Home/The very suspicious chick of the Blue Dragon clan/ch 28

Chapter 28

Cheongun nodded with a gentle smile.

"Yes, Taeo must have been very happy to meet our Aran."

In truth, he had suspected that the youngest might be bullied by his brothers in the survival-of-the-fittest Black Tortoise Palace, but the reply letter that arrived that morning had cleared away those doubts.

The current Great Lord had been anxiously worried about his child, who had disappeared without a trace, and had sent his earnest request to Cheongun.

Since the young master of the Black Tortoise Palace held relatively little power, a grown young master couldn't easily harm the youngest, whom the clan head cherished so dearly.

So the reason the Black Tortoise Palace's youngest had come here must have been entirely of his own free will.

Taeo continued, sounding genuinely disappointed.

"Yes, but it's only been a few days. When we part next week, I don't know when I'll ever see Ran-ie again."

At that, Yeon suddenly gasped.

She probably hadn't considered Taeo's position until he explained it. Kind as she was, she was still just a child who had barely emerged from infancy.

As the startled baby Blue Dragon listened closely, Taeo's voice continued.

"So I didn't think about other… friends. If I hurt anyone because of that, I want to say I'm sorry."

With Taeo acting so docile, the tender-hearted Yeon couldn't hold out.

"S-sorry…!"

Yeon cried out, even more tearful than Taeo.

"You're right! I've been with Arani all year, and I was being too narrow-minded…"

Then Min tilted his head with an innocent expression.

"So are we all going to play together now? You, you're really good at running?"

Cheongun burst out laughing.

With such a simple solution…!

Having also extracted enough information about the Black Tortoise god from Taeo, Aran happily cut in.

"Peep?"

(Taeo, will you play with the kids?)

At Aran's question, Taeo's face, which had clearly read "I'm dying of boredom," brightened.

"If Ran-ie wants me to."

At that, Cheongun thought about taking the children for a walk to the training grounds.

But Taeo suddenly pulled a teacup on the table toward him and looked at the twins.

"Or should I show you my ability?"

"For real?"

The twins already had their heads buried in front of the teacup, as if something momentous was about to happen.

Taeo looked up at Cheongun as if seeking permission.

"Is it alright? Would you like to see it too, Great Lord?"

Cheongun hesitated for a moment.

The current Great Lord probably wouldn't want his youngest's ability shown off so casually.

But well, as a lodging fee for a few nights, it wasn't too expensive, was it?

Soon, his brown eyes glinted mischievously.

"Of course. It would be an honor to see it with my own eyes."

---

Cheongun looked at the appropriately filled teacup and recalled the Black Tortoise clan's abilities.

Water, detoxification, and ice manipulation—these were the main known abilities of the Northern Black Tortoise Palace.

If the Black Tortoise clan, known to command the submission of beasts from birth, could show something with a teacup…

Taeo gazed down at the teacup with a proud look, then blew on it with a hoo.

The children were watching with wide eyes, but the most surprised of all was Cheongun.

A thin layer of ice had formed on the steaming tea.

"Wow…!"

The twins exclaimed in unison, as if they'd never fought, and Taeo also curled the corners of his mouth with pride.

Aran also chirped in amazement.

But that wasn't the end.

Taeo concentrated on the ice atop the teacup—and then—

Crrr-ack!

The thin ice cracked, and ice fragments floated on the tea.

"Wow…! Amazing!"

As the innocent twins clapped and praised him, the floating ice fragments gradually vanished into the air.

After using his concentration for the first time in a while, Taeo caught his breath. His cheeks were flushed, but his mismatched eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"Peep, peep?"

(Wow, Taeo, you're really amazing. When did you get the ice ability?)

At the same time Aran asked, Cheongun also spoke.

"An ice ability. I know it's a rare ability even in the Black Tortoise Palace—the Great Lord certainly has reason to boast."

Taeo looked back and forth between Aran and Cheongun and answered.

"It's an ability I gained recently. But because of this ability, I hurt a maid and was punished."

"Peep?"

(So that's why you were locked in the library?)

"…It wasn't intentional, was it?"

Aran and Cheongun asked simultaneously, and Taeo nodded to both of them.

