Chapter 14
— — —
However, he could not reveal such inner thoughts to a child who had only just decided to follow him.
"First, you must be treated. There are too many scrapes on your delicate body."
"I can walk."
As Arin tried to climb down, fidgeting, Do-hun held her firmly and issued a warning.
"After crying like that? If you don't want to trip and fall again, stay still."
He had knit his brows to try and scare her, but—
"……Hehe."
Arin just giggled, as if something were funny.
Perhaps it was because she now knew his words weren't a threat?
Having longed for the warmth of another person, Arin found that she truly liked Do-hun, who treated her without hesitation.
After all, everyone had been busy avoiding her ever since it was discovered that she could not perform the Phantom Beast Transformation.
"I think you are a truly good person, sir."
At her honest words, which had slipped out before she could stop them, the corners of Do-hun's mouth curled up in satisfaction.
She had been so terrified before, yet now she was chattering away quite well.
On one hand, he felt a wave of worry. Knowing how lonely Arin must have been to open her heart so wide over such a small gesture of kindness.
Do-hun pinched Arin’s cheek lightly and chided her.
"I can't tell if that's a compliment or an insult."
"Hehe."
"You’re far too generous with your laughter."
"Should I not laugh?"
"Who said you shouldn't? In the Golden Tiger Family, you may do whatever you wish. Are you not the child who threw a punch at the Family Head of the Golden Tiger Family? With that kind of spirit, there is nothing in this world you cannot do."
"……Please don't tease me."
The one she should be angry at was Older Brother I-jin, yet she found herself taking her frustration out on Do-hun for no reason.
As Arin grew sullen again, Do-hun added,
"Keep acting as you do now. If anyone tries to harm you, fight back."
"What if the opponent is stronger than me?"
"What does that matter when I am by your side?"
As Do-hun smiled with a playful glint in his eyes, his fangs were revealed.
The sharp fangs that would have felt terrifying before now felt reassuring.
"Yes!"
Arin answered vigorously and beamed at Do-hun.
It was a day when the sun finally shone brightly in Arin’s season, which had been filled only with dark clouds.
* * *
Once Arin made her decision, Geum Do-hun prepared to leave Red Snake Village without a shred of regret.
Before leaving, Arin left a letter in the room where she had stayed.
Just in case her family might come looking for her.
It was an act born from a desire to leave behind at least a final farewell.
Sadly, her family did not even come to see her off.
Even though they could not have missed such a large carriage.
Arin, who had kept looking back, eventually gave up and offered a bitter smile.
And so, she set off on a journey, having let go of the last of her lingering attachments.
For Arin, who had never left Red Snake Village, the road to Golden Tiger Village was like another world.
As they entered Golden Tiger Village, even the air felt different.
The warm breeze was tinged with a faint scent of salt.
Before long, when the vast sea stretching beyond the window came into view—
"Wow! Is that what they call the sea?"
Arin, who had been sitting quietly the whole time, leaned her face against the carriage window, her eyes sparkling.
The sea, seen for the first time in her life.
The sunlight reflecting off the water was as beautiful as jewels.
The sky and the sea, with the horizon between them, mirrored each other, and a flock of seagulls soared leisurely above.
"It’s so pretty!"
As Arin exclaimed in wonder and leaned further out the window, Do-hun grabbed her by the waist.
"You’ll fall out at this rate."
"Hehe."
Arin relied on Do-hun’s arm to gaze at the sea to her heart's content.
Do-hun glanced down at her.
'What is this?'
'It is a letter Arin left for you.'
'…….'
'It seems she wanted to leave a farewell on her way out.'
He had wanted to throw it away the moment he found it, but because he was Arin’s biological father, he delivered it.
He felt he understood Arin’s heart, wanting to deliver at least one final letter.
Hong I-jin had merely touched the letter blankly and said nothing.
He had hoped that, as her father, his heart might be swayed, but—
Because he had left at dawn, Arin hadn't even seen her father’s face.
