The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 53

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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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Chapter 53

 

‘This is such a strange feeling.’

 

Seolyeo shook her head vigorously to dispel the thought.

 

Then she continued to stealthily move behind the thicket, secretly watching the two people taking their walk.

 

“Young Lady, you need to come inside now.”

 

At that moment, when Yeonjeong called for her, Soya went inside first.

 

Irim stood still in the same spot, gazing at Soya’s retreating figure for a while.

 

At that time, a gentle and warm smile graced his face.

 

Seolyeo didn’t like that.

 

‘Why is he looking at Soya with that expression.’

 

So, just as she was grumbling inwardly like that.

 

Swish―!

 

Suddenly he turned his head toward her direction.

 

Seolyeo, who had been hiding by the bushes, ended up making direct eye contact with Irim.

 

“Uh, uwaaah!”

 

Startled, Seolyeo immediately tumbled backward with a crash.

 

Because of that, the ginkgo leaves he had gathered for Soya scattered to the ground.

 

Irim approached her with leisurely steps.

 

Step, step, step.

 

At those footsteps, Seolyeo bared her teeth fiercely and growled in warning.

 

“D-don’t come closer!”

 

However, Irim didn’t stop walking.

 

Soon Irim stood before Seolyeo, bowed toward her, and greeted her in a gentle voice.

 

“Hello.”

 

“….”

 

Seolyeo glared at him silently. At those eyes full of hostility, Irim smiled and said.

 

“You don’t need to look at me with those eyes.”

 

“….”

 

“I won’t pose any threat to you. As long as you don’t harm that child.”

 

In an instant, Seolyeo flinched and gritted her teeth.

 

She realized who the ‘that child’ Irim mentioned was.

 

“I don’t harm Soya!”

 

Seolyeo shouted while panting heavily.

 

“I, I’m someone who protects Soya! You’re the one who shouldn’t harm Soya!”

 

At this, the corners of Irim’s mouth curved up crookedly.

 

Flinch.

 

At that smile that felt somewhat cold, Seolyeo unconsciously hunched her shoulders.

 

“You’d better do just that. That’s the reason I’m letting you live.”

 

Irim, who had been quietly staring at Seolyeo with cool eyes, soon turned around.

 

‘What, what’s that. Why does he look at people with those eyes. So unpleasant.’

 

Seolyeo grumbled while watching Irim’s retreating figure, not even thinking of getting up from the ground.

 

* * *

 

Soya’s room.

 

“Why is that person your Elder Brother! I don’t like it! Don’t call him Elder Brother!”

 

Gayul was rolling around on the floor throwing a tantrum.

 

It was because he had just heard Soya call Irim ‘Elder Brother.’

 

Gayul didn’t like other people being called ‘Elder Brother’ by Soya.

 

As Soya’s ‘real Elder Brother,’ he couldn’t accept it.

 

Moreover, to speak and act as if he knew Soya better than they did!

 

“Most importantly, that person isn’t even family. He doesn’t even have the character ‘Baek’ in his name like we do!”

 

“You can’t call him ‘that person.'”

 

Ga Hyeon, who had been silently watching Gayul roll around pathetically, corrected his form of address.

 

“He’s the Emperor of Taehwa Kingdom. You should properly call him His Majesty the Emperor. Unless you want to be arrested for disrespect.”

 

However, Ga Hyeon’s own expression as he said this was also unusually unpleasant.

 

“But Soya. I also don’t want you getting too close to His Majesty.”

 

Ga Hyeon looked at Soya and spoke in a serious voice.

 

“That person, the rumors about him aren’t very good. I’m worried about you getting close to such a dangerous person.”

 

“But….”

 

Soya recalled Irim whom she had seen in the garden earlier.

 

He was still the same kind and warm person as the Prince in her memories.

 

“Those are just rumors. The His Majesty I know isn’t a dangerous person.”

