Chapter 34
‘How could that be…….’
She wanted to stand tall with poise, but her toes kept trembling uncontrollably.
A fake who had stolen the real young lady’s place.
That was Soya’s shame.
A past she didn’t want exposed, an original sin she wanted to cut away.
“You weren’t thinking of stealing my place too, were you?”
Siyo, who had straightened her back at some point, fixed Soya with cold eyes and asked.
“N-No, I wasn’t. I didn’t have any intention of doing that……!”
“Then leave.”
“……!”
“If you don’t leave, I’ll tell everyone you’re a thief. So get out on your own two feet before that happens.”
“…….”
Only faint breaths slipped through her pale lips.
Soya remembered how the people around her had changed in an instant when her fake identity was revealed.
She remembered her father’s cold back as he shoved her away and turned.
She remembered Hwayu orabeoni’s chilling voice as he took away her Spirit Core.
She remembered down to her bones the sharp gazes of people who had changed overnight and the cold, lonely chill of the Cold Palace, which had no heating even in the depths of winter.
Just recalling them made her heart ache sharply.
Even after coming to Baekho Palace and receiving people’s warm kindness and gentle goodwill, she knew.
They were treating her well because they didn’t know she was a wicked little fledgling who had stolen someone else’s life.
‘If they find out, they’ll all change. Just like Father and Hwayu orabeoni did. Just like the people of the Zhuque Clan did.’
It would be too heartbreaking if even Sa-eon-nim and the people of Baekho Palace looked at her that way.
She had to leave before the Mountain Lord Festival ended and the new young lady of Baekho Palace arrived, but even as she left, she wanted to remain a good memory for them.
Not as a thieving wench who coveted and stole someone else’s life, but as a good, quiet guest who had stayed briefly at Baekho Palace.
But, but……
“I-I really won’t steal your place, Siyo-nim. Could I just…… stay a little longer…… and then leave?”
“The room at the western end where you’ve settled in—that’s my room. I can’t stand you being there for even one more day.”
“Then let me at least say goodbye to Sa-eon-nim……!”
“Leave quietly without telling anyone. What if they’re too soft-hearted and try to stop you?”
“…….”
“If you don’t want to cling to Baekho Palace like that and steal my place, then slip away tonight where no one will know.”
“…….”
“If you’re still here by morning, I’ll tell everyone your secret.”
Siyo spoke coldly and turned away.
Soya stood dazed in the corridor for a while before coming to her senses and returning to her room.
That evening, during dinner, Yeon-jeong worriedly asked if she was feeling unwell, seeing how listless she seemed compared to usual, but Soya just gave a small smile in reply.
“I’m sleepy today, so I want to go to bed early, Yeon-jeong-nim.”
“Our young lady must have been really startled by that frightening incident yesterday.”
Yeon-jeong spread out the bedding for her and stepped out early to give her space.
Soya sat on the bed, hugging tightly the tiger doll Sa-eon had given her, and watched the day fade outside the window.
Even after learning the true nature of this room, she had always thought about leaving, but she hadn’t expected the farewell to come so abruptly.
She had thought she could stay here at least until the Mountain Lord Festival ended.
She hadn’t decided where to go, or even if she could really follow Arang-nim……
But she had thought she could smile and say goodbye to everyone.
She had thought she could thank them for bringing her here, say she’d really enjoyed her time at Baekho Palace, and leave like that.
She hadn’t imagined she’d have her identity exposed and have to flee like this.
‘It’s time to go.’
Looking out at the now pitch-black window, Soya pressed her stinging nose and stood up.
Glancing around the room for a moment, she saw the tiger doll from Sa-eon and wrapped it in a cloth before slinging it on her back.
It was the only thing she was taking. Everything else in the room wasn’t hers.
Just then, a rustling sound came from the windowsill.
Lifting her head with a puzzled expression, she saw a pitch-black head poking out over the open window.
“Huh? Seolyo……?”
“Kyuuu……!”
Spotting Soya, Seolyo hopped inside through the window.
“Eek……!”
Startled by the sudden intruder, Soya plopped down onto the floor.
“Nng, nng!”
Excited, Seolyo panted and spun in circles before flopping over and exposing its belly.
Understanding the gesture, Soya smiled and stroked Seolyo’s belly.
“Did you come to see me?”
“Nng!”
“But I have to leave now.”
“Kyuuaang……? Nng!”
Seolyo tilted its head, then hopped up onto all fours.
It stood in front of Soya as if it were a guardian warrior protecting her and barked nng-nng.
“Hm? You’ll go with me?”
“Nng!”
“Thank you, Seolyo. With you, I won’t feel lonely.”
Soya let out a small laugh and stood up.
She carefully opened the door and stepped out into the quiet corridor that greeted her.
At the exact hour of the Pig (亥時), the guards changed shifts, leaving the corridor empty for about a quarter-hour (一刻).
Even so, worried about running into someone, Soya suppressed her presence as much as possible and slipped out of the building.
It was when Soya looked up one last time at the Baekho Palace building.
She froze.
Suddenly, a sharp, pungent scent stung her nose.
‘This scent…….’
It was the same as the one from the scent pouch Siyo had given her.
‘The scent that drives mountain beasts mad with rage. Why is it here?’
Soya moved toward where the scent was growing stronger.
Rounding the corner to the right of the building led to where the guests’ palanquins were gathered.
Among them, the strongest scent came from two palanquins adorned with images of a brown tiger and a black tiger.
‘These are Arang-nim’s and Sahye-nim’s palanquins…….’
She had seen the two of them descending from them before, so she recognized them immediately.
‘Could Siyo-nim have……? But why…….’
Soya suddenly remembered there was a ritual procession tomorrow for the Mountain Lord Festival.
She recalled that all participants in the Mountain Lord Festival would climb Horim Mountain together for the ritual.
‘If they go up the mountain like this, the mountain beasts will attack Arang-nim’s and Sahye-nim’s palanquins!’
Realizing this, all color drained from Soya’s face.
It was fine if they hated her.
Being hated was something very familiar to Soya, and at the same time, something very natural.
But Arang-nim and Sahye-nim were different.
‘Arang-nim and Sahye-nim have no interest in the western end room. No one is coveting Siyo-nim’s place.’
Soya couldn’t understand Siyo.
‘Why is Siyo-nim trying to harm people?’
If I don’t leave quietly, she might tell everyone I’m a thief.
I don’t want to be remembered as a bad child again.
But……
‘I hate even more the idea of innocent people getting hurt. Besides, Sa-eon-nim said it himself. That I protected Baekho Palace.’
[Thank you, cotton ball. For protecting Baekho Palace.]
Recalling Sa-eon’s voice from earlier that day, Soya clenched her fists tightly.
‘I have to stop Siyo-nim from hurting the others.’
Having made up her mind, Soya crouched down toward Seolyo and asked.
“Hey, Seolyo. You’re really strong—you can chase away all the mountain beasts, right?”
“Kyuuing?”
“So, can you help me out?”
Seolyo tilted its head, then nodded vigorously at Soya’s continued words.
“Nng, nng!”
* * *
Meanwhile, Gahyeon was walking down the western corridor.
‘It’s gotten too late.’
In his hand was a small, round something—a gift for Soya.
‘Soya’s probably asleep by now.’
That seemed likely.
If Soya was asleep, he planned to slip in quietly, place the gift by her bedside, and leave.
Just like Soya had done for him before.
Arriving at the door to the western end room, he quietly eased open the closed door without a sound.
Suddenly, his face hardened.
“Soya……?”
Soya’s room was completely empty.
