The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 262
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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 54
“Seol Yoya? What’s wrong?”
Soya tilted her head curiously as she looked at Seolyeo, who had suddenly fallen silent and pressed her lips tightly together.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Nothing at all.”
Seolyeo quickly shook her head and steadied her wavering heart.
“Don’t be like that, you two should go for a walk together since it’s been a while. It seems some traveling merchants came to the village today.”
Cheongha chuckled softly and pushed the two children’s backs.
“What? Traveling merchants? I want to go too…! Mmph…!”
“Our little puppy should help Mother clean up instead.”
Gayul tried to join them, but was immediately caught and dragged away by Cheongha.
Left alone with Soya, Seolyeo pretended not to notice Cheongha’s gaze from behind and awkwardly turned around.
“The marketplace is this way, Soya.”
“We should buy some snacks to bring back, or Yul will get upset.”
Soya giggled and walked alongside Seolyeo.
“Come visit White Tiger Palace sometime, Seol Yoya. Cheongya will soon undergo his first beast transformation.”
“Already?”
Seolyeo asked in a surprised voice.
“He’s growing up so fast, isn’t he? Time really flies. When I was young, I thought we’d never become adults.”
Soya said with soft laughter.
“Back then I wanted to grow up quickly, but lately I don’t know why I miss those times.”
She added, gazing into the distance with a somewhat wistful expression.
“…Me too.”
Seolyeo quietly agreed, staring at Soya’s profile as she had somehow become a full-grown adult.
Unlike Soya and Gayul, who had always eagerly awaited adulthood, Seolyeo often didn’t want to become an adult.
This feeling grew stronger after she learned that becoming an adult meant leaving White Tiger Palace again.
If that’s what becoming an adult meant, she sometimes had childish thoughts about never wanting to grow up.
Rustle, rustle—
The spring breeze that blew made Soya’s hair sway gently.
The sweet fragrance that suddenly wafted over and the white hair fluttering in her vision made Seolyeo feel dizzy.
Just as Seolyeo was about to unconsciously reach out toward her hair.
“Hey everyone, did you hear? His Imperial Majesty is going to take a bride soon!”
The voices of children chattering noisily in the distance reached their ears.
Stop.
Soya’s steps came to a halt.
“That’s right, that’s right. His Imperial Majesty is inviting young ladies to the Imperial Palace to welcome his bride!”
“Even a young lady from the Red Flower Snake tribe in the neighboring village was invited! I’m so envious.”
Her face stiffened slightly as she looked back at the children chattering in innocent voices.
“Are you alright, Soya…?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Soya immediately brightened her expression and smiled cheerfully.
* * *
A few days later, a letter from the Imperial Palace arrived before Soya, who had returned to White Tiger Palace.
It was an invitation for the Baek Family’s Daughter to attend as a guest during the festival period.
As they were celebrating the Year of the Golden Dragon that comes once every 60 years, the Central Region was bustling with festival preparations.
However, everyone knew this festival wasn’t an ordinary one, but an occasion to select the Imperial Dragon’s bride.
If it weren’t for that, there would be no reason to summon daughters from so many families to the Imperial Palace.
“So right now the Emperor is.”
Gaya, who had confirmed the letter’s contents, crumpled the paper in his hand and asked in a cold voice.
“Not even asking to take her as his bride, but telling us to send Somsomi as a candidate?”
How dare he invite their precious little sister, whom they couldn’t easily give away even if he sent a proper marriage proposal, as a mere ‘bride candidate’?
The Empress of Taehwa Kingdom wasn’t simply the Emperor’s beloved companion.
She was the Empire’s mother who watched over the Empire’s stability from an equal position with the Emperor, and even performed the role of replacing the Emperor in emergencies.
Though they didn’t openly hold a competition to select the Imperial Dragon’s bride, they instead invited daughters from various families to the Imperial Palace to observe and verify their character, conduct, and health.
But Soya was the only direct bloodline daughter among the four great families, and her abilities had already been proven.
Hadn’t everyone believed she would become the next Imperial Dragon’s bride after she awakened the ancient Divine Beasts and defeated evil?
