The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 25

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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 25

“What should we do, Young Lady? Tomorrow, neither I nor Sanho can spare any time.”

Tomorrow was the day Saeon would be away from White Tiger Palace.

Before the Mountain Lord Festival began, it was a long-standing custom to tour the Western Lands together with representatives from each family clan.

Sanho, who was the leader of the Blue Wolf Family, was also scheduled to travel with Saeon, and Yeonjeong had to guard White Tiger Palace in place of her brother Jeok Yeong, who would likewise be away accompanying the Family Head.

“We’ll hold a ceremonial event for the Mountain Lord Festival at Horim Mountain in two days. How about we all go up together then?”

“But… I wanted to pick Sky Flowers and give them as a gift to Little Young Master.”

At Yeonjeong’s words that they’d have to wait two whole days, Soya’s face fell.

“I’ll go with you! So don’t worry!”

Gayul spoke with a confident voice from beside Soya.

Horim Mountain was located behind White Tiger Palace and was also where the Mountain Lord Festival was held every autumn.

Since it was under the jurisdiction of the White Tiger Family, the beasts of Horim Mountain were very gentle and wouldn’t harm people.

Moreover, if Gayul went along, it wouldn’t be dangerous, but…

“Young Lady, will you be able to climb the mountain?”

“Of course. I’m a beast-person too!”

Soya spoke with a confident voice, but Yeonjeong wasn’t reassured.

Beast-people possessed far superior stamina compared to humans. Moreover, it wasn’t even climbing to the mountain peak, just going up to the middle of the mountain shouldn’t be difficult.

However, Soya had only recently recovered her health, and above all, Yeonjeong worried about how hard it would be for our Young Lady, small as Cotton Ball, to climb the mountain with those short legs.

“…Wouldn’t that be okay, Yeonjeong?”

Noticing Yeonjeong’s hesitant expression, Soya asked in a slightly dejected voice.

At the sight of Soya with her eyebrows drooping sadly, Yeonjeong’s heart was about to soften when—

“Oh my, what’s wrong with that? Yeonjeong must be worried that our Young Lady’s legs might hurt. But don’t worry. This Sanho has ways to handle everything.”

Sanho smiled brightly and removed an ornament from her sword, then attached it to Soya’s jeogori while explaining.

“This jewel is called a Wind Bead, a treasure of our Blue Wolf Family. I’ll lend this to you. It will protect your legs and ankles and make them strong.”

“Is it really okay to lend me something so precious?”

Soya asked with wide eyes as she stared at the ornament embedded with the blue jewel.

“Of course, Young Lady. Let’s consider it repayment for the stone talisman.”

“Wow…!”

Soya let out a soft exclamation and glanced at Yeonjeong.

At this, Yeonjeong also nodded as if she had no choice.

“But you two can’t go alone. Su Ri will go with you too, and you must promise me you’ll come down before sunset.”

“Yes! I’ll definitely do that!”

Soya smiled brightly and held out her pinky finger.

At that innocent face that brightened instantly, Yeonjeong let out a short laugh and hooked her finger around Soya’s pinky.

“Our Young Lady, tomorrow I should braid your hair prettily and pack you a delicious lunch box too.”

“A lunch box?”

Soya pressed her thumb firmly against Yeonjeong’s thumb and tilted her head.

“It’s disappointing that I can’t go with you, Young Lady, but still, this is our Young Lady’s first outing. I can’t be careless with the preparations.”

“…!”

First outing. At those words, Soya’s heart went ‘thump!’ and beat loudly.

That night, Soya tossed and turned for a long time, too excited to sleep.

How would Yeonjeong braid her hair tomorrow?

The dumpling hair she did on the first day at White Tiger Palace was very cute too. Would she braid it even prettier than that?

What kinds of food would she pack in the lunch box?

It would be her first time eating a lunch box, and it would surely be really delicious eating it together with Youngest Young Master and Su Ri, right?

Would she be able to pick Sky Flowers properly without getting confused?

What if she accidentally picked the wrong flowers?

After tossing and turning for a long time with such thoughts chaining together, Soya finally drifted off to dreamland late at night.

* * *

At an early hour when Soya, who had fallen asleep with an excited heart, was still sleeping soundly.

It was when Saeon had just finished preparing for his departure and was about to leave.

“Father.”

Ga Hyeon had woken up alone while everyone was asleep to see Saeon off.

“You woke up early, Hyeon.”

“If you leave now, you’ll return late in the evening.”

His voice was mature yet carried a hint of complaint.

At this, Saeon chuckled and casually patted Ga Hyeon’s head.

“I won’t return too late, so guard White Tiger Palace well. While your brother and I are away, you are the master of White Tiger Palace.”

“What? Me?”

Ga Hyeon asked back with wide eyes, then smiled brightly and answered.

“I’ll guard White Tiger Palace well, Father!”

At that moment, Ga Hyeon’s face was different from both the mature young master he showed to the people of White Tiger Palace and the prickly, sensitive side he only revealed in front of Gayul or Ho Jeoka.

It was the face of an ordinary eleven-year-old boy whose eyes sparkled with his father’s attention and love.

Jeok Yeong, who had been watching this scene, casually spoke up as he left White Tiger Palace with Saeon.

“Young Master Hyeon seems happiest when he’s with the Family Head.”

“Really? I think differently.”

