Chapter 131
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 131
Thrust—
Along with a fragrant floral scent, a bouquet of flowers suddenly reached out from behind him.
“Hello.”
Startled by the languid greeting, Seol-yo reflexively turned around and scrambled backward.
“Y-You are…!”
“It has been a long time.”
Dressed in comfortable attire, Yi-rim was smiling brightly as he offered the flowers to Seol-yo.
“W-W-W-What is this for?”
“I saw you looking for flowers.”
“...?”
“Give these to So-ya.”
He tucked the large bouquet into Seol-yo’s arms with a grin.
“You don’t necessarily have to mention they are from me.”
“Why… why aren’t you delivering them yourself instead of leaving them to me?”
Seol-yo asked, unable to hide his lingering wariness.
At that, the corners of Yi-rim’s mouth curled upward.
“Seeing as you are using formal speech, it seems you’ve finally learned some manners. Back then, you were nothing but a reckless brat.”
Seol-yo’s face flushed bright red.
Of all people, hearing such words from Yi-rim made him feel strangely humiliated.
“If you want to comfort So-ya, you could just bring them to her yourself, couldn’t you?”
Thus, Seol-yo spoke back, intentionally refusing to obey the order meekly.
“The sky is dark. It is far too late an hour to visit a lady’s room.”
However, the following words made Seol-yo’s face turn even redder.
Seol-yo had only thought about comforting So-ya; he hadn't considered the lateness of the hour at all. He was acting exactly like the ‘uneducated, dim-witted tiger who bursts into a grown lady’s room’ that the White Tiger Palace’s youngest young master used to talk about.
“I—I wouldn’t visit So-ya at such a late hour either! So, Your Majesty, please deliver them yourself when the sun comes up!”
He raised his voice, trying to hide his embarrassment.
“My. Are you defying an imperial decree?”
Seol-yo’s body flinched at the question, which was laced with a chilling hint of amusement.
Yi-rim let out a low chuckle.
“I am joking.”
“....”
Looking at Yi-rim’s genuinely amused face, Seol-yo could only squeeze the bouquet in his arms.
Yi-rim stared blankly at the petals fluttering down to the ground from the squeeze before suddenly issuing a warning.
“Beware of the Black Water. Evil always lurks in dark and damp places.”
“...?”
“A Seed of Evil has drifted into the Imperial Palace.”
Seol-yo blinked, unable to easily grasp the meaning of Yi-rim’s words.
However, Yi-rim brushed past Seol-yo without further explanation.
Step, step, step.
The sound of quiet footsteps echoed through the night air.
Yi-rim walked beneath the moonlight with an expressionless face.
A ‘Seed of Evil’ had drifted into the Imperial Palace.
From the moment his seal was first broken, the last Peril Beast, Do-cheol, had been dissatisfied with the body of the man from the Northern Land that his true master inhabited.
Thus, Do-cheol had planted ‘Seeds of Evil’ all across the continent to ensure his master’s power would not be cut off when he eventually left that pathetic man’s body for another.
He did this by breathing a portion of the power of evil into those with wicked hearts—hearts that rivaled evil itself—under the guise of a ‘deal.’
They would become nourishment for the evil that had fled after losing its strength, eventually calling it back once more.
And toward the place where the wicked malice of that ‘Seed of Evil’ was headed…
Halt.
Yi-rim’s footsteps stopped.
He was in front of So-ya’s quarters, where the lights were still on.
Even her shadow, faintly cast upon the paper window, was so lovely.
As he watched it, Yi-rim’s eyes curved with a poignant light.
Do you know, So-ya?
Because you are always so beautiful and precious.
Like a tiny, fragile dandelion seed that might blow away if one breathes on it, or a sweet sugar confection that might melt at a touch.
Because you are so beautiful and precious, yet so fragile.
I worry you might blow away, or that you might melt.
That is why I am always so careful with you.
Though he could have reached her in just a few more steps, Yi-rim could not bring himself to go any closer.
He simply stood where her quarters were visible, quietly watching the shadow flickering against the paper window.
He stayed there until the night deepened and the lights in So-ya’s room had been extinguished for a long time.
He remained in that same spot for a very long while…
* * *
The next morning.
So-ya sat with her elbows on the windowsill and her chin in her hands, taking in the morning air.
She had been worried because she cried so much yesterday, but fortunately, perhaps because she had calmed down since the evening, her eyes weren't very swollen.
‘Yesterday was a total disaster. It was enough to make my tears dry up instantly… because of Brother Ga-ya.’
Ga-ya had only barely calmed down after Sa-eon appeared.
No, could that even be called calming down?
To be more honest, he hadn't calmed down at all even after Sa-eon showed up.
Seeing him fly into such a rage, So-ya had worried her brother might actually breathe fire. He looked as if he might manifest an Ability of Flame that he didn't even possess.
