Chapter 25
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 25
“What should we do, My Lady? Neither San-ho nor I can make time tomorrow.”
Tomorrow was the day Sa-eon would be away from the White Tiger Palace.
It was a long-standing custom to tour the Western Lands with the representatives of each clan before the Mountain Lord Festival began.
San-ho, the leader of the Indigo Wolf Clan, was also scheduled to depart with Sa-eon. Meanwhile, Yeon-jeong had to stay behind to guard the palace in place of her brother, Jeok Yeong, who would be accompanying the Clan Head.
“There will be a ritual for the Mountain Lord Festival on Mt. Horim in two days. How about we all go up together then?”
“But… I wanted to pick a Sky Flower and give it to the Youngest Young Master as a gift.”
So-ya’s face fell at Yeon-jeong’s suggestion that she wait two days.
“I’m going with her! So you don’t have to worry!”
Ga-yul spoke up beside So-ya, his voice brimming with confidence.
Mt. Horim was the mountain located behind the White Tiger Palace, and it was also where the Mountain Lord Festival was held every autumn.
Because it was under the jurisdiction of the White Tiger Clan, the beasts of Mt. Horim were very gentle and did not harm people.
Furthermore, if Ga-yul went with her, it wouldn’t be dangerous, but…
“My Lady, do you think you can climb the mountain?”
“Of course. I’m a beastkin too!”
So-ya spoke confidently, but Yeon-jeong couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Beastkin possessed physical strength far superior to humans. Climbing halfway up a mountain, rather than to the summit, shouldn't be difficult at all.
However, So-ya had only recently recovered her health. More than anything, Yeon-jeong worried about how hard it would be for their little "Cotton Ball" of a lady to hike up a mountain with those short legs.
“…Is it not allowed, Lady Yeon-jeong?”
Noticing Yeon-jeong’s hesitation, So-ya asked in a slightly dejected voice.
The moment Yeon-jeong saw So-ya’s drooping eyebrows, her heart began to waver.
“Oh, honestly, why wouldn't it be allowed? Yeon-jeong is just worried your legs might ache, My Lady. But don’t you worry. This San-ho has a solution.”
San-ho gave a refreshing smile as she detached an ornament from her sword and fastened it to So-ya’s jeogori.
“This gem is a treasure of our Indigo Wolf Clan called a Wind Bead. I’ll lend it to you. It will protect and strengthen your legs and ankles.”
“Is it alright for you to lend me something so precious?”
So-ya asked, her eyes widening as she stared at the accessory embedded with the indigo gem.
“Of course, My Lady. Let’s consider it a return gift for the stone amulet.”
“Wow…!”
So-ya let out a soft exclamation and stole a glance at Yeon-jeong.
Yeon-jeong eventually nodded, as if she had no choice.
“On one condition: the two of you cannot go alone. Promise me that Su-ri will go with you and that you’ll be back before the sun sets.”
“Yes! I promise!”
So-ya smiled brightly and held out her pinky.
Seeing that clear face brighten in an instant, Yeon-jeong let out a short laugh and hooked her pinky with So-ya’s.
“My Lady, it looks like I’ll have to braid your hair beautifully and pack a delicious lunch for you tomorrow.”
“A lunch?”
So-ya tilted her head as she pressed her thumb against Yeon-jeong’s in a seal.
“It’s a shame I can’t go with you, but this is your first outing, My Lady. I can’t be negligent in the preparations.”
“…!”
Her first outing. At those words, So-ya’s heart gave a great, thumping leap.
That night, So-ya tossed and turned for a long time, too excited to sleep.
How will Lady Yeon-jeong braid my hair tomorrow?
The double buns she did on my first day at the White Tiger Palace were so cute. Will she make it even prettier than that?
What kind of food will be in the lunch?
It’s my first time having a packed lunch. It’ll be so delicious eating it with the Youngest Young Master and Su-ri, won’t it?
Will I be able to pick the Sky Flowers without getting them confused?
What if I accidentally pick the wrong flower?
Thoughts followed one after another like a chain, and it was only late into the night that So-ya finally drifted off into dreamland.
* * *
Early the next morning, while So-ya was still sleeping soundly with her heart full of anticipation.
Sa-eon was just finishing his preparations to depart.
“Father.”
Ga-hyeon had woken up alone while everyone else was still asleep to see Sa-eon off.
“You’re up early, Hyeon-ah.”
“If you leave now, you won’t be back until late tonight.”
His voice was mature, yet held a hint of a sulky complaint.
Sa-eon let out a chuckle and gave Ga-hyeon’s head a casual pat.
“I’ll be back before it’s too late, so keep a good watch over the White Tiger Palace. While your brother and I are away, you are the master of this palace.”
“Pardon? Me?”
Ga-hyeon’s eyes rounded as he asked back, but he soon replied with a bright smile.
“I’ll keep the White Tiger Palace safe, Father!”
In that moment, Ga-hyeon’s face was different from the mature young lord he portrayed in front of the palace staff, and different from the prickly, sensitive side he showed only to Ga-yul or Ho Jeok-a.
He looked like an ordinary eleven-year-old boy, his eyes sparkling at his father’s attention and affection.
Watching this, Jeok Yeong spoke up softly as he followed Sa-eon out of the palace.
“Young Lord Hyeon-yi seems happiest when he is with you, Clan Head.”
“Is that so? I think otherwise.”
