The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 123

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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 123

 

Emperor Tae Irim entered, followed by the young generals who were the protagonists of this victory celebration banquet.

 

At the Emperor’s appearance, everyone stopped what they were doing, rose from their seats, and bowed their heads toward the Emperor.

 

Jeok Ayun also had to stop heading toward Soya and pay proper respects to the Emperor.

 

The sixteen-year-old Boy Emperor, who could no longer be called just a child, headed toward the head seat.

 

When the Emperor took his seat, everyone sat back down.

 

Though Jeok Ayun also found his assigned seat and sat down, he couldn’t hear the drum sounds announcing the start of the banquet or the Emperor’s greeting.

 

He simply stared blankly at the distant spot where Soya was, far from where he sat.

 

* * *

 

Soya watched Irim’s entrance with inner admiration.

 

‘His Majesty doesn’t seem nervous at all in front of so many people. How amazing.’

 

Just yesterday when she saw him in the rear garden tree, he had been dressed somewhat casually, but today he wore the dragon robe embroidered with the Imperial Dragon that only the Emperor of Taehwa Kingdom could wear.

 

Even when he visited White Tiger Palace five years ago, since it wasn’t an official occasion, he had dressed more lightly, so this was Soya’s first time seeing him so formally attired.

 

Despite countless people’s gazes focused on him all at once, he merely swept them with a languid look as if it were natural, moving forward.

 

‘I was so nervous just assisting Father at last year’s mountain festival.’

 

At last year’s mountain festival, Soya had assisted her father in place of Jeok Yeong, and though everyone praised her as excellent, she had actually been very nervous and trembling inside.

 

Yet even before far more people than that, Irim looked relaxed. Though only two years older than her, he seemed much more mature.

 

To be more honest, he seemed more mature than even twenty-year-old Gaya.

 

Though there were times when Gaya felt even younger than Hyeon…

 

[I’m not telling you.]

 

When Gaya said that last night, it was really… well… sorry to say this, but a bit childish.

 

Sometimes he said things even Yul wouldn’t say.

 

‘Gaya is such an interesting person.’

 

Soya giggled thinking of Gaya.

 

Just then, he was entering following Irim.

 

Soya looked at Gaya with a pleased expression, then was startled.

 

‘Is Gaya… glowing…?’

 

He was glowing. Literally, sparkling and shining with very ornate accessories.

 

She suddenly remembered what the White Tiger Palace people had told her before.

 

[The eldest Young Master likes to dress ornately. He loves shiny things, especially gems.]

 

[Unlike Young Master Hyeon who likes neat things or Young Master Yul who doesn’t care about such things, he’s somewhat materialistic.]

 

[Not just materialistic, but possessive in all aspects, so when he was young, he made the other two Young Masters cry a lot.]

 

‘They said he likes gems, and it’s really true.’

 

Soya gaped at the gems hanging all over him.

 

She thought about how difficult it must have been for this brother who loved such adornment to spend so long on the battlefield.

 

Even with that ornate decoration that could feel overwhelming, Gaya’s beauty wasn’t diminished. Rather, it shone brighter.

 

Enough to truly understand the story that he had attracted young ladies from the western lands even before his first growth.

 

‘So that’s why Lady Sahye from the Black Tiger family has wanted to marry Gaya since childhood.’

 

Just then, Gaya spotted Soya and winked at her.

 

At his playful gesture, Soya couldn’t help but giggle.

 

As Irim took his seat, the banquet began.

 

“Gaya of the Baek family. And Sanyu of the Jeok family.”

 

Sitting at the head seat, he looked down at the generals standing below and called out two names.

 

At this, Gaya and Sanyu stepped forward before the Emperor.

 

“I hear that in this war, you two joined forces to slay the Taowu. In the name of the Imperial Dragon, I commend your achievements.”

 

Even Gaya and Sanyu, who usually bickered, bowed their heads with quite respectful attitudes in this setting.

 

Soya watched the scene with a prouder and more pleased expression than anyone.

 

The two headed to seats specially prepared for the protagonists who led this war to victory.

 

For today’s main banquet, they had to spend the evening near the Emperor rather than with their families.

 

Though Soya felt a bit disappointed, since there were still large and small banquets remaining, she could certainly yield her brother to His Majesty for just today.

 

While watching Gaya with a pleased expression, Soya naturally turned her head when she suddenly noticed Sanyu beside him looking this way.

 

So she couldn’t tell whether he had seen her face or not.

 

‘Anyway, he’ll soon realize that the child who greeted him yesterday was me…’

 

Soon, magnificent music praising the protagonists of this war began, along with dancers’ performances, and the banquet reached its peak.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, Jeok Ayun couldn’t do anything throughout the entire banquet.

 

Even when his son received commendation from the Emperor, he only stared toward where the White Tiger family members sat, not at his son.

 

[That child is dead.]

 

For the past five years since hearing that news, that child had constantly appeared before his eyes like a phantom.

 

And whenever he saw that phantom, he felt inexplicable lonely sensations.

 

Jeok Ayun thought those feelings that grew stronger over time were simply from old guilt.

 

The guilt left by the death of a child he had once believed was his own and raised.

 

But the moment he saw Soya, and felt his heart drop with a thud.

 

Only then could Jeok Ayun understand the true nature of those unknown emotions.

 

He had been missing that child all along.

 

That child who was uniquely gentle and warm, who reminded him so much of his deceased wife.

 

All sorts of thoughts swirled in his head about why that child was with the White Tiger family head, whether he was mistaking a similar-looking child.

