WCB 12

Chapter 12

Saeon, the head of the White Family that ruled the Western Region, was also the teacher of the 5th Prince.

The 5th Prince Tae Irim, Saeon’s disciple, was the only legitimate heir of the Imperial Family, but he had no interest in the throne. Not just the throne, but he was listless about everything.

It was about three years ago. Starting from a certain day, he gradually brightened and regained his energy, but even so, he didn’t covet the throne like the other princes.

That prince had changed overnight.

On the morning after he had picked up the cotton ball from the Southern Region, Saeon heard news that the prince was gravely ill and seeking him, so he visited the Imperial Palace.

However, the eleven-year-old young prince who was supposedly suffering from fever was sitting upright on his bed, greeting him perfectly fine.

His pale complexion and reddish eyes indicated that he hadn’t yet shaken off the fever, but his condition wasn’t bad enough for me to rush to the palace like this.

[I greet His Highness the Prince.]

[Welcome, Teacher.]

Saeon hesitated at that languid greeting.

Was it because of his voice, hoarse from fever? Something was different from usual.

[I called for Teacher today because I have a favor to ask.]

[Please command me.]

[Go to the Southern Region, to the Land of Suzaku. Steal the most precious thing from there. If you do that, Baek Saeon, I will give you the Dragon Blood Herb you’ve been searching for so desperately.]

Pause.

Saeon’s expression hardened stiffly.

Dragon Blood Herb.

That medicinal herb said to bloom from dragon’s blood was a divine medicine that bloomed only once when an emperor ascended the throne, not something a mere prince could give or take.

As if reading Saeon’s thoughts, the 5th Prince Tae Irim spoke quietly.

[I will become the Emperor.]

That gentle and soft voice was by no means weak.

Only then did Saeon realize. A moment ago, the prince had not called him ‘Teacher’ but by his name.

Before an emperor, everyone is merely a subject…

[I promise you, Saeon. Before this year ends, I will ascend to the throne and give you the Dragon Blood Herb.]

Saeon silently swallowed and examined the prince more carefully.

His gaze, expression, manner of speech, voice. Everything that made him up was quite different from what Saeon had known before.

The prince was eleven years old, yet had eyes so deep and a face so mature it was hard to believe he was the same age as my second son.

[…What exactly should I bring?]

[Something most precious that no one can recognize the value of. You should be able to recognize it at a glance.]

The prince’s request was enigmatic.

[There isn’t much time. Leave immediately today, before the sun sets.]

[I didn’t expect to receive an order to steal. The most precious thing sounds tempting. What if I take it and just run away?]

When Saeon chuckled and responded playfully, a chilling aura momentarily settled in the prince’s blue-green eyes.

[It’s not something that can be owned. You just need to show me that it’s safe.]

Tae Irim spoke as if making a declaration.

As if he could foresee what I would steal.

The most precious thing, yet something no one could own.

So the first thing Saeon thought of was the Vermillion Bird Treasure Bow left by the ancient divine beast Suzaku.

That divine artifact kept by the Suzaku Family was a treasure that mere humans couldn’t possess.

Then he discovered Soya and changed his mind, bringing that child instead.

“Anyway, if it’s not that, then it’s fortunate…”

At that moment, Jeok Yeong’s voice broke his reverie.

“Since the Family Head gave her that room at the western end, everyone will misunderstand like I did. That room was prepared for adopting a young lady from the branch family.”

“That’s the only room in White Tiger Palace where a girl can stay, so there’s no choice.”

“That’s true, but I’m asking this just in case…”

Ho Jeokyeong glanced at Baek Saeon and asked.

“You’re not planning to adopt that cotton ball young lady into the family in place of the branch family young ladies, are you?”

“What, I never thought of such a thing…”

It was when the flustered Saeon was about to answer that he had never even considered such a thing.

Suddenly, the image of the cotton ball becoming the youngest young lady of White Tiger Palace unfolded in his mind.

The image of the cotton ball running around White Tiger Palace on those tiny legs, then spotting me and calling ‘Father’ with a bright smile…

“Hmm…”

Saeon stroked his chin with a deliberately serious expression, lost in thought.

The cotton ball becoming my daughter. That doesn’t seem too bad…

“Huh? Family Head, you’re not thinking ‘Hmm, that doesn’t seem too bad’ right now, are you? Right?”

“…”

“Of course, the cotton ball young lady is very small! And cute! And adorable, unlike the tiger young masters!”

“Mm.”

At the part about being small, cute, and adorable, Saeon unconsciously made a pleased expression and nodded.

Seeing this, Jeok Yeong widened his eyes and shouted.

“But that still won’t do! This is about adopting a young lady who will represent the family! It’s not a position where you just need to cherish and find her cute! Absolutely not!”

