The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 270

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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 62

Gaya’s age, twenty-six this year.

However, despite being the young family head who should inherit the family clan, he still had no mate.

Despite the flood of marriage proposals coming in, it was because he had absolutely no interest in women.

[Wouldn’t someone like Lady Sahye from the Heukho Family be a decent marriage prospect?]

[That black tiger is too young, no good.]

When Soya glanced at the pile of marriage proposals and asked, Gaya answered curtly.

[But she’s been an adult for quite some time now to be called young…]

[She’s the same age as our youngest tiger. That makes her young.]

At the end of Gaya’s gaze as he spoke, there was Gayul bickering with Cheongya in the front courtyard.

Well, if he was using Yul as the standard, it might feel that way…

[It’s not just the Heukho Family – so many marriage proposals have come from other families too. Don’t you even want to meet them once?]

[Yeah, I hate it, Somsom. I won’t meet anyone unless they’re prettier than me.]

[Pardon…?]

[But there’s no way such a woman exists. So Somsom, don’t waste your energy on your elder brother’s marriage…]

Certainly, until the last time she saw him, Gaya had spoken so confidently.

But a few days ago, when he said the same thing to Cheongha who had returned from inspecting the Northern Lands, he ended up getting kicked out.

“She told me not to think about setting foot in the Western Lands until I find and bring back a mate from the capital during this festival.”

Gaya, who had scurried over to Soya’s quarters, explained with a calm expression.

“So Somsom, I’ll be imposing on you for a few days.”

“Th-then why did you bring Cheongya?”

“Since she was kicking me out anyway, she said she wanted to spend time alone with Father, so she sent the baby snake along with me.”

Of course, Cheongya had followed along excitedly at the thought of seeing Soya.

“Sister, I missed you.”

Cheongya burrowed into Soya’s embrace, acting cute.

—Your Majesty Yeomwang, I missed you so much…!

The black snake hanging on Cheongya’s shoulder also cried out toward the invisible air, searching for Hyeonto Yeomwang.

The black snake that had returned to White Tiger Palace with Soya three years ago had coincidentally caught Cheongya’s eye again and ended up being captured by him.

At first, it tried to escape from Cheongya several times, but soon gave up and obediently accepted its fate, becoming Cheongya’s playmate.

It was called a playmate, but in reality it was closer to a servant. However, having eaten well at White Tiger Palace, its plump and well-fed appearance looked quite good.

Anyway, thanks to the sudden guests from the Western Lands, Soya’s quarters became bustling.

* * *

Irim sat alone atop a large tree.

When alone, there were always sensations that would wash over him.

Rustling softly.

Giggling.

Whispering sounds.

But now there were emotions flooding in even more intensely than those vague sensations.

Like fireflies that had embroidered the dark forest like stars.

Or a pair of eyes that sparkled more beautifully than stars, laughing brightly while watching them.

Yes, such things…

‘Why…’

Even he himself couldn’t understand the reason.

So he hid among the trees and looked down below.

‘I heard family came from the Western Lands recently.’

He could see her laughing among her family members.

At the sight of her smiling so purely, a gentle smile also appeared on Irim’s face.

At some point, he had forgotten his original purpose and was always following only Soya with his eyes.

He simply couldn’t take his gaze away from her.

After feeling that something was strange about his memories, he had people investigate once more.

But there was no connection between her and himself anywhere.

Likewise, as if someone had cleanly cut it out.

‘Something is artificially interfering with my memories.’

Irim clenched his fist tightly and stared at Soya for a long time.

It was when her family members went inside one by one, and she, left alone, turned around.

Suddenly sensing a gaze, Soya looked up.

She discovered Irim sitting in the tree.

“Your Majesty…?”

A bewildered expression crossed Irim’s face, as he hadn’t expected to be caught by her.

“What are you doing up there?”

“How did you know?”

“Pardon…?”

“That I was here. How did you know?”

“I just… had a feeling.”

Soya tilted her head and answered.

“You just had a feeling?”

Irim looked at her with a somewhat confused face.

A beast-person who could sense the Imperial Dragon’s presence.

Suddenly, a strange sense of déjà vu struck him.

Had there been… such a time before?

[Your Majesty.]

Under the dark night sky, a voice calling to him.

[Why do you just watch and leave?]

[Oh my.]

A voice that seemed somewhat upset and a gentle sigh.

[I only meant to check if you were alright, but I’ve been caught like this.]

And…

[Goodbye, …ya.]

Throbbing—

Again, a piercing headache struck.

“Your Majesty? Are you alright?”

Startled, Soya quickly leaped up into the tree to check on him.

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Your complexion…”

Grab.

Irim seized her wrist.

“…!”

In an instant, Soya’s body stiffened.

Irim stared intently at her face, then suddenly held out a hair ribbon.

“Tie my hair.”

“Yes…?”

At his sudden request, a flustered expression spread across Soya’s face.

“It’s an imperial command.”

However, Irim spoke calmly while staring directly at her.

“Ah, I understand, Your Majesty. Then please release this hand.”

“….”

As she spoke while trying to calm her startled heart, Irim slowly released her wrist.

Along with an inexplicable sense of regret, Irim’s gaze lingered on her wrist.

“You need to turn around.”

Irim obediently turned around following her words.

Though Soya was bewildered by the sudden request, she carefully placed her hands on his hair.

Rustle.

At the gentle stroking touch, Irim unconsciously stiffened his body.

Rustle. Rustle.

Somehow his nape became stiff, and every time her fingertips brushed against his skin, breathing became strangely awkward.

In the sensation of muffled ears and suffocating breath, a faint voice echoed dimly in his ears.

[Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I’ll make it really pretty….]

It was a lovely voice that chattered like a baby bird.

[When I was at Saga, with Father and Elder Brother….]

Unable to endure that sensation disturbing his mind, he suddenly turned his head.

In an instant, the two faces came close together.

“Your, Your Majesty…?”

Startled by the distance where their noses might touch, Soya unconsciously dropped the hair ribbon she was holding.

“Ah…!”

“It’s fine.”

Soya tried to reach for the fallen hair ribbon, but immediately Irim gently wrapped her hand and pulled it toward himself.

“But Your Majesty’s hair ribbon….”

“I said it’s fine.”

Irim kept saying it was fine while interlacing his fingers between Soya’s and holding them firmly.

His gaze was directed solely at Soya’s face.

Realizing this fact belatedly, heat slightly rose on Soya’s face.

Irim stared intently at her face.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Just holding her in his eyes made his mouth keep going dry and his throat painfully constrict.

Soya felt burdened by that gaze and slightly turned her head away.

However, he immediately reached out his other hand to gently cup one side of her cheek.

Then he lifted her face to fix her gaze on him and spoke in a husky voice.

“Do not avoid my gaze.”

“….”

The blue-green eyes that held her were surging violently.

Though Irim felt he was in danger, he couldn’t stop.

Slowly, his head tilted.

At the distance where their breaths could touch, Soya gulped and looked into his eyes.

“….”

“….”

Deep longing could be felt in his surging eyes.

At that gaze that stared intently as if asking for permission, Soya hesitantly opened her mouth.

“This kind of thing… should be with someone you like….”

“I like you.”

The words spilled out before he could even think.

Seeing Soya’s eyes widen in surprise, Irim finally realized.

I like this woman.

No, I have been liking her.

From the beginning.

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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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