The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 299

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Part 2, Side Story 17
The strange unease that had gripped her that day did not fade even after returning to her quarters in the Imperial Palace.
It persisted after a deep sleep and waking the next day, and the day after that as well.
In fact, it only intensified each time she encountered Saeon.
“Sigh….”
“It seems something troubles you, Cheongha.”
A Palace Attendant tidying Cheongha’s room spoke to her as she released a heavy sigh.
“Oh? No, not really….”
Fearing her restless heart might be discovered, Cheongha startled and quickly denied it.
The Palace Attendant chuckled softly and offered a suggestion.
“A Peddler has come to the Imperial Palace today. Why not go take a look as a way to lift your spirits?”
“A Peddler?”
Cheongha’s expression brightened as she followed the Palace Attendants.
Among the Palace Attendants gathered in clusters, the Peddler from outside the Palace had laid out various ornaments and goods for sale.
As Cheongha approached to browse, her eyes suddenly caught on a delicately crafted silver hairpin adorned with a tiger.
‘It resembles Baek Saeon.’
She had come to distract herself from thoughts of Saeon, yet seeing the tiger crafted in silver brought him back to her mind.
‘Now that I think about it, Saeon’s birthday is coming up soon….’
It was as she unconsciously picked it up and fell into thought.
“You have excellent taste. Is this for a man you favor?”
The merchant watching her asked in a suggestive tone.
“What? A man I favor? Don’t say such things!”
Cheongha’s face flushed crimson as she spoke firmly.
“In the Central Region, lovers exchange vows when the woman gives the man a silver hairpin and the man gives the woman a golden hair ornament.”
Despite her stern response, the seasoned merchant smiled warmly as he explained.
“Thus, when a woman gives a man a silver hairpin, it is a confession of her heart.”
“A confession of her heart…?”
Cheongha swallowed hard without realizing it.
And shortly after.
She clutched the silver hairpin tightly in one hand and paced anxiously around her room in circles.
“Why did I even buy this.”
Cheongha glared at the crafted tiger while suppressing her bewilderment.
It was all because of this tiger. Because of the tiger that resembled Baek Saeon, she had failed to pass it by and impulsively purchased it.
Cheongha blamed the innocent hairpin as she glowered at it.
The turmoil in her chest had grown so intense that she was now on the verge of dizziness.
* * *
In the end, until Saeon’s birthday drew near, Cheongha could not decide what to do with the silver hairpin.
Unable to prepare a different gift, she sat atop the great Zelkova Tree where she often spent time with Saeon, her expression clouded with worry.
‘What should I do about this. It’s too late now to prepare another gift….’
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the silver hairpin clutched in her hand.
‘He won’t think it strange that I’m giving him this.’
After all, Saeon would have no idea what a hairpin symbolizes.
Cheongha hadn’t prepared it for him out of any particular affection either.
‘Besides… what difference would it make if I did like him?’
As that thought crossed her mind, Cheongha let out a quiet, self-deprecating laugh.
‘It could never be.’
Once the Family Clan brought forth the one chosen by the Divine Artifact, she would be bound to him without question or choice.
There was no way around it.
It was the Direct Lineage Duty she had been taught since childhood.
When she was very young, she had dreamed of roaming the world freely… but those dreams felt so distant now.
‘Such foolish dreams they were.’
Now at fourteen, she was old enough to understand what she must and must not do.
Once she finished her business at the Imperial Palace and returned to the Eastern Lands, it would be difficult to see Saeon for some time.
She would need to begin her earnest preparations to become the Family Head.
At moments like these, she found herself envying her twin sister Yuha slightly.
Though it was a secret from their parents, Yuha had a boy to whom she had promised her future.
Of course, there was no guarantee that a fourteen-year-old’s innocent promise would endure into adulthood… but still.
‘For me, it’s impossible.’
To harbor feelings for someone in an ordinary way, to speak those feelings aloud—such things were simply impossible for her.
‘So I mustn’t entertain such thoughts.’
As Cheongha was organizing her thoughts with this resolve, she heard Saeon’s presence from below.
It was then that she hastily wrapped the silver hairpin in her hand in a blue handkerchief.
“Saeon…!”
A voice called out to Saeon, accompanied by the patter of hurried footsteps.
Without thinking, Cheongha pressed herself flat against the tree branch and peered down.
A small, adorable Palace Attendant from the Imperial Palace came running toward Saeon.
“Were you looking for me?”
Saeon turned to the Palace Attendant with a puzzled expression.
“Well, you see…”
The Palace Attendant stopped before Saeon, breathing heavily, then squeezed her eyes shut and thrust what she held toward him.
“I heard today is your birthday! Please, won’t you accept this?”
“This is…?”
“I admire you!”
A wave of deep bewilderment washed over Saeon’s face in an instant.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot accept Hangah’s feelings…”
Just as he was about to voice his refusal in an awkward tone—
“I’m not asking you to accept my heart! It’s just that hearing you’ll be leaving the Imperial Palace soon made my heart ache… I’m truly sorry.”
The Palace Attendant bowed deeply, then fled in a flash before Saeon could even respond.
“…”
Saeon stared at the silver hairpin in his hand with an embarrassed and flustered expression, then slowly lifted his gaze upward.
I caught Cheongha’s eye as she lay sprawled flat on the tree branch, peeking down at me.
“Wow, Baek Saeon. You’re quite popular.”
Cheongha laughed and waved her hand, and he climbed up beside her, his face flushing slightly as he asked.
“You saw?”
“I did. Baek Saeon flatly rejecting the beautiful Hangah’s confession.”
“Don’t tease me.”
At his embarrassed response, Cheongha giggled and glanced at the object in his hand.
“A silver hairpin.”
“Yes.”
He explained in a rather troubled voice.
“It’s a custom in the Central Region for a woman to confess to a man while giving him one of these.”
“You seem to know quite a bit about it.”
“Well, I’ve already received several.”
Saeon answered with an awkward, knowing expression, and Cheongha’s eyes widened.
“You’ve received confessions from Hangah multiple times?”
“…It just happened that way.”
Now that I thought about it, the way he rejected that confession just now seemed remarkably practiced.
“But why did you refuse without even thinking about it? That Hangah just now was pretty and cute.”
“I have to return to the Western Lands anyway.”
“So what? We’re not at an age to marry right away, and we could form a brief connection while staying in the Imperial Palace.”
“I have no intention of creating fleeting bonds based on momentary feelings.”
Saeon, who had a somewhat rigid side to him, spoke decisively.
“When I’m later able to take responsibility for my own emotions, I’ll think carefully and welcome a connection then.”
“I see.”
Cheongha nodded quietly and fell silent in thought for a while.
Glancing at her, Saeon cleared his throat awkwardly.
“By the way, you… um, do you happen to know what day today is?”
“Huh? What day is today?”
Cheongha slowly turned to look at him, then blinked her eyes slowly as she asked.
At her response showing she had no idea, Saeon’s expression grew slightly dejected.
“Never mind. It’s fine if you don’t know.”
And so, that day, Saeon never discovered the silver hairpin that Cheongha had wrapped in a blue handkerchief and hidden inside the hollow of the tree.

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