DRP 13

chapter 13

I felt so unfair.

Ever since I turned one, I had been eating heaping bowls of rice at every meal. I had downed bitter herbal medicine without even flinching, knowing it was good for my body!

Yet my sense of injustice wasn’t over.

“Grrk!”

Because even my dog form was small!

I stamped my feet in frustration.

My sleek, majestic black fur. My paws as white as if I were wearing socks. My bright, clear eyes and elegantly curled tail—all enough to make other dog breeds envious.

“Whuooow.”

But this tiny body was the problem.

When my growth as a human baby had stopped, so did my growth as a puppy. I was already small, and now I wasn’t growing at all—it was maddening.

What good is growing twice as much as before turning one?

A body that once fit in my father’s palm could now only fill two palms.

Adults were all liars. They told me not to worry, saying my front paws were thick, so I’d grow big. But here I was, smaller than my peers.

I looked gloomily at the puppy in the mirror. I hadn’t expected it to turn out this way when I turned one.

I had increased my outings, keeping my human form to avoid suspicion that I was a Haetae, but who would have guessed that would cement the rumor that I was frail?

Relatives who had once rejoiced at my puppy form as evidence of the Hyun family blood now fussed over me constantly, asking if I was cold or sick, covering me with their clothes and stuffing money into my hands. I felt like I could become rich just from pocket money.

But I was healthy.

I’d never had measles, and I was strong enough to lift a sack of rice with one hand.

“Still, I can’t show this strength to anyone…”

Returning to my human form, I muttered despondently.

“Why aren’t I growing?”

I flopped back onto the floor, rolling around. A glimpse of the delicate yellow hem of my skirt caught my eye.

Aside from my halted growth, life was good.

My family cherished me, and our wealth meant I never lacked food or clothing.

So when I considered it, being small seemed like a minor problem, though it still made me anxious.

“Maybe it’s the autumn blues.”

The cool October wind tickled my nose.

I jumped up from the cold floor.

It wasn’t a sudden fever causing it.

“Hyeon-ah.”

“Hyeon-ah! Let’s play!”

At this time, my cousins had come calling from outside the annex wall.

I opened the annex gate, and as if waiting for me, two boys waved.

“Hyeon-ah, how have you been?”

“Long time no see!”

Even though we’d seen each other yesterday, they acted as if it had been ages. These two were my uncle’s children.

The elder was Hyun Sion.
The younger was Hyun Seon.

This year, they were eleven and nine years old, my cousins.

“Hello, oppas.”

“Hello, Hyeon!”

“Let’s see how much you’ve grown.”

Before I could even greet them, Sion scooped me up.

My light body lifted into the air, my yellow silk skirt fluttering like flower petals.

“Oppa, what do you think?”

“Hmm.”

Though not as strong as me, this oppa had considerable strength.

Our family members were generally broad-boned and strong. Because of that, Sion, though eleven, looked more like fourteen, and Seon appeared older than his nine years.

“Oh? Feels a bit heavier!”

“Really? Me too, me too!”

Oops. While distracted, my body ended up in Seon’s arms. His face, close to mine, was both haughty and flamboyant. His autumn-leaf red hair, inherited from Baekmo, fluttered in the breeze.

“It’s true! Looks like Hyeon’s grown a bit.”

Sion grinned widely.

Seon joined in, rolling me around playfully.

It was ridiculous.

Recently, frustrated at my slow growth, I had complained, and since then, the brothers always lied about me getting heavier or taller.

Why a lie? Because measuring my height at the annex pillar every morning was part of my routine.

Same with weight. Every fifteen days, my father would weigh me—no increase. Only when I ate a full meal would it register.

“At this rate, Hyeon will outgrow us!”

Soon I was back in Sion’s arms, lifted securely with hands under my hips, rather than casually hoisted like before.

This was the proper way I had learned after being scolded by Baekmo years ago for being carelessly held.

“Hyeon-ah, what should we play today?”

“Whatever you want to do, oppas.”

“Shall we go for a walk?”

Even in human form, my ears perked up.

