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Chapter 2
"My name is Riri."
The ‌‌‌true young lady of the Jujak Family, with luxuriant crimson hair and eyes that sparkled like rubies, crossed the threshold of the Jujak Estate clutching a brilliant red feather.
"I'm nine ‌‌‌years old this year, and I underwent my first transformation just recently."
Upon seeing that feather—brilliant as flame, possessed only by direct descendants of the Jujak line—the ‌eyes of the family head Jeok Ahyun trembled violently.
She ‌‌‌‌had grown up wandering the streets, entirely unaware she was a young lady of the Jujak Family, but had learned the truth only recently when she underwent her ‌‌‌first transformation slightly later than her peers.
"People said that if I brought this feather here, I would ‌‌be able to meet my real family."
The child explained her reason for coming to this place in a crisp voice befitting a true young lady of ‌‌the Jujak Family.
"If that feather truly belongs to you, why didn't you transform directly instead of bringing it here?"
In place of his frozen father, Jeok Hwayou shot back with a voice dripping with suspicion.
"That's... well..."
At the child's fidgeting demeanor, his eyes grew even sharper.
"How am ‌‌‌I supposed to believe what you're saying?"
"I-I'll do it, I can do it—transform!"
The ‌‌‌child glanced nervously before crying out, ‌‌‌and then...
Boom!
Squeezing her eyes shut, she transformed into a crimson ‌‌bird.
"...!" ‌‌
"...!"
Both Jeok Ahyun and Jeok Hwayou stood frozen in place.
The child ‌‌‌was undoubtedly a direct descendant of the Jujak line.
But the child immediately collapsed to the ground as her transformation dissolved.
"Child!"
Jeok Ahyun rushed to support the child's body.
"My spiritual core is weak... transforming strains my heart. I fell gravely ill when I was younger and never received proper treatment."
The child stammered out her excuse, her eyelashes trembling.
"I'm sorry. I'm such a foolish child who can't even transform properly..."
"Foolish? No, the fool isn't you—!"
Jeok Ahyun raised his voice and pulled the child into his arms.
"The fool is me, for not recognizing you."
Jeok Ahyun wept silently while holding ‌‌the child.
With the recovery of the true young lady, the Jujak Family fell into a festive atmosphere.
The late Lady of the House had not committed any wrongdoing—the child had been switched because of a greedy Maidservant!
The stain upon the Lady of ‌‌‌‌the House's name was lifted, and the family ‌‌head's long-suffering anguish finally came to an end.
Of course, amid that warm and joyful celebration, I ‌alone was cast aside.
While the true young lady had struggled on the streets, unable to eat or sleep properly, I was the guilty one who had stolen her place and lived in comfort.
Though my will had nothing to ‌do with it, I could not escape the piercing gazes directed at me.
I naturally became more withdrawn than before, keeping myself hidden so as not to draw attention. ‌‌‌
Yet ‌‌‌‌today, of all days, while I was out doing laundry, I encountered the young master and the true young lady.
'I cannot let them see my face.'
I pressed myself flat against the floor, my head bowed low.
[If that hideous face ever catches my eye again, I might just cut off those pathetic wings of yours.] ‌‌‌
The words my brother had spoken three years ago, the last time I saw him, lodged ‌‌‌in my mind like thorns, aching with their weight.
Feeling his cold gaze sweep over me, I squeezed my eyes shut and curled my body ‌‌‌‌even smaller.
'If he sees my face, my wings will be cut off.'
Though ‌I had lost my core essence and never properly unfurled my wings even once, ‌‌the thought of them being severed terrified me beyond measure.
Meanwhile, Jeok Hwayou failed to recognize me at ‌first.
Three years was quite a span of time.
And for a child in her growth years, that gap was even more pronounced, so it was hardly surprising he didn't recognize me in that instant—but.
His gaze lingered instead on my tattered appearance and my split, broken nails.
The Jeok Ahyun I ‌‌remembered from three years ago had always been showered with family affection, dressed in the finest garments and fed the best foods.
Her plump cheeks had always glowed with vitality, and she wore only clean clothes. ‌‌‌
But now....
"My, who ‌‌is this child?"
Riri poked her head forward and interjected abruptly.
"A child who works at the estate. You needn't ‌‌concern yourself with her."
Jeok Hwayou turned away from me as he answered.
"Ugh, she smells. ‌‌‌Hasn't she even bathed? How filthy."
Riri pinched her nose as she spoke.
My face flushed crimson.
At nine years ‌‌‌old this year, I was unusually small and frail compared to my peers.
Ever since losing my core essence three years ago, ‌‌I had failed to grow properly.
On top of that, I hadn't bathed properly in days or had my clothes laundered, so to a noble young lady, I must have looked utterly wretched.
Feeling my own wretchedness keenly, I curled my fingertips inward to hide my split nails.
"Pay no mind to such things—why don't you come this way? There's a garden over there that our late mother cherished dearly."
