Chapter : 25
“Whatever shall we do, miss? Tomorrow neither Sanho nor I will have time.”
Tomorrow was the day Sa-eon would be leaving the White Tiger Palace.
Before the Mountain Lord Festival began, it had long been a tradition for the heads of each clan to tour the western lands together.
Sanho, the leader of the Indigo Wolf clan, would be departing with Sa-eon.
Yeon-jeong also had to guard the White Tiger Palace in place of her older brother Jeok-yeong, who would be accompanying the clan head.
“How about going together when everyone climbs Mount Horim for the ritual ceremony two days later?”
“But… I wanted to pick the Sky Flower and give it to the young master as a gift.”
At Yeon-jeong’s words that they would have to wait two days, Soya’s face fell.
“I’ll go with you! So there’s nothing to worry about!”
Gayul said confidently beside Soya.
Mount Horim was the mountain behind the White Tiger Palace, where the Mountain Lord Festival was held every autumn.
Since it was under the White Tiger clan’s protection, the beasts living there were gentle and never harmed people.
And if Gayul went along, it wouldn’t be dangerous either…
“Miss, can you really climb the mountain?”
“Of course! I’m a beast-person too!”
Soya answered confidently, but Yeon-jeong still felt uneasy.
Beast-people possessed far superior stamina compared to humans. Climbing only halfway up the mountain shouldn’t be difficult at all.
But Soya had only recently recovered her health. And more than anything, Yeon-jeong worried about how tiring it would be for their tiny, fluffy little lady to climb a mountain with those short legs.
“…Is it not allowed, Lady Yeon-jeong?”
Noticing Yeon-jeong’s hesitation, Soya asked in a slightly discouraged voice.
Seeing Soya’s drooping eyebrows softened Yeon-jeong’s heart.
Just then—
“Oh my, why wouldn’t it be allowed? Yeon-jeong is just worried our lady’s legs might hurt. But don’t worry. This Sanho has a solution.”
Smiling brightly, Sanho removed an ornament from his sword and attached it to Soya’s jeogori.
“This jewel is called a Wind Bead. It’s a treasure of our Indigo Wolf clan. I’ll lend it to you. It will protect and strengthen your legs and ankles.”
“Are you really sure you can lend something so precious to me?”
Soya asked with wide eyes as she looked at the ornament with the deep blue gem.
“Of course, miss. Let’s consider it repayment for the stone talisman.”
“Wow…!”
Soya let out a small exclamation and glanced at Yeon-jeong.
Yeon-jeong sighed and nodded helplessly.
“But you can’t go alone, just the two of you. Suri must go with you as well. And promise me you’ll come back before sunset.”
“Yes! We promise!”
Soya smiled brightly and held out her pinky finger.
Seeing her suddenly bright expression, Yeon-jeong chuckled softly and hooked her own pinky with Soya’s.
“My lady, tomorrow I’ll braid your hair nicely and pack you a delicious lunchbox.”
“A lunchbox?”
Soya tilted her head as she pressed her thumb against Yeon-jeong’s.
“I’m sad I can’t go with you, but this is your first outing since coming to the White Tiger Palace. I can’t neglect the preparations.”
“…!”
First outing.
At those words, Soya’s heart thumped loudly.
That night, Soya was so excited she couldn’t sleep for a long time.
How will Lady Yeon-jeong braid my hair tomorrow?
The bun she made on my first day here was so cute… will it be even prettier than that?
What kind of food will she pack in the lunchbox?
It’s my first time having a lunchbox. If I eat it together with the youngest young master and Sir Suri, it’ll taste really good, right?
Will I recognize the Sky Flower correctly?
What if I accidentally pick the wrong flower?
Her thoughts kept chasing one another like a chain, and she tossed and turned for a long time before finally drifting into sleep late at night.
Later That Morning
While Soya was still sleeping soundly, filled with excitement—
Sa-eon had just finished preparing for his departure.
“Father.”
Gahyeon woke up early and came alone to see him off.
“You’re up early, Hyeon.”
“If you leave now, you won’t come back until late tonight.”
His voice sounded mature, but there was also a hint of childish complaint.
Sa-eon chuckled and casually ruffled his hair.
“I’ll return before it gets too late. Guard the White Tiger Palace well. While your brother and I are gone, you will be its master.”
“Me?”
Gahyeon’s eyes widened in surprise, then he smiled brightly.
“I’ll protect the White Tiger Palace well, Father!”
At that moment, Gahyeon’s expression was different from the mature young master he showed to the palace staff, and different from the prickly, sensitive side he only showed to Gayul and Hojeok-a.
He simply looked like an ordinary eleven-year-old boy, his eyes shining under his father’s attention and affection.
Watching this, Jeok-yeong spoke quietly as he left the palace with Sa-eon.
“Young Master Hyeon looks happiest when he is with you, my lord.”
