Chapter 20
Do-gyeong’s declaration of war left Hui-taek deep in thought.
Judging by his attitude, it seemed he wanted to hide which family the girl he had brought belonged to.
‘Hmm. Could this actually be an opportunity?’
If she wasn’t a candidate for a daughter-in-law, there was no need to be on guard.
Having finished his quick calculations, Hui-taek smoothed over the chaotic atmosphere.
“We certainly cannot oppose what the Family Head decides to do.”
“Hmm?”
Do-gyeong tilted his head, surprised that Hui-taek had backed down so easily.
However, Hui-taek’s true aim lay in his next words.
“However, since she must not be used to the estate yet, wouldn’t it be better if she had a friend to share her heart with?”
At the mention of a friend, Do-gyeong grasped the hidden intention and smirked.
“And?”
As he prompted him to continue, Hui-taek spoke.
“Why not make one of the daughters from the elders’ families a companion for the young lady? It would be best if they were of a similar age, of course.”
As it happened, Geum Hui-taek had an eight-year-old granddaughter.
She was a very quiet child whom he had already marked as a match for Do-hun since she was young.
Meanwhile, the mention of a “companion” caused a stir among the elders.
“Elder Hui-taek! Isn’t that a matter that should be decided through consultation among the elders?”
“I happen to have a six-year-old daughter.”
“Can it not be a boy? I have a son of that age.”
Just as the room was about to descend into chaos, with everyone desperate to push their own family’s children forward, Do-gyeong, who had been observing the situation, opened his mouth.
“That is a good idea. In that case, shouldn’t it be only right for the child to choose her own friend?”
It was not a bad proposal for Do-gyeong, who had been wanting to make friends for Arin anyway.
Though, of course, his intentions were not entirely pure.
‘It wouldn’t hurt for Arin to have at least one solid elder family on her side.’
Besides, even if they didn’t become friends, it would be convenient in the future to be familiar with the faces of the elders’ daughters.
Do-gyeong smiled broadly.
“I will arrange a welcome party soon. Arin will choose her playmates herself, so I hope there will be no complaints from anyone when that time comes.”
* * *
Since coming to the Golden Tiger Family, every meal had been so lavish it felt like the table legs would break.
After every meal, Eun-baek would come to check on her, bringing medicinal tonics.
It was due to the Family Head’s order to monitor Arin’s condition closely.
Gi Eun-baek, the head of the Golden Tiger Family’s Hall of Medicinal Immortals, was a physician who served only the Family Head and his direct lineage.
After Do-gyeong announced at the Council of Elders that he would adopt Arin as his daughter, many people from outside had requested to see her every day, but all had been turned away.
There was only one reason: Arin still did not know about this situation.
“This is a tonic to nourish your body.”
As Eun-baek held out the medicine, Arin squeezed her eyes shut and gulped it down.
“Oh, you did very well.”
When he followed up by offering a sugar candy, Arin accepted it with a shy smile.
Having observed Arin’s condition for the past few days, Eun-baek had noticed a very strange fact.
Normally, if there was no gate to the Spirit Core, the energy would become blocked, causing the power to dissipate from within or putting a strain on the body.
That was why the tonics he had been preparing for Arin used medicinal herbs that helped her neutralize the energy on her own.
‘But it feels as if her energy is actually surging and growing stronger.’
It was a sign he had never seen in his life, and it was only a few days ago that he had reported it directly to Do-gyeong.
‘Lady Arin’s body is truly mysterious. I have never seen a case like this.’
‘Perhaps our Arin is a genius.’
‘Pardon? Family Head, this is no joke. If her energy continues to grow like this, it could be dangerous…’
‘Ah, from now on, use the herbs written on this note to make her tonics.’
Do-gyeong had cut him off, and the note he handed over contained herbs that harmonized the energy of Yin and Yang, as well as herbs that further stimulated the energy.
For Eun-baek, who had advised finding a way to block the energy, the contents were baffling.
