Chapter 35
Gahyeon was the observant type.
[More than that, Soya. Yesterday, you were supposed to climb Horim Mountain with Yul—who did you tell about it?]
When he asked Soya that this morning.
Soya said she didn’t know well, but at that moment, he keenly noticed her pinky finger twitching inward.
Soya suspected it. Who had put her in danger.
But kind Soya didn’t seem like she planned to say, so Gahyeon thought.
‘Then I’ll find them and take care of it. I’m not a pathetic tiger like Yul—I’m Soya’s big brother.’
Everyone at Baekho Palace liked Soya.
So if someone had put Soya in danger, the suspects were the guests from outside Baekho Palace.
Tigers from branch families.
Among them, people who had reason to resent Soya’s presence.
Just like he himself had done when Soya was first assigned the Western End Room, there were a few keeping her in check.
‘But how did they manage it?’
He had heard that in the Northern玄武 lands, there was sorcery that corrupted beasts, making them violent.
But the footprints from those who climbed Horim Mountain that day belonged only to Soya’s group.
Gayul or Suri wouldn’t have done such a thing.
‘They climbed the mountain carrying an object imbued with sorcery. That made the beasts violent and erased Soya’s scent…’
However, when he had found Soya deep in the mountainside, her scent was perfectly fine, and there was no sign of any sorcery-imbued object.
‘Something that disappears after time passes…’
And so he had spent the whole day seeking evidence and conducting investigations, his mind in a whirl.
In the midst of it all, Ho Jeokah came by and brought the item Gahyeon had requested.
It was a small stone painted with pure white pigment to depict her.
‘I wonder if this can serve as a talisman to protect her.’
Just as Soya had gathered a stone with those delicate, fern-like hands to protect him and picked the Sky Flower, he wanted to gift her a talisman to protect her in return.
‘I hope she likes it.’
Gahyeon glanced out the window and realized night had fallen.
He hadn’t seen Soya at dinner, but with a perfect excuse now in hand, he decided to take it to her and went to find her.
But when he arrived at Soya’s room, there was no one there.
Only cold night air swirled in the empty room.
“Soya….”
In a panic, Gahyeon walked toward the open window, gripped the sill, and peered down below.
Yet Soya’s scent was nowhere to be found in the darkened Baekho Palace.
Just like yesterday, when he had lost her on Horim Mountain.
‘No way, not them again.’
Perhaps in that short span of time, they had tried to harm Soya once more.
In that instant, it felt like his heart plummeted with a thud.
Gahyeon immediately bolted down the corridor toward the second floor of the east wing, where the Silver Tiger Clan was staying.
Bang!
Flinging the door open without warning, the people inside startled and turned to him.
“Oh my!”
“Young Master Gahyeon?”
It was Siyo and the Silver Tiger Clan members attending her.
“Where’s Soya?”
Gahyeon strode inside and demanded.
“Why are you looking for that child here?”
Siyo asked in a bewildered voice.
“You were the ones trying to harm her. You think I wouldn’t know?”
“Harm her? That’s unfair! I don’t know what that child said, but I—I had nothing to do with it!”
“Y-yes, it’s true, Young Master! Judging our young lady based solely on that lowborn’s words…!”
At the retort from the maid backing Siyo, Gahyeon suddenly fixed her with a icy glare.
“Did you just say lowborn?”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it! That child doesn’t even know her own status…!”
“Soya is Father’s guest! And…!”
He faltered.
Gahyeon paused for a moment, unable to continue. He had no idea how to define Soya.
“We’re guests of Baekho Palace too!”
At Siyo’s outburst, Gahyeon snapped back to his senses and pressed her fiercely.
“If you’re guests, then stay quietly and leave when it’s time—why harass that little child?”
“Are you coming at me without any evidence?”
In an instant, the surroundings grew noisy as people began gathering one by one.
“What’s going on?”
Sa-eon appeared amid the murmuring crowd.
“Soya’s gone missing, Father.”
Sa-eon hardened his expression around the eyes.
“Her scent isn’t anywhere. The Silver Tiger Clan must have done something.”
It was then, as Sa-eon opened his mouth to speak, his face sharpened to a lethal edge.
“What? Soya’s disappeared? What are you talking about! Soya promised to go with me!”
Arang burst out from the gathered crowd, shouting in her booming voice.
In an instant, everyone’s gazes converged on Arang.
“Go together? Where to…?”
“With the owner of the Western End Room about to be decided soon, she won’t be able to stay here forever! So we promised to leave together and go to my house!”
Of course, Soya hadn’t promised anything, and Arang hadn’t gotten her parents’ permission yet.
But Arang had already settled it in her own mind: after the Mountain Lord Festival ended, she would take Soya home with her.
