Mama's Hidden Agony
Haetae trembled violently inside the locked room, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. Every sound that escaped her lips made her want to scream.
The memory from that unforgettable day still haunted her like a blade pressed against her throat. No matter how hard she tried to forget, the image of countless white tigers surrounding her burned into her mind.
“Haa… haa…”
Her head spun, her lungs burned, and the suffocating pressure in her chest only grew worse. She felt as if she were once again trapped in that terrifying moment.
She couldn’t even muster the courage to open the door and step outside. All she could do was huddle in the corner, tail tucked between her legs, desperately trying to disappear. The humiliation was crushing, yet somewhere deep inside she still felt a faint, fragile sense of relief at the thought that the person she truly cared about hadn’t seen her like this.
After promising myself I’d never act like this again…
But here she was, shaking uncontrollably, her self-imposed resolve nothing but a cruel joke.
THUD!
The door was ripped open with brutal force.
“Hoo…”
She strode in, her eyes icy and piercing, cutting through the chill of the air like a sword.
That gait of hers reminded Blanc of nothing so much as the steps of a reaper.
Kya! Kyaaoo!
Calm down! Mama, he’s my friend! Hold it in!
Caught off guard by the strangely adorable wail that had nothing to do with the situation, she glanced down at her own skirt.
There, dangling helplessly, was the one she had longed to see—Blanc, swinging from her hem like a precious ornament.
He clung desperately to the fabric with both paws and teeth, thrashing about. The sight was painfully cute, yet a wave of overwhelming emotion crashed over her.
Even Blanc… stood up for me. And here I am, acting like such a disgrace.
“You dare hide like a filthy rat even when I call for you?”
She ignored Blanc’s pleading cries and stared down at the trembling girl with eyes colder than winter frost.
“Your guts are so weak they’re practically hanging out of your stomach. Pathetic dog.”
“Haa… haa… I-I’m sorry…”
Forcing her shaking body still, she met the woman’s gaze.
They were both Divine Beasts, yet the gap between them was terrifyingly vast.
She was the White Tiger, the strongest among the Four Sacred Beasts, and now she stood before the most powerful being among that elite group. To her, this girl was still no more than a puppy.
The pressure rolling off the woman felt like claws tearing into her flesh.
Kyaung! Kyawo!
Mama! Stop! She’s my friend! Don’t say those things!
Blanc had had enough. He dropped her hem and landed on the floor, planting himself squarely between the two of them. His tiny front paws spread wide, shielding the trembling girl.
“…”
In that instant, the woman’s eyes—usually blazing with murderous intent—shook violently.
The majestic ears that had once stood tall drooped completely, limp and defeated.
The expression on her face was one of overwhelming shock and heartbreak. This precious son she had given birth to had actually protected another girl and tried to block her.
Kya… kyaung…
Mama’s mad at me…?
That wounded look was more painful than any blade.
I never thought she’d be this hurt…
“I’m not angry… not really. If our little one says so, then we’ll forgive you.”
The woman’s voice carried a bitter aftertaste. In the blink of an eye, the killing intent vanished.
“However, as a mother, I must speak a single word to this child. Our son will stay outside for a while, won’t he?”
Deep sorrow and sorrowful affection laced every syllable.
Kyaung…
Mama’s mad…?
Blanc peeked at his mother’s face and drooped his ears.
In remorse, he crawled over to her ankle, nuzzling her legs and paws all over his body to pour out his apology.
“Haha, Mama’s fine.”
Kyawo, kyaung…
So sorry… I’ll wait quietly outside. Gently…
The woman stroked his head once, then turned away and quietly closed the door behind her.
Haetae… I’m sorry. I did my best… I’ll bring you the bones.
CLICK.
The door shut. Inside the cold room, only the two women remained.
“…I offer my deepest apologies for not greeting the great White Tiger first.”
Haetae bowed her head, her voice shaking with every word.
Yet when she glanced sideways, the light in her eyes held no trace of the gentle warmth she showed her own son.
Only cold, merciless eyes—the gaze of a parent who would devour their child without mercy if necessary.
“You dare… still try to lay a finger on my untouched child while I’m away?”
The air in the room froze solid.
