Chapter 50
Meanwhile, Sa-eon pondered Seolyo’s identity.
Until now, he had introduced Seolyo to the people of Baekho Palace as an ordinary black wolf, so to have a boy stay at the palace, he needed a suitable new identity.
After much deliberation, he once again enlisted San-ho’s help and introduced him as her distant relative.
“He’s a very distant relative from the Indigo Wolf Clan. He’s been carrying out infiltration missions in his beast-transformed form to serve as Young Lady Cotton Ball’s guard.”
Everyone was surprised to learn that Seolyo, whom they had thought was an ordinary wolf, was actually a beastkin, but most didn’t suspect anything further.
Only Suri, San-ho’s younger brother, tilted his head in puzzlement.
“That’s strange. I’ve never seen this kid before. Was there someone like him in the Wolf Clan?”
“I-it’s good to have one more playmate, right! W-why are you s-suspecting something like th-that!”
Worried that Seolyo’s true identity might be exposed, Gayul said something to Suri, only to receive an even more suspicious look in return.
Seolyo spent the entire day pattering closely after Soya, darting behind her the moment anyone else appeared.
Of course, since Seolyo was taller than Soya, he was still fully visible even when hiding behind her.
Watching Seolyo like that, the people of Baekho Palace chuckled that their young lady had acquired a cute little guard.
“Guard? What’s a guard?”
“A guard is someone who follows you around, sticks right by your side, and protects you.”
“……!”
At those words, Seolyo’s eyes sparkled brightly.
‘I’m Soya’s guard! I’ll protect Soya!’
As if bearing the most important mission in the world, Seolyo stuck even closer to Soya’s side and refused to leave.
Then, as evening came.
While trailing after Soya, who was heading back to her room after dinner, Seolyo was suddenly grabbed by the scruff of his neck by Sa-eon.
“Head back to your own room for today. It’s bedtime for little ones.”
“I-I want to sleep with Soya……!”
Seolyo flailed in midair as he shouted.
“Boys and girls shouldn’t share a bed past the age of seven. Haven’t you heard that?”
“I don’t know that stuff! Let me go already!”
Seolyo snarled fiercely at Sa-eon.
Having always slept by Soya’s bedside until now, he was thoroughly annoyed at Sa-eon for suddenly interfering.
In response, Sa-eon arched one eyebrow sharply and let out a scoff.
“You’re not some demonic beast anymore. Those teeth aren’t even sharp.”
But as if mocking Sa-eon, Seolyo suddenly transformed with a poof! into a tiger with sharp fangs.
“……?”
Sa-eon blinked in confusion and asked.
“You’re a tiger beastkin?”
But if so, there’s no way I wouldn’t have recognized him.
“I can become anything I want to be.”
“What……?”
While Sa-eon’s expression hardened in an instant, Soya and Gayul clapped their hands in delight and wonder.
“Wow, Seolyo is so cool!”
“Then can you transform into a fox? A bear? A wolf?”
Gayul went even further, egging Seolyo on to try transforming into this and that.
Seolyo transformed into each animal Gayul named with successive poofs! as if it were no trouble at all.
“Then what about a dragon?”
“A dragon?”
“You don’t know dragons?”
“…….”
Seolyo nodded.
Gayul tried describing what a dragon looked like, but Seolyo couldn’t transform into one. He’d never seen one before.
“Aw, what a letdown. You can’t do dragons either.”
Unlike the children, who were utterly fascinated by Seolyo’s abilities, Sa-eon’s expression was grave.
‘A beastkin who can transform into anything.’
Though he had once been corrupted and lived in the form of a demonic beast, Seolyo was definitely a beastkin.
Because he possessed a spirit core.
However, Sa-eon had never heard of a beastkin who could transform into whatever they desired.
It was then, as Sa-eon gazed at Seolyo with a face lost deep in thought.
“Patriarch! So you’re here!”
Jeokyeong urgently sought out Sa-eon. At his unusual expression, Sa-eon hardened his eyes and asked.
“What is it?”
“Well, the Imperial Palace…”
Jeokyeong, who had opened his mouth absentmindedly, spotted the children in the room and paused, then lowered his voice to a whisper audible only to Sa-eon.
In an instant, Sa-eon’s expression turned icy cold.
* * *
That day, after receiving Jeokyeong’s report, Sa-eon left Baekho Palace, saying there was urgent business at the Imperial Palace.
A day after Sa-eon left, two days, five days…
“Brother, don’t you miss Sa-eon?”
“Father often leaves Baekho Palace. Back in the day, he was away even longer when he went off to the battlefield.”
