New Family Emerges
“Kyaaaoong!”
Grandpa, I hate you!
I twisted and wriggled desperately in the Emperor’s merciless grip, finally breaking free.
I immediately pushed off the ground and dashed straight to Lumia’s side, slamming my body against her.
My entire body’s fur stood on end as I glared at the grandpa who’d harassed me, my eyes brimming with pure grievance.
“Kyaaang! Kyaaa!”
Grandpa asked where the hunt was, and what did I bring back!
I thumped my front paws on the grass, pouring every ounce of my outrage into the whole of me.
The lawn got a little trampled… seriously, that’s too much. Anyway, Lina and I will fix it in a flash.
Emperor Karsion watched Blanc’s shameless grumbling with a calm gaze, then suddenly let out a short, incredulous chuckle.
*Yeah… how could I ever defeat that guy.*
“Okay, okay, I get it. I was startled for a second. Just understand me once, all right?”
Karsion gently offered an apology to Blanc, then turned his gaze to the dragon resting in the center of the garden.
Even now… it looked utterly mismatched with the imperial palace.
Of course, the dragon’s true value was impossible to measure.
Karsion stroked his chin for a moment, then asked the Gumiho beside him.
“I’m sorry, but could you shrink that dragon down to its previous size again?”
The Gumiho nodded obediently at the Emperor’s polite request and stepped forward.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
She retrieved the fox marble once more, tapped the dragon’s forehead with a finger, and the massive body swirled in smoke before shrinking back into the miniature marble it had been before.
Karsion admired the transformation for a moment, then ordered the chamberlain to carry the marble away.
“You’ve worked hard. We’ll dissect this dragon later and give you your share in return.”
“Thank you for your generosity.”
The Gumiho bowed deeply and retreated.
“Kyaaa.”
This thing… when it’s dissected, can I eat dragon meat?
I’d heard in all the novels that it tasted amazing… but what kind of flavor was it?
I licked the drool that had spilled from the corner of my mouth and shot a sideways glance at grandpa.
Since I still needed to keep up the act of being sulky, I jutted my lips out as far as possible.
Emperor Karsion noticed Blanc’s petty glare, covered his mouth, and laughed softly as he approached and crouched in front of him.
He then stroked Blanc’s crown with the gentlest touch.
“I was a bit too rough earlier. I didn’t realize you wanted to show me the hunt you caught. Sorry for not understanding your heart.”
“Kyaaong…”
Tch… if you knew, then that’s enough, Grandpa.
I dropped the sulking act at grandpa’s sincere apology and obediently rubbed my head against his hand.
“To think you’ve grown so big so quickly… at first you looked so fragile. Now you’ve even caught a dragon by yourself. I’m genuinely proud of you.”
“Kyaaong.”
I’m pretty awesome.
I savored grandpa’s sincere praise, my tail wagging happily.
Once the garden commotion had settled somewhat, Emperor Karsion’s gaze shifted again to the Gumiho mother and daughter.
“So… what will you do, Gumiho? You’ve found your precious daughter. Will you return to your homeland?”
The Gumiho’s shoulders visibly shrank at the question.
She clutched Lumia tighter to her chest and slowly shook her head with a sorrowful expression.
“There… is no longer a home to return to.”
“None?”
“Once upon a time… our Gumiho clan’s territory was completely wiped out in a raid. I don’t even know how many of my clan survived… The only one left for me is Lumia.”
The air in the garden grew heavy with Gumiho’s words.
Deep sadness and unhealed wounds filled her eyes.
Tears gathered in her gentle face, her heart laid bare by the reality of having no home and no family left to rely on.
“Mom… don’t cry. I’m here. I’ll protect you, Mom.”
Lumia gently wiped Gumiho’s cheeks with her tiny hands and hugged her with innocent affection.
The naive comfort of a child sometimes brought even greater heartache.
Watching the scene, I secretly turned my head and stared up at grandpa.
“Kyaaa. Kyaaong.”
Grandpa, the palace is so big. There are tons of empty rooms. Why can’t we live here together?
I looked up at grandpa with all my earnest desire.
