Chapter 63
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 63
So-ya waited anxiously in front of Ga-yul’s room.
“Don’t worry too much, Young Lady.”
“Why don’t you go wait in your own room?”
Despite the urging of Yeon-jeong and San-ho, So-ya stubbornly held her ground.
“I’m going to wait here until Lady Cheong-ha comes out.”
Cheong-ha, who had arrived at the White Tiger Palace just a short while ago, had gone straight into Ga-yul’s room.
The reason she had come was that Ga-yul’s First Growth was approaching.
It was said that young beastkin undergoing growing pains would instinctively recognize only the mother who gave birth to them, even while their reason was paralyzed, finding peace only in her arms.
Thus, the mother beastkin was the only being who could stay by their side and help them endure the agonizing growing pains they otherwise had to overcome alone.
However, as a long time passed since Cheong-ha entered Ga-yul’s room without her re-emerging, So-ya’s worry deepened.
So-ya crouched down in front of the firmly closed door.
Seol-yo, in his wolf form, crouched beside her and whimpered, keeping her company as they waited together.
How much time had passed?
Just as So-ya was covering her mouth with her tiny hand to stifle a yawn—
Creak—
The door opened, and Cheong-ha finally stepped outside.
“Lady Cheong-ha!”
So-ya scrambled to her feet and rushed toward her.
“How is Brother Yul? Is he okay now?”
“Yes, he’s perfectly fine. He’s fallen into a deep sleep. I even placed the talisman the little Cotton Ball gave him by his side.”
At those words, So-ya’s face brightened.
“What a relief…!”
Seeing So-ya’s joy, Cheong-ha stroked the child’s hair and asked, “Would you like to go in with me next time?”
“Am I allowed to?”
“We can just sneak in while he’s sleeping. We’ll keep it a secret from everyone else.”
So-ya’s eyes grew round at the suggestion, offered with a playful wink.
Was that really okay?
The question flickered in her mind for a moment, but—
“I’ll take responsibility and protect our little Cotton Ball so she doesn’t get hurt, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Yes!”
So-ya answered readily at Cheong-ha’s reassurance.
Her father and brothers tended to be somewhat overprotective of her. The same went for Yeon-jeong, San-ho, and everyone else in the White Tiger Palace.
This was the first time an adult had ever suggested they do something secretly that strayed from the established rules.
And a secret from everyone else, no less…!
So-ya’s heart went thump-thump-thump at the novel feeling of rebellion.
“Oh, I’m so hungry. Little Cotton Ball, would you mind guiding me to the dining hall?”
Cheong-ha chuckled and reached out a hand to So-ya.
It was just as So-ya took Cheong-ha’s hand.
She spotted Ga-hyeon walking toward them from the opposite direction.
“Oh? Brother Hyeon!”
“So—”
Ga-hyeon, who was about to respond to So-ya’s call with a smile, suddenly noticed Cheong-ha beside her, and his expression stiffened.
“Hello, Hyeon-ah. It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”
Cheong-ha leaned toward Ga-hyeon and offered a warm greeting.
“…”
Ga-hyeon stared at Cheong-ha in silence for a moment, then finally forced a thin smile and replied.
“Hello, Lady Cheong-ha. It has been a while.”
Cheong-ha’s expression faltered slightly.
“Welcome to the White Tiger Palace. So-ya, I see you were guiding our guest? She is an important visitor, so please take good care of her. Well then, Lady Cheong-ha, I hope you have a peaceful stay.”
After offering a greeting with flawless etiquette, Ga-hyeon smiled neatly and turned away.
‘Huh…?’
So-ya realized that Ga-hyeon’s behavior was very strange.
He was certainly smiling gently, but his attitude was chillingly cold, as if he were drawing a firm line between them.
And Ga-hyeon’s behavior didn’t just last for that day; it continued throughout Cheong-ha’s entire stay.
* * *
“Hmm. I heard Baek Sa-eon had adopted a daughter, so I naturally assumed she was a tiger and brought a weapon.”
Cheong-ha muttered in a mock-serious voice as she looked at a long object wrapped in white cloth.
“It might be a bit big for our Cotton Ball.”
“O-Oh, no! It’s fine! I love it!”
