The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 1

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 1

Soya was carrying a small pile of laundry balanced on her head.

For the past month, she had refrained from leaving her room to avoid drawing attention, but today she had no choice.

If she didn’t do it herself, there was no one else to do the washing.

Having gone a whole month without washing, her already shabby clothes had developed a musty smell.

‘Let’s hurry back.’

She wanted to quickly wash the clothes, dry them thoroughly in the sunlight, and change into fresh, fluffy garments.

So she was hurrying along on her short legs when it happened.

A lovely burst of laughter from not far away made Soya unconsciously stop in her tracks.

“Really, big brother?”

“Yes, Lili. Anything you want.”

The young master and young lady of the Suzaku Family were there.

The ‘real’ young lady of the family who had recently returned.

The young lady had become the biggest topic of conversation among the estate’s workers lately.

However, Soya’s eyes were fixed not on the lovely Lady Lili, but on the face of the young master who was affectionately guiding her around the estate.

That gentle, warm face looking at the young lady with a smile as warm as spring breeze—Soya stared at it as if entranced.

It was a face she was seeing again after a full three years.

Then suddenly, the young master’s gaze met Soya’s.

“….”

In an instant, the smile vanished from his face.

At his face turning cold as if what she had just seen was a mirage, Soya flinched and shrank her shoulders, setting down the laundry basket she had been carrying on her head.

Then she prostrated herself flat on the ground and bowed her head. Like a criminal.

“I’m, I’m sorry, young master….”

She could feel his sharp gaze lingering over her head.

[Never let me see you again.]

As the cold voice echoed in her mind, Soya’s small body trembled.

Jeok Soya had originally been the precious youngest daughter of the Suzaku Family.

At age six, until just before she succeeded in her First Beast Transformation, that is.

* * *

Taehwa Kingdom, a country where beast-people lived.

In Taehwa Kingdom, there were four families who inherited the blood of ancient divine beasts, protecting the Imperial Family and defending the empire.

The Azure Dragon of the Eastern Region, the White Tiger of the Western Region, the Suzaku of the Southern Region, and the Black Tortoise of the Northern Region.

They awakened special abilities passed down from ancient times and ruled over the four lands of east, west, south, and north, and the beast-people who lived upon them.

Among them, the Suzaku Family of the Southern divine beast, which protected the empire’s southern lands, was the leader of 360 species of birds and the master of fire.

The Suzaku Family estate was bustling from morning.

Today was the sixth birthday of the Suzaku Family’s precious youngest child, Lady Soya, and the day of her First Beast Transformation.

While everyone couldn’t hide their excited, pounding hearts, family head Jeok Ayun appeared carrying Soya in his arms.

“Oh my, the family head himself….”

“I heard he cherishes the youngest lady so much that he never lets her out of his arms for even a moment, and it seems those rumors were true.”

The retainers whispered among themselves as they watched Jeok Ayun and Soya.

Unlike Jeok Ayun, who had red hair like blazing flames, Soya’s hair was pure white like snow.

Since the late lady had also possessed reddish-brown hair with a crimson tint during her lifetime, many people had whispered about Soya’s birth when she was born.

Perhaps the lady, who couldn’t endure the fever of childbirth and passed away, had committed adultery with another man.

However, Jeok Ayun immediately put an end to such suspicions.

His deceased wife had been a woman as pure as snow, so no one should dare doubt her chastity.

If anyone spread impure words, he would personally hold them accountable for their crimes.

In any case, on the day of the First Beast Transformation, it would be clearly revealed that the child was of Suzaku bloodline.

When direct descendants of the Suzaku Family underwent Beast Transformation, they became beautiful firebirds with brilliantly blazing red feathers.

This was an absolute, unchanging law that had continued since ancient times.

No matter what people said, Jeok Ayun’s faith in his deceased wife was unwavering.

His affection for Soya, the last trace his wife had left behind, was the same.

Above all, if she weren’t his daughter, how could this tiny child be so lovable?

“Soya, are you ready?”

Jeok Ayun set Soya down from his arms and asked in a gentle voice.

“Yes, Father!”

Soya answered, clenching her small fists tightly.

Perhaps from nervousness, her hands were filled with tension.

“Don’t be nervous, Soya. You can do well.”

Beside her, Soya’s older brother and the Suzaku Family’s second young master, Jeok Hwayu, whispered.

“Yes, Soya will do well, big brother!”

Soya answered with a giggle.

With encouragement from her father and big brother Hwayu, Soya seemed to relax a little.

It would have been even better if big brother Sanyu, who had left on a campaign at His Majesty the Emperor’s summons, could have been here too.

With the support of her family and retainers, Soya walked toward the altar placed before her.

On the giant Suzaku Painting hanging above the altar, a red bird wrapped in brilliant flames like the sun displayed its majesty.

Kneeling before it, Soya clasped her hands together for the ritual of First Beast Transformation.

Then, thinking of what she had learned from her father and older brother, she imagined herself after completing Beast Transformation.

The form of a magnificent baby bird, brilliant and splendid like flames resembling the sun.

‘Hehe.’

Thinking of that made her want to giggle, forgetting this was a solemn occasion.

Soya pressed her lips together to hold back her laughter and concentrated on her Spirit Core with earnest heart.

‘Please let me become a magnificent baby bird.’

While everyone held their breath and waited for Soya’s First Beast Transformation.

Pop!

“Cheep!”

With the adorable cry of a baby bird, Soya finally succeeded in her First Beast Transformation!

