The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 268

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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 60

Soya blinked slowly.

It was strange.

His face looking at her seemed indifferent at first glance, yet she could sense desperation beneath that expressionless facade.

“I didn’t misunderstand.”

Soon Soya smiled gently and answered.

“You didn’t misunderstand?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Truly.”

It was true that seeing him standing face to face with a strange woman had made her heart skip a beat in surprise for a moment.

But perhaps because she had known him since childhood.

Or perhaps because she knew his gentle side.

Despite the close distance, she could tell that Irim’s attitude toward the woman was extremely dry and cold.

Soya knows. How warm and gentle he becomes in front of someone he likes.

That’s why Soya didn’t misunderstand that Irim would have a special relationship with the woman.

“Then what did you see that made you so startled and run away?”

“…”

Instead of answering, Soya quietly looked up at Irim’s face.

“It’s alright, so tell me.”

“Is it true that Your Majesty doesn’t wish to marry the Maiden of the Baek Ho Clan?”

Irim’s face was instantly colored with bewilderment.

“That is…”

In truth, he had dismissed everything the woman said as nonsense and hadn’t listened carefully.

Rather than let such pointless words reach someone’s ears, he should have sealed her mouth to prevent her from spouting useless talk.

“That too is a misunderstanding. It’s not that I particularly dislike you and refuse for that reason.”

Irim made excuses firmly with a voice that had lost its composure, unlike his usual self.

“I don’t know why that woman thought such a thing.”

Soya burst into a small laugh at this human side of him, shown for the first time since losing his memory.

“I think I know the reason.”

“…?”

“Haven’t Your Majesty been postponing marriage all this time? So various rumors have been circulating in society.”

Soya’s calm voice settled quietly in the cave.

Though Soya didn’t elaborate further, Irim also knew what rumors she was referring to.

That the Emperor had been postponing marriage because he was reluctant about the Baek Family’s Daughter…

In the end, that woman’s ranting in front of him last night was also due to his own actions.

Irim’s face darkened as his thoughts reached that point.

“…I never intended to hurt you.”

He offered an apology with a somehow heavily subdued voice.

“I’m sorry.”

Soya’s eyes widened in surprise, not having expected to hear an apology from him.

“S-sorry, Your Majesty? How can you apologize to me?”

For the Emperor who rules the continent to apologize to a mere young lady.

Though she had built a private friendship with him before he lost his memory, that wasn’t the case now.

While various rumors arose because he postponed marriage, that couldn’t be entirely blamed on him either.

“Because of my actions, didn’t you have to hear words you shouldn’t have had to hear? So at least to you, I was in the wrong.”

“…”

At the continued apology, Soya’s lips parted soundlessly.

Soya, who had been staring at him blankly, soon smiled with crescent-shaped eyes and said.

“I’m fine, Your Majesty.”

“…Why are you smiling?”

“Because I’ve learned once again that Your Majesty is truly a good person.”

“…?”

Irim looked at Soya with an expression of incomprehension.

“Don’t you resent me?”

“There’s no reason to resent you. It’s not as if Your Majesty deliberately spread rumors.”

“Most people look for someone to blame at times like this.”

“The ordinary people I know spend their time and devotion loving others rather than resenting them.”

“…”

“So I too intend to use my time and devotion for something more valuable.”

She said with a smile.

The more Irim conversed with Soya, the stranger his feelings became.

The Maiden of the Baek Ho Clan, who was said to resemble Cotton Ball, spoke every word just like Cotton Ball – soft and fluffy.

At least there was no one around him who spoke in this manner.

Is this why Baek Gahyeon cherishes his little sister so much?

“However, Your Majesty. Is it true that you have a woman in your heart?”

“…”

When Irim couldn’t answer immediately, Soya spoke in a deliberately light voice to ease the heavy atmosphere.

“It’s alright, Your Majesty. I too have someone in my heart.”

A pause.

Irim’s fingertips trembled slightly.

“You have… someone in your heart?”

The end of his questioning voice cracked slightly.

Suddenly, one person came to mind.

Last night, the black-haired man who had been pressed against her without even a gap between them.

“Is he perhaps… a man I also know?”

“It’s a secret.”

Soya answered with a bright smile.

Irim stared at that spotlessly fresh smile as if enchanted.

