The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 173

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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 173

In his fourth life, he succeeded in bringing Soya to the Imperial Palace while evading the pursuit of assassins sent by the cuckoo.

The easiest and most powerful way to protect her within the Imperial Palace was to make her an imperial consort.

The Emperor opposed this, citing Soya’s unclear origins, but had no choice but to acquiesce when Irim said he had already given her his precious orb.

Irim planned to live quietly in the Imperial Palace and then leave with Soya when he reached sixteen, the age when royalty could become independent.

When that time comes, we’ll leave this palace and live freely.

Someday… just as she and I desperately wished in our first life.

Thus, Irim thought he had finally saved her.

But his hopes were shattered when Soya suddenly began to fall ill and waste away.

Soya’s spirit core was the Imperial Dragon’s orb that he had given her in their first life.

However, her spirit core, which had originally been the Imperial Dragon’s orb, was severely damaged.

It was due to some sinister power that the cuckoo had borrowed from a demon beast.

If her spirit core had been that of an ordinary beast-person rather than the Imperial Dragon’s orb, Soya would have already died the day the cuckoo crossed the estate’s walls.

Irim summoned renowned physicians to the Imperial Palace and obtained all manner of precious medicinal herbs to preserve Soya’s spirit core.

Soya seemed to regain her health briefly through his efforts, but ultimately met her death.

To preserve Soya’s spirit core, only one thing was needed: dragon’s blood grass.

Learning this fact, Irim entered the succession struggle in his fifth life for the first time not to turn back time, but to obtain dragon’s blood grass.

Even for Irim, who had already become the Imperial Dragon several times before, this time was not easy.

Because there was someone by his side whom he had to protect.

The closer he got to the throne, the more people targeted Soya.

During this time, there was an attempted poisoning within the Imperial Palace.

Someone had mixed poison into Soya’s food.

Seeing Soya lying on the bed with a pale face greeting him, Irim gradually realized.

That it was impossible to keep her by his side while engaging in the succession struggle.

‘If she stays here, harm will surely befall Soya again. I must send Soya to a safe place.’

Having lost his mother early and thus having no support base, Irim had no one he could trust to entrust Soya to.

However, there was exactly one man who came to mind.

Baek Saeon.

A man who, being stronger than anyone, paid no heed to anyone’s opinions.

A man so willful that he had volunteered to be the teacher of a powerless young prince whom everyone avoided.

A man who, despite his seemingly cold exterior, could not easily pass by the weak.

‘Yes. Perhaps, if it’s him…’

Irim held Soya, who could not easily open her eyes due to the aftereffects of the poison, in his arms and went straight to White Tiger Palace to knock on the door.

After showing a troubled expression for a moment, he soon let the young uninvited guests inside.

“I had heard the news that His Highness the Prince had brought a girl from the Southern Lands and made her his consort regardless of the consequences.”

Saeon said, glancing at the small, snow-white girl lying on the bed like a dead cotton ball.

There had been an attempted poisoning in the Imperial Palace, so her complexion was quite poor.

“I didn’t expect that His Highness, blinded by love, would come to this teacher to show off his young consort.”

Saeon smiled mischievously to lighten the heavy atmosphere, but Irim could not smile along with him.

“One year. I will definitely return within that time. So please protect this child until then, Master.”

He could only bow his head with a heavy face and make this request.

Irim looked at the quietly sleeping Soya one last time and left White Tiger Palace to return to the Imperial Palace.

Thus Saeon took charge of Soya, and Soya came to receive Saeon’s protection at White Tiger Mountain Palace, a mountain fortress located at the foot of Horim Mountain.

And one year later.

When Irim, who had become Emperor after a fierce succession struggle, came to fetch Soya again.

As he casually passed through the front courtyard of White Tiger Palace, he stopped at the sound of voices coming from not far away.

“Hehe, look at this, Cotton Ball! Aren’t I cool?”

“Oh my, Young Master Yul too.”

Soya burst into laughter at the baby tiger wagging its tail playfully.

Her clear laughter rang through the air.

The sight of her smiling brightly gave Irim a gentle shock to his heart.

Here at White Tiger Palace, Soya was smiling beautifully, just like she had in their very first life.

It was the first time he had seen her laugh so brightly and loudly since turning back time.

“…”

After quietly watching that scene for a long while, Irim slowly turned his steps to find Saeon.

“I’ve come to take Soya.”

“…The time has already come.”

Saeon, who murmured softly with a somewhat regretful face, called for Soya.

“Lord Saeon, you called for me…Your Highness?”

Soya, who had come running with a bright smile, widened her eyes when she spotted Irim.

“Now you should call him Your Majesty, not Your Highness, Cotton Ball.”

“Oh my. I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

When Saeon corrected her with an affectionate tone, Soya smiled bashfully and corrected the title.

Cotton Ball. It seems they call Soya by that name here.

Irim repeated that fluffy-feeling name to himself and offered a greeting.

