The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 259
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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 51
Hwaon’s life still felt like it belonged to someone else.
But perhaps it was because of the Divine Beasts she had seen in the old times shown by the Sacred Tree.
Those who had always seemed so much more mature than her now felt endearing.
It was probably because she had watched them grow from when they were baby Divine Beasts.
“How could I be angry? I know the consistent affection the Divine Beasts have shown me.”
Only then did the Divine Beasts breathe sighs of relief.
“Lady Hwaon. Please speak to us more casually. You are our master.”
“Then please call me by my proper name too, Divine Beasts.”
“…Should we call you Lady Soya?”
“Yes. That sounds much better.”
Only then did Soya smile brightly and speak casually.
When she smiled, the Divine Beasts’ faces also brightened.
‘But I think I’ll miss that name “Baby Bird” quite a lot.’
Soya swallowed the words she couldn’t convey to them and looked at them with affectionate eyes.
* * *
When they arrived at Geumryeongsan, agonized crying sounds could be heard from the valley entrance.
“Grrrrr… Grrrr…”
A massive black dragon was breathing painfully with its eyes closed.
“Your Majesty…”
Soya looked at him with a troubled expression, then crouched down beside him to keep him company.
How much time had passed?
Gradually, the pained breathing subsided.
Rustle.
The sound of silk fabric brushing softly could be heard.
Soya, who had been dozing with her head buried on her knees, suddenly lifted her head.
“Your Majesty…!”
Before she knew it, Irim in human form was removing his dragon robe and draping it over her shoulders.
“Oh my. I woke you up.”
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes. With you here, nothing hurts at all, Soya.”
He said with a faint smile toward Soya.
“But you seem a little different somehow.”
Irim immediately noticed her subtle change.
“I saw Your Majesty turn back time to save me.”
Pause.
“What did you… see…?”
Irim’s voice trembled slightly as he asked back.
“Time. The past times that Your Majesty covered up and erased.”
“How could you…”
“The Sacred Tree showed me the times recorded in nature.”
“…I see. So that’s what happened. You saw it all.”
Irim muttered somewhat bitterly.
“I hoped you wouldn’t know. It’s enough for me to suffer alone.”
At those words, Soya’s emotions surged and she squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head.
“I don’t want that. I hate seeing Your Majesty suffer alone like this.”
“Soya…”
Irim looked at Soya with a pitying expression.
“I’m going to save Your Majesty.”
“Soya…?”
“Since Your Majesty has been saving me all this time.”
Soya clenched both fists tightly and declared to him.
“From now on, I’m going to save Your Majesty.”
“…As I said before, this cannot be healed by human power. But thank you for the words alone.”
Irim smiled faintly. It seemed he thought Soya was just being stubborn.
Soya stared at his face quietly, then suddenly said.
“I like you.”
“…?”
Irim blinked blankly and looked at her.
For a moment, he thought he had misheard something.
“I like you, Your Majesty. I like Your Majesty.”
Soya repeated it as if to let him know he hadn’t misheard.
“Soya…?”
“A lot. I like Your Majesty very, very much.”
“…”
Irim’s lips slowly parted.
“I like Your Majesty. I really like you. I like you so much.”
Her voice gradually filled with tears.
“The most… joyful sound in the world.”
At those words, Soya burst into tears.
“Why are you crying?”
He gently wiped away the moisture around Soya’s eyes with a tender voice.
“Don’t cry, Soya. When you cry, my heart hurts too much. I don’t know what to do at all.”
It was true.
Even though he was someone who perfectly found his direction in every moment, when Soya cried, he had no idea what to do.
Other than wiping her eyes while his throat ached like this…
“Why? Why does Your Majesty’s heart hurt when I cry?”
“That’s because, I too…”
Irim grasped Soya’s hand.
“Like you.”
He said while firmly interlacing his fingers between hers.
“…”
At his confession, this time Soya’s lips parted soundlessly.
“I love you, Soya. I selfishly harbored you in my heart long ago.”
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump…
His voice rang out tenderly amid the violently beating heartbeats.
