The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 125

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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 125

 

A low sigh escaped through Jeok Ayun’s teeth.

 

He had never once faced that fact directly until now.

 

The child’s red hair. There was clear evidence that anyone could see proving she was a direct descendant of Suzaku.

 

But just a moment ago.

 

After seeing Soya, who had grown so beautifully, that child’s lovely face that strangely reminded him of his deceased wife, Lili’s face felt incredibly unfamiliar.

 

Lili didn’t resemble his deceased wife at all.

 

Rather, Soya resembled his wife more.

 

Jeok Ayun’s fingertips trembled finely.

 

“Father. Lili is anxious.”

 

At Hwayu’s repeated words, Jeok Ayun slowly blinked and looked back at his second son again.

 

“I will investigate.”

 

“…”

 

“How that child Soya is still alive. And why she’s with the head of the White Tiger Family.”

 

“…Yes, I understand. Hwayu.”

 

Jeok Ayun nodded his head.

 

“Father, are you alright…?”

 

Lili asked carefully, watching her father’s mood unlike usual.

 

Jeok Ayun forced up the corners of his mouth that wouldn’t rise naturally and smiled at the child.

 

“Yes, Lili. I’m sorry. Father startled you.”

 

However, between the voice he spoke with as gently as usual, unknown rough emotional residue clung stickily.

 

* * *

 

As soon as Soya returned to the pavilion, she healed Saeon’s hand.

 

“It tickles, Cotton Ball.”

 

Watching the purification flame seep into his palm, Saeon smiled softly.

 

However, Soya didn’t smile along with Saeon. Instead, she spoke in a deliberately stern tone.

 

“How could Father fight in such a crowded place when you’re not even Yul Elder Brother!”

 

“Sorry, but Papa won…”

 

“Oh my, really! Winning or losing isn’t what’s important!”

 

Saeon tried to boast that he had hit more, but immediately Soya looked at him with sharp eyes and raised her voice.

 

“Father’s hand is injured like this! You told me not to get hurt even a little!”

 

“Cotton Ball. You’re thinking wrong right now, Papa is a tiger…”

 

“Tigers aren’t invincible either!”

 

“Tigers are invincible though…”

 

“Invincible my foot! You got injured like this!”

 

“…”

 

At those words, Saeon had nothing to say.

 

There was worry embedded in the child’s voice as she spoke to him in a strict tone.

 

While she had been constantly concerned about encountering the Vermillion Bird Family, the expression of the child who ultimately ran to him from her brothers’ protection because of this small wound was still vivid.

 

That face full of surprise and worry, those glistening eyes, and the reddened eye area and such things.

 

Thinking that the child had been so startled by him that she almost cried… suddenly he felt like he had done something terribly wrong.

 

So Saeon glanced at Soya and apologized.

 

“I’m sorry, my daughter. From now on, Papa won’t get hurt anywhere.”

 

“Since Father seems to be sincerely reflecting, I’ll let it slide just this once.”

 

Soya said that in a prim voice.

 

Soya was the first person to ever speak to Saeon in this way.

 

A combative nature was a characteristic of tiger beastmen, so from a very young age, when he came home from fighting somewhere, everyone asked if he won rather than scolding him not to fight.

 

Even his aide Ho Jeokyeong worried more about Saeon’s opponent than his superior when Saeon fought someone.

 

Naturally, it was the first time hearing this kind of lecture that wasn’t quite a lecture telling him not to fight, and receiving this kind of worry.

 

‘That’s right. Cotton Ball has been like that since she first came to White Tiger Palace.’

 

Saeon chuckled, recalling Soya who had said she would protect him from ghosts.

 

How did such a pretty daughter fall from the sky like this?

 

“Thank you. As expected, only our Cotton Ball thinks of Papa.”

 

Saeon smiled brightly and habitually tried to pat the child’s head but stopped.

 

He almost ruined the child’s hair that had been carefully styled since morning.

 

Saeon newly felt that the child was no longer just small.

 

Fourteen…

 

Beastmen began to be viewed as adults when they completed their second growth stage around seventeen to eighteen.

 

Because that was considered the time when they could become independent on their own.

 

Saeon had also married not long after completing his second growth stage.

 

Soya had come to White Tiger Palace when she was nine, and already five years had passed, making her fourteen.

 

Thinking that in just a few more years she would quickly become an adult, Saeon was pleased that the child had grown so well, but also felt a bit regretful that she seemed to have grown too quickly.

 

‘When our Baby Cotton Ball gets bigger, will she not want to play with me?’

 

But Saeon knows.

