Chapter 19
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19
It was time for So-ya’s meal.
The table was laden with food.
When she had first arrived at the White Tiger Palace, carried in Sa-eon’s arms, she had been skin and bones. Since then, however, she had been eating and sleeping well, and her cheeks had begun to fill out.
After eating until she felt like she might burst, So-ya even finished the medicinal decoction Yeon-jeong brought her without leaving a single drop.
‘Most children would have thrown a tantrum or grimaced, saying they didn’t want to take such bitter medicine.’
‘Our young lady is truly so gentle.’
Yeon-jeong and San-ho watched So-ya, who drank the medicine obediently without even a single flinch.
“Wow, Young Lady! You’re simply amazing!”
Yeon-jeong clapped as she looked at the empty bowl.
“It’s time to wash away the taste. Say ‘ah—.’”
“Aaah—.”
So-ya opened her tiny mouth like a baby bird.
With a giggle, San-ho popped a sweet confection into So-ya’s mouth.
So-ya chewed the treat with her small mouth. She loved the lingering bitter scent of the medicine and the way the sweetness of the candy spread across her tongue.
‘Why is everyone being so kind to me?’
So-ya thought, her face flushing a soft pink.
The delicious food and clean clothes were wonderful, but what she loved most were the faces of the people smiling at her.
The people of the Vermilion Bird Clan had always scowled or avoided her, but the people of the White Tiger Palace all gave her bright, warm smiles. They clapped for her and praised her for the simplest things, like finishing a meal or taking her medicine.
‘So a smile is something this warm and pleasant. I should smile a lot, too.’
Thinking this, So-ya let out a soft, beaming smile.
Just as their smiles had warmed her heart, she wanted to return that pleasant, warm feeling to the people of the White Tiger Palace.
Sa-eon had told her she would stay here "for the time being."
She didn’t know when that "time being" would end, but So-ya felt that living in the west wing end room of the White Tiger Palace was the happiest "time being" of her life.
‘I hope this "time being" lasts a very, very long time. At least long enough for me to remember this sweetness forever.’
To engrave this bittersweet "time being" into her memory, So-ya carefully chewed the last of the candy in her mouth.
Just then, Ho Jeok-yeong arrived, carrying a gift from Sa-eon.
“The Clan Head gave this to me?”
So-ya’s eyes sparkled as she stared at the wooden box in Jeok-yeong’s hands.
“Yes. He said it was a reward for the talisman.”
The talisman had been her way of thanking him for saving her, yet here he was, giving her another gift in return. So-ya felt a lump in her throat.
When she opened the wooden box, a stuffed tiger doll popped out.
“It’s a tiger!” So-ya cried out in excitement.
Everyone chuckled at the sight of the young lady staring at the tiger doll with flushed cheeks and shimmering eyes.
“Thanks to your talisman warding off the ghosts, this little tiger was able to sleep soundly last night.”
“Whoa...!”
“Don’t just stare at it; give it a hug.”
“Am I allowed to?”
“Of course. This is a gift from the Clan Head to you, Young Lady.”
At the encouraging voices, So-ya swallowed hard and looked at the tiger doll. Then, she very carefully pulled the fabric doll into her arms.
It was just as fluffy as the doll she used to sleep with in her father’s arms when she was very small.
So-ya had once owned a stuffed doll she played with as a child, but it had been taken and burned when she was exiled to the Cold Palace. Among them was a magnificent firebird doll that her late mother had sewn by hand while waiting for So-ya to be born.
The scrap of fabric she had managed to scavenge from the ashes had been so charred and blackened that its original form was unrecognizable.
Recalling that moment, tears threatened to spill over.
“Oh, what should I do? I’m so grateful...”
So-ya paced restlessly, wondering how she could possibly convey her feelings. Then, she asked tentatively, “Would it be possible for me to use some paper and ink?”
“Pardon? Paper and... ink?”
“Are you planning to draw something, Young Lady?”
“No. I want to write a letter to Lord Sa-eon,” So-ya replied, shaking her head.
At this, everyone looked at each other in surprise. Could this tiny young lady actually write? Reading and writing were skills usually reserved for the children of prestigious families.
