<p>Baeksa was the only baby snake ever born into the imperial family, where every child was supposed to be a dragon beastkin. A defective child who couldn't even create a dragon pearl and could barely use her supernatural abilities. &ldquo;What will you do? Be exiled to the South and die? Or remain in the imperial palace and work for your father?&rdquo; Even so, Baeksa was content. After all, her merciful father had given her one more chance. But as time passed, her small white body gradually turned pitch-black, and she became a useless baby snake who could no longer use her powers at all. &ldquo;Get rid of her.&rdquo; Without a moment's hesitation, the Emperor abandoned Baeksa. As though it had been decided from the very beginning. Carrying the memories of having been abandoned, Baeksa returns to the past. But there is only so much a seven-year-old girl can do. Her choices are simple: be abandoned a year later, or be abandoned right now. Unwilling to be used again, she chooses to leave before it happens. And at the moment she is abandoned once more&mdash; &ldquo;Please... save me.&rdquo; In a snowy field, Baeksa meets a man whose hands are astonishingly warm. Those hands feel like a small lantern, gently warming her frozen body. &ldquo;You asked me to save you, so I saved you.&rdquo; The one who rescues the little snake is Ju Jeokseo, head of the Vermilion Bird Clan and king of the cursed southern lands. He brings Baeksa home, nurses her back to health, and provides her with warm clothes and a comfortable place to sleep. But she can't keep burdening them forever. Once she grows up a little and is able to find work on her own, she'll leave. That was the plan... &ldquo;No matter what anyone else says, you're a member of our family now.&rdquo; A sweet and affectionate younger older-brother figure who whispers those words to her. &ldquo;It's strange. You've become far too important to me. I never thought I'd care for someone this much.&rdquo; A somewhat intimidating but kind and gentle elder brother. &ldquo;You can stay for as long as you like. If you want to stay forever, then do so.&rdquo; And even the head of the Vermilion Bird Clan, whose hands are still as warm as ever. Would it be okay... if I stayed here just a little longer? A pure white lotus blooming from the mud. The story of Baeksa, the little baby snake.</p>