The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 281

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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 73

Noticing the sun gradually setting, Irim spoke to Soya.

“We should head inside now. You’ll need to sleep early if you’re departing on a long journey.”

“Yes.”

Soya nodded, drawing out her words with a reluctant heart.

After promising to meet once more before departing tomorrow morning, she parted from Irim and headed back to her quarters.

‘I’m so upset thinking I might not see His Majesty once I return to White Tiger Palace, but is His Majesty completely unbothered?’

Recalling Irim who had only smiled serenely even at the moment of parting, Soya pouted.

Seeing how childish thoughts kept arising, perhaps Mother’s words were true—that falling in love doesn’t make you an adult, but rather more childish.

‘Well, Father also becomes a bit childish when Mother is beside him. I take after Father, so it can’t be helped.’

It was when Soya was returning to the pavilion, deliberately justifying her childish feelings.

“Huh…?”

She discovered a man leaning against the wall with his head hanging down.

“Seolyeo?”

The man who raised his head at Soya’s call was none other than Seolyeo.

“Soya.”

The man who had been giving off a somewhat lonely atmosphere just moments before smiled gently and greeted Soya.

Soya tilted her head at the slightly different atmosphere she sensed from Seolyeo than usual.

Then, without being asked, Seolyeo awkwardly averted her gaze and explained.

“You said I look better when I smile. So now I’m trying to smile more often.”

“Good thinking, Seolyeo. You really are much more handsome when you smile.”

At this, Soya burst into giggles, saying it was a really good idea.

At that refreshing laughter reaching his ears, Seolyeo unconsciously twitched his fingertips.

“But why aren’t you going inside and staying out here like this? Let’s go in together, Seolyeo.”

“No. I just came to say hello briefly. I have to return to the Northern Lands.”

“Ah…”

Soya soon nodded with a disappointed expression.

“Then I won’t be able to see you much again because you’ll be busy.”

“Probably. I also need to wrap up the incident that occurred with the Flower Snake Tribe.”

“Becoming the leader of the Northern Lands is truly a difficult path too.”

Soya sighed deeply as she spoke to Seolyeo.

“Still, come visit White Tiger Palace often when you have time. Arang and Su Ri too—everyone misses you.”

“Yeah, I will.”

Seolyeo nodded with his usual compliant attitude to her words.

“Then take care, Seolyeo.”

“You take care going in too, Soya.”

Seolyeo smiled brightly as he watched her enter the pavilion.

“…”

When her figure was no longer visible, the faint smile that had been on his lips slowly faded away.

Actually, Soya. After hearing you say I look more handsome when I smile, I felt regret.

I wondered if you would have looked at me more if I had smiled earlier and more often, like that man…

But still…

Seolyeo’s throat moved silently as he turned around.

I’m glad.

I’m so glad that you’re smiling again without being sad.

So I’m very happy right now, Soya.

A faint smile rose to his lips again.

My friend, my family, my entire childhood—Soya.

I hope you smile for a long, long time. Wherever you are.

The red thread bracelet he couldn’t bring himself to give lingered within his sleeve.

* * *

The next morning.

The packing was finally all finished.

A large palanquin was ready to carry Soya and her family.

Gayul and Cheongya were disappointed that the festival had ended, but were excited about returning to White Tiger Palace.

However, Soya’s expression wasn’t entirely bright.

‘I couldn’t say goodbye to His Majesty.’

The departure time had been suddenly moved up, so she couldn’t exchange farewells with Irim.

She hastily wrote a letter and sent words of farewell through Chirpy, but her heart sank gloomily.

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have said goodbye yesterday. I thought I’d be able to see him once more before leaving today…’

But she couldn’t show her upset feelings to her family.

Most importantly, the fact that she liked him was still absolutely secret from her Elder Brothers.

So it was when Soya was suppressing her upset feelings and about to board the palanquin.

She paused.

Sensing a gaze, she looked around somewhere.

“Sister? What’s wrong?”