“….”

“….”

“….”

A cold silence fell over the hall in an instant.

Everyone’s faces were colored with shock.

Family head Jeok Ayun’s face had turned ashen, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.

Where Soya had transformed. There was…

Not the brilliantly blazing red feathers that a divine beast inheriting Suzaku blood should rightfully possess, but only a shabby baby bird with pathetic white down.

“Chirp?”

Unable to see her own body, Soya tilted her head in confusion before approaching her frozen father.

“Cheep!”

It was the moment when Soya, smiling brightly, tried to grasp Jeok Ayun’s hand.

Swish!

Jeok Ayun brushed away Soya’s hand.

This caused Soya’s body to wobble and fall to the floor with a thud.

“Peep…?”

Having fallen on her bottom, Soya looked up at her father in surprise, even forgetting her pain.

A look of confusion flashed across Jeok Ayun’s face, but only for a brief moment.

“Strip the child of her Spirit Core and confine her to the Cold Palace.”

“…!”

He said this while looking at Soya with cold eyes.

“If anyone speaks of today’s events, I will not forgive them.”

Jeok Ayun turned around and left the scene.

“Peep…?”

Soya blinked her eyes as she watched her father’s retreating figure.

‘Father is angry.’

Father’s gaze toward me was so cold that it felt like my heart would freeze solid.

‘Why did he look at Soya with such eyes?’

At that moment, small dandelion seeds scattered on the ground caught her eye.

‘No. Those aren’t dandelion seeds….’

It was her own fur that had fallen when she tumbled earlier.

Soya’s eyes wavered greatly.

Something was wrong.

As a direct descendant of Suzaku, I should have brilliant red feathers like Father and my brothers, but why.

‘I failed at Beast Transformation.’

Soya realized this as she looked at her own pathetic down feathers scattered miserably.

‘Because Soya failed at Beast Transformation. Is that why Father was disappointed?’

Soya was confused.

Then a shadow slightly smaller than Father approached her.

It was Brother Hwayu.

Perhaps my brother could resolve this confusion.

“Peep…!”

In the frightening atmosphere, Soya tried to run to her brother and embrace him.

Just like always.

But the moment she touched her brother.

Swoosh―!

With a sensation like her soul being struck, something was pulled out of Soya’s body.

A small orb glowed pure white above her brother’s hand.

It was Soya’s Spirit Core.

The moment her Spirit Core was taken, Soya’s Beast Transformation was undone.

“Huff….”

Soya, who had returned to human form, collapsed on the floor gasping for breath.

“Brother, why….”

“Drag that thing away immediately.”

Flinch.

At the cold voice, Soya flinched and trembled.

The face of her brother, who had always cherished her, was filled with contempt.

“Brother…?”

“What are you all doing? Hurry up and drag her away.”

Two family soldiers grabbed the trembling Soya’s arms.

“Brother, why, why are you doing this? I, I’m Soya.”

“Brother?”

Jeok Hwayu’s face contorted as he looked down at Soya.

“Who said I was your brother?”

“Is, is it because Soya failed at Beast Transformation? Is that why you’re angry and disappointed? I, I did wrong. I’ll, I’ll do it again, and this time I’ll definitely succeed….”

Large tears streamed down from Soya’s eyes.

“Pl, please don’t do this. I’m so scared.”

However, even at that pitiful sight of her trembling all over and stammering, Jeok Hwayu’s expression remained cold.

He slowly bent down toward Soya.

Just as Soya’s face was about to brighten at his action of meeting her eye level.

“How disgusting that you’ve deceived everyone all this time.”

Jeok Hwayu warned coldly in a voice that seemed to chew on his anger.

“Never let me see you again.”

“….”

“If I see that hideous face of yours one more time, I might just cut off those pathetic wings of yours.”

“…!”

At that murderous threat, Soya had to cover her mouth tightly with both hands and swallow her sobs.

The family soldiers dragged Soya away.

Afterward, Jeok Soya, the beloved youngest daughter of the Suzaku Family who had been everyone’s precious treasure, was confined to the Cold Palace.

At first, I didn’t understand.

Why Father and Brother Hwayu were so angry.

Maybe it was because I failed at Beast Transformation.

Because I had pathetic white down instead of magnificent flame feathers.

If I succeed at Beast Transformation, then Father and Brother will forgive me and smile at Soya again.

Yes, that must be it.

Left alone, Soya attempted Beast Transformation again, but it was impossible without a Spirit Core.

Knowing this but still forcing herself to attempt Beast Transformation, her injured body finally coughed up blood and collapsed.

Naturally, no one came to check on Soya who had collapsed coughing up blood.

No physician came to examine Soya’s condition either.

However, her frail and small body stubbornly endured, groaning and coughing up blood but refusing to die.

Because of this, those working in the Cold Palace thought Soya was feigning illness to get the family head’s attention.

Soya would faint, then upon regaining consciousness, force herself to attempt Beast Transformation again, only to cough up blood and faint once more in an endless cycle.

Only after some more time passed and hearing the maids’ whispers did she learn the truth.

That her existence was evidence of her mother’s infidelity.

‘I wasn’t Father’s real daughter after all.’

Only then was Soya finally able to stop attempting Beast Transformation.

That was already three years ago.

Everyone forgot about Soya, forgot that there had once been a beloved youngest daughter in the Suzaku Family.

Father too, and Brother Hwayu as well….

.

.

And one month ago.

The real daughter of the Suzaku Family returned.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————