WCB 2

Chapter 2

“My name is Lili.”

The real young lady of the Suzaku Family, with luscious red hair and ruby-like sparkling eyes, crossed the estate’s main gate holding a red feather.

“I’m nine years old this year, and I recently had my first beast transformation.”

Family head Jeok Ayun’s eyes shook violently upon seeing that brilliant red feather, said to be possessed only by direct descendants of the Suzaku.

She had grown up wandering the streets, completely unaware that she was the young lady of the Suzaku Family, but recently discovered the truth when she had her first beast transformation, a bit later than her peers.

“People told me that if I came here with this feather, I could meet my real family.”

The child explained why she had come here in a clear voice, befitting the ‘real young lady’ of the Suzaku Family.

“If that feather is really yours, why didn’t you transform directly instead of bringing it here?”

In place of his frozen father, Jeok Hwayu shot back with a voice full of suspicion.

“Th-that’s…”

His eyes grew sharper at the child’s restless demeanor.

“How are we supposed to believe what you’re saying?”

“I-I’ll do it, I can do it, beast transformation!”

The child glanced around nervously and shouted, then immediately…

Pop!

She squeezed her eyes shut and transformed into a red bird.

“…!”

Jeok Ayun and Jeok Hwayu froze in place.

The child was undoubtedly a direct descendant of the Suzaku.

However, the child immediately collapsed to the floor as her transformation was released.

“Child!”

Jeok Ayun hurriedly supported the child’s body.

“My spirit core is weak… When I transform, it strains my heart. I was very sick when I was little but couldn’t get proper treatment.”

The child spoke haltingly, as if making excuses, her eyelashes trembling.

“I’m sorry. I’m such a stupid child who can’t even transform properly…”

“Stupid! No, you’re not the stupid one…!”

Jeok Ayun raised his voice and pulled the child into his arms.

“…The stupid one isn’t you, but me for not recognizing you.”

Jeok Ayun held the child and wept silently.

The family became festive due to the return of the ‘real young lady.’

The late Madam hadn’t committed adultery – the child had been switched due to a greedy servant woman!

The Madam’s disgrace was lifted, and the family head’s endless suffering finally came to an end.

Of course, even in that cheerful festive atmosphere, only Soya was left out.

Soya was the sinner who had stolen that position and lived in luxury while the real young lady grew up struggling on the streets, unable to eat or sleep properly.

Even though it wasn’t Soya’s own will, she couldn’t escape people’s piercing gazes toward her.

Soya naturally became more withdrawn than before and kept herself hidden to avoid people’s eyes for a while.

But today of all days, she had gone out to do laundry and ended up encountering the young master and the real young lady.

‘I mustn’t show my face.’

Soya prostrated herself flat on the ground and lowered her head.

[If that horrible face catches my eye one more time, I might just cut off those pathetic wings of yours.]

The words her brother had left three years ago, the last time she saw him, were embedded in her mind like thorns, painfully echoing.

Feeling a cold gaze scanning over her, Soya squeezed her eyes shut and curled up even more.

‘If I show my face, my wings will be cut off.’

Although she had never been able to properly spread her wings even once since her spirit core was taken, the thought of having her wings cut off was still terrifying.

Meanwhile, Jeok Hwayu didn’t recognize Soya for a brief moment.

The gap of three years was quite significant.

And for a growing child, that gap was even greater, so it wasn’t unreasonable that he didn’t recognize Soya for an instant…

But more than that, his gaze lingered on her shabby appearance and cracked fingernails.

The Soya he remembered from three years ago had always received the family’s love and wore only the finest things.

Her chubby cheeks had always been full of life, and she had worn only clean clothes.

But now…

“Oh my, who is this child?”

Lili poked her head out and suddenly interjected.

“She’s a child who works at the estate. You don’t need to worry about her.”

Jeok Hwayu turned away from Soya as he answered.

“Ew, she smells. That child hasn’t even washed, has she? How filthy.”

Lili said, covering her nose.

Soya’s face turned bright red.

Soya, who was nine years old this year, had an unusually small and frail build compared to her peers.

This was because she hadn’t grown properly since her spirit core was taken three years ago.

On top of that, she hadn’t been able to wash properly or do laundry for the past few days, so she must have looked quite pitiful to the precious young lady.

