The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 68

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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 68

 

Soya had grown up for a very long time believing that the deceased Madam of the Vermillion Bird Family was her birth mother.

 

Madam was a red-headed bushtit beastkin, famous for being small even among bird beastkin.

 

So Soya thought that the reason she was small, unlike her father and elder brothers, was because she resembled her mother.

 

But she wasn’t her birth mother, and they said Soya’s real mother was a servant who served Madam.

 

However, since no one explained that woman to Soya in detail, Soya had no way of knowing about her birth mother.

 

There was only one thing she knew about her.

 

That she was a sinner who ruined the Young Lady’s happiness and shattered the peace of the Vermillion Bird Family.

 

That fact made Soya very sad.

 

Why did she do such a thing?

 

Maybe Mother loved me so much that she did it.

 

She thought I would be happier if I became the Young Lady of the Vermillion Bird Family, so that’s why…

 

But even trying to think that way, Soya’s mood didn’t improve at all.

 

But because of that, I ended up stealing Miss Lili’s life.

 

In return, I made everyone unhappy and even became unhappy myself.

 

And most of all…

 

‘Did Mother not care if she could never see me again, as long as I became the Young Lady of the Vermillion Bird Family?’

 

It was a question she had secretly harbored after seeing Cheongha, who was sad and distressed about having to part with her elder brothers due to her direct lineage duties.

 

It was when Soya was sitting dejectedly on a rock in the garden with a sunken expression.

 

Seolyeo sat next to Soya and quietly looked at her.

 

He wanted to comfort Soya, who seemed somehow melancholy, but Seolyeo wasn’t good with words.

 

‘That kid would have comforted Soya well, wouldn’t he?’

 

Seolyeo recalled the platinum-haired boy who had visited White Tiger Palace last autumn.

 

The afterimage of that boy speaking in gentle tones and Soya responding with bright smiles hadn’t faded even now, a season later.

 

‘I want to comfort Soya too…’

 

Seolyeo, who had been pondering, looked around.

 

He wanted to find something Soya liked to make her happy.

 

But the garden flowers that Soya loved could no longer be seen as the weather grew cold.

 

The same was true for the colorful autumn leaves and bright yellow ginkgo leaves.

 

It would be nice if there was at least some snow left, but the snow that had piled up in the garden had melted into slush after noon.

 

After pondering, Seolyeo quietly disappeared.

 

A moment later, Soya turned her head at a rustling sound.

 

“Huh?”

 

But when nothing could be seen where the sound came from, Soya was blinking her eyes.

 

Whoosh—

 

A pure white snowflake fell from the sky.

 

“Snow?”

 

Soya unconsciously caught the falling snowflake.

 

Looking again, it wasn’t snow but small white flowers that looked just like stars in the night sky.

 

“What flowers in this winter… Huh? Seolyeo!”

 

Soya, who had casually looked up, was startled.

 

Seolyeo, who had transformed into a black baby bird imitating Soya, was holding a branch of white elderberry from the foothills of Horim Mountain in his beak and shaking it vigorously above her head.

 

“What if other people catch you…!”

 

Since the people of White Tiger Palace knew Seolyeo as a wolf beastkin, Soya was suddenly worried that Seolyeo’s secret might be discovered.

 

However, seeing Seolyeo’s appearance as he curved his eyes into crescent shapes and chirped with laughter, she could immediately understand his intention.

 

“You did this to cheer me up, right? Thank you.”

 

Seolyeo always seemed to notice her mood like a ghost, even when she didn’t say anything.

 

Soya’s heart warmed at such comfort from Seolyeo.

 

Soya still couldn’t understand why her birth mother had done such a thing, nor could she know if she had truly loved her.

 

But Soya had family members and people of White Tiger Palace who loved her, and even this wonderful friend who always comforted her when she felt melancholy like this.

 

Realizing this, Soya finally shook off her melancholy mood and asked with a bright smile.

 

“This is so pretty, Seolyeo. Did you pick it up from Horim Mountain?”

 

“Chirp, chirp!”

 

Seolyeo opened his beak to answer Soya’s question but ended up dropping the branch.

 

However, since he could see Soya’s smiling face, which was his goal, Seolyeo gave up on the branch and landed on her palm, panting.

