Chapter 166
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 166
So-ya took Cheong-ha’s hand, and together they set out for a morning stroll.
It was only a matter of time before her older brothers appeared. While So-ya loved walking with everyone, her mother only had two hands. Between her brothers and herself, there were four people who wanted to hold those hands...
Since she had monopolized her mother the previous night, So-ya felt she ought to yield her mother’s hands once her brothers arrived. That was why she wanted to squeeze in as much one-on-one time as possible before they showed up.
So-ya wasn't usually a greedy child, but she found herself constantly craving time with her mother. Being with her felt as warm as sunlight and as cozy as a cloud.
There were many wonderful adults in the White Tiger Palace, but this was a feeling that neither her father, her aunt, nor Lady Yeon-jeong or Lady San-ho could provide.
“I’m so happy you’re here at the White Tiger Palace, Mom. You know, I’ve been carefully collecting every single one of the letters Jjaek-jjaek brought me from you. I didn't miss a single one.”
“Oh, really?”
“I’ll show you my treasure box tonight! I don’t even show it to Father, my brothers, or Seol-yo. I couldn't show you yesterday because my brothers wouldn't go to bed until late, but...”
“My, I’m so touched. Is it really alright to show something so precious to me?”
“Yes, of course! Because Mom is Mom!”
“Ah, I’m so happy. How did such a beautiful little baby end up being my daughter?”
“Hehe.”
Delighted by Cheong-ha’s unstinting praise, So-ya let out a bright giggle.
The mother and daughter continued their walk through the inner courtyard of the White Tiger Palace, hand in hand and chatting away. It was then that they crossed paths with a woman coming from the opposite direction.
It was the woman known as the representative of the Half-Moon Bear Clan.
Upon spotting Cheong-ha and So-ya, the woman faltered for a moment before flashing a bright smile and greeting So-ya.
“Hello, Young Lady. Good morning.”
“Hello, Lady Juri of the Half-Moon Bear Clan.”
So-ya, recalling the woman’s name, returned the greeting.
“It’s quite early for a young lady like yourself, yet here you are, up and about for a diligent walk. How impressive.”
As So-ya listened quietly to the woman, she sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Even from a young age, So-ya had been able to clearly distinguish between goodwill and hostility. She felt she finally understood the source of the discomfort she felt whenever she encountered this woman.
The woman had clearly seen Cheong-ha, yet she was pointedly ignoring her, offering a greeting only to So-ya.
“This is my mother.”
So-ya squeezed Cheong-ha’s hand and spoke with deliberate emphasis. She then stared fixedly at the woman, as if prompting her to greet her mother immediately.
“Ah... well...”
The woman let her voice trail off as if troubled, but soon smirked and spoke.
“No matter if she is the young masters’ biological mother, you shouldn't refer to just anyone as ‘Mother,’ Young Lady. Wouldn't that put Lord Sa-eon in a difficult position?”
Despite her smile, her tone was strictly that of someone lecturing a child.
In an instant, So-ya’s face hardened.
“Did you just say ‘just anyone’?”
“Furthermore, the people of the Half-Moon Bear Clan do not initiate greetings with outsiders of the Western Land. Even if the person in question is from the Blue Dragon Clan, the ruling family of the Eastern Land.”
Instead of answering So-ya’s question, the woman turned her gaze toward Cheong-ha, her eyes flickering with faint hostility.
The Half-Moon Bear Clan was a prominent family in the northwest and one of the retainers of the White Tiger Clan, tasked with the vital duty of guarding the border between the Western and Northern Lands. During the recent war, they had performed great deeds, standing at the closest point to the Northern border to prevent demonic beasts from crossing into the West.
The woman, the legitimate daughter of that very clan, had actually harbored a long-standing crush on Sa-eon. Even after Sa-eon married, she couldn't let go of her feelings, eventually missing her prime marriageable age. After Sa-eon divorced Cheong-ha, she had been looking for an opening, but the opportunity to get close to him never arose.
However, with the end of the war, her family’s service in guarding the frontier was recognized. Taking advantage of this, she had pestered her father, the Clan Head, to let her come to the White Tiger Palace as the family representative.
Normally, she should have returned to her clan after the rewards were finalized, but using various affairs in the northwest as an excuse, she intended to stay by Sa-eon’s side and seduce him. Sa-eon, whom she had adored since childhood, was still as young and handsome as ever—it was hard to believe he was now a father of four.
But there was one presence that subtly annoyed her.
It was So-ya.
A few days ago, when So-ya had visited Sa-eon’s office...
