Chapter 55
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Chapter 55
It was at that moment when Jeok Soya gazed up at him, sensing an atmosphere too delicate to disturb.
"Since you haven't yet found the true master of the flame, you needed a conduit to borrow this power."
Tae Irim continued his explanation in a calm voice.
"A conduit?"
"Yes. For instance...."
He trailed off slowly and extended his hand toward her.
"...!"
Jeok Soya gasped in shock. A fresh wound marked his palm.
"The blood of a summoner, you see."
"Brother, y-your wound...!"
Crimson blood dripped steadily from his wrist.
"Don't worry yourself. I inflicted it myself."
This wound, absent from his hand mere moments before, had been made by him while she closed her eyes and listened to the spirit core.
"I told you—a summoner's blood was necessary. Since I couldn't draw blood from your body, I borrowed the blood of the Yellow Dragon instead."
"...."
Jeok Soya's pupils trembled faintly.
To wound oneself deliberately—it was something she could scarcely fathom, so terrifying was the notion.
The wound looked agonizing enough to make one's flesh crawl, yet Tae Irim showed not the slightest sign of pain.
"Will you heal it for me, Soya?"
He gestured with his eyes toward the flame blooming in her palm.
Jeok Soya immediately grasped his meaning and nodded, swallowing hard.
She carefully opened her palm and concentrated on the flame that flowered there.
Then, slowly—ever so slowly—the flame stirred and enveloped his hand.
Whoosh—
As the flame subsided, the wound on his hand vanished without trace.
Yet instead of rejoicing in her success, Jeok Soya spoke with a troubled voice.
"Why would you do such a thing? Wounding yourself like that."
"Don't be upset, Soya. Thanks to you, I'm whole again."
"But...just because I can heal it doesn't mean it didn't hurt."
He had wounded his own hand solely to help her harness her ability.
It was something that brought him no benefit whatsoever—done purely for her sake.
"No. It didn't hurt."
"You're lying."
Jeok Soya spoke with unwavering conviction.
At this, the smile gradually faded from Tae Irim's face.
"...You're right. It did hurt a little. No—it hurt quite a lot."
He spoke to her in a measured tone.
"So, Soya. Try not to use this flame if you can help it. Save it for only the most critical moments."
"You needn't tell me that. I would never do something so reckless."
The blood of a summoner. Since I haven't yet found the master of that power, blood is necessary to wield it.
I recalled that when Soya drove away the spirit in Sayeon's Study and when she purified Seol Yo, I had fallen and scraped myself without realizing it.
By sheer coincidence, I had wounds when that power was needed, allowing me to use purification, but I couldn't rely on such fortune every time.
And I had no intention of wounding my own body as Tae Irim had done.
"So please, older brother, promise me. Promise that you'll cherish your own body."
He paused.
For the first time, Tae Irim, who had always maintained his composure, faltered.
Soya's gaze fixed upon me was unwavering and resolute.
Like that bright smile that hadn't wavered even against the hostility of those I once believed were family.
"Yes. I promise you, Soya. I will absolutely cherish my own body."
"You must keep it. You absolutely must!"
Only after extracting the promise from Tae Irim did Soya finally release the hand she had been holding.
Tae Irim stared at her retreating hand, feeling an inexplicable emptiness in both palms, before slowly lifting his gaze.
I committed her face to memory with both eyes.
If we parted now, it would be quite some time before I saw her again.
"And Soya. Let me bid you farewell in advance. I must return to the Imperial Palace early tomorrow morning."
"Ah...."
A look of regret crossed Soya's face.
Well, he was now the Emperor of Taehwa Kingdom. He must have become much busier than before.
At that forlorn expression, Tae Irim let out a soft laugh and spoke.
"Soya. About that promise from before."
[I want to take you to the Imperial Palace. If you will allow it.]
Soya paused, recalling the promise they had made before leaving the Joojak Residence.
That day too, Soya had been unable to give a clear answer.
The Joojak Residence, where everyone had despised me, had made me smaller with each passing day, yet I couldn't bring myself to abandon my lingering attachment to Father until the very end.
Still, gazing at his finger hooked around my pinky, I seemed to harbor some vague hope.
That in this place where foolish attachment kept me from running away on my own feet, someone might come to pull me out.
But now things were different from then.
Everyone at Baek Ho Palace had been kind and gentle to me.
Most importantly, I had found family here.
A true family—one that cherishes and protects each other, no matter what form they take.
Just as Soya was contemplating how to voice her refusal to Tae Irim.
"I'm sorry, Soya. It seems I must postpone this for now."
Tae Irim spoke as though he had read Soya's very thoughts.
"Taking you to the Imperial Palace right now would turn it into a living hell, what with the state it's in."
Tae Irim smiled bitterly, recalling the Imperial Palace where the stench of blood never faded.
"I'm not ready yet, so once I've finished preparing to bring you there, I'll come again to ask for your permission."
"...."
"Though I've always been late, this time I won't be."
"...."
"Will you grow up healthy until then?"
Tae Irim asked in a gentle voice.
I couldn't give him a clear answer to his expectation that he would come seeking my permission.
But there was one thing I could say with certainty.
"You've never been late once, older brother Irim."
At my response, Tae Irim smiled silently.
There was something distant and hazy about that smile that made me feel oddly strange.
Whoooosh—
The autumn breeze that swept in scattered my hair.
"Oh."
Just as I reached up to brush away the strands that fluttered across my vision, it happened.
Swift—
Tae Irim drew close in an instant and gently tucked my disheveled hair behind my ear.
"...!"
My earlobes flushed crimson at the sudden closeness, and my face grew hot.
The autumn night air was cool, yet strangely, only the space around me felt warm.
I couldn't understand why my heart had been racing since just moments ago.
* * *
After parting with Tae Irim, I didn't go to my room but headed straight to Sayeon's Study.
Though the hour was late, it was still a time when Sayeon would be in his study.
I wanted to boast to Sayeon first about using the power of purification just now.
'It's a power I shouldn't use recklessly yet, but still, if I work harder, I'll be able to use that power without a medium, won't I?'
Anticipation bloomed across my face.
'Will he praise me again this time, calling me his diligent and admirable little cotton ball?'
I loved the way his rough palm would ruffle my hair. I didn't actually dislike being called a 'little' cotton ball by him.
Because at those moments, I truly felt like a cherished child.
'Hehe.'
I arrived at Sayeon's Study with a quiet giggle.
The corridor was empty, perhaps because of the late hour.
Through the slightly ajar door, I could see Sayeon and Jeok Young conversing.
"Lord Sayeon. What you gave to the young lady cotton ball today—it was Hemolytic Grass, wasn't it?"
I stopped in my tracks as I heard my name, about to push open the door and enter.
'Hemolytic Grass? What is that?'
Without realizing it, I held my breath and eavesdropped on their conversation.
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