The Moonlit Dream of the White Tiger Cub
I dragged my weary body back to Princess Kylian's bedroom after the banquet ended, then flopped straight onto the bed.
I turned my head and scowled at my reflection in the mirror.
“Kyuu…”
I had tidied up properly in the morning…
My fur, which had been perfectly neat before the banquet, was now a complete mess.
All four butlers had taken turns petting and rubbing me like mad, so there was no trace of any proper fur direction left.
Especially my precious tail.
The amount of static electricity made by how much Lina had fiddled with it was ridiculous.
“Kyuaaaaaang!”
What the heck! Even if you just say “I’ll give you food,” I’ll eat it!
I flailed my tail furiously against the bedsheet, making a sharp, angry swatting sound with every hit at the edge.
This is animal cruelty!
“Kyuk.”
After raging for a while, a deeply satisfying burp suddenly escaped my mouth.
At the same time, a heavy, warm fullness pressed against my stomach.
‘It was delicious…’
Honestly, the galbi-jjim made by the Eastern chefs and Haetae together was art. It was on the level of one of the best dishes I had ever tasted.
The tender meat and the sweet-savory seasoning still made my mouth water even now.
Then came the dessert—sikha.
My mood was bad, my belly was full, my fur was a mess, but my mouth still carried that sweet aftertaste.
It was a strangely complex emotion where irritation and happiness were perfectly split down the middle.
“Kururung…”
Ah, forget about it—I need to groom.
I snorted out a puff of air and began serious grooming.
I couldn’t sleep like this. I had to groom first, then sleep.
Lick, lick.
With my rough tongue I combed through every tangled strand of fur one by one.
I wiped my paw pads covered in drool and carefully pressed down on my tangled tail to straighten it. With every stroke of grooming, my tail thumped irritably against the bed.
‘Because of those butlers, what kind of mischief is this… Next time I’ll bite you.’
I grumbled the whole time while my tongue worked busily.
My belly was too full, so I couldn’t even curl my body properly, but I licked my hind legs carefully with a grunt.
My tongue was going to cramp…
“Kyuu!”
I’m tired!
After finishing grooming, Kylian walked out of the bathroom and smiled faintly when she saw me.
She wiped her wet hair with a towel and came over to the bedside.
“Our Blanc, did you wash your face? You worked hard today.”
There was a lazy, satisfied tone in her voice.
You enjoyed making me suffer, didn’t you?
“Kyuu.”
I don’t know.
I was the one who messed up my fur the most at today’s banquet.
She sat on the edge of the bed and naturally reached out with her hand.
“Come here. I’ll comb your hair. Doing it with my tongue is hard. Your fur is all tangled.”
“Kyuu!”
Stop it! Go away! You’re the one who made it like this!
I swatted her hand away with my tail and turned my head to the opposite side.
No touching right now. You want me to touch the fur you messed up? No way.
“Why are you doing this? You fed me so much delicious food today. Huh? Just once. My hands are clean.”
Even after being rejected, Kylian didn’t give up and lay right next to me, staring at me.
Her eyes were full of affection.
Why do these butlers act like they can’t live without me?
I tried to ignore her and keep grooming, but her gaze was too intense. And honestly… the gentle scent coming off her after washing wasn’t unpleasant at all.
My belly was full, my back was warm, and the butler who cherished me most in the world was right beside me.
Sleepiness and post-meal fatigue were slowly creeping in.
“Kyuu…”
Sigh, fine. I’ll endure it. I’m the master here.
I withdrew my tongue from grooming and quietly turned my body.
Kylian looked at me with expectant eyes.
What did I do right?
I raised my front paw and gently pressed it against her soft cheek.
*Press.*
“……!”
The warm, soft sensation of my foot jelly paw pads was transferred to her cheek.
You worked hard today. From now on, just touch me normally.
Kylian’s eyes curved like a crescent moon.
She grabbed my paw, kissed the pad, and pulled me into her arms with both arms spread wide.
“Kyuuu!”
I’m suffocating…
“You’re so cute it’s killing me, really. Our Blanc… how are you so lovable? Sleep well.”
“Kyuu…”
Let go… this.
I pushed her chest with my front paw, but Kylian’s strength quickly pinned me down and I gave up, burying my face in her embrace.
My eyes grew heavy in no time from the familiar warmth.
Squeeze, squeeze.
At that moment, something moved under the blanket and Lumia slipped between us.
She had been tense all day among strangers, so her face showed clear exhaustion. I could feel how strongly she wanted to sleep beside me tonight.
“Kyeng…”
Lumia made herself a nest between my belly and Kylian’s chest, then tucked her head under my chin and curled up.
Now there was an extra fur heater.
One butler on the left, a little sister in my arms, and galbi-jjim in my stomach.
A perfect three-way cuddle.
I couldn’t fight my heavy eyelids any longer and fell asleep.
When I opened my eyes, the familiar scenery unfolded.
The snowy mountain where I always met Grandpa.
[Oh, you’ve come.]
I looked up, and Grandpa was staring down at me.
“Kyuu!”
Grandpa!
