Chapter 8
After all, a half-wit who couldn't even perform the Phantom Beast Transformation was of no use to the Red Snake Family.
Though her own time maintaining the transformation was still short, it was something that could be increased over time.
The gap between being unable to do it at all and simply being lacking was immense.
‘You will be the future mistress of the White Dragon Family.’
Recalling the words Hong I-jin said as if it were a habit, So-so felt as satisfied as if she already possessed everything.
Just then, her maid spoke up.
“Oh my, is this a ribbon I haven’t seen before?”
“Ah, that.”
The ribbon the maid mentioned was something she had found in the Annex.
She had been searching the rooms, wondering if Arin might be hiding there, and stumbled upon it.
It was far too luxurious to be Arin’s, so she had snatched it up immediately.
“My mother gave it to me as a gift.”
“Wow, I’m envious. I’ve never seen such a clear, vibrant yellow. They must have used a very precious dye.”
The maid held the ribbon up to the sunlight and continued.
“I think this would go better with the outfit you’re wearing today. Shall I swap it for you?”
“Sure.”
“Please wait a moment.”
The maid hurriedly untied the ribbon and replaced it with the yellow one, tying it into a knot.
When she looked in the mirror, it truly suited her much better.
A precious guest had arrived, and with Arin gone, the position of the daughter of the Red Snake Family was now completely hers.
A pretty outfit befitting a satisfying day. Could there be a more perfect day than today?
Just then, a voice calling for So-so was heard from outside.
“So-so.”
So-so stepped outside immediately and gasped at the sight of A-hyeon.
“Wow, Older Brother, you look so cool today!”
“You look pretty too, So-so.”
At A-hyeon’s affectionate words, So-so blushed and giggled.
Now, that affection belonged entirely to So-so.
The members of the Red Snake Family were gathered for the welcome party.
“Ah, you’re here.”
Recognizing A-hyeon and So-so, Hong I-jin gestured for them to come forward.
“These are my children. Now, hurry and pay your respects to the Divine Priestess and the Family Head of the Golden Tiger Family.”
So-so calmly bowed to Yeo-ryeong and Geum Do-gyeong, who stood before her.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Hong So-so, the daughter of the Red Snake Family. It is an honor for our family to meet the Divine Priestess on such a wonderful day. May you always be with the Twelve Zodiacs.”
Since coming to this house, she had focused on etiquette training, so her demeanor was flawless.
So-so looked at Yeo-ryeong with eyes full of anticipation.
The Divine Priestess was practically an idol to the Twelve Zodiacs.
Just being able to face such a person this closely was overwhelming.
However, the man standing beside Yeo-ryeong, who had been watching her with a strange expression, opened his mouth.
“You have sticky fingers.”
At the light remark, the faces of both So-so and Hong I-jin, who stood nearby, twisted.
“What do you mean by that?”
“It seems you need to keep a better watch on your daughter.”
“What is that supposed to…!”
As Hong I-jin protested, Do-gyeong pointed at So-so’s head.
“That ribbon. Is it truly yours?”
“Pardon?”
“That yellow ribbon.”
When he pointed it out specifically, So-so’s heart sank.
It was all the more troublesome because it was an item she had brought from the Annex.
But she couldn't tell the truth, so So-so quickly racked her brain.
“Th-this is a gift my mother gave me….”
So-so looked at Hong I-jin pitifully, making excuses in a tearful voice.
A child’s tears were quite effective at times like this.
Sure enough, Hong I-jin stepped up to defend her immediately.
“Are you accusing my daughter of being a thief without even checking the facts? Apologize to my daughter at once. What is this nonsensical false charge on such a good day?”
“How do you know whether it’s a nonsensical false charge or not?”
“Listen here, Geum Do-gyeong!”
Whether Hong I-jin shouted or not, Do-gyeong’s gaze remained fixed on the ribbon So-so was wearing.
Sensing the ominous atmosphere, So-so could do nothing but watch the adults’ reactions.
As the commotion grew, everyone covered their mouths with their hands and whispered.
Then, Do-gyeong said.
“That ribbon is something I personally gave as a gift to a child I met yesterday.”
“Now you’re spouting nonsensical lies! Just how many daughters are there in the Red Snake Family besides So-so…!”
