TWTCB 14

Chapter 14

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

So-ya apologized in a subdued voice.

Sa-eon raised one eyebrow crookedly at her words.

“Trouble? What are you talking about?”

What exactly had she endured in that land of chicken-headed fools for this child to wake up from illness and the first thing she says is an apology?

Sa-eon barely managed to suppress the rising hostility toward the Vermilion Bird Clan. He couldn’t scare her.

“No. Not at all. So don’t worry about anything, Cotton Ball.”

Instead, he said this while gently stroking her head.

So-ya’s eyes widened.

It was the same absent-minded yet warm gesture he used when patting the heads of the young masters.

She remembered watching that hand before, feeling envious without realizing it.

Her vision blurred for a moment, and she bit her lower lip tightly.

“Cotton Ball is crying, Father!”

Garyul suddenly shouted when he noticed her reddened eyes.

“What?”

Sa-eon froze in confusion.

“It’s because of Father! Father made Cotton Ball cry!”

“N-no, it’s not like that!”

So-ya quickly waved her hands and shook her head.

“Really, it’s not! I’m not crying! I just—just yawned! See? Haaahm!”

She exaggerated a big yawn, opening her tiny mouth wide.

It was obvious she was trying her best not to cause trouble.

Sa-eon, seeing how clumsy and earnest she was, couldn’t help but let out a faint laugh.

“So Cotton Ball must’ve been sleepy. Yawning like her jaw is about to break.”

So-ya relaxed when she saw his softened expression.

At that moment, Baek Sara, who had been watching quietly, spoke.

“Hey, little cotton-ball-looking child. Let’s talk for a moment.”

So-ya flinched and shrank back at the unfamiliar adult.

Noticing her discomfort, Sa-eon stepped in front of her.

“Sister, Cotton Ball still needs rest.”

“Who said I’m going to eat her? As the shrine maiden of the White Tiger Palace, I simply have something to discuss—so move aside—”

“W-what? Aunt, are you going to eat Cotton Ball?”

Garyul raised his voice in shock.

“…That brat really has gotten stupid lately.”

Sara pressed her temple.

“How could you even think that? Cotton Ball is so small, and small, and small…!”

Garyul glared at her as if she were the most terrifying villain in the world.

“Yes, sister. Cotton Ball is too small to withstand your terrifying face—”

“Everyone out of my shrine. Now.”

Sara snapped, finally losing patience.

In the end, everyone was kicked out.

Only So-ya and Sara remained alone in the shrine.

“I am Baek Sara, the shrine maiden of the White Tiger Palace. I also manage the spirit cores of young beastkin.”

So-ya looked at her nervously.

Long white hair, tall figure, sharp eyes, and cool blue gaze…

Then she realized something.

She looked a lot like Sa-eon.

“Ah…”

That realization strangely eased her tension.

“Hello, Lady Sara. I’m So-ya.”

“Did you know your spirit core was damaged?”

“Spirit core… is damaged?”

Sara sighed briefly as she saw So-ya’s trembling eyes.

“So you didn’t know. Your spirit core wasn’t functioning at all.”

“Ah…”

So-ya gripped the edge of the blanket tightly and lowered her head.

My spirit core… is broken.

She didn’t need to guess who did it.

It was Hwayu-oppa.

Three years ago, he had taken her spirit core.

Did he really hate me that much?

Tears welled up in her pink eyes.

Drip. Drop.

Her tears fell silently, leaving dark wet marks.

It wasn’t just her spirit core that had been taken.

Her family, her home, her love—everything a child should have had was stripped away.

Since that day three years ago, her life had stopped completely.

The sorrow that suddenly overflowed made her cry without sound.

Sara felt strange watching the child silently cry without even sobbing loudly.

She was a child who made people soften without meaning to.

So this is why Sa-eon picked her up.

Then Sara recalled the faint, strange energy she had sensed in the child’s spirit core earlier.

It was unusually pure.

Almost sacred.

But it was too early to conclude anything.

She would observe the child while she stayed in the White Tiger Palace.

But still…

Sara crossed her arms and looked down.

I don’t like her crying like that.

She suddenly stood and drew curtains around the bed.

Shhhk.

So-ya flinched at the sound and stopped crying.

“Child.”

Sara raised her chin arrogantly.

“This shrine is soundproof. You can cry as loudly as you want.”

“Eh…?”

“I don’t know how to comfort children. So cry until you’re satisfied, then stop.”

“But…”

In the Vermilion Bird Clan, she had always been scolded for crying.

So-ya hesitated, hiccupping.

Sara frowned.

“What? Don’t tell me you expect me to hold you and comfort you?”

“N-no, I didn’t—”

Before So-ya could panic—

“Tch. You really are a troublesome child.”

Sara reached out.

So-ya flinched instinctively.

But—

Hug.

Her small body was pulled into Sara’s arms.

“!”

So-ya stared up at her wide-eyed.

Her throat tightened.

I can’t cry. They’ll hate me again… like in the Vermilion Bird Clan…

Just as she bit her lip to hold back tears—

Tap.

A hand landed on her back.

Pat. Pat.

A slightly awkward but steady pat.

And So-ya could no longer hold it in.

“Waaah—!”

Sara let out a small laugh.

“What a water-soaked cotton ball.”

“Lady, we’re sorry. We should’ve stayed right beside you…”

Yeon-jeong and San-ho bowed their heads guiltily after hearing So-ya had collapsed.

“N-no, please don’t apologize!”

So-ya waved her hands in panic.

“We can’t let this happen again. From now on, we stick together, alright?”

“Yes, Lady!”

“We’ll hold hands wherever we go!”

They both held out their hands.

So-ya’s face brightened instantly.

“Yes! Yes!”

She quickly grabbed both of them before they could change their minds.

Their hands felt different from Sa-eon’s.

Sa-eon’s hand had been wide and firm.

Yeon-jeong’s was smaller, soft, and gentle.

San-ho’s was rougher in places but warm.

And Sara’s hand… had been surprisingly kind.

Despite her cold expression and sharp voice.

Everyone here is kind… maybe they’re all like Sa-eon.

I wish my hands were warm too.

So-ya walked around holding their hands tightly.

But after that day, it wasn’t just Yeon-jeong and San-ho who stuck to her.

Garyul began following her everywhere openly.

And Suri followed Garyul, looking miserable.

On the fifth day since So-ya arrived—

So-ya carefully spoke.

“Um, young master. Suri seems worried… maybe you should go train?”

“She’s weak, so I can’t help it!”

Garyul snorted.

“Whose fault is it for being so weak and collapsing?”

“…I’m sorry.”

She had heard that Garyul had been the one who helped her when she collapsed.

Thinking she was causing trouble, So-ya’s expression darkened.

Garyul panicked and quickly changed his tone.

“N-no! What I mean is… I, the great third son of the White Tiger Clan, will personally protect you!”

“Huh? Why me…?”

“Because you might run into gho—! GHOSTS!”