The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 170
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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 170
Soya’s birthday was in summer.
Since coming to White Tiger Palace, Saeon and the White Tiger Palace people had carefully celebrated Soya’s birthday every summer.
However, this summer’s birthday party for Soya would be even more special.
Excited about her upcoming birthday, Soya made invitations with her small hands.
Just then, Gaya happened to come play in Soya’s room.
[Somsom.]
Soya, who had been sitting at her desk writing invitations, discovered Gaya leaning against her window frame and widened her eyes in surprise.
[Gaya Elder Brother? Why are you there when there’s a perfectly good door?]
[I don’t have wings, but I tried to fly like Somsomi. But I failed. I guess tigers can’t fly.]
[Huh?]
[Instead, I jumped from that tree over here. How about it, Somsom? Your Elder Brother doesn’t have wings, but I’m still cool, right?]
[Oh my.]
At the sight of Soya bursting into laughter, a smile spread across Gaya’s lips as well.
[What were you doing?]
[I was making invitations. My birthday party is coming up soon.]
Soya pointed to the invitations spread out on her desk and spoke in an excited voice.
She was writing invitation messages one by one in neat handwriting on colorful, pretty pressed flower paper that she had made herself by picking fresh flowers from Horim Mountain with Yeonjeong and Sanho.
Among the invitations spread out on the desk, Gaya spotted one particularly unwelcome name.
[Hmm.]
He wanted to ask and argue whether that guy’s invitation was really necessary, but Gaya held back.
After all, he had recently lost the title of most magnificent tiger to Father.
I can’t appear childish to Somsom. No way.
Gaya, completely unaware that Somsom already considered him on the same level as Gayul, instead picked up the invitation with the annoying name and waved it back and forth.
[I’ll deliver this one for you.]
[But Elder Brother, aren’t you busy?]
[Not busy at all, Somsom.]
And so he had come to extort a gift from Sanyu.
“You’re not coming this time anyway. So hand over the gift. Otherwise our Somsom will be disappointed.”
“It’s a letter from Soya.”
Sanyu received the invitation with a joyful expression.
A tender look appeared on Sanyu’s face as he read Soya’s handwriting.
“Doesn’t Soya’s handwriting resemble mine quite a bit?”
“?”
“I helped her learn to write when she was first learning. Haha.”
When Sanyu mentioned childhood memories with Soya that he didn’t know about, Gaya’s expression soured.
“Enough with the pointless bragging, just hand over the gift.”
“Please come this way.”
Sanyu said with a gentle smile.
Gaya followed behind Sanyu, glancing around the estate where Soya had once lived.
Though traces of fire damage and soot remained here and there, the basic structure was still intact.
“I actually found this while organizing the estate recently and was wondering how to get it to Soya, so I’m grateful to rely on Lord Gaya like this.”
Sanyu took out a wooden box that seemed to have been prepared in advance.
“I’d like to send a reply to Soya. Would you wait until I finish writing the letter?”
Instead of answering, Gaya nodded.
Gaya waited quietly while Sanyu wrote a letter to Soya.
After a moment, Gaya received Sanyu’s letter and gift, then looked at him intently and asked.
“You’re not coming to see Somsom in person?”
“….”
“You could come see her after all that family head succession stuff is over.”
“…A little later. The burden of karma I must bear is still too great.”
Sanyu wore a bitter expression for a moment, then softened his eyes and answered in a gentle voice.
“When I can appear before that child in a more admirable form. Then I’ll definitely come to see her again. Both Soya and Lord Gaya.”
* * *
“Soyaaaaaaaa!”
A girl’s resounding voice echoed throughout White Tiger Palace.
The girl who arrived with her brown hair flowing beautifully was none other than Arang.
“Oh my, who is that spirited child running here with enough force to topple White Tiger Palace?”
“She’s my friend! Lady Arang!”
To Cheongha, who widened her eyes in surprise at Arang’s momentum, Soya proudly introduced her friend.
“Arang? From the Brown Tiger Family, that one?”
Cheongha remembered Arang.
The cousin of the children born around the same time as Gayul had been bickering with Gayul since they were babies.
“That tiny baby has grown up to be so spirited. She has enough force to topple White Tiger Palace. Really impressive.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Of course it’s a compliment. It means you’re a very spirited and magnificent tiger.”
Cheongha smiled and explained to Soya, who tilted her head.