Jeok Hwayou grasped Riri's hand and led her in the opposite direction as he spoke.
He hadn't meant to wound me with his words.
He was simply worried that Riri might take an interest in me.
The members of the Jujak Family ‌‌‌‌had not informed Riri of my existence—that there had once been a wicked girl who had stolen the position of the 'true young lady' before Riri arrived.
The reason was simple.
They feared it would upset her.
When Riri couldn't even eat properly and wandered the streets, I had enjoyed everything she should ‌‌have had.
If Riri learned this truth, how deeply would she be wounded?
She was already a child bearing so many scars.
"Wait just a moment, brother."
But contrary to his wishes, Riri began to ‌‌show interest in me.
"You there, lift your head. Let me see your face."
I didn't know what to do.
Brother ‌‌Hwayou's chilling voice echoed in my mind without fail—if my face caught his eye even once more, he would cut off my ‌‌wings.
"Come now, lift your head."
Even as Riri repeated her request, I couldn't bring myself to lift my ‌‌‌‌head, hesitating instead, when Jeok Hwayou interjected with a note of displeasure in his voice.
"What are you doing? Riri ‌‌has given you an order."
Would it truly be acceptable to show ‌‌‌‌my face...?
I cautiously lifted my head just slightly.
Upon catching sight of my face, Riri's eyes sparkled with delight.
"I want to keep this girl by my side! Please let her become my personal maidservant!"
Riri clapped her hands and cried out in a bright, ringing voice.
A sharp intake of breath.
At the same moment Jeok Hwayou's expression stiffened in shock, my face drained of all color.
"But Riri, this girl is far too young and untrained to serve as a maidservant. The attendants already at your side are far more...."
"Father, all the maidservants at Riri's side are older than Riri. Riri wants to have a child by her side—someone she can be friends with, like a companion."
Riri ‌‌‌clasped her hands together adorably and feigned a voice of earnest pleading.
Yet Jeok Hwayou remained unmoved.
"Friends? What nonsense. How could you possibly be ‌friends with such a lowborn creature?"
"Won't you grant Riri's request? I hate you, older brother!"
Riri puffed out both cheeks indignantly and pouted her lips in displeasure.
Though the sight was quite endearing, Jeok Hwayou replied in a stiff, unyielding tone.
"...This is something I shall need to discuss with Father."
To ‌make the "impostor" who had stolen the true young lady's position into the true young lady's personal maidservant?
Wasn't that strange, no matter how one looked at it?
Yet Father Jeok Ahyun's thoughts differed.
"Of course, Riri. If ‌‌this is what you wish, how could I refuse you anything?"
Jeok Ahyun stroked Riri's hair with a gentle, warm smile playing at his lips.
"Yay! Father is the best! Riri loves Father most!"
When her older brother had refused her request, Riri had come to Father without hesitation, and now she bounced about with unbridled joy.
"But, Father."
"It is Riri's request."
Jeok Hwayou attempted to protest, but Jeok Ahyun cut off his son's words with a voice that was both firm ‌‌‌‌‌and gentle.
Then, gazing at his daughter with affectionate eyes, he asked.
"Is it truly so important to you, Riri?"
"Yes! It was Riri's wish!"
Riri cried out, clenching both fists tightly.
The child, her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, was utterly endearing.
Had it not ‌‌‌been for the words that followed, the atmosphere would have remained far more pleasant.
"When Riri lived on the Streets, she ‌‌‌‌didn't have a single friend her own age. Everyone hated Riri. They mocked her and ‌‌‌beat her, calling her a fatherless beggar."
The expressions of both father and son darkened in an instant.
Riri occasionally mentioned her time living on the Streets.
When she did, beneath ‌her bright and cheerful ‌‌‌‌‌voice lay the weight of all she had endured, and it pierced the hearts of those who listened.
Perhaps it would have hurt less had Riri ‌‌‌wept and spoken of her loneliness and suffering....
Jeok Ahyun offered a bittersweet smile and spoke to Riri.
"Riri, would you like to step out with your older brother for a while?"
"Huh? Just Riri and older brother?"
Riri tilted her head in confusion, then turned her gaze toward Soya, who stood alone at the threshold of the room.
Soya, dragged along without resistance by Riri's grip, had been staring at ‌‌‌‌the floor with a pallid complexion ever since.
Soon after, Riri's eyes crinkled warmly as she answered.
"Yes, Father!"
Riri left a brief ‌‌‌kiss upon ‌‌‌‌her father's cheek, then grasped her older brother's hand and departed the room.
Jeok Ahyun watched Riri's retreating figure with a gentle smile gracing his ‌‌‌features.
Yet the tender smile that had blossomed across his face vanished like an illusion the moment Riri's form disappeared from view.
Jeok Ahyun's eyes turned glacial as he regarded Soya.
The stark ‌chasm between his demeanor toward Riri and this cold gaze caused Soya to freeze in place.
"It has been quite some time."
A voice devoid of emotion was directed toward Soya. ‌

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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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