Chapter 2
At that moment, the situation was on the brink of disaster, as if the boulder might crush the carriage into splinters.
Swiftly, Jin Saheon lunged, his foot slicing through the air.
The blue blade of his sword tore through the atmosphere with a piercing gleam, and the force deflected the boulder away from the carriage.
Boom!
The ground shook violently as a deafening roar echoed.
“Ahhh!”
Moa, with her eyes tightly shut, screamed, her imagination inflamed by the intensity of the scene.
After a brief silence, her ears twitched and flicked upward through her fingers.
“Ugh…”
Moa, struggling even to breathe, gradually lowered her sweat-dampened hands to cover her eyes instead. Since blocking her ears had failed, she intended to keep her eyes tightly shut to honor her promise.
A moment later, just as her five-year-old patience was about to snap, Jin Saheon, who had used martial arts to soar above the cliff, returned to her side.
Tap.
Hearing the precise sound of his footsteps, Moa’s eyelids twitched inside her small hands.
Her relief was instinctive.
“Uh… sir? Can I open my eyes now?”
“You’ve endured well enough.”
Only then did Moa exhale in relief, blinking as she slowly opened her eyes.
Contrary to what the threatening men had claimed, Jin Saheon looked completely unscathed. He shook the dust off his black cloak and sat down inside the carriage.
“What about those men? The bad men?”
Jin Saheon observed Moa’s innocent face, swallowed his harsh words, and shook his head.
“They won’t be able to touch us for now.”
They had been thugs acting on someone else’s orders.
He knew nothing about their backers and had killed them all.
This, however, was not a story for a child to hear.
“Haah…”
Moa, feeling relief, leaned her small body back into the carriage seat.
“Where are my parents?”
“They’re not here.”
Moa nodded obediently.
Instead of the occasional pitying glance adults gave, the response was an unwavering, calm expression and a purely questioning look.
“Then… how did you get to the mountain alone?”
“I woke up there while I was sleeping…”
Moa tilted her head as she answered, and Jin Saheon sighed internally.
A child left alone in such a harsh place, manipulated by an unknown person—this was far too suspicious to be mere coincidence.
“Will you come with me to Jinryongbu?”
“What’s that?”
“My home.”
The Jinryong clan was the most powerful family in the Dan Empire.
While they didn’t invite just anyone to Jinryongbu, their estate…
Perhaps this child was planted in case an assassin failed.
Even if the child was unrelated, having her here meant she could still become a target.
Moreover…
The child had pointed, animal-like ears atop her human head.
He had never encountered such a being before—
And from her fur, he sensed a divine aura.
A “divine power” that could not belong to anyone but a sacred beast or royalty.
For the sake of observing this suspicious child who seemed to have fallen from the sky, he resolved to take her to Jinryongbu.
“To your home…?” Moa hesitated, thinking of Somi.
Her eyes scanned the interior of the carriage and Jin Saheon.
Though the ceiling was gone, the carriage was lavish and beautiful.
A sight fit for a historical drama, yet the fabrics were of the finest quality, and Jin Saheon himself was dressed elegantly.
Hmm… he must be rich.
If anything, it would be better to go to a wealthy household.
Surely, even the older kids at the orphanage or in dramas said money could solve everything.
Maybe money could help her find Somi!
Moa made up her mind to follow the handsome, wealthy man and nodded.
With the agreement reached smoothly, Jin Saheon set the carriage toward Jinryongbu.
Upon arriving at Jinryongbu, Moa was immediately accommodated in Cheongbindang.
Cheongbindang was located next to the inner residence of the Jinryong family’s direct line, allowing Jin Saheon to personally check on the child if necessary.
Though it was a guest room for VIPs when heads of other families or direct descendants visited, it was overkill for just one child—but it offered maximum safety and security.
“You’ll stay here for the time being.”
“Wow.”
Moa marveled at the neat and bright interior.
From the moment she arrived, she had been overwhelmed by the vast space, but the room’s graceful ambiance perfectly suited her.
“Can I go look around outside?”
Moa wanted to step out into the courtyard she had glimpsed upon arrival.
As the child dangled her legs while sitting in Jin Saheon’s arms, he set her down and shook his head.
“Assassins… since those men saw your face earlier, they could target you.”
“Eek!”
Moa, slowly processing his words, drew in a sharp breath.
Ah, that’s why he wrapped me up tightly with cloth!
Just before leaving the carriage, Jin Saheon had bundled Moa in his cloak, covering her ears, tail, and face.
Though she fussed at the constriction, he refused to remove it until they entered Cheongbindang.
