Chapter 32
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 32
So-ya sat atop a rock, basking in the sunlight, her face clouded with deep thought.
[It felt as if something had completely masked your scent. Did you happen to receive any suspicious items from someone recently…?]
When the Second Young Master had asked her that, one thing had immediately flashed through her mind.
The scent pouch she had received from Si-yo.
It was that pouch.
More accurately, it was the fragrance steeped into it.
There was no doubt that the scent had driven the beasts into a frenzy and erased her own smell. Now that the scent had entirely dissipated, the pouch smelled of nothing, leaving her with no proof, but…
Lady Si-yo dislikes me.
So-ya had known all along, truthfully.
She had noticed how Si-yo’s gaze toward her was strangely sharp. So-ya had been subjected to such looks far too many times; she was keenly sensitive to whether someone liked or disliked her.
Even so, the reason she had accepted the scent pouch with a joyful heart was that she had grown too accustomed to the kindness of the people in the White Tiger Palace.
She knew she would be leaving soon.
And because she was leaving, she had wanted to feel, even if just for a little longer, the sensation of being liked by someone…
I’m such a fool. The same thing almost killed me during the Summer Festival. I should have been suspicious of kindness coming from someone who hates me…
Yet, the fact that she had to suspect anyone at all made So-ya feel terribly upset.
She felt she had a vague understanding of why Si-yo disliked her. People usually had only one reason to hate So-ya.
It was because she was a naughty little bird who had stolen what belonged to others.
But this time, she hadn't intended to steal anything.
She had only planned to enjoy this sweet "for the time being" just a little, a tiny bit longer, before moving on.
It was while So-ya was lost in thought, fidgeting with her fingers, that a voice called out.
“So-ya!”
Ah-rang suddenly poked her head into view.
“Are you okay? I heard something terrible almost happened yesterday!”
“Lady Ah-rang?”
“Baek Ga-yul, that stupid tiger! Acting all high and mighty, only to turn out to be such a half-witted tiger!”
Ah-rang spat out insults toward Ga-yul with fervor.
Hearing the faint trace of worry for her in Ah-rang’s voice, So-ya replied with a soft smile.
“Still, the Young Master is a good person.”
“A good person? Please! He’s the biggest idiot of all the tigers I know! Don’t stay close to a guy like that from now on!”
“Please don’t hate him too much. I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”
“Huh? Leaving?”
Ah-rang’s eyes widened as she asked back.
“Yes. Since the new young lady will be arriving soon, I should vacate the room before then.”
“…!”
Ah-rang looked shocked at those words. She suddenly grabbed So-ya’s hands and shouted.
“Then come with me!”
“Pardon…?”
“The Brown Tiger Clan’s mansion has a huge lake where you can swim and fish! And I won’t fall asleep alone if I go to the mountains with you!”
In an excited voice, Ah-rang began to list the benefits of coming with her without even pausing for breath.
“There are a few stupid tigers there like Baek Ga-yul, but I’ll protect you so no one can bully you! So, come to my house with me!”
“Ah…”
So-ya blinked as she listened to Ah-rang’s grand speech, then finally gave a bright smile.
“Thank you, Lady Ah-rang.”
She could feel a thick, pure sense of goodwill from Ah-rang, who was squeezing her hands and asking her to go together. The gloom that had filled her heart until a moment ago lifted at the thought that not everyone hated her.
If I follow Lady Ah-rang, maybe I can come back to visit the White Tiger Palace every now and then? Since she’s on good terms with the Youngest Young Master.
It was while So-ya was harboring a thought that would have made Ah-rang jump in protest if she had heard it.
A palanquin passed through the main gate, and a girl with long, flowing black hair stepped out with a sullen expression.
“Oh? Isn’t that Heuk Sa-hye from the Black Tiger Clan?”
At the mention of her name, Heuk Sa-hye looked toward So-ya and Ah-rang, but she immediately turned away and walked past them with a cold, biting aura.
“She seems to be in a bad mood.”
“I know exactly why she’s like that,” Ah-rang said with a giggle. “She likes Young Lord Ga-ya, so she’s always saying she’s going to marry him.”
