The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 134

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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 134

 

Sanho’s wickedly smiling expression was so funny that Soya eventually burst into giggles and chimed in with her.

 

“Sanho is right. I did everything I could, so I’ll sleep comfortably with my legs stretched out! Let That Man regret it!”

 

I don’t know why those words telling him to regret it, words I wouldn’t have said in the past, feel so refreshing.

 

Perhaps, just perhaps…

 

I might have been thinking such thoughts unconsciously all along.

 

That That Man, whom I once called Father, should feel a little regret.

 

No, not just a little, but a whole lot of regret.

 

As much as I was hurt and upset, I hoped he would regret and feel upset much, much more than that.

 

“And our Young Lady wasn’t weak at all! You were so cool and resolute!”

 

“That’s right!”

 

Seolyeo also nodded vigorously from the side.

 

Their comfort quickly warmed Soya’s mood, which had been restlessly downcast just moments before.

 

Soya looked at them with wide, round eyes, then broke off a flowering branch nearby and tucked it behind Sanho’s and Seolyeo’s ears in turn.

 

“Sanho is kind too. Seolyeo is also kind.”

 

“Oh my.”

 

Sanho let out a short exclamation and smiled brightly.

 

Seolyeo flinched slightly, then very carefully reached out to touch the yellow flower blossom.

 

Meanwhile, Soya also broke off a flowering branch for Yeonjeong, who was inside the pavilion.

 

There was still a little time left before going on the boat ride. But still…

 

“This won’t do, I want to see Father!”

 

Perhaps it was because she had faced That Man since morning. Soya suddenly missed her father terribly.

 

“What? All of a sudden? If you wait just a little, it’ll be time for the boat ride and then you can join the Family Head and Young Masters…”

 

It might be a rather sudden feeling. But Father had told me long ago.

 

That it’s natural for a baby to look for their papa.

 

[You can answer honestly, Cotton Ball. It’s natural for a baby to look for their papa.]

 

Recalling those words Saeon had once said to her, Soya called out clearly.

 

“I want to go see Father right now! That’s okay, right?”

 

At the sight of the Young Lady asking with her eyes crinkled into crescents, Sanho also chuckled and nodded.

 

“Alright, our Young Lady. Tell Yeonjeong to dress you up the prettiest.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Soya’s cheerful laughter as she ran pattering toward the inside of the pavilion rang through the clear sky.

 

* * *

 

The archery range in the east of the Imperial Palace.

 

People had gathered in full for the archery competition that had started early in the morning.

 

Among them were the White Tiger Family members and Gaya, who had been dragged along by Saeon.

 

After yesterday’s disturbance, Gaya had come under Saeon’s close surveillance, and when Saeon came along as the guardian of Ga Hyeon and Gayul who were participating in the archery competition, Gaya was dragged here as well.

 

Unlike being dragged here against his will, Gaya was unusually fiddling with arrowheads, saying he would participate in the archery competition with his younger brothers.

 

The sight of Saeon and Gaya standing side by side looked so similar to each other that everyone admired them.

 

And the fellow generals who had fought alongside Gaya admired them for a slightly different reason – the fact that even Gaya was very well-behaved in front of Saeon felt truly remarkable.

 

However, in reality, Gaya was pretending to be obedient while looking for an opportunity.

 

“Withdraw your killing intent.”

 

Saeon clenched his molars and said a word to Gaya.

 

“This is the Imperial Palace.”

 

“Tch.”

 

Gaya, who had been nocking an arrow and emanating an eerie killing intent even before the competition started, pouted his lips and grumbled.

 

Then when he belatedly learned that the Vermillion Bird Family members weren’t participating, how disappointed he was.

 

When they actually didn’t come, Gaya became very listless.

 

His attitude was as if asking why he had to participate in this boring competition.

 

It was Gaya’s turn.

 

“Elder Brother. The arrow is facing the wrong direction.”

 

“Ah, so it is.”

 

Gaya threw down his bow as if annoyed, then threw arrows with his hand in quick succession.

 

His posture was as if he was playing arrow toss.

 

And every arrow he threw stuck right in the center of the target.

 

At that amazing skill, Gayul’s eyes went wide as he looked back and forth between his brother and the target.

 

“Br-Brother is performing magic!”

 

At Gayul’s surprised exclamation, Gaya chuckled and said.

