The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 101

 

Inside the Black Marsh.

 

Soya slowly took a deep breath and lifted her eyelids.

 

‘Now where should I go?’

 

As the Divine Beasts had told her, there was no problem breathing, but everything was black and she couldn’t see ahead.

 

It was when Soya was hesitating, not knowing which way to go.

 

―My child.

 

‘Huh…?’

 

A voice came from somewhere.

 

―My pretty child. Soya.

 

The voice was calling Soya.

 

‘Who is it?’

 

For some reason, the voice didn’t sound unfamiliar.

 

It was warm, cozy… strangely, it was such a longing voice that made her feel like crying the moment she heard it.

 

‘When and where have I heard this voice before.’

 

It was when Soya was pondering the voice and searching her memory.

 

―Mother is waiting for Soya.

 

‘…!’

 

In an instant, Soya’s eyes widened round.

 

―Come to Mother quickly, my baby.

 

‘Ah. When I was in Mother’s womb… That’s the sound I heard then.’

 

At that moment, the darkness lifted with a bright light.

 

In the bright light, Soya was lying on a bed in a familiar room.

 

And by Soya’s bedside sat a woman.

 

The woman with an elegant impression, gracefully letting down her reddish-brown hair, was none other than the Madam of the Vermillion Bird Family.

 

In other words, the one who gave birth to Soya, Soya’s…

 

“Mo…ther…?”

 

Soya carefully parted her lips and tried calling her.

 

“My baby. Why did you sleep in so late today.”

 

The woman said with a small laugh.

 

She looked exactly the same as in the past that Suzaku had shown her once.

 

If there was one difference from then, in the past Suzaku had shown her, she had a sick and pale face, but the woman before her eyes now was smiling at Soya with a very healthy face.

 

“Our child looks like she hasn’t fully woken up yet.”

 

The woman gently stroked Soya’s head.

 

“Oh…”

 

Then a small gasp flowed from between Soya’s teeth.

 

Her heart suddenly grew warm from that stroking touch, and Soya unconsciously hugged tightly the cloth doll that was in her arms.

 

Then she belatedly noticed the doll’s presence and looked down at it.

 

‘This is…’

 

Soya’s throat bobbed painfully.

 

It was the Phoenix Doll that the Madam of the Vermillion Bird Family, who was Soya’s birth mother, had made for her unborn baby long ago.

 

The very doll that had been roughly taken away by the Household Members when Soya was driven to the Cold Palace and burned to become black ash.

 

“Woo…”

 

The moment she saw it, Soya burst into tears.

 

“Waah…!”

 

“Oh my.”

 

At this, the woman was surprised and hugged Soya.

 

“Child, why are you crying. Our Soya. Did you have a scary dream?”

 

“Sob, sob, waaaaah…!”

 

Overwhelmed by the rushing sorrow, Soya burst into loud crying like a baby.

 

On the day this doll became black ash, Soya had actually wanted to cry out loud like this.

 

Because what was burned that day wasn’t simply a cloth doll, but the family affection that young Soya had rightfully needed.

 

So that day was also the day when Soya’s entire world burned brightly and scattered as ash.

 

“It’s okay, don’t cry, our child. Mother is here.”

 

The woman hugged Soya tightly and comforted her.

 

Soya looked up at the woman while swallowing her hiccuping sobs.

 

‘Why are you making a sadder face than me?’

 

The question lingered in her throat.

 

In the woman’s touch that was soothing her body, Soya gradually stopped crying.

 

Sniffle, sniffle.

 

When she sniffed back her runny nose and lowered her head, she saw short and chubby arms and legs.

 

‘This is strange. Was I… originally this short?’

 

Soya tilted her head while clenching and unclenching her short fingers for no reason.

 

‘I’m a proper one who even completed First Growth… Hm? How old was I?’

 

Her memory kept getting hazy and she couldn’t think clearly.

 

“This is serious. Our Soya, it’s only ten more nights until your fourth birthday. If you cry like this, Suzaku won’t give you a gift.”

 

‘Ah, that’s right! I’m four years old!’

 

At the woman’s words delivered with chuckling laughter, Soya suddenly realized.

 

No wonder, she kept losing control of her tears and crying like a baby since earlier.

 

“I, I wasn’t crying! Soya will receive the gift that Suzaku gives too!”

 

Soya wiped her eyes roughly as if she had never cried, then sat up abruptly with a brave face.

 

Still tightly hugging the Phoenix Doll in one arm.

 

“Yes, yes, our Soya. Shall we sit over here?”

 

The woman brought a small mirror and placed it in front, then combed Soya’s hair.

 

‘This is strange. Our mother wasn’t this good at tying hair…’

 

The woman braided her hair softly with very skillful hands, without any tangling or pulling.

 

Soya kept stealing glances at the woman sitting behind her through the mirror.

 

‘That person is Soya’s mother… Eek!’

 

Then when her eyes met the woman’s, she was startled and hurriedly lowered her gaze.

 

“How cute, our baby.”

 

The woman burst into laughter at that sight.

 

“Ta-da. All done!”

 

Soya looked at the mirror with a somehow pounding heart.

 

Her reflection in the mirror showed her red hair rolled up and tied in two buns like dumplings.

 

“How is it. Our Soya. Very cute, right?”

 

“Yes…”

 

A blush crept up over Soya’s face as she nodded.

 

It’s a bit embarrassing to say this with her own mouth, but… her reflection in the mirror was really pretty.

 

Especially that brilliant red hair she had always envied…

 

‘Huh? I envied it?’

 

Soya blinked at the thought that suddenly came to her without knowing, when the woman extended her hand to Soya.

 

“Shall we go out then?”

 

“Yes, yes!”

 

Soya quickly grabbed that hand.