In the end, Brother Ga-ya was suppressed by their father’s brute force, but even as he lay collapsed on the floor, he trembled while glaring fiercely toward the direction of the Vermilion Bird Clan.
‘It’s a very warm and cozy feeling to have someone get angry on my behalf.’
Even though Ga-ya had turned the pavilion upside down, and even though Father had to clutch the back of his neck several times because of it… So-ya still felt grateful to Ga-ya.
She knew that his actions were rooted in his care for her.
On the other hand, she hadn't been able to talk much with San-yu because of the commotion, which she found a bit regrettable.
After bowing his head to her father and brothers, San-yu had looked at her with longing eyes, said his farewells, and prepared to turn away.
If So-ya hadn't stopped him, that truly would have been the end.
[Brother...!]
So-ya had run to him as he was leaving and grabbed his sleeve.
[Thank you for coming to tell me all this today.]
[So-ya...?]
[Thank you for letting me know that at least one person was truly my family… For letting me remember and cherish my childhood, which I always just wanted to cut away. Thank you so much, Brother.]
[So-ya...]
[And someday. If there is ever a chance in the far future… I want to show you, too. Me, spreading my wings and flying. I went through my First Growth at the White Tiger Palace, and I’m very good at flying now.]
[Ah...]
At that, he let out a short gasp and gave a sorrowful smile.
[That is truly wonderful. To think you can fly so beautifully even though no one taught you… our So-ya is a truly cool and amazing baby bird.]
Those were the words So-ya had wanted to hear for so long.
[I’m so curious to see how much you’ve grown, too. I really want to see it. So next time, let’s fly together, So-ya. Let’s climb high mountains, pierce through the clouds, and flap our wings vigorously together.]
[Yes, Brother. Definitely.]
So-ya had smiled brightly and hooked her pinky finger with his.
And strangely enough, the heavy, damp mood that had been weighing her down for a while vanished completely after his visit.
Even when she thought of the other people of the Vermilion Bird Clan, she no longer felt depressed.
‘Will the day ever come when I can show him my beast form?’
When she had encountered him previously as a baby bird, her red feathers hadn't been visible because her Spirit Core’s power was partially sealed.
‘If Brother sees my red feathers… he’ll probably cry even more sadly than yesterday.’
So-ya had been the same. When she realized she wasn't a fake, she had cried so much because it felt so sorrowful and unfair.
If it was the kind-hearted San-yu, he was bound to be even sadder than her.
‘Still, someday, I definitely want to show him. My true self.’
Jjaek-jjaek chirped as if cheering So-ya on.
“Thanks, Jjaek-jjaek. When that time comes, I’ll give you a special spot to join my brother and me on our flight.”
So-ya giggled and stroked Jjaek-jjaek’s head.
The Innate Nature Gathering, which had extensively celebrated the achievements of the generals, had come to an end. Starting today, a schedule packed with various small banquets was prepared.
Today, an archery competition and a boating excursion were planned.
Since her eyelids felt a bit heavy from crying so much yesterday, So-ya planned to rest well during the morning and go boating in the afternoon.
Seol-yo visited So-ya’s room just as she finished preparing with Yeon-jeong’s help, intending to take a walk in the morning air.
“Welcome, Seol-yo.”
So-ya greeted him with a welcoming voice.
“San-ho told me to help you with your morning walk…”
Seol-yo scratched his head and made sure to add that detail. It was as if he wanted to make it clear that he wasn't just bursting into a lady’s room on a whim.
“Thank you. You’re busy; I hope I’m not being a nuisance?”
“N-Not at all!”
Seol-yo shouted reflexively, worried that So-ya might send him away if she thought he was busy.
“Then let’s go for a walk together, Seol-yo.”
Giggling, So-ya was about to head outside when she spotted the vase on the table and spoke as if she had just remembered.
“Oh, right, Seol-yo. About the flowers in the vase. I heard you brought them last night and gave them to Lady Yeon-jeong?”
“Uh, oh? Y-Yeah.”
“Thank you. I really love these flowers. They’re hard to find at the White Tiger Palace, so I didn't expect to see them here.”
So-ya spoke with a smile. However, Seol-yo hesitated, unable to respond readily.
He should tell her that those flowers were given by that man, not him… but he felt a conflict between not wanting to tell her and feeling strangely guilty about pretending he didn't know.
‘Why did that man have to leave this to me?’
So-ya seemed to really like the flowers, as she buried the tip of her nose between the petals and leaves to savor the scent.
‘You’re pretty, So-ya…’
Seeing her look so lovely, Seol-yo suddenly felt like he understood why that man had said he didn't have to reveal who gave them.
Looking at So-ya’s face framed by the flowers, he felt that it didn't really matter who had given them to her.
But just then, a loud commotion erupted from the entrance of the pavilion.
When they ran toward the noise, they found San-ho having a confrontation with someone.
So-ya’s eyes stiffened slightly as she recognized the person.