Chapter 31
When Sa-eon returned after touring the Western Land with the representatives from each clan, the atmosphere at Baekho Palace was far from normal.
“What’s going on?”
“Patriarch, it’s that…”
Sa-eon’s face hardened stiffly at the explanation that followed.
“What? The cotton ball got lost on the mountain?”
It was already so dark that the sky was turning pitch black.
Just as Sa-eon was about to leap straight toward Horim Mountain to search for Soya,
He paused.
In the distance, two small figures were coming down from the mountain.
Gahyeon was carrying Soya on his back.
“It’s the Young Master and the Young Lady!”
“The second Young Master must have gone to find the cotton ball Young Lady!”
“Ha…”
Sa-eon let out a short breath.
“Father.”
Gahyeon bowed his head deeply in front of Sa-eon.
In the meantime, Soya had fallen into a sound sleep, clinging to Gahyeon’s back.
“I’ve heard the gist of it. You did well, Gahyeon. You protected Baekho Palace well while I was away.”
“……”
“It must be heavy, so hand the child over to me now.”
“No. I’ll take her all the way to her room.”
There was an uncharacteristic stubbornness in Gahyeon’s voice as he said that.
At this, Sa-eon chuckled softly and nodded.
“Alright.”
Gahyeon headed to her room with Soya still on his back, followed by Yeon-jeong and San-ho.
Sa-eon watched them for a while, then suddenly turned his gaze toward an unfamiliar presence he sensed.
“Nng…”
Not far away, a pitch-black beast was stamping its feet while staring at Soya.
“That’s…”
Sa-eon’s eyes narrowed.
“Why is that thing here?”
It was definitely the creature Sa-eon had picked up during the protracted war with the Northern Land seven years ago.
The timid thing, which was very wary of strangers and feared people, had fled into the mountains right after arriving at Baekho Palace, yet here it was, all the way down here.
Moreover, as it stamped its feet while looking at Soya, it seemed like it wanted to follow her but was too scared of all the people.
Sa-eon was observing it with narrowed eyes when suddenly Seolyo, which met his gaze, bolted away in a flash.
“Huh?”
Sa-eon raised one eyebrow in disbelief.
* * *
The next day, Soya woke up a little later than usual.
She was told that everyone had been worried because she hadn’t come back.
“Me…?”
Soya couldn’t comprehend it for a moment and asked again.
“Yes, you, Young Lady! Did you think we’d be worried about the tiger Young Masters?”
San-ho answered in an agitated voice, and Yeon-jeong, who was brushing Soya’s hair, nodded in agreement.
“Ah…”
The idea that everyone had been worried about her felt utterly strange.
Back at Zhuque Mansion, no one had paid any attention to Soya.
Once, she had been locked in the shed and spent an entire day and night starving.
If Gabok hadn’t happened to come in looking for something, she might have really starved to death in there.
But even then, no one at that place had searched for her or worried about her.
The people at Baekho Palace were different, though.
The Young Master who had scoured the mountains looking for her, and the others at Baekho Palace who had waited anxiously for her until late at night…
The fact that everyone had worried about her like this made Soya’s chest swell with emotion.
‘I’ve felt so many strange things since coming to Baekho Palace.’
“Still, it’s such a relief that you’re not hurt anywhere, Young Lady.”
“I’m sorry for making you all worry.”
“What do you have to be sorry for, Young Lady? That Suri kid—I told him to protect you properly.”
It was then that San-ho, Suri’s older sister, grumbled while mentioning her younger brother.
‘Huh…?’
As Soya absentmindedly turned toward the window, something caught her eye.
A tuft of snow-white fur was poking up between the wooden lattice.
Soya sat up and pushed the lattice open.
At that, Gayul, who had been sitting on a branch opposite, suddenly froze.
“Hic, hic…!”
“Youngest Young Master?”
“I-I wasn’t trying to peep, no, I was just wondering, y-yes, if you woke up healthy, so…”
Gayul’s eyes were red around the edges.
“C-Cotton ball, sorry, I-I couldn’t even protect you like an idiot… Waaah, waaaaah, waaaaaang!”
As he sniffled through his words, Gayul burst into loud sobs.
“Young Master…!”
