WCB 10

Chapter 10

The other servant women who served Miss Lili always told Soya.

That no one would want to be friends with such a shabby, worthless, wicked little bird like her.

That she should always be grateful to Miss Lili for taking care of an ugly thing like her.

Soya agreed with those words.

Because Soya had no beautiful feathers and wasn’t cute. Because she was a sinner who had presumptuously stolen the Young Lady’s place.

“Oh my, why would our Young Lady think such things? You’re so adorable.”

At that moment, Yeonjeong tied a pretty hair ribbon to the tip of Soya’s hair and giggled softly.

‘She says I’m adorable?’

Those were words that only suited pretty children like Miss Lili…

“Look at this, Young Lady.”

Sanho held up a mirror to show Soya.

“Wow…”

Soya looked at herself in the mirror and opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“Ta-da! This is Yeonjeong’s special dumpling hair!”

Yeonjeong said, pointing to Soya’s hair that she had rolled up plump like dumplings.

What surprised Soya wasn’t just the two plump dumplings.

Her frizzy hair that had been mocked as looking like a broom because she couldn’t wash it properly now gleamed with shine, and though her complexion was still a bit pale, there was a faint vitality in it.

Not only that, but thanks to the fluffy new clothes, a pleasant fragrance emanated from her body.

Soya unnecessarily pulled up her sleeve and sniffed at it. A cozy scent settled at the tip of her nose. Her heart pounded.

“How is it? Cute, right?”

“Yes…!”

Soya’s throat felt hot for some reason, so she quickly nodded her head.

“See? You’re so adorable that even the Youngest Young Master hovers around you.”

“…”

Of course, she still couldn’t agree with the statement that the Young Master wanted to be friends with her.

‘But how are there such pretty rooms and perfectly fitting clothes in an estate with only young masters.’

A small question arose, but soon Soya erased the thought and spoke to Sanho and Yeonjeong.

“Um… I’d like to go greet Saeon, would that be okay?”

Soya thought of Saeon who had appeared at a dangerous moment to save her from the assassin, and had suddenly declared he would steal her and brought her all the way here.

[It’s not bothersome at all, so don’t worry and stay here for a while.]

Even while she was feverish and delirious, she remembered that seemingly indifferent yet caring voice and his firm, cozy embrace.

‘He said to stay here for a while.’

Soya hoped that ‘a while’ would be just a little longer.

Because… the firm adult’s embrace she had received after so long was so cozy and warm.

* * *

With Yeonjeong and Sanho’s help, Soya made her way to the front of Saeon’s office.

“Oh, isn’t this the little cotton ball Young Lady?”

A handsome man with reddish-brown hair standing in front of the office spotted Soya and asked with a grin.

“Uh, yes…”

Soya’s cheeks turned reddish as she thought.

‘Why does everyone call me cotton ball? I’m not a cotton ball, I’m Soya…’

“I came to greet Saeon. To say thank you…”

Soya said while fidgeting with both hands.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll inform the Family Head.”

Through the slightly open door gap, she could see Saeon patting the head of a small boy who resembled him in a praising manner.

The gentle-looking noble with long white hair tied up in a single braid was Baek Gahyeon, the second son of the White Tiger Family.

Gahyeon was looking at his father with eyes full of pride and respect.

Soya glanced at Saeon’s broad palm that was gently stroking Gahyeon’s head.

“Family Head. The cotton ball Young Lady has come to see you.”

At those words, both Saeon and Gahyeon turned toward the doorway.

“The Young Lady says she wants to greet the Family Head.”

At Soya’s appearance, Gahyeon’s expression hardened slightly.

Noticing this, Soya flinched and hunched her shoulders.

Having grown accustomed to reading others’ moods over the past three years, Soya was better than anyone at detecting sharp gazes directed at her.

Yet because it was a gaze she had felt so frequently, Soya turned away from the familiar sharp look and approached Baek Saeon, bowing deeply to express her gratitude.

“I came to greet you, Saeon. Thank you so much for saving me, treating me, and giving me a warm room and clean clothes.”

Though she was greeting him hesitantly, the way the child spoke and her gesture of clasping her hands and bowing was extraordinary.