 

That today, this very moment, is when the child is youngest.

 

Of course, as he had told the child long ago, no matter how old she becomes, she’ll be his eternal baby.

 

Nevertheless, so as not to let these sparkling, lovely days pass by too easily, he must do his best with the time spent with the child today too.

 

Just as nine-year-old Soya had quickly grown up, fourteen-year-old Soya would also grow up soon.

 

He must stay with our Baby Cotton Ball’s fourteen years that will never come again, not missing a moment.

 

When Saeon grinned with such thoughts, Soya, who had been raising one eyebrow with a sulky face, soon followed him and giggled.

 

* * *

 

The young protagonists of this war moved indoors with the Emperor to enjoy a brief tea ceremony, then received bestowed gifts.

 

Gaya’s expression brightened considerably upon seeing the glittering jewels contained in the wooden box.

 

Not just Gaya, but everyone’s faces were full of joy at the war’s end, pride in leading victory, and excitement.

 

Even after the Emperor rose from his seat first, the excitement didn’t easily subside.

 

However, at this meaningful occasion, only Jeok Sanyu, the eldest son of the Vermillion Bird Family, had a very poor expression.

 

It was because of a certain small girl he had carelessly seen when he turned around in the banquet hall earlier.

 

‘Did I see wrong?’

 

Yes, perhaps he had been mistaken.

 

Otherwise, how could the youngest daughter of the White Tiger Family have a face that looked exactly like his little sister he had sent away long ago?

 

‘The last time I saw Soya was when she was six years old. It’s such an old memory…’

 

Throughout the banquet’s end and sharing tea with the Emperor, he convinced himself this way, but the anxious feeling stirring in his chest since earlier wouldn’t easily fade.

 

‘But for me to have been mistaken, it’s too…’

 

It was then.

 

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you make such an expression, Baek Gaya. You look happy.”

 

Cheong Sua spoke to Gaya, who looked to be in a good mood.

 

“I’m going to give it to Somsom.”

 

Gaya said, carefully pulling the gift he received from the Emperor to his chest.

 

“‘Soya’ is her name, isn’t it, your sister. I heard from Aunt. That she’s a very small and cute bird beastman.”

 

At those words, Gaya glared at her fiercely.

 

“Don’t carelessly call my sister’s name.”

 

His voice was full of wariness.

 

“You don’t need to glare like that. Didn’t I tell you, Gaya. I won’t take away your sister, nor your mother.”

 

“How well you speak. After bringing someone else’s mother to sit as a representative in your palace all this time.”

 

“You and I are cousins with the same maternal grandfather, so strictly speaking, we’re not strangers.”

 

“I don’t know. If they’re not my family, they’re all strangers.”

 

“What a childish attitude. The future of the Baek family looks dark.”

 

“That can’t be. My face is so handsome it sparkles with light.”

 

Gaya said with an arrogant face, tilting up his chin.

 

“And even if you don’t speak as if you’re being generous, I won’t let anyone be taken away.”

 

“Yes, I’m sure you would.”

 

With that, Cheong Sua shook her head and left first.

 

Meanwhile, Jeok Sanyu, who had overheard the two’s conversation, froze in place.

 

‘Soya… did she say…?’

 

This time, he was definitely not mistaken or mishearing.

 

Just now, clearly, Cheong Sua had said that to Baek Gaya.

 

That his youngest sister’s name was ‘Soya.’

 

Baek Gaya, who had been wearing an extremely satisfied expression thinking he had chased away Cheong Sua with his brilliant eloquence, suddenly noticed Jeok Sanyu staring at him blankly.

 

“What are you staring at?”

 

“Prince Gaya. By any chance, is the name of the sister you saw last night… Soya?”

 

Normally, he would have childishly turned away saying ‘I’m not telling you.’

 

But today he was in a particularly good mood.

 

“That’s right. Baek Soya. My cute Somsom who shares two characters in her name with me.”

 

So Gaya answered lightly with a snort.

 

But Jeok Sanyu’s reaction was unusual.

 

“Somsom…! Somsom is the name of that Baby Bird I saw back then!”

 

“Huh?”

 

“But why…! How on earth…! Why is your sister also Somsom and that Baby Bird also Somsom?”

 

“How stupid. Is that brilliant chicken head of yours stuffed with nothing but straw?”

 

Gaya raised the corner of his mouth crookedly toward Sanyu, who was grabbing him and asking urgently.

 

“Because Soya is Somsom, and Somsom is Soya.”

 

“…?”

 

“The smallest, cutest Baby Bird in the world that you saw back then is my sister Soya.”

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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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