Sa-eon replied with a smirk, then let out an exaggerated sigh and shook his head.
“Lately, he seems more interested in the Cotton Ball than in me.”
“Young Lord Hyeon-yi? Wasn't it Young Lord Yul-i who was more interested in the little lady?”
“There are things only a parent can see.”
Unlike Ga-yul, who was the youngest and acted like a spoiled child, the second son, Ga-hyeon, had tried his best to earn his father’s approval since he was small.
There was no way his father, Baek Sa-eon, wouldn't know that beneath his gentle exterior lay a personality more sensitive than anyone else's.
Yet, when So-ya appeared, Sa-eon could sense Ga-hyeon subtly paying attention to her even through his guarded attitude.
If it’s that Cotton Ball, she might be able to disarm Hyeon-yi’s sharp defenses.
With a faint curl of his lips, Sa-eon walked on, his robes fluttering behind him.
* * *
“Wow…!”
So-ya let out a short exclamation in front of the mirror.
Yeon-jeong had braided So-ya’s hair into two sections, then looped them up and tied them with red silk ribbons.
Her reflection in the mirror was so adorable—no less than the double buns from the first day—that So-ya couldn't help but marvel.
“It’s so pretty, Lady Yeon-jeong!”
“Hehe, our cute My Lady. You must be very careful today. Understood?”
Yeon-jeong said as she placed a basket bag over So-ya’s shoulder.
“Yes, don’t worry! I’ll definitely be back before the sun sets!”
So-ya answered energetically.
“Young Lord, you mustn't get so excited about the hike that you leave My Lady behind. Absolutely not.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll protect the Cotton Ball!”
“Su-ri, if My Lady looks even a little tired, you must carry her on your back immediately. Got it?”
“Of course! That’s why I’m going along!”
Ga-yul and Su-ri also answered with spirited voices.
Hanging from Su-ri’s back were lunches for three and various other supplies.
Leaving Yeon-jeong’s worries behind, the three of them made their way toward the mountainside.
Ga-yul, in his baby tiger form, bounded along the mountain path, his paws padding against the earth.
So-ya also climbed the mountain, her short legs moving busily.
Thanks to the Wind Bead San-ho had lent her, her legs didn't hurt at all.
Su-ri followed closely behind with long strides, keeping a sharp eye out to see if the young lady was struggling.
It didn't take long to reach the middle of the mountain.
In a vast field of multicolored flowers, a cluster of blossoms that had opened into indigo buds the color of the sky caught her eye.
So-ya pointed at the flowers and shouted.
“Oh! There! I think those are the Sky Flowers!”
At her words, Ga-yul ran to where she was pointing and sniffed around.
“How is it, Young Lord?”
“Sniff…”
Ga-yul tilted his head with a doubtful expression, then suddenly went “Chomp!” and bit down on a flower head.
So-ya watched him with a tense expression.
Every time the baby tiger’s ㅅ-shaped mouth moved as he chewed, So-ya’s hands fidgeted with nerves.
Soon, Ga-yul swallowed the flower and shouted.
“Rawr! (It really is a Sky Flower!)”
“…!”
So-ya’s face brightened instantly.
“Kyang kyang! (Over here, it’s this flower, Cotton Ball!)”
Ga-yul shouted, tapping the indigo blossoms next to him with his front paw.
So-ya scurried over to Ga-yul’s side and crouched down.
Then, using her tiny fingertips, she dug into the soil, being careful not to damage the roots as she harvested the flower.
She was so focused on digging up a single flower that beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
Finally, she held up the harvested flower, blew the dirt off the stem and roots, and placed it carefully into the basket Yeon-jeong had given her.
“Done!”
So-ya wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and gave a beaming smile.
“Wow, you didn't damage the roots at all?”
“Rawr, rawr! (Of course. Cotton Ball is even good at digging up flowers.)”
Ga-yul puffed out his chest and acted proud, even though he hadn't done the work himself.
“Unlike a certain young lord who chewed and ate the flower the moment he found it,” Su-ri teased.
“Grrr! (What did you say?)”
“A-Ah! I’ll go get some water for you two to drink!”
So-ya giggled at the sight of Ga-yul and Su-ri bickering.
A cool breeze carried the scent of the mountain soil.
Feeling good, Ga-yul bounded around the flower field and shouted.
“Rawr-rawr! (Cotton Ball! Come over here! You can see everything below!)”
“Coming, Young Lord,” So-ya replied with a giggle.
Mt. Horim had many beautiful, colorful flowers besides the Sky Flowers.
Just looking at them made her heart feel full, and the cool breeze made her feel wonderful.
More than anything, as a bird beastkin with an instinct to chase the sun, the high altitude of the mountainside brought her a natural sense of peace.
As So-ya was giggling while watching Ga-yul play, she suddenly felt a gaze.
She turned around, but she couldn't see anything.
Huh? Did I imagine it?
So-ya tilted her head in confusion.
“Khang! (Cotton Ball!)”
As soon as she turned her head back at Ga-yul’s call, a shower of leaves fell from above.
“Whoa!”
Caught in the sudden rain of leaves, So-ya waved her hands and looked up, only to find a snowy-white baby tiger sitting on a tree branch.
Ga-yul had climbed the tree before she knew it and was playing a prank by shaking the branches.
“Kha-hang!”
Ga-yul laughed joyfully, his pink nose twitching with excitement.