Strangely, his head felt dizzy and his chest was stirring.

“Therefore, Your Majesty. I’m sorry, but this young girl cannot become an Empress who serves as a shield for Your Majesty’s beloved, like that young lady yesterday.”

Until just a day ago, Soya had intended to fulfill her duty as the family’s representative since she had come to the Imperial Palace anyway.

Even if he couldn’t remember her, her feelings and her responsibilities as direct lineage were separate matters.

However, if he had a beloved, that would be a different story.

Though she still liked him enough that her heart would pound when she saw Irim, she didn’t want to sacrifice herself for him and his beloved.

That would not only be extremely cruel to herself…

“That would also be very sad for the person Your Majesty holds dear.”

“…”

“Making someone you love sad would be an even sadder thing for Your Majesty. So I hope Your Majesty won’t make such a sad choice.”

Soya looked straight at Irim and spoke in a gentle voice.

This was the love Irim had taught her.

When you truly come to like someone, that person becomes more precious than yourself.

That person’s heart becomes more precious than your own heart.

Even though Irim had turned back time so many times for her, he hoped she wouldn’t know about it, fearing she would be sad if she found out.

Carrying all that long loneliness and great painful wounds alone, he had only wished for her happiness.

Soya was the same.

Soya, who loved Irim, also found his heart more precious than her own.

She hoped he wouldn’t be hurt.

She hoped he wouldn’t be sad.

She hoped he would be happy.

Now, if his happiness lay with someone other than herself… it would be alright if she was a little sad, as long as he could be happy with that new person.

Therefore, Soya hoped that he would make the right choice for his beloved.

The love that Soya had learned from Irim was that kind of love.

“….”

“….”

For a while, conversation disappeared between the two.

Irim quietly gazed at Soya with an unreadable expression.

In the quiet atmosphere.

Perhaps because she had let out all the words accumulated in her heart, Soya actually felt lighter.

However, unlike Soya, Irim strangely kept feeling a tingling sensation in his chest.

It was a sharp, numbing sensation that he couldn’t quite name.

Drip. Drip.

While only the sound of water dropping from the ceiling could be heard.

Suddenly, Irim raised his head.

“Your Majesty…?”

“Shh.”

Irim brought his index finger to his lips and gestured at something.

Following his gaze, there was a pair of small fireflies fluttering around inside the cave.

“…!”

In an instant, Soya’s eyes widened.

They were ‘stars’!

Irim and Soya exchanged glances and quietly stood up.

Following the fireflies, it wasn’t long before the end of the cave appeared.

Soya suppressed her excitement and rushed out of the cave.

Soon, a vast forest spread out before her eyes.

“Wow…!”

An exclamation she couldn’t contain burst from her lips.

Sparkling fireflies were beautifully decorating the dark forest like stars.

A reddish blush bloomed across Soya’s face as she watched them.

“It really… looks like a forest where stars live. It’s so beautiful.”

“I can see why people come to see this.”

Irim nodded as he stood beside her.

Soya and Irim gazed at the sparkling firefly forest.

Several fireflies flew over to Soya and danced in circles around her.

Soya closed her eyes and smiled brightly.

“Do you want the fireflies? If you wish, I’ll give them to you as a gift.”

“No, Your Majesty.”

Soya gently shook her head.

“This is the fireflies’ home. Their families and friends are all here, so I don’t want to take them away. I’ll gratefully accept just Your Majesty’s thoughtfulness.”

She giggled softly and reached her hand toward the fireflies.

One of the dancing fireflies teased her by hovering as if it would land on her palm but not quite doing so.

After hopping in place and stretching her arms for a while, she eventually sighed softly and sat down on the grass.

Then the firefly that had been teasing her just moments before landed on the bridge of her nose.

Soya’s eyes widened.

Just as a bright smile spread across her face, the firefly flew away again.

However, a pure white smile that hadn’t yet flown away remained shimmering on her face.

Quietly watching this scene, Irim felt his always empty and lonely heart being dyed with warm colors.

Was this because of the fireflies illuminating the dark forest?

Or perhaps….

Irim quietly gazed at Soya’s profile as she rested her head on her drawn-up knees, admiring the fireflies.

Tingle.

Tingle tingle.

Amid the thick scent of grass, along with the sound of insects chirping, his heart stirred restlessly.

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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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