Chapter 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 1
So-ya was on her way back, balancing a small pile of laundry on her head.
For the past month, she had avoided leaving her room as much as possible to stay out of sight, but today she had no choice. If she didn't take matters into her own hands, there was no one else to do the washing for her.
Having gone a month without doing laundry, her already tattered clothes had begun to give off a musty smell.
I need to get back quickly.
She wanted to dry the washed clothes thoroughly in the sun and change into something fresh and crisp as soon as possible.
It was as she hurried along on her short legs that she suddenly froze. A burst of lovely, melodic laughter had erupted from not too far away.
"Is that true, Brother?"
"Of course, Ri-ri. Anything you want."
The young master and young lady of the Vermilion Bird Clan were there.
The "real" lady of the family, who had reportedly returned not long ago. Lately, she had been the biggest topic of gossip among the servants.
However, So-ya’s eyes were not fixed on the lovely Lady Ri-ri, but on the face of the young master beside her, who was kindly showing her around the estate. So-ya stared at him as if possessed, watching that soft, gentle face as he looked at the lady with a smile as warm as a spring breeze.
It was a face she hadn't seen in three long years.
Then, suddenly, the young master’s gaze landed on So-ya.
"..."
In an instant, the smile vanished from his face.
His expression turned so cold that the warmth from a moment ago felt like a mere mirage. So-ya flinched, her shoulders hunching as she lowered the laundry tub to the ground.
Then, she prostrated herself flat on the floor and bowed her head, like a criminal.
"I-I am sorry, Young Master..."
She could feel his sharp, piercing gaze lingering over her head.
[Never show your face to me again.]
As that cold voice echoed in her mind, So-ya’s small body trembled violently.
Jeok So-ya had originally been the precious youngest daughter of the Vermilion Bird Clan.
At least, she was until she was six years old—just before her first beast transformation.
* * *
Taehwa, the empire where beastkin lived.
In Taehwa, there were four great clans that inherited the blood of ancient divine beasts to protect the Imperial Family and the empire.
The Blue Dragon of the East, the White Tiger of the West, the Vermilion Bird of the South, and the Black Tortoise of the North.
They had awakened supernatural abilities passed down from ancient times, ruling over the four lands and the beastkin who lived upon them.
Among them, the Vermilion Bird Clan, the divine beast of the South, was the master of fire and the leader of three hundred and sixty species of birds.
The Vermilion Bird Mansion had been bustling since early morning.
Today was the sixth birthday of the clan’s precious youngest child, Lady So-ya, and the day of her first beast transformation.
While everyone struggled to hide their fluttering excitement, the Clan Head, Jeok Ah-yun, appeared with So-ya in his arms.
"Oh my, the Clan Head himself..."
"I heard he treasures the youngest lady so much that he never lets her out of his sight. I suppose the rumors were true."
The retainers whispered as they watched Jeok Ah-yun and So-ya.
Unlike Jeok Ah-yun, who had hair as red as a blazing fire, So-ya’s hair was as pure white as snow.
Because the deceased madam had also possessed reddish-brown hair with a hint of vermilion, many had whispered about So-ya’s parentage when she was born. They wondered if the madam, who had passed away unable to survive the fever of childbirth, might have committed adultery with another man.
However, Jeok Ah-yun had put an end to those suspicions immediately.
My late wife was a woman as pure as snow; let no one dare question her virtue. If anyone spreads such foul words, I shall personally hold them accountable for their crime.
In any case, the day of the first beast transformation would make it crystal clear that the child carried the blood of the Vermilion Bird.
When a direct descendant of the Vermilion Bird Clan underwent their transformation, they took the form of a beautiful firebird with brilliantly blazing red feathers. This was an absolute, immutable law passed down since the beginning of time.
No matter what people said, Jeok Ah-yun’s faith in his late wife was steadfast. His affection for So-ya, the last trace his wife had left behind, was the same.
Above all, he felt that if she weren't his daughter, there was no way this tiny child could be so adorable.
"So-ya, are you ready?"
Jeok Ah-yun asked in a tender voice as he set So-ya down.
"Yes, Father!"
So-ya replied, clenching her tiny fists. Perhaps out of nerves, her hands were squeezed tight.
"Don't be nervous, So-ya. You can do it."
Beside her, So-ya’s older brother and the second young master of the Vermilion Bird Clan, Jeok Hwa-yu, whispered his encouragement.
"Yes, So-ya will do her best, Brother!"
So-ya replied with a giggle. With the support of her father and Brother Hwa-yu, her nerves seemed to ease a little.
It would have been even better if Brother San-yu were here too, she thought. Her eldest brother was currently away on a campaign, having been summoned by His Majesty the Emperor.
With the cheers of her family and the retainers behind her, So-ya walked toward the altar placed before her.
On the massive Vermilion Bird Painting hanging above the altar, a red bird wrapped in flames as brilliant as the sun boasted its majesty.
Kneeling before it, So-ya clasped her hands together for the ritual of the first beast transformation.
She thought about what her father and brothers had taught her, picturing her transformed self in her mind. She imagined a dignified baby bird, as brilliant and magnificent as a flame, resembling the sun.
Hehe.
As she pictured it, she almost started giggling, forgetting for a moment that this was a solemn occasion.
So-ya pressed her lips together to hold back the smile and focused intently on her spirit core with a sincere heart.
Please let me become a wonderful baby bird.
While everyone held their breath, waiting for So-ya’s first transformation...
Pop!
"Peep!"
