The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 269

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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 61

Soya and Irim slowly got up to return before it got too late.

While Soya felt a little regretful about leaving the Firefly Forest, she was eager to boast about it to her Elder Brothers and Seolyeo.

‘It seems like Yul and Seolyeo couldn’t find the forest after all.’

Even though quite some time had passed, they were nowhere to be seen.

It appeared they had also gotten lost inside the cave.

Not only Gayul and Seolyeo, but no one had managed to reach the forest while Soya and Irim were watching the fireflies.

‘I think I was really lucky.’

Exiting through the Forest of the Stars would lead to the entrance of Bandi Cave.

Under the pitch-black night sky, Soya and Irim walked together along the forest path leading to the exit.

“I think it would be better if we went separately from here, Your Majesty.”

Soya said with a bright smile as they approached the exit.

“Are we not returning to the Imperial Palace?”

Soya answered in a composed voice to Irim, who tilted his head in confusion.

“If people see me with Your Majesty, you might get caught up in uncomfortable rumors for no reason.”

“Uncomfortable rumors…?”

“Your Majesty’s beloved might be upset if she finds out.”

Although he was dressed in plain clothes, Irim’s appearance was far too striking.

Someone might recognize him by chance.

If word got out that the Emperor had visited Bandi Cave alone with the Maiden of the White Tiger Family, idle rumors would surely follow.

“…”

Understanding her meaning, Irim’s mouth closed tightly.

“Thank you so much for being with me today, Your Majesty. Thanks to you, I was able to visit the Forest of the Stars. If it hadn’t been for Your Majesty, I wouldn’t have been able to come here alone. And…”

Soya paused for a moment, then continued with a bright smile.

“I hope Your Majesty will always be happy. Therefore, this young girl will support Your Majesty’s heart.”

“…”

Toward Irim, who stood silently, Soya bowed politely and turned around first.

In that instant, Irim felt the warm light that had been coloring him until just moments ago suddenly extinguish.

Unable to overcome that sensation, he unconsciously grabbed Soya’s sleeve.

“Your Majesty?”

Soya looked back at him with a puzzled expression.

“No… Be careful on your way home.”

Slowly.

Irim barely managed to speak as he released the sleeve he had been holding.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you.”

Soya, who had turned around with a bright smile, went outside without looking back.

There, Seolyeo was waiting for Soya, having come out of the cave first.

“Soya…!”

“Seol Yoya, where’s Yul?”

“He went back into the cave to look for you.”

“Oh no. I made Elder Brother worry.”

“No, the patrol team checked the earth veins. They said you would have reached the forest…”

Irim gazed quietly at Soya’s retreating figure as she naturally went toward Seolyeo, whispering together.

Unlike when she was with him, she looked comfortable and happy.

Unaware that he was watching her like this.

“…”

Just as he let out a bitter laugh, feeling somehow bitter in his mouth.

Suddenly, Seolyeo looked up and their eyes met with Irim’s.

Seolyeo’s eyes instantly hardened.

“Seol Yoya?”

“Yes, Soya.”

However, Seolyeo immediately turned around at Soya’s call and walked somewhere with her.

Irim stared at the spot where she had left in the rushing emptiness.

In truth, his encounter with Soya inside the cave was by no means a coincidence.

Ever since seeing Soya’s hurt face last night, his heart kept aching, so he thought he needed to meet her again to confirm this feeling.

He had manipulated the earth veins to have a conversation with Soya.

Though he hadn’t told Soya, an Imperial Dragon with earth abilities never gets lost.

Yet when he told her he was lost, it was the truth.

Because he had been losing precious things and wandering lost in emptiness for some time now.

The prohibition placed on Imperial Dragons against telling lies had such loopholes that could be slipped through with small wordplay like this.

Fortunately, Soya didn’t seem to suspect anything further…

She was truly a strange person.

[I’m sorry, but this young girl cannot become a shield Empress for Your Majesty’s beloved like that young lady yesterday.]

She had said.

Not because of a noble woman’s pride.

[It would be very sad for that person Your Majesty cherishes as well.]

[I hope Your Majesty won’t make such a sad choice.]

Because she hoped he wouldn’t be sad.

[I hope Your Majesty will always be happy.]

Because she hoped he would be happy…

“Happiness… indeed.”

Irim quietly murmured, recalling her voice as she wished him happiness.

It was a word he himself had never thought about.

His own happiness.

It was truly an unfamiliar word.

But why did her words wishing for his happiness—something he had never considered for himself—make his heart feel warm while simultaneously feeling empty?

