Chapter 129
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 129
Six-year-old So-ya, who had been exiled to the Cold Palace, had waited there the entire time.
She hoped for just one person—anyone would do—to come find her.
She wanted them to tell her:
You aren't unsightly. You aren't hideous.
You are a brave and wonderful baby bird.
You must have been so nervous and trembling in front of all those people, but you were a truly, truly brave and amazing baby bird.
Congratulations on your first beast transformation.
So, let’s go see the summer festival together.
We can watch a fun puppet show there, eat refreshing watermelon and delicious plums…
Let’s celebrate your first beast transformation and have the happiest day in the world.
Because in the world of beastkin, the day of one's first beast transformation was a deeply meaningful day, second only to one's birthday.
Because it was a day that the young So-ya had counted down to and waited for, for a very long time…
“You should have, hic, you should have come just a little sooner. You should have come and told me while I was waiting all alone. Hic, ugh, waaaah…”
So-ya’s sobbing wouldn't stop easily, so she bit her lower lip hard, let out gasping breaths, and wailed.
“So-ya…”
San-yu looked at his younger sister with sorrowful eyes.
Since it had been eight years since the child’s first beast transformation, this was likely the sorrow that had been festering and rotting inside her for eight long years.
A wound of a magnitude he dared not even estimate crashed over him like a massive tidal wave.
Sniff, sniff, ugh…
Gradually, So-ya’s crying began to subside.
Finally, after the sound of her sniffing stopped, an awkward air flowed between the two.
This was the first time So-ya had cried like this since the day she had sobbed in her father’s arms while experiencing growing pains at the age of twelve.
Moreover, she hadn't just shed tears; she had wailed at the top of her lungs.
‘I’m already fourteen, yet I cried like a baby.’
Belatedly, she felt a bit embarrassed.
So-ya stole a glance at San-yu’s face—he had been weeping just as sorrowfully as she had—and the moment their eyes met, she hurriedly cast her gaze downward.
For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to look at him.
“…I didn't come here because I shamelessly expected your forgiveness, So-ya.”
It was none other than San-yu who broke the awkward silence first.
“It’s okay if you continue to hate me. I just… wanted to tell you.”
“…”
“Even though your family all turned their backs on you, at least one person loved you very much.”
“…”
At those words, So-ya burst into tears once again.
The people who had actually treated her poorly hadn't apologized at all, yet the one person who hadn't even been there was the one apologizing to her.
It was truly strange.
But what was even stranger was that she wanted to believe his words.
Ever since learning the truth, So-ya had constantly thought that the day might come when she would encounter the people of the Vermilion Bird Clan again.
And she had made a vow.
If she ever met them again, she would never even look at them.
Even if they clung to her, crying and saying they were sorry, she wouldn't forgive them.
No, she would ignore them so completely they wouldn't even be able to say they were sorry.
Because their apologies wouldn't bring her even a shred of joy.
That was what she had thought. She had certainly vowed to do so.
‘But I still want to believe him.’
Though it was a painful past she wanted to cut away, even so…
‘I want to believe that at least one person was on my side.’
Grip—
She tightened her fists, bunching up the fabric of her skirt.
Having finally made up her mind, So-ya turned toward him and opened her mouth.
“San-yu Brother…”
She faltered.
So-ya was bewildered. He wasn't where he was supposed to be.
“Huh…?”
They had clearly been talking to each other just a moment ago, so what happened?
It was while So-ya was blinking her eyes in confusion.
CRASH—!
A thunderous sound erupted from behind her.
Startled, So-ya spun around, her face turning pale with shock.
“…!”
A snow-white tiger was pouncing on San-yu, who had been sent flying into a tree trunk, pinning him down.
San-yu let out a pained groan under the weight pressing down on his chest.
Although it was a tiger she had never seen before, So-ya felt she knew exactly who this exceptionally glittering tiger was.
“Ga-ya Orabeoni?”
When beastkin underwent beast transformation, the clothes and jewelry they wore in human form would disappear through an illusion and return once they reverted.
Of course, some beastkin who enjoyed decorating themselves would intentionally leave their accessories on, but most found them cumbersome.
However, that snow-white tiger had one, two, three, four jewels…
There was no mistake. It was Ga-ya.
The white tiger, draped in jewels all over his body, raised a massive forepaw and attacked San-yu.
Every time he moved, the jewels hanging from his body jingled and swayed.
Yet, San-yu neither defended himself nor pushed him away.
He simply took the attacks head-on in his human form, without transforming.
“Ga-ya Orabeoni, no!”
At So-ya’s cry, Ga-ya’s thick forepaw, which had been lunging toward San-yu’s face, stopped mid-air.
“Calm down, Orabeoni!”
“That bastard made you cry.”
Ga-ya muttered coldly, his gaze still fixed on San-yu.
“It’s not like that! He is…!”
Thinking that something truly terrible was about to happen, So-ya shouted at the top of her lungs.
“He is my brother!”
“What…?”
Ga-ya wasn't the only one surprised by those words.
San-yu, pinned beneath Ga-ya, also looked back at So-ya with a dazed expression.
He hadn't expected So-ya to call him "Brother" again.
Poof!
Releasing his beast transformation, Ga-ya’s body returned to its human form.
“…What does that mean, Som-som?”
Ga-ya asked with a grim expression, a face he had never shown So-ya before.
