Chapter 50
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Chapter 50
Meanwhile, Sayeon found himself wrestling with the question of Seol Yo's identity.
Until now, he had introduced Seol Yo to the residents of Baek Ho Palace as an ordinary black wolf, so to keep the boy there in human form, a suitable new identity was necessary.
After much deliberation, he sought San Ho's assistance once more and introduced Seol Yo as her distant relative.
"A very distant relative of the Indigo Wolf Clan. He's been working undercover in his beast form to serve as a guard for our young lady."
Everyone was startled to learn that Seol Yo, whom they'd believed to be an ordinary wolf, was actually a humanoid beast, but most didn't question it deeply.
Only Suri, San Ho's brother, tilted his head in doubt.
"That's strange. I've never seen him before. Was there ever someone like that in the wolf clan?"
"W-well, it's nice to have one more person to play with! You, you, you—why are you being so s-suspicious!"
Baek Gayul interjected to prevent Seol Yo's identity from being exposed, but only received an even more suspicious gaze in return.
Seol Yo spent the entire day trailing behind Jeok Soya, scurrying after her at every turn, and whenever someone else appeared, he would dart behind her to hide.
Of course, since Seol Yo was taller than Jeok Soya, he remained entirely visible even when attempting to conceal himself.
Watching Seol Yo, the residents of Baek Ho Palace chuckled, remarking that their young lady had gained an adorable guardian.
"Guardian? What's a guardian?"
"A guardian is someone who follows you around and stays right beside you to protect you."
...!
At those words, Seol Yo's eyes gleamed with brilliant light.
'I'm Soya's guardian! I'm going to protect Soya!'
Seol Yo clung even more firmly to Jeok Soya's side, refusing to stray, as though bearing the most crucial mission in the world.
Then evening arrived.
As Seol Yo trailed behind Jeok Soya on her way back to her chamber after dinner, Sayeon suddenly seized him by the scruff of his neck.
"Tonight, you're going back to your own sleeping quarters. Children need their rest."
"N-no, I'm sleeping with Soya...!"
Seol Yo thrashed in midair, crying out.
"Men and women shouldn't share a bed after seven years old. Haven't you heard of that?"
"I don't know what that means! Let go of me right now!"
Seol Yo snarled fiercely at Sayeon.
He, who had always slept at the foot of Jeok Soya's bed, was now thoroughly irritated by this sudden interference from Sayeon.
At this, Sayeon raised one eyebrow sharply and let out a derisive snort.
"You're not even a calamitous beast anymore. Your teeth aren't even sharp."
But as if mocking Sayeon's words, Seol Yo suddenly transformed with a "pop!" into a tiger with sharp fangs.
...?
A bewildered Sayeon blinked, asking in confusion.
"You're a tiger humanoid?"
But if that were the case, I should have recognized you.
"I can become whatever I wish to be."
"What...?"
While Sayeon's expression hardened, Jeok Soya and Baek Gayul clapped their hands in amazement.
"Wow, Seol Yo, that's so cool!"
"Can you transform into a fox too? A bear? A wolf?"
Baek Gayul went further, urging Seol Yo to try transforming into various animals.
Seol Yo obliged without hesitation, shifting into each creature Baek Gayul named with a 'pop! pop!' sound.
"What about a dragon?"
"A dragon?"
"You don't know what a dragon is?"
....
Seol Yo nodded.
Though Baek Gayul attempted to describe the dragon's appearance, Seol Yo could not transform into one. He had never seen one before.
"Ugh, what's this? Can't even become a dragon."
Unlike the children who were utterly fascinated by Seol Yo's ability, Sayeon's expression grew grave.
'A beast-human who can transform into anything.'
Though he had once been corrupted and lived in the form of a calamitous beast, Seol Yo was undoubtedly a beast-human.
This was because Seol Yo possessed a spirit core.
Yet he had never heard of a beast-human capable of transforming into anything they desired.
It was then that Sayeon stood gazing at Seol Yo, his mind consumed with thought.
"Lord Sayeon! There you are!"
Jeok Young rushed to find Sayeon. At his grave expression, Sayeon's eyes hardened as he asked.
"What is it?"
"It's about the Imperial Palace...."
Jeok Young had begun to speak carelessly when he noticed the children in the chamber and hesitated, then lowered his voice to whisper only into Sayeon's ear.
In an instant, Sayeon's expression turned cold.
* * *
After receiving Jeok Young's report that day, Sayeon left Baek Ho Palace, citing urgent business at the Imperial Palace.
One day passed since Sayeon's departure, then two, then five....
"Brother, don't you miss Sayeon?"
"Father often leaves Baek Ho Palace. In the past, he was away for much longer when he went to the battlefield."
