The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 32

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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 32

Soya’s face, sitting on a rock and basking in the sunlight, was filled with deep thought.

[It seemed like something had covered your traces. Did you perhaps receive any suspicious items from someone recently…?]

When the Second Young Master had asked that, there was one thing that immediately came to mind.

The scent pouch she had received from Siyo.

‘It was that scent pouch.’

More precisely, the fragrance that had been infused in that scent pouch.

That must have been what made the beasts violent and erased her scent.

Now it had all dissipated, so no fragrance came from the scent pouch anymore. So there was no evidence, but…

‘Siyo doesn’t like me.’

Soya actually knew.

That Siyo’s gaze toward her was strangely sharp.

Soya had received such looks far too often, and she keenly discerned whether someone liked or disliked her.

Nevertheless, the reason she had gladly accepted the scent pouch Siyo gave her was because she had grown accustomed to people’s kindness while staying at the White Tiger Palace.

Knowing she would leave soon.

So before leaving, she wanted to feel the sensation of receiving kindness from someone, even just a little more…

‘How foolish. I almost died during the summer festival doing the same thing. I should have been suspicious of kindness from someone who dislikes me…’

But Soya felt too sad about having to suspect someone.

She had a vague idea of why Siyo disliked her.

There was one reason people disliked Soya.

Because Soya was a wicked baby bird who stole other people’s things.

But this time, she had no intention of stealing anything.

She had only planned to enjoy this sweet ‘temporary stay’ just a little, just a tiny bit more before leaving.

While Soya was lost in thought, fidgeting with her fingers.

“Soya!”

Arang suddenly poked her face out.

“Are you okay? I heard you almost had a big accident yesterday!”

“Arang?”

“Baek Gayul, that stupid tiger! He acts like he knows everything, what a dim-witted tiger!”

Arang spat as she hurled insults at Gayul left and right.

Feeling the gentle concern for her in Arang’s voice, Soya smiled softly and replied.

“Still, Young Master is a good person.”

“Good person my foot! He’s the stupidest tiger I know! Don’t get close to that guy anymore!”

“Please don’t hate Young Master too much. I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”

“Huh? Leaving?”

Arang’s eyes widened as she asked back.

“Yes, a new young lady will be coming soon, so I need to vacate the room before then.”

“…!”

At those words, Arang made a shocked expression, then immediately grabbed Soya’s hands and shouted.

“Then come with me!”

“Pardon…?”

“The Brown Tiger Estate has a huge lake where you can swim and fish! And I won’t fall asleep alone when I go to the mountain with you!”

Arang began listing the benefits of going with her in an excited voice without taking a breath.

“There are a few stupid tigers like Baek Gayul there too, but I’ll protect you so no one can bully you! So come to my house with me!”

“Ah…”

Soya blinked as she listened to Arang’s long speech, then smiled brightly and answered.

“Thank you, Arang.”

She felt deep and pure goodwill from Arang, who was tightly holding her hands and asking her to come along.

The thought that not everyone disliked her improved her previously gloomy mood.

‘If I follow Arang, wouldn’t I be able to visit the White Tiger Palace again from time to time? Arang gets along well with the Youngest Young Master.’

Just as Soya was having thoughts that would have made Arang jump if she had heard them.

A palanquin passed through the main gate, and a girl with long black hair got out of the palanquin with a sullen expression.

“Huh? That’s Heuk Sahye from the Heukho Family, isn’t it?”

At the sound of her name being mentioned, Heuk Sahye looked toward where Soya and Arang were, but immediately passed by coldly, sending a chill.

“She seems to be in a bad mood.”

“I know why she’s acting like that.”

Arang giggled as she explained.

“She likes Prince Gaya and always said she would marry the Prince.”

“Prince Gaya?”

“Yeah, the eldest young master of the White Tiger Family.”

Soya had heard that name before too.

The first prince of the White Tiger Family, who was the same age as Elder Brother Sanyu of the Suzaku Family, who was fifteen this year.

She had heard that Prince Gaya was the most similar to Saeon among the three young masters.

“But if she’s adopted into the White Tiger Family, she’ll become siblings with Prince Gaya. So she refused to attend this Mountain God Festival, but was forced to come reluctantly due to her parents’ pressure.”

“I don’t know much about it, but she must be very upset.”

Soya had never romantically liked anyone yet, so she couldn’t understand that feeling well.

But if she had to do something she didn’t want against her will, it would probably be very upsetting.

“Anyway, that’s why Eun Siyo is so confident. Since both Arang and Heuk Sahye have no interest in the direct lineage position, she thinks the Western End Room belongs to her.”

“I see.”

At Siyo’s name, Soya hesitated for a moment, but answered calmly as if nothing had happened.

Arang stuck close to Soya’s side and told her various stories.

Thanks to that, Soya was able to shake off the worries that had filled her just moments before and smile with a much improved expression.

‘Huh?’

In the distance, a black creature caught Soya’s eye.

‘That little one is…?’

Jump!

When Soya suddenly got up, Arang grabbed her.

“Soya? Where are you going!”

“I have somewhere to go briefly! Let’s talk again later, Arang!”

Soya left Arang behind and ran toward the back of the building where she had spotted the black creature earlier.

“Kyuu, kyuing!”

Behind the deserted building, Seolyeo was wagging her tail while sticking out her little tongue toward Soya.

“Seolyeo…!”

“Kyuang!”

While she was happy to see Seolyeo hopping toward her, Soya was also worried.

“…You’re in danger if you stay here. Hurry up and go back to the mountain.”

“Kiing, kking…”

Seolyeo shook her head back and forth, saying she didn’t want to.

“Oh dear, if people see you like this…”

Soya was so worried that Seolyeo might be discovered by people and harmed.

It was then.

“It seems you’ve made a new friend.”

“Saeon…!”

Soya looked toward the sound with a pleased expression.

There was Saeon, whom she was seeing for the first time in two whole days.

It was because he had left early yesterday morning and returned home late at night.

So Soya was happy to see Saeon, but also worried about Seolyeo, and hastily made excuses.

“Ah, this one, well, it’s not a bad one…!”

“Don’t worry, Cotton Ball. I have no intention of harming your friend.”

Saeon, who noticed Soya’s feelings, glanced at Seolyeo and said.

“I’m the one who brought it here.”

“What? You did, Saeon?”

Soya blinked her eyes and tilted her head curiously as she asked.

“Then did you steal this one too, like you did with me?”

“Well, it might be similar.”

“…!”

At his straightforward affirmative answer, Soya looked startled and quickly looked around.

Fortunately, no one had heard their conversation.

“Phew.”

“Why are you sighing?”

“It would be troublesome if someone heard. If rumors spread that Saeon stole something like a thieving cat.”

“What?”

Saeon looked bewildered, then burst into laughter.

He suddenly remembered the words he had said to the child on the day he first brought her to this place.

“Right. So please keep my secret, Cotton Ball.”

“Yes, don’t worry!”

Soya clenched both fists and answered spiritedly.

“Hmm, but Cotton Ball.”

Saeon looked Soya over and slightly furrowed his brow.

“It seems like you’ve lost weight while I was away from the estate. Did Red Fox starve you?”

“Oh, no! Yesterday Yeonjeong packed me a lunch box, and also… Eek?”

Soya’s body was suddenly lifted up into the air with a whoosh!

“Hmm.”

Saeon tilted his head with a deliberately serious expression.

“Or not? You seem to have gotten heavier.”

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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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