I wagged my tail happily and ran straight to Grandpa’s massive front paw, rubbing my body against it.
It was the feeling of souls connecting—one I couldn’t feel from the butlers.
[Yes, yes. There were quite a few pleasant things today, weren’t there? I can feel the delicious smell radiating from your body.]
Grandpa chuckled and looked at me with a satisfied smile.
“Kyuu!”
Yeah! You remember that Haetae I mentioned last time? She came today and she cooks amazingly well.
I was so excited I started telling Grandpa everything that happened today.
Meeting Haetae for the first time, how delicious the gwapyeon was, and how the butlers tormented me with galbi-jjim.
“Kyuu, kyuaaaaang!”
Next time I meet Grandpa in the real world, I really want to eat galbi-jjim together.
Grandpa nodded with a happy expression, as if he already knew everything I was proud of.
[Yes, that little pup arrived a bit earlier than expected.]
Grandpa paused for a moment, then added.
[Haetae… that one seems to have good hands, at least.]
Grandpa narrowed his eyes as if remembering an old memory.
What was he thinking?
Then, suddenly, Grandpa looked at me with a serious expression. The playful light vanished, and the dignity of a divine beast returned.
[However, Blanc.]
“Kyueung?”
Why?
[Did that Haetae girl tell you her own name?]
“Kyuu?”
Name?
I tilted my head. Now that I thought about it… did she say her name?
Even in front of the Emperor she only called herself the Haetae of Cheongun Empire, and when she sent me telepathy she never mentioned her name.
Everyone just called her Haetae-nim or Shinsu-nim.
“Kyueung.”
She only said “Haetae.” Does she have a separate name?
When I asked, Grandpa nodded as if he had known I would ask.
[The timid one. As expected, she still hasn’t told you.]
Grandpa clicked his tongue and continued.
[For divine beasts, there is the name of the clan humans call them, or the shell name—there is also the true name, the innate name that the world itself assigns at birth.]
“Kyuu?”
True name? What is that?
It was something I had never heard before.
A true name? Was this like a rule of the world?
Did I have another name?
[The true name contains the essence and power of that divine beast, and also the innate destiny. That is why they never casually speak it aloud, nor tell it to anyone. Revealing a true name is like handing over a part of one’s soul.]
Grandpa paused for a moment, then gently stroked my head with care.
[The fact that Haetae did not tell you her true name was not because she did not trust you, but because she was actually too eager.]
“Kyuu?”
What do you mean, Grandpa?
[If she had revealed her everything—her true name—and you had rejected or not accepted it, the wound would remain in her soul. So she is afraid. She is waiting until she is sure you will get closer, accept her, and embrace her.]
Hearing Grandpa’s explanation, the face of Haetae from earlier that day flashed before my eyes.
Her anxious expression while looking at me, her bright smile while offering galbi-jjim, the sparkling eyes when she wanted to hug me—these were all because she wanted to become close to me, and she was scared I might dislike her.
“Kyuu.”
I feel a little sorry. Tomorrow I’ll wag my tail even more when I meet her.
“Kyuu!”
Then what is my true name?
I suddenly became curious.
Haetae, whom Grandpa called a “little pup,” had a true name too, so of course I, the only white tiger left in this land, should have one, right?
When I asked, Grandpa showed a strange smile.
[Of course you do. You are the only white tiger remaining on this land. A very noble name is sleeping deep in your soul.]
“Kyueung!”
Tell me! I also want a cool name!
I became so curious I bit Grandpa’s paw and held on.
I want “Blanc” too, but I want something even cooler.
I rolled on Grandpa’s paw pads.
[Not yet. You cannot know it just because I tell you.]
“Kyueung!”
Tell me!
[The true name is not something taught by others—it is something you must realize yourself.]
Grandpa stroked my head with his massive front paw.
“Grurung…”
[Don’t rush, little one. You are doing well. Eat well, sleep well, receive love, and grow big and strong. Then naturally, the day will come when you will understand.]
Before Grandpa’s words finished, the wind on the snowy mountain grew a little stronger.
I was arranging the fur blowing in the wind when I suddenly noticed the shadow of a rocky mountain rising far behind Grandpa’s back.
What is that?
“Kyuu..?”
Grandpa, is there someone over there behind you?
Behind Grandpa’s massive body, something was definitely visible.
It looked like another white tiger, similar in build but slightly smaller and with a more elegant curve.
For some reason, that white tiger was looking at me with a slightly sad gaze.
There was an unfamiliar melancholy, yet the cold aura in its eyes was so piercing it made my heart ache.
I had never seen it before, but my soul seemed to remember the scent.
“Kyueung.”
Who is that white tiger?
When I pointed with my tail, Grandpa turned his head away and smiled bitterly.
[You are bright-eyed, our grandchild]
“Kyueung.”
Who is it? Why is it hiding over there?
[You do not need to know yet. The time has not come.]
Grandpa blocked my way.
[Now go back. The sun is rising.]
Before I could say anything else, Grandpa sent me back to reality.
When I woke up, for some reason my chest felt sharply sore in one corner.
“Kyueung…”
She didn’t tell me who she was, and Grandpa dislikes her.
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