WCB 14

Chapter 14

“I’ve caused trouble again, haven’t I? I’m sorry…”

Soya apologized in a dejected voice. At that sight, one of Saeon’s eyebrows shot up crookedly.

“Trouble? What are you talking about?”

What on earth had this small child experienced in the land of those chicken-brained fools that the first thing she does upon waking from illness is apologize?

Saeon had to forcibly swallow down the hostility rising toward the Suzaku Family. He couldn’t frighten the child.

“Not at all. So don’t worry about such things, Cotton Ball.”

Instead, he said this while gently stroking Soya’s head.

In that moment, Soya’s eyes widened into perfect circles.

It was a touch that was casual yet affectionate, just like when he stroked the young masters’ heads.

She remembered envying that touch and unconsciously stealing glances at it over and over.

Soya bit down hard on her lower lip, feeling like tears might suddenly fall for no reason.

“C-Cotton Ball is crying, Father!”

Gayul, who noticed Soya’s eyes reddening, shouted at Saeon.

“What?”

Saeon immediately panicked and hesitated.

“It’s Father’s fault! Father made Cotton Ball cry!”

“N-no!”

At Saeon’s serious expression, Soya quickly waved both hands and shook her head vigorously.

“Really, really not! It’s really not! This is just… I, I yawned! Look at this, haaam!”

Soya opened her tiny mouth wide and pretended to yawn.

It was a clumsy gesture that clearly showed her worry that Saeon might suffer an unfair misunderstanding.

At that clumsy yet adorable sight, Saeon couldn’t help but relax his stiff expression and chuckle.

“Cotton Ball must be very sleepy. Look how wide she’s yawning.”

Seeing Saeon’s relaxed face, Soya let out a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Baek Sara, who had been watching the entire scene, spoke to Soya.

“Hey, little one who looks like a cotton ball. Come have a chat with me for a moment.”

Soya flinched and shrank back at the unfamiliar adult’s suggestion.

Noticing that Soya was shy around strangers, Saeon stepped in front of the child and said.

“Sister, Cotton Ball still needs rest.”

“Who said I was going to eat that child? As a priestess of White Tiger Palace, I have things to discuss with that child, so move aside…”

“Wh-what, Aunt? You’re going to eat Cotton Ball?”

Gayul raised his voice in shock.

“…That boy Yul has been rumored to be neglecting his literary studies and training lately, and now he’s become a complete fool.”

Sara pressed her throbbing forehead.

“How can you think such terrifying thoughts! Cotton Ball is so small, and small, and small…!”

Gayul trembled while looking at Sara as if she were the worst villain in the world.

“That’s right, Sister. Cotton Ball is too small to endure your fierce expression…”

“You’re all being ridiculous, so get out of the Sacred Hall right now!”

Sara, unable to bear it any longer, shouted in a harsh voice.

Eventually everyone was driven out, and Soya was left alone with Sara in her Sacred Hall.

“I am Baek Sara, priestess of White Tiger Palace. Managing the spirit cores of young beastkin is also part of my job.”

Soya looked at Sara with some tension about having to be alone with an unfamiliar adult.

Long, snow-white hair, tall stature, elongated eyes, a seemingly cold impression and blue eyes…

‘Huh…?’

Suddenly Soya realized that Sara looked very much like Saeon.

‘She resembles Lord Saeon.’

Then, mysteriously, her tension melted away and she felt at ease.

“Hello, Lady Sara. I’m Soya.”

Soya greeted Sara in a much more comfortable voice.

“Did you know your spirit core was damaged?”

Sara asked directly.

“My spirit core… is damaged…?”

Seeing Soya’s wavering eyes, Sara let out a short sigh.

“You didn’t know, I see. Your spirit core wasn’t functioning at all.”

“Ah…”

Soya gripped the blanket tightly with both hands and hung her head low.

‘My spirit core. It’s broken.’

She couldn’t not know who had broken it.

It was Hwayu who had done it.

He was the one who had stolen her spirit core three years ago.

‘Did he hate me that much.’

Tears welled up in her pale pink eyes.

Drop. Drip drop.

Where the child’s tears fell, thick tear stains spread.

What Soya had lost wasn’t just her spirit core.

The family who should have been a proper shelter for a young child, and the love they should have given, were all stolen away in an instant.

Thus, since that day three years ago when her spirit core was stolen, Soya’s time had no choice but to remain stopped.

Overwhelmed by the sudden rush of sorrow, Soya silently shed tears.

The reason their cold treatment and hatred that she had naturally endured for the past three years felt so sorrowful now was probably because of the warm kindness she had received from the people of White Tiger Palace.

Sara felt strange watching Soya, who was shedding tears like chicken droppings yet couldn’t make a single sniffling sound and swallowed her sobs.

The child had something about her that made one’s heart soften.

Was that why Saeon couldn’t pass by this child and brought her home?

