The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 28

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

Chapter 28

‘She must be hurt, right?’

Ga Hyeon thought as he recalled how Soya’s large eyes had trembled.

He hadn’t been able to meet Soya again since that incident.

He should have explained that he hadn’t meant it that way, but when he actually tried to go see her, he didn’t know what to say and just let time pass aimlessly.

So that incident from yesterday remained stuck like a thorn in his throat, prickling uncomfortably.

At that moment, a guest from the Silver Tiger Family arrived.

“Hyeoni Elder Brother, it’s been so long. Have you been well?”

Eun Siyo greeted him with familiar speech.

Ga Hyeon looked up at Siyo at that expression ‘Elder Brother.’

Since they were branch family members with such a distant relationship they were practically strangers, it wasn’t an appropriate form of address.

However, Ga Hyeon hid such inner thoughts and responded with a gentle smile.

“Yes, it’s been a while. Siha.”

He deliberately called her name wrong. It was a subtle way of saying they weren’t that close.

Siyo’s face reddened slightly as she noticed this.

“Ah, um, Elder Brother, I’m not Siha, I’m…”

Siyo stammered as she reintroduced her name. Shame washed over her thinking that those around them must have witnessed this scene.

“Oh, sorry. I must have gotten confused.”

Ga Hyeon replied in an affectionate and gentle voice, as if he had never intended it.

“No, Elder Brother. It’s because I came to visit after such a long time.”

“Still, it would be better to use proper forms of address, Siyo. What if people misunderstand? That you’re coveting the Western End Room.”

It sounded like a warning not to covet the Western End Room, but when Ga Hyeon made this point, he had such an affectionate and kind expression and voice as if he was only concerned for her.

So Siyo also felt that Ga Hyeon was subtly drawing a line, but thought it must be her imagination.

“Yes, Young Master. Thank you for your concern.”

The two sat across from each other with a tea table between them and continued their conversation.

“Hehe, so our father said…”

“Mm, I see.”

Ga Hyeon’s attitude was consistently polite, but he had long since lost interest in this meeting.

He had already been preoccupied with other thoughts before Siyo arrived, and after actually meeting and exchanging a few words, this gathering felt like a waste of time.

As Ga Hyeon was spending boring and tedious time responding halfheartedly while wearing a kind facade.

Ga Hyeon, who had been casually looking out the window, suddenly felt a subtle sense of discord.

Soon he realized the identity of the discord he felt.

Soya, who should be taking her last afternoon walk before dinner around this time, was nowhere to be seen.

‘Why… can’t I see her?’

His eyes furrowed slightly.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her all day today.’

Having thought that far, Ga Hyeon suddenly pushed back his chair and stood up abruptly.

Soya’s daily routine was quite regular.

Of course, sometimes she would deviate from her schedule by an hour or two.

But for Soya, who loved walks, to not show herself in the garden even once all day – this was too strange.

Come to think of it, not only Soya but Gayul was nowhere to be seen either.

“Young Master…?”

Siyo looked up at Ga Hyeon in surprise, blinking her eyes. Ga Hyeon’s expression was not good.

“Is there somewhere you feel unwell…”

However, before Siyo could finish speaking, Ga Hyeon ran outside looking for Jeoka.

“Ho Jeoka!”

“Young Master?”

“I can’t see that child. Where is she?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m talking about Soya. I haven’t seen her all day.”

Jeoka looked at him with a bewildered expression.

It was as if asking how would I know that.

“Well. When it comes to Cotton Ball Miss’s schedule, don’t you know it better than I do, Young Master?”

His young master knew Cotton Ball Miss’s daily routine more perfectly than anyone else in this White Tiger Palace.

He probably knew Soya’s schedule more accurately than even Yeonjeong and Sanho.

“I’m saying this because it’s afternoon walk time now but she’s nowhere to be seen. She wasn’t visible during morning walk time or afternoon play time either.”

“Perhaps she wanted to rest comfortably in her room for a day? She might have been feeling unwell…”

Swoosh!

Ga Hyeon passed right by Jeoka and headed toward Soya’s room.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Ga Hyeon, who as a member of the White Tiger Direct Line always paid attention to his conduct, had never walked around making such loud footsteps.