Startled, Soya reached out toward Gayul.
“Don’t cry, Young Master. I’m fine. See, I came back safe and sound. So…”
But before Soya’s hand could reach his eyes, Gayul transformed with a poof! into a baby tiger and slipped into the branches.
Unlike how his tail used to wag back and forth energetically in front of Soya, it now hung limp and drooping among the leaves.
It was a pitiful sight that made her want to comfort him, but Soya didn’t know how to climb trees.
Just as Soya was looking on regretfully, wondering what to do,
“Leave him be, Soya. He needs to be scolded more.”
Turning at the gentle voice from the doorway, she saw Gahyeon standing there.
“Second Young Master…!”
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Oh, right. Young Master. I have something to give you!”
Soya took out a flower from the bamboo basket.
“This!”
“This is…”
“A Sky Flower! I heard you liked it!”
Gahyeon paused for a moment and looked at the Sky Flower in Soya’s hand.
She had said yesterday that she’d climbed Horim Mountain to pick this flower as a gift for him. For a mere flower like this…
“Thank you, Soya.”
Gahyeon swallowed the lump in his throat and smiled warmly.
“But we made a promise yesterday, remember? Not to call me Young Master anymore, but something else.”
“Ah…”
Soya paused.
Come to think of it, she remembered having that conversation while riding on his back coming down yesterday.
“Well, um… I forgot, big brother.”
Soya soon replied in a slightly awkward voice and beamed.
At that, Gayul’s body, hidden among the branches, twitched, and leaves fluttered down.
“Soya, want to go on a morning walk with your big brother?”
“Kyaaang! (No!)”
It wasn’t Soya who answered, but Gayul.
“Grrrawr! Kyaaang! (Why…! Why is big brother her big brother?)”
No matter how much they coaxed him, Gayul, who had been hiding snugly in the branches and refusing to come out, suddenly popped up and shouted.
“Young Master, have you stopped crying now?”
Soya asked brightly.
“Grrrrr… Grrrawr! Grrrawr, grrrawr! (I want to be big brother too! Make me big brother too, cotton ball!)”
At some point, Gayul had leaped through the window into Soya’s room and started rolling on the floor, throwing a tantrum.
“You couldn’t even protect Soya and only made things more dangerous—how dare you call yourself her big brother? All you know how to do is roll on the floor and throw tantrums—you’re pathetic and don’t even realize it. You’re a disgrace to tigers. Stop rolling around and get up—it’s embarrassing.”
Gahyeon snapped at him sharply.
Soya’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Gahyeon.
‘So the second Young Master has always spoken this harshly.’
Noticing Soya’s gaze belatedly, Gahyeon paused and turned to her.
“Uh… Soya?”
“I realized that you—young master, no, big brother—don’t hate me in particular or anything.”
Soya smiled and replied.
“Ah… That’s not what I…”
Gahyeon, caught with his harsh temper exposed, made an awkward face as he tried to explain.
“Grrrawr! Grrrawr! (That’s right! Big brother’s always a mean tiger who picks the worst things to say!)”
Gayul huffed indignantly.
His eyes and the tip of his nose were still red, though.
Soya leaned down toward Gayul and offered him a handkerchief.
“Have you finally stopped crying, Young Master?”
“Grrrr… Grumble! (You…! Don’t talk to me like I’m some kid!)”
Soya giggled at Gayul’s protesting reaction.
As expected, the youngest Young Master suited this feisty side better than a dejected one.
Then, Soya’s thoughts suddenly turned to Seolyo.
“Oh, right. What happened to that child from yesterday? The one that protected me…”
“Come to think of it, it followed us all the way, then vanished at some point.”
“Ah… I see.”
For some reason, Soya felt a pang of regret.
‘Did it go back up the mountain?’
It was probably for the best.
If it caught people’s eyes for no reason, it could get hurt just for being a demonic beast.
“More importantly, Soya. Yesterday’s plan to climb Horim Mountain with Gayul—who all did you tell about it?”
At that moment, Gahyeon asked in a serious voice.
“Something’s off. The beasts were acting violent, and even when I tried to find you, your scent was gone.”
Soya froze.
Her face stiffened slightly.
It was because someone immediately came to mind.