“Really? I think differently.”
Sa-eon snorted softly and shook his head with an exaggerated sigh.
“Lately he seems more interested in the little fluffball than in me.”
“Young Master Hyeon? I thought the one interested in Lady Fluffball was Young Master Yul.”
“There are things only parents can see.”
Unlike Gayul, the youngest who had been spoiled since birth, Gahyeon—the second son—had always tried to earn his father’s approval.
Baek Sa-eon knew better than anyone that behind his gentle exterior lay an extremely sensitive personality.
But when Soya appeared, he noticed something.
Though Gahyeon seemed wary of her, he was secretly paying attention.
If it’s the fluffball… she might be able to soften Hyeon’s sharp guard.
Sa-eon’s lips curved faintly as his robe fluttered in the wind while he walked.
At the Palace
“Wow…!”
Soya let out a short exclamation in front of the mirror.
Yeon-jeong had braided Soya’s hair into two braids, then looped them into round shapes and tied them with a red silk ribbon.
Seeing her reflection in the mirror—just as cute as the bun hairstyle from her first day—Soya couldn’t help but admire it.
“It’s so pretty, Lady Yeon-jeong!”
“Hehe, our adorable lady. You must be careful today, alright?”
Yeon-jeong said while placing a basket bag over Soya’s shoulder.
“Yes! Don’t worry! I’ll come back before sunset!”
Soya answered energetically.
“Young master, just because you’re excited about the mountain trip doesn’t mean you can leave our lady alone.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll protect the fluffball!”
“And Suri, if our lady gets even a little tired, you must carry her on your back immediately. Understood?”
“Of course! That’s exactly why I’m going along!”
Gayul and Suri answered confidently.
Suri’s back was loaded with lunchboxes for three people and various supplies.
With Yeon-jeong’s worries behind them, the three of them headed toward the mountainside.
Gayul, in his baby tiger form, bounded along the dirt path on all fours.
Soya followed behind with her short legs, hurrying up the mountain.
Thanks to the Wind Bead Sanho had lent her, her legs truly didn’t hurt at all.
Suri walked behind them with long strides, constantly checking to see if their lady was getting tired.
Before long, they reached the middle of the mountain.
A vast field of colorful flowers spread before them. Among them stood blossoms with deep blue petals resembling the sky.
Soya pointed excitedly.
“Oh! I think that flower over there is the Sky Flower!”
Gayul ran to the spot she pointed at and sniffed the flower.
“Well, Young Master?”
“Hmm…”
Tilting his head uncertainly, Gayul suddenly went—
Chomp!
He bit the flower.
Soya stared at him nervously.
Each time the baby tiger’s little mouth chewed, Soya’s hands fidgeted anxiously.
Finally, Gayul swallowed the flower and shouted:
“Roar! (It really is the Sky Flower!)”
“…!”
Soya’s face lit up instantly.
“Yip! (Here! This one, fluffball!)”
Gayul pointed at nearby blue flowers with his paw.
Soya hurried over and crouched beside him.
Using her tiny fingers, she carefully dug around the soil so the roots wouldn’t be damaged.
She was so focused on picking a single flower that beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
At last, she lifted the flower she had dug up.
After blowing the dirt off the stem and roots, she carefully placed it into the basket Yeon-jeong had given her.
“Done!”
Soya wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and smiled brightly.
“Wow, you didn’t damage the roots at all!”
“Roar, roar! (Of course. Fluffball is good at picking flowers.)”
Gayul puffed out his chest proudly, as if he had done it himself.
“Unlike a certain young master who stuffed the flower into his mouth and chewed it the moment he found it.”
“Grrr! (What did you say?)”
“Ah—! I’ll go fetch some water for you two!”
Watching Gayul and Suri bicker, Soya burst into laughter.
A cool breeze carried the scent of the mountain soil.
Feeling happy, Gayul jumped around the flower field.
“Roaaaar! (Fluffball! Come over here! You can see everything from here!)”
“Okay, Young Master.”
Soya giggled.
Mount Horim was full of colorful flowers besides the Sky Flower.
Just looking at them made her heart feel full. The cool breeze made her feel even happier.
Most of all, for a bird beast-person who instinctively followed the sun, the high altitude of the mountainside brought a sense of instinctive comfort.
Soya was watching Gayul jump around and laughing softly when—
Suddenly, she felt someone’s gaze.
She turned around.
But there was nothing there.
Huh? Did I imagine it?
She tilted her head.
“Roar! (Fluffball!)”
When she turned at Gayul’s voice—
Rustle!
Leaves suddenly rained down from above her head.
“Ah!”
Startled, Soya waved her hands and looked up.
There, sitting on a tree branch, was a white baby tiger.
At some point, Gayul had climbed the tree and was shaking the branches to play a prank.
“Roar!”
Gayul sniffled happily with his pink nose, laughing mischievously.
