Chapter 116
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 116
“Really, Orabeoni?”
Ri-ri stopped her sniffling, her eyes sparkling.
“Of course. I would do anything for you, Ri-ri.”
Ri-ri’s mood brightened instantly at those words.
She felt that Hwa-yu really would grant any request she made. Hadn't he done so in the past?
When she had asked him to get rid of So-ya—that wicked girl who had stolen her place—he had acted without a moment’s hesitation.
Of course, unlike what she had hoped for, he hadn't killed the girl and had only tried to send her far away, so she’d had to pull some strings behind the scenes. But still.
“You really are the best, Orabeoni!”
Ri-ri smiled broadly and threw her arms around Hwa-yu.
Seeing the young lady’s mood improve, the maidservants in the room let out a collective sigh of relief.
“Oh, right, Orabeoni. What do you think of this norigae? Father said he went to great lengths to get it for me.”
Ri-ri attached the new norigae to her jeogori and twirled in place, showing it off.
“If I wear this to the victory celebration banquet, will everyone stare at me?”
“Wow, our Ri-ri is so beautiful. Even His Majesty the Emperor will be helpless but to fall for you.”
As Jeok Hwa-yu spoke, the maidservants chimed in with their own flattery.
“Of course, of course. That child of unknown origin adopted by the White Tiger Clan won’t even be visible to people’s eyes.”
Ri-ri’s spirits soared at the words puffing her up.
She recalled the Emperor, who had visited the Vermilion Bird Mansion long ago.
Of course, Hwa-yu, who stood beside her now, was exceptionally handsome, but he was nothing compared to the Emperor. He was the most magnificent person she had ever seen in her life.
‘How happy would I be if I became his partner?’
If she stood beside such a wonderful man, everyone in the world would envy her.
‘I am the only “real daughter” of the Four Great Clans. I deserve to be by his side.’
It was while Ri-ri was lost in these thoughts that Hwa-yu spoke again.
“Now that I think about it, I’ll finally be able to introduce you to my older brother at this victory banquet.”
“Ah. You mean San-yu Orabeoni.”
Ri-ri, who had been consumed by thoughts of seeing the Emperor at the banquet, finally showed interest in the eldest brother she had never met.
“Will San-yu Orabeoni think I’m pretty too?”
“Oh, naturally, Young Lady.”
“Who could possibly not like our lady? You are so beautiful in both face and heart.”
“Once Young Lord San-yu sees you, he won’t be able to help himself. He’ll be completely smitten, wondering where such a lovely younger sister could have come from.”
Ri-ri burst into a fit of giggles.
“Oh, stop it. You’re all making me so embarrassed.”
Thanks to the flattery, her sharp edge from moments ago had vanished without a trace. Ri-ri inwardly hoped the day of the banquet would arrive as soon as possible.
*
The streets of the central capital.
The giant wolves of Mt. Horim marched toward the Imperial Palace, carrying a palanquin emblazoned with the crest of the White Tiger Clan on their backs.
The palanquin was so large and luxurious that there was more than enough room for So-ya, Sa-eon, Ga-hyeon, and Ga-yul to sit together.
Originally, the people of the White Tiger Clan did not use vehicles when traveling. However, this trip to the Imperial Palace was made under imperial decree to celebrate Ga-ya’s victory. Thus, they were intentionally moving in a grand palanquin procession to show off to the public.
“So-ya. How are you feeling? Any discomfort?”
Sitting next to So-ya, Ga-hyeon asked tenderly, checking to see if his sister was suffering from motion sickness.
With his pure, delicate appearance and gentle nature, he was known as the "Young Lord of the West." Now sixteen, he was only a year away from his Second Growth.
“I’m perfectly fine. I didn’t feel a thing even when I was riding Seol-yo, and he’s much faster than the wolves of Mt. Horim.”
So-ya giggled at her brother’s excessive concern.
“Still, if it gets difficult, tell me immediately.”
“Yes, Orabeoni. Thank you.”