With the dainty cry of a baby bird, So-ya finally succeeded in her first beast transformation!
"..."
"..."
"..."
A chilling silence instantly filled the hall.
Everyone’s faces were stained with horror.
Clan Head Jeok Ah-yun turned deathly pale, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.
In the spot where So-ya had transformed...
There was no baby bird with brilliantly blazing red feathers, as a divine beast of the Vermilion Bird line should have. Instead, there was only a pathetic little chick with shabby, white downy feathers.
"Chirp?"
So-ya, unable to see her own body, tilted her head in confusion and hopped toward her frozen father.
"Peep!"
It was the moment So-ya smiled brightly and tried to grab Jeok Ah-yun’s hand.
Fling!
Jeok Ah-yun shook off So-ya’s hand.
The force caused So-ya to stumble and tumble onto the floor.
"Peep...?"
Having landed on her bottom, So-ya was so startled she forgot the pain and looked up at her father.
A flash of panic crossed Jeok Ah-yun’s face, but it lasted only a fleeting second.
"Extract the child's spirit core and lock her in the Cold Palace."
"...!"
He spoke those words while looking down at So-ya with eyes like ice.
"If anyone speaks of today's events, I shall show no mercy."
Jeok Ah-yun turned his back and left the hall without another word.
"Peep...?"
So-ya blinked, staring at her father’s receding back.
Father is angry.
The way her father had looked at her was so cold that it felt as if her very heart was freezing over.
Why did he look at So-ya like that?
Just then, she noticed tiny dandelion seeds scattered at her feet.
No. Those aren't dandelion seeds...
They were her own feathers, which had fallen off when she tumbled.
So-ya’s eyes shook violently.
Something was wrong.
As a direct descendant of the Vermilion Bird, she was supposed to have brilliant red feathers like her father and brothers. So why?
I failed the transformation.
So-ya realized the truth as she looked at her pathetic, scattered white down.
Is Father disappointed because So-ya failed her transformation? Is that why?
So-ya was lost in confusion.
At that moment, a shadow slightly smaller than her father’s approached her.
It was Brother Hwa-yu.
Perhaps her brother could resolve this confusion.
"Peep...!"
In the terrifying atmosphere, So-ya tried to run and throw herself into her brother's arms, just as she always did.
But the moment she touched him—
Thwack—!
With a sensation that felt like her soul was being struck, something was ripped out of So-ya’s body.
A small orb glowed pure white in her brother's hand.
It was So-ya’s spirit core.
The moment her spirit core was taken, So-ya’s beast transformation was forcibly undone.
"Gasp..."
Returning to her human form, So-ya lay collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath.
"Brother, why..."
"Drag this thing out at once."
So-ya flinched and trembled at the frigid voice.
The face of the brother who had always cherished her was now filled with nothing but contempt.
"Brother...?"
"What are you waiting for? Drag her out!"
Two of the clan’s soldiers grabbed So-ya’s trembling arms.
"Brother, why? Why are you doing this? It's me, So-ya."
"Brother?"
Jeok Hwa-yu’s face contorted as he looked down at her.
"Who do you think is your brother?"
"Is it... is it because So-ya failed her transformation? Is that why you're angry and disappointed? I-I'm sorry. I'll... I'll do it again, and I'll definitely succeed this time..."
Large tears began to roll down from So-ya’s eyes.
"P-please don't do this. I'm so scared."
However, despite her pitiful appearance as she stammered and shook, Jeok Hwa-yu’s expression remained cold.
He slowly leaned down toward her.
For a brief moment, So-ya’s face brightened as he brought himself to her eye level.
"To think you've been deceiving us all so despicably," Jeok Hwa-yu warned coldly, his voice thick with suppressed rage. "Never show your face to me again."
"..."
"If I ever see this hideous face of yours again, I might just clip those pathetic wings of yours for good."
"...!"
At that murderous threat, So-ya had to press her hands over her mouth to swallow her sobs.
The clan soldiers dragged So-ya away.
After that, Jeok So-ya, the once-beloved youngest daughter of the Vermilion Bird Clan, was imprisoned in the Cold Palace.
At first, she didn't understand. She didn't know why her father and Brother Hwa-yu were so angry.
Maybe it's because I failed the transformation. Because I have pathetic white down instead of wonderful flame feathers.
If I succeed in transforming, then Father and Brother will stop being angry and smile at So-ya again.
Yes, that must be it.
Left all alone, So-ya tried to transform again, but it was impossible without her spirit core.
Even knowing this, she forced herself to try until her body, suffering from internal injuries, finally collapsed as she coughed up blood.
Naturally, there was no one to look after So-ya as she lay there. No physician came to examine her.
Yet, her frail, small body stubbornly clung to life, even as she coughed up blood and groaned in pain.
Because of this, the servants working in the Cold Palace believed So-ya was merely faking illness to get the Clan Head’s attention.
So-ya would pass out, wake up, force herself to try and transform again, and pass out once more after vomiting blood.
It was only after more time had passed, when she overheard the maids whispering, that she finally understood.
She understood that her very existence was proof of her mother’s infidelity.
I wasn't Father's real daughter.
Only then was So-ya finally able to stop trying to transform.
That was already three years ago.
Everyone had forgotten So-ya—forgotten that there was once a lovely youngest lady in the Vermilion Bird Clan.
Her father, Brother Hwa-yu... everyone.
.
.
And then, one month ago.
The real lady of the Vermilion Bird Clan had returned.