Chapter : 22
Sa-eon swallowed hard as he looked at the child drooping in front of him—at the slightly lowered corners of her eyes and her tiny mouth pressed together like a bird’s beak.
She was trying not to show it, but her small fingers fidgeted sadly, and her gloomy pink eyes kept darting toward him, gauging his reaction.
If he answered wrong here, the little cotton ball might be disappointed.
A tense silence filled the room—
“Wow. She looks exactly like the Head of the family!”
Jeok-yeong suddenly cut into their conversation, deliberately exaggerating his tone.
“Oh my, how could this possibly be a cat? Anyone can see it’s a tiger. Our Head must be getting forgetful—and perhaps his eyesight is failing too. What a problem this is.”
“That’s right. My vision has been getting worse lately, must be old age. Now that I look again, it’s definitely a tiger.”
Sa-eon quickly played along.
Soya’s face brightened for a moment—only to cloud over again.
“But if your eyesight is getting worse, isn’t that a big problem?”
she asked worriedly.
“Yes, it is a big problem.”
Sa-eon chuckled and nodded.
“So, Cotton Ball. You should come visit often.”
“Would it really help if I came?”
“Of course it would, miss. It would help tremendously. When you come, even this dull office brightens up.”
“R-Really?”
Soya’s eyes grew round with surprise.
She had lost her spirit core the moment it awakened. She hadn’t even reached her first growth stage yet, and of course she hadn’t awakened any special ability.
And yet she had the power to brighten a dark office?
“But I haven’t even awakened any ability yet… there’s no way I could have that kind of power…”
“Sometimes very clever young beast-folk can help those around them with their innate energy even before awakening their abilities. I suppose you’re one of those cases.”
Jeok-yeong lied smoothly without batting an eye.
“You chased away the ghost of Baekho Palace and brightened the gloomy Head’s office. Our little Cotton Ball can do anything.”
Flustered by his praise, Soya’s cheeks flushed pink.
After bowing politely, she stepped out into the corridor. She peeked inside her bamboo basket and giggled.
This morning, when Lady Yeon-jeong brought the baked stones, they had sparkled so beautifully that Soya had stared at them for a long time.
Excited by everyone’s delighted reactions, she had given one to every person she met. Now only a few remained in the basket.
Among them, one pure white, sparkling stone caught her eye.
It was for the Second Young Master, Ga-hyeon.
I hope he likes it.
Even so, she had deliberately left visiting his room for last.
She was used to being disliked and rejected—but that didn’t make it any less painful.
Just as she carefully reached into the basket and touched the stone meant for Ga-hyeon—
“Huh?!”
Startled by a loud voice from ahead, she dropped it.
A girl with loose brown hair came running down the corridor, then stopped abruptly when she saw Soya.
Yeon-jeong and San-ho had told her about the collateral branch daughters last night, so Soya recognized her immediately.
She was Arang, a young lady from one of the brown tiger branch families staying in the eastern guest quarters.
“Hello, Lady Arang.”
“What are you? You’re tiny! You don’t look like a tiger.”
Arang examined her curiously from head to toe.
“Ah, I’m Soya! Lord Sa-eon um, brought me here—no, picked me up…”
“What? Lord Sa-eon brought you?”
Arang’s eyes widened.
“Then you’re the Cotton Ball who’s taken over the west end room?”
“Eh? Yes… but how do you know that?”
“How wouldn’t I? Do you even know what kind of room you’re sitting in?”
“…?”
“Seriously? It’s the room meant for the young lady of the White Tiger family!”
“The White Tiger family’s young lady?”
“My father said that during the upcoming Mountain Lord Festival, the most outstanding tiger would catch Lord Sa-eon’s eye, claim that west end room, and become the White Tiger family’s young lady.”
“R-Really?”
Soya’s eyes widened.
“You think I’m lying?”
“Ah…”
At last, Soya understood why there was a girl’s room in Baekho Palace, where only young masters resided.
I see… they only lent me this precious room temporarily.
She felt grateful—and yet strangely bitter.
“Then how did you take that room?”
“Ah, well…”
“Everyone’s saying some non-tiger suddenly appeared and claimed it. Don’t tell me you want to become Lord Sa-eon’s daughter like Eun-siyo?”
“N-No, I…”
“You’re not even a tiger. How? Trying to become a fake tiger?”
Flinch.
The word fake made Soya’s heart plummet.
You deceived everyone so shamelessly.
A fake who stole the young lady’s place.
Poor Lady Lili. Because of that wicked fake…
The sharp voices she had tried so hard to forget echoed in her ears again.
No.
I’m not a fake.
I didn’t try to steal anyone’s place.
I—
She turned pale, cold sweat forming as she stood frozen.
“Huh? What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
Arang asked, confused.
“What is going on here! How dare you bully a guest who isn’t even a tiger!”
A girl with silver-braided hair stepped between them.
It was Eun-siyo of the Silver Tiger family, widely considered the strongest candidate for the west end room.
“I-I didn’t do anything!” Arang cried.
“I just said a few words and she suddenly got sick! That’s not my fault!”
“Lady Arang of the Brown Tiger family, correct? I heard you would be competing with me for the west end room. I had high expectations—but I’m truly disappointed.”
“That’s not it! I wasn’t trying to bully her—!”
Arang struggled to explain but lacked the words.
“Lady Arang is right. It’s a misunderstanding.”
Soya hurried in front of Siyo.
“She really didn’t bully me. I just wasn’t feeling well.”
“R-Right! Why did you have to get sick right when I started talking to you…!”
As Arang watched pale-faced Soya defend her, she felt a strange pang.
Now it really looks like I bullied a sick kid…
Her chest prickled uncomfortably.
“Geez! Next time, don’t get sick in front of me!”
Arang scratched her head and fled.
“Are you truly alright?”
Siyo asked gently.
“You’re the guest Lord Sa-eon brought, correct? I’m Siyo of the Silver Tiger family. If you were bullied, I apologize on behalf of our kind.”
“Thank you for your concern. But truly, I wasn’t bullied.”
Soya shook her head.
“I’m glad to hear that. If you ever need my help, please tell me.”
“Yes, I will.”
Soya smiled and turned away.
But as she walked back to her room, the smile slowly faded. Her steps grew slower.
After closing the door, she slid down and sat on the floor.
Don’t worry about being a bother. Stay here for the time being.
She had always wondered how long “for the time being” meant.
She had hoped it would last just a little longer.
But after meeting the tiger girls today, she understood.
Her sweet, warm “for the time being” would soon end.
When the Mountain Lord Festival ends, before the true owner of this room arrives… I’ll have to leave Baekho Palace.
She swallowed hard and looked around the room carefully.
Knowing the truth about this precious room made her both grateful and bitter—because now she knew it was time to leave.
She hadn’t cried when she crossed the gates of the Vermilion Bird estate.
But thinking about leaving Baekho Palace now made her eyes sting.
She had always known she would have to leave someday.
Yet it hurt because the warmth and kindness the people here had shown her were so soft and comforting.
She felt a little sad.
But Soya did not cry.
Coveting something that was never yours to begin with—that was what greedy, naughty baby birds did.
She didn’t want to steal what belonged to someone else again.
When I was little, I didn’t know any better and ended up taking Lady Lili’s place. But I’m already nine now. I’m old enough to think and act for myself.
She nodded firmly to herself.
Even so—
she couldn’t stop the sadness from creeping in.