Gayul shrugged and answered Soya’s question.
‘But I miss Sa-eon so much…’
Seeing Gayul carry on spiritedly as usual without Sa-eon made Soya feel like she was the only one throwing a tantrum, so she tightly suppressed her longing for him.
Then, eight days passed, ten days…
“Brother Gahyeon. Don’t you miss Sa-eon?”
“Father left for important business, so even if we miss him, we have to hold out a little. If you’re really bored, Soya, want to play with your big brother?”
Looking at Gahyeon’s kind smile, Soya thought to herself.
‘It’s not boredom… I just miss Sa-eon…’
That day, Soya spent time with Gahyeon for once, visiting the library and going on a maple-viewing outing, but the emptiness in her heart didn’t fade.
“Seolyo, don’t you miss Sa-eon?”
“?”
She even asked Seolyo, but he merely tilted his head.
Then, on the fifteenth day.
Unable to bear it any longer, Soya asked the adults when Sa-eon would return.
“It seems the Imperial Palace is in quite a turmoil. They say the Fifth Prince is purging his brothers in a bloodbath.”
“Pardon? The Fifth Prince?”
One face immediately came to mind in Soya’s head.
Platinum-blond hair and turquoise eyes…
[Next time I come, I want to take you to the Imperial Palace. If you’ll allow it.]
The gentle prince who had said that and hooked his pinky finger with hers.
Things had been so hectic afterward that she’d momentarily forgotten about him.
She simply couldn’t believe that such a kind person was the one stirring up a bloodbath.
“Our Patriarch was the Fifth Prince’s teacher. That’s why he’s the only adult the prince truly trusts and relies on.”
“…….”
“It looks like he’ll have to stay in the capital until the situation at the Imperial Palace settles.”
“…….”
Soya felt a bit upset, as she hadn’t expected to go this long without seeing Sa-eon.
‘But since it’s Brother Rim of all people, I can yield Sa-eon to him for a little while.’
He was the one who had offered her the only kindness during the most difficult and lonely time before she met Sa-eon.
Thinking that way eased her upset heart a little.
‘Instead of moping because I miss Sa-eon, I should diligently practice my unique ability until he returns.’
Soya resolutely found her task.
“That’s strange. Isn’t it like this… putting strength into my fingertips…?”
She had been practicing whenever she had a moment, gathering power at her fingertips in hopes of using her unique ability again, but it wasn’t working easily.
“Maybe that day was just a fluke.”
It was then, as Soya let out a soft sigh.
“Soya!”
A colorful flower blossom was suddenly thrust right in front of her face.
Without even looking, Soya knew who had brought the flower.
“Seolyo.”
Soya looked up with a bright smile.
The boy with his jet-black hair tied up high in a ponytail handed her the bouquet and plopped down beside her with a thud.
“Soya, you’re in a bad mood?”
Seolyo glanced at her expression and asked.
“Huh? How did you know?”
Flustered, Soya touched her own face. Had her melancholy shown that much?
“Here. When Soya’s in a bad mood, it droops.”
Seolyo poked the outer corner of Soya’s eyebrow with his finger and answered.
“Oh, I see. I just got a little upset because I want to handle my unique ability well, but it’s not working like I think it should.”
Soya smiled lightly, as if it were no big deal, and shared her worry.
Seolyo wanted to help Soya.
But he didn’t know how to make someone better at handling their unique ability either.
It was then.
“The Patriarch is returning!”
At the shout, Soya jumped to her feet.
“Sa-eon!”
Soya and Seolyo dashed together toward Baekho Palace’s main gate.
Gahyeon, Gayul, and all the people of Baekho Palace were already gathered there.
“Huh…?”
In the distance appeared a golden palanquin drawn by six horses—the only kind the emperor of Taehwa Kingdom could ride.
Sa-eon was riding alongside it on horseback.
But Soya’s gaze wasn’t on Sa-eon, whom she’d waited for these past few days—it went to the boy seated atop the palanquin.
Nor was she the only one; everyone gathered there felt the same.
“That palanquin…”
“No way, the rumors…”
Ignoring the murmurs, Soya stared blankly at the boy.
More precisely, at the imperial crown resting atop the boy’s head.
Soon, the palanquin stopped, and the boy atop it gracefully stepped down.
“I’ve been awaiting your return, Father. And…”
As Gahyeon hesitated, unsure how to address the boy.
The boy strode straight toward Soya.
“I was too late, Soya.”
Everyone was taken aback by the boy’s sudden action, but he smiled softly, paying no mind to the others’ stares, and said.
“I’ve missed you.”