 

[The Baek family head adopted a daughter. But that child’s name is… Soya…]

 

Five years ago, Soya had left the estate and vanished, leaving only a bloodstained pouch.

 

And likewise five years ago, the White Tiger family had adopted a child named Soya.

 

Jeok Ayun was certain.

 

Though the child had grown tremendously in five years, that child was definitely the little one who had once called him Father, Soya.

 

It wasn’t only Jeok Ayun who froze upon seeing Soya.

 

Jeok Hwayu and Lili, who tilted their heads at their father’s behavior and followed his gaze, also discovered Soya at the end of his sight.

 

Lili was shocked to discover Soya.

 

‘Why is that girl…!’

 

Though five years had passed, she could recognize her immediately.

 

The white hair, pale red eyes. Even those features that had always made her jealous because they were prettier than hers, despite being just a working child.

 

Soya.

 

That wicked little thief!

 

Soya was laughing and talking with the White Tiger princes who had ignored her.

 

‘How did this happen?’

 

Lili couldn’t focus on the banquet she had so looked forward to and just chewed her lower lip.

 

Jeok Hwayu was equally confused.

 

The Vermillion Bird family members couldn’t understand how the banquet was proceeding.

 

Much later, the banquet ended when the Emperor rose first to move to a separate location with the young generals.

 

The people gathered in the banquet hall also rose and scattered in small groups.

 

Jeok Ayun, who had been sitting with a dazed expression until then, suddenly snapped to attention and shot up.

 

The White Tiger family members were already returning to their assigned palace.

 

He caught a glimpse of Soya smiling brightly between Family Head Baek Saeon and the two princes.

 

At that moment, Jeok Ayun couldn’t restrain himself and strode toward them.

 

“Lord Saeon!”

 

At Jeok Ayun’s shout, Saeon whirled around to look at him.

 

Simultaneously, the White Tiger family’s two young princes stepped back and hid Soya behind them.

 

“…Jeok Ayun.”

 

Blue eyes filled with cold killing intent curved lazily.

 

“How does the noble bird of the south seek me so rashly. Like the thick-skinned, ill-bred mountain beasts you so criticize.”

 

Saeon let out a cold laugh with an icy voice.

 

Though it was clearly a provocative tone, it didn’t matter to Jeok Ayun.

 

“Just now. That child who was beside you.”

 

For him right now, only that child they were hiding, Soya, was important.

 

“Please let me see that child just once.”

 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

 

“I’m talking about the daughter you adopted five years ago. The one named Soya.”

 

The moment he mentioned Soya’s name, Baek Saeon’s expression turned extremely menacing.

 

“That child, she seems like the child I lost five years ago…”

 

“This bird-brain. Are you insane.”

 

In an instant of rising fury, the air around Saeon froze cold.

 

When Jeok Ayun sensed the rising killing intent and reflexively surrounded himself with flames to defend.

 

Crash—!

 

Saeon charging toward him was just a bit faster.

 

With a loud noise, Jeok Ayun’s body fell to the floor, and Saeon mounted on top of him, threateningly grabbing his collar.

 

“Soya, that child, just once, urgh…”

 

“How dare you say in front of me, who belongs to whom?”

 

Saeon muttered through gritted teeth with a razor-sharp voice, his eyes flashing.

 

“Ah, Father’s eyes look strange.”

 

Gayul, who was watching, gulped and stammered.

 

Though he had heard rumors about what Father was like in his youth, he thought the contents were somewhat exaggerated because they were so fierce.

 

That was because Saeon had never once shown such a side in front of the children.

 

But now, an unseen gleam was flickering and shining in Father’s eyes.

 

“What should we do, Elder Brother. If Father gets hurt like this…”

 

Soya muttered with a deeply worried voice.

 

“…”

 

Even while his siblings were stamping their feet in worry, Ga Hyeon looked at the two men with calm eyes.

 

“Grgh, Baek, Saeon…”

 

As Jeok Ayun bit down hard on his lower lip, flames blazed up around him.

 

The burning flames gathered into the shape of a large arrow and flew toward Saeon.

 

Swoosh—!

 

Saeon frowned and rolled his body.

 

Boom—!

 

A wide fire pit formed where Saeon had been just moments before.

 

Crackle, crackle—

 

“Are you insane, Lord Saeon?”

 

Jeok Ayun glared fiercely at Saeon.

 

Soon the flames burning in the fire pit became dozens of flame arrows flying toward Saeon.

 

“With just something like that.”

 

However, Saeon smiled crookedly and tore apart the dozens of flame arrows flying like lightning with his bare hands.

 

Jeok Ayun’s flames lost their spark and fell thud, thud to the ground.

 

Black smoke rose from Saeon’s fingertips.

 

People gathered at the loud commotion.

 

However, the two men paid no attention to people’s gazes and glared at each other in tense confrontation.

 

It was when they were about to charge at each other again.

 

“Father…!”

 

At the frail cry, both men simultaneously stopped their movements.

 

Jeok Ayun quickly turned his head to look where the sound came from.

 

Soya was looking this way with a face full of worry.

 

“Ah…”

 

A shallow moan flowed from between his teeth.

 

Father.

 

At that sound he hadn’t heard in such a long time, his heart tightened and his eyes grew hot.

 

The child who had been restlessly stamping her feet with an anxious face soon came running this way, clutching her skirt.

 

“Soya…!”

 

It was the moment Jeok Ayun reached out his hand toward the child.

 

Swoosh—

 

Soya passed right by him.

—————
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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