So-ya was carrying one of the few piles of laundry she had on her head.
For the past month, she had avoided leaving her room as much as possible, trying not to draw attention to herself. But today, she had no choice.
There was no one who would wash her clothes for her unless she did it herself.
She had gone an entire month without washing them, and even her already shabby clothes now smelled musty.
I should hurry back.
She wanted to dry the freshly washed clothes thoroughly under the sunlight and change into something soft and clean as soon as possible.
Just as she quickened her pace with her short little legs—
A lovely burst of laughter echoed from nearby, making So-ya unconsciously stop walking.
“Really, Brother?”
“Yes, Ri-ri. If it’s something you want, anything.”
The young master and young lady of the Vermillion Bird clan were there.
The clan’s “real” young lady, who had recently returned.
These days, the young miss was the hottest topic among the servants working in the clan.
But So-ya’s gaze did not linger on the lovely Miss Ri-ri.
Instead, it fixed itself on the face of the young master gently guiding her through the estate.
So-ya stared, entranced, at the soft and warm expression on his face as he looked at the young lady with a smile as gentle as the spring breeze.
It was a face she was seeing again for the first time in three whole years.
Then suddenly, the young master’s eyes landed on So-ya.
“……”
In an instant, the smile vanished from his face.
As though the warmth she had seen moments ago had merely been an illusion, his expression turned ice-cold.
So-ya flinched and hunched her shoulders before quickly lowering the laundry basket from her head onto the ground.
Then she threw herself flat against the floor and bowed her head.
Like a criminal.
“S-Sorry, Young Master……”
She could feel his sharp gaze resting on the top of her head.
[Never show yourself before me again.]
The cold voice echoed inside her mind, and So-ya’s small body trembled violently.
Jeok So-ya had originally been the precious youngest daughter of the Vermillion Bird clan.
At least, until the day she failed her first beast transformation at the age of six.
In the nation where beastfolk lived, the Taehwa Empire—
There existed four great clans descended from the blood of ancient divine beasts, clans that protected the imperial family and defended the empire.
The Azure Dragon of the East.
The White Tiger of the West.
The Vermillion Bird of the South.
And the Black Tortoise of the North.
From ancient times, they had awakened supernatural powers inherited through their bloodlines and ruled over the four lands and the beastfolk who lived there.
Among them, the Vermillion Bird clan—the Southern Divine Beast that guarded the empire’s southern territory—was the ruler of the 360 species of birds and the master of fire.
The Vermillion Bird clan estate was noisy from the very morning.
Today was the sixth birthday of the clan’s precious youngest child, Lady So-ya.
It was also the day of her very first beast transformation.
Everyone was unable to hide their excitement and anticipation when the clan head, Jeok A-yoon, appeared carrying So-ya in his arms.
“Oh my, the Clan Head himself……”
“I heard he cherishes the youngest miss so much that he never lets her leave his arms for even a moment. I suppose the rumors were true.”
The retainers whispered among themselves as they watched Jeok A-yoon and So-ya.
Unlike Jeok A-yoon, whose hair burned red like blazing flames, So-ya’s hair was pure white like snow.
Since the late madam had possessed reddish-brown hair tinged with scarlet during her lifetime, many people had whispered suspiciously when So-ya was born.
Perhaps the late madam, who died after failing to overcome childbirth fever, had committed adultery with another man.
However, Jeok A-yoon swiftly put an end to those suspicions.
“My late wife was a woman as pure as snow. No one shall dare question her chastity.”
“And should anyone spread such filthy rumors, I will personally punish them.”
“Besides, on the day of her first beast transformation, it will become undeniably clear that the child carries the blood of the Vermillion Bird.”
The direct bloodline of the Vermillion Bird clan, upon transforming, always became beautiful firebirds adorned with brilliantly blazing red feathers.
It was an absolute law that had remained unchanged since ancient times.
No matter what people said, Jeok A-yoon’s trust in his late wife never wavered.
Nor did his affection for So-ya, the final trace his wife had left behind.
Above all—
If she were not truly his daughter, how could such a tiny child possibly be this lovable?
“So-ya, are you ready?”
Jeok A-yoon gently placed So-ya down and asked in a warm voice.
“Yes, Father!”
So-ya answered while clenching her tiny fists tightly.
She must have been nervous, because both her hands were stiff with tension.
“Don’t be nervous, So-ya. You can do it.”
Her older brother, Jeok Hwa-yu—the Vermillion Bird clan’s second young master—whispered beside her.
“Mm! So-ya will do well, Brother!”
So-ya replied with a bright grin.
Hearing her father’s and Hwa-yu’s encouragement eased her nervousness a little.
It would have been even better if her other brother, San-yu, who had left for battle after receiving the Emperor’s summons, had also been here.
Receiving encouragement from her family and the clan retainers, So-ya walked toward the altar placed before her.
On the huge Vermillion Bird painting hanging above the platform, a crimson bird wrapped in flames brilliant as the sun displayed its majestic splendor.
Kneeling before it, So-ya folded her hands neatly together for the ceremony of her first beast transformation.
Then, remembering everything her father and brother had taught her, she imagined herself after completing the transformation.
A proud, dazzling little bird burning brightly like the sun itself.
Hehe.
Just imagining it made her want to smile despite the solemn atmosphere.
So-ya pressed hard at the corners of her mouth to hold back her grin and focused desperately on her spirit core.
Please let me become a wonderful little bird.
Everyone swallowed nervously as they waited for So-ya’s first transformation.
Then—
Bang!
“Pya!”
