The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 225

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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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Part 2, Chapter 17

After finishing breakfast, Saeon left first to wrap up the remaining discussions with the family heads.

Once Saeon returned, they were scheduled to leave the Imperial Palace immediately.

Soya took a post-meal stroll and looked around the rear garden of the pavilion.

Even though she had only stayed for one night, the feeling of regret was probably because of someone who would remain here.

‘I wanted to see his face one more time before leaving…’

The pavilion they had stayed in when visiting the Imperial Palace three years ago was large enough to accommodate all the White Tiger Family members, but this pavilion was somewhat smaller in scale.

It was said to be the palace where His Majesty had stayed during his prince days.

The Emperor’s children originally stayed in the Imperial Palace until around the age of sixteen.

Since they were expected to become independent before reaching adulthood, the pavilions weren’t particularly large.

If Irim hadn’t brought a storm of blood to the Imperial Palace overnight and usurped the throne, he would have stayed here until sixteen and then left the palace.

Soya thought of Irim.

She thought of his embrace that had supported her.

‘His Majesty’s embrace was incredibly firm. Just like Father’s embrace.’

As she thought of him, her face reddened for no reason.

Soya shook her head vigorously and quickly dispelled the heat that had risen to her face.

‘His Majesty is indeed kind. Providing us with a pavilion like this, calling a physician, sending herbal medicine…’

As she tried to erase his embrace from her mind by turning her thoughts to other things, one question arose.

‘His Majesty is such a kind and good person, so why do such rumors follow him?’

Soya had also heard the ominous rumors about Irim from long ago.

They called him a cruel tyrant who slaughtered his blood relatives and usurped the imperial throne.

But the Irim that Soya knew was, contrary to public opinion, a kind and warm person.

At six years old, when she first met him in the Imperial Palace.

At nine years old, when she met him again at the Vermillion Bird Mansion.

Even when they met again later at the White Tiger Palace and Imperial Palace, always.

‘Does His Majesty know about the rumors?’

He was an Imperial Dragon who supposedly knew everything on earth, so it couldn’t have escaped his ears.

‘He must have been very hurt hearing those rumors.’

Even if they were false rumors, he must have been hurt.

Soya wanted to be a source of strength for him.

‘The next time we meet will probably be in the north.’

While walking with a somewhat wistful heart, she discovered a group of palace attendants who looked troubled.

Recognizing them as the palace attendants who had been taking care of Cheongya during breakfast, Soya approached them.

“What’s wrong, Hangah?”

“Oh my, Lady Soya.”

“Well, the young master was playing with a ball and lost it…”

“It seems to have flown toward the rear garden over there. But we can’t enter that area without permission…”

The palace attendants shuffled their feet anxiously.

“I’ll go get it.”

After reassuring the palace attendants, Soya entered the rear garden and easily found Cheongya’s ball.

‘There it is!’

As Soya approached the base of a large tree and bent down to pick up the ball.

Flutter flutter—

A green leaf fell from above Soya’s head.

Casually looking up, Soya’s eyes met directly with Irim, who was sitting in the tree.

“Your Majesty?”

Irim also seemed a little surprised to see Soya, but soon smiled as usual and came down.

“Were you playing with a ball?”

At that question, Soya’s face reddened slightly as she shook her head.

“N-no. I’m not at an age to play with balls anymore. This is Cheongya’s…”

Irim let out a small laugh at Soya’s rambling excuse.

Soya felt inexplicably embarrassed by that laughter.

“I hear you’re heading north with Baek Saeon.”

“Yes.”

Irim’s gaze toward Soya deepened.

“Don’t get hurt.”

He said, his eyes curving gently.

Soya, who had been staring at him blankly as if enchanted by that deep and profound eye-smile, suddenly came to her senses and exclaimed.

“Your, Your Majesty too…!”

Pause. Irim looked at Soya with a puzzled expression.

“I heard Your Majesty is also coming to join us in the north. You must come safely without getting hurt.”

At those words, Irim, who seemed surprised as if hearing something unexpected, soon let out a chuckle.

“Do you know this, Soya?”

He said in an affectionate voice mixed with laughter.