“I think my greatest regret is not being able to say these words to you even once during all that long time.”
Irim gently curved his eyes toward Soya, who had somehow frozen with a foolish expression.
“I adore you so very much. Soya, my beloved consort.”
“Ah…”
With a soft exclamation, Soya burst into tears once again.
Irim carefully embraced Soya’s trembling small shoulders.
His chest became damp with Soya’s tears.
Soya’s crying gradually subsided.
The two held hands tightly and chatted warmly while feeling each other’s warmth.
“It’s really too much. Remembering all those times alone.”
“If you’re upset, then it’s all my fault. I’m sorry, Soya.”
“Weren’t you very lonely? Being the only one to remember all those long years.”
“Well. Was I lonely?”
Irim tilted his head and fell into thought.
“…Yes. A little.”
Then he smiled gently and said.
“I suppose I was a little lonely. Since I can’t bring myself to say no.”
His smiling face was so bright that Soya felt even more sorrowful.
“I have something to give Your Majesty.”
Soya took out the fruit she had brought from the Heavenly Realm.
“What is this?”
“I brought it to give to Your Majesty. They say if you eat this, it will heal all your ailments. It will restore Your Majesty’s body too.”
At those words, Irim let out a gentle laugh.
“My, how thoughtful of you.”
He didn’t seem to believe Soya’s words very much.
It was obvious he thought it was nonsense.
Soya thought it was rather fortunate.
If he asked about its origin, it would be difficult to explain.
Irim obediently bit into the fruit Soya handed him.
“Don’t leave any behind and make sure to chew it all up. It’s good for your body.”
“Yes, Soya. Don’t worry.”
Soya watched him swallow the fruit, hiding her inwardly tense feelings.
After swallowing the last piece, Irim glanced up at the sky.
“I should return before the sun sets….”
“I want to stay by Your Majesty’s side just a little longer.”
“Saeon will be angry with me if he finds out.”
“I got Father’s permission to come. Father was the one who told me Your Majesty was here.”
Soya stubbornly refused to return and persisted in staying by Irim’s side.
A moment later.
Unable to endure the gradually rising heat and pain, Irim’s eyelids slowly closed.
Soya took out her handkerchief and wiped away the cold sweat beading on his forehead.
His body, which had been breathing heavily, repeatedly transformed on its own from the form of a massive dragon to human, then back to dragon form again.
‘Why does he keep suffering? Could it be that the fruit has no effect?’
Seeing him tormented by pain made her feel increasingly anxious.
It was the moment when Soya bravely steeled her heart, suppressing the urge to cry.
‘Huh…?’
Soya suddenly felt her Spirit Core glowing.
When she looked up in surprise, it wasn’t only her Spirit Core that was shining.
Golden light was rising around Irim’s massive dragon form.
“…!”
Soya held her breath as she watched him.
Rustle—
His scales, which had been turning black and festering, swayed gently before gradually being dyed golden.
At that amazing sight, Soya couldn’t close her mouth and froze for a while.
Finally coming to her senses, Soya looked at the brilliant golden scales that had regained their original color and her eyes curved into crescents.
It was beautiful. Just like His Majesty.
When she carefully reached out her hand, her Spirit Core and Irim’s dragon form reacted together, and golden energy bloomed from her fingertips.
Realizing this was the Imperial Dragon’s power, she carefully wielded the power of the earth.
‘Please take His Majesty to a safe place.’
In an instant, their bodies moved to another location.
It was his bedroom in the Imperial Palace.
Soya instinctively knew it was time for her to leave him.
“It’s okay if Your Majesty forgets me. This time, I will remember Your Majesty.”
Soya whispered as she gently stroked the golden scales of Irim, who was curled up on the bed sleeping soundly.
“So Your Majesty, please just get well.”
His body gradually shrank and changed into human form.
His fever had gone down, and his complexion looked much more comfortable.
After spreading the blanket over the sleeping figure, Soya took one last look at him and slowly turned around.
Creak. Click.
The door closed.
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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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