“Cotton Ball, is there something over there?”

Cheongya and Gayul, who had already boarded the palanquin, asked in confusion.

“Just a moment…!”

Soya asked her family for understanding, then ran toward the back of the pavilion.

There she discovered Irim standing on a tree, watching her departure.

“Your Majesty…!”

“Oh my. I was trying to secretly see you off after hearing you were leaving.”

Irim smiled softly as he approached her.

“I thought I’d have to send you away without seeing your face, Soya.”

Soya’s disappointed feelings burst out.

“Your Majesty is really mean. Doesn’t it bother you at all to send me away?”

“Soya…?”

“I was so upset thinking I might have to return like this without seeing Your Majesty…”

“Soya…”

Irim spoke in an upset voice, trying to soothe her sulking.

“How… could sending you away not bother me.”

“…”

“Actually, I was very frightened right after recovering my memories.”

“Frightened…?”

Soya, who had been looking down at her toes with pursed lips, raised her head at those words.

“That night when we watched fireflies together, I kept thinking of you encouraging me to be happy with someone else…”

“What? That was…”

Soya’s eyes widened.

It was something she hadn’t thought about since learning that the person he held in his heart was herself.

“You looked a bit relieved that day.”

Irim spoke in a sunken voice, slowly lowering his eyes.

“I hated myself for foolishly forgetting you, for making you cry again. So I wondered if you were thinking of leaving me behind…”

“That’s not…! That’s not it. I was…”

At his quite forlorn appearance, Soya quickly explained.

“I didn’t hate Your Majesty… I wanted Your Majesty to be happy…”

“How could I be happy without you. I told you, didn’t I, that you are the most precious and valuable existence in the world who allowed me to live my life.”

Irim slowly raised his head and looked at her as he spoke.

“So I feel the same way. I’m very upset that I have to send you back to the White Tiger Palace.”

“….”

“Actually, I don’t want to send you away, even now…. I just want to keep you by my side forever.”

He whispered in a voice as soft as a sigh.

To think that someone who seemed to have nothing to fear in the world was afraid because of her.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Even though I knew your heart wasn’t like that, I still threw a tantrum.”

Touched by his sincere feelings, Soya felt embarrassed and apologized belatedly.

“I know I have to return to the White Tiger Palace, but I felt disappointed because I wanted to stay with Your Majesty longer. How childish of me.”

“That’s not true. I made you upset by not being honest.”

Irim said with a gentle smile.

“But don’t be too disappointed, Soya. I’ll come to get you again soon.”

“…!”

At those words, Soya’s eyes widened in surprise.

“That promise—shouldn’t I keep it now?”

[Don’t be too disappointed. I’ll come back soon. And when I come back….]

[I want to take you to the Imperial Palace. If you would allow it.]

For Soya, it was a promise from 14 years ago, but for Irim, it was from an immeasurably long time past.

Because he couldn’t keep this promise, he had to repeat countless lives.

“Will you allow me?”

Her eyes, resembling spring flowers, trembled violently.

She wasn’t naive enough not to understand what his words about coming to get her meant.

It was a vow promising their future.

It was a beautiful engagement.

“Yes, Your Majesty…!”

Soon she answered with a bright smile.

“I’ll return to the White Tiger Palace and wait, so please be sure to come get me this time.”

Irim also smiled gently, following her lead.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump.

Even though they were just looking at each other, their hearts kept pounding.

She wanted to stay with him longer, but she couldn’t because there were people waiting.

‘To think there would be a day when I’d feel reluctant about going to the White Tiger Palace—how strange.’

Just then, Cheongya waved his arms vigorously toward Soya and shouted.

“Sister, hurry up!”

“Yes, Cheongya!”

Soya took one last look back at where Irim would be, then ran toward the palanquin waiting for her.

Soon, the palanquin carrying Soya left the Imperial Palace.

Irim quietly watched from the same spot until her palanquin heading west was no longer visible.

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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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