Chapter 168
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 168
Realizing So-ya’s intent, the Half-Moon Bear Clan Head bowed his head and withdrew.
The incident was finally settled the following day when the Clan Head returned to offer a mine in the northwest region as a gesture of apology.
And, of course, the woman of the Half-Moon Bear Clan who had insulted Cheong-ha and So-ya was disciplined and placed under house arrest.
Everyone told So-ya that things had turned out for the best, but her attention was elsewhere.
That evening, after dinner, the family gathered together.
With a face full of excitement, So-ya stared incessantly at the White Tiger Clan’s family register.
Her father’s and mother’s names were written side by side.
Below them, she saw the names of her brothers and her own name, listed in order.
As So-ya giggled while looking at the document, Sa-eon asked in a tender voice, “Cotton Ball, does that make you feel that good?”
“Yes, yes! I love it so much!” So-ya replied with a bright smile. “It’s the official document that says we’re a family!”
It was merely black ink on a sheet of white paper.
What was so special about a piece of paper?
Yet, seeing the child look as happy as if she owned the entire world, Sa-eon gently stroked her hair with a hand full of affection.
“In any case, the Clan Head’s doting nature does come in handy sometimes,” Jeok-yeong remarked, teasing Sa-eon.
“I’ll say. To think you put my name on the register without even telling me,” Cheong-ha added with an incredulous laugh.
“Well, that’s…”
Just as Sa-eon was searching for an excuse while avoiding Cheong-ha’s gaze, So-ya looked up.
“But because Father added Mother’s name so quickly, everything was resolved smoothly,” So-ya said, beaming at Sa-eon after having stared at the register the whole time. “My Papa really is the coolest tiger in the world!”
“I thought our Cotton Ball was still just a baby, but you were very dignified and mature when you snapped at that Half-Moon Bear woman,” Cheong-ha praised.
So-ya looked proud at the compliment.
However, thinking back on it made her feel a little embarrassed. It was the first time she had ever raised her voice and expressed anger so emotionally.
But… she had been so furious when that woman spoke ill of her mother.
She was far angrier than when the woman had insulted her.
“Regardless, Madam, if the Clan Head hadn’t registered your name, it could have caused issues among the retainers,” Jeok-yeong noted cautiously.
“If I were to stay silent while someone said such mean things to my daughter right in front of me just because it might ‘cause issues,’ I wouldn’t be much of a mother, would I?” Cheong-ha retorted with a scoff. “I don’t care what anyone says to me, but I will never tolerate them speaking to my daughter like that.”
At those words, So-ya raised her voice in excitement. “I felt the exact same way as Mother! I was so angry because she spoke badly of you that I couldn’t stand it!”
To be more honest, she had been so incredibly furious about the insults directed at her mother that she barely even heard the mean things the woman said about her.
“That’s right. Usually, it hurts more when your family is attacked than when you are attacked yourself,” Ga-hyeon, who was sitting next to So-ya, chimed in with a gentle explanation. “So, if you ever want to provoke someone, don’t attack them directly—attack someone precious to them. Understood, So-ya?”
Ga-hyeon’s words were a bit difficult to grasp, but So-ya was simply happy that she and her mother had shared the same thought.
That small commonality allowed So-ya to let go of the bad memory.
As the night deepened, So-ya tugged at Cheong-ha and whispered in her ear.
“Mother, remember what you promised me?”
“Ah, right. We were going to look at our daughter’s treasure box together today. Since we need to have a secret girls' chat, we’ll head in first.”
Cheong-ha stood up with So-ya.
Sa-eon watched them go, waving with a wistful smile on his face.
“Father looks sad because he’s had so much work lately,” So-ya murmured softly, glancing back, feeling concerned by his expression. “Is there anything I can do to help him?”
Cheong-ha chuckled and stroked So-ya’s hair. “It’s not because work is hard, so don’t worry.”
So-ya tilted her head at that.