‘Did you hear me correctly? These herbs are the polar opposite of what Lady Arin needs. If you are not careful, Lady Arin might not be able to withstand the energy of her Spirit Core, and something terrible could happen.’
‘Do you think I don’t know that?’
‘Pardon?’
‘Just do it. This is something the Divine Priestess Yeo-ryeong ordered herself.’
‘What does that mean…?’
‘Listen well, Eun-baek. Arin is one of the Twelve Zodiacs whom the Divine Priestess is personally watching over. So, keep your ears open and your mouth shut.’
That was a stern warning not to leak Arin’s condition to the outside world.
At the mention of Yeo-ryeong’s order, Eun-baek could no longer argue.
To think that not only the Family Head but even the Divine Priestess Yeo-ryeong had their eyes on this child.
‘There is clearly something even more immense hidden here than I thought.’
Perhaps Lady Arin would be summoned to the Village of the Twelve Zodiac Deities before long.
Even so, he couldn’t help but worry.
Eun-baek visited Arin every day to examine her personally, and he soon had to admit that Yeo-ryeong’s diagnosis was accurate.
Arin was accepting the changed herbs quite well.
Seeing that his worries were unnecessary, Eun-baek’s heart felt much lighter.
Just then, Cho-ryeong spoke up.
“By the way, have you heard the news? A welcome party for Lady Arin is going to be held soon.”
“A welcome party?”
“They say children of a similar age to Lady Arin from the elder families will be invited too. Won’t that be fun?”
Arin’s eyes sparkled at the mention of children her own age being invited.
“Really?”
She had become close enough with Cho-ryeong to speak informally, but Do-yeong was the only peer she had met since coming here.
Seeing the anticipation in her eyes, Cho-ryeong chuckled.
“Are you that happy?”
Arin’s expression, which had been nodding vigorously, clouded over for a moment.
A moment later, Arin fidgeted with her hands and asked quietly.
“……But if they are children from the elder families, I have to make a good impression, right?”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t want to be a burden to the Mister……”
Arin’s worries stemmed from memories of the children of the elder families back when she was at the Red Snake Family.
A child she had been very close to at the time had turned cold and walked away after learning of Arin’s situation, leaving her deeply hurt.
But now, Arin’s situation was even worse than it had been then.
To them, she was nothing more than a stone that had rolled in from nowhere.
As her face darkened in an instant, Cho-ryeong didn’t know what to do. Suddenly, Arin’s body felt as if it were floating into the air, and she was scooped up into a broad embrace.
Recognizing the person, Arin beamed.
“Mister!”
“This child becomes a storm cloud the moment I take my eyes off her. Who told you that you had to cater to the whims of the elder families’ children?”
“But…… I am an outsider, and they are people who have been raised preciously here.”
“If I cherish you, what do those elder families matter?”
Do-gyeong dismissed it as unnecessary worry, but Arin could not be reassured.
In fact, the decisive reason Hong I-jin had confined Arin to the Annex was because of the elders.
At the time, Arin had been summoned to the Council of Elders and had to endure their cold glares and stinging words.
That was how powerful the elders were in the Red Snake Family.
“I’m just worried that I might cause you trouble.”
She looked at Do-gyeong with an innocent expression, yet her eyes were filled with concern.
Seeing this tiny child worrying about him, Do-gyeong curled the corners of his lips.
“I see. Is this all because you’re worried about me?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you want to have friends?”
“I do want them, but…… I don’t want to make them by force.”
Because she didn’t want to be rejected and hurt again.
Seeing her unexpectedly firm attitude, Do-gyeong felt relieved.
He had been worried that Arin might be swayed by the children of the elder families.
“Hmm. In that case, there is one way to get rid of that worry all at once.”
As Do-gyeong hinted at it, Cho-ryeong covered her mouth and giggled, and Eun-baek shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.
They already knew that it had been decided to adopt Arin as his daughter.
However, Arin, who had no inkling of such inner workings, asked innocently.
“What is that?”
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