 

The baby bird’s body was small and fragile unlike the wolf’s body, so just vigorously shaking a single branch had made his beak all tingly.

 

Stroking Seolyeo’s body as he lay sprawled and panting on her palm, Soya smiled brightly.

 

* * *

 

Cheongha had to leave again.

 

Due to the direct lineage duties engraved in her spirit core, she couldn’t be away from the Land of Blue Dragon for long.

 

However, Ga Hyeon no longer cried while seeing off his departing mother.

 

“I believe you’ll come again. And if it’s hard for Mother to come, then I can go there…”

 

Ga Hyeon added with a slightly embarrassed face, his earlobes reddening.

 

“You must stay healthy.”

 

“Yes, Hyeona. You must stay healthy too.”

 

Soya found the sight of Ga Hyeon snuggled in Cheongha’s arms a bit fascinating.

 

He was always a mature elder brother in front of her, but Hyeoni Elder Brother next to Cheongha seemed just like a little child, like her or Yul Elder Brother.

 

“Mom, me too! Tell me to stay healthy too!”

 

“Our baby tiger should also stay healthy and well.”

 

“Hehe.”

 

Even Gayul, who would normally bristle at being called a ‘baby’ tiger, just giggled happily.

 

‘Yul Elder Brother always threw tantrums saying no when Father called him a baby… Hyeoni Elder Brother is the same, do they all become babies when they’re in front of their mother?’

 

It was when Soya was blinking with a look of fresh realization.

 

Cheongha, who had greeted each family member in turn, looked back at Soya.

 

“Soya, after you finish your first growth later, make sure to visit Azure Sea Palace with your elder brothers.”

 

She bent her waist toward Soya and whispered.

 

“Azure Sea Palace?”

 

“Yes, there’s a very large sea in the eastern continent ruled by the Blue Dragon Family.”

 

“I saw it in books. They said the sea is a very, very large and wide lake that stretches endlessly.”

 

“It can’t even be compared to a mere lake. It’s deeper than the height of Horim Mountain and wider than the entire continent combined.”

 

Cheongha explained how big the sea was.

 

“Under that sea is the Blue Sea Dragon Palace of the Blue Dragon Family that rules the marine beastkin.”

 

Soya was completely absorbed in the stories of the eastern lands and sea that Cheongha told her.

 

The festival stories that were held every spring were so interesting, she was curious about the sea in the eastern lands, and she was also curious about the underwater palace Blue Sea Dragon Palace in that sea.

 

But young beastkin who haven’t undergone first growth can’t breathe underwater, so they would be in big trouble before reaching Azure Sea Palace.

 

Cheongha added the explanation that she should grow up magnificently like her elder brothers and then come visit.

 

“Yes, Cheongha! I’ll definitely come visit!”

 

Soya smiled brightly as she hooked her finger around Cheongha’s pinky.

 

Cheongha pressed her thumb firmly against Soya’s thumb and smiled gently.

 

“And this is still a bit early to say, but… well, if the day comes when I return to White Tiger Palace again.”

 

She paused for a moment, then asked in a somewhat tense voice.

 

“Would you call me Mother instead of Cheongha then?”

 

“…!”

 

Soya’s eyes widened round.

 

“I’m not a very decent adult, but if it’s okay with Soya, I’d like to become Baby Cotton Ball’s family too.”

 

“Ah….”

 

At those words, Soya froze completely.

 

As Soya stood there in a daze, unable to give any response, Cheongha became restless.

 

‘Oh my, what should I do. That must have been too sudden a question.’

 

It seemed she had burdened the child by bringing up such words just because she had followed her around for a few days.

 

“I’m sorry, Soya. I didn’t mean to burden you….”

 

It was when Cheongha was trying to smooth things over with an awkward smile.

 

Grip―

 

A small palm tightly grasped Cheongha’s hem.

 

“…Mother.”

 

“…!”

 

At that thin voice, Cheongha’s eyes widened greatly.

 

“I read in a book that family of family is family.”

 

Soya said while looking up at Cheongha.

 

“We’re already family, aren’t we? So it’s okay to call you this way, isn’t it?”

 

Soya’s face was flushed bright red as she spoke in a slightly trembling voice.

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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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