Chapter 12
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 12
Sa-eon, the head of the Baek Clan and ruler of the West, was also the tutor to the Fifth Prince.
His disciple, the Fifth Prince Tae Yi-rim, was the only legitimate heir to the imperial bloodline, yet he possessed no interest in the throne. In fact, he was lethargic toward everything in life.
It had been about three years ago. From a certain point onward, he had gradually brightened and regained his vitality, but even then, he did not show the same greed for the throne as the other princes.
Then, overnight, the Prince changed.
On the morning after Sa-eon had brought the "Cotton Ball" back from the South, he had rushed to the Imperial Palace upon hearing that the Prince was in critical condition and seeking him.
However, the eleven-year-old Prince, who was supposedly suffering from a high fever, was sitting perfectly upright on his bed to greet him.
His pale complexion and the reddish tint around his eyes suggested he hadn't quite shaken off the fever yet, but his condition was certainly not dire enough to warrant such an urgent summons.
[I greet His Highness the Prince.]
[Welcome, Master.]
Sa-eon faltered at that languid greeting.
Was it because of the voice cracked by fever? Something felt different from usual.
[The reason I called for you today is because I have a favor to ask.]
[Please, give your command.]
[Go to the South, to the land of the Vermilion Bird. Steal the most valuable thing from that place. If you do, I will give you the Dragon Blood Herb that you, Baek Sa-eon, have searched for so desperately.]
Sa-eon froze.
His expression hardened into a mask.
The Dragon Blood Herb.
That medicinal herb, said to bloom from the blood of a dragon, was a miraculous elixir that bloomed only once—when an Emperor ascended the throne. It was not something a mere prince could simply promise to give away.
As if reading Sa-eon’s thoughts, Tae Yi-rim spoke in a low voice.
[I will be the Emperor.]
That calm, soft voice was by no means weak.
Only then did Sa-eon realize that a moment ago, the Prince had addressed him by name instead of calling him "Master."
Before the Emperor, everyone was but a mere subject...
[I give you my word, Sa-eon. I shall ascend the throne before this year is out and grant you the Dragon Blood Herb.]
Sa-eon swallowed silently and scrutinized the Prince more closely.
His gaze, his expression, his manner of speaking, his voice—everything that composed the boy was starkly different from the Prince Sa-eon had known.
Though the Prince was only eleven, the same age as Sa-eon's second son, he possessed eyes of such depth and a face so mature that it was hard to believe.
[...What exactly must I bring back?]
[Something whose value no one recognizes, yet is the most precious of all. If it is you, you will be able to recognize it at a glance.]
The Prince’s request was like a riddle.
[There is not much time. Depart immediately, before the sun sets today.]
[I did not expect to be commanded to commit theft. "The most precious thing," you say... it sounds tempting. What if I simply take it and run away?]
When Sa-eon chuckled and replied playfully, a cold, sharp edge momentarily flickered in the Prince’s turquoise eyes.
[It is not something that can be possessed. You only need to show me that it is safe.]
Tae Yi-rim spoke with absolute certainty.
It was as if he had already foreseen exactly what Sa-eon would steal.
The most precious thing, yet something no one could possess.
Thus, the first thing that had come to Sa-eon’s mind was the Vermilion Bird Treasure Bow left behind by the ancient divine beast.
That divine object, kept by the Vermilion Bird Clan, was a treasure that no mere human could ever truly own.
But then he had discovered So-ya, changed his mind, and brought the child back instead.
"Anyway, I'm glad it's not something like that..."
Jeok Yeong’s voice broke through his reverie.
"Since you gave her that room at the west end, Clan Head, everyone is going to misunderstand just like I did. That room was prepared for the young lady we were planning to adopt from the branch lineage."
"There are no other rooms in the White Tiger Palace suited for a young girl, so it couldn't be helped."
"That’s true, but I’m asking just in case..."
Ho Jeok-yeong glanced at Baek Sa-eon’s face and asked, "You aren't planning to adopt that Cotton Ball into the family register instead of the girls from the branch lineage, are you?"
"What? I never even thought of—"
Just as the flustered Sa-eon was about to reply that such a thought had never crossed his mind, an image suddenly flashed through his head: the Cotton Ball as the youngest daughter of the White Tiger Clan.
He imagined her pitter-pattering through the White Tiger Palace on those tiny legs, spotting him, and breaking into a wide smile while calling him "Father"...
"Hmm..."
Sa-eon stroked his chin with a mock-serious expression, lost in thought.
The Cotton Ball as my daughter. That doesn't seem so bad...
"Uh-oh. Clan Head, you weren't just thinking, 'Hmm, that doesn't seem so bad,' were you? You were, weren't you?"
"..."
"Of course, unlike the tiger young lords, the young lady Cotton Ball is very small! And cute! And lovely!"
"Mm."
At the words "small, cute, and lovely," Sa-eon unconsciously nodded with a satisfied expression.
