Chapter 72
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 72
So-ya tilted her head as she looked at the characters written on the sheet of paper.
Noticing her interest, Sa-eon stroked the child’s head and explained, “They say a terrifying plague is spreading, one that contaminates the spirit cores of beastkin.”
“A plague that contaminates spirit cores?” So-ya’s eyes grew wide and round. “Then isn't that a huge problem?”
“Yes, it’s a very serious matter. That’s why I’ll likely have to go and investigate soon. His Majesty has issued an imperial decree.” Sa-eon spoke as he lightly fluttered the paper.
Acting upon the orders of the Imperial Family was one of the solemn duties of the Four Great Clans.
So-ya’s eyes followed the swaying paper back and forth before she suddenly spoke up. “I want to go with you.”
“What?”
“I promised Mother. I told her I’d protect Father so he wouldn't cry. And…” So-ya hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage. “And I also have the duties of the direct lineage to protect the beastkin. I am Baek So-ya of the White Tiger Clan, after all.”
Sa-eon stared at So-ya in silence for a moment before nodding his head. “Alright. Let’s do that.”
So-ya, who had inwardly expected him to refuse, asked back with a look of surprise, “Really?”
“On the condition that you stay right by my side so you don’t get into danger.”
“Yes!” So-ya answered with a bright smile.
A chuckle escaped Sa-eon’s lips at the sight. He had intended to tell her she was still too young, that she couldn't go—but how could he say no to a child speaking of the duties of her lineage?
Besides, he knew that So-ya had been feeling down lately due to issues regarding her First Growth.
‘Perhaps a change of scenery will help the Cotton Ball’s mood improve.’
* * *
Trotting outside, So-ya spotted Ga-yul walking toward her from a distance.
“Oh? Yul-i orabeoni!”
“Cotton Ball! Where are you coming from?”
Now thirteen years old, Ga-yul was much taller than he had been at ten, and his voice had begun to thicken as he entered puberty. He was still as mischievous and playful as ever, but in appearance at least, he had become quite the dashing young lord.
During the last Mountain Lord Festival, he had finally seized the title of Mountain Lord he had been eyeing. So-ya had happened to overhear the young beastkin ladies of the Western Land whispering about how handsome Ga-yul was.
To think that her cute baby tiger brother had become a magnificent tiger admired by pretty young ladies.
As So-ya watched him with a somewhat proud expression, Ga-yul approached and whispered in a secretive voice.
[The way those girls have been looking at me since earlier is suspicious. I think they’re after my title as Mountain Lord.]
At those words, So-ya and Ga-hyeon burst into laughter at the same time. Only Ga-yul tilted his head with a puzzled look; even though a year had passed, he still didn't understand why his siblings had laughed at him that day.
“I’m on my way back from giving Father my morning greetings.”
“Ah, right. Morning greetings!” Ga-yul shouted, looking as if he had completely forgotten. “I forgot again.”
“Orabeoni, it’s not that you forgot; it’s that you only just remembered,” So-ya pointed out.
“Well, I guess that’s true…” Ga-yul scratched his head and grinned at the accurate observation.
“Oh, right! Orabeoni, in five days, I’m going to accompany Father when he leaves to carry out an imperial decree.” So-ya bragged in an excited voice.
“You’re following Father? Then when are you coming back?”
“I don’t know. Won’t we come back together once Father completes the imperial decree?”
If it had been Ga-hyeon, he would have noticed her excitement and told her how envious he was, but Ga-yul wasn't that sensitive. He simply pouted, thinking about how he wouldn't see So-ya for several days.
“What? Then I won't see you for a while.”
“If you’re that sad about it, you could come with us, Orabeoni,” So-ya said with a giggle. Ga-yul looked intrigued; it seemed like a pretty good idea.
“Should I?”
“Take this chance to give Father your greetings and ask him. I’ll be going now!”
Poof!
Transforming into a baby bird, So-ya soared into the air and flew out the window, wagging her tail feathers.
Ga-yul, who had been watching her fly, was about to turn around when he suddenly froze.
‘Huh?’
Something red caught his eye.
A single red feather drifted down slowly before his blinking eyes.
* * *
After picking up the red feather, Ga-yul spent a long time wandering around with a face full of worry. Everyone found it strange to see Ga-yul—who was usually so cheerful he looked like he’d never had a worry in his life—pacing through the White Tiger Palace with such a dark expression.
“Is something the matter, Young Lord?”
“N-no! It’s absolutely nothing!” Ga-yul jumped and answered suspiciously at Su-ri’s question.
“It doesn't seem like nothing…”
“S-shut up! What do you know! I—I want to be alone, so get out!”
After shooing Su-ri out, he remained alone in his room, staring intently at the red feather. This red feather, shorter than his finger, was definitely…
‘This is definitely… when Cotton Ball transformed and flew away… it looks like it fell from her body…’
Ga-yul paced around the room restlessly before coming to a sudden halt and sprinting toward Ga-hyeon’s room.
“Brother! Brotheeer!”
Bang!
Ga-yul threw the door open without the owner’s permission.
Ga-hyeon, who had been leaning against the window reading a book, frowned slightly at Ga-yul’s rude behavior and looked up.
“What is it?”
His hair, which had grown longer in the meantime, swayed elegantly in the breeze. Having become a fourteen-year-old nobleman, Ga-hyeon’s features had grown sharper, and he exuded a captivating aura reminiscent of Cheong-ha. With a gentle and soft charm different from Ga-yul’s, Ga-hyeon was also very popular among the young beastkin ladies.
However, contrary to his appearance that was as mild as spring sunshine, the voice he directed at his brother was nothing but cold.
“You’re not an ungrown tiger cub anymore. Don’t you know you shouldn't open a door and enter without the owner’s permission?”
“Brother. So-ya, you know! You said she used to live with the Vermilion Bird Clan, right?”
Ignoring his brother’s cold response, Ga-yul marched right up to Ga-hyeon and asked, “You said those bird-brains threw Cotton Ball away because she didn't have a red feather, right?”
Three years ago, when So-ya was being adopted into the family register of the White Tiger Clan, she had spoken of her past in front of Sa-eon and Ga-hyeon, but Ga-yul hadn't been there. At the time, he had been so excited and happy just by the fact that So-ya had become his sister that he hadn't thought about her past.
As time passed, he had heard bits and pieces about how So-ya had left the Vermilion Bird Clan to come here. How, on the day of her first beast transformation, she didn't have the red feather that a direct descendant of the Vermilion Bird Clan should naturally possess. And how she had been abandoned and cast out by her family because of it.
‘Stupid bird-brains! Cotton Ball’s white fluff is so much cuter!’
He had been so angry when he finally heard the story. Even though he didn't know the full extent of the persecution and abuse So-ya had suffered there, Ga-yul had been that furious.
“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?” Ga-hyeon’s expression hardened at the unexpected question.
“That’s…” Ga-yul hesitated for a moment, unable to answer.
“That’s what?” Ga-hyeon waited patiently, one eyebrow arched.
After a long silence, Ga-yul finally spoke. “…I think I saw it. A red feather.”
“What…?”
“N-no, I did see it! I’m sure of it! Cotton Ball dropped a red feather!”
“You might have seen wrong.”
“…”
Ga-yul looked around anxiously before pulling the red feather from his robe.
Ga-hyeon’s face turned stone-cold.