Chapter 38
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 38
So-ya cried for a long while before she finally managed to swallow her hiccups and ask a question.
“Can I… hic… can I really become a part of Lord Sa-eon’s family?”
The child’s damp eyes stole a tentative glance at Sa-eon’s expression.
“I’m not a tiger, I don’t have cool stripes or strong legs, and I don’t have teeth like steel…”
“Well, I’d actually like to ask you the same thing.”
Sa-eon let out a soft chuckle as he tucked the damp strands of hair clinging to So-ya’s cheeks behind her ears.
“I’m not a cotton ball. I don’t have wings, and I don’t have tail feathers. I’m not cute, either. I don’t know about myself, but other people say I have a bad personality.”
“…”
“Even so, I want to be family with a Cotton Ball. What do you think, Cotton Ball? Is a dad who isn’t cute and has a bad personality not good enough?”
He had asked with a playful grin to cheer her up, but So-ya’s shoulders, which had finally stopped shaking, began to heave again. Soon, she burst into even louder wails.
“Father…! You made So-ya cry again!”
Because of that, Sa-eon found himself on the receiving end of Ga-hyeon’s resentful glare.
Though he felt it was a bit unfair, Sa-eon was pleased to see Ga-hyeon already looking after the Cotton Ball with such special care.
*
After sending the children to their respective rooms to sleep, Sa-eon returned to his office and muttered in a feigned tone of worry.
“She’s going to be a very puffy Cotton Ball tomorrow. What should I do?”
His heart ached whenever he thought of So-ya sobbing. It was the first time he had ever seen the child cry out loud.
So-ya rarely cried.
She hadn't cried when she was nearly killed by the Three-Legged Crow of the Vermilion Bird Clan, nor had she cried when she suffered after eating the peach. He had heard she didn't cry when she collapsed from a damaged spirit core, nor when she was lost in the mountains.
The only time he had seen her cry was when she discovered the Vermilion Bird Clan was the one who had ordered her death; even then, she had only shed silent tears.
Seeing So-ya like that, the people of the White Tiger Palace had spoken in unison about what a gentle and mature young lady she was, but Sa-eon hadn't liked that one bit.
[That little baby, the Cotton Ball. She doesn't seem to know how to cry out loud.]
[Bottling up grief like that will hinder the healing of her spirit core. So, Sa-eon, teach the child how to cry.]
Perhaps it was because of those words Sa-ra had shared with him.
While his heart ached to see the Cotton Ball cry, he was also proud that the child had finally learned how to let her sorrow out.
“Oh boy, you’ve finally gone and done it.”
Jeok-yeong let out a deep sigh as he entered the office.
Half an hour ago, amidst the chaos, Sa-eon had sent the young children, including So-ya and Si-yo, inside first.
Afterward, Sa-ra had rushed over with a terrifying expression, asking where the scent pouch had come from. It was confirmed to be the evil arts of the Northern Land. Despite this, some retainers argued it wasn't right to punish a tiger for the sake of a child of unknown status. In front of them all, Sa-eon had declared that he would adopt So-ya into the White Tiger Clan.
The White Tiger Palace had been in an uproar ever since.
“But, Jeok-yeong.”
“What is it now? Why are you calling me like that? It’s terrifying when you use that low, serious voice, Clan Head.”
“…I’ve been thinking.”
Sa-eon turned to look at the grumbling Jeok-yeong.
“Children don’t exist for the convenience of adults. They aren't things to be used up for the sake of the clan.”
Eun Si-yo had been driven by the obsession that she had to become the master of the West End Room at any cost, unable to withstand her parents' expectations. That obsession had reached the point where she was willing to harm other children. The child who had been trembling uncontrollably the moment the evil arts were discovered was also just a young girl, barely ten years old.
“I think it’s a bit strange that these young children have to compete against each other for a position in the direct lineage just because of some custom like being the Bride of the Yellow Dragon.”
“Pardon? But Clan Head, as you know, that position is for the direct lineage’s…”
“The duties of the direct lineage. Of course, that’s important too.”
As the Clan Head, Sa-eon knew better than anyone the responsibilities and obligations a direct descendant of the White Tiger must carry as a scion of an Ancient Divine Beast. Therefore, he had no intention of neglecting to teach the children those duties.
