The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 55
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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 55
It was when Soya was quietly staring at him, sensing an atmosphere that somehow shouldn’t be disturbed.
“Since you haven’t found the owner of the flame yet, you would have needed a medium to borrow this power.”
Irim continued his explanation in a calm voice.
“A medium?”
“Yes. For example…”
He slowly trailed off his words as he slowly extended his hand.
“…!”
Soya was startled. There was a fresh wound on his palm.
“Something like the summoner’s blood.”
“Elder Brother, th-the wound…!”
Bright red blood was dripping down his wrist.
“Don’t worry too much. I made it myself.”
This wound that hadn’t been on his hand just moments before was one he had made himself while Soya was closing her eyes and listening to the spirit core.
“I told you. The summoner’s blood is needed. But since I couldn’t make you bleed, I lent you the Imperial Dragon’s blood.”
“…”
Soya’s pupils trembled finely.
To inflict a wound on his own body. It was a terrifying thing that Soya couldn’t even dare to imagine.
Even though it looked painful enough to make her flesh crawl just from looking at it, Irim showed no sign of pain.
“Will you heal it for me, Soya?”
He said, gesturing toward the flame in Soya’s palm.
Soya, who immediately understood his meaning, swallowed hard and nodded.
She carefully opened her palm and concentrated on the flame that bloomed above it.
Then slowly, very slowly, the flame moved and enveloped Irim’s hand.
Swoosh—
As the flame died down, the wound on his hand disappeared cleanly.
However, instead of joy at her success, Soya asked in an upset voice.
“Why did you do such a thing? Inflicting a wound on yourself.”
“Don’t be upset, Soya. Thanks to you, I’m perfectly fine again.”
“But… just because it can be healed doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”
He had inflicted a wound on his own hand purely to help her utilize her special ability.
It was something that brought him no benefit at all, something he did just for her sake.
“No. It didn’t hurt.”
“That’s a lie.”
Soya said with a resolute expression.
At this, the smile slowly faded from Irim’s face.
“…Yes, you’re right. It hurt a little. No, it hurt a lot.”
He said to Soya in a calm voice.
“So Soya. Try not to use this flame and save it. Unless it’s an absolutely necessary moment.”
“Even if you don’t say that, I won’t do such dangerous things.”
The summoner’s blood. He said that because she hadn’t found the owner of that power yet, blood was needed to operate this power.
Soya remembered that when she had exorcised the ghost in Saeon’s office, and when she had purified Seolyeo, she had unknowingly fallen and gotten scratched wounds.
She had been able to use purification because she happened to have wounds when that power was needed, but she couldn’t expect such coincidences every time.
And she had no intention of inflicting wounds on her own body like Irim had done.
“So please promise me too, Irim. That you’ll cherish your own body.”
Pause.
Irim, who had been composed all along, hesitated for the first time.
Soya’s gaze as she looked at him was straight and firm.
Like that clear smile that hadn’t changed even in the face of hostility from those she had once believed to be family.
“Yes. I’ll definitely promise you, Soya. That I’ll surely cherish my body.”
“You absolutely, absolutely must keep it. Absolutely!”
Having extracted a promise from Irim, Soya finally let go of the hand she had been holding.
Irim somehow felt his hands were empty and quietly stared at her retreating hand before slowly raising his head.
He quietly captured Soya’s face in his eyes.
Since they would part this time, he wouldn’t be able to see her again for quite a long time.
“And Soya. Let me say goodbye in advance. I have to return to the Imperial Palace early tomorrow morning.”
“Ah…”
A look of regret appeared on Soya’s face.
Well, now that he was His Majesty the Emperor of Taehwa Kingdom, he must be much busier than before.
Seeing that dejected face, Irim chuckled and spoke up.
“Soya. About that promise from before.”
[I want to take you to the Imperial Palace. If you would allow it.]
Soya, who recalled the promise they had made before leaving Vermillion Bird Mansion, paused for a moment.
Even on that day, Soya hadn’t been able to give a clear answer.
Though Vermillion Bird Mansion, where everyone hated her, made her smaller day by day, she still couldn’t foolishly abandon her feelings toward Father until the very end.
However, looking at his finger hooked around her pinky, she seemed to have had some vague expectation.
That someone might take her away from this place where she couldn’t run away on her own due to foolish attachment.
But now was a little different from then.
All the White Tiger Palace people here were kind and gentle to her.
Most importantly, she had gained a family here.
A ‘real family’ that cherished and protected each other no matter what they looked like.
When Soya was wondering how to say words of refusal to Irim.
“I’m sorry, Soya. I think I’ll have to postpone it a little longer.”
Irim spoke as if he had read Soya’s concerns.
“The Imperial Palace where I am has become a living hell, so I can’t take you there right away.”
Irim smiled bitterly as he thought of the Imperial Palace where the smell of blood never ceased.
“I’m not ready yet, so when I finish preparing to take you with me next time, I’ll come ask for your permission again then.”
“…”
“Though I’ve always been late, I won’t be late this time.”
“…”
“Will you grow up healthy until then?”
Irim asked in an affectionate voice.
Soya still couldn’t give a clear answer to him who said he would come to ask for her permission.
But there was one thing she could say for certain.
“You’ve never been late even once, Irim.”
At Soya’s answer, Irim smiled silently.
That smile somehow felt distant and hazy, making Soya feel a little strange.
Swoosh—
Soya’s hair fluttered in the autumn wind that blew.
“Oh.”
It was when Soya was about to reach out to brush away the hair that was swaying and blocking her vision.
Swish—
Irim, who had suddenly approached, gently tucked Soya’s disheveled hair behind her ear.
“…!”
At the suddenly shortened distance, Soya’s earlobes turned red hot and her face grew warm.
The autumn night air was chilly, but strangely, only the area around her felt warm and heated.
Soya couldn’t understand why her heart had been pounding like this since earlier.
* * *
After parting with Irim, Soya didn’t go to her room but headed straight to Saeon’s office.
Though it was quite late, it was still the time when Saeon would be in his office.
She wanted to boast to Saeon first about using the power of purification just moments ago.
‘It’s still a power I shouldn’t use carelessly, but if I work harder, I’ll be able to use that power without a medium.’
Anticipation filled Soya’s face.
‘Will he praise me again, calling me a praiseworthy and admirable Baby Cotton Ball?’
Soya loved those rough palms that stroked her head as if ruffling it. She actually didn’t dislike being called a ‘baby’ Cotton Ball either.
At those times, she truly felt like a beloved baby.
‘Hehe.’
Soya arrived in front of Saeon’s office, giggling secretly to herself.
Perhaps because it was late, the corridor was quiet.
Through the slightly open door, she could see Saeon and Jeok Yeong having a conversation.
“Family Head. What you gave to Cotton Ball Miss today, that was Dragon Blood Herb, wasn’t it?”
Soya, who was about to push the door open and enter the room, froze when she heard her name.
‘Dragon Blood Herb? What’s that?’
Without realizing it, Soya held her breath and eavesdropped on their conversation.
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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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