Coldness began to spread from her feet, creeping toward the trembling girl.
“Without even my mother’s permission, you covet the mate of my son? I should tear that arrogant mouth of yours out right now.”
“P-Please forgive me… it was my fault.”
She slammed her forehead to the floor and repeated her apologies.
“But…”
Grinding her teeth, she forced out her thoughts.
“I will never give up on Blanc.”
“What?”
Haetae’s eyebrows twitched.
“Even if I rip your head off right now… I cannot abandon the feelings I have for Blanc. I will become his mate. I swear it.”
“…”
Uuuuung—!
The air in the room grew so heavy it crushed the soul.
Even breathing felt impossible in the killing intent that poured from the woman’s frozen expression.
This girl was at her limit—pressed against the floor, body trembling.
“C-Cough…!”
She clutched her chest and collapsed, lungs collapsing, heart about to burst.
COUGH!
Black blood erupted from her mouth, spilling across the floor.
Haetae walked slowly toward the writhing girl, one measured step at a time.
Click… click…
Each footfall tightened the noose around her throat.
“How can you possibly offer my precious son to a creature that cannot even endure my aura?”
The words pierced straight through the pain and struck her heart.
It was true. Even to Blanc, who hadn’t yet finished growing, the gap was insurmountable.
She looked down at the fallen girl with mocking eyes.
“Until you say you’ll give up, I’ll peel the flesh from your bones.”
Kr, gwaaagh…!
She wiped the blood from her lips with her sleeve.
If this was all it took to make her give up, she shouldn’t have started in the first place.
The provocation had been light, but her heart was heavy.
She forced strength into her trembling legs, pushed herself up with a hand on the floor, and rose—slowly, agonizingly slowly.
CRACK.
The sound of bones protesting echoed through the room.
“Haa… haa…”
Standing tall on two legs, she stared directly into Haetae’s eyes.
For the first time, she met the White Tiger at eye level.
Her gaze burned with an unyielding poison and ferocious determination that no death could break.
“…”
Haetae silently returned the stare.
“Not bad. A little praise wouldn’t hurt.”
SWOOSH.
The killing intent that had filled the room vanished like smoke.
“But I will never acknowledge you as my daughter-in-law.”
Her cold eyes pierced through the ruined Haetae.
“Because my son himself declared her a friend and blocked you, I’ll stop here. This is for the sake of my son’s honor alone. Remember that.”
Without looking back, she walked toward the door.
“Behave yourself properly.”
CREEEAK. CLICK.
The moment the door opened and she stepped out, the tension shattered. Haetae collapsed as if her legs had given out.
Kyawoong…
Mama… isn’t going to hit Haetae, is she?
Blanc climbed onto Emperor Carchion’s lap, ears drooping, and sighed deeply.
Haetae did come to propose, but… still, she’s my friend.
Thinking from Mama’s perspective, he could understand the anger a little.
Still, she was a little overprotective.
Imagining what had happened inside, his head started to ache for no reason.
“What’s on your mind, Blanc?”
Grandpa Carchion stroked his back with a large hand and smiled warmly.
Kyaung.
Grandpa’s so smart. He’s always getting prettier these days.
No trace of fatigue remained in his face.
He looked like he’d had the best sleep in ages.
After learning from Kylian that Mama had arrived at the palace, Grandpa had hugged him tightly to soothe his troubled heart.
“By the way, it’s truly a fitting time for your mother to visit.”
“…”
Kyawo?
Wait, what? Haetae is dying right now!
When he tilted his head in confusion, Grandpa Carchion patted his head.
“That dragon you… destroyed in my garden. The dissection work on it finally ended perfectly this morning.”
Blanc’s eyes sparkled as he looked up at his grandfather.
“How about it? If I treat you to a meal made with the dragon I hunted myself, won’t Mama like it even more?”
Kyawo!
Grandpa’s a genius!
That would definitely lift Mama’s spirits.
And if they ate meat together, Haetae might soften up a little. After all, sharing a meal makes it easier to become friends.
Kyaaoo!! Kyawo! Kyawoong!
Yes! I’m super happy! Grandpa’s the best!
Blanc nuzzled deep into Grandpa’s arms and let out a long, satisfied purr song.