The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 266

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Part 2, Chapter 58

Seolyeo glared at Irim while tightly embracing Soya without any gaps, as if she wouldn’t show him even a single strand of Soya’s hair.

Irim coldly met Seolyeo’s gray eyes that dared to emanate a sharp aura toward him.

Swoosh—

His gaze shifted slightly downward.

To Soya, who was nestled in Seolyeo’s arms with her shoulders trembling pitifully.

He felt strange.

His heart, which had always felt empty and hollow, was now filled with rippling, damp emotions.

Why, how could the sight of that woman crying make his heart sink so sadly?

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the unhesitating closeness between the two people.

The two people touching without any gaps didn’t seem to have an ordinary relationship.

‘She has… a lover.’

Irim silently clenched his fist.

He had wanted to ask why she was crying, why she had made such a hurt expression…

“…”

Irim, who had been quietly watching them, slowly turned his body around.

Step, step.

He disappeared into the darkness.

Even after he disappeared, Seolyeo couldn’t relax the strength in his arms for a while.

“Seol Yoya…?”

Soya, who had stopped crying at some point, called him with a puzzled voice.

Suddenly.

Seolyeo’s sharp aura scattered in an instant.

“I’m okay now.”

Soya sniffled and smiled sheepishly.

“I’ll walk you back, Soya.”

“No. I want to walk a little more. If I go back like this and happen to run into people, it would be a bit awkward…”

Soya shook her head as she spoke.

“But what brought you to the Imperial Palace?”

“I was invited. As the head of the clan…”

“I thought you were very busy. You haven’t shown your face at White Tiger Palace at all.”

“Well, I was curious about the festival too…”

Seolyeo made excuses hesitantly.

In truth, he hadn’t come to the Imperial Palace because he was curious about the festival.

He had come to see Soya.

Not long ago, in the Northern Lands.

[Are you okay, Soya…?]

[Yes, I’m okay.]

Although Soya had said she was okay, Seolyeo had inevitably noticed that fleeting moment when sadness lingered on her face.

He was worried and couldn’t help but come.

It was natural for him to come here.

Protecting the Northern Lands was his duty, but he had something more important than that.

Protecting Soya.

That had been the greatest reason for Seolyeo’s existence since he was very young.

“…Soya.”

Seolyeo called her in a quiet voice.

“Did the Emperor make you cry like this?”

“Huh…?”

“If that person keeps making you sad, shall we run away together outside the Imperial Palace?”

At those words, Soya burst into laughter.

“Run away? If someone heard that, they’d think I’m imprisoned here.”

“Anytime, anywhere, if you want to run away, tell me, Soya. I’ll come get you.”

However, Seolyeo spoke with a seriously sunken expression.

“Thank you, Seol Yoya. I really only have you.”

“…”

Although Soya said that with a bright smile, Seolyeo knew.

Those words were wrong.

Contrary to her words that she only had him, the one who made her laugh and cry wasn’t him but someone else.

In fact, it was the opposite.

It wasn’t that she only had him, but that he only had her.

‘Why on earth did That Man forget about Soya?’

Seolyeo was angry.

Actually, Seolyeo knew. He knew that That Man had turned back time thousands upon thousands of times to save Soya.

Seolyeo, who had accidentally touched the curtain of time and been sucked into it, remembered the man he saw at the end each time a timeline ended.

While foolish him repeatedly made the same mistakes and harmed Soya, That Man had made countless sacrifices trying to protect Soya.

And finally, reaching this life and perfectly eliminating Evil, That Man suddenly lost his memory.

Seolyeo speculated that the reason That Man lost his memory was related to saving Soya.

But even so.

Even if that were true.

‘Soya is so sad like this.’

When Soya was sad, Seolyeo’s heart ached too.

He disliked That Man who made Soya sad.

Seolyeo recalled That Man who had appeared a little while ago.

Soya seemed completely unaware that That Man had been there.

But Seolyeo had no intention of telling Soya about that fact.

Because whenever That Man’s story came up, Soya’s eyes would turn sad.

“Thank you so much for today, Seol Yoya. If it weren’t for you, I might still be crying alone.”

After finishing their walk, Soya turned to look at Seolyeo in front of the pavilion.

