Chapter 123
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 123
Emperor Tae Yi-rim entered, followed by the young generals who were the stars of this victory celebration.
At the Emperor’s appearance, everyone halted what they were doing and rose from their seats, bowing their heads toward him.
Jeok Ah-yun also had to stop his approach toward So-ya to show proper etiquette to the Emperor.
The boy emperor, now sixteen and at an age where he could no longer be called a mere child, made his way to the head table.
Once the Emperor took his seat, everyone else sat back down.
Jeok Ah-yun also found his assigned seat and sat, but he heard neither the drumbeat signaling the start of the banquet nor the Emperor’s opening remarks.
He simply stared blankly toward where So-ya sat, far across the hall from his own position.
* * *
So-ya watched Yi-rim’s entrance, inwardly marvelling at him.
His Majesty doesn’t look nervous at all, even in front of all these people. He’s truly amazing.
When she had seen him yesterday atop the tree in the garden, he had been dressed quite comfortably. Today, however, he wore the dragon robes embroidered with the Yellow Dragon, a garment only the Son of Heaven of the Taehwa Empire could wear.
Even when he had visited the White Tiger Palace five years ago, it hadn't been an official occasion, so he had dressed more lightly. Thus, this was the first time So-ya had seen him in full formal attire.
Despite the collective gaze of countless people fixed upon him, he simply walked forward, scanning the room with a languid look as if such attention were only natural.
I was so nervous just assisting Father at last year’s Mountain Lord Festival.
During the last festival, So-ya had assisted her father in Jeok Yeong’s stead. Everyone had praised her, saying she did a wonderful job, but she had actually been incredibly anxious inside.
Yet, Yi-rim looked perfectly composed in front of a much larger crowd. Even though he was only two years older than her, he seemed like a much more mature adult.
To be honest, he seemed even more mature than Ga-ya, who was already twenty.
Of course, there were times when Ga-ya felt even younger than Hyeon...
[I’m not telling you.]
When Ga-ya had said that last night, it was really... well... it felt a bit petty, if she was being honest.
Sometimes he said things that even Yul wouldn't say.
Ga-ya is quite the character.
So-ya chuckled to herself, thinking of him.
Just then, he was entering the hall behind Yi-rim.
So-ya looked at Ga-ya with a welcoming face, only to be startled.
Is Ga-ya... glowing...?
He was radiant. Literally, he was sparkling with incredibly extravagant accessories.
Suddenly, she remembered what the people of the White Tiger Palace had told her before.
[The First Young Lord loves to dress up flamboyantly. He adores shiny things, especially jewels.]
[Unlike Master Hyeon, who prefers things neat and tidy, or Master Yul, who doesn't care about such things at all, he has a bit of a greedy streak.]
[It’s not just greed for objects; he’s possessive in every way. When they were young, he used to make the other two young masters cry quite often.]
They weren't kidding when they said he loves jewels.
So-ya’s jaw dropped as she took in the layers of gems hanging from him.
She wondered how difficult it must have been for a brother who loved adornment this much to spend such a long time on the battlefield.
Despite the heavy ornamentation that could easily have looked gaudy, Ga-ya’s beauty was not overshadowed. If anything, it shone even brighter.
It was easy to see why it was said he had been followed by crowds of young ladies from the Western Lands even before his First Growth.
So that’s why Lady Sa-hye of the Black Tiger Clan has been saying she’d marry Ga-ya since they were children.
Just then, Ga-ya spotted So-ya and gave her a wink.
So-ya couldn't help but let out a small laugh at his playful gesture.
The banquet officially began as Yi-rim took his seat.
“Ga-ya of the Baek Clan. And San-yu of the Jeok Clan.”
Seated at the head table, the Emperor looked down at the generals standing in attendance and called their names.
At his summons, Ga-ya and San-yu stepped forward before the Emperor.
“I have heard that you joined forces to slay the Do-ol in this war. In the name of the Yellow Dragon, I commend your achievements.”
Even Ga-ya and San-yu, who were always bickering, bowed their heads with uncharacteristic solemnity in this setting.
So-ya watched the scene with a face full of pride, more so than anyone else.
The two men then headed to the seats specially prepared for the heroes who had led the war to victory.
For today’s Innate Nature Gathering, they had to spend the banquet near the Emperor rather than with their families.
So-ya felt a bit disappointed, but since there were still many smaller banquets to come, she was more than willing to yield her brother to His Majesty for this one day.
As So-ya watched Ga-ya with a warm smile, she abruptly turned her head away as naturally as possible when San-yu, who was beside him, suddenly looked her way.
Because of that, she couldn't tell if he had seen her face or not.
He’ll find out soon enough that the child he greeted yesterday was me, anyway...
Soon, the banquet reached its peak as dancers performed to grand music praising the heroes of the war.
* * *
Meanwhile, Jeok Ah-yun couldn't focus on anything throughout the banquet.
Even as his own son was being commended by the Emperor, he kept his eyes fixed not on his son, but on the area where the members of the White Tiger Clan were seated.
[That child is dead.]
For the past five years since hearing that news, that child had constantly appeared before his eyes like a phantom.
And whenever he saw that illusion, he felt an inexplicable, lonely sensation.
As time passed, Ah-yun thought those growing sensations were merely born of lingering guilt.
He believed it was the weight of sin left behind by the death of a child he had once raised as his own.
But the moment he saw So-ya—the moment he felt his heart drop—he finally understood the true nature of that mysterious emotion.
He had been missing that child all along.
That child who was exceptionally kind and warm, who always reminded him of his deceased wife.
