The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 33

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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 33

“Am, am I heavy?”

Soya was startled.

“Please put me down! I want to get down!”

“Kying! Kyng, kyng!”

At Soya’s struggling, Seolyeo tugged at Saeon’s pant leg from below as if telling him to put her down quickly.

At this, Saeon burst into laughter.

“I’m joking, Cotton Ball. You’re not heavy at all, you’re light as a feather. I’m worried you might fly away if I blow on you. So hurry up and get heavier.”

“No, no! If I get heavier…!”

Grumble.

A rumbling sound came from Soya’s stomach.

Flush!

Soya’s face turned red. She quickly spread her palms to cover her face.

It was so embarrassing that her stomach made noise at that exact moment.

“This won’t do. Let’s go fatten you up, Cotton Ball.”

Saeon chuckled as he started walking, then noticed Seolyeo following behind them and stopped.

He bent down toward Seolyeo and poked her forehead with his finger, speaking in a casual tone.

“I’ll fatten up Cotton Ball nice and plump and bring her back, so stay put and don’t let people see you.”

As if understanding exactly what he said, Seolyeo nodded and quietly disappeared.

* * *

Eun Siyo, who had been looking down from the window, gripped the window frame tightly.

At the end of her gaze was Soya being carried in Saeon’s arms.

‘Why…’

Yesterday evening, the White Tiger Palace was turned upside down when that child disappeared.

Everyone in the White Tiger Palace, even Lord Saeon who had just returned from an outing, was anxious that something might have happened to that child.

‘She’s not even a tiger, so what’s so special about that child.’

Originally, that scent pouch had been prepared to check the other branch family girls during the Mountain God Festival.

She had planned to make the mountain beasts violent to interfere with the other children’s activities.

In fact, when Siyo first learned of Soya’s existence, she didn’t pay much attention.

She thought a small, innocent girl who wasn’t even a tiger couldn’t possibly be her rival.

However, when she actually saw the White Tiger Family people doting on that child, she began to worry.

So when she heard they were going up Horim Mountain, she gave her that scent pouch as a gift.

But Soya returned completely unharmed.

And on Ga Hyeon’s back at that!

Moreover, through that incident, Soya became even closer to the White Tiger princes.

Ga Hyeon, who had drawn a line with her about using proper titles, let Soya call him Elder Brother.

Just the fact that he had rushed out of their tea time to look for that child made her feel anxious, and through this series of events, Siyo was feeling a strong sense of crisis.

“What if Lord Saeon really decides to adopt that child into the family?”

Siyo muttered while gnawing on her nails.

“If she takes the Western End Room from me… Then I…”

“Things don’t seem to be going as planned, Young Lady.”

At that moment, hearing a voice from behind, Eun Siyo turned around in surprise.

The Black Masked Man was standing behind her without any sound.

“You are…!”

The man was someone who had approached the Eunho Family recently, offering to help her.

“What happened! You said that scent pouch could get rid of anyone? I did as you said, but the situation got even worse!”

Siyo accused him with a sharp voice.

“It seems there was an unexpected variable.”

“Everyone in the White Tiger Palace is only caring for that child. If that child gets adopted into the White Tiger Family at this rate…”

“Don’t worry too much. That won’t happen.”

“How can you guarantee that?”

“Because I know that girl’s weakness.”

At those words, Siyo paused and asked back.

“That child’s weakness?”

* * *

Soya had lunch with Saeon.

Her stomach became full from Saeon feeding her various things.

“I was very worried when I heard you went up the mountain while I was away and were left alone.”

Saeon, who had been resting his chin on his hand watching Soya eat, smiled sideways and took out a handkerchief.

“I heard everything from Hyeon. You must have been very scared, but thank you for bravely coming back, Cotton Ball.”

He gently wiped the corner of Soya’s mouth with the handkerchief as he spoke.

Thank you for bravely coming back.

It was something she had never heard in her life.

Could even something like that be worthy of gratitude?

Moreover, I only managed to return by being carried on Young Master’s back.

Soya didn’t know how to respond and just fidgeted with her fingers before finally answering.

“I’m grateful too, Lord Saeon. For worrying about me. And I’m sorry for causing you worry.”

“The one who should be sorry is me, not you. I brought you here but failed to protect you properly.”

“No, no! Lord Saeon has already protected me so much!”

“I have?”

“Yes! The day I came to the White Tiger Palace, and when I was sick…”

Soya counted on her fingers the moments when Saeon had helped her.

“See, you’ve protected me this much! So please don’t say you’re sorry to me. I have much more to be grateful for.”

At this, Saeon burst into laughter.

“If we’re counting like that, Cotton Ball, you protected the White Tiger Palace from terrifying ghosts. Let me see. You protected me, that old fox Ho Jeokyeong, Hyeon and Yul, and also…”

Saeon counted the people of the White Tiger Palace one by one, then tilted his head with exaggerated gestures.

“Oh my. Ten fingers aren’t enough?”

“Uh, that’s…”

“Look here, Cotton Ball. It seems I have much more to be grateful to you for, doesn’t it?”

Saeon pointed to Soya’s folded fingers and his own hands that had become fists with all ten fingers folded.

“Yes…”

Soya thought something was strange but got caught up in Saeon’s logic and obediently nodded.

Still looking puzzled by that expression, Saeon burst into laughter again and ruffled Soya’s hair affectionately.

“Thank you, Cotton Ball. For protecting the White Tiger Palace.”

“…”

The corners of Soya’s mouth shyly turned up.

Something still felt strange, but she felt good anyway.

While they were having dessert after finishing the meal, Jeok Yeong came and took Saeon away.

Soya greeted Saeon, who was being dragged away with a troubled face, then headed to her room.

She walked down the corridor with quick steps, lost in thought.

‘Since Arang and Sahye said they don’t want to be adopted, Siyo will probably become Lord Saeon and the Young Masters’ family.’

Soya still hadn’t told people about the scent pouch Siyo had given her.

She didn’t want to cause trouble because of herself.

Soya liked the people of the White Tiger Palace who had treated her warmly, and because of that, she wanted to protect the White Tiger Palace.

She hoped that no trouble would come to the people of the White Tiger Palace because of her.

‘I don’t want to become a troublesome and bothersome child again. Anyway, I’ll be leaving soon…’

At that moment, Soya stopped when she spotted a figure walking toward her from the opposite direction.

The girl with silver hair was none other than Eun Siyo.

Soya and Siyo’s gazes met directly.

Without realizing it, Soya clenched her fists tightly inside her sleeves.

After a brief silence, it was Siyo who greeted first.

“Hello, Lady Soya. I was just about to come find you, so it’s nice to see you like this.”

She smiled brightly as she approached Soya.

“…I also had something to tell you, Lady Siyo. About that scent pouch you gave me.”

Soya stood straight and spoke.

She planned to tell Siyo everything.

That she wouldn’t covet that position. So there was no need to do such frightening things to her. That she would be leaving this place soon anyway.

“Ah.”

Siyo let out a surprised exclamation, then immediately curved her eyes into a smile.

“Lady Soya, you’re quite perceptive. I didn’t realize that.”

“Did you really intend to harm me?”

“Yes. Is there a problem with that?”

At the immediate affirmative response, Soya unconsciously stiffened her body.

Despite that face still smiling kindly, she could feel clear hostility emanating from Siyo.

It was then.

Siyo suddenly leaned her head toward Soya’s ear and whispered in a chillingly cold voice.

“You’re a criminal, aren’t you.”

“…!”

“A criminal who stole and ruined someone else’s life.”

In that instant, Soya’s heart sank with a thud.

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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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