“It’s been a while, Soya. Have you been well? You look healthy.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thanks to everyone here. Have you also been healthy and well during this time?”

Soya and Irim exchanged pleasant greetings.

After briefly sharing news with each other, Irim brought up the purpose of his visit.

“The noisy Imperial Palace has been settled, so I’ve come here to take you back.”

“Ah…”

What appeared on Soya’s face for a moment resembled the same regretful expression that had appeared on Saeon’s face earlier.

Seeing this made Irim feel strange.

That evening, unable to sleep and taking a walk, Irim discovered Soya crying softly.

“Why are you crying on such a joyful day, our Soya? You’ll become Empress when you go to the Imperial Palace.”

The one comforting her with a gentle voice was none other than Baek Gahyeon, the second son of White Tiger Palace.

“I’m happy that Your Majesty came to fetch me in good health without any injuries, but I feel a little sad thinking about having to leave White Tiger Palace.”

Soya spoke in a dejected voice, mumbling her words.

“I’ll miss Lord Saeon, Young Master Hyeon and Young Master Yul, Lady Yeonjeong and Lady Sanho, and everyone else at White Tiger Palace.”

“Don’t be too sad, Soya. This elder brother will definitely come visit our Soya.”

“Thank you, Young Master. I was being too whiny, wasn’t I? Even though I’m not a child anymore…”

Soya added with an embarrassed but bright smile.

Irim, who had been quietly staring at that face smiling clearly under the moonlight, slowly turned away.

The next morning.

“I’m sorry, Soya. Something important has come up that I must handle. I came here to take you back, but I must postpone it again.”

“Your Majesty…?”

“Even if a long time passes, I will definitely come again, so will you wait for me here a little longer?”

Irim asked with a gentle smile toward the bewildered-looking Soya.

Then an expression similar to when she had heard she would have to leave White Tiger Palace appeared on Soya’s face.

That fact gave him comfort.

That single fact that she felt somewhat regretful about parting with him…

Thus Irim left abruptly with a plausible excuse.

It was actually for the best.

It wasn’t perfect yet to take Soya away.

The cuckoo remained in the Southern Lands, and Hyeon Rabaek and Evil remained in the Northern Lands.

Having given dragon’s blood grass to Baek Saeon to treat Soya’s spirit core, she would now grow up safely and healthily in Baek Saeon’s fortress.

Until then, he wanted to finish the war with the Northern Lands and give Soya a safe world.

The war with the Northern Lands continued for quite a long time, and Irim occasionally visited White Tiger Palace to see Soya.

Soya grew up brightly there, surrounded by people’s kind goodwill.

Irim sometimes wondered.

What about these people made you shine so brightly?

Saeon and the three young masters of the White Tiger family each cherished Soya in their own different ways.

Not only Ga Hyeon and Gayul, who had been with Soya since she first arrived at the White Tiger Palace, but also Gaya, who accompanied the Emperor whenever Irim visited the White Tiger Palace, had opened his heart to Soya.

Eventually, Saeon asked Irim to become Soya’s adoptive father.

“When Soya goes to the Imperial Palace, she will surely need backing. If Your Majesty permits, I would like to become that child’s strongest and most solid protection.”

“…Have you asked Soya’s opinion?”

“I haven’t asked yet. However, since I am protecting that child at Your Majesty’s request, I thought it was proper to ask Your Majesty’s will first.”

“There’s no need to ask my will. Follow Soya’s will. That child’s will is my will.”

Irim answered in a calm voice.

But he already knew the answer. That Soya would be happier than anyone at this news.

It was almost time for the final battle.

After defeating Evil in this battle, they had decided to take Soya to the Imperial Palace.

“After this war ends, Your Majesty will take Somsomi away.”

Gaya, who was accompanying the Emperor at the front lines, asked in a sullen voice.

“If I said yes, you look ready to interfere with the war ending, Gaya.”

Irim muttered indifferently while slashing across the neck of a charging demon beast.

“That’s not true. I want this war to end more than anyone.”

Gaya answered with a completely unconvincing expression and voice.

At this, Irim burst into laughter and retorted.

“Still, you can’t kidnap that child under the excuse of fleeing in the night. You can’t break the palanquin either. That child might be frightened.”

“…”

At Irim’s casually spoken words, Gaya hesitated like someone whose inner thoughts had been seen through, but soon had to focus on the battle that resumed.

Having found the Hyeonmu Clan’s stronghold, Irim finally tore apart Hyeonra Baek’s spirit core and defeated him.

At that moment, the entire world turned pitch black, and the Evil that had been dwelling within Hyeonra Baek’s spirit core let out a bone-chilling scream and fled.

The Imperial Army ultimately achieved victory, and Irim also felt somewhat excited at the thought of going to fetch Soya.

Until then, no one knew.

That the demon beast from Horim Mountain that Saeon had picked up long ago in the Northern Lands would go berserk and harm 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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