“The fact that I cried today is absolutely secret from Elder Brothers. Got it?”

Soya grinned as she made the request.

Seolyeo’s gaze turned to her reddish eye area.

“Seol Yoya?”

At Seolyeo’s silent appearance, Soya tilted her head.

“Yes. I absolutely won’t tell anyone.”

Seolyeo nodded as he looked at Soya again.

“You seem to keep getting lost in your own thoughts during conversations lately. What are you thinking about every time?”

“…Just.”

At Soya’s sharp question, Seolyeo hesitated before answering.

“My heart is a little… stirring.”

“Huh? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No. It’s not that…”

“If you’re hurting or having a hard time, you must tell me too.”

Seeing her smile brightly and say that while she herself looked more hurt and troubled…

Chuckle.

A small laugh flowed from between Seolyeo’s lips.

“Huh…?”

Soya’s eyes widened round at the sight.

Seolyeo was not one to express emotions well.

Even when happy things happened, Seolyeo would only silently curve the corners of his mouth slightly.

Perhaps because of this, people who didn’t know Seolyeo well sometimes considered him cold.

For such a Seolyeo to laugh out loud with a “pfft”…!

“What’s wrong, Soya?”

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you laugh out loud like this.”

“Me…?”

At those words, Seolyeo touched the corners of his mouth with a bewildered expression.

“Seol Yoya, you look really handsome when you smile. I think I understand why the young ladies in the Northern Lands like you so much.”

Soya burst into giggles.

“Wh-what are you saying, Soya…!”

Seolyeo’s face turned red in an instant.

Because Seolyeo had particularly fair and pale skin, his blushing face was even more noticeable.

“That little child from the Dorongnyong Tribe we met last time said so. That when she grows up, she’ll definitely marry you, Seolyeo.”

“Th-that…!”

Seolyeo couldn’t manage to continue his words and stammered.

“I’m just teasing, Seol Yoya. Ah, but saying you’re handsome wasn’t a joke.”

“…”

At Soya’s words, Seolyeo’s heart didn’t just flutter—it felt queasy as if soaring high in the sky.

Unable to contain his emotions any longer, Seolyeo covered his face completely with one hand.

“I wasn’t trying to tease you… Seol Yoya, are you okay?”

“Yeah… I’m fine…”

Seolyeo mumbled his answer while still covering his face.

Somehow, Soya felt sorry, as if she had bullied the kind Seolyeo.

“Anyway, Seol Yoya. Since we’re both at the Imperial Palace, we’ll be able to see each other again soon. Sleep well tonight, and tomorrow let’s go out and play together—the three of us with Yul too.”

“Yeah…”

Soya looked worriedly at Seolyeo, who wouldn’t show his face and answered in a small voice, then said goodbye and went inside first.

Only when Soya’s presence could no longer be felt was Seolyeo finally able to lift his head.

He quietly stared at the spot where she had left.

How can Soya say things like “handsome” so casually while smiling like it’s nothing?

‘I… felt embarrassed. Telling Soya she’s pretty.’

Just imagining saying such words made his heart race wildly.

When he was young, he didn’t really understand why his heart became so noisy and his face turned red whenever he saw Soya.

Even after recognizing his wavering feelings, Seolyeo couldn’t accurately name that emotion for quite some time.

‘But now I think I know a little what this feeling should be called.’

Seolyeo took out a red thread bracelet from his pouch.

It was something he had happened to buy on the way to the Imperial Palace, but he hadn’t found the courage to give it to her.

Seolyeo fiddled with it for a long time before finally leaving only after the lights in Soya’s Quarters had gone out.

* * *

At the same time, in the Emperor’s Bedchamber.

Even though the night was deepening, Irim couldn’t fall asleep easily.

Submerged in the rippling, damp emotions that had risen, he stared blankly at Soya’s red feather.

Every time he recalled the afterimage of her frozen face with a hurt expression, his chest ached painfully.

What guided him as he wandered in an inexplicable void every moment were formless, ethereal sensations.

Rustle, rustle.

Giggle, giggle.

Whisper, whisper.

And… thump, thump-thump.

His thick fingertips gently stroked her feather.

Soon, as if he had made some decision, he curled his fingertips tightly into a fist.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————