Saeon chuckled in response and let out an exaggerated sigh while shaking his head.

“Lately, he seems more interested in Cotton Ball than in me.”

“Young Master Hyeon? Wasn’t it Young Master Gayul who was more interested in Cotton Ball Miss?”

“There are things only a parent’s eyes can see.”

Unlike Gayul, who was born as the youngest and was somewhat spoiled, Ga Hyeon, being the second son, had tried to win his father’s favor since he was young.

Father Baek Saeon couldn’t fail to notice that personality that was gentle on the surface but more sensitive than anyone.

And when Soya appeared, he could sense a subtle concern hidden within the seemingly wary attitude toward her.

‘Cotton Ball might be able to disarm Hyeon’s sharp wariness.’

Saeon’s lips curved slightly as he walked with his robes fluttering.

* * *

“Wow…!”

Soya let out a short exclamation in front of the mirror.

Yeonjeong had braided Soya’s hair into two strands, then rolled them up into ring shapes and tied them with red silk ribbons.

Her reflection in the mirror was so cute, no less than the dumpling hair from the first day, that Soya couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“It’s so pretty, Yeonjeong!”

“Hoohoo, our cute Young Lady. You must be very careful today. Understood?”

Yeonjeong said as she put the basket bag over Soya’s shoulder.

“Yes, don’t worry! I’ll definitely come down before sunset!”

Soya answered energetically.

“Young Master, just because it’s a rare mountain trip doesn’t mean you can get excited and leave the Young Lady alone.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll protect Cotton Ball!”

“Su Ri, if the Young Lady shows even the slightest difficulty, you must immediately carry her on your back. Got it?”

“Of course! That’s why I’m going along!”

Gayul and Su Ri also answered with energetic voices.

On Su Ri’s back hung lunch boxes for three people and various other supplies.

Thus, the three of them left Yeonjeong’s worries behind and headed toward the middle of the mountain.

Gayul, in his baby tiger form, bounced along the mountain’s dirt path on all fours.

Soya also climbed the mountain with quick steps on her short legs.

Thanks to the Wind Bead that Sanho had lent her, her legs truly didn’t hurt at all.

Su Ri followed behind with long strides, carefully watching to see if the Young Lady was having any difficulty.

After climbing for a short while, they arrived at the middle of the mountain.

Above the vast field of colorful flowers spread out before them, sky-blue flower buds that resembled the heavens bloomed magnificently, catching their eye.

Soya pointed at the flowers and shouted.

“Oh? Over there, I think those flowers are Sky Flowers!”

At her words, Gayul ran to where Soya was pointing and sniffed around with his nose.

“How is it, Young Master?”

“Grr…”

Gayul tilted his head with an uncertain expression, then suddenly went “Roar!” and bit down on a flower.

Soya looked at Gayul with a very tense expression.

Every time the baby tiger’s triangular mouth moved as he chewed, Soya’s hands fidgeted nervously.

Soon Gayul swallowed the flower he had been chewing and shouted.

“Roaaaar! (It really is a Sky Flower!)”

“…!”

Soya’s face brightened completely.

“Woof woof! (Here, this flower, Cotton Ball!)”

Gayul pointed with his front paws at the sky-blue flowers blooming nearby and shouted.

Soya scurried over to Gayul’s side and crouched down.

Then with her tiny fingertips, she dug through the soil and carefully picked the flowers so as not to damage the roots.

She concentrated so hard on picking just one flower that beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

Finally, holding the flower she had picked, she blew away the soil from the stem and roots before carefully placing it in the basket that Yeonjeong had given her.

“Done!”

Soya wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and smiled brightly.

“Wow, not a single root was damaged?”

“Roar, roar! (Of course. Cotton Ball is good at picking flowers too.)”

Even though it wasn’t his own accomplishment, Gayul lifted his chin and strutted around with a proud expression on his face.

“Unlike a certain Young Master who put the flower in his mouth and chewed it up as soon as he found it.”

“Grrrowl! (What did you say?)”

“Oh, my! I’ll go fetch some water for you both to drink!”

Soya burst into giggles at the sight of Gayul and Su Ri bickering.

A cool breeze carried the earthy scent of the mountain.

In a good mood, Gayul bounced around the flower field and shouted.

“Roaaaar! (Cotton Ball! Come over here! You can see everything below!)”

“Okay, Young Master.”

Soya replied with giggles.

Besides Sky Flowers, Horim Mountain had many other colorful and pretty flowers.

Just looking at them made her heart feel full, and with the cool breeze blowing, she felt wonderful.

Most of all, the high altitude of the mountain slope instinctively brought a sense of stability to the bird beastkin who had a habit of following the sun.

Soya was giggling as she watched Gayul bouncing around playfully.

Suddenly, she felt someone’s gaze.

Soya turned around but saw nothing.

‘Huh? Did I sense it wrong?’

Soya tilted her head.

“Roar! (Cotton Ball!)”

When she immediately turned her head at Gayul’s voice calling her, leaves rustled down from above her head.

“Eek?”

At the sudden shower of falling leaves, Soya waved her hands frantically and looked up to discover a pure white baby tiger sitting on a tree branch.

Gayul, who had climbed up the tree at some point, was shaking the branches and playing pranks.

“Roar!”

Gayul was excited, wiggling his pink nose and laughing with roars.

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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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