“Brother, you worry way too much. Cotton Ball, don’t mind him and come over here. You’re probably annoyed because of him.”
Ga-yul, sitting across from them, spoke while patting the seat next to him.
Now fifteen, Ga-yul was still bright and mischievous, the darling of everyone in the White Tiger Palace.
“If you come here, I’ll lend you my shoulder! You can lean on me comfortably until we reach the palace!”
In truth, Ga-yul was also worried that So-ya might be tired from sitting in the palanquin for so long. He was exactly the same as he had been in their childhood, when he used to follow her around incessantly, worried that the girl—who was so much smaller than him—might get hurt.
“Don’t try to steal So-ya away like that, Yul. You’re fifteen now; why are you being so childish?” Ga-hyeon said in a smooth voice.
Ga-yul flared up immediately.
“Ch-childish? Who’s being childish?”
Ga-yul was fifteen—the peak of that turbulent age where one considers themselves "all grown up." If there was one word that triggered him most lately, it was "childish."
“And what do you mean, steal her away! Cotton Ball is my sister! My sister whom I have to protect!”
Seeing Ga-yul fall for his provocation, Ga-hyeon smiled broadly.
“You know what, Yul? So-ya called me ‘Orabeoni’ before she ever called you that.”
“Hmph. Probably wasn’t ‘Orabeoni,’ more like ‘Crazy-beoni.’”
Ga-yul snorted, mocking Ga-hyeon.
At that, So-ya’s face turned bright red.
“I thought we agreed not to bring that up!”
“Wh-what?”
“Yul, how could you tease So-ya about a mistake she made when she was little? Now she’s upset.”
Ga-hyeon scolded him in a kind voice, as if correcting a younger sibling’s mistake.
“No, wait. I wasn’t trying to tease her…”
Ga-yul stammered, trying to explain himself. In his attempt to get a word back at Ga-hyeon, he had suddenly become the villain who teased So-ya.
Even as they grew older, the brotherly love of the White Tiger young lords remained unchanged.
So-ya looked down at the streets with a faint smile. This was her second time in the capital since she was six years old. Perhaps because the war had ended, the people’s faces were very bright.
The gazes of the people watching the White Tiger Clan’s procession were extremely favorable. It seemed word had spread that the one who contributed most to this war was the eldest young lord of the White Tiger Clan.
“I’ll ask one more time. Will you be okay, Cotton Ball?”
At Sa-eon’s question, So-ya turned her head back.
The corners of Sa-eon’s eyes were somewhat stiff as he gazed at her. So-ya could see the worry for her in his eyes. She knew very well what her father was concerned about.
‘Because those people will be at the Imperial Palace.’
There were two heroes of this victory celebration. Baek Ga-ya of the White Tiger Clan and Jeok San-yu of the Vermilion Bird Clan had defeated Do-ol together. By now, the people of the Vermilion Bird Clan would also be heading to the capital after being invited to the palace banquet.
“Yes. I’m fine. I have no reason to avoid them,” So-ya answered bravely.
Naturally, she wasn't looking forward to running into them.
‘But they are the ones who did wrong, not me. It would be unfair for me to be the one hiding.’
Above all, this banquet was a place to reunite with and congratulate Ga-ya. It made no sense for her to miss the celebration for her brother just because she was afraid of running into those people.
“That’s right, So-ya. If those people try to give you a hard time or bully you, I won’t let them get away with it. I’ll pluck every single feather off those wicked birds who bully our So-ya and turn them bald.”
“Exactly! No one can bully Cotton Ball! If anyone touches even a single one of her feathers, I won’t forgive them in the name of the White Tiger Clan!”
Ga-hyeon and Ga-yul each added their own words of support.
“See, Father? Everyone will run away because my brothers are so scary,” So-ya said with a giggle, heartened by her brothers’ words.
“I suppose so. Everyone is so brave that I’m the only one who was scared.”
At that, Sa-eon let out a chuckle, the tension leaving his eyes.
*
Meanwhile, among the people cheering as they watched the palanquin procession, there was a man covered from head to toe in black rags.