Chapter 90
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 90
The underwater street of the Eastern Land was bustling with the festivities of the Dragon God Festival.
The youngest lady of the White Tiger Clan, her hair as white as snowflakes and draped beautifully, stood waiting shyly for someone while dressed in a vibrant, multi-colored dress.
Before long, a young lord from the Blue Shark Clan with blue-gray hair came running breathlessly toward her.
“Lady So-ya! Have I kept you waiting?”
A-han caught his breath as he looked at So-ya, who had arrived early to wait for him.
“Not at all, Lord A-han. I came out early because I wanted to wait for you,” So-ya replied with a soft giggle.
“I was so excited to explore the underwater street and watch the Falling Flower Fireworks with you today that I couldn't sleep a wink last night.”
At that moment, A-han suddenly thrust a bouquet of brilliant flowers toward So-ya’s face.
“I saw these blooming beautifully on my way here. They reminded me of you, so I picked them.”
“Oh, my.”
So-ya’s eyes widened at the sight, but she soon smiled bashfully, her eyes crinkling as she accepted the flowers.
“Thank you.”
As the young lady gave a radiant smile, the passing beastkin all stopped in their tracks, mesmerized by her beauty. Even the young lord of the Blue Shark Clan, who had just handed her the flowers, could only stare blankly at her face. It was a smile that was truly that lovely and adorable.
Before long, word began to spread like wildfire that the lady of the White Tiger Clan from the Western Land was enjoying the festival with the young lord of the Blue Shark Clan—one of the most prestigious families in the Eastern Land.
However, there were several more pairs of eyes watching the scene from a distance…
There was the second young lord of the White Tiger Clan, biting his lower lip while glaring fiercely at the young lord of the Blue Shark Clan.
Beside him was the youngest young lord of the White Tiger Clan, his eyes blazing with a menacing expression.
And then there were the attendants of the White Tiger Clan, who had followed along out of fear that these overprotective brothers might cause a scene.
Throughout dinner the previous evening, they had tried to persuade So-ya. They had fretted and urged her to reconsider, but So-ya had simply responded with a bright smile.
Despite her soft, gentle face, So-ya was not one to bend once she had made up her mind. Ga-hyeon had always admired that firm side of her, but for the first time, he found her determination resentful.
If she had been stubborn or thrown a tantrum, he could have tried to break her will somehow. But when she smiled brightly and told him not to worry in that gentle voice of hers, he felt like he was the one being unreasonable.
“This is a disaster… So-ya is only twelve, and she’s already seeing a boy.”
Ga-hyeon muttered in a grim voice, his eyes still fixed on the Blue Shark young lord.
“Don’t worry too much, Young Master. It’s not like they’re holding hands or anything; they’re just walking side by side and looking at the festival,” Su-ri said.
“Exactly. And the young lady is allowed to see people. She did come all this way, after all,” Jeok-a chimed in, agreeing with Su-ri.
“But we don’t even know what kind of fellow he is!”
“That young lord is the eldest son of the Blue Shark Clan, and he is one year older than Lady So-ya—”
“Who said I was curious about his background?”
At Jeok-a’s businesslike report, both Ga-hyeon and Ga-yul glared at him simultaneously.
“Oh boy, at this rate, you two are so scary that I wonder how our lady will ever get married later…”
“What? Married? Did you just say that?” Ga-yul barked at Su-ri’s words.
“No, Young Master, it’s not like I said something impossible…”
“If you ever let such useless nonsense out of your mouth again, I’ll shove that worthless trap of yours into the deepest depths of the Cheonghae Sea,” Ga-hyeon added, his usual rationality nowhere to be found. Su-ri felt deeply wronged.
“Seol-yo, you say something too.”
Su-ri grabbed Seol-yo and shook him, looking for an ally.
However, unlike the four who were chattering away while following So-ya, Seol-yo had been silent for some time.
“…”
He simply stared at the backs of So-ya and the shark young lord, his eyes downcast.
Seol-yo didn’t really understand things like "dating."