Moa, cleverly deducing the reason, shivered. She was afraid the bad men might come after her.
“So, stay in this room until it’s safe,” Jin Saheon instructed.
Moa nodded eagerly, her face pale.
“I’ll protect you, so you don’t need to be scared anymore.”
Moa looked up at Jin Saheon. He stood like a rock, truly as if he would guard her.
He’ll protect me? Really?
Impossible. Adults always lied.
Moa shook her head reflexively.
At the foster home she had been sent to at age three, it was the same.
The new foster parents had smiled warmly, saying, “We’ll protect you now that you’re part of the family.”
But after the news of a baby arrived, they argued every night.
One morning, without explanation, she was sent back to the orphanage.
Although the foster parents apologized and patted her head, they never explained why it had happened.
Moa was left to conclude alone:
Ah… I was no longer needed.
Is this another lie…?
Maybe she hoped this time wasn’t a lie because she was still young.
Moa kept glancing at Jin Saheon’s cold, blue eyes, trying to read whether he was lying.
Still… to find Somi, I need an adult’s help. And this man saved me.
Cautiously, she reasoned why she wanted to trust him.
If he’s someone who can help… he won’t chase me away.
She did not want to be thrown out helplessly, as before, without reason.
“Then, should I run errands or clean while I’m here? I’m good at folding blankets!”
Though her skills were still uneven, Moa insisted on contributing.
She wanted Jin Saheon to listen to her.
He had returned her to the orphanage before, saying she wasn’t helpful. This time, she wanted to prove otherwise.
Jin Saheon looked down at her intent gaze and answered quietly,
“Focus on eating well and sleeping well.”
Though indifferent outwardly, he was internally surprised.
What kind of life had this small child, who seemed like a delicate noble’s daughter, endured for such words to come so casually?
“I can meet you again after eating and sleeping well?”
Perhaps that was why, even though this child could be connected to an assassin, he wanted her to feel safe here.
“Yes. Today was hard enough. Rest now, and we’ll meet when you wake.”
He entrusted Moa to Sibi and left Cheongbindang, instructing her to be carefully monitored.
“From now on, I, Sibi Sehee, will attend the young lady. I will assist with bathing and prepare her meal.”
“Bathing? Meal?”
The situation was strange—an adult respectfully calling her “young lady.”
And taking care of her… alone!
They’ll only watch over me? Wow!
Moa twisted with excitement and nodded.
“…Hooah.”
After a warm bath and changing into clean clothes, Moa finally confirmed her new form in the mirror Sibi handed her.
…Is this me?
Her lightly curled hair, now neatly arranged, fell softly over her neck.
Her short platinum-blonde hair was as soft and pale as milk with a drop of moonlight, resembling a baby angel from a fairy tale.
Perched atop were her pink cat ears.
Her eyes looked like they wore colored lenses—blue as a lake, with golden centers.
Wow, they dyed my ears too!
Moa smiled brightly, pleased with her hair and eye color, reminiscent of idols or anime characters her older sisters liked.
After eating in the inner room, she grew sleepy from the day’s exhaustion and bath-induced drowsiness.
Somi… I have to ask for help finding you…
Yet her eyes could not stay open.
Soon, only the soft sounds of her breathing filled the quiet room.
Moa drifted into a dreamlike world, as if being pulled into the sky.
The sun shone warmly over a garden.
A pink skirt fluttered beside a pavilion engraved with a green dragon.
A dark blue-scaled creature blocked her view.
“Geum-oh, well done! Keep going!”
A boy with blue eyes like Jin Saheon called out cheerfully.
“Yeon-gang oppa, that’s not fair! I can’t see!”
Moa laughed as she playfully scolded him.
In the dream, Moa was slightly older.
“Be careful not to get hurt.”
A young man’s warm voice watched over them.
[It’s on the right, Moa! Throw the red bean pouch to the right!]
Above Moa’s head came a familiar, longing voice, almost making her cry.
Black fur, warm body—Somi.
Somi soared into the sky, approaching Moa in her dream.
[We’ll be together again.]
Moa instinctively realized this was a vision of the future.
“When is this? When will we meet?”
Somi was not by her side now.
Would Somi be waiting when she woke?
Would he lick her forehead, thinking she had overslept?
[Wait a little longer at Jinryongbu.]
Somi smiled and continued.
[You’ll soon know what to do. Our Moa is smart.]
“Somi, wait!”
Moa reached out, struggling to grab him.
Yet, even in her dream, Somi remained just out of reach.
