chapter 29
When we got off the carriage, the adults who had stepped down first were already greeting So Baeksan.
My uncle, seeing So Baeksan for the first time, was staring at him so hard it looked like he might bore a hole through his face. My aunt crouched down on my right and whispered into my ear,
“He passes.”
“……”
Even without a subject, I could immediately tell what “passes” meant.
The moment my uncle heard that whisper, his expression crumpled slightly. Then he, too, crouched down on my left and muttered quietly,
“A face like that is rare.”
So Baeksan, who had just received an unsolicited compliment from the twin martial artists, glanced this way.
It was obvious he wanted to come closer to me.
But since the adults were still exchanging greetings, he only gave a tiny wave—still ridiculously cute.
Finally, when he was allowed to approach, my aunt and uncle stood up and blocked my view.
“Nice to meet you. I am Hyeon Dohyang of the Hyeon family, in service to the nation.”
“And I am his twin brother, Hyeon Dohwan.”
“……I am So Baeksan, heir of the Baek family.”
Huh?
For some reason, So Baeksan’s voice carried a noticeable chill. Was that just my imagination?
Tilting my head, I peeked out between my aunt and uncle’s shoulders.
“Ah, Hyeon!”
Then, as if flipping a switch, his voice instantly brightened, cheerful and warm.
He was so tall now.
Unbelievably tall!
I froze, staring up at the boy who had grown so much since I’d last seen him.
While I’d only just managed to grow into a proper five-year-old, So Baeksan looked like he could easily pass for fifteen!
“Hyeon?”
His voice trembled with unease.
“You… don’t recognize me?”
Then, just like the first time we’d met, he knelt down on one knee so that our eyes were level.
His long silver hair slid down a beat later, brushing against his knee.
I stared into his deep blue eyes, and my mouth fell open.
Ah.
Those were the same eyes.
The same anxious yet hopeful eyes I’d seen when he came to celebrate my birthday during the New Year.
All the awkwardness melted away. I stepped forward.
“Uh… how have you been, So Baeksan?”
Good grief—why was I suddenly so embarrassed?
As I fiddled with the hem of my nice, fancy clothes, his eyebrows drooped.
“I haven’t been well.”
“Why? Did something happen?”
Worried, I took another step toward him—and that was all the invitation he needed. The boy immediately scooped me up into his arms.
A crisp, cool scent filled my nose—clear and refreshing, like autumn wind after a rainstorm.
“Because I couldn’t see you.”
And then, seeing his face up close, I froze.
“I missed you so much, Hyeon.”
Mi–mi–mi–my goodness.
It was a full-on beauty attack!
I quickly covered my nose before disaster struck. Thank heavens I managed to avoid having a nosebleed right in front of my fiancé’s house.
***
My face felt like it was on fire. The problem was that So Baeksan wouldn’t put me down.
In that sense, he was exactly like my relatives. I tried to tell him that I had strong legs of my own, but it didn’t work.
“Why?”
His face was too close.
He didn’t have that slightly round, boyish look anymore—he was starting to look properly handsome. My heart was beating way too fast.
On top of that, he held me easily with one arm, using the other to tuck my hair behind my ear. A leather bracelet on his wrist caught my eye.
It was the one I’d given him.
When I shyly showed him the thread bracelet I’d worn in return, his flower-like smile deepened even more—so dazzling it could have outshone a peony.
I looked around desperately for rescue among my family.
But everyone had taken a step back, watching with these lukewarm, amused expressions.
Grandmother’s eyes clearly said, “You like him that much?”
My aunt was nudging my uncle’s arm with obvious excitement.
They looked like an audience watching a drama’s juiciest episode.
My aunt and uncle both had faces that screamed, “Someone bring popcorn.”
Dad looked like a monk who had transcended earthly matters, and Mom was scanning the surroundings—habit of a seasoned hunter.
The Baek family, on the other hand, had their eyes wide open, like they’d just witnessed something forbidden.
A few shamans who sometimes visited our home waved at me happily when I waved back.
“Up we go.”
So Baeksan easily lifted me higher again.
My eyes instinctively turned toward him—his sparkling smile practically assaulted my vision.
Ugh, so bright.
I was just rubbing my eyes when he started leading my family inside.
Since I’d already given up on walking, I relaxed in his arms. His laughter, light as a breeze, brushed my ears.
“This is the main gate of the estate.”
I turned to look and gasped in admiration.
The huge teal gate had a white tiger painted across it, clouds curling around its paws. It looked so real, I half-expected it to roar.
“There’s a spell so no outsiders can enter.”
Oh—!
As So Baeksan stepped closer, the painted tiger’s eyes began to move.
Its round pupils shifted, scanning each of us, then closed again.
And then—
Rrrrrrrrrr…
With a sound like a tiger growling, the gates opened.
“Please, come in.”
Following his calm voice, we crossed the threshold.
***
The Baek family estate was built halfway up the mountain, with pavilions scattered across each small peak.
Some even clung to cliffsides—it made me wonder how anyone even got to them. The layout looked like islands floating in a sea of forest.
The roofs were different from those in Seolgokdo. Their teal tiles were darker and pointed upward in steep peaks.
“Their roofs look like ours,” Mom observed.
