Translator: Nox

Chapter 39

Soya gazed out the window, marveling at the change she had discovered.

Overnight, the world had grown even more beautiful.

And Soya knew the reason her world had changed like this.

[No one can bully you, and it’s not right if they do.]

[You’re not at fault. They’re the ones who are wrong.]

He was the first person to tell her that.

Her father, Brother Hwayu—everyone had hated her, blaming her for everything.

In truth, very truly, she had felt so sad and upset every time she saw the people who hated her.

Every day, she had just wanted to crawl under the covers and sob out loud.

But people had told her she didn’t even deserve to grieve, so she had held it all in. To think it wasn’t her fault after all.

It was the moment when the world she had believed in until now shook, crumbled, and began reassembling itself anew.

Taking yesterday as the turning point, Soya felt that something big had changed inside her.

Before, thinking of the people who hated her had just made her sad and upset, but now she felt wronged—and even a little angry.

This self of hers, harboring such emotions, still felt unfamiliar, and she worried that maybe she was heading in the wrong direction…

‘But Sa-eon-nim said so. He’ll show me the right world.’

Soya believed it. With Sa-eon-nim by her side, she could walk in the right direction.

Because he was a solid, strong adult.

Unlike her father…

‘Ah, then does that mean Sa-eon-nim is my father now…?’

As Soya thought of Jeok Ayun, she suddenly realized a new truth.

He was no longer her father.

The adult with the broad, warm back—who had promised to show her the right world—that was the one who would become her father.

‘I’m Sa-eon-nim’s daughter…’

Soya repeated the fact to herself in her heart.

It was such an undeserved happiness that it made her a little anxious. Was it really okay to just enjoy it like this?

‘I want to repay this kindness to Sa-eon-nim and the young masters too.’

The news that Sa-eon had decided to formally register Soya as the youngest daughter of the clan spread throughout Baekho Palace like wildfire.

San-ho came running with the good news, beaming.

“Miss! I’ve been officially assigned as your bodyguard!”

San-ho, who was also the head of the Indigo Wolf Clan, had been temporarily guarding Soya up until now.

“Now I don’t have to follow the Patriarch when he goes out or get dragged into all those annoying tasks. From now on, I’ll stick right by your side!”

She had been worried the whole time Soya was left alone on the mountain while she was out with Sa-eon.

“Really, San-ho-nim?”

“Yes, really!”

As Soya rejoiced, Yeon-jeong poked her cheeks with a giggle and shared even better news.

“After the Mountain Lord Festival ends, the Patriarch will assign you some great teachers too.”

“Wow…!”

It was just as Soya’s cheeks flushed pink and her eyes sparkled.

“Eeeek, what do I do, cotton ball? This is too much. You have to study now.”

Gayul, who had barged into Soya’s room first thing in the morning and plopped down, looked at her with deep regret and made a woeful face.

At times like this, sincere emotion was plain on Gayul’s face.

“Studying is only torture for a dummy tiger like you.”

Gahyeon, who had just finished his morning lessons and come to see Soya, shot Gayul a pitiful look and scolded him.

But the moment he turned to Soya, Gahyeon’s expression softened into something sweet as honey.

“Soya, if studying ever gets tough or you run into something difficult later, just ask your big brother. I’ll teach you everything.”

Gahyeon deliberately emphasized ‘big brother.’

“Y-Yes, Do… big brother!”

Soya, who had almost called him young master out of habit, hurriedly changed it. In the process, it came out as ‘Do-big-brother’ instead of ‘big brother.’

Gahyeon burst into a soft chuckle and corrected her.

“Not do-big-brother—big brother. Say big brother, Soya.”

“…Yes, big brother.”

There was a shy lilt in Soya’s voice as she said it again.

Just yesterday morning, and the morning before that when he had carried her down the mountain on his small back, she had called the little young master ‘big brother.’

But calling him big brother again this morning felt a little different.

‘Are we really family now?’

The fact still felt so surreal.

“Me too! I’m your big brother now too, cotton ball! Hurry and call me big brother!”

“Yes, Yul-big-brother.”

“…!”

Gayul’s eyes went wide as saucers when Soya giggled and said it.

He hadn’t expected her to call him big brother so readily.

Hearing ‘big brother’ for the first time in his life tickled his heart.

‘Me, cotton ball’s big brother? It feels like now I have someone I need to protect.’

While Gayul sat there in a daze, Gahyeon held out his hand to Soya.

“Soya, want to go pay our morning respects to Father together?”

“Yes!”

Soya’s face lit up at the suggestion of going to see Sa-eon.

“Me too!”

Gayul snapped to attention and hurried after them.

It was the moment Soya stepped into the corridor, holding both big brothers’ hands.

“Soyaaa!!!”

Arang came running from afar with loud thumping footsteps.

“Ah, Arang-nim…!”

“Is it true? You’re really going to live at Baekho Palace?”

“Y-Yes, that’s how it…”

“Nooo!”

Arang grabbed the hem of Soya’s skirt and burst into wails.

“You promised to come to the Galho Clan with me! You promised me!”

“Oh dear, Miss.”

An attendant from the Galho Clan tried to soothe Arang in a troubled voice, but it was no use.

“Soya was going to be my little sister! Not the little sister of that dummy white tiger—but mine!”

“How could cotton ball be your little sister? She’s already nine years old.”

Gayul scoffed.

“What?”

Arang stopped rolling on the floor in shock and jumped to her feet.

“Nine years old?”

Arang was nine too.

“When’s your birthday?!”

“Summer.”

“…!”

Arang’s mouth fell open at Soya’s innocent reply. Arang’s birthday was in the fall!

“N-No way! Soya…! Soya’s my big sister?!”

Unable to accept that Soya had been born a whole season earlier than her, Arang started denying reality.

“That can’t be! This is a dream!”

“Hah! Call cotton ball big sister and call me big brother too, brown tiger!”

“What? You done talking?”

Gahyeon shook his head as Gayul and Arang started bickering again.

“Nine or ten—it’s all the same.”

Gahyeon himself was eleven, though.

Even if he thought he was worlds apart from these little tigers who hadn’t even gone through primary growth yet.

* * *

Soya and the two young Baekho tiger lords, plus Arang too. The four children went together to pay their morning respects to Sa-eon.

Sa-eon watched the children scamper out, clattering away, with a pleased smile.

“So this is what it feels like to have a daughter.”

Hyeon was one thing, but for Yul to come pay respects at this hour.

And holding hands so tightly, all friendly.

“Yeah. Definitely feels different with a daughter.”

Sa-eon muttered to himself, grinning from ear to ear, then suddenly turned his head.

Swish—

Sa-eon looked at Jeokyeong with pity.

“Poor you, Jeokyeong. No daughter.”

“I haven’t even gotten married yet? Thanks to someone keeping me buried in work every day.”

Jeokyeong pouted and grumbled.

“Why’s it my fault you haven’t married? It’s because you lack the skill.”

Jeokyeong’s eyebrow twitched at that.

Grinding his teeth, Jeokyeong flashed a toothy grin.

“By the way, Patriarch. For a daughter, doesn’t Cotton Ball Miss still seem a bit uncomfortable around you?”

“Who says? Does she look uncomfortable with me?”

Sa-eon bristled at Jeokyeong’s jab.

“Just now too. She called you Sa-eon-nim, not Father or Daddy. Doesn’t that mean she’s uncomfortable?”