The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 34

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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 34

‘How could she know that…’

She wanted to stand with dignity, but her toes kept trembling uncontrollably.

A fake who stole the real young lady’s place.

That was Soya’s shame.

It was a past she didn’t want to reveal, an original sin she wanted to cut away.

“Don’t tell me you were thinking of stealing my place too?”

Siyo, who had straightened her back at some point, looked at Soya with cold eyes and asked.

“N-no. I never thought of that…!”

“Then leave.”

“…!”

“If you don’t leave, I’ll tell everyone that you’re a thief. So leave on your own feet before that happens.”

“…”

Only faint breathing sounds escaped between her pale white lips.

Soya remembered how people had changed in an instant when it was revealed that she was a fake.

She remembered her father’s cold back as he pushed her away and turned around, and she remembered Hwayu’s cool voice as he took away her spirit core.

She remembered deep in her bones the sharp gazes of people who had changed overnight and the cold, lonely temperature of the Cold Palace that had no heating even in the dead of winter.

Those were moments that made her heart ache sourly just by recalling them.

Soya had received warm kindness and gentle goodwill from people since coming to the White Tiger Palace, but she knew.

They didn’t know that she was a wicked child who had stolen someone else’s life. That’s why they were kind to her.

‘If they find out, everyone will change. Just like Father and Hwayu did. Just like the people of the Suzaku Family did.’

It would be too sad if even Lord Saeon and the people of the White Tiger Palace looked at her that way.

She would have to leave after the Mountain Lord Festival ended and before the new young lady of the White Tiger Palace arrived, but even when she left, she wanted to remain as a good memory to them.

Not as a thief who coveted and stole someone else’s life, but as a kind and gentle guest who had stayed at the White Tiger Palace for a short time.

But, but…

“I-I really won’t steal Lady Siyo’s place. Can’t I just stay a little longer… just a little longer before I leave?”

“The western end room where you’ve settled down, that’s my room. I can’t stand you being there for even one more day.”

“Then let me just say goodbye to Lord Saeon…!”

“Leave quietly without telling anyone. What if everyone’s hearts are too soft and they try to hold you back?”

“…”

“If you’re not going to cling to the White Tiger Palace and steal my place like that, then leave tonight without anyone knowing.”

“…”

“If you’re still here by tomorrow morning, I’ll tell everyone your secret.”

Siyo spoke coldly and turned away.

Soya stood dazedly in the corridor for a while, then came to her senses and returned to her room.

That evening. Throughout dinner, she seemed unusually dispirited, and Yeonjeong worriedly asked if she was feeling unwell somewhere, but Soya just smiled faintly and replied.

“I’m sleepy today, so I want to sleep early, Lady Yeonjeong.”

“Our young lady must have been very shocked by the frightening experience yesterday.”

Yeonjeong laid out the bedding and left early to give her space.

Soya sat on the bed, tightly hugging the tiger doll she had received as a gift from Saeon, and watched the day fade outside the window.

Ever since learning the true nature of this room, she had always been thinking about having to leave, but she hadn’t expected the farewell to come so suddenly.

She had thought she could stay here a little longer, at least until the Mountain Lord Festival ended.

Where to go, whether she could really follow Lady Arang, nothing had been decided yet…

But she had thought she would be able to exchange smiling farewells with everyone before leaving.

She had thought she could say thank you for bringing her here, that she had really enjoyed her time staying at the White Tiger Palace, and leave with those words.

She hadn’t expected to have her identity discovered and leave as if fleeing like this.

‘Let’s go now.’

Looking at the window that had become completely dark, Soya pressed her stinging nose and got up.

After briefly looking around the room, Soya wrapped the tiger doll she had received from Saeon in wrapping cloth and carried it on her back.

This was the only thing she would take with her. All the other things in the room weren’t hers.

Just then, she heard a rustling sound from the window.

As she looked up with a puzzled expression, a small black head peeked out over the open window.

“Huh? Seolyeo…?”