'He could have at least seen her off.'
In any case, he was a man who had not a single redeeming quality until the very end.
He had been worried about Arin, who kept looking back as she left the house.
Seeing her spirits lift like this put his mind at ease.
Do-hun stared intently at Arin’s cheeks, which were puffed up with excitement.
It was incredibly cute how her soft, round cheeks jiggled with joy.
How long had he been watching her?
Golden Tiger Family came into view in the distance.
"We have arrived."
* * *
As news of Geum Do-hun’s return spread, the second son of the Golden Tiger Family, Geum Do-yeong, headed straight for the main hall while in the middle of sword training.
Since he had traveled far, he would surely have brought back an armful of gifts.
He had heard from his nanny that the red yakgwa in Red Snake Village was particularly delicious.
Taking after Do-hun, he loved sweets, and he was already salivating.
And when he arrived at the main hall, what met Do-yeong’s eyes was a small, frail child.
"Is it delicious?"
"Yes! It’s delicious!"
His father was sitting the girl on his lap and feeding her a dried persimmon.
And not just any, but the precious, high-quality dried persimmon that had been carefully ripened throughout the winter!
'He told me there weren't any left!'
It had been a white lie for Do-yeong, who often got upset stomachs, but he had no way of knowing that.
'Who on earth is she?'
The child ate the dried persimmon, which was as big as her face, with gusto.
She ate it with such delight that even Do-yeong’s mouth began to water.
Just then, the whispers of passing servants reached Do-yeong’s ears.
"Who is that child that he dotes on her so much? I’ve never seen the Family Head make a face like that. Did you hear anything?"
"I don't know either. I only received orders to clear out the Plum Blossom Hall so she could stay there."
"Plum Blossom Hall? That’s where the direct-line daughters stay. Could it be that the Family Head……."
Because the servants lowered their voices further, Do-yeong couldn't hear the rest, but it was enough to guess the implication.
Especially since the child’s eyes were gold.
"That’s impossible."
As the unique trait of the Twelve Zodiac families appeared in the child, Do-yeong’s misunderstanding only grew.
In shock, Do-yeong dropped the wooden sword he was holding onto the floor with a thud.
* * *
As soon as they arrived at the Golden Tiger Family, Arin was startled.
She had thought they were traveling along a coastal road, but in reality, they were on the sea.
A bridge created by the divine power of the Golden Tiger.
The Golden Tiger, the guardian of the Golden Tiger Family, possessed the power of the earth and had protected the Village of the Twelve Zodiac Deities for generations.
The Village of the Twelve Zodiac Deities, located in the middle of the sea, could only be entered by crossing the bridge of the Golden Tiger Family.
It was truly a fortress built upon the sea.
An elusive path that no unauthorized person could ever enter.
As they entered along that path, the Golden Tiger Family stood at the very forefront of the Village of the Twelve Zodiac Deities.
"Whoa."
Arin stepped out of the carriage, letting out continuous exclamations.
It felt as if the mysterious power connecting the land and the island could be felt throughout her entire body.
It was a land that felt overwhelming yet invigorating.
"How is it? Is it not more magnificent than the Red Snake Family?"
At Do-hun’s boastful words, Arin nodded vigorously.
The Red Snake Family was famous for its beauty, but it lacked the imposing aura of the Golden Tiger Family.
A place where one could naturally feel the dignity of a family that had guarded the Divine Priestess for generations.
"It’s so magnificent!"
"Ahem."
Do-hun’s shoulders bobbed, clearly in a good mood.
Meanwhile, Yeo-ryeong stepped out of the carriage that had been following behind.
Since they had traveled separately the entire way, Arin watched her with curiosity.
Yeo-ryeong was covering her face with a thick cloth.
'She doesn't seem to be able to see ahead.'
Just as Arin was staring, worried that Yeo-ryeong might trip, Yeo-ryeong suddenly approached her.
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