Chapter : 6
“I’ll do everything you want. If that child upsets you, I’ll remove her from your sight forever. So please, don’t cry, Liri. My heart is breaking.”
Brother Hwa-yu spoke in a gentle voice, comforting Miss Liri and promising to remove me.
“Ah…”
Soya felt her chest sink.
As Soya stood alone in the hallway, her face pale as snow, she sensed movement.
It was Head of the Household, Jeok A-yun.
She remembered that chilling threat—he would never forgive anyone who hurt Miss Liri.
“He’s going to be angry. He’s going to punish me for making Miss Liri sad.”
Thump. Bang. Thump. Bang.
Her heart raced uncontrollably.
A cold gaze swept over Soya’s trembling, fragile body.
The moment their eyes met, he simply passed by her.
Then he entered the room.
“Liri. Why are you still crying?”
“Sniff… Huh… Father…”
“I’m sorry, Liri. Don’t cry. All of this is my fault.”
Ah…
Soya’s strength drained, and she collapsed to the floor.
Her father had not ignored her to punish her; comforting Miss Liri was more important to him than punishing Soya, so he passed by her.
Listening to her father’s gentle voice soothing Miss Liri, Soya limped along the hallway and returned to her room, crying silently.
The next day:
“The Young Master is calling you.”
Hearing this from the main residence’s attendants, Soya went to find the Young Master.
He was at Hayeonji.
Hayeonji was an artificial pond built by Head of the Household, Jeok A-yun, for the late Lady of the house, accessible only to the family’s direct line.
Soya had once really liked this place.
The red-haired boy stood before the pond, hands behind his back, facing away.
“I heard you were looking for me, Young Master.”
Feeling her presence, Jeok Hwa-yu slowly turned around.
“…So you’ve come, Soya.”
A gentle tone drifted to her ears. Soya looked up at him, her face flustered.
Brother Hwa-yu spoke her name in the same tender tone he used for Miss Liri.
“Calling me Young Master… that feels a bit stiff. Call me Brother like before.”
“Y-yes…”
“I’ll return your Spirit Core.”
He took a small, snow-white glowing orb from his pocket and handed it to Soya.
It was the Spirit Core he had taken from her three years ago under their father’s orders.
Soya accepted it, stunned.
Blinking in surprise at his sudden change, she said nothing.
“After yesterday, I’ve had a lot to think about. And now I regret… treating you coldly and leaving you alone all this time.”
“…”
A brief silence fell between them.
It was Jeok Hwa-yu who first broke it.
“Today is the last day of the Summer Festival. Would you like to go see it together?”
“Ah, n-no… how could I…”
Flustered, Soya waved her hands. He added gently, with a warm expression:
“Haven’t you always wondered about the Summer Festival?”
“…”
Her lips closed tightly.
‘He remembered…’
Long ago, they had promised that after completing her first transformation on her upcoming sixth birthday, they would go see the festival together.
Soya had been counting the days for that promise.
Even though it became meaningless when it was revealed that she was a fake on that day…
“There isn’t much time. You should prepare quickly.”
“…”
“Then, I’ll see you shortly.”
Watching him feign awkward kindness, Soya had a sinking feeling.
‘Ah… today is the day. The day I’m cast out.’
Her eyes dimmed with sorrow.
As Soya watched Jeok Hwa-yu walk away, she remembered: yesterday, it had been hearing the gentle voices of Father comforting Miss Liri and the Young Master that had led her limping down the hallway.
[“Please get rid of her before His Highness the Prince comes back for that child.”]
[“Understood.”]
Brother had spoken such cruel words in such a gentle voice, without a moment’s hesitation.
So she could no longer trust his words.
He regrets leaving me alone?
No.
If they regret anything, it’s having kept me here in this mansion all this time, only to hurt Miss Liri.
‘So now… they intend to drive me away.’
Soya held the small, glowing white orb in her palm and stared at it.
For the past three years, she had lived as an incomplete, half-transformed Beast Person without her Spirit Core.
Now she understood why it had been taken from her.
‘It was terrifying… seeing me in that form…’
Taking the Spirit Core had been a warning: never show that form again.
Returning it now meant…
‘They no longer care whether I transform or not. Either way… they intend to drive me out of sight forever.’
Soya lowered her eyes slowly. The white orb shimmered as it was absorbed into her body.
Her incomplete body, deprived of the Spirit Core, was finally complete—but strangely, instead of feeling strength, her body sagged.
Her chest ached, her sternum burned.
But there was no time to linger.
Soya returned to her room, took out the small wooden box she had hidden, and quietly examined its contents.
It was all she had.
Selecting only a few items, she headed to the meeting place.
Stepping out of the mansion, Soya felt hesitant crossing the threshold.
After staring at the gate for a long while, she finally stepped over it and looked back at the mansion.
She thought she made eye contact with a man standing atop a tall pavilion.
But when she blinked slowly, she realized it had been a mistake.
Father was there—laughing brightly with Miss Liri.
‘Father couldn’t have seen me.’
Whenever he was with Miss Liri, he acted as if nothing else existed.
Yesterday, Miss Liri had been crying so violently that the mansion seemed to shake—but now, she was holding Father’s hand, twirling around with a smile.
And Father looked at her with such love and warmth, as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
They looked so happy. A perfect family.
‘If only I weren’t here…’
Soya silently bowed her head to Father, gathering her hands together—a quiet farewell, perhaps her last.
Soya walked through the bustling streets with Jeok Hwa-yu.
Though she was finally seeing the Summer Festival she had longed to witness, the feeling was more bitter than joyful.
“Here’s your favorite fruit skewer. Try it.”
Jeok Hwa-yu handed her a skewer of beautifully cut peaches coated in sugar, smiling warmly.
‘Miss Liri likes this, not me. Eating peaches gives me a fever and a sore throat.’
Soya knew speaking the truth would break this fleeting peace.
Though it was false, she wanted to see Jeok Hwa-yu’s kind smile a little longer, to savor this dreamlike, sweet moment.
So she smiled, pulling the corners of her lips upward.
“Thank you, Young Master.”
But when she went to eat the peach, she hesitated.
Jeok Hwa-yu’s eyes furrowed slightly, as if she had refused food.
Even the smallest change was enough for Soya, who had spent three years watching others’ reactions, to notice immediately.
“If you don’t want it—”
“N-no!”
Soya hastily bit into the peach. She choked a little, coughing as she swallowed quickly.
While she wiped the tears from her eyes, Jeok Hwa-yu stopped at another stall.
It sold delicate jewelry—rings, necklaces, and the like.
“Give me that bracelet with the red gemstone. It’s a gift for my sister.”
“Ah, so the little lady beside you must be your sister. She’ll be very pleased.”
“Oh.”
As if remembering belatedly, Jeok Hwa-yu picked up a bead bracelet from the stall and handed it to Soya.
“You’ll need to pay for this too. It’s yours, Soya.”
“…!”
Surprised by the unexpected gift, her eyes widened, and a blush spread across her face.
“Thank you so much, Brother.”
Though it had been intended for Miss Liri, he gave it to her impulsively—and yet, Soya hugged it tightly, smiling brightly.
“I’ve always wanted to see the Summer Festival. Thank you for remembering and bringing me here.”
Despite everything, she cherished the bracelet, smiling radiantly.
