Chapter 32
Soya sat on a rock, basking in the sunlight, her face lost deep in thought.
[Something seemed to have covered your scent. Perhaps you received something suspicious from someone recently….]
One thing had suddenly come to mind when the second young master had asked that.
The scent pouch she had received from Siyo.
‘That scent pouch.’
More precisely, the fragrance that had permeated it.
That had undoubtedly driven the beasts into a frenzy and erased her own scent.
Now the fragrance had completely dissipated, so the scent pouch itself no longer smelled of anything. There was no evidence left….
‘But Siyo-nim dislikes me.’
In truth, Soya already knew.
She had noticed how oddly sharp Siyo’s gaze was whenever she looked at her.
Soya had endured so many such gazes before, and she could keenly discern whether someone disliked her or not.
Even so, she had accepted the scent pouch from Siyo with joy because, while living in Baekho Palace, she had grown accustomed to people’s kindness.
Because she knew she would be leaving soon.
Because, before departing, she had wanted to savor that feeling of kindness from someone, even if just a little….
‘What an idiot I am. I nearly died because of something like that during the summer festival too. I should have suspected kindness from someone who dislikes me….’
But it made Soya so sad that she had to suspect someone.
She had a vague idea why Siyo disliked her too.
There was only one reason people disliked Soya.
Because Soya was a naughty baby bird who stole other people’s things.
But this time, she hadn’t intended to steal anything.
She had only wanted to enjoy this sweet ‘for now’ just a little longer, a very little longer, before leaving.
It was while Soya was fidgeting with her fingers, lost in thought.
“Soya!”
Arang suddenly poked her head out.
“You okay? I heard you almost got in big trouble yesterday!”
“Arang-nim?”
“Baek Ga-ryul, that stupid tiger! He acts all high and mighty all by himself, but he’s just a dim-witted tiger!”
Arang spat as she unleashed a torrent of curses at Ga-ryul.
Hearing the faint concern for her in Arang’s voice, Soya smiled gently and replied.
“Still, the young master is a good person.”
“Good person my foot! He’s the dumbest tiger I know! Don’t hang around with a guy like that anymore!”
“Don’t dislike the young master too much. Besides, I’m leaving soon anyway.”
“Huh? Leaving?”
Arang’s eyes widened round as she asked back.
“Yes, a new young lady will be coming soon, so I need to vacate the room before then.”
“…!”
At those words, Arang’s face filled with shock, but soon she grabbed Soya’s hand tightly and shouted.
“Then come with me!”
“Pardon…?”
“The Brown Tiger Manor has a huge lake where you can swim and fish! And if we go to the mountains together, I won’t fall asleep alone!”
Arang excitedly listed all the great things about coming with her, barely pausing to breathe.
“There are a few stupid tigers like Baek Ga-ryul there too, but I’ll protect you so no one can bully you! So come to my house with me!”
“Ah….”
Soya blinked as she listened to Arang’s passionate speech, then smiled brightly and answered.
“Thank you, Arang-nim.”
She could feel thick, pure kindness from Arang, who was gripping her hand tightly and urging her to come along.
The thought that not everyone hated her lifted the gloom that had weighed on her heart just moments before.
‘If I go with Arang-nim, maybe I can visit Baekho Palace again sometimes? Arang-nim gets along well with the youngest young master.’
It was while Soya was entertaining a thought that would have made Arang jump if she had heard it.
A palanquin passed through the main gate, and a girl with long black hair stepped out with a sullen expression.
“Huh? That’s Black Sahye from the Black Tiger Clan, right?”
Hearing her name mentioned, Black Sahye glanced toward Soya and Arang, but soon blew past them coldly like a chill wind.
“She looks upset.”
“I know why she’s acting like that.”
Arang giggled as she explained.
“She likes Young Master Gaya, so she always said she’d marry him.”
“Young Master Gaya?”
“Yeah, the eldest young master of the White Tiger Clan.”
Soya had heard the name before.
The first young master of the White Tiger Clan, who was the same age as Sanyu’s older brother from the Zhuque Clan, fifteen this year.
She had heard that Gaya-nim resembled Sa-eon-nim the most among the three young masters.
“But if she joins the White Tiger Clan, she’ll become siblings with Young Master Gaya. So she stubbornly refused to attend this Mountain Lord Festival, but her parents forced her to come reluctantly.”
“I don’t know the details, but she must be really upset.”
Soya had never experienced romantic feelings for someone, so she couldn’t fully understand.
Still, being forced to do something against her will must feel terribly upsetting.
“Anyway, that’s why Silver Siyo is acting so triumphant. Since neither I nor Black Sahye are interested in the direct lineage spot, she thinks the owner of the Western End Room will be her.”
“I see.”
Soya paused briefly at Siyo’s name but answered calmly as if nothing had happened.
Arang stuck close to Soya’s side, chattering on about this and that.
Thanks to her, Soya was able to shake off the worries that had filled her moments ago, her face much brighter as she smiled.
‘Huh?’
In the distance, a black creature caught Soya’s eye.
‘That one…?’
She shot to her feet!
Soya jumped up so suddenly that Arang grabbed her.
“Soya? Where are you going!”
“I have to go somewhere for a bit! Let’s talk more later, Arang-nim!”
Leaving Arang behind, Soya ran toward the back of the building where she had spotted the black creature moments before.
“Mew, nyaa!”
Behind the deserted building, Seolyo wagged its tail and stuck out its tongue toward Soya.
“Seolyo…!”
“Nyaang!”
Seeing Seolyo hopping joyfully at the sight of her made Soya happy, but also worried.
“…You, it’ll be dangerous if you stay here. Hurry back up the mountain.”
“Ning, whiiine….”
Seolyo shook its head no.
“Oh dear, if people see you….”
Soya worried that Seolyo might get caught by people and hurt.
It was then.
“Looks like you’ve made a new friend while I was away.”
“Sa-eon-nim…!”
Soya turned toward the voice with delight.
There stood Sa-eon, whom she hadn’t seen in two whole days.
He had left early that morning and returned late at night.
Soya was glad to see Sa-eon, but anxious about Seolyo, so she hurriedly explained.
“Ah, this one is, um, not a bad creature…!”
“Don’t worry, fluffball. I have no intention of harming your friend.”
Sa-eon, sensing her worry, glanced at Seolyo and said.
“I’m the one who picked it up.”
“You? Sa-eon-nim?”
Soya blinked, then tilted her head and asked.
“Then did you steal this one too, like you did with me?”
“Well, something like that.”
“…!”
Soya’s face lit up with shock at the straightforward affirmation, and she whipped her head around to check the surroundings.
Fortunately, no one had overheard their conversation.
“Phew.”
“What’s with the sigh?”
“If someone hears, it’ll be trouble. If rumors spread that Sa-eon-nim is stealing things like a stray cat.”
“What?”
Sa-eon looked bewildered, then burst into laughter.
The words he had said to the child on the day he first brought her here suddenly came back to him.
“Right. So keep my secret, fluffball.”
“Yes, don’t worry!”
Soya clenched her fists determinedly and answered spiritedly.
“Hm, more importantly, fluffball.”
Sa-eon scanned Soya, then subtly furrowed his brow.
“You look like you’ve lost weight while I was away from the manor. Did the red fox starve you?”
“N-No! Yeon-jeong-nim even packed me a lunchbox yesterday, and also…. Eek?”
Suddenly, Soya’s body was lifted straight into the air—shwoop!
“Hmm.”
Sa-eon tilted his head, putting on a deliberately serious expression.
“Not really? You feel heavier somehow.”
