Chapter 115
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115
So-ya grew up surrounded by the boundless love of the people of the White Tiger Palace, the wild animals of Mt. Horim, and the birds that flew in from the Southern Land.
The round softness of her childhood face had sharpened into a delicate oval, and a faint, apricot-colored blush always seemed to linger on her supple cheeks. She had grown taller, and unlike the days when she was merely adorable, she now exuded an air of maturity and refined grace.
No one dared to call So-ya a "baby" anymore.
Of course, there were exceptions: Sa-eon and Sa-ra.
It was one thing for the Clan Head to be a doting fool of a father who still called the fully grown Yul "our baby," but Sa-ra was a different story. Notoriously eccentric and sharp-tongued, she was the type to shake her head at the young masters, calling them "Baek Sa-eon’s little beasts" or "creepy tigers."
Yet, even that same Sa-ra would soften her voice into a mimicry of tenderness whenever she addressed the Lady Cotton Ball.
"My little baby," she would call out.
Whenever she did, the Lady Cotton Ball would crinkle her eyes into crescent moons and reply, "Oh, Auntie. I’m not a baby anymore."
Watching the warm smile that could melt even the prickly Lady Sa-ra, someone would always murmur:
[She truly grew up beautifully, our Lady Cotton Ball.]
It was a sentiment every beastkin in the White Tiger Palace agreed with. There were even times when some would forget their duties just to steal a glance at her.
In particular, the sight of the young lady surrounded by chirping birds was so exquisite that one might mistake her for a Celestial Maiden descended from the heavens. Of course, whenever she heard such praise, she would laugh brightly and wave her hand in dismissal.
"Oh, goodness. A real Celestial Maiden would be offended if she heard that. Please don't say such things."
"What is it, San-ho?" So-ya asked, lightly twisting her torso while gripping the ropes of her swing with both hands.
This swing was something Sa-eon had built with his own hands two years ago, in the early summer when So-ya had brought a flock of friends from the Southern Land.
Two years had already passed since then.
Even after the Evil had vanished and Hyeon Ra-baek had died, Do-ol had clung to life with a vicious tenacity. He had led his legion of demonic beasts in a persistent final stand, as if survival were his only remaining purpose.
However, the weakened demonic beasts were no match for the Imperial Army. Eventually, Do-ol retreated into the deep valleys of the Northern Land, where he incessantly summoned more beasts. For the past two years, the Imperial Army had been tracking Do-ol’s whereabouts while simultaneously working to find and resettle the scattered beastkin of the North.
Then, a few months ago...
The Imperial Army finally tracked down the stubborn Do-ol, took his head, and succeeded in annihilating the remnants of the demonic beasts.
It was said that Ga-ya was one of the two heroes who dealt the final blow to Do-ol.
So-ya felt immensely proud of that fact, but at the same time, she worried whether he had been injured in the process. In response to her concern, Ga-ya had recently sent a letter filled with his heroic exploits, telling her not to worry.
So-ya looked at San-ho with a fluttering heart, wondering if there was more good news.
"A message just arrived from the Imperial Palace! The Imperial Army in the Northern Land will be returning in fifteen days!"
"Does that mean Brother Ga-ya is coming back?"
"Yes! Not only is Young Master Ga-ya returning, but once the Blue Dragon Clan Head returns to the Cheonghae Palace, Lady Cheong-ha will be coming back here as well!"
"…!"
At those words, So-ya’s face lit up brilliantly. Her heart swelled at the thought that the long war was finally over and her scattered family was returning.
"That’s why the Imperial Palace is holding a grand banquet to celebrate the victory! This is no time to be sitting around, My Lady. We have to start preparing now if we’re going to attend!"
"It’s not even a banquet hosted by the White Tiger Palace, so what do we need to prepare…?"
"Oh, goodness! We have to get new clothes tailored and find the right jewelry. You have to be the most beautiful person there that day, My Lady!" San-ho cried out, her eyes burning with determination.
"What? But the stars of the victory celebration are Brother Ga-ya and the others, not me—"
"Let’s go, My Lady! Hurry!"
So-ya tried to protest with a tilted head, but her voice was drowned out by San-ho’s insistence. With a small, helpless laugh, So-ya stood up and followed San-ho inside.
*
Meanwhile, the news of the Imperial Army’s victory also reached the Vermilion Bird Mansion in the Southern Land.
