The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 39
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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 39
Soya looked down from the window, amazed at the changes she had discovered.
Overnight, the world had become even more beautiful.
And Soya knew the reason why her world had changed so much.
[No one can torment you, and that’s not right.]
[You did nothing wrong. It’s not you who’s wrong, it’s them.]
It was the first time someone had said that to her.
Father, Hwayu, everyone had hated her, saying it was her fault.
In truth, the very truth was that she felt so sad and upset whenever she saw people who hated her.
Every single day, she just wanted to crawl under her blankets and cry out loud.
But people said she was a child who didn’t even deserve to be sad, so she had endured it, but to think it wasn’t her fault after all.
It was a moment when some world she had believed in was shaking and crumbling, being newly reassembled.
Starting from yesterday, Soya felt that something had greatly changed within her.
Before, when she thought of people who hated her, she felt sad and upset, but now she felt wronged and even a little angry.
She was still unfamiliar with harboring such emotions, so she worried whether she might be walking in the wrong direction…
‘Saeon said so. That he would show me the right world.’
Soya believed. That with Saeon, she could walk in the right direction.
He was a solid and strong adult.
Unlike Father…
‘Ah, then now Saeon will be my father…’
Soya, who had been thinking of Jeok Ayun, suddenly realized a new fact.
That now her father was no longer him.
That the adult with those broad, warm shoulders who said he would show her the right world would become her father.
‘I’m Saeon’s daughter…’
Soya repeated that fact in her heart.
It was such an undeserved happiness that she worried a little. Was it okay to just enjoy this?
‘I want to repay this kindness to Saeon and the Young Masters too.’
The news that Saeon had decided to register Soya as the youngest daughter of the family spread throughout the entire White Tiger Palace.
Sanho came with joyful news.
“Young Lady! I’ve been officially assigned as your guard!”
Sanho, who was also the master of the Blue Wolf Family, had been temporarily serving as Soya’s guard until now.
“Now I don’t have to follow the Family Head when he goes out, and I won’t be drafted for troublesome tasks. From now on, I’ll stick right by your side!”
She had been continuously worried about Soya being left alone on the mountain while she went out with Saeon.
“Really, Sanho?”
“Yes, really!”
To the delighted Soya, Yeonjeong chuckled and shared even better news.
“After the Mountain Festival ends, the Family Head will also assign good teachers for you, Young Lady.”
“Wow…!”
It was when Soya’s cheeks turned rosy and her eyes sparkled.
“Hiiing, what to do, Cotton Ball. It’s so unfortunate. You’ll have to study.”
Gayul, who had come straight to Soya’s room first thing after waking up in the morning and stuck around, looked at Soya with deeply pitying eyes and made a crying face.
At that moment, Gayul’s face showed quite sincere emotion.
“Only stupid tigers like you find studying painful.”
Ga Hyeon, who had just finished his morning lessons and come to find Soya, looked at Gayul with disdainful eyes and scolded him.
However, when he immediately turned to look at Soya, Ga Hyeon’s expression was sweet and gentle as if honey would drip from it.
“Soya, if you have any difficulties or troubles while studying later, ask your elder brother everything. Your elder brother will teach you everything.”
Ga Hyeon deliberately emphasized the word ‘elder brother’ as he spoke.
“Yes, Yo… Elder Brother!”
Soya, who had unconsciously been about to call him Young Master, hurriedly changed her address. Because of that, Ga Hyeon became not elder brother but “do-ra-brother.”
Ga Hyeon burst into quiet laughter and corrected her.
“Not do-ra-brother, but elder brother. Try calling me elder brother, Soya.”
“…Yes, Elder Brother.”
Shyness was infused in Soya’s voice as she called him elder brother again.
Clearly yesterday morning too, and the day before when she was carried down the mountain on that small back, she had called the Little Young Master elder brother.
But calling him elder brother again this morning felt a little different.
‘Have we really become family?’
That fact still felt very bewildering.
“Me too! I’m also an elder brother now, Cotton Ball! Hurry and call me elder brother!”
“Yes, Yul Elder Brother.”
“…!”
When Soya called him that with a chuckle, Gayul’s eyes widened round.
He hadn’t expected her to obediently call him elder brother.
The title of elder brother, which he was hearing for the first time in his life, made his heart tingle.
‘I’m Cotton Ball’s elder brother. It feels like I have something to protect.’
While Gayul stood there with a dumbfounded expression, Ga Hyeon extended his hand to Soya and asked.
“Soya, shall we go together to pay our respects to Father?”
“Yes!”
At the suggestion to go see Saeon, Soya’s face brightened radiantly.
“Me too!”
Gayul quickly snapped to attention and followed along.
It was when Soya took both elder brothers’ hands and stepped into the corridor.
“Soya!!!!”
From far away, Arang came running with thundering sounds.
“Ah, Arang…!”
“Is it true? Did you really decide to live at the White Tiger Palace?”
“Y-yes, that’s what happened…”
“I don’t want that!”
Arang grabbed Soya’s skirt hem and burst into wailing tears.
“You promised to come to the Galho Family with me! You promised me that!”
“Oh my, Young Lady.”
The Galho Family’s attendant tried to dissuade Arang with a troubled voice, but it was insufficient.
“Soya promised to become my little sister! Not that stupid white-haired tiger’s little sister, but mine!”
“How can Cotton Ball be your little sister? Cotton Ball is already nine years old.”
Gayul said with a snort.
“What?”
Arang stopped rolling on the floor in confusion and jumped up.
“Nine years old?”
Arang was also nine years old.
“Wh-when is your birthday!”
“Summer.”
“…!”
At Soya’s innocent answer, Arang’s mouth gaped wide open. Arang’s birthday was in autumn!
“N-no way! Soya…! Soya is older than me!”
Unable to believe the fact that Soya was born a whole season earlier than her, Arang began denying reality.
“That can’t be! This is a dream!”
“Hmph! Call Cotton Ball ‘big sister’ and call me ‘big brother’ too, brown tiger!”
“What? Are you done talking?”
Ga Hyeon shook his head as he watched Gayul and Arang bicker again.
“Nine years old or ten years old. It’s all the same.”
Ga Hyeon himself, who said that, was also eleven years old.
Though he thought himself worlds apart from the young tigers who hadn’t undergone their First Growth yet.
* * *
Soya, the two white tiger young masters, and even Arang. The four children went together to pay their respects to Saeon.
Saeon watched the children’s backs as they scurried away with a pleased expression.
“Is this what it feels like to have a daughter?”
Hyeon was one thing, but for Yul to come pay respects at this hour.
And holding each other’s hands so affectionately too.
“Yes. Having a daughter definitely feels different.”
Saeon was grinning and muttering to himself when he suddenly turned his head.
Swoosh―
Saeon looked at Jeok Yeong with pitying eyes.
“How unfortunate, Jeok Yeong. Not having a daughter.”
“I’m not even married yet? Thanks to someone making me work every single day.”
Jeok Yeong pouted and grumbled.
“How is it my fault you can’t get married? It’s because you lack ability.”
At this, Jeok Yeong’s eyebrows twitched.
Jeok Yeong gritted his teeth and smiled brightly.
“But Family Head. To call her a daughter, Cotton Ball Miss still seems uncomfortable around you, doesn’t she?”
“Who says that? That Cotton Ball is uncomfortable around me?”
Saeon bristled at Jeok Yeong’s provocation.
“Just now too. She called you ‘Saeon-nim’ instead of Father or Dad, isn’t that being uncomfortable?”
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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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