So there should be no problem in skipping the selection process and immediately welcoming her as Empress.
Yet many people tilted their heads in confusion at the Emperor’s decision to maintain the procedures.
Because of this, rather unsavory rumors were circulating.
Perhaps the Emperor didn’t favor the White Tiger family’s daughter.
Or perhaps he had another woman in his heart.
These rumors gained credibility because the Emperor had delayed marriage until he was twenty-two years old.
“I don’t want to! Whether she becomes the Imperial Dragon’s bride or not, it means Cotton Ball has to leave White Tiger Palace!”
Gayul huffed in opposition.
“Soya’s opinion is most important.”
Saeon looked at Soya.
“If you don’t want to, our family won’t send a candidate, Cotton Ball.”
Even women who were called as candidates but not selected as the Imperial Dragon’s bride could take positions in the Empress’s palace representing their families, and sometimes caught the Emperor’s eye and became concubines.
Therefore, most considered becoming a candidate for the Imperial Dragon’s bride an honor for the family, but for Soya it was too cruel.
Having to watch him be with someone else so close to Irim…
“I’m fine with it. As a daughter of the White Tiger family, it’s what I should do.”
However, unlike Saeon who looked worried or her two elder brothers who were thoroughly displeased, Soya answered in a calm voice.
“I’ll go to the Imperial Palace.”
She said with a bright smile.
* * *
At the Imperial Palace’s pond, atop a tall pavilion.
Two young men sat facing each other with a small tea table between them.
“The Jinmu Festival will begin soon.”
Emperor Tae Irim said as he lifted his teacup.
“Your sister will also come to the Imperial Palace soon.”
A sharp look flashed across the face of the man sitting across from him.
Though it disappeared instantly, Irim, who didn’t miss it, burst into laughter.
“It’s quite amusing how you react whenever your sister is mentioned.”
Ga Hyeon, the second son of the Baek family, who became head of the Inspection Bureau that monitors court officials at just past the age of twenty.
The Emperor was quite fond of this young official of the same age, who could speak sharp, blade-like words to ministers older than himself without batting an eye despite his spring-like gentle face.
So he often called him in like this to share tea and hear stories from outside the Imperial Palace.
Yet this same man became quite sensitive whenever his sister was mentioned.
His gaze toward the Emperor was extremely disloyal, irreverent, and insolent.
“The fact that Your Majesty has summoned daughters from all the families means.”
Ga Hyeon asked, lowering his eyes properly.
“Should I think that you have no intention of selecting my little sister as the Imperial Dragon’s bride?”
“Hmm.”
Instead of answering, Irim smiled broadly and set down his teacup.
“The sunlight is nice.”
He changed the subject, looking around the pond.
“…I cannot dare fathom toward whom Your Majesty’s imperial heart is directed.”
Ga Hyeon, who had been quietly staring at him, spoke up.
“However, if that heart should turn toward another, please let my sister go.”
“Let her go?”
“Should Your Majesty’s dragon heart be directed toward another woman, I humbly beseech you not to take that child as bride merely to welcome that woman as a concubine.”
If the Emperor should harbor feelings for a daughter from a family of weak influence, he would need an Empress to serve as a shield to protect his beloved from the ministers.
An Empress without controversy—one whose family’s power and personal abilities are both outstanding, so that no one would oppose her.
It was common throughout history to deliberately seat such a person as Empress, then bring the favored woman into the harem.
Of course, even without receiving the Emperor’s love, becoming Empress would be a great honor for the family, a duty that should be gladly accepted as a member of the direct lineage.
However, Ga Hyeon did not wish for Soya to walk such a path.
Ironically, this was quite different from the past when he had been on edge about which girl would represent the family, back when that child first came to White Tiger Palace in Father’s arms.
“Do not worry, Ga Hyeon. I also have no intention of placing someone I do not love in the bride’s seat.”
Irim answered with a languid smile.
The reason he had summoned daughters from all the families to the Imperial Palace, despite having the prominent candidate of the Baek Family’s daughter, was…
[When I return, I want to bring you to the Imperial Palace. If you would permit it.]
In the hazy depths of memories that would not surface clearly.
It was to keep a tender promise made with someone.
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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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