Chapter 69
“You’re right. Family of family is family, after all. I hadn’t realized that.”
Cheongha, who had looked a little surprised for a moment, soon chuckled softly and leaned down toward Soya.
“My baby cotton ball always points out things I hadn’t even thought of, just like this. You’re such a clever, bright baby cotton ball.”
Matching her eye level with Soya’s, Cheongha gently stroked the child’s hair as she spoke.
“I-I saw it in a book! I like reading books!”
Remembering how the people of Baekho Palace had once praised her as “our clever young lady who also loves reading books,” Soya quickly added.
She hoped Cheongha would think well of her.
But after saying it, it felt like she was showing off in a way that didn’t suit her usual personality, and she grew embarrassed.
So Soya added in a very small, timid voice.
“……Of course, I haven’t read as many books as Hyeon big brother.”
Cheongha chuckled as she looked at Soya’s flushed red face.
“Soya’s only nine years old, and yet you’ve already read so many books and you’re so smart. By the time you’re eleven like Hyeon big brother, you’ll be even smarter.”
“……!”
She had thought she’d grown used to the warm words people gave her, but hearing praise from “Mom” made Soya’s heart flutter more than usual.
“I-I, Mom! It’s not just reading books hard, I also walk a lot, and when I take my tonics, I don’t grimace once and eat them all well……!”
And so, Soya clung to Cheongha, who had to leave, chattering on and on about herself for quite a while.
It was almost laughable that just moments ago, she’d thought watching her brothers made her feel like a baby—because no one was more childlike than she was right now.
In the meantime, snowflakes began to fall one by one from the sky.
Sa-eon glanced up at the sky and said it would be best to depart before it got any later.
The accumulating snow was a problem, but if they lingered longer, it would strain Cheongha’s spirit core as well.
“Alright. I really have to go now.”
Murmuring in a bittersweet voice, Cheongha stood up.
“Then I’ll be off, my babies.”
With those final words, Cheongha hugged each of the children tightly once more and departed.
Soya kept waving both hands alongside her brothers, watching Cheongha’s retreating figure until it was no longer visible.
She even stayed put even after she could no longer be seen.
Sa-eon was the one who first spoke up, asking if she wasn’t cold and suggesting they head inside.
But strangely, Soya didn’t want to go in.
Baekho Palace without Cheongha felt somehow empty.
And so, the three siblings—Soya, Gahyeon, and Gayul—stood there dazed for a while.
“Brothers, let’s make snowmen!”
Suddenly, Soya stepped forward and shouted.
“Snowmen?”
“Out of nowhere?”
“Yes, yes! We’ll make ones for Father and Mother, and for you brothers and Soya and Seolyo and everyone in Baekho Palace—all of them!”
Gayul was the first to react.
“Then I’ll! I’ll make Mom’s snowman!”
Before anyone could respond, Gayul hopped into the snow and started packing it.
Seeing that, Soya and Gahyeon exchanged glances and chuckled.
That winter, snowmen modeled after the Baekho Clan members adorned the front gate of Baekho Palace, standing guard over the estate.
* * *
Peaceful days continued for a time.
Soya swung the hwageuk Cheongha had gifted her around playfully, rode on Seolyo’s back to roam Horim Mountain, and spent joyful times like that.
As the seasons turned, Soya turned ten years old.
For the now ten-year-old Soya, Sa-eon assigned her teachers.
Gayul truly pitied Soya for having to study, but Soya enjoyed it.
Whether it was reading and writing, calligraphy, etiquette lessons, or martial arts training—nothing was boring.
Soya’s martial arts teacher was none other than San-ho, who had personally gone to Sa-eon and insisted on taking responsibility for the young lady’s training.
Compared to the other tigers, who wielded swords freely even before awakening their spirit cores, Soya’s training was quite late.
But Soya threw herself into everything diligently.
“It’s amazing. I was so worried our young lady would struggle with martial arts training that I stubbornly insisted to the patriarch that I’d take charge myself.”
San-ho said to Yeon-jeong as she watched Soya hopping around playfully in the garden.
“But our young lady is keeping up just as well as the tiger young masters. Come to think of it, hasn’t she seemed healthier since the last Mountain Lord Festival?”
“You’re right. It’s not just her health—her personality has brightened up too.”
Yeon-jeong smiled in agreement.
The young lady, who used to only smile shyly before, now laughed out loud with a clear “kki-kki.”
And sometimes, she’d puff out her cheeks at the mischievous youngest young master’s pranks and sulk.
Yes, just like right now.
“Brother, that’s not fair. Seolyo and I worked so hard on this—how could you ruin it?”
“Sorry, cotton ball. I didn’t mean to…… Are you mad?”
After his primary growth, Gayul, who would transform into his beast form at the drop of a hat to show off, had accidentally knocked over the twig tower Soya and Seolyo had built with his huge tail.
“Since you didn’t mean to and you’re apologizing like this, it’s okay. But please be careful from now on. Got it?”
Yet kind Soya would get a little upset like this, only to quickly cheer up and smile gently.
Then the youngest young master would melt under that sweet smile, scratching his head and grinning sheepishly.
This tiny cotton ball of a young lady, who had suddenly arrived in the patriarch’s arms one summer day, had dyed the somewhat austere Baekho Palace with such gentle, warm colors.
“Yeon-jeong-nim, San-ho-nim. Can I grow up as cool as Yul big brother too?”
Ever since the youngest young master’s primary growth, the young lady’s interests had been entirely focused there.
“Of course. Don’t worry too much, young lady.”
“Our young lady is already so wonderful now—who knows, you might grow into the coolest new beastkin in the world?”
At Yeon-jeong and San-ho’s encouragement, Soya’s face lit up brightly.
“I want to grow up fast like my brothers and go visit Mom!”
Keeping her promise with Cheongha to visit Cheonghae Palace in mind, Soya spent each day vigorously and healthily.
But even as the years passed, the promise with Cheongha wasn’t kept.
Because Soya hadn’t achieved her primary growth.
Not the next year. Nor the year after.
* * *
Sunlight filtering through the wooden lattice window tickled the child’s eyelids.
The child lying on the bed slowly lifted her eyelids, revealing pale pink irises that held the warm hue of spring blossoms.
Soya let out a short yawn and sat up.
Fine white hair cascaded softly over the bedding.
By now, three years had passed, and Soya had turned twelve.
She had grown nearly a full handspan and a half taller than when she first arrived at Baekho Palace.
Now, Soya woke up on her own without Yeon-jeong needing to rouse her in the morning.
Rising from bed, Soya flung open the window, and the chirping of birds came drifting in.
The Western Land originally had no flying beasts.
But starting three years ago, birds had suddenly begun building nests and settling down.
“Hello, Jjakjjak-i.”
At Soya’s greeting, a small bunting landed on the windowsill.
Soya could converse freely with birds, and among them, this “Jjakjjak-i” was the one she had personally named—her closest friend.
After Seolyo, that is.
