Chapter 156
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 156
So-ya sat on the roof of the Imperial Palace with San-yu, sharing snacks and chatting.
Perhaps it was because she had just enjoyed her first exhilarating flight with her brother. Or maybe it was because her belly was full and round from the beef jerky she’d eaten. Or perhaps it was simply the pleasant warmth of the sun, being so close to the sky.
Whatever the reason, a heavy drowsiness began to wash over her.
San-yu, keenly sensing his sister’s state, asked in a tender voice, “Are you feeling a bit sleepy, our So-ya?”
“No, I’m not sleepy at all,” So-ya replied, shaking her head and quickly forcing her eyes wide open.
But it wasn’t long before her eyelids began to droop again.
Watching this, San-yu let out a soft chuckle and stroked her hair.
“This won’t do, So-ya. Let’s head down now.”
“But…” So-ya murmured, glancing at him tentatively. “I want to stay with you a little longer, Brother…”
“Today isn’t our only day. You’ll play with me again next time, won’t you, So-ya?”
“Yes.”
So-ya nodded, pushing her lingering disappointment aside.
“Shall I give you a ride on the way down?”
“...!”
So-ya’s sleepy eyes instantly sparkled at his words.
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. I guarantee it’ll be much fluffier than a tiger’s back.”
San-yu transformed into a massive bird and gestured—or rather, flapped his wings—for So-ya to climb on.
So-ya carefully climbed onto his back.
“How is it?”
“Just like you said, Brother. It’s warmer and cozier than a tiger’s back.”
“See? I told you.”
“Oh, but this is a secret from Father and the White Tiger brothers. Especially Brother Ga-ya. He’ll definitely be sulky if he hears this,” So-ya added quickly with a giggle.
San-yu could easily imagine the scene and laughed along with her.
Beating his wings slowly, he cut through the air and soared into the sky.
So-ya, enjoying the flight atop him, soon nestled into the soft red feathers and fell into a deep, purring sleep.
Hearing her steady, rhythmic breathing, San-yu smiled and flew as smoothly as possible to avoid waking her.
He knew exactly why So-ya had been so reluctant to leave.
The banquet at the Imperial Palace was drawing to a close. Soon, So-ya would have to return to the White Tiger Palace, and he would have to return to the Vermilion Bird Mansion in the south.
‘Once that happens… we won’t be able to see each other whenever we want, even if we miss each other.’
The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Passing birds spotted San-yu and So-ya, chirping and following behind them. Their songs were filled with deep affection directed toward So-ya.
‘Hm? The birds?’
Even San-yu found it strange how exceptionally friendly the birds were toward her.
“How peculiar.”
Even toward him, a direct descendant of the Vermilion Bird, the birds had never shown such devotion.
Then, looking down at So-ya sleeping soundly on his back, San-yu let out a soft laugh.
“I suppose even the birds follow her because my sister is just that cute and lovely.”
With that thought, he slowly descended.
Poof!
He released his beast transformation and was about to carry the sleeping So-ya to her room when he spotted Ga-ya, whose shoulder was wrapped in bandages.
Ga-ya had noticed him as well and was glaring in their direction with a ferocious expression.
“Lord Ga-ya, have you injured your shoulder as well?”
When San-yu greeted him brightly, Ga-ya’s scowl only deepened.
“Hand her over,” he said, gesturing with his finger. “That Som-som is mine.”
However, San-yu simply smiled and shook his head.
“Regrettably, I cannot do that today,” he said in a polite but firm voice. “Because Lord Ga-ya’s Som-som is also my precious sister.”
Ga-ya bristled immediately. “Since when is Som-som your sister?!”
“Oh dear. Did you not know? Som-som may be your sister, but So-ya is mine.”
“What…?”
“As you said yourself, Lord Ga-ya, So-ya and I are both feathered beastkin. That is why So-ya decided to let me be her brother.”
San-yu smiled brightly, reciting the very words Ga-ya had said a few days ago as if to tease him.
“Even though I don’t have round, pointy ears, a long tail, or fluffy paw pads.”