“Kying…!”

Seolyeo, who had spotted Soya, jumped inside through the window.

“Eek…!”

Soya was startled by Seolyeo’s sudden entrance and sat down on the floor.

“Kyng, kyng!”

Seolyeo excitedly panted and spun around in circles, then flopped down and showed her belly.

Understanding what this meant, Soya smiled gently and petted Seolyeo’s belly.

“Did you come to see me?”

“Kyng!”

“But I have to leave now.”

“Kyang…? Kyng!”

Seolyeo, who had been tilting her head, jumped up and stood on all fours.

Then, as if she had become a warrior protecting Soya, she stood in front of Soya and barked softly.

“Hmm? Are you saying you’ll come with me?”

“Kyng!”

“Thank you, Seolyeo. I don’t think I’ll be lonely with you here.”

Soya let out a small laugh and got up.

When she carefully opened the door and came out, the quiet corridor greeted her.

At exactly the hour of the pig, the corridor would be empty for about one quarter-hour due to the guard change.

Even so, worried that she might run into someone, Soya suppressed her presence as much as possible and slipped out of the building.

It was when Soya was looking up at the White Tiger Palace building for the last time.

She paused.

Suddenly, she caught a sharp, pungent scent that stung her nose.

‘This scent is…’

It was the same scent that had come from the scent pouch she had received from Siyo.

‘That’s the scent that made the mountain beasts violent. Why is this scent coming from here?’

Soya walked toward where the scent was getting stronger.

When she turned the corner to the right side of the building, she came to a place where the guests’ palanquins were gathered.

Among them, in the place where the scent was particularly strong, there were two palanquins painted with a brown tiger and a black tiger respectively.

‘These are Lady Arang and Lady Sahye’s palanquins…’

She could recognize them immediately since she had once witnessed the two getting out of their palanquins.

‘Could it be Lady Siyo? But why…’

Soya suddenly remembered that there would be a ceremonial event tomorrow for the Mountain Lord Festival.

She recalled that all those participating in the Mountain Lord Festival would climb Horim Mountain together to perform the ceremonial event.

‘If they climb the mountain like this, the mountain beasts will attack Lady Arang and Lady Sahye’s palanquins!’

When her thoughts reached that point, the color drained from Soya’s face.

It was fine for her to be hated.

Being hated was something very familiar to Soya, and at the same time, something very natural.

But Lady Arang and Lady Sahye were different.

‘Lady Arang and Lady Sahye have no interest in the western end room. None of them covet Lady Siyo’s place.’

Soya couldn’t understand Siyo.

‘Why is Lady Siyo trying to harm people.’

If I don’t leave quietly like this, she might reveal that I’m a thief.

I don’t want to be remembered as a bad child by people again.

But still….

‘I hate it even more when people who haven’t done anything wrong get hurt. Besides, Lord Saeon said so. That I protected the White Tiger Palace.’

[Thank you, Cotton Ball. For protecting the White Tiger Palace.]

Soya recalled Saeon’s voice from earlier in the day and clenched her fists tightly.

‘I have to stop Lady Siyo from harming other people.’

Having finished her thoughts, Soya crouched down toward Seolyeo and asked.

“Listen, Seolyeo. You’re so strong that you can chase away all the mountain beasts, right?”

“Kying?”

“So, could you help me out a bit?”

Seolyeo, who had been tilting her head, nodded vigorously at Soya’s continued words.

“Kyng, kyng!”

* * *

Meanwhile, Ga Hyeon was walking through the western corridor.

‘It’s gotten too late.’

In his hand was something small and round. It was a gift for Soya.

‘I wonder if Soya is sleeping.’

It seemed likely that she would be.

If Soya was sleeping, he planned to quietly enter and place his gift by her bedside before leaving.

Just as Soya had done before.

Arriving in front of the western end room, he quietly opened the closed door without making a sound.

Suddenly, his face hardened stiffly.

“Soya…?”

Soya’s room was completely empty.

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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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