Ri-ri was already giddy with excitement at the thought of attending the victory banquet at the Imperial Palace.
"I’ll be able to meet His Majesty the Emperor if I go to the palace, right?"
Having changed into new clothes, Ri-ri hummed a tune as she held various pieces of jewelry against her body.
"Oh, you look so beautiful, My Lady."
"How can anyone be this lovely?"
Beside her, Ri-ri’s maidservants clapped their hands and showered her with praise.
"Do you think His Majesty will think so too?"
"Of course. You are so stunning, My Lady!"
"I doubt there’s anyone as fair as you in the entire continent."
Ri-ri’s mood soared at the maidservants' words.
"By the way," Ri-ri asked, her voice suddenly turning disgruntled as a thought occurred to her. "Is that girl who was adopted into the White Tiger Clan coming to this victory banquet too?"
When she had first crossed the threshold of the Vermilion Bird Mansion, she was the only legitimate daughter among the Four Great Clans. But when the Head of the White Tiger Clan adopted a daughter, a rival had suddenly appeared.
"What if the Emperor sees her and likes her more than me?"
"Oh, that could never happen with a lady as beautiful as you right there."
"But I’m physically weak and can’t even undergo beast transformation. Since she was handpicked for adoption by the White Tiger Clan, she must be sturdy, unlike me. What if she becomes the Bride of the Yellow Dragon?"
At Ri-ri’s distressed tone, the maidservants couldn't bring themselves to offer a quick denial and instead glanced at one another.
The Bride of the Yellow Dragon was the consort of the Son of Heaven. While the Emperor’s personal feelings were important, it wasn't a position one could attain simply by capturing his heart. Tradition dictated that the most outstanding lady in various aspects among the candidates sent by each clan would be chosen.
However, even though Ri-ri was now fourteen, her spirit core was weak; she could not transform into a beast, nor had she manifested any supernatural abilities. Thus, even though these women usually told Ri-ri exactly what she wanted to hear, they were hesitant to make such a bold guarantee.
"What’s wrong? Why isn't anyone answering?"
When the maidservants hesitated instead of giving the answer she wanted, Ri-ri’s mood soured.
"Don't tell me... do you really think that girl will become the Bride of the Yellow Dragon instead of me?"
Ri-ri threw the jewelry she was holding onto the floor and snapped in a fierce voice.
"My spirit core might be weak, and I might not be able to transform, but I am still the real daughter of the Vermilion Bird Clan! That girl from the White Tiger Clan is just a fake daughter brought in from the outside!"
At her sharp scream, the maidservants instinctively flinched.
"M-My Lady, please calm down. If you get this worked up—"
"Then answer me! Tell me that Ri-ri will be the Bride of the Yellow Dragon!"
The youngest lady of the Vermilion Bird Clan was usually quite benevolent, but she occasionally lost control of her emotions when she became angry.
Of course, this wasn't the young lady's fault. Her personality had become so festered all because of the wounds from her childhood. It was because that wicked thief girl, So-ya, had suddenly vanished and stolen the young lady's childhood.
That was why their kind Lady Ri-ri had changed. She, too, was a victim.
Thus, the people of the Vermilion Bird Clan understood the young lady’s volatile temperament, but she was still frightening when she turned violent.
Just as everyone was worrying that she might start throwing things and lashing out again...
Slide—
The sound of the door opening felt like a saving grace, and Jeok Hwa-yu stepped inside.
"My dear Ri-ri. Why are you so upset?"
"Brother...!"
At that tender voice, Ri-ri let go of the tension she had been holding and threw herself into Hwa-yu’s arms.
"When I was little, everyone said it. They said that when I grew up, I would be the only one to become the consort of the Son of Heaven."
Jeok Hwa-yu paused and looked down at his sister’s tearful face.
"Am I unable to become the Bride of the Yellow Dragon because of that fake daughter from the White Tiger Clan? Some girl who came from who-knows-where?"
"So that’s what has our Ri-ri so upset."
"I want to be the Bride of the Yellow Dragon," Ri-ri sobbed. "You always give me everything I want, Brother. So please, make me the Bride of the Yellow Dragon. Please?"
Seeing her acting so innocently, whining like a child even though she was nearly grown, Hwa-yu smiled thinly and wiped the corners of his sister’s eyes.
"Alright, Ri-ri. Don't worry. Your brother will make sure you become the Bride of the Yellow Dragon."