The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 193

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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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Side Story 16

Gayul’s mouth was suddenly blocked by something.

“Mmph, mmph…!”

Struggling and barely escaping, Gayul released his beast transformation with a ‘poof!’

“What, what was that!”

Gayul turned around angrily, huffing.

There stood Ho Jeokyeong, Father’s aide.

“Oh my, it was Young Master Yul? Haha. I only saw you from behind and thought you were some unfamiliar tiger I’d never seen before.”

“…?”

Gayul looked at Jeok Yeong with suspicious eyes.

You’ve been watching me since my first beast transformation, yet you didn’t recognize me?

‘Is he an idiot?’

I heard all the Red Fox family members were smart, but that must be a lie too.

“Haha. As I get older, my eyes keep getting dimmer.”

“Who else besides me would be a young tiger in White Tiger Palace?”

“But you never know, right? What if other young tigers living outside White Tiger Palace come to steal our adorable Cotton Ball Miss because of her reputation?”

“…!”

At those words, Gayul’s eyes widened like saucers.

“Oh my, how frightening.”

Jeok Yeong shuddered as if trembling with fear.

‘Come to think of it, Father also… said he stole Cotton Ball.’

Gayul’s eyes shook violently.

Jeok Yeong’s words sounded quite plausible.

If Father, a full-grown tiger, had stolen Cotton Ball, there was no guarantee that young tigers from the Western Lands wouldn’t target Cotton Ball too.

“Th-then what should we do? If other tigers come looking to target Cotton Ball…”

“Haha, don’t worry. That’s why I’m keeping such thorough watch to prevent such things from happening.”

“Oh, I see. I should stick even closer to Cotton Ball from now on too.”

Gayul nodded and strengthened his resolve.

‘Lucky that the Young Master is an idiot.’

Watching Gayul fall for his sophistry, Jeok Yeong thought to himself.

“But why are you here?”

“I was running an errand for the Family Head.”

“Here?”

This tree that Gayul had climbed to find Soya didn’t seem like a place for running errands at all.

“Yes, well. It’s quite an important secret mission. Even if you’re the Young Master, I can’t tell you about it.”

Jeok Yeong lowered his voice and whispered as if discussing something confidential.

Well, it wasn’t entirely a lie that it was an important mission entrusted by the Family Head.

The Family Head had said so.

Even though Cotton Ball Miss seemed to have adapted to White Tiger Palace, she was still a bit awkward.

Especially with the warm goodwill and gentle smiles that people sent her way.

‘She’s been accustomed to others’ unreasonable malice for so long. Poor Cotton Ball Miss.’

So he had to let Cotton Ball Miss know.

That our Cotton Ball Miss was actually a very, very amazing child who deserved to be loved by everyone.

‘Letting her know that, guiding her to the proper world where Cotton Ball Miss should have been living, is also part of the promise between Cotton Ball Miss and the Family Head.’

The kind and gentle Cotton Ball Miss who shyly rejoiced at even the smallest praise.

[Ball games seem a bit difficult. But I’m really confident at hide-and-seek. Last time too, I…]

The Miss must have found that incident impressive, as she came to find Saeon and told the story several times.

Thanks to that, Jeok Yeong, who was also in the office, had memorized the anecdote by heart.

Though he had to listen to the same story repeatedly, he didn’t mind.

The sight of the Miss telling stories with sparkling eyes was so childlike and lovable.

The Miss was just now shaking off her past at Vermillion Bird Mansion and finding her true self, so he couldn’t let that clueless Young Master throw ashes on it.

Jeok Yeong glanced at the tree branch across from him and looked back at Gayul with a grin.

“By the way, what were you doing here, Young Master?”

“Me? Oh, right, Cotton Ball!”

Swoosh!

Gayul quickly turned his head to look at where Soya had been just moments before.

But…

“Huh? Cotton Ball…?”

Soya was nowhere to be seen!