 

“If you roll around on the battlefield for 8 years, you’ll become a magician too, youngest tiger.”

 

Gaya achieved far superior results than Gayul, who had shot at the target with arrows nocked on the bowstring, but was disqualified for breaking the rules.

 

Since the Vermillion Bird Family, famous as an archery household, also didn’t participate, Ga Hyeon became the winner of this competition.

 

When the competition ended and people were about to disperse, Soya had just arrived at the archery range.

 

“Somsom!”

 

Gaya’s eyes, which had been listless all along, sparkled brightly.

 

“Father!”

 

However, Soya passed by Gaya and ran pattering to Saeon, hugging him tightly.

 

At her somewhat clingy attitude, Saeon embraced the child and lowered his body.

 

“Baby Cotton Ball. Did you run all the way here because you missed Papa?”

 

“Oh my, Father. People can hear you.”

 

Soya lowered her voice and whined.

 

It was because she was a little embarrassed to be called ‘Baby Cotton Ball’ in such a crowded place.

 

“So what. Your brothers are all babies in front of Papa too.”

 

“Still…!”

 

Soya couldn’t raise her voice loudly because there were many people around, so she spoke quietly to Saeon.

 

Finding that sight adorable, Saeon chuckled and patted the child’s head.

 

“I really should have been a father instead of having three elder brothers.”

 

Gaya grumbled while watching the affectionate father and daughter.

 

“Soya. Look at this.”

 

At that moment, Ga Hyeon approached Soya with what he had just received as the winner’s prize.

 

“It’s a gift. Elder Brother just won the competition and received this.”

 

“Is it really okay to give me something so precious?”

 

“Of course. The most precious thing to Elder Brother is our Soya, so if I can give a precious thing to the most precious person, it’s such a joyful thing.”

 

“Thank you, Elder Brother!”

 

Soya smiled brightly and looked at the wooden box containing Ga Hyeon’s prize.

 

Inside it was a bright yellow orb.

 

“It’s the Imperial Family’s light orb that’s said to illuminate darkness.”

 

Ga Hyeon explained to Soya, who was tilting her head.

 

“That’s incredibly precious!”

 

“No matter how precious it is, could it be more precious than our Soya.”

 

“Oh my…”

 

Soya pondered how to use this precious thing, then said.

 

“When we return to White Tiger Palace, I’ll hang it on the big tree branch in the front yard. So that White Tiger Palace will be bright even in the dark of night.”

 

“That’s a good idea, Soya. This summer, it would be fun to have a feast together under the light orb on nights when the stars are twinkling.”

 

“Like when we had a feast around the bonfire during the Mountain God Festival, right?”

 

Soya smiled softly and wondered who would be good to invite to the feast they’d hold this summer.

 

Arang must definitely be invited. Otherwise she’ll sulk.

 

And perhaps this time, she might be able to spend it with Mother.

 

No, she definitely will. Because the war is over now.

 

‘Mother too, Gaya Elder Brother too… it’ll be the first summer with our whole family gathered.’

 

Even though there was still a long time until summer, Soya’s heart was already pounding and she was so excited.

 

Afterwards, Soya had a meal with her family at the outdoor luncheon in the Imperial Palace Garden, then headed to the pond area where boat rides were being held.

 

The Imperial Palace’s pond was very large and wide.

 

The pond, much larger in scale than what she had seen at the Vermillion Bird Mansion in her childhood, was even wider than most lakes.

 

Soya strolled around the pond area with her family, watching the duck families floating on the pond and the schools of fish swimming beneath the water.

 

They climbed up to a tall pavilion and enjoyed refreshments while feeling the warm spring breeze.

 

As they chatted leisurely, noon had passed and it gradually became a hot afternoon with stinging sunlight.

 

Soya, who had been casually looking down below, spotted Lili and the Vermillion Bird Family members passing right beneath the pavilion and approaching the pond area.

 

In an instant, Soya’s expression hardened ominously.

 

‘This scent…’

 

A sour fragrance carried by the spring breeze tickled her nostrils.

 

It was a scent Soya knew well.

 

‘No doubt about it. It’s the scent of evil magic.’

 

And the source of this scent was none other than Lili.

 

A scent stronger and more sour than what she had smelled from Siyo’s scent pouch long ago, even stronger than what she had encountered when crossing the Swamp of the Dead to the Dark Earth Underground Palace, was emanating from Lili.

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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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