He was a Young Master who wouldn’t even run when it rained, instead walking while getting soaked.

Not only Jeoka but all the Household Members passing through the corridor looked at him in surprise at his unusual behavior.

Bang!

He threw open Soya’s room door, but Soya was nowhere to be seen.

Ga Hyeon clenched his fist tightly, then immediately wandered around the entire estate looking for Soya.

However, Soya was not in the garden, not on the walking path, not in Gayul’s room.

‘Where on earth…’

Ga Hyeon, who had been searching for Soya with an anxious face, spotted Yeonjeong walking toward him from the opposite direction.

“Where is Soya?”

At the sharp question asked so abruptly, Yeonjeong showed a bewildered expression but answered obediently.

“If you mean the Young Lady, she went up Horim Mountain during the day and hasn’t returned yet. She seems to be running a bit late.”

“What?”

“Youngest Young Master and Su Ri went with her, so it should be fine. Horim Mountain isn’t a dangerous mountain either.”

“Su Ri… you mean that Blue Wolf Clan guy?”

Yeonjeong turned her head toward where Ga Hyeon was pointing and was startled.

Su Ri, who should be with the Young Lady and Young Master right now, was loitering around the North Gate of White Tiger Palace.

“Hey, Su Ri! Why are you here? Where are the Young Lady and Young Master?”

“Ah, Yeonjeong. Little Young Master. No, well, I got an upset stomach… So I promised to stay close to Cotton Ball Miss and the Young Master…”

Su Ri answered hesitantly.

Ga Hyeon’s expression hardened.

Since Gayul was with her, there wouldn’t be any danger, but still his anxious feelings wouldn’t subside.

“I should go pick them up myself.”

Ga Hyeon strode toward the back of White Tiger Palace.

“Oh my, Young Master? Young Master!”

“Young Master, I understand you’re worried about Cotton Ball Miss, but excessive worry…”

As Yeonjeong and Jeoka were chasing after Ga Hyeon.

“Huh? Isn’t that Youngest Young Master over there?”

Just then, Gayul was coming down the mountain.

“He must be coming down now.”

Everyone felt relieved, but Ga Hyeon muttered in a stiff voice.

“…Why is he alone?”

Gayul, who should have been with Soya, was coming down alone.

At that moment, Gayul, who had been hurriedly coming down the mountain with an anxious expression, spotted Ga Hyeon and immediately shouted.

“Brother! Have you seen Cotton Ball?”

“…That child went up the mountain with you. What are you talking about.”

At this, Gayul’s face turned pale.

“Oh, what do I do, brother? I think I lost Cotton Ball!”

“What?”

“I dozed off for a moment and when I woke up, Cotton Ball was gone… I searched everywhere but couldn’t find her, so I thought maybe she went down first and…”

Gayul explained restlessly. At this, Ga Hyeon’s face turned menacing.

“So you came down alone? You idiot!”

Ga Hyeon shouted angrily.

Apart from how he usually treated his blood relative with sharp coldness, Ga Hyeon had never once raised his voice like this before.

“Wh-whaaa, whaa…”

“What are you crying for when you did nothing right?”

When Gayul started sobbing from the fear of having lost Cotton Ball, Ga Hyeon snapped at him harshly.

“Sob, sniff, hic, but, but Cotton Ball… because of me…”

Gayul hiccupped as he swallowed his tears.

“Please don’t worry too much, Young Master. The Young Lady will be safe.”

“That’s right. Besides, the beasts on Horim Mountain are gentle and not dangerous.”

“She must have gotten lost, so if we go look for her…”

Everyone was trying to speak positively when it happened.

“I can’t smell Soya’s scent.”

Everyone froze at Ga Hyeon’s muttering as he stared at Horim Mountain with cold eyes.

“Something is blocking me from finding Soya.”

Ga Hyeon glared at Horim Mountain with clenched teeth, then immediately transformed into a large tiger with a ‘poof!’

* * *

Meanwhile, Soya, left behind in the forest, waited for Gayul to catch her scent and come find her.

However, no matter how long she waited, Gayul didn’t come.

In the meantime, the sun had completely set.

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