Chapter 01
Soya was carrying a small pile of laundry on her head.
For the past month, she had avoided leaving her room as much as possible so as not to draw attention. But today, she had no choice.
There was no one to do the washing for her unless she did it herself.
It had already been a month since she last washed her clothes, and they had started to smell.
I should hurry back.
She wanted to quickly dry the freshly washed clothes in the sunlight and change into something clean and soft.
As she hurried along with her short legs—
She suddenly stopped at the sound of bright, cheerful laughter coming from nearby.
“Really, brother?”
“Yes, Lili. Anything you want.”
The young master and young lady of the Vermilion Bird family were there.
The “real” young lady who had recently returned.
She had been the biggest topic of conversation among the servants lately.
But Soya’s eyes were not on the lovely Lady Lili.
They were fixed on the young master beside her, who was kindly guiding her around the estate.
With a warm smile like a spring breeze, he looked at Lili gently.
Soya stared at his soft, kind face as if enchanted.
It had been three whole years since she last saw him.
Then suddenly—
His gaze met hers.
“……”
In an instant, the smile vanished from his face.
As if what she had just seen was an illusion, his expression turned cold.
Startled, Soya quickly lowered the laundry basket from her head.
Then she dropped flat to the ground and bowed her head like a criminal.
“I-I’m sorry, young master…”
She could feel his sharp gaze resting on her.
—
“Do not ever appear before me again.”
—
The cold voice echoed in her mind, and her small body trembled.
Soya—Jeok Soya—was originally the precious youngest daughter of the Vermilion Bird family.
Until the day she turned six and attempted her first beast transformation.
* * *
In the land of beast-people, Taehwa Kingdom,
There were four great families who inherited the blood of ancient divine beasts. They protected the imperial family and governed the land.
Azure Dragon of the East,
White Tiger of the West,
Vermilion Bird of the South,
Black Tortoise of the North.
Each family awakened special powers passed down since ancient times and ruled over their respective regions.
Among them, the Vermilion Bird family, guardians of the southern lands, were masters of fire and rulers of all birds.
The Vermilion Bird household was bustling with excitement.
Today was Soya’s sixth birthday—
and the day of her first beast transformation.
Everyone was filled with anticipation.
Then the head of the family, Jeok A-yun, appeared, holding Soya in his arms.
“Oh my, the head himself…”
“They say he dotes on the youngest so much he never lets her out of his arms. It must be true.”
The servants whispered among themselves.
Unlike Jeok A-yun, who had blazing red hair like fire,
Soya had pure white hair, like snow.
Her late mother had reddish-brown hair.
Because of this, rumors had spread when Soya was born—
that perhaps her mother had been unfaithful.
But Jeok A-yun had firmly silenced those rumors.
His wife had been pure. No one should dare question her fidelity.
Anyone spreading such slander would be punished.
Besides, on the day of her first transformation, it would be proven whether the child truly carried the Vermilion Bird bloodline.
The direct lineage of the Vermilion Bird always transformed into a magnificent red firebird with blazing feathers.
That was an unchanging law since ancient times.
No matter what others said, his trust in his late wife never wavered.
And neither did his love for Soya, the child she left behind.
After all, if she weren’t his daughter, how could she be so adorable?
“Soya, are you ready?”
Jeok A-yun gently set her down and asked.
“Yes, Father!”
Soya clenched her tiny fists and answered.
She was nervous, gripping her hands tightly.
“Don’t be nervous. You can do it.”
Her older brother, Jeok Hwa-yu, whispered beside her.
“Yes! I can do it, Brother!”
Soya smiled brightly.
Thanks to their encouragement, she felt a little less nervous.
She only wished her other brother, San-yu, who had left on a campaign for the emperor, could be here too.
With everyone watching, Soya walked toward the altar.
A grand painting of the Vermilion Bird hung above it, depicting a radiant red bird wrapped in flames like the sun.
Kneeling before it, Soya clasped her hands together.
She recalled everything her father and brother had taught her.
