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Chapter 39

"My dear, shall I carry you?"

As Cheongun asked quickly, Aran nodded at once.

She absolutely could not risk anyone from the Vermilion Bird Palace recognizing her.

No one must yet know that she was a Vermilion Bird.

Cheongun lightly seated Aran on one arm and continued walking in the direction of the twins.

So-rim and Huirim walked on either side of the twins, with dozens of Blue Dragon Guard members following before and behind—a grand procession.

But the approaching Vermilion Bird Palace procession was even larger and more splendid.

Given their clan's nature, they loved flashy adornments and placed great importance on appearances—so this was only natural.

Led by direct-line members in crimson silk robes, dozens of Black Crow Guard members in black clothing walked with proud bearing.

When the two divine beast processions finally passed each other, it was Cheongun who stopped first.

"It's been a while, Great Lord Joo."

Though the greeting was casual, delivered with Aran in his arms, the Black Crow Guard quickly parted to both sides like water splitting.

Through the naturally formed path, the Southern Great Lord Joo Sang-ryun walked out, holding the hands of his grandson and granddaughter.

As Aran trembled with instinctive antipathy, a large hand patted her back gently.

As if to say it's alright, nothing will happen.

Only then did Aran come to her senses, and a familiar voice reached her ears.

"It's been a while, Lord Cheong."

Her grandfather, Joo Sang-ryun—who in the long memories of her previous life had conveniently said that a pitiful wretch like her might as well die.

"Did you only bring your grandsons and granddaughter this time?"

When Cheongun asked, Joo Sang-ryun smiled faintly.

"Yes. My grown sons are old and no fun—no point dragging them along."

Cheongun then bowed his head briefly in condolence.

"Please accept my condolences once again regarding your youngest daughter."

Joo Sang-ryun's youngest.

That was Aran's mother.

It wasn't that she'd had no hopes, but it seemed her mother had still passed away early in this life as well.

Just as Aran was feeling heartache at hearing news of her mother for the first time from Cheongun's arms—

Joo Sang-ryun tried to appear composed as he introduced his granddaughter.

"Instead, I have my granddaughter to keep me from feeling lonely these days. She's as clever and affectionate as my late youngest. Greet him, Hong-bi. This is the Lord of the Eastern Quarter."

Then a shy, childish voice rang out.

"Hello… I'm Joo Hong-bi."

This time, Aran couldn't help but turn around.

In her previous life, the cousins who had lived proudly and happily in the family that had abandoned her.

The cousins who, living such comfortable and prosperous lives, had reported Okdan for stealing a mere handful of grain, ultimately causing her death.

The truly venomous and utterly different Hong-bi from her previous life was just a small child, even shorter than Taeo.

But she was unmistakably a Vermilion Bird, with pale crimson hair and scarlet eyes—easily recognizable as a Vermilion Bird to anyone.

"Yes. It's my first time meeting you, Hong-bi. Your hair is as lovely as maple leaves."

Cheongun received the greeting warmly, then gently stroked Aran's hair and asked softly.

"Shall our Aran say hello too?"

Aran had no desire to greet Joo Hong-bi at all, but if she just stayed in Cheongun's arms, she might seem like a slow child.

And she absolutely didn't want to give Joo Sang-ryun any satisfaction—so she reluctantly stepped down from Cheongun's embrace.

Then she politely clasped her hands together and bowed.

"I greet the Great Lord of the South. I am Cheong Aran."

Joo Sang-ryun looked down at Aran with a evaluating gaze.

"Yes, a bird beastman, is it?"

Silver hair that didn't suit the Cheong surname at all, black eyes, a height still much smaller than Hong-bi's, wrists without even a restraint.

At that moment, Aran realized.

Her grandfather did not recognize her at all. In this life, he truly had no knowledge of Aran's existence.

And yet.

Joo Sang-ryun turned his gaze away from Aran without a shred of lingering attachment, shaking his head at Cheongun as if to say he couldn't be helped.

"Really, Cheongun—you're even more eccentric than your late father."

