The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 122

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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 122

 

The day of the long-awaited Grand Banquet had dawned.

 

Seolyeo was waiting for her outside Soya’s room.

 

When he was young, he would thoughtlessly barge into Soya’s room while she was getting ready, but as he grew older, he came to understand that such behavior was inappropriate.

 

According to the Second Young Master of White Tiger Palace, barging into a grown lady’s room was something only uneducated, dim-witted tigers like the Third Young Master would do.

 

No matter how close they were like family.

 

In truth, those words had been spoken by Ga Hyeon to criticize Gayul’s behavior of troubling Soya by visiting her room at any time.

 

However, while Gayul let those words go in one ear and out the other, only Seolyeo took them earnestly to heart.

 

Seolyeo didn’t want to appear like an uneducated, lacking fool to Soya.

 

Therefore, unlike his childhood days when he would just follow behind Soya like a puppy, now he didn’t refuse Saeon’s support and studied and trained diligently.

 

As for why he wanted to look good to Soya, even he himself didn’t yet understand the reason.

 

‘Soya’s preparations seem to be taking longer than usual today.’

 

It was when Seolyeo was thinking this.

 

Creak-

 

At the sound of the door opening, Seolyeo unconsciously turned his head and instantly froze in a daze.

 

Soya was coming out with Yeonjeong, wearing a somewhat awkward expression.

 

Spotting Seolyeo, Soya glanced at him and asked.

 

“How do I look, Seolyeo?”

 

“…”

 

Seolyeo couldn’t answer immediately.

 

At Seolyeo’s hesitant reaction, Soya’s face fell slightly.

 

“Do I look a little strange?”

 

“No. No, Soya.”

 

At this, Seolyeo snapped to his senses and quickly shook his head.

 

“Pretty. Very pretty.”

 

For some reason, Seolyeo found it difficult to look directly at Soya’s face and answered while slightly lowering his gaze.

 

Of course, Soya had always been pretty.

 

Seolyeo first realized this fact during the summer two years ago.

 

That particularly hot summer, the Young Lady of the Galho Clan had come to visit, and they all went to the stream to play in the water.

 

Soya said it was her first time playing in water.

 

Soya, who had dipped her pale feet into the stream with a rather tense expression, soon began splashing and burst into bright laughter.

 

And that day, Seolyeo strangely couldn’t take his eyes off Soya as she smiled radiantly.

 

[That’s because Soya is pretty.]

 

The Young Lady of the Galho Clan had told Seolyeo this.

 

The reason why Soya seemed to sparkle whenever he looked at her and why he couldn’t look away was all because she was pretty.

 

That was how Seolyeo first learned the word ‘pretty.’

 

And Soya was pretty not just that day, but every single day.

 

There wasn’t a single day when she wasn’t pretty.

 

However, today, Soya who had finished preparing for the banquet sparkled much more than usual.

 

So much so that he froze in place for a moment.

 

But Soya didn’t seem to easily believe Seolyeo’s words.

 

‘But Seolyeo’s answer was a bit slow just now.’

 

Seeing how he couldn’t look directly at her face and answered so awkwardly, he must be lying so she wouldn’t feel hurt. Seolyeo is kind like that.

 

Yeonjeong and Sanho, who were particularly spirited today, had caught Soya early in the morning to dress her up.

 

They applied fragrant oil brought from across the sea, making her whole body emit a subtle floral scent, and the hair ornament with colorful jewels hanging from her flowing hair swayed with each step she took.

 

Her lips, painted with rouge that was said to be popular among young ladies of her age in the capital, looked as if they had been dyed with flower petals, and her tense cheeks from nervousness were red like spring flowers even without any makeup.

 

Soya, who had never adorned herself like this before, found her reflection in the mirror terribly awkward.

 

“Huh? Cotton Ball! What’s wrong with your face!”

 

Just then, the door to the adjacent room opened and Gayul, who had bounced out, spotted Soya and exclaimed.

 

“Do I look strange?”

 

Soya asked with a worried expression.

 

“No, that’s not it…! Pret, pret, pret…!”

 

“Pretty, our Soya.”

 

While Gayul was stupidly stammering, Ga Hyeon, who had also finished preparing and come out, smiled gently and took over his brother’s words.

 

“Yul probably wanted to say that too. That you’re pretty. Right, Yul?”

 

Ga Hyeon glared sharply at Gayul where Soya couldn’t see and urged him to answer.

 

“Y-yeah.”

 

At this, Gayul obediently nodded.

 

Indeed, he had truly stammered because Soya was so pretty.

 

“Isn’t it a little awkward? This is my first time being dressed up like this…”

 

“Awkward, what nonsense. Our Soya, you’re so pretty that Elder Brother is worried. I’m afraid strange half-wits won’t be able to take their eyes off our Soya.”

 

At Ga Hyeon’s affectionate words, Soya’s awkward feelings melted away.

 

“Don’t worry, Elder Brother. I think everyone will be looking at you instead of me.”

 

Soya responded with a small smile.

 

It wasn’t empty flattery.

 

Ga Hyeon, who was always neat, had adorned himself with splendid accessories embedded with blue jade while maintaining his characteristic elegant atmosphere.

 

Especially the earring hanging from his earlobe was something she had never seen before, and it suited him very well as it was similar in color to his eyes.

 

Even Gayul, who was so active that he always preferred comfortable clothing, looked like a proper and handsome young nobleman today.

 

Just then, Saeon, who had finished preparing, spotted the three siblings and approached them.

 

“Children, so you were all gathered here.”

 

“Father!”

 

Soya, who had turned around happily at seeing Saeon, suddenly noticed the hairpin stuck in Saeon’s hair.

