Chapter 138
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Chapter 138
Meanwhile, moments after Jeok Soya fell into the water.
"Oh no, what do I do? She lost her footing and fell into the pond all by herself!"
Riri cried out, stamping her feet in distress.
Splash!
Seol Yo, who had been dangling from Gaya's grip until that moment, immediately wrenched free and dove into the pond in search of Jeok Soya.
But the water was murky with silt and small stones churned up by the beast, obscuring everything from view.
Unable to find Jeok Soya, he had no choice but to surface once more.
Beside him, Baek Gayul emerged from the water as well, tears streaming down his face—he too had plunged in but found nothing.
Splash—
A massive white tiger broke through the water's surface.
Gaya had descended to the pond's depths in his beast form, yet he could not find Jeok Soya.
In the water, he could not catch her scent.
A thunderous roar erupted—!
Gaya's cry shattered the air.
The roar of a fully matured white tiger, having completed its second growth phase, sent ripples cascading across the water's surface.
The sound was so chilling that people froze in place, and even the beast's assault ceased for a brief moment.
At the commotion, Sayeon and Baek Gahyun learned that Jeok Soya had fallen into the water.
The beast still thrashed in the center of the pond.
The members of the Baekho Family entrusted the creature to San Yu and the other commanders, then began frantically searching the pond for Jeok Soya.
Watching them, Riri let out a silent scoff.
'Why are they searching so desperately for her?'
She could not comprehend it.
They were searching with such anguished expressions for a child they had merely picked up—not even their true daughter.
Riri disembarked from the small boat and made her way toward the gathering of those injured by the beast.
Some had merely fallen into the water, but others bore wounds from the creature's attacks, blood streaming from their injuries.
"Hello. I would like to help as well."
"Are you not a young lady of the Jujak Family?"
A palace attendant, recognizing Riri's crimson hair, posed the question.
"I am Riri of the Jujak Family. I believe I can be of assistance. You see...."
Riri's lips curved upward slightly as she recalled her conversation with Dochul.
[Tomorrow, there will be a small disturbance at the Imperial Palace. You need only use the power I have given you to heal the people.]
[Use this power to heal people?]
[Yes. This power will make you the bride of the Yellow Dragon, little cuckoo.]
Last night, to test this power, Riri had broken the leg of a young sparrow and healed it.
And indeed, the sparrow's leg had mended, the wound closing completely.
A power to cure the afflicted!
It was truly magnificent.
In that moment of wonder, Riri grasped the truth instinctively.
This power would make her the most noble woman in all the world!
"You possess the ability to heal people, Miss?"
"Yes. Allow me to demonstrate."
Before the skeptical onlookers, Riri unleashed the sorcerous power she had received from Dochul.
Crimson flames, bright as blood, bloomed from her palm, seeping into the wounds of the injured and cleansing away their pain without a trace.
It was at that moment when those nearby burst into exclamations of wonder.
"The, the beast has collapsed!"
The lotus-formed beast that had been savagely attacking the boat suddenly lost its strength and shriveled.
The black mud that had composed the beast sank once more beneath the pond's surface.
Until that moment, Riri had paid it little mind.
After all, that beast was one I had sent to make my entrance spectacular, so I had assumed it simply died when its time came.
It was only when a man emerged from the pond, cradling Jeok Soya in his arms, accompanied by the splashing of water, that everything changed.
"Your, Your Majesty...!"
"Soya!"
"Cotton ball!"
At the murmur of the crowd, Riri's head snapped around.
And there... stood Tae Irim.
Drenched in water, Tae Irim was walking from the pond, carrying Jeok Soya in his arms.
Drip. Drip.
Water fell to the ground with each step he took.
The people gathered with embarrassed expressions at the sight of the Emperor's soaked form.
The members of the Baekho Family, upon discovering Jeok Soya cradled peacefully in his embrace with eyes gently closed, were left utterly speechless.
'That, why is that child...!'
Riri's pupils trembled uncontrollably.
'What is the meaning of this? Could it be that His Majesty himself dove into the pond and rescued that child?'
Yet no one had witnessed the Emperor diving into the pond.
'Surely it was mere coincidence...? There is no way His Majesty would have personally leaped into the pond to save that child.'
Yes. It must have been coincidence.
He was the Emperor, master of this Imperial Palace.
Upon hearing news of the beast's appearance, he must have come to investigate and happened to discover the child, bringing her out in this manner.
'That girl truly has remarkable fortune. To be cradled in His Majesty's arms of all things....'