 

Soya didn’t want to be swayed by what people gossiped about in making her judgment.

 

Even if some terrible things had happened around him, perhaps there were reasons she didn’t know about.

 

She wanted to think of him based on what she directly saw and felt.

 

Just like how he had treated her warmly when they met again at Vermillion Bird Mansion, despite her past story.

 

Creak.

 

At the sound of the door opening, the three siblings simultaneously turned their heads.

 

“So you were all here.”

 

Saeon was leaning against the doorframe, smiling brightly at the children.

 

“Father!”

 

Ga Hyeon exclaimed in a delighted voice and jumped up.

 

“I was disappointed we couldn’t greet each other properly earlier. Are you done with all your urgent business now?”

 

Even after returning to White Tiger Palace, Saeon had been too busy dealing with the Emperor and handling urgent matters to properly greet the children.

 

“Father, why are you only coming now!”

 

Gayul ran straight to Saeon and jumped up to cling to him.

 

Though he had acted tough in front of Soya, Gayul had actually missed his father very much too.

 

“Sorry, baby tiger. You didn’t cry from missing Father, did you?”

 

“I’m not a baby! I’m going to have my First Growth soon!”

 

“Yes, yes, Yul.”

 

Saeon, who had lifted Gayul up with one arm, burst into laughter as he entered the room.

 

Then he pulled Ga Hyeon, who had approached his side, into an embrace with his other arm, and noticed Soya looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes.

 

She wanted to run and hug him like her Elder Brothers, but her face showed hesitation about whether she was allowed to do so.

 

Reading her feelings completely, Saeon spread his arms wide to make space and asked in a deliberately disappointed tone.

 

“Cotton Ball. Didn’t you miss Father?”

 

“I, I missed you! V-very, very much!”

 

Soya answered immediately as if she had been waiting for him to ask just that.

 

“Then Cotton Ball should hurry over and welcome Father too.”

 

“Y-yes…!”

 

Soya scurried over to Saeon’s embrace and quickly snuggled into his arms.

 

“I missed you a lot too, baby tigers and baby Cotton Ball.”

 

Saeon smiled brightly and hugged all three children at once.

 

Because of that, Soya laughed out loud with delight, jostling together with her Elder Brothers within Saeon’s arms that were solid like a fence.

 

At that carefree, innocent laughter, Saeon unconsciously let out a chuckle.

 

Does Cotton Ball know? That at some point she’s been smiling so prettily like this.

 

“Did you guard White Tiger Palace well while I was away?”

 

“Yes, Father. Jeok Yeong helped me guard the White Tiger Palace well. And whenever Yul tried to skip training, I caught him and threw him into the training ground.”

 

“When did I ever! No, Father! I trained really hard and even got praised by Master!”

 

Ga Hyeon and Gayul competed to tell him about their recent activities.

 

“What about Baby Cotton Ball?”

 

“I kept practicing because I wanted to try using my special ability again, but it didn’t go well.”

 

Soya said in a slightly dejected voice.

 

“You don’t need to push yourself. You haven’t even had your First Growth yet.”

 

“But I want to quickly become helpful to you and the others, Saeon.”

 

“Helpful?”

 

“Sara told me. She said if I learn to handle my special ability well, I’ll be a great help to you and the family clan.”

 

“You’ve been having such admirable thoughts?”

 

Saeon looked at Soya with a deliberately surprised expression, then burst into laughter.

 

“Only our Baby Cotton Ball thinks about me.”

 

Even as Saeon’s hand ruffled her hair, the wistful look didn’t fade from Soya’s face.

 

“I happen to have something for my admirable Baby Cotton Ball.”

 

“…?”

 

“What, Father! Did you only buy a present for Cotton Ball?”

 

Gayul looked at Saeon with a betrayed expression.

 

‘A present from Saeon!’

 

Soya’s heart fluttered as she looked around Saeon expectantly.

 

‘But there’s nothing in Saeon’s hands?’

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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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