Saeon’s lips, which had been slightly raised, came back down.

“…I know that too.”

The decision to adopt a girl from the branch family was made for the family’s sake. So he couldn’t decide based on unnecessary emotions and impulses.

Above all, the cotton ball wasn’t even a tiger.

But the cotton ball has nowhere else to go. Since I picked her up, it’s right for me to take responsibility.

Saeon glanced at Jeok Yeong and asked in a subtle voice.

“But, Jeok Yeong. There doesn’t necessarily have to be just one family young lady…”

“There doesn’t necessarily not have to be just one!”

Jeok Yeong raised his voice loudly.

“Think about it, Family Head. If you adopt two young ladies at the same time, they’ll definitely be compared. Then who do you think will be the one compared and intimidated?”

“Hmm.”

“What you do with good intentions, Family Head, would actually make things difficult for the cotton ball young lady. It would also be rude to the person who will become the family’s new young lady.”

“…”

“I understand that young lady’s situation is pitiful, but you can’t take responsibility for everyone in the world who’s in a pitiful situation, can you? Rather, why don’t you look for a suitable family to send the cotton ball young lady to.”

“…”

“Why are you looking at me with those eyes?”

“You heartless and tearless cunning red fox.”

“Huh? It feels strange to hear such words from the Family Head.”

“Aren’t you even worried about that tiny cotton ball?”

“Of course I am too…!”

It was at that moment.

“Family Head.”

A voice calling for him could be heard from outside.

It was Ho Yeonjeong, a beastkin from the Red Fox Family who had been assigned to Soya.

“What is it?”

“I have something to report regarding the Young Lady in the western room.”

At Yeonjeong’s subsequent report, Baek Saeon’s eyes hardened stiffly.

* * *

Gayul was hiding in the bushes, observing the small cotton ball that Father had apparently brought home.

‘Her name was Soya, wasn’t it.’

That child was very small compared to the people of White Tiger Palace. And weak. That’s why she kept bothering him.

‘Why is she so small?’

Until the cotton ball appeared, Gayul had been the smallest one in the White Tiger Family.

But to think there was a girl even smaller than him.

Gayul found Soya, who was about a head shorter than him, very fascinating.

Fascinating, yet worrying.

‘And why is she so weak? From the first day, she collapsed and was carried in Father’s arms.’

The pale face sitting on the large rock and basking in the sunlight looked sickly and seemed to be in pain.

‘If she’s weak, she won’t be able to survive…’

Gayul’s heart raced anxiously, worried that something might happen to the small and weak Soya.

“Oh my, Young Master. If the Family Head finds out you’re neglecting your training like this, there will be trouble.”

And Su Ri, who had followed Gayul out, also had his heart pounding.

He was worried that he might get in trouble because of his young master’s escapade.

“Go away. I’m doing something very important right now. I need to figure out the cotton ball’s identity.”

Gayul waved both hands dismissively at Su Ri as if he found him bothersome.

“Can you really find out by hiding and spying like this? Why don’t you just go and ask directly?”

“What if I talk to her and the cotton ball gets startled and falls over?”

“She’d fall over just from being talked to?”

“…”

Gayul recalled how just yesterday, when their eyes met, the cotton ball had been startled and fell over.

If it was the cotton ball who was even smaller and weaker than him, she might not just fall over but faint completely.

“If you’re not going to ask directly, then let’s hurry to the training ground, Young Master. Please?”

“But that child is so small and weak. That’s why I need to watch over her. My heart is racing with worry. What if she collapses with just a puff of breath…”

That was the moment.

“Gasp…!”

“Huff…!”

Soya, who had been dozing while receiving sunlight, really did collapse with a thud!

Gayul burst out of the grass and ran toward Soya, shouting.

“C-cotton ball! Cotton ball, are you okay?”

But when he actually came to the front of the rock where Soya had been sitting, the cotton ball was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is the cotton ball?”

It was when the flustered Gayul was looking around. Suddenly, a small baby bird that had fallen at his feet caught his eye.

He stopped.

A small, pure white baby bird with fluffy down feathers was sleeping with its eyes closed.

“Could it be… cotton ball…?”

Gayul’s eyes widened in surprise.

Gayul, a young tiger beastkin who had just turned ten, had never been outside White Tiger Palace.

For him, who had never even seen herbivorous animals, seeing a winged bird was a first.

“Gasp! That really seems to be the cotton ball Young Lady! Look at those adorable tail feathers! In White Tiger Palace, the only creature this cute is the cotton ball Young Lady…!”

“Shh, be quiet! You’ll wake the cotton ball!”

Gayul scolded Su Ri for his fuss and carefully picked up the small baby bird presumed to be the cotton ball.

“The cotton ball must have been very tired… Huh?”

Then suddenly, his eyes widened in surprise.