Seeing this, Jeok Yeong’s eyes widened as he shouted, "Even so, you can't! This is about adopting a lady to represent the clan! It’s not a position where you can just dote on her because she’s cute! Absolutely not!"
The corners of Sa-eon’s mouth, which had been creeping upward, sank back down.
"...I know."
The decision to adopt a girl from the branch lineage was for the sake of the clan. He couldn't make such a choice based on idle emotions or impulses.
Above all, the Cotton Ball wasn't even a tiger.
But the Cotton Ball has nowhere else to go. Since I'm the one who picked her up, it's only right that I take responsibility.
Sa-eon glanced at Jeok Yeong and asked in a suggestive tone, "But Jeok Yeong, it's not like there's a rule saying there can only be one young lady of the clan..."
"There is! There absolutely is!"
Jeok Yeong raised his voice sharply.
"Think about it, Clan Head. If you adopt two young ladies at the same time, they will inevitably be compared. Between the two, who do you think will be the one compared and made to feel inferior?"
"Ugh."
"What you do out of kindness might actually make things harder for the Cotton Ball. And it would be disrespectful to the girl who is supposed to become the new lady of the clan."
"..."
"I know her situation is pitiful, but you can't take responsibility for every pitiful person in the world, can you? You should find a suitable family to send the Cotton Ball to instead."
"..."
"Wait, why are you looking at me like that?"
"You heartless, wicked red fox."
"Huh? Hearing that from you feels very strange, Clan Head."
"Aren't you even worried about that tiny Cotton Ball?"
"Of course I am...!"
It was then.
"Clan Head."
A voice calling for him came from outside.
It was Ho Yeon-jeong, a beastkin of the Red Fox Clan who had been assigned to watch over So-ya.
"What is it?"
"I have something to report regarding the young lady in the west room."
As Yeon-jeong delivered her report, the area around Baek Sa-eon’s eyes hardened.
* * *
Ga-yul was hiding in the bushes, observing the little "Cotton Ball" his father had supposedly stolen.
Her name was So-ya, right?
Unlike the people of the White Tiger Palace, she was very small. And weak. That was why he couldn't stop worrying about her.
Why is she so small?
Until the Cotton Ball appeared, Ga-yul had been the smallest person in the White Tiger Clan.
But now, here was a girl even smaller than him.
Ga-yul found So-ya, who was a full head shorter than him, absolutely fascinating.
He was fascinated, but also worried.
And why is she so weak? She was slumped over in Father's arms from the very first day.
Sitting on a large rock and soaking up the sun, her pale face looked so bloodless that she seemed ill.
If you're weak, you won't be able to survive...
Ga-yul’s heart raced with anxiety that something might happen to the small and fragile So-ya.
"Oh dear, Young Master. If the Clan Head finds out you're neglecting your training like this, there will be big trouble."
Su-ri, who had followed Ga-yul, was also feeling his heart thumping.
He was worried that his young master's deviance would end up getting him in trouble.
"Go away. I'm doing something very important right now. I have to figure out the Cotton Ball's true identity," Ga-yul said, waving his hands at Su-ri dismissively.
"Can you really find out just by hiding and peeking like this? Why don't you just go and ask her directly?"
"What if I talk to her and she gets scared and falls over?"
"She'd fall over just from being talked to?"
"..."
Ga-yul recalled how, just yesterday, he had made eye contact with the Cotton Ball and she had fallen over in surprise.
If she was even smaller and weaker than him, she might do more than just fall—she might faint.
"If you aren't going to ask her directly, let's get to the training grounds quickly, Young Master. Please?"
"But she's so small and weak. I have to keep an eye on her. My heart is in my throat. I'm afraid if I just go 'poof' and blow on her, she'll fall right over..."
It was at that moment.
"Gasp...!"
"Ack...!"
So-ya, who had been nodding off in the sunlight, actually fell right over!
Ga-yul burst out of the bushes and ran toward her, shouting.
"Co—Cotton Ball! Cotton Ball, are you okay?"
But when he reached the rock where So-ya had been sitting just a moment ago, she was nowhere to be seen.
"Where did the Cotton Ball go?"
As a flustered Ga-yul looked around, a tiny baby bird fallen at his feet caught his eye.
He froze.
A tiny, snow-white baby bird with soft, downy feathers was lying there with its eyes closed, asleep.
"Could it be... the Cotton Ball...?"
Ga-yul’s eyes grew wide and round.
As a young tiger beastkin who had only just turned ten, Ga-yul had never been outside the White Tiger Palace.
Having never even seen a herbivore, this was his first time seeing a winged creature.
"Gasp! I think that is the young lady Cotton Ball! Look at those adorable tail feathers! The only creature this cute in the entire White Tiger Palace is the Cotton Ball...!"
"Shh, be quiet! You'll wake her up!"
Ga-yul scolded Su-ri for his fussing and carefully picked up the tiny baby bird that he assumed was the Cotton Ball.
"She must have been very tired... Wait?"
Suddenly, his eyes went wide once more.