Baek Gayul shrugged in response to Jeok Soya's question.
'But I miss Sayeon so much....'
Watching Baek Gayul go about his days as cheerfully as always, Jeok Soya felt as though she alone were being childish, so she suppressed her longing to see Sayeon.
Then nine days passed, and ten days passed....
"Brother Gahyun, don't you miss Sayeon?"
"Father left on important business, so even if we miss him, we must be patient. Our Soya, if you're feeling too lonely, shall we play together?"
Looking at Baek Gahyun's gentle smile, Jeok Soya thought to herself.
'It's not that I'm lonely—I just miss Sayeon....'
That day, Jeok Soya spent time with Baek Gahyun visiting the Library and enjoying the autumn leaves, but the emptiness in her heart did not fade.
"Seol Yo, don't you miss Sayeon?"
?
She asked Seol Yo as well, but he merely tilted his head in confusion.
Then came the fifteenth day.
Unable to bear it any longer, Jeok Soya asked the adults when Sayeon would return.
"The Imperial Palace seems quite turbulent these days. The Fifth Prince is purging his siblings in a bloody rampage."
"What? The Fifth Prince?"
A face immediately surfaced in my mind.
Platinum blonde hair and cyan eyes....
[When I return, I wish to bring you to the Imperial Palace. If you will permit it.]
That kind prince who had hooked his pinky finger with mine as he spoke those words.
So much had happened afterward that I'd temporarily forgotten about him.
I couldn't believe that such a gentle person was now orchestrating bloodshed.
"The Clan Leader was the Fifth Prince's teacher. That's why he's the only adult the Fifth Prince truly trusts and relies upon."
"...."
"It seems he intends to remain at the capital until the Imperial Palace situation stabilizes."
"...."
I hadn't expected to be separated from Sayeon for such a long time, and I felt a little disappointed.
'But he's not just anyone—he's Rim's older brother, so I can share Sayeon with him.'
Before I met Sayeon, he had been the only one to offer me kindness during my darkest and loneliest moments.
Thinking of it that way, my disappointment eased somewhat.
'I won't mope about missing Sayeon. Instead, I'll practice my abilities diligently until he returns.'
I found my purpose with renewed determination.
"This is strange. Is this not how to channel power...?"
I had been practicing by gathering energy at my fingertips whenever I had a spare moment, wanting to use my abilities again, but it wasn't coming easily.
"Was that day just a coincidence?"
I was exhaling a sigh when it happened.
"Jeok Soya!"
A colorful bouquet of flowers was suddenly thrust in front of my face.
I didn't need to see the face of the person who brought the flowers to know who it was.
"Seol Yo."
I lifted my head with a bright smile.
The boy with jet-black hair tied high in a topknot placed the flowers in my arms and plopped down beside me.
"Jeok Soya, are you feeling down?"
Seol Yo asked while glancing at my expression.
"Huh? How did you know?"
I was startled and touched my own face. Had my gloomy mood been so obvious?
"Here. When you're feeling down, your eyebrows droop like this."
Seol Yo poked the corner of my eyebrow with his finger as he answered.
"Ah, I see. It's just that I want to master my abilities, but it's not going as I hoped, so I was a bit frustrated."
I spoke of my worries with a casual laugh.
Seol Yo wanted to help me.
However, Seol Yo didn't know how to master abilities either.
It was at that moment.
"The Clan Leader has returned!"
At the sound of a voice, Jeok Soya sprang to her feet.
"Sayeon!"
Jeok Soya and Seol Yo rushed together toward the main gate of Baek Ho Palace.
Already gathered there were Baek Gahyun, Baek Gayul, and all the other residents of Baek Ho Palace.
"What...?"
In the distance, a golden palanquin drawn by six horses—steeds that only the Emperor of the Taehwa Kingdom could ride—came into view.
Sayeon rode on horseback beside it.
Yet Jeok Soya's gaze was not fixed on Sayeon, whom she had awaited these past days, but rather on the boy seated atop the palanquin.
It was not Jeok Soya alone; everyone gathered here shared the same fixation.
"That palanquin is..."
"Could the rumors..."
As whispers rippled through the crowd, Jeok Soya stared blankly at the boy.
More precisely, at the imperial crown resting upon his head.
Soon the palanquin came to a halt, and the boy descended from it with graceful poise.
"I have awaited your return, Father. And..."
Baek Gahyun hesitated, uncertain how to address the boy.
The boy strode directly toward Jeok Soya.
"I have kept you waiting too long, Jeok Soya."
Everyone was taken aback by the boy's sudden approach, yet he paid their stares no mind, speaking with a gentle smile.
"I have missed you."
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