The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 17

A few hours ago.

After playing in the garden with Gayul all day, on the way back to her room holding hands with Yeonjeong and Sanho.

Soya was deep in thought about how to protect the benefactors of White Tiger Palace from the ghost.

Actually, there was one method she had been thinking about.

[What is that ghost doing? Not taking away that wicked girl who’s making our Miss Lili suffer.]

[Even the ghost won’t take her because she’s too filthy.]

The people of the Suzaku Family often said such things about her.

Sometimes they would even burn the objects she had touched, saying that even ghosts would be disgusted and avoid them.

Back then, watching the objects turn to ash one by one broke her heart, but after hearing about the ghost appearing in White Tiger Palace, her thoughts changed a little.

‘They said even ghosts would be disgusted and avoid things I touched, so if I place my belongings nearby, the ghosts will run away.’

Soya decided to place her belongings next to her benefactors.

But Soya had nothing.

She had even lost the pouch she brought when leaving the Suzaku mansion while fleeing from the assassin.

Thinking of the lost pouch made her feel a bit melancholy. Because that pouch was…

‘Oh my, this isn’t the time to think about that.’

Soya shook her head vigorously to dispel her thoughts.

As Soya was worrying about having nothing, a good idea suddenly struck her.

“Wait a moment, Yeonjeong, Sanho! Please wait for me just a little!”

Soya let go of their hands and ran back to the garden.

Looking around quickly, Soya soon found what she was looking for.

With a brightly lit face, Soya picked up three of the smoothest and prettiest stone pebbles.

Yeonjeong and Sanho, who had followed her, looked puzzled, but Soya just smiled broadly and urged them to hurry back to the room.

Back in the room, Soya blew off the dirt from the pebbles, washed them clean with water, and dried them.

Then she stared at the pebbles for a moment, held them tightly in her hands, and made a wish in her heart.

‘Since these are stone pebbles touched by Soya’s hands, please make the ghosts avoid them.’

Naturally, there was no visible change in the pebbles, but a satisfied smile appeared on Soya’s face.

‘All done!’

Soya had finished her preparations.

‘Now I just need to place these next to Saeon and the Young Masters!’

But when it came to actually going out of the room alone at this late hour, she felt a little scared.

Soya glanced at Yeonjeong.

“Young Lady, do you have something to say?”

She must have been tired from playing all day, yet instead of sleeping at this hour, Soya had been playing with pebbles and now was stealing glances at her, so Yeonjeong tilted her head and asked.

“Um, Yeonjeong…”

Soya approached Yeonjeong and whispered in her ear.

“You said there’s a ghost in White Tiger Palace, right? Well, these pebbles here. If I place them nearby, the ghosts won’t take anyone away. So I want to take these to Saeon and the Young Masters and place them there.”

“Ah, so they’re like talismans!”

Yeonjeong clapped her hands and nodded.

“Talismans?”

“Things that ward off ghosts.”

“Ah…! That’s right, it’s similar! They’re talismans!”

It was a bit different since they made ghosts avoid rather than ward them off, but it seemed similar to talismans.

“So, I need to bring these talismans to Saeon and the Young Masters, but…”

“Oh my, our cute Young Lady. You were scared to go out into the corridor alone, weren’t you?”

“Yes, yes…!”

Soya nodded quickly.

Then Yeonjeong chuckled and extended her hand to Soya.

“Then shall we go together to the Family Head and Young Masters?”

“Yes!”

Soya smiled brightly and took Yeonjeong’s hand.

The first place Soya headed to while holding Yeonjeong’s hand was Gayul’s room, which was closest.

When they carefully opened the door and went inside with Yeonjeong, they saw Gayul sleeping with his blanket kicked off, snoring softly.

Soya placed one pebble next to Gayul and quickly came out to the corridor.

Next, she headed to Ga Hyeon’s room, who had shown her around White Tiger Palace on the first day.

Ga Hyeon’s room was quiet without even the sound of breathing.

Soya also placed a pebble next to Ga Hyeon, who was lying in proper posture sleeping quietly, and came outside.

And finally, the last place Soya headed to was Saeon’s office.

“He’s in his office when it’s this dark?”

“The Family Head often works until late hours.”

When they arrived in front of Saeon’s office, Jeok Yeong recognized Soya and greeted her.

“Miss Cotton Ball? Did you come to give thanks to the Family Head again today?”

“No. Well, you see, today…”

To Jeok Yeong who asked with a good-natured smile, Soya whispered the reason for her visit.

