Chapter 170
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 170
So-ya’s birthday fell in the summer.
Ever since she arrived at the White Tiger Palace, Sa-eon and the rest of the household had meticulously celebrated her birthday every year. However, the celebration this summer promised to be even more special.
With her birthday approaching, an excited So-ya spent her time crafting invitations with her small, delicate hands. It was during one of these sessions that Ga-ya happened to drop by her room.
[Som-som.]
So-ya, who had been sitting at her desk diligently writing, widened her eyes when she spotted Ga-ya leaning against her window frame.
[Brother Ga-ya? Why are you sitting there when there’s a perfectly good door?]
[I don’t have wings, but I thought I’d try to fly like you, Som-som. I failed, though. I guess tigers just aren't meant to fly.]
[Pardon?]
[Instead, I jumped from that tree over to here. What do you think, Som-som? Your brother might not have wings, but isn't he still impressive?]
[Oh, honestly!]
As So-ya burst into a fit of giggles, a broad grin spread across Ga-ya’s face.
[What were you doing?]
[I was making invitations. My birthday party is coming up soon, you know.]
So-ya spoke with an excited lilt, pointing to the invitations spread across her desk. She was using beautiful, multicolored pressed-flower paper she had made herself with the help of Yeon-jeong and San-ho, using fresh blooms gathered from Mt. Horim. On each one, she was carefully inscribing a message in neat calligraphy.
Scanning the names on the invitations, Ga-ya’s eyes landed on one that was far from welcome.
[Hmm.]
He wanted to demand if she really had to include that guy, but he bit his tongue. He had only recently lost the title of "Coolest Tiger" to his father. He couldn't afford to look like a petty brother in front of Som-som. No, absolutely not.
Unaware that So-ya already lumped him into the same category as Ga-yul, Ga-ya reached out and snatched the invitation with the irritating name, waving it lightly.
[I’ll deliver this one.]
[But Brother, aren't you busy?]
[Not at all, Som-som.]
And that was how he ended up confronting San-yu to extort a gift.
“You aren’t coming anyway. So, just hand over a gift. Otherwise, our Som-som will be heartbroken.”
“It’s a letter from So-ya.”
San-yu accepted the invitation with a look of pure joy. As he read through So-ya’s writing, a tender expression settled on his face.
“Doesn’t So-ya’s handwriting look remarkably like mine?”
“?”
“I was by her side helping her when she first learned how to write. Haha.”
Ga-ya’s face soured as San-yu reminisced about a childhood with So-ya that he hadn't been a part of.
“Stop with the useless bragging and just give me the gift.”
“This way, then,” San-yu said with a faint smile.
Ga-ya followed closely behind him, glancing around the mansion where So-ya had once lived. Though scorch marks and signs of fire remained here and there, the basic structure was still intact.
“I actually found this while cleaning up the mansion recently and was wondering how to get it to her. I’m in your debt, Lord Ga-ya.”
San-yu pulled out a wooden box he seemed to have prepared in advance.
“I’d like to send a reply. Would you mind waiting until I finish writing a letter?”
Ga-ya gave a curt nod instead of a verbal answer. He waited in silence while San-yu wrote to So-ya. After a while, Ga-ya took the letter and the gift, staring at San-yu for a moment before asking, “Aren’t you going to come see her yourself?”
“……”
“You can visit once all that business with the clan head succession is over.”
“...A bit later. The karma I must bear is still too heavy.”
San-yu’s expression turned bitter for a moment, but he soon softened his gaze, his voice gentle.
“When I can stand before her as a better man... then, I will surely come to see her again. Both So-ya and you, Lord Ga-ya.”
* * *
“So-yaaaaaaaa!”
A young girl’s boisterous voice rang through the White Tiger Palace. The girl who arrived, her brown hair fluttering prettily behind her, was none other than Ah-rang.
“My, who is this spirited child running as if she’s about to knock down the palace walls?”
“She’s my friend! Lady Ah-rang!”
So-ya introduced her friend with a proud face to Cheong-ha, whose eyes were wide with surprise at Ah-rang’s momentum.
“Ah-rang? From the Galho Clan?”
Cheong-ha remembered her. The girl was a second cousin to the children, born around the same time as Ga-yul, and the two had bickered since they were infants.
“That tiny baby has grown up so strong. She looks ready to tear the palace down. Truly impressive.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Of course it is. It means she’s a very vigorous and wonderful tiger,” Cheong-ha explained with a smile to the tilting So-ya. “Hello, Ah-rang. Thank you for being such a good friend to our So-ya. Please continue to be close with her.”