“Snow’s heavier here,” Dad replied. “If you make it flat, it’ll collapse nine times out of ten.”
Thanks to them, my curiosity was satisfied.
“Areas guests can walk freely have white flags. Places without flags are covered with magical wards like spiderwebs, so don’t go alone.”
“So Baeksan.”
“Mm?”
His calm, clear tone instantly softened when I called his name. That little shift made my stomach flutter—I coughed to cover it.
“I can’t see any outer walls. Why’s that?”
“Ah.”
Catching on immediately, he explained kindly,
“Mount Homyeok is steep—it’s a natural fortress. Only mountain goats or winged races could climb those cliffs.”
“What about squirrels?”
“Small creatures have trouble approaching our territory…”
“Why?”
At my question, So Baeksan looked a bit troubled—embarrassed yet oddly pleased. Then he turned his gaze away and said,
“Good question. Why, indeed.”
He was clearly pretending not to know, but I decided to let it go.
“Looks like this is our lodging.”
We’d arrived at one of the grandest pavilions.
It was time to part ways for a while.
When So Baeksan reluctantly set me down, I waved goodbye and raised my arms toward the air. My aunt, who’d been waiting for the chance, immediately scooped me up.
“Ha-ha!”
“……”
For some reason, the way she laughed so joyfully sent a chill down my spine.
“What a devious brat,” my uncle muttered, clicking his tongue at her.
Soon after, we heard So Baeksan’s voice behind us—
“I’ll see you again soon.”
I turned and waved quickly.
He smiled neatly, then turned away.
And then I saw it—
“Whoa.”
My uncle was staring at So Baeksan’s back with a look of sheer disbelief—
an even more horrified expression than when he’d looked at my aunt.
I had no idea why.
***
Our lodgings came with an attendant who helped with small chores.
“My name is Seon Mun-yangsik.”
So—Seon was his surname, Mun-yangsik his name.
He was a catfolk. Apparently, since the Baek family ruled over all feline races, most of their servants were cats as well.
After unpacking, it was already lunchtime, so we started with a meal.
“It’s been a while.”
“Not easy to get a glimpse of you these days.”
“And I’d rather keep it that way.”
“A bit harsh, considering our families might soon be in-laws.”
At the dining table sat both our families.
The two patriarchs almost clashed again, but this time my uncle smoothly mediated, saving what could have been another chaotic meal.
I sat between Mom and Dad, happily devouring food.
Considering our long journey, the main dish was a slow-simmered beef soup—rich, savory broth with tender, translucent meat. It was heavenly.
After the meal, only So Baeksan and I went out for a walk. The heads of the families wanted to talk privately, and the other adults were resting.
“You can’t pick me up, okay? Got it?”
“Really can’t?”
“Not during a walk.”
After repeating my warning several times, I transformed into a puppy.
Ahh—this refreshing sense of freedom!
Tail wagging, I followed him down the path.
He led me through flat areas full of flowering trees, but since people kept staring, we decided to find somewhere quieter.
I barked loudly in agreement.
“This way.”
He led me up a mossy stone stairway surrounded by bushes. The steps were small and gentle—perfect for me.
At the top was a beautiful clearing.
“This is where I usually rest. We tigers like warm places.”
He sat down on a smooth, flat boulder that looked almost like a stone bench, basked in sunlight.
Then, in that soft, oddly resonant voice of his, he murmured,
“Don’t be startled, okay?”
What?
That question barely formed in my mind when—
“Grrr…”
The boy vanished.
In his place stood a huge, white tiger looking down at me.
***
No mistake—that white tiger was So Baeksan!
“Wruff!”
Overcome with excitement, I ran straight toward him.
He looked amazing—absolutely majestic.
In all my lives, past and present, I’d never seen a tiger this close before. My nose was twitching with excitement.
“Arf! Woof woof!”
He looked slightly flustered but lay down on the rock, stretching out gracefully.
Even that looked elegant.
And he was huge.
His face still had a touch of cuteness, but his body was almost as big as Mom and Dad’s beast forms.
And he wasn’t even fully grown yet! Unbelievable.
His fur was mesmerizingly white.
I’d heard the Baek family’s direct bloodline were white tigers, but seeing it in person—it was dazzling.
“Ruff ruff! Woof!”
I circled him excitedly, and his rope-like tail swayed lazily.
When I gingerly placed my paw on his belly, the gentle giant lowered himself further so I could climb on.
Tail wagging, I clambered onto his soft, plush back.
His stripes were beautiful, and unlike Mom and Dad’s firm bodies, his was pleasantly springy.
I crawled up his back and peeked at his head.
Tiger ears had little black-and-white spots—who knew?
I slid down again, laughing. It was so fun.
A real, live tiger slide!
“Arrr! Grrr!”
My excited yelps made him perk his ears and rumble back in response.
“Grrrrrr.”
It sounded like an engine.
His whole body vibrated, purring like a tractor.
I couldn’t stay on all fours anymore, so I shifted back to human and threw my arms around his neck.
He froze for a second, then resumed that deep, engine-like purr.
“Hahaha!”
It was so strange and funny that I couldn’t stop laughing—and then the white tiger nuzzled his head against my cheek.
It was such a peaceful, perfect moment.
