Chapter 69
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 69
“You’re right. A family’s family is family. I didn’t even think of that.”
Cheong-ha, looking slightly surprised, soon let out a soft chuckle and lowered herself to So-ya’s level.
“My baby Cotton Ball always points out things I never considered. You’re such a clever and brilliant little thing.”
Meeting So-ya’s eyes, Cheong-ha spoke while gently stroking the child’s hair.
“I—I read it in a book! I really like reading!”
So-ya quickly added, recalling how the people of the White Tiger Palace had once praised her, saying, ‘Our clever young lady even enjoys reading.’
She desperately wanted Cheong-ha to think well of her.
However, as soon as she said it, she felt embarrassed, worried she sounded like she was bragging—something quite unlike her usual self.
So, So-ya added one more thing in a tiny, timid voice.
“...Of course, I haven’t read nearly as many as Hyeon-yi oraboni.”
Cheong-ha giggled at the sight of So-ya’s bright red face.
“So-ya, you’re only nine and you’ve already read so much and are so smart. I bet you’ll be even more brilliant by the time you’re eleven, just like Hyeon-yi.”
“...!”
Though she thought she had grown used to the affectionate words people gave her, a compliment from her ‘mother’ made So-ya feel more giddy than usual.
“I—I, Mother! I don’t just read books; I also go for walks diligently! And when I take my restorative medicine, I drink it all up without even making a face...!”
And so, So-ya held onto Cheong-ha, who had to leave, and prattled on about herself for a long time.
Despite having felt like a baby earlier while watching her brothers, she was acting more like a child now than anyone else.
In the meantime, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, one by one.
Sa-eon glanced up at the sky and suggested it would be best to depart before it got any later.
The accumulating snow was a concern, but staying any longer would also put a strain on Cheong-ha’s Spirit Core.
“Right. I really must go now.”
Cheong-ha murmured in a bittersweet voice as she stood up.
“Well then, Mother is heading out, babies.”
With those final words, Cheong-ha gave each of the children one last tight hug before departing.
So-ya, alongside her brothers, continued to wave both hands at Cheong-ha’s retreating figure until she was no longer in sight.
Even after she had vanished, So-ya couldn’t bring herself to leave the spot.
It reached the point where Sa-eon had to speak up first, asking if she wasn’t cold and suggesting they go inside.
But for some reason, So-ya didn’t want to go in.
The White Tiger Palace felt strangely empty without Cheong-ha.
It was while the three siblings—So-ya, Ga-hyeon, and Ga-yul—stood there dazed for a while that it happened.
“Orabonidul, let’s build a snowman!” So-ya suddenly stepped forward and shouted.
“A snowman?”
“All of a sudden?”
“Yes, yes! We can pack the snow and make Father, and Mother, and the orabonidul, and So-ya, and Seol-yo, and even all the people of the White Tiger Palace!”
Ga-yul was the first to react to her words.
“Then I’ll do it! I’m going to make the Mother snowman!”
Before anyone could even answer, Ga-yul hopped into the snowbank and began packing snow together.
Watching him, So-ya and Ga-hyeon looked at each other and giggled.
That winter, the area in front of the White Tiger Palace’s east gate was decorated with snowmen made in the likeness of the White Tiger Clan, standing guard over the mansion.
* * *
Peaceful days followed for a while.
So-ya spent her time happily, swinging the Painted Halberd she received from Cheong-ha or riding on Seol-yo’s back as they roamed Mt. Horim.
As the year slowly turned, So-ya became ten years old.
Now that she was ten, Sa-eon assigned tutors to her.
Ga-yul felt truly sorry for So-ya now that she had to study, but So-ya actually enjoyed it.
Whether it was literature, calligraphy and painting, etiquette, or martial arts training—there wasn't a single thing she didn't find interesting.
So-ya’s martial arts instructor was none other than San-ho. She had personally gone to Sa-eon and pestered him, insisting she would take responsibility for the young lady’s training.
Compared to other tigers who could handle a sword freely even before awakening their Spirit Cores, So-ya’s martial arts training had started quite late.
Nevertheless, So-ya applied herself diligently to everything.
“It’s strange. I insisted to the Clan Head that I take the job because I was worried our young lady would find martial arts training too difficult,” San-ho said to Yeon-jeong as she watched So-ya hopping around playfully in the garden.
“But our young lady is keeping up just as well as the tiger young masters. Come to think of it, don’t you think she’s looked much healthier since the last Mountain Lord Festival?”
“You’re right. It’s not just her physical health; her personality has become much brighter too.”
Yeon-jeong smiled as she responded.
The young lady, who used to only give shy, faint smiles, now laughed out loud.
And occasionally, she would even puff out her cheeks in a pout when the mischievous youngest young master played a prank on her.
Yes, just like right now.
“Oraboni, that’s too much! Seol-yo and I worked so hard to build this. How could you ruin it?”
“I’m sorry, Cotton Ball. I didn’t do it on purpose... Are you mad?”
Ga-yul, who had been showing off by transforming into his beast form at every opportunity since his First Growth, had accidentally knocked over the tower of branches So-ya and Seol-yo had built with his large tail.
“Since you didn’t do it on purpose and you apologized, it’s okay. But please be careful from now on. Understood?”
Despite her brief pout, the kind-hearted So-ya would quickly let go of her frustration and offer a sweet smile.
Then, the youngest young master would be swept up in that gentle smile, scratching his head and grinning sheepishly.
This tiny Cotton Ball of a lady, who had suddenly arrived in the Clan Head’s arms last summer, had colored the once-bleak White Tiger Palace with such kind and warm hues.
“Yeon-jeong-nim, San-ho-nim. Do you think I can grow up to be as cool as Yul-i oraboni?”
Ever since the youngest young master had undergone his First Growth, the young lady’s interest had been entirely focused on that.
“Of course. Don’t worry too much, Young Lady.”
“Our young lady is already so wonderful. I’m sure you’ll grow into the most magnificent bird beastkin in the world.”
So-ya’s face brightened at Yeon-jeong and San-ho’s encouragement.
“I want to grow up quickly like my orabonidul so I can go see Mother!”
So-ya spent each day bravely and healthily, constantly thinking of her promise to Cheong-ha to visit the Cheonghae Palace.
However, even as the years passed, that promise remained unfulfilled.
This was because So-ya had not yet undergone her First Growth.
Not the following year. Nor the year after that.
* * *
Sunlight filtering through the wooden lattice tickled the child’s eyelids.
As the child lying on the bed slowly lifted her lids, light pink eyes—the color of warm spring blossoms—revealed themselves.
So-ya sat up with a short yawn.
As she did, her fine white hair cascaded down over her nightclothes.
Three years had passed, and So-ya was now twelve years old.
She had grown a full hand-and-a-half taller than when she first arrived at the White Tiger Palace.
Now, So-ya woke up on her own without Yeon-jeong having to rouse her in the morning.
As soon as she got out of bed and threw open the window, the sound of birds chirping reached her ears.
Originally, no winged creatures lived in the Western Land.
However, starting three years ago, birds had begun to build nests and make their homes there.
“Good morning, Jjaek-jjaek.”
At So-ya’s greeting, a small lark landed on the windowsill.
So-ya could converse freely with birds, and among them, ‘Jjaek-jjaek’ was her best friend—a name she had given him herself.
Well, her best friend after Seol-yo, that is.