She imagined herself after the transformation—
a proud, dazzling little firebird shining like the sun.
Hehe.
The thought made her want to smile, even in this solemn moment.
She forced herself to hold it in and focused deeply on her core.
Please let me become a cool little bird.
Everyone held their breath.
Then—
Boom!
“Pyaa!”
With a tiny cry—
Soya successfully completed her first transformation!
“……”
“……”
“……”
Silence fell.
Cold, heavy silence.
Everyone’s faces turned pale with shock.
The head of the family looked as though he might collapse.
Where Soya stood—
Instead of brilliant red flaming feathers—
There was only a small, pitiful bird covered in dull white fluff.
“Peep?”
Unaware of her appearance, Soya tilted her head and approached her father.
“Pyaa!”
She smiled brightly and reached for his hand—
But—
Smack!
He slapped her hand away.
Soya lost her balance and fell to the ground.
“P-pee…?”
She looked up at him, startled.
For a brief moment, hesitation flickered across his face—
Then it disappeared.
“Take her core and lock her in the cold palace.”
“……!”
“If anyone speaks of this, I will not forgive them.”
With that, he turned and left.
“Peep…?”
Soya blinked as she watched his back grow distant.
Father is angry.
His eyes had been so cold.
Why did he look at me like that?
Then—
She noticed something on the ground.
Small white fluff.
At first, she thought they were dandelion seeds.
But—
They were her feathers.
Her eyes trembled.
Something was wrong.
She was supposed to have brilliant red feathers like her father and brothers.
Then she realized—
I failed.
I failed the transformation.
Is that why Father is disappointed?
Just then, someone approached her.
Her brother, Hwa-yu.
If anyone could help her, it was him.
“Peep…!”
She ran toward him, trying to hug him like she always did.
But—
The moment she reached him—
Stab—!
A sharp sensation struck her soul.
Something was pulled out of her.
In his hand, a small glowing sphere appeared.
Her core.
As soon as it was taken, her transformation broke.
“Ah—!”
She returned to her human form and collapsed, gasping.
“Brother… why…”
“Take it away immediately.”
She froze.
His voice was cold.
His face, once kind, was now filled with disgust.
“Brother…?”
“Why are you hesitating? Take her away.”
Two soldiers grabbed her arms.
“Brother, why? It’s me… it’s Soya …”
“Brother?”
His face twisted.
“Who do you think is your brother?”
“I—I failed, didn’t I? That’s why you’re angry? I’m sorry… I’ll do better next time… I’ll succeed…”
Tears streamed down her face.
“Please… don’t do this. I’m scared…”
But even as she trembled and pleaded—
His expression did not change.
He bent down to her eye level.
For a moment, hope flickered in her eyes—
Then—
“You’ve deceived everyone all this time.”
His voice was icy.
“Do not ever appear before me again.”
“If I see that disgusting face one more time…”
“I might cut off those worthless wings of yours.”
“……!”
Soya covered her mouth to suppress her sobs.
The soldiers dragged her away.
From that day on,
Jeok Soya—the once-beloved youngest daughter—
was imprisoned in the cold palace.
At first, she didn’t understand.
Why her father and brother were so angry.
Maybe it was because she failed.
Because she had white fluff instead of red flames.
If I succeed next time… they’ll forgive me.
They’ll smile at me again.
Left alone,
She tried to transform again.
But without her core, it was impossible.
Still, she forced herself—
until she coughed up blood and collapsed.
No one came to help her.
No doctor.
No one.
Yet somehow, she didn’t die.
The servants thought she was pretending to be sick for attention.
She kept trying.
Failing.
Collapsing.
Again and again.
Only later did she learn the truth—
from overheard whispers.
She was proof of her mother’s infidelity.
I’m not Father’s real daughter.
Only then did she stop trying.
That was three years ago.
Everyone forgot her.
Her father.
Her brother.
Everyone.
And then—
One month ago—
The real daughter of the Vermilion Bird family returned.