But there was one thing he knew.
So-ya had said he was her best friend, yet he felt as though that position was being stolen by that boy. It was a different feeling from when he saw So-ya being close with Jjaek-jjaek.
When had he felt this way before?
Ah, then.
Three years ago, he had felt something similar while watching the Young Emperor who visited the White Tiger Palace. It was a strange sensation—a mix of disappointment and a lingering sense of sorrow.
As Seol-yo suppressed that odd feeling and watched So-ya intently, his gray eyes suddenly trembled.
So-ya and the shark young lord’s hands had accidentally brushed against each other.
*
Flinch!
A-han, whose fingertips had accidentally brushed against So-ya’s, jerked his body visibly.
“Lord A-han?”
“Ah…”
“Lord A-han, are you alright? Your face suddenly went pale,” So-ya asked in a worried voice.
“Ah, yes. My apologies. I suddenly felt a chill…”
A-han wiped away the cold sweat that had broken out without him realizing it.
So-ya let out a silent sigh.
The "chill" A-han had felt was due to the terrifying glares of her brothers, who were hiding behind them. It seemed the young lord of the Blue Shark Clan hadn't noticed them yet, but…
Honestly, my brothers still think I’m a baby.
She felt a chuckle bubbling up at the sight of her brothers, who had been restless since last night and were now tailing her like this.
However, her brothers following her was also part of the plan she had devised.
“Haha. I suppose I’ve been a bit run down lately. I’ve caused you unnecessary worry, Lady So-ya.”
Having composed himself, A-han spoke with an embarrassed smile.
“How do you like the underwater street?”
“It’s so beautiful and wondrous. To think such a magnificent street exists beneath the sea.”
The underwater street, which had been brought beneath the waves by the power of the Dragon God to mirror the streets of the land, displayed a harmonious blend of oceanic mystery and terrestrial beauty.
Unlike the festival streets on land, this underwater street was a space for marine beastkin. Exceptionally, those who possessed a Sea Bead from the Cheonghae Palace, like So-ya’s group, could wander here freely.
“Did you know, Lady So-ya?” A-han said, his voice suddenly turning serious.
“In the Eastern Land, there is a legend that if a man and a woman watch the Falling Flower Fireworks together on the last day of the festival, they will eventually make a Marriage Vow that lasts forever.”
“Oh, my. What a romantic story.”
Despite her expectant tone, So-ya was secretly feeling a bit regretful.
The Falling Flower Fireworks. I really wanted to see them too…
So-ya explored every corner of the underwater street with the young lord of the Blue Shark Clan. They navigated a seaweed maze made from plants found only in the deep sea and watched a performance by a school of colorful small fish.
She received a necklace made of seashells as a gift from A-han and looked at pearl beads, a specialty of the Eastern Land.
Before they knew it, time had flown by. There was still a little time left before the Falling Flower Fireworks.
“Why don’t we take a final stroll through the Coral Reef Garden and then head up to the surface when it’s time for the fireworks?”
“Yes, that sounds lovely, Lord A-han.”
So-ya stepped into the Coral Reef Garden with a gentle smile.
When they reached the deeper parts of the garden, she felt that her brothers’ gazes were no longer following them.
This should be far enough.
So-ya looked around with a thoughtful expression before turning to A-han with a request.
“Lord A-han, I’m a bit thirsty. Would you mind getting me something to drink?”
“Of course. Please wait right here.”
As A-han turned away to leave, a satisfied smile spread across his lips.
Heh, everything is going smoothly.
The young lady of the White Tiger Clan was as naive as she looked, making the plan progress even easier than expected. She was clearly smitten by his handsome face.
It’s a shame I won’t be able to see that pretty face again, but it can’t be helped.
However, when he returned, humming a tune to himself…
“Huh? Lady So-ya…?”
A-han looked around in a panic.
“La—Lady So-ya? Lady So-ya! Where are you, Lady So-ya!”
So-ya, who was supposed to be waiting patiently for him, had vanished.
Completely without a trace!