With the adorable cry of a baby bird, So-ya finally succeeded in her first beast transformation!
“……”
“……”
“……”
A cold silence instantly fell over the hall.
Everyone’s faces filled with shock.
Clan Head Jeok A-yoon’s face turned deathly pale, as though he might collapse at any moment.
In the place where So-ya had transformed—
There was not a magnificent divine bird bearing the blazing crimson feathers expected of one descended from the Vermillion Bird bloodline.
Instead—
Only a pitiful little baby bird covered in shabby white fluff.
“Pip?”
Unable to see her own body, So-ya tilted her head before toddling toward her frozen father.
“Pyaa!”
So-ya smiled brightly and reached for Jeok A-yoon’s hand.
But at that very moment—
Smack!
Jeok A-yoon violently slapped her hand away.
The force made So-ya stumble and fall onto the floor.
“Pi-yat……?”
Startled, So-ya forgot even the pain as she looked up at her father.
A flicker of shock crossed Jeok A-yoon’s face as well, but only for a brief moment.
“Take away the child’s spirit core and imprison her in the Cold Palace.”
“……!”
He stared down at So-ya with cold eyes as he spoke.
“If today’s events are ever spoken of, none shall be spared.”
Then Jeok A-yoon turned around and left without another glance.
“Pii……?”
So-ya blinked as she stared at her father’s retreating back.
Father is angry.
The look in his eyes toward her had been so cold that it felt as though her very heart had frozen.
Why is Father looking at So-ya like that?
At that moment, tiny dandelion-like fluff scattered near her feet caught her attention.
No. Those aren’t dandelion seeds……
They were her feathers, shed when she fell moments earlier.
So-ya’s eyes shook violently.
Something was wrong.
As a direct descendant of the Vermillion Bird clan, she should have possessed brilliant red feathers like Father and her brothers.
So why—
I failed my beast transformation.
Looking at her pitiful white fluff scattered on the floor, So-ya realized the truth.
Did Father become disappointed because So-ya failed?
She was confused.
Just then, another shadow approached her, slightly smaller than her father’s.
It was Brother Hwa-yu.
Maybe Brother could explain this confusion.
“Pii……!”
In the frightening atmosphere, So-ya ran toward him, trying to hug him as she always did.
But the instant she touched him—
Thrust!
A sensation like her soul being ripped apart surged through her body as something was torn out of her.
A small glowing orb shone white in Hwa-yu’s hand.
It was So-ya’s spirit core.
The moment her spirit core was taken away, her beast transformation dissolved.
“Hahk……!”
Back in human form, So-ya collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath.
“Brother… why……?”
“Drag that thing away immediately.”
Flinch.
At the icy voice, So-ya’s body trembled.
The face of the brother who had always cherished her was now filled with disgust.
“Brother……?”
“What are you waiting for? Remove her at once.”
Two clan soldiers grabbed So-ya by the arms as she shook helplessly.
“Brother, w-why are you doing this? I-I’m So-ya.”
“Brother?”
Jeok Hwa-yu’s face twisted as he looked down at her.
“Who said I was your brother?”
“I-Is it because So-ya failed the transformation? So you’re angry and disappointed? I-I’m sorry. I-I’ll do better. If I try again, I’ll definitely succeed this time……”
Large tears streamed down So-ya’s face.
“P-Please don’t do this. I’m so scared.”
Yet even as she trembled pitifully while stammering through tears, Hwa-yu’s expression remained utterly cold.
He slowly bent down toward her.
Seeing him lower himself to her eye level, So-ya’s face began to brighten slightly—
But then—
“You deceived everyone all this time.”
Hwa-yu warned coldly, his voice thick with fury.
“Never show yourself before me again.”
“……”
“And if this disgusting face appears before me one more time, I may cut off those pathetic little wings of yours.”
“……!”
At the murderous threat in his voice, So-ya quickly clamped both hands over her mouth to suppress her sobs.
The clan soldiers dragged her away.
And so, Jeok So-ya—the once beloved youngest daughter of the Vermillion Bird clan—was imprisoned within the Cold Palace.
At first, she didn’t understand.
Why Father and Brother Hwa-yu had become so angry.
Maybe it was because she failed her beast transformation.
Because instead of magnificent flaming feathers, she had shabby white fluff.
If she succeeded next time—
Then Father and Brother would forgive her and smile at her again.
Yes, that had to be it.
Left alone, So-ya repeatedly attempted beast transformation again and again.
But without her spirit core, it was impossible.
Even knowing that, she forced herself to keep trying until internal injuries wracked her body and she eventually collapsed, coughing up blood.
Naturally, no one cared for So-ya as she lay there vomiting blood.
No physician ever came to examine her condition.
Yet despite coughing blood and suffering in agony, her frail little body stubbornly refused to die.
Because of that, the servants working at the Cold Palace assumed So-ya was merely pretending to be sick to gain the Clan Head’s attention.
Whenever she regained consciousness after fainting, she would once again force herself to attempt beast transformation—
Only to cough up blood and collapse once more.
Only after some time had passed, when she overheard the maids whispering among themselves, did she finally learn the truth.
That her very existence was considered proof of her mother’s infidelity.
I wasn’t Father’s real daughter after all.
Only then did So-ya finally stop trying to transform.
That had already been three years ago.
Everyone forgot So-ya—
Forgot that the Vermillion Bird clan had once possessed a beloved youngest daughter.
Father, Brother Hwa-yu……
Everyone.
.
.
And then, one month ago—
The Vermillion Bird clan’s real young lady returned.
