Chapter 82
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 82
While everyone else was in a festive mood over the Young Lady’s growth, two individuals wore dark, somber expressions.
They were Ga-hyeon and Ga-yul.
That day, in the village they had followed their father to...
Ga-yul had ultimately witnessed So-ya scattering red feathers.
Even after their father had returned to the White Tiger Palace first with So-ya, who was suffering from growing pains, Ga-yul had incessantly denied what he had seen.
No.
I must have seen it wrong.
Right. I definitely saw it wrong, didn't I?
...
However, at the end of that denial, Ga-yul had to bite the tender flesh inside his mouth and accept reality.
He hadn't seen it wrong.
He had seen it clearly.
Red feathers falling from her body.
There was no way he could have mistaken those brilliantly blazing red feathers blooming in the darkness.
Ga-yul returned a little later with the others.
And when he arrived back at the White Tiger Palace...
"Brother. Where's So-ya...?"
"In her room."
Ga-hyeon, who was leaning against the hallway wall, answered curtly with a dark face, gesturing toward So-ya’s room with his eyes.
Ga-yul leaned against the wall beside him and asked in a voice heavy with gloom.
"Hey, Brother. Is So-ya really the daughter of the Vermilion Bird Clan?"
"..."
When Ga-hyeon didn't answer, a sudden wave of fear washed over Ga-yul.
Seeing that even his brother, who was much more knowledgeable and smarter than him, couldn't deny it, it seemed So-ya really was the daughter of the Vermilion Bird Clan.
"Then what do we do now?"
Ga-yul looked up at Ga-hyeon, his face crumpling as he teetered on the edge of tears.
"Does this mean I can't be Cotton Ball's big brother anymore? I can't let that happen. I can't live without Cotton Ball now. I can't even imagine the White Tiger Palace without her. What are we going to do, Brother?"
Ga-yul recalled everything that had happened since So-ya came to the White Tiger Palace.
When everyone else called him a spoiled young master, she was the only child who told him he was cool.
When he was with that girl, who resembled a soft, fluffy cotton ball, Ga-yul felt like he had become a truly magnificent tiger.
He felt like he wasn't just a baby tiger being cared for by everyone, but a reliable, cool tiger who could protect someone else.
At some point, So-ya had become an indispensable presence to him.
My precious little sister, Cotton Ball, whom I would protect and cherish for a lifetime.
But now, to find out that Cotton Ball was the daughter of the Vermilion Bird Clan.
Ga-yul clutched Ga-hyeon’s sleeve, looking as if he would burst into tears at any moment.
"...What else can we do?"
Finally, Ga-hyeon spoke slowly.
"We have to stop So-ya from leaving."
"How?"
"..."
In beastkin society, 'bloodline' was a value of utmost importance.
Nevertheless, Ga-hyeon could not send So-ya to those people.
"By any means necessary."
"…!"
At Ga-hyeon’s answer, Ga-yul lifted his head with an expression of sudden realization.
* * *
So-ya finished her preparations with a heart full of excitement.
However, just as she was about to leave her room for the banquet hall...
"Oh?"
San-ho let out a bewildered cry.
"All of the Young Lady’s shoes have disappeared. How could this happen?"
"My shoes are gone?"
There were no other girls So-ya’s age in the White Tiger Palace.
So, it was highly unlikely that someone had stolen them out of envy...
"I saw the little tiger carrying all your shoes away earlier," Seol-yo interjected suddenly. The 'little tiger' Seol-yo referred to was none other than Ga-yul.
"What?"
"Goodness, why would the Youngest Young Master play such a prank?" San-ho muttered in confusion.
So-ya’s lip pouted out.
Inwardly, she had been waiting for her brothers to come and congratulate her on her growth, but instead of congratulating her, they were playing such mean pranks.
"Oh, don't be too upset, my lady. The Youngest Young Master has always been mischievous. Perhaps he’s planning something else to surprise you?"
Noticing So-ya’s disappointment, Yeon-jeong soothed her in a gentle voice.
"Do you think so?"
At those words, So-ya’s interest was piqued, and her expression softened slightly.
"I suppose it can't be helped, then. It doesn't match my clothes, but I'll just wear these."