 

The woman chuckled softly seeing the small hand that grabbed hers swiftly, afraid she might leave.

 

Soya held the woman’s hand tightly and went outside the Inner Quarters.

 

The familiar scenery of the estate spread before her eyes.

 

The two headed toward Hayeonji, the artificial pond prepared in the Inner Courtyard of the Vermillion Bird Mansion.

 

‘Ah. It’s really been a long time since I’ve been here.’

 

It was when Soya was thinking blankly while looking at the pond.

 

“Huh? You came to look around with Mother yesterday too.”

 

The woman spoke as if she had read Soya’s inner thoughts.

 

‘Huh? Did I?’

 

Soya tilted her head and looked at the lotus flowers blooming on the pond.

 

The woman stretched her hand up into the air.

 

Then birds flew over and chirped on the back of her hand, before flying away again to bring back two lotus blossoms.

 

The woman tucked a lotus stem above Soya’s ear.

 

“Oh, how pretty. My Soya.”

 

“Soya too! Soya wants to put one in Mother’s ear too!”

 

“Here, please do.”

 

The woman smiled brightly and handed the remaining flower blossom to Soya.

 

Then she bent down, and Soya also carefully tucked the flower blossom above the woman’s ear with her small hands.

 

However, the moment the woman tried to straighten up slightly, the flower blossom Soya had placed fell down with a thud.

 

“Ah…!”

 

Soya’s face instantly turned tearful as she just stared at the fallen flower blossom, and the woman picked it up again and apologized.

 

“Oh my, Mother wasn’t careful enough. Will my baby put it in again?”

 

This time, she very carefully and with full concentration put the flower blossom in place.

 

The woman helped Soya by pushing it in with her hand, and the flower blossom was firmly secured.

 

“How is it?”

 

At her smiling question, a bright smile bloomed across Soya’s face.

 

“It’s pretty, Mother!”

 

Soya laughed cheerfully and exclaimed.

 

Sitting by the pond with the woman and looking down at the water surface, the reflection of the mother and daughter sitting side by side appeared.

 

‘With the same flowers in our hair like this, we really look like mother and daughter.’

 

It was when Soya was thinking this and giggling.

 

“This pond is an artificial pond that Papa made.”

 

The woman explained in a gentle voice.

 

“There was a big pond like this in Mother’s hometown where she used to live. Since Mother had to leave her hometown to come to Papa, he made this so Mother wouldn’t be lonely.”

 

“Ooh, I see.”

 

Soya nodded while swinging her toes back and forth.

 

“When our Soya grows up and becomes a fine lady, she’ll leave Mother’s side to follow her husband, won’t she?”

 

“What?”

 

At those words, Soya turned to look at the woman in surprise.

 

“Mother wishes our Soya wouldn’t go anywhere and would stay with Mother for a long, long time.”

 

“S-Soya will do that!”

 

Soya answered quickly.

 

“Soya won’t get married and will live here forever! With Mother… and also…”

 

‘Hmm? Haven’t I had this conversation with Mother before?’

 

As Soya was mumbling and trailing off, a certain doubt suddenly crossed her mind.

 

“What are you thinking about, our Soya?”

 

“Ah, Mother. Well…”

 

It was when Soya was about to explain the sense of déjà vu that had briefly crossed her mind.

 

“Our cute baby.”

 

The woman pulled Soya’s small body into her arms and whispered.

 

“Baby shouldn’t think complicated thoughts and should just grow up healthy in Mother’s arms.”

 

‘Mmm, that’s right. I won’t think complicated thoughts like that.’

 

“Here, Mother and baby will be together for a long, long time, forever, just the two of us.”

 

‘Mother’s arms feel so good. I want to stay in Mother’s arms and live as Mother’s baby for a long, long time.’

 

Soya played with flowers in the garden with Mother, went up to the pavilion to eat delicious refreshments, and called many baby birds to sing and dance together.

 

‘But… I feel like I’m forgetting something…’

 

An inexplicable sense of unease had been bothering her since earlier.

 

However, whenever she tried to recall her thoughts, her mind became hazy as if covered by fog.

 

After trying to trace her thoughts a few more times, Soya soon gave up.

 

Because the woman’s hand that was holding hers tightly was so warm and comforting.

 

‘Mmm, but…’

 

Soya, who was sitting on the woman’s lap and playing by squeezing her palm, casually looked around and tilted her head.

 

‘Why are there only Mother and me in the estate?’

 

To Soya, who was lost in thought, the woman again explained as if reading her mind.

 

“Papa left for the Imperial Palace because His Majesty called for him.”

 

“Papa?”

 

“Yes, Papa. It’s our Soya’s birthday in ten nights, so Papa will come soon too. With lots of gifts for our baby.”

 

“Papa…”

 

It was when Soya was blankly muttering that word.

 

[The world you’ve been living in until now was wrong. So from now on, I’m going to show you the right world.]

 

‘Huh…?’

 

A certain voice suddenly came to mind.

 

[I’m not Cotton Ball either. I don’t have wings, and I don’t have tail feathers. I’m not cute either. I don’t know well, but people say I have a bad personality too.]

 

‘This is…’

 

Soya’s expression suddenly stiffened.

 

[Don’t you like this kind of father who’s not cute and has a bad personality?]

 

‘Papa…!’

 

This was the voice of the person Soya loved most in the world.

 

[Call me Father. It would be even better if you called me Papa.]

 

‘Ah. Yes, that’s right.’

 

The hazy fog that had been filling her mind gradually cleared away.

 

[Papa will be guarding here, so be careful and come back, Baby Cotton Ball.]

 

‘Papa, Father is waiting for me!’

 

Suddenly!

 

With realization, Soya’s body grew.

 

Not the body of a four-year-old child who longed for her mother’s absence, but the body of a twelve-year-old girl.

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