‘I should wait until I’m more certain before telling her about the unusual energy I sense in this child’s spirit core.’

Sara thought, recalling the uniquely clear and pure energy she had detected the moment she first examined Soya’s spirit core.

It was an auspicious and brilliant energy comparable to the power of divine beasts, unlike anything she had ever encountered.

However, it was still too early to make hasty judgments. She would be able to tell by gradually observing while the child stayed at White Tiger Palace.

‘That aside…’

Sara looked down at Soya with her arms crossed crookedly.

‘I don’t much like seeing her cry like that.’

Sara, who had been slightly frowning, got up from her seat and drew curtains around the bed where Soya was sitting.

Swoosh.

Startled by the sudden sound of curtains, Soya stopped crying with a hiccup and looked up at Sara.

“Little one.”

Sara said, arrogantly lifting her chin.

“The Sacred Hall is soundproof, so it’s fine to cry out loud.”

“Pardon…?”

“I don’t know how to comfort children. So cry to your heart’s content and stop when you’ve calmed down.”

“B-but…”

Cry out loud? But at the Suzaku Family, everyone got angry when I cried…

As Soya just looked up while hiccupping, Sara raised one eyebrow menacingly.

“Don’t tell me. Are you hoping I’ll hold you in my arms and comfort you?”

“N-no, I…”

Just as Soya frantically waved both hands at the frighteningly sharp voice.

“Tsk, you’re a high-maintenance child.”

Sara reached her arms toward Soya.

Soya unconsciously flinched, but then—

Thud.

Soya’s small body fell right into Sara’s embrace.

“…!”

Soya looked up at Sara with her eyes wide open.

Tears welled up in an instant, making her nose tingle.

‘I can’t cry. If I cry, everyone will hate me. Just like the people from the Suzaku Family did….’

Just as Soya bit down hard on her lower lip to hide the tears that were welling up.

Pat.

There was an indifferent touch that gently landed on Soya’s back.

Pat. Pat.

At that touch patting her back somewhat awkwardly yet roughly, Soya finally burst into tears with a “Waaaaah―” sound, unable to hold back any longer.

“You’re just like a soaked cotton ball.”

Sara chuckled and muttered at that finally childlike crying sound.

* * *

“We’re sorry, Young Lady. We should have stayed right by your side….”

Upon learning that Soya had collapsed, Yeonjeong and Sanho couldn’t contain their upset and apologetic feelings.

“S-sorry? Please don’t say such things!”

Soya waved her hands frantically, not knowing what to do.

“This won’t do. From now on, we won’t separate and will hold hands tightly wherever we go. Understood, Young Lady?”

“With me too, Young Lady. Let’s hold hands tightly and go around together!”

Yeonjeong and Sanho simultaneously extended their hands toward Soya.

Soya’s face, which had been flustered just moments before, brightened up at the sight of the two hands reaching out to her.

“Yes, yes…!”

Soya quickly stretched out her arms and grabbed Yeonjeong and Sanho’s hands, worried they might withdraw them.

Their hands felt different from Saeon’s hand that had stroked her head.

Saeon’s hand was broad and firm.

Yeonjeong’s hand, which she held tightly with her left hand, was smaller but soft and squishy.

Sanho’s hand, which she interlocked fingers with using her right hand, had calluses here and there unlike Yeonjeong’s hand, but it was warm.

And Sara’s hand that had patted her back… was very gentle.

Unlike her cold, fierce impression and blunt voice, Sara was truly a gentle person.

Perhaps all the people in White Tiger Palace were kind, resembling Saeon.

‘I hope my hands are warm too.’

With that thought, Soya held the two people’s hands tightly and took small steps on their walk.

But from that day on, it wasn’t just Yeonjeong and Sanho who stuck close to Soya and wouldn’t leave her side.

Ever since the day Soya had collapsed, Gayul openly followed behind Soya wherever she went.

And Su Ri, with a tearful expression, chased after Gayul.

On the fifth day since Soya had come to this place.

Unable to bear watching Su Ri’s face grow more dejected by the day, Soya carefully spoke up.

“Um, Young Master. Su Ri has been worried since earlier, so wouldn’t it be better if you went to the training ground now?”

“It can’t be helped since you’re weak!”

However, Gayul snorted and spoke as if he had no interest in Su Ri’s troubles.

“So who told you to be so weak that you collapse left and right?”

“…I’m sorry.”

She had heard that it was none other than the third young master who had saved her when she collapsed.

Worried that she had unnecessarily caused trouble and feeling sorry, Soya’s face sank gloomily.

At this, Gayul realized his mistake and quickly changed his words.

“Ah, no, what I mean is…! As the great third son of the White Tiger Family, I will specially protect you!”

“Huh? Why would you protect me…?”

“That’s because you’re cute…! Cute…!”

Gayul suddenly stammered at the end of his words, then shouted with a bright red face.

“Because I’m worried you might encounter ghosts!”