“You…!”
“Instead, I have feathers, wings, and a beak. Oh, and So-ya and I can fly together. Since you don’t have wings, Lord Ga-ya, you’ll never know the joy of soaring through the sky with your sister. How truly unfortunate.”
The two were locked in a tense standoff when So-ya, stirring from her sleep, rubbed her eyes and looked up at San-yu.
“Yawn… Brother San-yu. Are we already there?”
“Som—!”
“Oh dear, our So-ya woke up.”
Ga-ya tried to call out to her, but San-yu smoothly cut him off.
“I’m not really awake… I’m still sleepy.”
“Then close your eyes again. Your brother will take our Princess So-ya all the way to her room.”
“Oh, stop it. Why am I a princess?” So-ya giggled even in her drowsy state.
Hearing their affectionate exchange, one of Ga-ya’s eyebrows arched irritably. He particularly hated the way “Brother San-yu” sounded coming from So-ya’s lips.
San-yu returned after seeing So-ya to her quarters. Ga-ya followed closely behind him, looking utterly displeased.
“If you keep glaring at me like that, you’re going to burn a hole in my face.”
“That would be wonderful. I’d prefer it if that ugly face of yours was burnt away entirely.”
Seeing how sharp Ga-ya was, San-yu realized it wasn’t just possessiveness over his sister; something else was bothering him. The bandages on his shoulder were a clue as well…
San-yu glanced at Ga-ya’s bandaged shoulder before shaking off the unnecessary thoughts. Then, he bowed deeply to him.
“Thank you, Lord Ga-ya.”
“...?”
“Thank you so much for being such a good family to So-ya.”
“Where is this coming from all of a sudden…?”
“I could tell after just a few words with her. I could hear in her voice how much she treasures and loves her family.” San-yu smiled, recalling his conversation with So-ya on the roof. “She is a child who could have been filled with scars, so thank you for raising her to be so bright.”
Ga-ya felt a strange sensation at those words. It was because he felt he wasn’t the one who deserved to hear them.
“It was my father who brought Som-som home, and others at the White Tiger Palace were the ones who stayed by her side,” Ga-ya replied curtly. “I spent most of my time on the battlefield, so I didn’t even get to spend much time with her.”
“Even so, the fact that your bond with So-ya is this special means the affection you showed her was that great.”
“...Well. I suppose that’s true.” Ga-ya nodded, conceding the point.
“Therefore, this is my gratitude to you personally, and my thanks to you as the future head of the White Tiger Clan.”
“...”
“Please ensure that So-ya continues to grow up as brightly, bravely, and happily as she is now.”
“...”
“I know how shameless it is for me to ask this, considering what my family did to her… but I ask you nonetheless.”
Ga-ya stared blankly at San-yu’s face. He was asking for something so obvious as if it were the most difficult favor in the world.
Normally, Ga-ya would have scoffed and ignored San-yu for acting like Som-som’s brother. But in this moment, he couldn’t. The trembling sincerity, deep affection, and poignant regret in San-yu’s voice made it impossible.
“I would do that even without you asking. Som-som is my sister. She is family to the White Tiger Palace.”
“That is… very good to hear.”
San-yu beamed. It was a remarkably heartwarming scene, unthinkable given their usual relationship.
“Oh, by the way, Lord Ga-ya. About last night…”
“Get lost.”
Of course, their conversation ended poorly, as it always did.
*
Fortunately, the events that had transpired within the Imperial Palace the previous night had not escalated further. However, the Emperor’s bedchamber had been attacked, and a close aide of the guard had been killed.
The palace was in an uproar, but since the culprit was clear, the situation would be resolved once a sentence was decided.
“Furthermore, Your Majesty. What do you intend to do regarding the daughter of the Baek clan?”
Yi-rim, who had been sitting on the Dragon Throne listening to his ministers, looked up at the sudden question.
The daughter of the Baek clan, So-ya.
Rumors had already spread far and wide that she had awakened a Divine Beast and resolved the crisis the night before.