Riri bit her lower lip fiercely.
"Your Majesty, are you unharmed?"
"Your Majesty, what has...."
Tae Irim responded curtly to the people who had gathered with flustered expressions.
"The daughter of the Baek Family destroyed the beast."
At those words, everyone turned their astonished gaze toward Jeok Soya, cradled in Tae Irim's arms.
"Pardon? That small young lady, you say?"
"Even dozens of generals could not overcome it...."
The people murmured in disbelief, but Tae Irim offered no further explanation.
In the meantime, palace attendants arrived with thick blankets, draping them over the Emperor's wet shoulders and around Jeok Soya's form cradled in his arms.
Tae Irim wrapped Jeok Soya's body in a thick blanket and carried her forward, cradling her against him.
"Your Majesty."
Sayeon called out to him, his complexion ashen.
"Moving Soya to safety takes priority. Guide the way, Sayeon."
"...Understood."
Sayeon turned to lead Tae Irim toward Jeok Soya's Quarters.
'Ah, this is no time for hesitation!'
Riri, who had been standing dazed at the sight, suddenly snapped to attention and pushed through the crowd to rush toward Tae Irim.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, are you unharmed? I can—"
"..."
Tae Irim glanced at Riri, who stood blocking his path.
Riri instinctively flinched at the oppressive aura emanating from him.
Though he had spoken not a word, his gaze alone—cold and eerie—seemed to freeze anyone who met it.
Yet Riri gathered her courage and opened her mouth again.
"I can heal you! I just treated everyone injured by the magical beasts! Please, allow me to examine Your Majesty's condition."
"Miss, you mustn't obstruct His Majesty's path."
The palace attendants attempted to dissuade her, but she remained unmoved.
Instead, she began pouring out words she had prepared in advance.
"After arriving at the Imperial Palace and meeting Your Majesty, I awakened the power of purification."
Riri spread her hands and conjured a small flame.
"This is the purifying flame that Phoenix granted me."
Astonishment flickered across the faces of everyone present.
"The young lady of the Jujak Family has awakened a Divine Beast's power..."
"But only the Yellow Dragon's bride can awaken a Divine Beast's power..."
"She awakened the power after meeting His Majesty, so perhaps it resonated with the orb's power that His Majesty possesses..."
The crowd began murmuring among themselves, piling speculation upon speculation.
Riri had to bite the inside of her cheek to suppress the urge to laugh.
"After seeing His Majesty's face from a distance at yesterday's banquet, I had a strange dream. Phoenix appeared and told me I was the Yellow Dragon's bride... and would grant me the power of purification."
Though she attempted to explain in the calmest voice possible, her rising excitement inevitably seeped through.
Especially when mentioning "the Yellow Dragon's bride" from her own lips—a certain bashfulness crept in.
She could feel the crowd's agitation at her words.
"Your Majesty..."
Riri gazed at Tae Irim with an expression brimming with anticipation.
His expressionless face revealed nothing of what he was thinking.
Yet one thing she could say with certainty:
Tae Irim's face, seen up close, was incomparably more beautiful than when viewed from a distance.
"So please, allow me to examine Your Majesty's condition."
Riri spoke thus and extended her hand toward Tae Irim.
"The Yellow Dragon's bride?"
Tae Irim echoed her words in a cool voice.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Phoenix appeared in my dream last night and told me so...."
Riri's confident voice gradually faltered.
She had caught sight of the cold mockery lingering on Tae Irim's face.
'He doesn't believe a word I'm saying.'
Riri clenched her fists within her sleeves and swallowed hard.
That reaction—as though he'd heard the most absurd nonsense—filled her with anxiety.
"Ah, or perhaps this child instead, I could...."
Desperate to do something, anything, Riri forced an awkward smile and turned to him once more.
It was the moment her hand reached toward Jeok Soya.
"Stop."
At those words, Riri's hand froze.
"Do not lay another finger on this child."
Tae Irim pulled Jeok Soya close, blanket and all, as he spoke.
His voice was so glacial it seemed to freeze her to the bone, and Riri stumbled backward.
The way Tae Irim shielded Jeok Soya in his embrace, as though her very touch were contamination, struck Riri with bewilderment.
Yet Tae Irim spared her not a single glance, turning instead to stride toward the White Tiger Clan Quarters.
Sayeon, Baekho, the other princes of the Baekho Family, and the palace attendants who served the Emperor all rushed after him in unison.
In an instant, Riri found herself abandoned, standing alone.
Belated shame set her face ablaze.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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