WCB 16

Chapter 16

“What are you looking at so intently, Young Master?”

A fox beastman around ten years old with reddish hair tilted his head and asked.

It was Ho Jeoka, the second son of the Red Fox Family and younger brother of Ho Jeokyeong and Ho Yeonjeong.

“It’s Yul. Look at that pathetic sight. I heard he hasn’t been attending classes properly lately either. When does he plan to grow up acting like that?”

Ga Hyeon shook his head disapprovingly as he spoke.

Despite his elegant noble appearance, his words toward his younger brother were mercilessly harsh.

In truth, Ga Hyeon, with his gentle and mild impression, was known as a well-mannered young master, but contrary to his reputation, he was a cold-tempered and sharp-tongued young master.

“To think a direct descendant of the White Tiger would run around like that without knowing dignity. And that child who’s with Yul.”

Moreover, he had heard that Soya’s spirit core had been severely damaged recently, requiring her to visit Aunt Sara for treatment.

“What if that child collapses again while running around like that? That foolish baby tiger.”

Ga Hyeon was concerned about Soya, who was playing and running with Gayul despite not knowing when she might collapse again.

Obviously, Gayul must have stubbornly pestered her to play together.

Gayul, who had loved people since childhood, used to follow him around every day begging to play.

Of course, he firmly refused every time, but that child didn’t know how to refuse, so she would inevitably end up going along with it.

‘She’s the type who can’t even say she can’t eat peaches and just eats them anyway, so it’s obvious.’

At that moment, Ho Jeoka smiled softly and said.

“You’re worried about Cotton Ball, aren’t you?”

Ga Hyeon frowned with displeasure.

“Worried?”

Worried? Me? About whom? Surely not about that tiny cotton ball?

“It’s not like that. Who would worry about such a pathetic creature who doesn’t even know how to take care of her own condition?”

Ga Hyeon scowled with all his might and turned his head away from the window.

“More importantly, it should be about time for the branch family tigers to start arriving.”

It was already the end of summer.

When autumn came, the biggest event in the Western Lands, the ‘Mountain Lord Festival,’ would be held.

“Yes, Young Master. I hear everyone is determined that this Mountain Lord Festival will be the perfect opportunity to catch the Family Head’s attention.”

Who would become the owner of the Western End Room was a very big topic of conversation among the tigers recently.

Parents with daughters from tiger families all wanted to somehow get their daughters adopted into the White Tiger Family.

Not only would becoming Saeon’s adopted daughter not sever ties with their birth parents, but if she were to become the bride of the Golden Dragon, it would be the ultimate glory for the family.

“So, which children should we keep an eye on at this Mountain Lord Festival?”

“Actually, I caught a glimpse of the list that Brother Jeok Yeong compiled. First, there’s Young Lady Arang from the Brown Tiger Family and…”

“She’s too stupid to be suitable as a representative.”

“Young Lady Sahye from the Black Tiger Family…”

“It would be fortunate if she doesn’t become a disgrace to the family, let alone a representative.”

“And also Young Lady Siyo from the Silver Tiger Family…”

“She’s a bit… I don’t like her for some reason.”

The branch family girls that Ho Jeoka mentioned were all outstanding enough that Ho Jeokyeong had personally selected and refined the list to present to Saeon.

However, none of them satisfied Ga Hyeon, who had high standards and was particular.

“If she’s going to be a younger sister, shouldn’t she be a bit more… small, white, and soft-looking?”

Ga Hyeon muttered with dissatisfaction and looked out the window again.

His gaze turned toward Gayul, who was bouncing around in baby tiger form, and Soya, who was panting as she chased after him.

Ga Hyeon watched for a long time as his small, white, and soft younger brother played with the even smaller, whiter, and softer uninvited guest of the Western End Room.

* * *

Soya had to spend the entire day playing ball and tag in the garden, caught up with Gayul.

Gayul, who had transformed into a baby tiger, truly ran around without resting for even a moment.

The play only ended when Gayul, who had skipped training again today to just play, was finally caught and dragged away by Su Ri, who couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Oh my, our Young Lady. Wasn’t today tiring?”

Yeonjeong brought cool water to Soya, who was sitting on the grass panting, and asked.

“The Youngest Young Master really ran around without resting for even a moment. As expected of a tiger.”