The war is over, Mother is at the White Tiger Palace, and everything is going well. So why did Father have such a sad look on his face?
*
So-ya’s question was answered a short while later.
After enjoying a flight in her beast form for the first time in a while, So-ya returned to find Yeon-jeong and San-ho tidying up her room.
Oh? It’s Lady Yeon-jeong and Lady San-ho! I should surprise them!
With that mischievous thought, she giggled and began to sneak up on them.
“Our Clan Head… he seems quite upset that the young masters and the young lady have stolen the Madam away, especially since she’s finally returned, don’t you think?”
“It can’t be helped. It’s not like they’re newlyweds; they already have four children.”
Hearing Yeon-jeong and San-ho’s conversation, So-ya forgot all about surprising them and flicked her tail feathers.
Huh? Father is upset because we stole Mother from him?
Unable to contain her curiosity, So-ya fluttered over to them.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, Young Lady!”
Yeon-jeong and San-ho turned around with embarrassed expressions.
“You mean Fathers and Mothers are supposed to sleep together?”
So-ya’s eyes widened at their subsequent explanation.
She had no idea.
When she lived at the Vermilion Bird Mansion, she hadn't known because of her mother’s absence. Even after coming to the White Tiger Palace, she remained unaware because the culture of the Taehwa Empire lacked the concept of a shared marital bedroom, meaning Sa-eon and Cheong-ha had separate chambers.
Furthermore, according to the customs of beastkin society, children were treated as such until the age of thirteen. Since So-ya had only turned fourteen a few months ago, she hadn't yet learned about the nature of a husband and wife's relationship.
Now that I think about it, Papa likes Mama a whole lot too! Of course, I like Mama a lot, but…
Thinking it over, she realized that just as she always wanted to be with her mother, her father likely felt the same way.
Recalling Sa-eon’s wistful expression from the previous night, she felt terribly sorry for not having noticed his feelings sooner.
For today at least, I’m going to help Father and Mother spend time together!
So-ya clenched her wings with determination.
*
That evening.
After finishing their meal, So-ya—who would normally be chatting away at Cheong-ha’s side—glanced around at everyone and set down her spoon.
“Oh dear. What should I do? I forgot I have homework that I absolutely must finish today.”
“Som-som?”
Ga-ya looked at her with a puzzled expression at her awkward tone.
“I think I could finish it quickly if my brothers helped me.”
So-ya spoke to herself loudly enough for everyone to hear, her eyes darting around before she suddenly jumped up.
“Brother Ga-ya! Brother Hyeon! Brother Yul! You said it’s a brother’s duty to help his younger sister!”
“Sure, So-ya. I’ll help you. Let’s go.”
“If Som-som needs her brother’s help, how can I just sit here?”
Ga-ya and Ga-hyeon, who had vaguely caught on to So-ya’s intention, stood up with a smirk.
“I want to stay with Mother longer—”
“Oh, Brother Yul, hurry, hurry!”
“Wh-whoa?”
“Then we’ll be going now!”
So-ya quickly dragged the clueless Ga-yul out of the room.
“That’s mean, Cotton Ball. I wanted to spend more time with Mother.”
“Goodness, Brother Yul, you really are a thoughtless tiger.”
“Wh-what? Why am I thoughtless?”
“There’s just something you don’t know.”
So-ya shook her head at Ga-yul’s grumbling.
As they walked down the hallway with her brothers, So-ya giggled to herself, hoping that her father would be happy tonight.
Meanwhile, with the four siblings suddenly gone, Sa-eon and Cheong-ha were left alone.
“Why did they suddenly…”
“It certainly seemed intentional…”
Between So-ya’s loud, awkward monologue and her theatrical tone, it was impossible not to see through her intent.
“I think they left to give us some space.”
“I suppose so. Now it’s just the two of us.”
“…”
“…”
After being surrounded by children all this time, the sudden solitude brought an unexpected wave of awkwardness.
Breaking the brief silence, Sa-eon asked, “…Would you like to go for a walk?”