"Yes."

"Good. If you've reflected, that's enough."

As Cheongun chuckled, Aran had to swallow a sigh.

"Now stop worrying your big brother and get along, you little ones."

The moment Cheongun finished speaking, the twins rushed to Taeo.

"Taeo, freeze mine too!"

"Mine too!"

Of course, Taeo's gaze was fixed solely on Aran.

"Pipi."

(Be nice to the kids. If the twins like you, we can meet more often and grow closer.)

Is that how it works?

As if realizing something very important, Taeo's eyes went wide, and he nodded earnestly.

Soon, the twins' cups were frozen solid, one after another—as was only natural.

---

After Taeo had his belated realization, a few peaceful days passed.

In the meantime, the Blue Dragon brothers' departure for the imperial capital drew near.

On the last night with Aran, Taeo waited for So-rim to fall asleep before quietly speaking.

"Ran-ah, can't you come with me?"

"Pik?"

(What?)

Aran, half-asleep, was startled and asked back, and Taeo answered in a dejected voice.

"The Black Tortoise Palace is lonely and boring. My many brothers don't even come to see me."

After overhearing about the reply letter from the Black Tortoise Palace, Aran had guessed that Taeo's claim of being oppressed by his family was largely a misunderstanding.

Still, perhaps she should have been more considerate of Taeo's feelings.

"Pip?"

(How are things with your family?)

Aran asked with belated concern, and Taeo hesitated slightly before answering.

"Well… I often feel like everyone is afraid of me."

Aran instinctively moved closer to Taeo.

"Pit??"

(Is that really true? Everyone? Even though you're this young?)

Taeo quietly nodded.

"The young master—my oldest brother—came to see me just once on the day I was born, and since then he's been focused on ability training. He seems to feel threatened by my existence."

"Piyat?"

(What ability does your oldest brother have?)

"He can move water."

Aran carefully studied Taeo's expression and asked again.

"Fit-fit?"

(You can do that too, can't you?)

This time, Taeo looked at Aran with surprised eyes and asked back.

"How did you know?"

How did she know?

An ice ability doesn't just appear out of nowhere.

Of course, if you can control water, you can also freeze it. The Black Tortoise clan head must have noticed, and Cheongun as well.

"Ran-ie is smart…"

When Aran didn't answer, Taeo carefully stroked the chick's round head and added.

"But my oldest brother doesn't know yet. I won't show him."

Aran thought for a moment, then asked again.

"Peep?"

(But the Great Lord really cherishes you, doesn't he?)

At that, Taeo's eyes curved as he smiled softly.

"If even my father truly oppressed me, could I win your sympathy and bring you to the Black Tortoise Palace?"

"Bbaeng?"

(You—can't you just answer properly?)

Aran was about to snap, but carefully added.

"Peep."

(Taeo, my home is here. And a young Vermilion Bird can't survive in the north.)

"Yes, I know that, but…"

Taeo drew the chick closer to his body and closed his eyes.

"Then while we're apart, at least I hope Ran-ie will think of me often. Every day."

"Peep-peep!!"

(I will think of you! I'll think of you, so just answer the question properly! The Great Lord does cherish you, right?)

But Taeo only held Aran close to his heart and murmured one last time.

"What does it matter? Other than Ran-ie, no one can hurt this body anyway…"

"Bbaeng. Peep!?"

(That's not an answer. Taeo, Taeo! Are you asleep? Are you really asleep?)

Had he really fallen asleep?

No answer came back.

No matter how exceptional he was, a child was still a child.

He was leaving at dawn, and he didn't even seem to feel sorry…?

Alone with her lingering attachment, Aran listened to the child's thumping heartbeat.

—In return, take care of Taeo of the Black Tortoise clan.

Recalling the divine voice that somehow seemed to grow clearer, she murmured to herself.

"Pibib, pik?"

(This kid—when this body is far away, I trust you, God, will watch over him. Do you hear me?)

Yet the god, who sent leaf-letters whenever it suited him, pretended not to hear and gave no answer.

---

The next morning, when Aran opened her eyes, Taeo was sitting at the desk drawing a hexagonal array.

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