Chapter 6
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Chapter 6
"I'll give you everything you want. If that girl upsets you, I'll remove her from your sight forever. So please, don't cry, Riri. My heart is breaking."
Jeok Hwayou was soothing Riri with a tender voice, promising to dispose of me.
'Ah....'
My chest sank with a heavy thud.
As I stood alone in the corridor, my face drained of all color, I heard footsteps approaching.
It was Jeok Ahyun, the head of the household.
I recalled that chilling threat—that he would show no mercy if Riri ever came to harm.
'He'll be angry. He'll punish me for making Riri sad.'
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart raced in terror.
His cold gaze swept across my trembling, fragile form.
The moment I felt our eyes meet, he simply passed by me.
Then he entered the room.
"Riri. Why are you still crying?"
"Sob, sniff, sob... Father...."
"I'm sorry, Riri. Don't cry. This is all my fault."
Ah....
My body went limp, and I collapsed to the floor.
Father hadn't overlooked my transgression.
For him, comforting Riri was more urgent than punishing me, so he simply passed me by.
Listening to Father's tender voice as he soothed Riri, I limped away down the corridor.
I returned to my room and wept in silence.
* * *
"The young master is calling for you."
The next day, upon hearing this message from the Maidservants of the main residence, I went to find the young master.
He was at Hayeonji Pond.
Hayeonji Pond was an artificial pond built by Jeok Ahyun, the head of the household, in memory of the late Lady of the House, and only direct family members were permitted to enter.
I had once loved this place dearly.
A red-haired boy stood before the pond with his hands clasped behind his back.
"I heard you were looking for me, young master."
Sensing my presence, Jeok Hwayou slowly turned around.
"...You came, Soya."
A tender voice drifted to my ears. I looked up at him in bewilderment.
Jeok Hwayou was calling my name in that same gentle tone he used with Riri.
"Young master? I think such formality sounds a bit stiff between us. Call me brother, as you used to."
"Y-yes...."
"I'm returning your Spirit Core."
He withdrew a pearl emanating pure white light from his pocket and handed it to me.
It was the Spirit Core that he had taken from me three years ago, on Father's orders.
I accepted it with a bewildered expression.
At his sudden change, I could only blink.
"Yesterday's events weighed heavily on my mind, and I have been consumed with regret. Regret for how coldly I treated you, for leaving you alone all this time."
"...."
A brief silence fell between us.
It was Jeok Hwayou who broke it first.
"Today is the last day of the Summer Festival, is it not? Would you not care to go and see it with me?"
"Ah, no, I couldn't possibly...."
As I frantically waved my hands in protest, he added with a gentle expression.
"Have you not always been curious about the Summer Festival?"
"...."
In that moment, my lips sealed shut.
'He remembered....'
Long ago, we had made a promise. Once I completed my first Coming of Age ceremony on my sixth birthday, we would go to see the festival together.
So I had counted down the days in anticipation.
Though that day had been rendered void when it was revealed that I was not truly his daughter.
"There is little time, so you should prepare yourself quickly."
"...."
"Then I shall see you shortly."
Watching him feign this awkward kindness, I understood with sudden clarity.
'Today. Today is the day I am cast away.'
My eyes grew heavy with despair.
I watched Jeok Hwayou's retreating figure as he left, my mind churning.
It was only yesterday that I had walked these corridors, hearing the tender voices of Father and my brother comforting Riri.
[Please dispose of her. Before the Fifth Prince returns to claim her.]
[Very well.]
My brother had promised such cruel words in that same gentle voice, without a moment's hesitation.
I could no longer trust his words.
Regret for leaving me alone? No.
No.
If there is one thing they regret, it is not casting me out sooner—that I remained in this estate and wounded Riri.
'So now they mean to drive me away.'
I gazed quietly at the brilliant white pearl of light resting in my palm.
For the past three years, I had lived as a half-baked Beastkin without a Spirit Core.