“I am your brother. Why has that guy become your brother?”
“That’s…”
“Don’t tell me you like him more than me?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Is it because he’s a guy with feathers like you? Is that why you like him? Is that why you decided to make him your brother instead of me?”
So-ya tried to explain further, but Ga-ya kept cutting her off, rambling on.
His voice sounded incredibly sorrowful and aggrieved.
“But my ears are round and pointy, my tail is long and sleek, and my paws are soft and fluffy. Besides, we both have white fur and even have two characters of our names in common. But just because I don't have feathers, you're saying I'm worse than him…”
“Oh, for goodness' sake, that’s not it!”
So-ya finally raised her voice.
“San-yu Brother is the brother from the place where I lived before I met Father and came to the White Tiger Palace!”
“…”
At that shout, Ga-ya’s mouth snapped shut, and a brief silence fell.
In the meantime, the people of the White Tiger Clan, who had come running after hearing Ga-ya’s commotion, surrounded them.
“…So, that guy was Som-som’s old brother.”
Ga-ya asked the members of the White Tiger Clan in a demanding tone.
“Why did no one tell me such an important fact?”
“I was going to tell you last night.”
Ga-hyeon replied with a cold face.
“But you were the one who just walked out, saying, ‘I’m going to find Som-som.’”
“That was…”
Only then did Ga-ya frown, as if the memory had belatedly returned to him.
Right. That had indeed happened.
Yesterday, while So-ya was out for a walk after dinner, his father had called for him.
Had he said there was something Ga-ya needed to know?
But Ga-ya had been worried about So-ya being out on a walk alone, so he had just left, saying he would hear it later.
And since he had been moving separately from the family since this morning, there hadn't been any time for a separate conversation…
“Still, you could have told me in advance!”
“Seeing how you pettily blame others, you seem even more lacking than Yul-i.”
Ga-hyeon replied with a chilling smile.
The look of respect for his older brother had completely vanished from his face.
“…I am fine, Young Lord Ga-hyeon.”
San-yu, who was still pinned under Ga-ya, spoke with difficulty.
“As Young Lord Ga-ya said, it is my fault for making So-ya cry. I will take whatever beating comes my way. Please, strike me until you are satisfied, Young Lord Ga-ya.”
As he blinked while avoiding eye contact like a criminal, his tear-soaked eyelashes fluttered, making him look quite delicate.
Ga-ya suddenly lost all desire to hit him.
“So, what was the reason you made Som-som cry?”
And a short while later.
Upon learning what the Vermilion Bird Clan had done to So-ya, Ga-ya’s eyes turned bloodshot with rage, and he lunged forward.
“Stop him!”
At Ga-hyeon’s shout, the members of the White Tiger Clan pounced on Ga-ya all at once.
Su-ri and Seol-yo joined forces to grab Ga-ya’s torso, and in the meantime, Ga-hyeon, who had transformed into a beast, tackled him.
So-ya also ran over and grabbed Ga-ya’s sleeve, squeezing her eyes shut.
Only after So-ya grabbed him did Ga-ya’s violent struggling to break free subside slightly.
Of course, that didn't mean he had become docile by any means.
As Ga-ya continued to thrash about and scream, Ga-hyeon shouted to Ga-yul.
“Yul-i! Go get Father, quickly!”
“Y-Yes!”
Ga-yul dashed off to find their father.
“Damn it, this is why Father…”
Sa-eon had said it.
He had warned that if Ga-ya learned the truth in a place where he wasn't present, something very dangerous could happen.
Ga-hyeon finally understood why his father had said that.
Even with a dozen people from the White Tiger Palace clinging to him, they were struggling to restrain a single Ga-ya.
*
“Your Majesty. The third son of the White Tiger Clan has arrived.”
Sa-eon and Yi-rim’s peaceful tea time was shattered by Ga-yul, who came running in breathlessly.
Ga-yul’s face was pale with fright.
“Yul-i?”
“Father, Big Brother is…!”
Sa-eon faltered.
With just those few words, Sa-eon knew exactly what was happening.
A look of dismay crossed his face.
Hurriedly rising to his feet, Sa-eon asked for Yi-rim’s understanding.
“Your Majesty, a problem has arisen within the clan, so I must take my leave first.”
“Shall I lend you the imperial troops?”
Yi-rim asked, calmly sipping his tea.
“No, thank you. I will go and handle this quickly before the central officials start an uproar this time.”
“Very well. If possible, please try not to damage the trees in the pavilion’s backyard.”
Yi-rim added with a faint smile.
Soon after Sa-eon hurried out, Yi-rim, left alone in the room, set down his teacup and looked out the window.
“If it’s the eldest son… that would be Baek Ga-ya.”
Though they might not know it, Yi-rim quite liked the men of the Baek family.
The first young lord of the Baek family was exceptionally possessive.
Once he perceived something as ‘his,’ he would never let it go to anyone else.
Furthermore, he was of a temperament that could not tolerate even the slightest harm coming to ‘his.’
The scope of what he considered ‘his’ could be a person, an animal, or an object.
Thus, Yi-rim was quite pleased that the child fell within the scope of Baek Ga-ya’s ‘possessions.’
As long as she had that man—who was as strong as his father and, at times, even more relentless—as her fence, her safety would be all the more perfect.