When Cheong-ha stroked her hair, Ah-rang’s face turned bright red with shyness.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ah-rang was always weak against kind people. She had come specifically for So-ya’s birthday and the summer festival.
“So-ya, here’s your present! Happy birthday!”
“Thank you, Lady Ah-rang. Oh, but wait—come over here. There’s something I want to show you!”
So-ya beamed and tugged on Ah-rang’s hand.
“I’ve never seen our daughter hop around like that before,” Cheong-ha murmured to herself as she watched the two girls skip away.
While So-ya tended to act more like a spoiled child in front of Cheong-ha, she generally tried to behave like a poised young lady. Seeing her hopping about with a friend her own age was a novel sight for her mother.
While So-ya was showing Ah-rang the Light Beads hanging from the tree branches...
“Hey, Brown Tiger! Good timing! Let’s finish the duel we started last time!”
Ga-yul joined the fray, making the White Tiger Palace even more boisterous. It was a wonder how lively it felt, considering Ah-rang was the only outside guest invited.
The celebration was held under Cheong-ha’s direction. A large table was set in the front courtyard of the palace, where everyone gathered to share delicious food, admire the gifts arriving from all over, and chat warmly.
“Having all the people I love gathered like this feels like the greatest birthday present ever!” So-ya cried out happily.
Her world-class father and mother. Her brothers, who were constantly looking for a chance to reclaim the title of "Coolest Tiger" from her. Her best friends, Seol-yo and Lady Ah-rang. The ever-kind Lady Yeon-jeong, Lady San-ho, and the rest of the palace staff. Even Lady Sa-ra, who had ventured out of the shrine for the occasion, and the chirping Jjaek-jjaek.
All of So-ya’s precious people were there.
Except for two. Brother San-yu and... His Majesty.
‘But they’re both very far away and very busy,’ So-ya thought, suppressing a flicker of disappointment.
It was then that Ga-ya approached her.
“Look at this, Som-som. That Jeok guy told me to give this to you.”
“...!”
So-ya’s eyes went wide as she received San-yu’s gift and letter. She knew Ga-ya had taken the invitation to deliver it, but she hadn't expected him to bring back a reply and a gift.
“Well? Isn't your brother the coolest tiger after all?” Ga-ya asked with a smirk.
“Yes, Brother! Brother Ga-ya, you’re the best!”
“Look at that. My eldest son has been eyeing my position this whole time,” Sa-eon remarked with a chuckle, shaking his head.
As the sun began to set, So-ya, Ah-rang, Ga-yul, Seol-yo, and Su-ri huddled together under the glow of the Light Beads. Jjaek-jjaek and Jjaek-dori hopped around them.
Until last year, they would have spent the time playing tag in the courtyard, but having grown a bit in the past year, they now looked down on such things as "childish games." So-ya, in particular, believed there was a massive wall between being thirteen and fourteen.
Up until thirteen, one was called a child, but at fourteen, everyone treated you like a lady. Hadn't Lady Yeon-jeong said so just recently?
“Our little Cotton Ball is an adult now.”
Of course, to the people of the White Tiger Palace, So-ya was still their "cute little lady," but she took the transition to adulthood quite seriously.
“I found a very fun game that fourteen-year-olds can play,” Ah-rang said, pulling something out with a meaningful expression.
“This is the Truth Branch.”
“Isn't that just a normal stick?”
“Normal? How rude. This is a very special branch,” Ah-rang huffed as she explained. “You spin this branch, and whoever it points to has to tell the absolute truth. If you lie, the branch punishes you.”
“What if we can’t say the truth?” So-ya asked.
“How about a penalty? You have to run to the top of Mt. Horim and back,” Ga-yul suggested.
“Deal!”
“Sounds good!”
“Okay.”
“That sounds interesting.”
With everyone’s agreement, the game began.
“Alright, here I go!”
Ah-rang placed the branch in the center and gave it a practice spin. The branch whirled around before coming to a sharp halt, pointing directly at Seol-yo.
Four pairs of mischievous eyes fixed on the flinching Seol-yo.
“Hehehe. You have to answer my question truthfully, Seol-yo,” Ah-rang said with a wicked grin. “Is there a girl here you think is pretty? Yes or no?”
In an instant, Seol-yo’s heart began to thud wildly.
“I-I...”
His face turned bright red.