So-ya had to head to the banquet hall wearing the slippers she wore inside her room.
But Ga-yul’s mischievous behavior didn't end there.
The moment she opened the door and stepped outside, So-ya froze in her tracks.
"Yeon-jeong, San-ho. I think I'm seeing something strange."
"...I think I see it too, my lady."
"...Me too."
Out of nowhere, desks and chairs were piled up like a mountain, completely blocking the hallway.
"Who on earth would do such a thing..."
Just as Yeon-jeong muttered in a stunned voice, So-ya spotted Ga-yul coming from the other side, carrying a chair.
"Brother!"
Ga-yul, who had been building a massive wall of desks and chairs to prevent So-ya from coming out, jumped in surprise at her shout and dropped the chair he was holding.
"What are you do— Brother! Where are you going!"
Despite So-ya’s call, Ga-yul bolted away in a flash.
So-ya felt a surge of anger at his behavior.
Poof!
Immediately undergoing her beast transformation, So-ya fluttered into the air, flew over the mountain of desks and chairs Ga-yul had built, and chased after him.
"Oh my, Young Lady!"
"Young Lady, be careful!"
"Wait for me, So-ya!"
While Yeon-jeong and San-ho called out in distress, Seol-yo transformed into a large wolf and charged toward So-ya.
In the process, the mountain of desks and chairs Ga-yul had painstakingly built collapsed with a thunderous roar.
In an instant, the entire White Tiger Palace was turned into a shambles.
* * *
When Sa-eon arrived late after hearing the news, he found a tiger cornered behind the White Tiger Palace buildings, a tiny bird venting its fury beside him, and a large wolf standing nearby.
The tiger, as large as a grown man, was cowering and whimpering at the chirping shouts of the tiny bird, which was smaller than its own paw.
One might have expected someone to intervene, but no one took Ga-yul’s side.
Even Yeon-jeong, San-ho, and Su-ri were simply watching with their arms crossed.
"What is going on here?"
"Father!"
At Sa-eon’s bewildered murmur, So-ya, who had been chirping angrily at Ga-yul, quickly released her beast transformation and ran to him.
She then proceeded to tattle on all of Ga-yul’s misdeeds.
"Yul did that?"
When Sa-eon asked back in disbelief, Yeon-jeong, San-ho, and Su-ri all nodded in unison to confirm it was true.
So-ya, who had returned to her human form, huffed with an indignant and sorrowful face, her eyes slightly red.
Normally, Ga-yul was very weak to this side of So-ya.
If So-ya was even slightly hurt or looked like she was about to cry, Ga-yul would be the first to step up and take care of her.
Though he was prideful, he would immediately apologize to So-ya for even the smallest mistake.
For such a Ga-yul to make So-ya cry with a mean prank and offer no excuse...
Why would he do such a thing?
Sa-eon tilted his head, unable to understand the reason.
Is he... jealous that So-ya had her First Growth?
But to say he was jealous, Ga-yul had grown before So-ya and had been waiting for his younger sister’s growth more than anyone.
Hadn't Ga-yul even refrained from his own beast transformation just so So-ya wouldn't feel upset about her delayed growth?
"Hey there. Youngest Tiger."
Sa-eon approached Ga-yul.
Ga-yul had his head pressed against the ground, covering his face with his front paws and showing only his backside.
Seeing his drooping ears and tail, it seemed he realized he had done something wrong...
"Yul. My boy. Daddy’s here. Look at me."
However, Ga-yul did not turn around despite Sa-eon’s gentle coaxing.
"Are you not going to talk to Dad either?"
"Whimper..."
The large tiger only let out a sorrowful whine, sniffing his nose.
Seeing the usually spirited Ga-yul so dejected, the hearts of the people who had been glaring at the troublemaking young master began to soften with pity.
Even So-ya’s anger from moments ago was starting to subside.
"Clan Head, Clan Head!"
Jeok Yeong came running toward Sa-eon in a frantic rush.
"What is it?"
"Young Master Hyeon!"
Just as Sa-eon’s brow furrowed at Jeok Yeong’s breathless shout...
"He has been captured after destroying the bridge leading to the Southern Land and attacking the garrison!"
"What?"