“Soya… said something like that…?”
Gahyeon muttered, his face etched with deep shock.
He wasn’t the only one shocked.
Sa-eon clenched his fist, face contorted, then released it before asking in a calm voice.
“What do you mean by the Silver Tiger Clan’s doing?”
Gahyeon explained what Soya had told him—the mountain beasts turning violent—and how he hadn’t been able to catch her scent on the mountain that day.
“Don’t slander without evidence!”
Siyo cried out sharply.
“To begin with, mountain beasts turning violent? Isn’t that child lying? The beasts of Horim Mountain are known for being gentle…”
It was then.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble—!
A racket erupted from far off behind Baekho Palace.
Even Gahyeon and Siyo halted their argument and turned toward the sound.
“Oh my god, the young lady…!”
At someone’s shout, people flocked to the corridor railings.
Gahyeon swiftly shoved through the throng.
Then, just like the others, he drew in a sharp breath of astonishment.
Soya was riding atop a black wolf’s back, charging toward Baekho Palace.
And behind her…
“The young lady’s being chased by mountain beasts!”
Horim Mountain’s beasts were pursuing Soya, their sharp fangs bared!
“No. But rather than being chased… it looks like she’s driving the beasts along…”
“The mountain beasts have gone violent, haven’t they?”
In an instant, Siyo’s face drained of color.
“Soya…!”
As Gahyeon cried out in shock.
A man brushed past him, launched into the air like a shot arrow, and positioned himself to block behind Soya.
His father, Sa-eon.
* * *
Soya discovered the scent pouch hidden inside the palanquin.
But would simply removing it be enough?
Could she be sure Lady Siyo wouldn’t harm anyone else after this?
‘I need to tell Sa-eon-nim. So he can stop Lady Siyo from harming others in the future.’
But would Sa-eon-nim believe her?
The doubt flickered briefly, but then she thought perhaps Sa-eon-nim might believe her.
Just like the second young master had come searching for her when she was left alone on the mountain and trusted her words without suspicion.
‘But…’
Soya recalled how Yeon-jeong-nim and San-ho-nim had reacted when she told them what happened on the mountain.
[Huh? The beasts of Horim Mountain?]
[Perhaps the young lady simply mistook it?]
The people of Baekho Palace firmly believed the beasts of Horim Mountain would never harm humans.
So even if Sa-eon-nim believed her, without evidence, it might lead to unnecessary gossip.
‘I need evidence.’
That’s why Soya had asked Seolyo for help.
Clever Seolyo transformed right away into a massive furry beast, hoisted Soya onto her back, and tore through the entire mountain.
Horim Mountain’s beasts caught the scent pouch’s aroma and swarmed toward Soya.
Grrr…
Grrr…
Grrrr…!
The frenzied mountain beasts bared their savage fangs and lunged at Soya and Seolyo.
“Seolyo, now! Run! To where the most people are!”
“Kyaang!”
Thrilled to the brim, Seolyo herded the mountain beasts and bolted toward Baekho Palace.
Soya clung tight to Seolyo’s back and squeezed her eyes shut tight. Seolyo’s speed was so intense she felt like she might get motion sick.
‘Just a little… just a bit more…’
Gradually, Baekho Palace came into view.
‘I hope people gather at the sound of this commotion.’
She didn’t need a massive crowd of witnesses.
Just enough to prove the beasts had gone violent. Hopefully no more, no less—exactly that many.
And at last, when Seolyo arrived at the inner courtyard of Baekho Palace’s east wing.
Whoosh—!
A man who had leaped down from mid-air stood tall behind Soya and Seolyo, shielding them.
“Sa-eon-nim…!”
Spotting the fluttering white robes, Soya cried out, her face lighting up.
Sa-eon fixed a cold stare on the beasts charging at Soya and Seolyo.
At that piercing gaze, the beasts froze as if iced over for a moment…
“Go back.”
At Sa-eon’s single command, they whipped around and fled in a panic.
As Soya exhaled in relief at the sight.
“Cotton ball.”
Sa-eon abruptly scooped up Soya’s body and asked.
“Shouldn’t baby cotton ball be sleeping by now? What dangerous thing were you up to?”
“Ah, um…”
By then, Baekho Palace’s residents had come down below.
Even at this late hour, far more people had gathered than she’d expected, startling Soya a little—but she soon decided it was all for the best.
Soya’s rosy pink eyes scanned the crowd and found Silver Siyo among them.
Soya and Siyo’s gazes locked.
Siyo stood pale and rigid, fists clenched white-knuckled.
After staring at her a moment, Soya drew a firm breath and spoke.
“It was the scent pouch that Siyo-nim gave me. That’s what made Horim Mountain’s beasts go violent.”
