The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 41

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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 41

Dinner time.

For once, all the family members of White Tiger Palace had gathered in one place.

The Family Head and both young masters were all so busy that it was often difficult to coordinate meal times.

But today was Soya’s first day as an official family member!

So they all came together for the evening meal.

“I completed the adoption procedures this afternoon. From now on, when someone asks your name, introduce yourself as Baek Soya, daughter of Baek Saeon.”

“Yes!”

Soya answered energetically with a blushing face.

Baek Soya.

Not Jeok Soya, but Baek Soya.

Baek Soya, daughter of Baek Saeon.

Baek Soya, of the White Tiger Family.

The sound of that name, still unfamiliar, was truly beautiful.

“My name is Baek Gayul too! Cotton Ball and I both have the character ‘Baek’ in our names!”

Gayul shouted with an even more excited face than Soya.

“Don’t say such stupid things.”

Ga Hyeon looked at Gayul with a pitying expression and made a comment.

“I’m just amazed! Father said that using the character ‘Baek’ at the beginning of our names means we’re family! Cotton Ball and I have really become family!”

“Please shut that mouth of yours. You’re embarrassing me too. Soya might run away because of your stupidity.”

Ga Hyeon shook his head in disgust.

Soya just giggled softly.

Saeon, who had been watching the scene with a pleased expression, propped his chin at an angle and asked Soya.

“How was your first day as Baek Soya, Cotton Ball? Was there anything uncomfortable?”

“Yes, everyone has been so kind to me. Before, and now too.”

“That’s good to hear. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell me anytime.”

“Oh, then I… about Seolyeo.”

“Seolyeo?”

“That, the child you brought, Lord Saeon!”

“That fellow told you its name?”

“Yes! It can even write its name, and it’s a very kind and clever child! It helped me yesterday too!”

Soya had just told Seolyeo, who wanted to follow her, that it couldn’t follow her any further and had to send it back.

Remembering Seolyeo standing obediently by the bushes, wagging its tail vigorously until she was out of sight, made her feel sorry.

“Couldn’t Seolyeo stay at White Tiger Palace with us?”

Soya glanced nervously at him, worried that Saeon might say no.

However, Saeon answered with a soft laugh without any hesitation.

“If that’s what you want, then let’s do that.”

“Wow…! Really?”

“I’m the one who brought that fellow here in the first place. There’s no reason it can’t stay. Just be careful not to let people find out it’s a demon beast, since they might be startled.”

“Yes! I’ll explain it well to Seolyeo. It’s a smart child, so it will understand well!”

“A demon beast? Cotton Ball, did you tame a demon beast?”

Gayul, who had never seen Seolyeo, asked with a voice full of curiosity.

“No, we just became friends. You know, that black wolf you saw yesterday.”

“That black wolf you rode here was a demon beast? That’s really amazing, Cotton Ball! They say demon beasts are violent and don’t become friends with people!”

“Elder Brother Yul would be able to become good friends with Seolyeo too if you met. Seolyeo is kind and gentle, so it doesn’t harm people.”

“Then let’s go meet the demon beast after dinner!”

“No, Soya promised to come look at the book collection in the library with me.”

Ga Hyeon, who had been placing side dishes one by one over Soya’s rice bowl, interjected into Soya and Gayul’s conversation.

“Then how about I introduce Elder Brother Yul to Seolyeo first, and then we all go to the library together?”

Saeon, who had been casually listening to the children’s conversation, perked up his ears. He remembered his morning conversation with Jeok Yeong.

[She calls you Lord Saeon, not father or dad. Doesn’t that make you uncomfortable?]

[She calls the young masters Elder Brother just fine though.]

‘Jeok Yeong’s words were true.’

Saeon subtly furrowed his brow.

While he thought she would be more comfortable with Ga Hyeon and Gayul since they were closer to her age than he was, it still bothered him somehow.

“Soya, that stupid tiger cub has a condition where he collapses as soon as he opens a book. So just go with your elder brother, just the two of you.”

“What? A condition where he collapses? Then are books like peaches to Elder Brother Yul?”

“No, no! I like books too! I’m going to read books with Cotton Ball too!”

“Ahem, ahem.”

At the sound of throat clearing, the three children simultaneously turned to look at Saeon.

“The ritual ceremony that was scheduled for today has been postponed due to yesterday’s events and will be held together on the day of the Mountain Lord Festival. And on that day, I plan to formally introduce you to the retainers, Cotton Ball. As my daughter.”

Saeon deliberately emphasized the part about ‘my daughter,’ secretly hoping she would also call him father.

“Will I be attending the Mountain Lord Festival too?”

“Of course. You’re my daughter now and a member of the White Family.”

“…!”

Just as Soya’s face was about to brighten up completely.

“Then we’ll be able to see Cotton Ball’s beast transformation too!”

At Gayul’s comment, Soya hesitated.

“Beast transformation…?”

“Yes, yes! You have to do beast transformation to participate in the Mountain Lord Festival.”

Gayul, who had been getting scolded by Ga Hyeon all along, got excited when a topic he knew about came up and explained enthusiastically.

However, unlike Gayul’s excited voice, Soya’s chopstick movements gradually slowed down.

Saeon noticed Soya’s darkened expression and recalled the conversation he had with the child last night.

[I found out I was fake when I was six years old. That day, during my first beast transformation…]

Last night, Soya had quietly told him about the things that had happened at the Suzaku Family, things Saeon hadn’t been able to bring himself to ask about.

Soya must have developed a fear of beast transformation because of what happened that day.

Saeon thought of the baby bird that had been as white as cotton fluff.

The child had called herself unsightly and ugly, but in Saeon’s eyes, she was just adorable and lovely.

He couldn’t understand the people of the Suzaku Family who had persecuted this small child he only wanted to protect.

He wanted to tell the child that all aspects of her were precious and lovely, but Soya’s fear of beast transformation was too great.

‘She’ll have to do beast transformation someday, but there’s no need to rush.’

He didn’t want to force her and reopen the child’s wounds.

He had made a promise the moment he decided to adopt the child. That he would give her a happy world without wounds.

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to force yourself.”

At Saeon’s words, Soya’s eyes widened.

“Huh? But…! Mmph!”

Ga Hyeon covered Gayul’s mouth with his palm as he was about to say something tactlessly.

“That’s right, Soya. We didn’t ask you to stay here to force something on you or burden you with responsibilities.”

Then he spoke to Soya, who still had a puzzled expression, in a gentle voice.

“If there’s anyone who tells you to do something you don’t want to do, tell this elder brother everything. Elder Brother will scold them all. Even if it’s father.”

Ga Hyeon slightly lowered his voice as he added the last comment.

At this, Saeon raised one eyebrow as if incredulous and let out a soft laugh.

“My, look at this, Cotton Ball. Your elder brother is so scary.”

Thanks to this, Soya’s expression also brightened considerably, and the warm and harmonious dinner time continued once again.

* * *

That evening. Soya introduced Seolyeo to the people and went to play in the library that only the White Tiger Direct Line could access, where she also read books.

Even though she had spent such enjoyable time with her Elder Brothers, strangely, one corner of her heart felt somehow prickly and bothered her.

However, Soya deliberately ignored that prickly feeling. Because the happiness of having a new family right now was far too great.

Time passed like this, and it became the night before the Mountain Lord Festival.

Soya had a dream.

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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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