-peep."

"Pik! Pit…"

(I wasn't trying to eavesdrop! I was just getting some air because I was frustrated, and I happened to hear…)

Aran was now almost relieved that she hadn't obtained human form yet.

If she'd been in human form, her face would have turned redder than a persimmon.

As she nervously moved her head around, Hwi once again produced an arbitrary interpretation.

"She says she misheard and she's sorry."

Only then did Aran droop both wings and hang her head.

Hwi was right.

Now was the proper time to apologize.

Just as she'd thought her family wouldn't come looking for her during the Twin Dragon Festival, Aran had once again underestimated their hearts.

She had assumed they would evaluate and be disappointed in her.

Because the hundred years Aran had experienced were filled with such people.

Cheongun quietly drew the deflated Aran into his palm.

"Your father made you worry, so even a casual remark sounded frightening. It's your father's fault."

Great Lord, can the ruler of this vast land afford to be so lenient? How could everything be your fault?

Aran thought that inwardly, but she could no longer use such words to keep Cheongun at a distance.

"Peep…"

(No, Father. I'm sorry for misunderstanding.)

Hwi stroked Aran's head and interpreted freely once again.

"Aran says she'll be a cute youngest daughter from now on, Father."

Aran's incredulous gaze turned to Hwi, but he didn't seem to care in the slightest.

Cheongun chuckled.

"Even cuter than now? Aran, you dangerous little thing…!"

Aran looked back and forth between the two of them.

The Blue Dragons, foolishly kind…

From her small, black eyes, tears finally burst forth.

She hadn't even cried when she was born…

"Pipi…"

(Among all the fools of the Blue Dragon Palace, the biggest fool is surely the eldest brother…)

As she grumbled for no reason, Hwi wiped her tears and smiled brightly.

"Yeah, I know—you love your big brother the most."

As always, it was a completely bogus translation.

---

A few days later, Su-ryeon was helping Aran, who was in the middle of flight practice in the garden.

It wasn't much help, really.

He just watched Aran flutter around here and there, and when she landed, he'd subtly catch her so she wouldn't crash.

If he ever gave her a little push with the wind when she seemed tired, Aran would immediately notice and complain.

"Peep-peep!"

He didn't know what she was saying, but the tone was full of dissatisfaction.

Su-ryeon snickered and retorted.

"What are you saying? It's not like I'm helping you—I'm just practicing my ability too."

"Bbaeng-bbaeng! Piriririt!"

"What, I'm busy too, so stop talking to me, will you?"

Su-ryeon, pretending otherwise, followed her around helping her practice, while also observing Aran.

In fact, he'd spent the past few days practically living in the library, reading every book about Vermilion Birds. But the more he recalled what he'd read, the more he sighed.

Because there were far too few points in the descriptions of Vermilion Birds that matched Aran.

According to the books, Aran had hatched later than ordinary Vermilion Birds, was slower to walk and fly, and hadn't even obtained human form on time.

Su-ryeon sighed repeatedly when a certain bulbul flew over to Aran, who was perched on a low bush.

"Chik-bak! Jjaek-bbak!"

But for some reason, Aran recoiled in disgust.

"Bbaeng! Peep!"

Then, as Su-ryeon approached, she urgently flew into his arms.

"Oh dear…"

Su-ryeon caught Aran, flustered, and calmly stroked her startled head.

"Peep-peep, were you scared? That's just a bulbul. It's not dangerous."

"Peep-peep!"

Still frightened, Aran trembled.

Watching her, Su-ryeon's expression went blank for a moment.

Even if the youngest was very young, a mere bulbul dares to come and threaten a Vermilion Bird beastman?

Wait a minute—why exactly does Father think Aran is a Vermilion Bird beastman?

Where on earth is the evidence that Aran is a Vermilion Bird?

The other family members had already resolved their doubts long ago, but for Su-ryeon, who hadn't acknowledged Aran as family, this was a new and serious problem.

Is Aran… really a beastman?

While he fell into an absurd worry, Aran cried out excitedly.

"Pik, pibibit…!!!"

(Su-ryeon, that thing brought me a cricket! How foolish! A great Vermilion Bird doesn't eat crickets! And it's still alive…!)

It was the fluttering cricket that had startled her!

"Peep-peep!"

(Hah, this is a disaster! That dim-witted hawk from the festival must have spread word that this body lives here. How tiresome…)

Unaware of that, Su-ryeon continued to worry on his own.

What if Aran isn't actually a beastman?

What if she's waiting to obtain human form because we've made her believe she is one?

---

Meanwhile, at the Black Tortoise Palace.

Taeo had been confined to the library as punishment for the previous incident, ordered to read all the books.

No matter how clever and fast-growing he was, it couldn't have been easy for Ui-cheon to punish a youngest child not yet a year old.

Day after day, Ui-cheon paced in front of the library, wondering if Taeo was eating and sleeping well.

Finally, when a week had passed, eager to somehow forgive the child, he opened the library door and entered.

He paused briefly, pressing his forehead at the sight of his son sprawled brazenly with both feet up on the desk.

Whether he'd even read any books or not, the area around the child was littered with stained and crumpled papers and small beads of unknown purpose.

"…Taeo-ya."

Taeo only turned his head to glance at his father, then sluggishly—like a grub—turned his body and barely sat up.

Considering that the child could move as quickly as an adult, it was infuriating, but by now Ui-cheon felt it was a relief that he'd even gotten up.

Hiding a sigh, Ui-cheon asked.

"Did you read a lot of books this week?"

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