“But they’re still children. So, until they grow up, the adults can just handle those damn duties instead. Pushing the clan’s responsibilities onto children who haven't even grown yet… that’s just cowardly.”
Sa-eon continued in a calm voice.
“So what if the Cotton Ball isn't a tiger? What does it matter if her claws are weaker than the children of the branch lineages, or if she can't hunt?”
A faint smile played on Sa-eon’s lips as he thought of So-ya.
“The Cotton Ball is great at making talismans, and her handwriting is round and very pretty. She takes her herbal medicine without a single frown and enjoys her walks. If we look, I’m sure we’ll find many more things she’s good at.”
Jeok-yeong thought Sa-eon was just starting another bout of doting nonsense over the young lady—until his next words followed.
“And this isn't just limited to the Cotton Ball. I’m sure the child from the Eunho Clan, and the children from the Galho and Black Tiger Clans, all have many things they are good at as well.”
“…What exactly are you trying to say?”
Jeok-yeong asked, narrowing his eyes as he tried to discern Sa-eon’s intentions.
“My point is, there’s no need to line those children up in order of rank.”
Sa-eon replied with a smirk.
“Because they’re children. They’re children who shine brightly just by running around with pure smiles on their faces.”
Each child held their own unique spark. A lovely, precious brilliance that shone in its own color without needing to be compared to others. And protecting that brilliance so it wouldn't fade was the job of the adults.
“Shouldn't adults like us do more to protect that spark in them?”
He had heard that the children from the Galho and Black Tiger Clans didn't want to be adopted but were pushed to the White Tiger Palace by their parents. The child from the Eunho Clan, who had wanted the adoption more than anyone, had burst into tears and clung to her mother’s bosom the moment something scary happened.
Seeing that, Sa-eon felt that this custom—forcing children who hadn't even reached their First Growth to compete and tearing them away from their parents' arms—was profoundly strange.
“So, I plan to abolish this strange custom from now on.”
So that children could shine like children. So they wouldn't lose their spark by being wary of one another under the pressure of serving the clan.
“Then, do you truly intend to adopt the Cotton Ball young lady?”
Jeok-yeong asked in a voice that sounded like he had given up.
“Yes. I’ve already received her permission. There’s no backing out now.”
“Well, if that is your will, Clan Head, there’s nothing to be done.”
“Don’t worry too much, Jeok-yeong. Even if we don't produce a Bride of the Yellow Dragon, our clan won't be shaken that easily.”
Sa-eon said with a grin.
“Above all, I’ll make sure to keep things steady, if only for the Cotton Ball’s sake.”
He was confident. Confident that he could perfectly support both the Cotton Ball and the clan.
‘More importantly…’
Sa-eon recalled how So-ya alone had smelled the scent of the pouch that no one else could detect. The reason the child from the Eunho Clan had been bold enough to hide a pouch imbued with evil arts in the palanquin was likely because she never imagined anyone would be able to smell it.
But So-ya had smelled it.
Sa-ra had suggested that this might be related to So-ya’s spirit core. She said she felt a special energy from it, though she couldn't be certain because the child’s core was not whole.
‘A special energy…’
Since the energy of a spirit core was passed down through blood, beastkin society placed extreme importance on lineage.
‘But wasn't the Cotton Ball originally the daughter of a maid?’
A deep furrow formed between Sa-eon’s brows.
* * *
The next morning.
Opening her eyes on the soft bed, So-ya stared up at the ceiling and muttered blankly.
“It wasn't a dream…”
Her heavy, swollen eyelids told her that the memories of last night were real.
“I really became family with Lord Sa-eon.”
Still unable to believe it, So-ya was patting her own cheeks when her eyes met Yeon-jeong’s as the maid entered the room.
“Young Lady! Oh my…! Your eyes are so swollen!”
A startled Yeon-jeong quickly brought some precious ice, wrapped it in a towel, and pressed it gently against So-ya’s swollen eyes.
Her eyelids felt raw and hot from how much she had cried the night before, but So-ya just giggled.
In truth, So-ya’s daily life hadn't changed much. She was still the Cotton Ball of the White Tiger Palace, she still used the West End Room, and she still took walks holding Lady Yeon-jeong’s hand after breakfast.
Yes, clearly nothing much had changed, and yet…
‘Strangely, the sunlight feels warmer today, and the trees and grass in the garden look even greener. Even though summer is over and autumn is here.’