Excited, So-ya quickly held out both hands.
As the white cloth was unwound, a long spear with two crescent-shaped blades—wol-a—was revealed.
“It’s a spear.”
“It’s a toy modeled after the Blue Dragon’s divine object, the Blue Dragon Painted Halberd.”
Cheong-ha said, pointing to the blue dragon carving embossed on the handle.
“Whoa…”
So-ya gasped in admiration at the blue jade embedded in the dragon carving.
Though it had been specially made short and light for young beastkin, it was still a bit large for So-ya.
However, since it was made as a toy, the tips were blunt, so it didn’t seem dangerous.
“Thank you so much, Lady Cheong-ha!”
So-ya thanked her with a bright smile.
“I’m the one who’s grateful that you accepted it so happily.”
Despite their slightly awkward first meeting, the two had become quite close over the past few days.
This morning, Cheong-ha had even braided So-ya’s hair instead of Yeon-jeong, though unfortunately, her skills were quite poor.
Cheong-ha excused herself by saying she had never handled a girl’s hair before, but So-ya had liked it very much.
She had simply giggled even when Sa-eon, upon seeing the braids, asked if she had been in a duel with someone.
So-ya glanced at the other gifts piled among Cheong-ha’s luggage.
“What are those, Lady Cheong-ha?”
“Ah, these are for Hyeon and Yul. I haven’t been able to give Yul’s to him yet because his growing pains aren’t over, and as for Hyeon…”
Cheong-ha hesitated for a moment before continuing with a faint smile.
“Well. I’m not sure if he’ll be happy to receive this.”
Despite her smile, Cheong-ha’s eyes looked a little lonely.
“Oh…”
So-ya trailed off, not knowing how to react.
Over the past few days, So-ya had noticed that Cheong-ha, who was always cheerful in front of others, was uniquely unable to be so in front of Ga-hyeon.
And she knew the reason was Ga-hyeon’s consistently cold and distant attitude.
“But I should still try. I think I’d feel more courageous if our little Cotton Ball came with me. Will you help me?”
Cheong-ha asked in a bright voice to So-ya, whose face had darkened out of sympathy.
“Yes, Lady Cheong-ha!”
It was just about the time he would be resting in his room after his afternoon training.
So-ya headed to Ga-hyeon’s room with Cheong-ha.
“Brother, it’s So-ya. May I come in?”
“So-ya.”
At So-ya’s voice, Ga-hyeon brightened and opened the door himself, only to discover Cheong-ha following behind her.
“Ah, I see you’ve come with the guest.”
“Yes, Lady Cheong-ha has something for—”
“I find this behavior a bit immature, Lady Cheong-ha. It’s disappointing.”
Ga-hyeon cut So-ya off, snapping at Cheong-ha in a frigid voice.
“If you have business with me in the future, please come to me directly instead of using So-ya like this. I find it unpleasant when others use my family.”
“Brother, Lady Cheong-ha didn’t mean it like that…”
Just as So-ya, startled by Ga-hyeon’s undisguised hostility, tried to stop him—
“I’m sorry.”
Cheong-ha hid the gift she had brought behind her back and apologized with a smile, her face showing no sign of being hurt.
“I didn’t think that far. I wasn’t trying to use your family. I’m truly sorry, Hyeon-ah.”
“Seeing as you apologize like this, it seems you at least know shame. That is a relief. It means the dignity of the Cheong Clan hasn’t hit rock bottom just yet.”
Ga-hyeon turned away with a crooked, mocking smile.
Left in the hallway, Cheong-ha stared silently at the closed door for a long while even after it had shut.
So-ya fidgeted restlessly between the two of them.
* * *
That evening, after finishing their meal.
“Yeon-jeong, why does Brother Hyeon avoid Lady Cheong-ha?”
So-ya asked Yeon-jeong about the relationship between Cheong-ha and Ga-hyeon, which she had been curious about all along.
“The Second Young Master believes that the Madam—no, that Lady Cheong-ha abandoned the young masters.”
“Abandoned… them?”
“When the Young Master was very young, Lady Cheong-ha had to leave the White Tiger Palace.”
Yeon-jeong told Cheong-ha’s story with a slightly bitter expression.