“If you don’t like playing with the Youngest Young Master but he’s bothering you…”

Soya, who had been holding the cup with both hands and gulping down water, quickly shook her head at those words.

“N-no! I really had fun!”

It had been a very long time since she had run around enough to be out of breath like this.

Every time she ran chasing the ball, the cool breeze brushed her cheeks and her heart went thump-thump-thump-thump.

It was a joyful feeling she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

Moreover, Yeonjeong and Sanho had suggested sitting on rocks to rest from time to time and brought drinks and snacks, so it wasn’t too tiring.

She thought it would be nice if she could play with the Youngest Young Master like this again next time.

“But are there really ghosts in the White Tiger Palace?”

On the way back to her room, holding Yeonjeong and Sanho’s hands.

Soya carefully asked about something that had been bothering her.

“Our Cotton Ball, were you scared of ghosts?”

“Oh, no. It’s not that I’m scared… What if the ghosts take the Young Masters away?”

Soya drooped her eyebrows as she recalled Gayul, who had been playing ball with her until just moments ago.

“I didn’t know tigers were so small and cute. I feel like I should protect him.”

The tiger with soft pink paw pads was much smaller and cuter than the ones she had seen in picture books as a child.

‘The Young Master confidently said he could fight and defeat ghosts with his sharp teeth and hard claws, but…’

No matter how she thought about it, it seemed like he wouldn’t be able to fight and win against ghosts.

“Oh my!”

Yeonjeong and Sanho burst into laughter at Soya’s worried muttering.

“The Youngest Young Master is still cute indeed.”

“Everyone would be delighted if you said you’d protect him, Young Lady.”

“Really?”

Soya’s face brightened.

Since Lord Saeon had saved her life, she wanted to protect them too.

Even though ghosts were a little, just a little scary…

‘It’s okay. Ghosts don’t take me away anyway.’

People from the Suzaku Family used to whisper that she was a girl even ghosts wouldn’t take when they looked at her.

So Soya was confident she wouldn’t run away even if she was scared of ghosts.

‘I’ll definitely protect them!’

Soya clenched her fists and strengthened her resolve.

* * *

Saeon’s office.

A small shadow fell across Saeon’s face as he sat at his desk reviewing documents.

His mood had been quite poor ever since hearing that Soya’s spirit core was damaged.

Saeon knew the pain of an injured spirit core better than anyone.

Because he too had his spirit core severely contaminated and damaged in the war with the Northern Lands several years ago.

Fortunately, Soya’s spirit core wasn’t severely damaged and could be nourished with Sara’s help.

However, if the spirit core isn’t completely healed, the fundamental problem won’t be resolved.

And there was only one way to heal a spirit core.

“…Dragon Blood Herb.”

Saeon muttered quietly.

He too had searched for Dragon Blood Herb for a long time to purify his contaminated spirit core.

So that’s why I made a deal with the Prince.

Come to think of it, there had been no contact from the Prince since that day.

Even when I reported completing the imperial command in the Southern Lands, the Prince didn’t ask what I had stolen.

The Prince’s last message was that he would come to see what was stolen once the Imperial Palace was sorted out.

‘What on earth is that well-behaved Prince thinking.’

The situation in the Central Region had been unsettling lately. And at the center of the rumors was the 5th Prince, Tae Irim.

‘Is he really planning to stir up a bloodbath within the Imperial Palace.’

Saeon suddenly felt a headache coming on and pressed his forehead firmly. It wasn’t just because of the incomprehensible situation.

When night fell, the corrupted Spirit Core would absorb negative energy and run wild, especially on nights when the full moon rose, making it even worse.

“Looks like I won’t be sleeping peacefully tonight.”

Saeon muttered while glancing up at the full moon floating outside the window.

On full moon nights when negative energy was strongest during the month, Saeon chose to stay up all night in his office rather than go to his bedroom.

Even when awake, his body felt just as unwell, but when he tried to sleep, nightmares from the battlefield would torment him.

Rustle. Rustle rustle.

Only the sound of turning pages filled the room.

“Haah…”

Saeon wiped away cold sweat as he felt his head spinning from dizziness.

His condition was particularly poor today.

Thinking he should get just a little rest, Saeon closed the document folder and leaned back in his chair.

And then he dozed off.

And a moment later.

Creak.

The door opened carefully, and a small shadow crept in stealthily under the moonlight.