The woman had been deeply shocked to see Sa-eon, who usually maintained a cold impression, break into a tender smile the moment he saw the child. It was the first time she realized he was a man capable of smiling like that.
Even though she knew So-ya was just a small child, she couldn't help but feel intensely jealous. Thus, using work as a pretext, she had sent So-ya away when the girl came to the office.
However, after the child left, Sa-eon had spoken in a frigid voice.
[That conversation just now was not your place to intervene. From now on, do not interfere in the dialogue between my daughter and me.]
The woman felt a surge of shame, feeling as though she had been insulted because of a child who wasn't even Sa-eon’s biological daughter.
Still, she had heard that So-ya had awakened the power of a Divine Beast. She told herself it was only natural for the White Tiger Clan to care for the child and tried to suppress her resentment. After all, once she became the mistress of the White Tiger Palace, the child would legally become her daughter. Since she would eventually be the child’s mother, she decided to be magnanimous and understanding for now, figuring she could discipline any undesirable traits later.
But then, this morning, she had found So-ya walking while holding Cheong-ha’s hand.
She already disliked Sa-eon’s ex-wife for reappearing, but seeing So-ya call that woman "Mother" made her blood boil.
‘Could Lord Sa-eon be planning to reunite with that woman?’
The thought crossed her mind, but if that were truly the case, the Blue Dragon Clan would have sent a palanquin and wedding gifts.
‘Yes, seeing as she came alone without even a single palanquin, she must be here merely as a temporary guest.’
Despite thinking this, the woman felt a sense of urgency. Although it was well known that Cheong-ha and Sa-eon had done nothing but clash with spears and swords since childhood and that their marriage was purely political rather than emotional...
Cheong-ha was, undeniably, the biological mother of the White Tiger young lords. That fact alone meant there were many in the White Tiger Palace who welcomed her back.
‘I have to suppress her early on so she can't use her status as the young lords' mother to sway Lord Sa-eon’s heart.’
She felt the need to assert dominance to ensure Cheong-ha couldn't regain her footing in the palace. At the same time, she wanted to discipline the foolish girl who lacked the discernment to know who she should be calling "Mother."
“My, why do you both have such expressions?”
The woman let out a mocking laugh at So-ya and Cheong-ha’s stony faces.
“It’s not as if I said anything wrong, is it? I heard your name was officially removed from the family register when you divorced Lord Sa-eon ten years ago. That makes you an ‘outsider’ and ‘just anyone.’”
“Don’t talk to my mom like that!”
So-ya couldn't hold back and snapped sharply.
“Even if her name isn't on the register right now, she is my father’s wife and the mother of my brothers and me. She had to leave for a while, but she has come back to be the mistress of the White Tiger Palace again.”
Though no one had told her, So-ya knew. Her father had kept the position of the mistress of the White Tiger Palace vacant all these years solely for her mother.
“She is not someone you can treat with such disrespect, so apologize immediately.”
“...You insolent little brat.”
The woman dropped her fake smile and spat out harsh words at So-ya.
“You aren't even a real White Tiger, yet you must think you’ve actually become a direct descendant just because everyone calls you ‘Young Lady.’ You’re nothing but a rootless little cotton ball from who-knows-where.”
“I don't care what you say to me. But if you don't apologize properly to my mother right now...”
Just as So-ya was glaring at the woman with all her might, demanding an apology—
Swoooosh—
The sound of rustling leaves echoed eerily through the air.
As So-ya and the woman faltered in their staring match—
CRASH!
The woman’s body was sent flying into the distance without warning.
“...?”
So-ya’s eyes widened in surprise. In an instant, plant vines erupted from the ground, winding around the woman’s body and hoisting her into the air.
“A-Are you mad? For someone who is not the Clan Head to threaten another with supernatural abilities inside the White Tiger Palace is a violation of the rules...!”
“Just now, to my daughter.”
A sinister voice, unlike any So-ya had heard before, rang out.
Step, step.
Cheong-ha, who had been standing beside So-ya the whole time, walked toward the woman.
“Did you call her a rootless little cotton ball?”
Suddenly, Cheong-ha’s eyes flashed with a predatory, wild glint.
So-ya flinched.
‘I’ve seen that look before.’
So-ya felt she had seen that chilling gaze somewhere.
‘Right, at the Imperial Palace... when Brother Ga-ya...’
It was the exact same murderous, crazed look Brother Ga-ya had—trembling with rage as he glared toward the Vermilion Bird Clan even after being subdued by their father for tearing apart a pavilion!
‘So Brother Ga-ya... takes after Mother...’
So-ya swallowed hard, the thought echoing in her mind.