I had not understood then why they had taken it from me, but now I knew.
'They were horrified. By the sight of me after the Coming of Age ceremony....'
So taking my Spirit Core was a warning—never to undergo the transformation again, never to appear in such a form.
And now, returning it to me meant....
'They no longer care whether I transform or not. After all, they intend to cast me out forever, far from their sight.'
My eyes grew dim with sorrow as I stared at my Spirit Core.
I slowly closed my eyes as the brilliant white light sparkled and absorbed into my body.
My incomplete form, deprived of the Spirit Core, had finally become whole—yet strangely, instead of strength surging through me, my body felt utterly drained.
My heart ached, and a numbness spread across my chest.
But there was no time to remain collapsed.
I returned to my room and retrieved the small wooden box hidden in the corner, gazing quietly at its contents.
These were all I possessed in this world.
I selected only a few items from among them and made my way toward the appointed place.
As I stepped beyond the gates of Jujak Estate, I found the threshold unexpectedly difficult to cross.
After staring at the gate for a long moment, I finally stepped over it and turned to look back at the estate.
Suddenly, I felt my gaze meet that of a man standing atop the tall Pavilion Tower.
But as I blinked slowly, I realized it had been a mistake.
Father stood upon the Pavilion Tower, laughing brightly alongside Riri.
'Father could not have seen me.'
Whenever Father was with Riri, he always behaved as though nothing else in the world existed but her.
Riri, who had wept so bitterly just yesterday that the entire estate seemed to shake with her sobs, now appeared to have recovered somewhat—she grasped Father's hand and spun in delicate circles.
And Father gazed upon her with such tenderness, a contented smile gracing his lips.
They looked truly happy. A truly perfect family.
'If only I were not here....'
As I stared at that scene, I pressed my hands together and bowed silently toward Father, offering a wordless farewell.
Perhaps this would be the last greeting I would ever give him.
* * *
I walked alongside Jeok Hwayou through the bustling Streets.
I finally beheld the Summer Festival with my own eyes, something I had long wondered about—yet bitterness welled up within me rather than joy.
"This is the fruit skewer you love. Do try some."
Jeok Hwayou handed me the food with a gentle smile. It was a skewer of beautifully sliced peaches glazed with sugar.
'That is what Riri loves, not me. When I eat peaches, I develop a fever and my throat swells.'
I knew that the moment I spoke those words, this peace would shatter.
Though I knew it to be false, I wished to see Jeok Hwayou's face smiling so tenderly at me for just a moment longer. I did not want to break this dream-like sweetness.
So instead, I pulled the corners of my mouth upward into a smile.
"Thank you, Young Master."
Yet when I tried to eat the peach, I hesitated.
Perhaps thinking I was being picky, Jeok Hwayou's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
It was the most subtle of changes, but after three years of reading people's expressions, I caught it immediately.
"If you do not wish to eat it...."
"No, no! I do!"
I hastily bit into the peach slice. In my rush, I choked, coughing violently.
As I quickly wiped away the tears welling in my eyes, Jeok Hwayou moved to a stall across the way.
It was a vendor selling delicate jeweled rings and necklaces.
"Give me one of those bracelets with the red gemstones. It is a gift for my sister."
"Ah, so the young lady beside you is your sister. She will be absolutely delighted."
"Oh."
As if remembering belatedly, Jeok Hwayou picked up a beaded bracelet from the stall and handed it to me.
"I'll pay for this too. It's yours, Soya."
"...!"
Startled by the unexpected gift, my eyes widened in surprise, and soon a warm blush colored my cheeks.
"...Thank you so much, older brother."
He had only purchased it as an afterthought while buying something for Riri, and had carelessly grabbed whatever his hand touched without any real thought.
"I've always wanted to go to the Summer Festival. I'm truly grateful that you remembered and brought me here."
Yet I clutched the bracelet tenderly to my chest and smiled brightly.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org