Chapter 67
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 67
“I’m so jealous, Baek Sa-eon. To have such a cute, kind, and clever daughter.”
Cheong-ha spoke with a playful smile, trying to hide how deeply moved she was.
“If you’re that envious,” Sa-eon replied in his usual calm voice, “why don't you try becoming the mother of our little cotton ball yourself?”
“Oh, what are you talking about? I have no intention of taking that child away from you—”
Cheong-ha’s voice trailed off.
She slowly lowered her gaze. He was holding her wrist.
He held her as if she were something precious—desperately, yet with profound tenderness.
“You don’t have to take her away from me. You can be her mother as much as you want. All you have to do is return to the White Tiger Palace.”
Unlike his casual tone from moments ago, the gaze meeting hers was incredibly deep.
“Baek Sa-eon. I…”
“The day you first met her, you said it, didn’t you? That you could never win against me.”
Sa-eon cut off Cheong-ha’s attempt to respond and spoke in a low murmur.
“But that’s not true. You said you couldn't beat me, but in reality, I’m the one who can never win against you. Because I’ve always let you win.”
“…”
“No matter what you do, even if you were to point a spear at my throat, I would spend the rest of my life losing to you.”
“…”
“From when we were very young, to marrying you, and even accepting your request for a divorce… there hasn't been a single moment where I didn't let you win.”
“…”
“And even now.”
Sa-eon tightened his grip on her wrist and slowly stroked the inside of it with his thumb.
“Even now, I’m waiting like this because I can’t win against you.”
Cheong-ha fell silent at his quiet confession.
Swoosh—
A cold winter wind brushed between them.
“Cheong-ha.”
His low voice seeped through the chilly night air.
“I haven't been able to say this to you once in all these years.”
Sa-eon’s lips curled into a smirk as he pulled her wrist toward him. In an instant, she was folded into his embrace.
Leaning down slowly, he whispered something into her ear.
“…”
“…!”
Cheong-ha’s earlobes instantly turned bright red.
Sa-eon let out a soft laugh and released her. The low sound of his laughter echoed through the clear night air.
“The position of the Lady of the White Tiger Palace is still vacant. And as long as I remain the Clan Head, it will continue to stay vacant.”
He looked at her as she stepped out of his arms, his eyes curving into a relaxed smile.
“So, whenever you want, come back.”
“…”
“I don’t care when it is. Whether it’s ten years, twenty years, or even a hundred years from now… come back whenever you wish.”
“…”
“The children and I will always be waiting.”
“…”
Cheong-ha stared at him in silence for a moment before offering a bright smile in return.
“Thank you, Sa-eon.”
* * *
The next morning.
So-ya, who had stayed up later than usual the previous night to watch the snow-covered scenery of Mt. Horim, rubbed her eyes as she woke up late in the morning.
“Are you awake, So-ya?”
As she sat up, So-ya saw Ga-hyeon entering the room.
“Brother?”
“I didn't see you at the breakfast hall, and they told me you were sleeping in.”
Ga-hyeon smiled as he placed the tray he was carrying onto the bedside table. On the tray were tangerines and honey tea, which So-ya had enjoyed when she had a cold.
“I was worried you’d be hungry waking up alone, so I brought this.”
“Thank you, Brother. I’ll enjoy it.”
As So-ya thanked him with a smile, she suddenly noticed something.
Wait. Is that…?
The silver hairpiece set with blue jade that held Ga-hyeon’s hair up in a high ponytail…
That’s Lady Cheong-ha’s gift!
It was the very gift Cheong-ha had intended to give Ga-hyeon yesterday but had brought back after failing to do so.
They made up!
Realizing this, So-ya’s face lit up.
I’m so glad.
When So-ya looked at him with a heartwarming expression, Ga-hyeon’s face flushed slightly. He had come specifically to let her know he had reconciled with Cheong-ha, but he felt a bit shy now that she’d noticed.
“Well, I have a lesson to attend, so I’ll head out first, So-ya. Make sure you eat.”
“Yes, Brother!”
So-ya giggled and waved her hand.
And there was more good news. Ga-yul had finally finished his growing pains!
“How about it, Cotton Ball? Isn't your big brother amazing?”
Roar—!
Having completed his First Growth, Ga-yul spoke boastfully in his transformed state as a massive tiger.
So-ya’s eyes simply trembled in silence. Her face was one of utter shock.
“What’s wrong? Are you so stunned by how cool I am?”
Ga-yul remembered how So-ya had clapped in admiration when he first showed her his beast transformation after she arrived at the White Tiger Palace. He looked at her with sparkling, expectant eyes, certain she would react the same way.
“…You’re not cute at all!” So-ya cried out, looking as if her world had collapsed.
“What…?”
Startled, Ga-yul’s pink nose huffed.
“You’re not cute one bit. What is this?”
“C-Cute? Who? Me? Cotton Ball, have you been thinking I was cute all this time?”
Ga-yul began to hop and prance around with his massive body. As he bounded about—no longer a small cub but a tiger the size of a house—the ground thudded and vibrated.
However, instead of being frightened, So-ya pouted and puffed out her cheeks.
Of course, So-ya had seen Ga-hyeon’s beast form many times, so she knew how large a tiger became after the First Growth. But in her mind, Ga-yul had always been a cute baby tiger, and that image had just been shattered in an instant.
“Really? I think he’s cute like this, too.”
Cheong-ha spoke as she stroked the underside of the huffing Ga-yul’s chin.
At her touch, the frantic Ga-yul stiffened for a moment before letting out an involuntary purr.
Seeing this, So-ya showed a bit of interest. She approached from the other side and reached out to stroke Ga-yul’s chin as well.
“S-Stop it, Cotton Ball! That tickles…! Purr, purr.”
Every time Ga-yul purred, his long white whiskers twitched. So-ya’s eyes grew round.
“You’re right, Lady Cheong-ha! Looking at him again, Brother Yul is still very cute like this!”
“Cute? I am the third son of the great White Tiger Clan…! Purr, purr.”
“Besides, the fur under his chin is even fluffier now, so it feels great!”
“Doesn't it?”
Cheong-ha winked, and So-ya burst into a peal of laughter. Surrounded by So-ya and Cheong-ha, Ga-yul continued to make happy purring sounds. He might have the body of a giant tiger, but he still acted like a cub.
Pop!
Before long, Ga-yul’s transformation wore off. Since he had only just completed his First Growth, he couldn't maintain the form for long.
As Ga-yul began to tip over from exhaustion, Cheong-ha caught him. Buried in the folds of Cheong-ha’s skirt, Ga-yul lifted his head, met her eyes, and gave a goofy grin.
Having been so young when Cheong-ha left the palace, Ga-yul was simply happy to have his mother by his side.
Brother Yul looks so happy that his mom is here. He has a completely different expression than when he’s with Father. I wonder what it feels like to have a mother?
As So-ya watched them, Cheong-ha called out to her and reached out an arm.
“So-ya.”
“…!”
Recognizing the signal, So-ya trotted over, and Cheong-ha pulled her small body into a tight embrace.
Snug—
Her father’s embrace was firm and solid. But Lady Cheong-ha’s embrace was soft and warm. It was a cozy temperature, the kind that would thaw a frozen body after playing in the snow.
I wonder if the arms of the mother who gave birth to me were this soft and warm?
Naturally, So-ya began to think of her own mother.