Soya felt shabby about herself and curled her fingertips to hide her cracked nails.

“Don’t mind such things and come this way, won’t you? Over there is a garden that your late mother cherished.”

Jeok Hwayu took Lili’s hand and led her to the opposite side.

He hadn’t said it to deliberately hurt Soya.

He was worried that Lili might take an interest in Soya.

The people of the Suzaku Family hadn’t told Lili about Soya’s existence – that is, the fact that there had been a wicked girl who stole the ‘real young lady’s’ position before Lili came.

The reason was simple.

They were afraid Lili would be upset if she knew.

While Lili couldn’t eat properly and wandered the streets, Soya had enjoyed everything that Lili should have had.

How much would it hurt Lili if she found out about that?

The child already had so many wounds.

“Wait a moment, big brother.”

However, contrary to Jeok Hwayu’s wishes, Lili began to show interest in Soya.

“Hey, you lift your head. Let me see your face.”

Soya didn’t know what to do.

Hwayu’s menacing voice saying he would cut off her wings if her face caught his eye one more time echoed relentlessly in her head.

“I said lift your head.”

Even when Lili spoke again, Soya couldn’t easily lift her head and hesitated, so Jeok Hwayu interjected with a slightly displeased voice.

“What are you doing? Lili is giving you an order.”

Would it be okay to show her face…

Soya cautiously lifted her head slightly.

Lili’s eyes sparkled upon confirming her face.

“I want to keep this child by my side! Please let me make her Lili’s personal servant!”

Lili clapped her hands and shouted in a clear voice.

Startled.

Jeok Hwayu’s expression hardened in confusion while Soya’s face turned pale.

“But Lili, this child is too young and uneducated to serve as a personal servant. The ones by your side now are much more…”

“Oh, the maids by Lili’s side now are all older than Lili. Lili wants to have a child by her side who can be like a friend.”

Lili cutely clasped her hands together and mimicked an earnest voice.

However, Jeok Hwayu didn’t budge.

“A friend? What nonsense. How could you become friends with that lowly thing?”

“Won’t you grant Lili’s request? I hate you, big brother!”

Lili puffed out both her cheeks and pouted her lips in dissatisfaction.

Though the sight was quite adorable, Jeok Hwayu replied with a stiffly hardened voice.

“…I think I’ll need to discuss this with Father.”

To keep the ‘fake’ who had stolen the real young lady’s position as the real young lady’s servant?

Wouldn’t anyone think that was strange?

However, father Jeok Ayun’s thoughts were different.

“Yes, Lili. If that’s what you want, there’s nothing I can’t do for you.”

Jeok Ayun stroked Lili’s head while wearing a gentle smile.

“Kyaa! Father really is the best! Lili loves Father the most!”

When her big brother wouldn’t grant her request, Lili had stubbornly sought out her father, and now she bounced up and down excitedly.

“But, Father.”

“It’s Lili’s request.”

Jeok Hwayu tried to object, but Jeok Ayun cut off his son’s words with a firm yet gentle voice.

Then he looked at his daughter with affectionate eyes and asked.

“Does it make you that happy, Lili?”

“Yes! It was Lili’s wish!”

Lili clenched both fists tightly and shouted.

The child with her cheeks flushed pink was incredibly adorable.

If not for what she added next, the atmosphere would have been even better.

“When Lili lived on the streets, she didn’t have a single friend her age. Everyone hated Lili. They teased and beat Lili, calling her a beggar without a father.”

The expressions of both father and son darkened instantly.

Lili would occasionally mention her time living on the streets.

When she did, despite her bright and cheerful voice, you could feel how hard her life had been, making the listeners’ hearts ache.

Would it have hurt less if Lili had simply cried about being lonely and struggling…?

Jeok Ayun smiled bitterly and said to Lili.

“Lili, would you go out with your big brother for a moment?”

“Huh? Just Lili and big brother?”

Lili tilted her head in confusion, then turned her gaze to look at Soya, who stood alone at the room’s threshold.

Soya, who had been dragged here forcibly by Lili’s grip, had been staring at the floor with a deathly pale face since earlier.

Soon Lili answered with her eyes crinkling adorably.

“Yes, Father!”

Lili left a brief kiss on her father’s cheek, then took her big brother’s hand and left the room.