[I will support Your Majesty’s heart.]

“…”

Recalling that voice saying she would support his heart with a fresh smile like spring flowers, his mood suddenly sank low.

“My heart. My heart, indeed…”

A hollow laugh escaped.

What did she know about his heart to say she would support it?

He had thought that meeting and talking with her would help him understand the cause of his emotions that he couldn’t grasp, but instead he became even more confused.

Irim slowly blinked and looked up at the dark night sky.

Then he recalled the fireflies that had adorned the dark forest like stars, and a pair of eyes that had smiled brightly while watching them.

It was when two pink stars that had sparkled most beautifully in the world remained embedded in his heart, refusing to leave.

[I like it.]

“Ugh…”

Irim frowned and pressed his forehead as a sudden headache struck.

[I like you, Your Majesty. I like Your Majesty.]

Someone’s voice brushed past his ears in a muffled tone.

[Very much. I like Your Majesty very much.]

It was a voice that seemed about to surface, tender and sorrowful.

[I like Your Majesty. I really like you. I like you so much.]

Irim tried to grasp that voice, but the more he tried to recall it, the more severe his throbbing headache became.

His vision flickered black, and his heart pounded frantically.

[It’s okay if Your Majesty forgets me. This time, I will remember Your Majesty…]

No, …ya.

I cannot forget you.

You are my only…

[So Your Majesty, please just stay healthy…]

“Huk…”

Soon the voice that had been lingering in his ears scattered, and his dark vision suddenly cleared.

“Heok, huk…”

Rough breathing flowed through his teeth.

“What was that voice just now…”

Until now, no matter how hard he tried to remember, he could only recall vague sensations and nothing more.

The voices that suddenly surfaced made him dizzy.

What confused him most was that the voice resembled that of the young woman who had been with him just moments ago.

‘But that can’t be. She is…’

Wiping cold sweat with the back of his hand while pondering about Soya, Irim suddenly stiffened at a strange sense of incongruity.

How strange.

Why was he the only one who didn’t know about the maiden of the White Tiger Family, whom everyone on the continent knew about?

As if it had been cleanly carved out of his memory.

She had even resolved the incident that occurred in the Imperial Palace in the past, hadn’t she?

Since awakening three years ago, his memories were often hazy, but memories of her were completely absent, as if cleanly carved out.

And he… had never once found it strange.

Despite it being obviously peculiar.

The moment he became aware of it, a chilling sensation washed over him.

* * *

On the way back to the Imperial Palace.

“The name ‘Forest of the Star Goddess’ really suited it perfectly! You don’t know how beautiful it was. Elder Brother and Seolyeo should have seen it too…”

Soya bragged to Gayul and Seolyeo about what she had seen several times.

“I’m so jealous, Cotton Ball. How did you get there all by yourself?”

“I was lucky.”

Soya smiled and answered Gayul, who was extremely envious.

She didn’t bother mentioning that she had met Irim there.

‘Now that I’ve decided to put away my feelings and support His Majesty’s new love, it should be fine to keep one little secret like this.’

The scenery she saw in the Forest of the Stars, where the warm night breeze blew gently, was truly beautiful.

She would probably never forget it for the rest of her life.

Just seeing that place with His Majesty made Soya happy, as if she had gained a small memory she could cherish for a long, long time.

It was truly an unexpected gift.

‘I really think coming to the Imperial Palace was the right choice.’

That’s why Soya didn’t regret this trip to the Imperial Palace.

Before long, they arrived at the Imperial Palace.

On the way to their quarters, she spotted a man surrounded by palace attendants.

‘Huh? What’s going on?’

The faces of the palace attendants surrounding the man were flushed with a reddish glow.

A familiar silhouette stood where those fervent gazes, filled with what seemed like mild excitement, were directed.

A height that towered two heads above the palace attendants.

Snow-white hair.

Glittering jewels and ornaments dangling all over.

And riding on his back…

‘Cheongya?!’

Soya’s eyes widened in an instant.

At that moment, the man who sensed her presence turned to look toward Soya’s group.

A bright smile spread across the man’s expressionless face.

“Somsom!”

It was Gaya!

“Sister!”

And he even brought Cheongya with him!

‘My goodness, both Gaya and Cheongya. How did this happen?’

Soya was dumbfounded, but for now, she brought Gaya and Cheongya back to their quarters.

“What? You were kicked out of White Tiger Palace?”

Soya’s jaw dropped at Gaya’s explanation that followed.

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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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