Joo Sang-ryun still dismissed Aran.

He even dismissed Cheongun as an eccentric for adopting Aran, who was not of his blood, and bringing her all the way here.

Aran straightened her hunched shoulders.

A fool who couldn't recognize his own granddaughter, who possessed the nearly extinct Vermilion Bird Illusion ability, even when she stood right before him.

If Joo Sang-ryun was going to throw away this opportunity that had come again, then Aran had no reason to fear such a fool.

It was actually Cheongun who was eager to hide Aran's identity.

Cheongun quickly introduced the twins.

"Yeon-ah, Min-ah. Shouldn't you greet him too?"

After the twins, Hong-bi's older cousin and Aran's cousin, Joo Hong-woo, also greeted them.

"I am Joo Hong-woo."

Though Joo Hong-woo was three years older, he seemed about the same height as Taeo.

Aran's small head tilted once more.

Ah, this great Vermilion Bird had merely come to eliminate Je Geon-u for the sake of our dear Lord Cheongun's peaceful life.

And—what perfect timing—here you are?

---

That evening, the emperor personally hosted a banquet for the direct-line beastmen of the divine beast palaces.

At the head table sat the emperor and the four divine beast clan heads; the remaining direct-line beastmen were seated across from each other at long tables placed a few steps away.

Since this was the young Crown Prince's first Divine Beast Festival, the youngest of each palace had been specially invited, and there were no small number of guardians and attendants standing against the walls.

Aran had to sit between the twins as the palace attendants directed—a fact that greatly displeased Taeo.

"Why can't I sit next to Ran-ie?"

Though his complaining voice was low, judging by how his lips were pursed, it didn't seem like he'd let it go easily.

Yeon let out a preemptive sigh, and Aran smiled brightly at Taeo, who was sitting across from her.

"I like sitting across from Taeo like this, though?"

At that, Taeo's mismatched eyes rolled shyly—it seemed Aran's words had worked.

Aran was trying to coax Taeo into staying put when an unexpected voice cut in from beside her.

"Hello? So you're the famous Hyeon Taeo?"

It was Joo Hong-bi, seated right next to Taeo.

The day before, she'd been shy and hesitant in front of Cheongun, so Aran had thought she was just a timid child—but perhaps not?

Or maybe she was just making an effort to make friends with peers her age?

The problem was that she'd chosen the wrong person to befriend.

Anyone else seated at this table—except Taeo—would surely have answered her.

But her opponent was the lone wolf Hyeon Taeo.

Aside from Aran, perhaps only the Crown Prince could elicit a response from him.

However, the Crown Prince had excused himself due to ill health and was absent—leaving only Joo Hong-bi flustered, blinking in confusion.

Her stamen-like crimson lashes fluttered like a fan, which was quite adorable—but one had to look at her to notice that.

Taeo, as if he hadn't heard his own name at all, kept his eyes fixed entirely on Aran and whined.

"But it's still too far. I came all the way to the imperial capital for Ran-ie."

From each divine beast palace to the imperial capital was equally distant.

So Taeo's complaint was nonsensical—but to Aran right now, it was simply amusing.

Ah, of course—not at Taeo, but at Joo Hong-bi's expression.

In fact, if Aran wished it, Taeo would accept Hong-bi's greeting.

After all, he'd even come to get along reasonably well with the twin Blue Dragons, whom he'd initially ignored.

But Aran had no intention of being kind to Hong-bi.

The adults had been the ones to abuse and neglect her younger self in her previous life—setting that aside—Okdan's death had clearly involved her Vermilion Bird cousins as well.

The problem was that it felt a bit petty to take revenge on a child for something that hadn't even happened in this life…

Just then, Hong-bi suddenly spoke up.

"Ran-ie? Are you close with that Cheong Aran?"

Did seeing each other once make it okay to call her "that"?

Just as Aran turned around in exasperation—

Taeo spoke in a voice as cold as permafrost.

"What gives you the right to call Ran-ie's name so casually?"

Huh…?

This is entertaining, but is it really alright to just watch?

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