Honestly, I didn’t want to be separated from Lumia.
The Emperor, who had read my obvious and intense gaze perfectly, chuckled and nodded.
Grandpa really is.
“If you have nowhere to go and it’s fine… how about staying here in the palace with your daughter?”
“Eh…? Your Majesty, what does that mean…”
Gumiho suddenly lifted her head, unable to believe it.
She had long since erased the idea of living with humans in the imperial palace.
She was grateful for the temporary protection of her daughter, but she figured it was all because of that little white tiger cub’s whims.
To think he would offer to let them stay too…
“Is it truly… truly all right for us to live here…? I hope I’m not imposing…”
“Imposing? Don’t be ridiculous.”
Karsion laughed heartily and stroked Blanc’s head one more time.
“Having two spiritual beasts in the palace is beneficial politically, no matter how you look at it. Just by having you stay, you give us many things.”
“Besides… I’ve grown quite fond of Lumia over the years… Without her, I and Blanc would both be lonely. As Emperor of the Empire, and as Blanc’s family, I hope you’ll stay here and become part of the imperial household.”
“Kyaaong!”
That’s Grandpa! He’s so understanding!
Before grandpa’s sentence finished, I leaped forward, hugging Gumiho’s chest with all my strength.
I rubbed my face against her fluffy tail.
“Kyaaa! Kyaaang!”
Let’s live together! There’s so much delicious food here, and every day is fun!
“Oppa… hehe… Mom! Let’s live here together! You have an older brother, and Grandpa is really kind! He says good things to me every day!”
Lumia clung to Gumiho’s clothes with both hands and looked up at her with sparkling eyes, pleading.
My little sister… she’s so good.
Gumiho’s face broke into deep sobs at the sight of the Emperor offering to let them stay and her beloved daughter’s happiness. She lowered her head deeply.
“Yes… thank you… I’ll ask for your continued guidance from now on.”
“Please live comfortably here.”
I and Lumia licked Gumiho’s tears until she calmed down.
*Chuck, sob.*
“Kyaaong?”
What is it?
While I nestled in Gumiho’s arms and licked her fluffy tail, someone poked my butt with a surprisingly sharp finger.
I turned my head and saw Kailian glaring at me with arms crossed and a face full of complaint.
*Why is she doing this again?*
“You, Blanc! Why do you keep clinging to some random woman’s bosom and wiggling your tail like that?”
Thick jealousy and resentment dripped from Kailian’s voice.
She was scared that this fluffy tail might be stolen away from her.
“Kyaaa…”
Seriously… why does this idiot keep getting more stupid…
I sighed deeply in my heart, slipped out of Gumiho’s arms, and walked over to Kailian on all fours.
*Leap.*
I jumped off the ground first and slammed into Kailian’s chest with a smack. Kailian’s stiff face melted instantly into a soft smile.
“You should have done this sooner, you pig…”
Kailian finally hugged me tightly with a satisfied grin, winner’s smile on her lips.
She rubbed her nose against the back of my head and sniffed. There was no room for Lina here.
*Hmm, why is Lina suddenly so tame lately… Is there some law of obsession volume or something?*
Emperor Karsion watched his daughter’s innocent joy and smiled softly.
Every time he saw this side of her, the gratitude for Blanc grew deeper.
*Yeah, trampling the garden was a little rude, but…*
“Everyone worked hard hunting. The imperial household now has a new member… We’ll have a proper celebration party later, but for now, everyone should get a warm meal.”
The Emperor turned to the chamberlain.
“Chamberlain, prepare the imperial kitchen for a feast. Give it your best effort… Since Blanc is also here, a grand banquet will suffice.”
“As you command, Your Majesty!”
“Kyaaa!”
Food! Meat! I was already hungry, and this is perfect!
The sacred word “meal” barely left grandpa’s mouth before my tail wagged like crazy.
The jerky I’d eaten earlier only made my appetite grow stronger.
“Hoo, just hearing the word ‘food’ and my tail disappears. You pig.”
Kailian poked my nose playfully, but I ignored her teasing, focused only on how much meat I could eat.