Walking was my second favorite activity after reading. In human form, the sights were delightful; in puppy form, smells revealed a whole new world.

“Isn’t it boring to walk the same path every day?”

You don’t know. The world changes daily, and so do the scents. For a dog, a walk is enjoying a different course every day.

“I want to walk.”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

“Walk!”

Four years since my birth, I was becoming a perfect puppy.

Our walk lasted exactly half a sijin.

We mostly stayed around the annex, but sometimes half a sijin wasn’t enough to explore every scent. Yet whenever that happened, adults passing by would call us back.

“Don’t stay out too long, or the baby will catch a cold.”

Since the rumor painted me as a frail baby, the household would automatically guide me back.

“Ugh, let’s go back.”

“Oppa, Hyeon hasn’t returned to human form. Seems like she wants to play more.”

“But we agreed to play only for half a sijin while uncle and aunt were away.”

A light quarrel broke out between the brothers.

Honestly, I wanted to play longer.

I was a healthy, strong puppy. Though my memories of a human life clashed with my emotions as a growing baby, I boldly took the lead.

“Woof!”

Seon rushed to hug me tightly as I went first.

“So cute. I don’t want to let her go.”

“I know, but Hyeon should rest at home too.”

“Do you want to let Hyeon go? She’s so cute!”

Seon offered me, now a puppy, to Sion. I reflexively wagged my tail at Sion, who resembled Baekbu but had a gentler, smiling expression.

Sion’s adult-like face showed concern.

“No matter how cute, that won’t do.”

“Let’s ask father and mother. They’d secretly want Hyeon to be our little sister.”

“Can you beat uncle?”

“If she eats well and grows a bit more, it’ll work, right?”

Seon’s voice trembled slightly.

Sion added a calm final word.

“And aunt?”

“……Hyeon-ah, let’s go home.”

Seon’s judgment was sharp.

As we trudged back to the annex, Seon rested his chin on my head, reluctant to let go.

“I wish Hyeon were really our sister. Should we plead with our parents like before?”

“Wasn’t that already settled?”

“Oh, the story…”

I remembered it too. Two years ago, I was two, and the brothers were nine and seven. They had begged Baekbu and Baekmo for a sister but gave up at Baekbu’s words.

“You might have a brother instead.”

“…!”

“Most likely with a similar personality as you.”

That’s right. Back then, they were mischievous little rascals. A brother with a similar personality didn’t appeal, so they abandoned the sister plan. Instead, they played at the annex with permission from parents and grandparents.

“See you tomorrow, Hyeon-ah.”

“Don’t forget us, Hyeon-ah.”

“Woof woof!”

Goodbye, oppas. My greetings left them reluctantly moving away. Fun cousins, indeed.

Back home, I sighed.

Being small was frustrating.

Short legs made climbing the floorboard difficult. And that was just the floor. Stairs and chairs were equally challenging.

Sure, I could climb with strength, but only once or twice—doing it every time was tiresome. At four years old, many still helped me…

“What if I stay like this forever?”

“What do you mean?”

“Mom! Dad!”

Swallowing the fear I might never grow, I ran to my smiling parents, who took turns holding me.

“Oh, our pretty daughter. You played with Sion and Seon earlier?”

“We went for a walk.”

“Did they try to keep you at their house?”

“Seon wanted to, but Sion stopped him.”

“Our baby. You’ve been outside too long; your cheeks are cold.”

Mom tried to cup my cheeks, and Dad quickly pressed his cheek to mine. They kissed my face, and Mom gently covered the remaining areas with her hands.

“My treasures.”

Smack, smack.

“Since it’s cold, let’s go inside. We have a lot to talk about.”

Hmm.

I was fine, but Dad’s cheek was red as a persimmon. I laughed at their unchanging affection.

It seemed they truly had much to discuss.

“First, we’re checking whether your slow growth is related to being a Haetae.”

“Could that be why I’m not growing?”

“Your aunt and uncle seem to have found some clues while away. It’s best to wait for detailed news.”

Essential information for me! My drooping shoulders perked up, and I cheered.

“Now for some bad news.”

Mom, then Dad, spoke with tired faces.