“Wow, a ghost-repelling talisman made personally by Miss Cotton Ball! I’m so envious of the Family Head!”

When Jeok Yeong reacted with an exaggeratedly envious voice, Soya quickly answered, realizing something.

“Th-then I’ll make one for you too, Jeok Yeong!”

At those words, Jeok Yeong became excited and grinned widely.

“Really? You promise, Young Lady?”

“Yes.”

It was when Soya was extending her pinky finger over Jeok Yeong’s outstretched pinky finger.

Yeonjeong, who had been quiet, glared at Jeok Yeong with wide eyes and said.

“That’s too much, Young Lady! You’re giving a gift to that old fox before me, whom you see every day?”

“O-old fox?”

Not knowing that the two were siblings, Soya was flustered by Yeonjeong’s blunt words.

“Make one for me too, Young Lady! Mine before that guy’s!”

“Ah, alright, Yeonjeong!”

Soya also made a pinky promise with Yeonjeong.

They even pressed their thumbs together and stamped firmly, but somehow she felt a bit strange.

No one had ever told Soya they would wait for something from her before.

So she had always lived holding her breath, but now it felt like…

‘It’s like I’ve become someone helpful.’

It was a feeling that was a bit unfamiliar and awkward, yet ticklish.

“Now then, Young Lady. Let’s hurry inside and give the talisman to the Family Head.”

Jeok Yeong smiled and opened the door for her.

“This time, try going by yourself, Young Lady!”

Encouraged by Yeonjeong and Jeok Yeong’s support, Soya bravely stepped into the office.

“Hello… there!”

Soya, who was about to greet him immediately, discovered Saeon slumped over his desk and quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

‘He’s sleeping.’

Saeon must have been tired too.

‘I mustn’t wake Saeon.’

Soya walked as quietly as possible, trying to muffle her footsteps.

It was then.

“Ugh…”

At the small groaning sound, Soya was startled and tumbled over with a crash.

“Ow ow ow….”

Soya held back the tears that were about to come and got up.

“I’m sorry, Lord Saeon. I was trying to wake you up…. Huh…?”

Despite all that commotion, Saeon didn’t wake up. Soya blinked her eyes and was soon shocked.

Saeon was groaning in pain, sweating cold sweat like someone who was truly ill.

‘Oh, what should I do…! I came too late and he’s already been affected by the ghost.’

Soya clasped her hands together and stamped her feet anxiously.

‘No. Please… Ghost spirits, please don’t torment Lord Saeon.’

It was when Soya was muttering like that to herself.

Flash―!

The stone pebbles she was holding suddenly flashed with light.

Soya’s eyes widened round.

“Huh…?”

The light went out again in an instant.

What was that just now? Did I see it wrong?

Soya rubbed her eyes and gradually noticed that Saeon’s complexion had become peaceful.

“…!”

Soya’s face brightened up as well.

‘The talisman really must have worked. What a relief.’

Soya placed the stone pebbles next to Saeon and quietly slipped outside.

Yeonjeong, who had been waiting in the corridor, saw Soya’s brightened face and asked.

“Did you succeed, Young Lady?”

“Yes!”

Soya answered with a bright smile.

“You know, Yeonjeong. The talisman really seems to work! The ghost was tormenting Lord Saeon, but when it saw the talisman, it ran away!”

Soya whispered in an extremely excited voice.

“Oh my.”

This is the first time our Young Lady has spoken so quickly. Yeonjeong looked at Soya’s flushed cheeks and chuckled.

“That’s quite fortunate.”

“I’ll make one for you tomorrow too, Yeonjeong!”

“That sounds good, Young Lady. Then tomorrow, after you sleep in and wake up, we’ll go pick the prettiest stone pebbles… Oh my, Young Lady, did you fall?”

“Huh?”

“There’s blood here.”

Only then did Soya notice that her palm was slightly scraped.

She must have gotten hurt when she fell earlier, startled by Saeon’s groaning.

“Oh dear, what should we do about our Young Lady’s delicate hand bleeding.”

“Uh… it’s not that badly injured though….”

Soya tried to hide her hand behind her back out of embarrassment, but Yeonjeong was quicker to grasp Soya’s wrist firmly.

“This won’t do, our Young Lady. Let’s hurry back to your room and apply some medicine.”

“Yes.”

Soya nodded obediently and returned to her room, where she washed her hands clean, applied medicine to the wound, and fell asleep with a peaceful mind.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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