“In this whole world, you’re probably the only beast-person who worries about an Imperial Dragon.”

The Imperial Dragon was the emperor who ruled over the beast-people living on earth, an omnipotent being, and an object of fear and reverence.

Soya knew that too.

But even so, Soya…

“Even so, I want to worry about Your Majesty.”

Soya looked straight into Irim’s eyes and said.

“I know Your Majesty is a very strong person, but I still want to worry about you. Is that not allowed?”

“…”

This time, a slightly longer silence followed.

Swoosh—

After a brief quiet filled only with the sound of leaves rustling gently in the blowing wind.

Finally, Irim’s answer followed.

“…How could it not be allowed.”

He chuckled softly and reached out his hand toward Soya.

“Thank you, Soya.”

He gently removed a leaf that had gotten caught in her hair and smiled as he bid farewell.

“Let’s meet again soon.”

* * *

Meanwhile, upon hearing the news that Soya was going to the northern lands with her father, Gayul insisted that he should go too.

“Cotton Ball is going, so I should go too! I have to protect Cotton Ball! I’m Cotton Ball’s elder brother!”

“Aren’t you just saying that because you don’t want to train?”

Gaya mocked Gayul with those words.

“Wh-what are you talking about! What do you take me for!”

Gayul bristled and made grumbling sounds.

Gayul had already been unable to follow Soya on this trip to the Imperial Palace.

How annoying it was to see Cheongya teasingly climbing into the palanquin with Soya!

“I’m all grown up now! So take me too, Father!”

“Yes, my grown-up baby tiger. Let’s go together with Papa.”

“…!”

Gayul’s eyes widened in surprise, not having expected to receive his father’s permission so easily.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“Father, you’re the best!”

Excited Gayul transformed into a large tiger with a poof! and leaped into Saeon’s arms.

This caused Saeon’s body to stagger, but Gayul just excitedly made purring sounds.

“That, that stupid tiger… still thinks he’s a baby…”

In the end, Gaya, who couldn’t stand watching anymore, had to drag him away by the scruff of his neck.

Anyway, thus Soya and Gayul also became members of the White Tiger Family search party departing north under imperial orders.

Naturally, young Cheongya could not join this northern expedition.

Gayul grinned foolishly, thinking he had gotten revenge for past humiliations.

He failed to notice his elder brother clicking his tongue at such childishness.

“You must be careful and come back safely, children.”

In the early dawn, Cheongha hugged each of the departing children one by one as she saw them off.

She was planning to remain at White Tiger Palace and guard the place in Saeon’s stead.

After hugging Soya, Gayul, and Gaya in turn, Saeon, who stood at the end, shamelessly spread his arms as if asking to be hugged too.

“Discrimination is wrong, Madam.”

“My goodness. Here’s a baby who’s only grown in size but isn’t cute at all.”

Cheongha burst into laughter and hugged Saeon as well.

“Not cute at all? That’s too harsh, Madam.”

Despite speaking in a seemingly hurt tone, Saeon grinned and embraced her back.

Touch.

At the sound of Father’s lips touching and leaving Mother’s forehead, Soya was blushing slightly and looking at the two with a pleased expression.

Spin—

Soya’s body turned to face the opposite direction.

“Children shouldn’t watch such things.”

Gaya, who had turned his two younger siblings half a circle to block their view, spoke in a tone as if coaxing children.

“I’m not a baby! I’m already eighteen years old, an adult!”

“I’m not a baby either, Elder Brother! I’ll be an adult soon!”

“Eighteen and seventeen are still babies.”

Though Soya and Gayul protested vehemently, Gaya merely snorted lightly.

“Well then, we’ll be back!”

After finally finishing their farewells, the White Tiger Family search party led by Saeon headed north over Horim Mountain.

For Soya, this was also the path she had taken once with Father five years ago.

Upon arriving at the boundary between the Western and Northern Lands, desolate black earth greeted them.

“Hiiik, th-that’s a demon beast, isn’t it?”

Su Ri, who had joined the search party to escort the Young Lady and Young Master, made a “hik” sound while pointing at the hill on the left.

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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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