A whirlwind of thoughts clashed in his mind: why was that child with the Head of the White Tiger Clan, and was he perhaps mistaken, seeing a child who simply looked similar?
[I heard the Baek Clan Head adopted a daughter. And that child’s name is... So-ya...]
Five years ago, So-ya had vanished after leaving the mansion, leaving behind only a bloodstained pouch.
And also five years ago, the White Tiger Clan had adopted a child named So-ya.
Jeok Ah-yun was certain.
Though the child had grown significantly in five years, that girl was undoubtedly the small child who used to call him father—So-ya.
Jeok Ah-yun wasn't the only one who froze upon seeing So-ya.
Jeok Hwa-yu and Ri-ri, who had tilted their heads at their father’s behavior and followed his gaze, also discovered So-ya at the end of his line of sight.
Ri-ri was startled when she spotted her.
Why is that girl here...!
Five years had passed, but she could recognize her instantly.
The white hair, the pale rose eyes. Even those features that had always made her jealous because they were prettier than her own, despite the girl being a mere servant.
So-ya.
It was that wicked thief girl!
So-ya was smiling and chatting with the White Tiger Young Lords, the very ones who had ignored Ri-ri.
How on earth did this happen?
Ri-ri couldn't focus on the banquet she had looked forward to so much, instead gnawing on her lower lip.
Jeok Hwa-yu was equally confused.
The members of the Vermilion Bird Clan had no idea how the banquet was progressing.
Much later, the banquet came to an end as the Emperor rose first to move to a separate location with the young generals.
The people gathered in the banquet hall began to disperse in small groups.
Jeok Ah-yun, who had been sitting with a dazed expression until then, suddenly snapped back to his senses and bolted upright.
The members of the White Tiger Clan were already heading back to their assigned pavilion.
He caught a glimpse of So-ya laughing brightly between Clan Head Baek Sa-eon and the two young lords.
In that moment, Jeok Ah-yun couldn't hold back and strode toward them.
“Lord Sa-eon!”
At Ah-yun’s shout, Sa-eon whipped around to look at him.
Simultaneously, the two young lords of the White Tiger Clan stepped back and hid So-ya behind them.
“...Jeok Ah-yun.”
Blue eyes filled with a chilling murderous intent curved languidly.
“Why does the noble winged beast of the South seek me out so frantically? Like the uneducated mountain beasts you all criticize for having nothing but brawn.”
Sa-eon let out a sneer in a cold voice.
It was an overtly provocative tone, but it didn't matter to Jeok Ah-yun.
“Just now. That child who was beside you.”
To him, only So-ya—the child they were hiding—mattered right now.
“Please, let me see that child just once.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“The daughter you said you adopted five years ago. The one named So-ya.”
The moment he spoke So-ya’s name, Baek Sa-eon’s expression turned incredibly grim.
“That child, I think she is the child I lost five years ago...”
“You bird-brained fool. Have you gone mad?”
The air around Sa-eon froze instantly with a sudden surge of rage.
Sensing the rising bloodlust, Jeok Ah-yun reflexively wreathed himself in flames to defend himself.
CRASH—!
Sa-eon was faster, lunging toward him.
With a loud thud, Jeok Ah-yun’s body was slammed to the floor, and Sa-eon, pinning him down, grabbed his collar threateningly.
“So-ya... that child... just once... ugh...”
“How dare you... in front of me... whose child did you say she was?”
Sa-eon muttered through gritted teeth, his eyes flashing with a lethal light.
“F-Father’s eyes look strange.”
Watching from the side, Ga-yul swallowed hard and stammered.
He had heard rumors about what his father was like in his youth, but he had thought the stories were exaggerated because they were so gruesome.
After all, Sa-eon had never shown such a side of himself in front of his children.
But now, an eerie, unfamiliar light was glinting in his father’s eyes.
“What should we do, Brother? Father might get hurt at this rate...”
So-ya murmured in a voice full of worry.
“....”
Even as his younger siblings were stomping their feet in anxiety, Ga-hyeon watched the two men with calm eyes.
“Urgh, Baek... Sa-eon...!”
As Jeok Ah-yun bit his lower lip, flames erupted around him.
The blazing fire gathered into the shape of a large arrow and flew toward Sa-eon.
WHOOSH—!
Sa-eon furrowed his brows and rolled his body away.
BOOM—!
A wide, scorched crater appeared where Sa-eon had been standing just a moment ago.
Crackle, sizzle—
“Have you lost your mind, Lord Sa-eon?”
Jeok Ah-yun glared fiercely at Sa-eon.
Soon, his flames burning within the crater turned into dozens of fire arrows and flew toward Sa-eon.
“With just that?”
However, Sa-eon gave a crooked smile and tore through the dozens of incoming fire arrows with his bare hands.
Jeok Ah-yun’s flames lost their spark and fell to the ground, one by one.
Black smoke drifted from Sa-eon’s fingertips.
People began to gather at the sound of the loud commotion.
However, the two men ignored the gazes of the crowd and remained in a tense standoff, glaring at each other.
Just as they were about to lung at each other once more—
“Father...!”
At the frail cry, both men froze in their tracks simultaneously.
Jeok Ah-yun whipped his head around toward the source of the voice.
So-ya was looking toward them with a face full of concern.
“Ah...”
A shallow groan escaped from between his teeth.
Father.
Hearing that word for the first time in so long made his heart tighten and his eyes sting.
The child, who had been stomping her feet in distress, soon grabbed her skirts and came running toward them.
“So-ya...!”
It was the moment Jeok Ah-yun reached out his hand toward the child.
Swish—
So-ya ran right past him.