Hong I-jin stopped mid-sentence.
It was because he had suddenly remembered Arin, whom he had locked in the Annex.
Sensing that momentary flinch, Do-gyeong sneered.
“There was one more, wasn’t there?”
“Listen, Geum Do-gyeong.”
Hong I-jin tried to silence Geum Do-gyeong, keeping an eye on Yeo-ryeong.
But he could not stop Geum Do-gyeong, whose anger had reached its peak after nursing Arin through the night.
“Did you think you could hide it from everyone by covering the sky with your palm?”
At his grim voice, the party atmosphere was already as bleak as a funeral.
Everyone here knew that So-so was not the real daughter.
As the secret they had kept for the family’s benefit was exposed, they were all busy looking for a way to escape.
So-so trembled as the situation took a strange turn.
‘What do I do? He must have met Arin yesterday!’
If she was going to leave, she should have just gone quietly instead of causing this trouble. She was a useless girl to the very end.
‘I shouldn’t have done this!’
So-so now even resented the maid who had suggested she swap the ribbon.
She had only taken it because it was pretty. Having never truly possessed anything in her life, So-so had tried to take whatever pretty thing she saw since coming here.
She had thought it would be fine since the item had no owner, but now she was about to face the consequences.
Feeling that things were going poorly, So-so burst into tears.
“Hic, waaah!”
People looked uncomfortable at the sound of the child’s crying.
“Oh my, what do we do.”
With the surrounding murmurs, So-so began to cry even more sorrowfully.
At the child’s signal, Hong I-jin stepped in.
“Don’t cry. It breaks this father’s heart to see you cry.”
He had intended to smooth over the situation like this.
But the affectionate display between the two only acted as poison.
Unable to watch the farce between Hong I-jin and Hong So-so any longer, Do-gyeong coldly snapped.
“What a mess.”
It was truly a sight hard to watch.
The world’s greatest trash, who wouldn't even glance at his real daughter whether she lived or died, seemed to dote on his fake daughter. All because she could perform the Phantom Beast Transformation, that mere trifle.
At Geum Do-gyeong’s scathing words, Hong I-jin’s breathing grew ragged.
“Are you still holding a grudge over what happened back then?”
“What do you mean?”
“Because I didn’t help you that day…!”
The moment Hong I-jin mentioned that day, Geum Do-gyeong’s expression turned fiercer than ever. He glared at him and warned.
“Say one more word. I will kill you.”
At that very moment, the ground shook. In an instant, the banquet tables were overturned, and the surroundings fell into chaos.
Despite Do-gyeong’s intense provocation, Hong I-jin did not back down.
“Are you trying to fight me here and now?”
As the lanterns around them began to blaze, the atmosphere became extremely hostile.
It was the moment the power of the earth and the power of fire were about to collide with all their might.
“Both of you, stop.”
With that heavy voice, the earthquake ceased, and all the lanterns simultaneously lost their flame.
Yeo-ryeong had used her Divine Power to nullify the power of the Twelve Zodiacs.
Only then did the two men, realizing they were in the presence of the Divine Priestess, shut their mouths tightly.
“Family Head Hong.”
“Yes, Divine Priestess.”
Hong I-jin looked at the Divine Priestess with a displeased expression.
His stubborn face still looked as confident as if he had done nothing wrong.
From the moment he mentioned the day that was taboo to Geum Do-gyeong, Hong I-jin’s intentions had been obvious.
To provoke Do-gyeong and muddy the waters.
But as long as Yeo-ryeong was here, it would not be so easily dismissed.
“Are you still going to fight like wild children?”
As Yeo-ryeong mentioned their days of training in the past, Hong I-jin reacted immediately.
“But Geum Do-gyeong insulted my daughter first. I will never let this slide.”
He seemed to assume that Yeo-ryeong was taking his side.
Yeo-ryeong’s gaze turned toward So-so.
“Come here.”
When So-so hesitated, Hong I-jin gestured for her to go.
Only then did a relieved So-so approach Yeo-ryeong.
Thinking that she was the greatest elder here, she believed she would handle this matter well.
But So-so had no choice but to regret it immediately.
Because as So-so approached, Yeo-ryeong untied her ribbon for all to see.
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