Gayul leaped across to the opposite tree branch, but Soya had already disappeared, leaving only the fluffy scent of a baby bird.

“Aww, I missed her.”

She must have moved to a different spot in the meantime.

“I could have caught her this time…”

Gayul made a sad face and just stared at the white down feathers Soya had left behind.

Meanwhile, Soya, unaware that Gayul had come to catch her, stealthily moved to find a new hiding place and discovered a small tree hole.

‘That looks safe.’

Soya hopped and flew right into it.

‘It doesn’t seem like anyone spotted me, right?’

Poking her tiny eyes out of the tree hole like beans, she could see people running around in the distance looking for her.

“Soya, where are you?”

“Cotton Ball! Come out quickly!”

“Cotton Ball Miss, where are you hiding?”

Everyone was desperately searching for her.

But she mustn’t be fooled.

If she came out before the seeker called “I give up,” she’d be caught right away.

‘I hope Hyeoni Elder Brother calls out soon.’

Chirp, chirp, chirp—

Thinking that she had won again today, Soya closed her eyes tightly and smiled happily.

* * *

The five children of White Tiger Palace—Soya, Arang, Seolyeo, Gayul, and Su Ri—were playing on Horim Mountain when they discovered a small cave.

The entrance was small, making it difficult for adults to enter, but it was big enough for small children to go in.

“Let’s make this our hideout from now on! A hideout just for children where adults can’t come!”

Everyone’s eyes sparkled at Arang’s declaration.

A hideout just for children.

Those words sounded incredibly cool.

The children went down to White Tiger Palace to decorate their hideout.

“Um, Yeonjeong… Do you happen to have small blankets or fluffy covers?”

“Oh my, Miss, what are you going to use those for?”

“Huh? Oh, that’s…”

Not expecting Yeonjeong to ask about the purpose, Soya was startled.

“It’s, it’s a secret!”

Yeonjeong chuckled at Soya’s bright red face as she answered.

‘I heard the children are making a secret hideout together, so that must be it. How adorable.’

Yeonjeong pretended not to know anything and handed Soya fluffy blankets and pillows.

“If it’s a secret, then it can’t be helped. Here, take these, Miss. More would be better, right? I have some unused pillows too, so take them.”

“Wow, thank you!”

When he deliberately counted out the exact number for her, Soya smiled brightly as she received them.

Thanks to that, the hideout was completed.

Inside the small cave were the fluffy blankets and pillows that Soya had brought, the red carpet that Arang had brought, the small low desk and five cushions that Su Ri and Seolyeo had brought, and even a folding screen that Gayul had sneakily taken from the masterless Gaya’s room.

With interesting fairy tale books stacked beside the desk, it was truly perfect.

“The Galho Family has rocking horses and wooden carved dolls that were brought from across the sea. I’ll bring them all here later.”

“If it’s wooden carved dolls, there are many at the White Tiger Palace training ground too! I’ll bring some tomorrow!”

“Then should I bring some food? It would be nice to have snacks.”

The children looked at the completed hideout with proud faces, chattering about what else they could bring to fill it.

Among the loud voices of Arang, Gayul, and Su Ri, Soya hesitantly glanced around as if she really wanted to say something.

“What’s wrong, Soya?”

When Seolyeo, who noticed first, asked, the other children all turned to look at Soya at the same time.

“Oh, well…”

“What is it? Come on, tell us, Cotton Ball!”

When Soya couldn’t speak easily, Gayul hopped over to her side and urged her on.

“I had an interesting idea.”

At this, Soya gathered her courage and shared her opinion.

“How about we write letters to each other and open them together later?”

It was her usual gentle tone, but a faint excitement could be felt throughout her voice.

“Since this is the children’s hideout, we could write letters to each other to read together on the day our childhood ends!”

After finishing her words, Soya somehow felt her face flush red and her heart seemed to beat rapidly.

Did she say something unnecessary?

What if everyone thinks it’s not a good idea?

Now that she had spoken up, she began to worry.

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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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