“Young Lord Ga-ya?”
“Yeah, the eldest Young Master of the White Tiger Clan.”
So-ya had heard that name before. The first Young Lord of the White Tiger Clan, who was fifteen this year and of the same age as her brother San-yu from the Vermilion Bird Clan. She had heard that Lord Ga-ya resembled Sa-eon the most among the three brothers.
“But if she gets adopted into the White Tiger family, she’ll become Ga-ya’s sister. That’s why she insisted she wouldn’t attend this Mountain Lord Festival, but her parents forced her to come.”
“I don’t know much about it, but she must be very upset.”
So-ya had never liked anyone in a romantic way, so she couldn't quite understand the feeling. However, she knew she would be very distressed if she were forced to do something she didn't want to do.
“Anyway, that’s why Eun Si-yo is acting so triumphant. Since neither I nor Heuk Sa-hye care about the position of the direct lineage, she thinks the room at the west end is already hers.”
“I see.”
So-ya faltered at the mention of Si-yo’s name, but she replied calmly as if nothing were wrong.
Ah-rang stuck close to So-ya’s side, chatting about this and that. Thanks to her, So-ya’s face brightened with a smile as she shook off her lingering worries.
Wait.
A small black creature caught So-ya’s eye in the distance.
Is that…?
So-ya suddenly bolted upright, causing Ah-rang to grab her.
“So-ya? Where are you going!”
“There’s somewhere I need to go for a moment! Let’s talk more later, Lady Ah-rang!”
Leaving Ah-rang behind, So-ya ran toward the back of the building where she had spotted the black creature.
“Kyung, kyuing!”
In the deserted area behind the building, Seol-yo was wagging its tail, its tongue peeking out as it looked at So-ya.
“Seol-yo…!”
“Kyuang!”
So-ya was happy to see Seol-yo hopping around at the sight of her, but she was also worried.
“…It’s dangerous for you to be here. Hurry, go back to the mountain.”
“Kking, kking…”
Seol-yo shook its head, refusing to leave.
“Oh, dear. If people see you…”
So-ya was terrified that Seol-yo might be discovered and harmed by the people here.
It was then.
“It seems you’ve made a new friend while I was away.”
“Lord Sa-eon…!”
So-ya turned toward the voice with a look of delight. There stood Sa-eon, whom she hadn't seen in two whole days. He had left early yesterday morning and returned late at night.
Though she was glad to see him, So-ya’s concern for Seol-yo made her rush to make an excuse.
“Ah, this little one, well, he’s not a bad creature…!”
“Don’t worry, Cotton Ball. I have no intention of harming your friend.”
Noticing So-ya’s anxiety, Sa-eon glanced at Seol-yo and spoke.
“After all, I’m the one who picked him up.”
“What? You did, Lord Sa-eon?”
So-ya blinked her eyes and tilted her head in confusion.
“Then… did you steal this one too, just like you stole me?”
“Well, something like that.”
“…!”
At his casual confirmation, So-ya’s face filled with shock, and she hurriedly looked around. Fortunately, no one else had heard their conversation.
“Phew.”
“Why the sigh?”
“It would be trouble if someone heard. If rumors spread that Lord Sa-eon is stealing things like a stray cat…”
“What?”
Sa-eon looked bewildered for a moment before bursting into laughter. He was suddenly reminded of the words he had said to the child the day he first brought her here.
“You’re right. So make sure to keep my secret, Cotton Ball.”
“Yes, don’t you worry!”
So-ya clenched her fists and replied bravely.
“Hmm, more importantly, Cotton Ball.”
Sa-eon scanned So-ya, his brow furrowing slightly.
“It looks like you’ve lost weight while I was away. Did that Red Fox starve you?”
“Ah, no! Lady Yeon-jeong even packed a lunch for me yesterday, and also… Whoa!”
So-ya’s body was suddenly hoisted high into the air.
“Hmm.”
Sa-eon tilted his head with a mock-serious expression.
“Maybe not? You might have actually gotten heavier.”