“Hello, Arang. Thank you for getting along so well with our Soya. Please remain good friends in the future too.”
When Cheongha patted her head, Arang blushed and became shy.
“Yes.”
Arang was weak to kind people.
She had come for Soya’s upcoming birthday and summer celebration.
“Soya. It’s a gift! Happy birthday!”
“Thank you, Lady Arang. Oh, but come over here first. I have something to show you.”
Soya smiled brightly and pulled Arang’s hand.
“This is the first time I’ve seen our daughter bouncing around like that.”
Watching Soya run off bouncing with Arang, Cheongha murmured to herself.
Though she often became more spoiled in front of Cheongha specifically, apart from that, Soya wanted to appear like a gentle lady.
Perhaps because of this, the sight of Soya bouncing and running around with a friend her age seemed very fascinating to Cheongha.
While Soya was showing Arang the light orbs hanging on tree branches.
“What, Brown Tiger! Perfect timing! Let’s finish the duel we couldn’t complete last time!”
With Gayul joining in, White Tiger Palace became lively.
It was strange since Arang was supposedly the only outsider invited.
This celebration was specially organized under Cheongha’s direction.
They set up a large table in the courtyard of White Tiger Palace and all gathered together to eat delicious food, look at gifts that arrived from various places, and chat warmly.
“Having all the people I love gathered together like this feels like receiving an incredibly amazing birthday gift!”
Soya exclaimed with a bright smile.
The most wonderful father and mother in the world.
Elder Brothers who have recently been eagerly seeking opportunities to earn the title of ‘most wonderful tiger’ from me.
Seolyeo and Arang, who are Soya’s closest friends.
The White Tiger Palace people, including the always kind Yeonjeong and Sanho.
Even Sara, who rarely comes out of the Sacred Hall, and Chirpy, who chirps loudly.
All of Soya’s precious people had gathered together.
Just two people.
Only Sanyu and His Majesty were missing.
‘But they’re both very far away and busy people.’
It was when Soya was inwardly suppressing her disappointed feelings.
“Look at this, Somsom. That Jeok Family guy asked me to give this to you.”
“…!”
Soya’s eyes widened as she received Sanyu’s gift and letter.
She knew he had taken the invitation saying he would deliver it, but she hadn’t expected him to bring back a reply and gift too.
“How about it? This Elder Brother is the most wonderful tiger, right?”
Gaya asked with a grin.
“Yes, Elder Brother! Gaya is the best!”
“Look at this. The eldest son has been eyeing his father’s position all along.”
Saeon chuckled and shook his head.
The day was gradually coming to an end.
Soya, Arang, Gayul, Seolyeo, and Su Ri gathered closely together under the light orb.
Chirpy and Jjaedori also wandered around them, chirping.
Until last year, they had played hide and seek running around in the White Tiger Palace’s inner courtyard, but having grown quite a bit in one year, they dismissed such things as childish games that only little kids play.
Soya especially believed there was a huge wall between thirteen and fourteen years old.
Until thirteen, you’re called a child, but once you turn fourteen, everyone treats you like a young lady.
Hadn’t Yeonjeong said so just recently?
“Our Cotton Ball Miss is an adult now.”
Of course, to the White Tiger Palace people, Soya was still ‘our adorable little young lady,’ but from her perspective, she was quite serious about having truly become an adult.
“I know a really fun game that fourteen-year-olds can play.”
Arang showed what she had prepared with a meaningful expression.
“This is the branch of truth.”
“Isn’t that just an ordinary branch?”
“Ordinary? How rude. This is a very special branch.”
Arang snorted and explained.
“Whoever the branch points to when spun must tell only the truth. If you lie, the branch will punish you.”
“What if you can’t tell the truth?”
“How about climbing to the top of Horim Mountain as punishment?”
Gayul suggested in response to Soya’s question.
“Good!”
“Great!”
“Yes.”
“That sounds fun?”
Everyone nodded and the game began.
“Alright, let’s start!”
Arang placed the branch in the center as a demonstration and spun it around.
The spinning branch stopped with a thud, pointing at Seolyeo.
Four pairs of mischievous eyes turned toward the startled Seolyeo.
“Hehehe. You have to answer my question truthfully, Seolyeo.”
Arang asked Seolyeo with a very wicked smile.
“Is there a girl you think is pretty? Or not?”
In an instant, Seolyeo’s heart began pounding frantically.
“I, I….”
Soon Seolyeo’s face turned bright red.
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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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