With a skeptical heart, Yeon-jeong brought out ink, a whetstone, paper, and a brush.
So-ya sat down immediately, ground the ink, and picked up the brush to write.
Though the strokes were a bit shaky at the ends due to her lack of hand strength, her handwriting was overall very neat and elegant. It was far better than the youngest young master’s, and even comparable to the second young master’s.
Everyone was struck with disbelief.
Unaware of the shock she was causing, So-ya was actually quite upset, thinking her handwriting looked messy since it had been so long since she last held a brush.
“It’s been a while since I’ve held a brush... Is it very bad?”
“No, Young Lady! It’s perfect!”
“The Clan Head will surely be delighted when he receives this letter!”
Seeing her drooping eyes, San-ho and Yeon-jeong quickly waved their hands in denial. So-ya’s face brightened instantly.
“Then please deliver my letter to the Clan Head! You must, Sir Jeok-yeong!”
“Don’t you worry, Young Lady.”
Jeok-yeong smiled warmly as he accepted So-ya’s letter.
So-ya hugged her tiger doll tight and gave a shy, happy smile.
* * *
Meanwhile, regarding the time So-ya had visited with the stone last night...
Ga-hyeon hadn't actually been asleep; he had been pretending to sleep while observing her. The little "Cotton Ball" had crept into his room, placed something by his pillow, and scurried out.
“What is this?”
As soon as she left, he checked it, only to find a plain pebble.
“What kind of prank is this?”
Ga-hyeon, annoyed by what he thought was a strange joke, had simply tossed it away.
However, the next morning...
Ga-yul came into his room, brandishing a stone of his own and bragging.
“Look at this, Brother! It’s a talisman I got from the Cotton Ball!”
“A talisman?”
“Yeah, a talisman! I told her there were ghosts living in the White Tiger Palace, so she gave it to me to ward them off!”
Ga-hyeon looked at his younger brother with pathetic eyes. Ghosts, talismans—he didn't know what kind of nonsense this was.
“You didn't see the Cotton Ball transform into her beast form, did you, Brother? Well, I did. She was so tiny and cute.”
“...”
“But why is the Cotton Ball so scared of transforming? She was so adorable...”
Ga-yul wasn't particularly quick-witted, but he had good animal instincts. The emotion So-ya had shown when he asked her to transform that day was definitely fear.
“Maybe it’s because she’s so cute... she’s afraid of being kidnapped! What should we do, Brother? If the Cotton Ball gets kidnapped...!”
Ga-hyeon felt a headache coming on from Ga-yul’s nonsense.
“You’re being noisy. Get out.”
“This is a really serious problem! The Cotton Ball is so tiny! If bad thieves hide her in a pocket and run away, it’ll be hard to catch them!”
But Ga-yul didn't leave; he just kept rambling.
Ignoring him, Ga-hyeon stood up and walked outside. Ga-yul followed right behind him, still chattering away, unaware of where Ga-hyeon was heading.
“I bet that’s why Father stole the Cotton Ball, too! This won’t do, Brother. I have to—”
Suddenly, Ga-hyeon stopped in his tracks.
Thump!
“Ouch. Why did you stop so suddenly...?”
Ga-yul, who had slammed his nose into Ga-hyeon’s back, was rubbing the tip of his nose when a booming voice rang out.
“Well now, Young Master Yul!”
“Wh-wha?”
Peeking his head out, Ga-yul realized too late that they were at the training grounds. His martial arts master, who had noticed his disciple neglecting his training for the past few days, approached with a sinister tone.
“Hehehe. I see you ran away yesterday while I stepped away for a moment.”
“M-Master...! Wait, that is, you see...”
Ga-hyeon grabbed the scruff of Ga-yul’s neck as he tried to sneak away and handed him over to the master.
“Here, take him.”
“B-Brother! How could you do this to me! You’re not my brother anymore!”
Ga-hyeon snorted as he watched Ga-yul being dragged away by the master, squawking in resentment.
“Finally, some peace and quiet.”
Just as he was about to head back with a much lighter heart, he spotted So-ya crouching in the garden across from him, rustling through the bushes.