 

‘Huh?’

 

It was Cheongha’s gift that Soya had found in the tree yesterday.

 

Noticing Soya’s gaze, Saeon slightly lowered his eyes and asked.

 

“How do I look, Baby Cotton Ball. Does Papa look good?”

 

“Yes, Mother will love it when she sees you!”

 

When Soya said this with a bright smile, Saeon also burst into laughter.

 

“Well then, shall we go?”

 

He extended his hand to Soya.

 

“Yes!”

 

Soya firmly grasped her father’s hand and walked forward.

 

Behind them followed Ga Hyeon, Gayul, Seolyeo, and the other attendants of White Tiger Palace.

 

Gaya, who was today’s main character, would make a separate entrance.

 

Since the distance to the banquet hall wasn’t very far, they walked there.

 

Upon arriving at the banquet hall, Soya opened her eyes wide in amazement at its scale.

 

It was very large and splendid, as it was a gathering that invited all the generals who were heroes of victory and their families.

 

She felt inwardly disappointed that it would have been nice if Mother could have come too.

 

Unfortunately, it was the busiest time for the Eastern Lands, so Cheongha couldn’t leave Azure Sea Palace.

 

‘But we’ll be able to meet again soon.’

 

It was when Soya was thinking this while holding Saeon’s hand and heading toward the seats prepared for the White Tiger Family.

 

She paused.

 

She spotted people in red clothing entering from the opposite side.

 

Without realizing it, her grip on Saeon’s hand tightened.

 

‘Today, I won’t hide.’

 

Although Gaya had told her she could always hide behind him.

 

She was now fourteen years old.

 

She was no longer a little child stuck in those nine-year-old days.

 

Therefore, Soya bit down hard on the tender flesh inside her mouth and stared straight ahead without avoiding it.

 

At the very moment when she felt her eyes meet with the head of the Vermillion Bird Family, who was entering while holding Lili’s hand from the opposite side.

 

Flutter—

 

“Come this way, Cotton Ball.”

 

Saeon’s fluttering sleeve momentarily blocked her view.

 

“The sunlight is too harsh on this side. The air isn’t good either.”

 

Saeon, who had been on Soya’s left, switched to her right side as he spoke.

 

“Father…?”

 

“Our baby should only see good things.”

 

Saeon grinned at Soya, who was blinking her eyes, as he added.

 

“That’s right, Soya. Elder Brother doesn’t want dirty things to enter our Soya’s pretty eyes.”

 

“R-right! Cotton Ball is pr-pr-pretty! She should only see pretty things!”

 

Following Ga Hyeon’s words, Gayul finally succeeded in saying the word ‘pretty’ to the end this time as he chimed in.

 

Seolyeo also nodded vigorously beside them.

 

Father’s sleeve that fluttered as if protecting her.

 

Hyeoni Elder Brother’s gentle voice that seemed more sensitive than usual, even though he was smiling.

 

And Yul Elder Brother’s face that showed some determination.

 

Even Seolyeo earnestly nodding at the Elder Brothers’ words.

 

In that moment, Soya realized.

 

‘Father and Elder Brothers have been tense like me this whole time. And Seolyeo too… everyone has been looking out for me.’

 

Feeling their hearts, Soya relaxed her stiff expression and smiled softly.

 

“Thank you, everyone.”

 

Thanks to them, all the tension that had enveloped her until just moments ago completely disappeared.

 

Soya tightly grasped Saeon’s hand and stepped toward the prepared seats.

 

* * *

 

Jeok Ayun’s expression was quite troubled as he headed to the banquet hall.

 

It was because of the conversation he had with Sanyu last night.

 

[That child is also a victim! How shocked must that young child have been to learn that she was a switched child!]

 

Those words his eldest son had shouted at his second son left deep ripples within him.

 

It was also something he had long turned away from.

 

That is, the emotions that small child must have felt upon learning she wasn’t his real daughter.

 

‘It’s pointless to dwell on it. That child has already left this world.’

 

Recalling that fact made his heart heavy once again.

 

The White Tiger Family people were entering from the opposite side.

 

He had encountered Baek Saeon, the head of the White Tiger Family, several times while carrying out the Emperor’s orders during their days as heirs.

 

Their personalities didn’t match well, so they hadn’t been particularly close.

 

Casually lifting his head, he looked at the White Tiger Family members.

 

Family Head Baek Saeon. And the small girl entering while holding his hand…

 

He froze.

 

In an instant, his footsteps stopped firmly in place.

 

His red eyes shook violently, and his lips parted soundlessly.

 

Was he seeing things wrong?

 

Snow-white hair like snowflakes. Warm pink eyes like spring flowers.

 

Soya. It was that child.

 

The child who had left the estate 5 years ago and suddenly departed from this world…

 

“She’s… alive…”

 

A pale voice flowed through his teeth.

 

“Father?”

 

Lili looked up at Jeok Ayun and tilted her head.

 

However, in that moment, Jeok Ayun couldn’t even hear Lili’s voice.

 

Just as he was about to take a step toward Soya as if enchanted by something.

 

Flutter—

 

Baek Saeon’s sleeve fluttered, covering the child, and then he switched places with the child.

 

Every time Baek Saeon moved, the child’s face would briefly appear before being hidden again repeatedly.

 

When they found their seats and sat down.

 

Jeok Ayun let out a low sigh.

 

He hadn’t seen wrong.

 

Soya. It was definitely that child.

 

Just as he was clenching his fists as if he would approach Soya immediately.

 

Boooo—

 

The horn announcing the Emperor’s arrival sounded.

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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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