‘This child has been educated in etiquette.’

Saeon immediately grasped this new fact.

“How is your body?”

“I’m fine now. The fever has gone down, and my throat doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Since you’re not in pain, you look much better.”

Saeon looked over Soya’s small form and curled up the corners of his mouth.

“This works out well. Gahyeon. You introduce Soya to White Tiger Palace.”

“Me? I should?”

Gahyeon asked back in confusion at his father’s sudden command.

Gahyeon had thought poorly of Soya from their first meeting.

‘She ate the peach even though she knew it would make her sick.’

He detested stupid children who couldn’t even express themselves properly.

He didn’t like that such a stupid child had appeared in his father’s arms, and he didn’t like that she had been given the western end room.

He also didn’t like having his time with his father interrupted just now.

But he couldn’t disobey his father’s words.

Gahyeon, who wanted to appear as the most perfect child in front of his father, hid his displeasure and nodded.

“I understand, Father.”

Gahyeon extended his hand toward Soya and asked in a gentle voice.

“Hello, your name is Soya, right? Would you like to tour the estate with me?”

“Ah, I… yes.”

When Soya cautiously took his hand while glancing at his mood, Gahyeon smiled with his eyes crinkling.

Saeon chuckled as he watched the backs of the two children walking out hand in hand.

* * *

Gahyeon glanced down at Soya, who was pattering along while holding his hand.

‘Her hands are incredibly small.’

His younger brother Gayul’s hands weren’t this small.

‘Her legs are short too.’

The way she moved her small feet quickly to match his pace, pattering along, looked a bit pathetic.

‘What on earth is Father thinking.’

The western end room.

That room was one Father had prepared to adopt a girl from the branch family.

It was to present a candidate for the ‘Dragon Emperor’s Bride’ in the family’s name.

The Dragon Emperor’s Bride, companion to the Emperor who ruled the continent.

This was not simply the Emperor’s wife, but a weighty position that involved overseeing the Empire’s stability from an equal standing with the Emperor, and even acting in the Emperor’s stead during emergencies.

For generations, the Four Divine Beast Families had produced brides for the Golden Dragon, but when there were no daughters in the direct lineage, it was long-standing custom to adopt a child from the branch families and put them forward as candidates.

Therefore, the White Tiger Family, which had no daughters in this generation, also planned to register a child from the branch families.

Already, daughters from the branch families were coming one by one, holding their parents’ hands, to make an impression on Saeon.

But with this girl of unknown origins occupying that room, Gahyeon couldn’t help but worry.

Not only that, but Father had even assigned the Red Fox and Blue Wolf clans to this little cotton ball.

The Red Fox and Blue Wolf were two Western Region families that had traditionally assisted the White Tiger’s direct lineage for generations.

Moreover, Nam Sanho of the Blue Wolf clan was the leader of all wolves in the Western Lands who originally served Father, and Ho Yeonjeong of the Red Fox clan was Ho Jeokyeong’s younger sister and the one who oversaw all domestic affairs of White Tiger Palace.

Even if it was a temporary assignment, it was somewhat excessive personnel management.

‘Surely he’s not planning to register this child into the family clan instead of a branch family child.’

For the sake of the family clan, such a thing must not happen. This child of unknown origins could never represent the family clan.

This child wasn’t even a tiger.

Looking at how small and white she was… a cat perhaps? But she seemed a bit too gentle to be a cat…

Or maybe a rabbit? She looked like she’d live off eating grass, which would suit a rabbit perfectly…

‘Anyway, that’s not what’s important. This child must not continue staying in the western end room. Of course, Father will handle things well, but…’

Gahyeon, the second young master of the White Family who respected Father Baek Saeon more than anyone, quickly erased his doubts.

It wasn’t right to question what Father did.

“This is the rear garden. The flowers are really pretty, aren’t they?”

Despite introducing various parts of the estate with gentle words, Gahyeon’s eyes were filled with annoyance.

He judged there was no need to put effort into introducing things to a child who would only stay briefly anyway.

Therefore, Gahyeon deliberately didn’t match his walking pace even though he knew the child was scurrying after him on short legs, and gave only half-hearted explanations.