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Chapter 16
“What are you looking at so intently, young master?”
A fox beastkin boy in his mid-teens tilted his head. His reddish hair caught the light.
He was Ho Jeok-a, the second son of the Red Fox Clan and younger brother of Ho Jeok-young and Ho Yeon-jeong.
“Garyul, of course. Look at that pathetic sight. I heard he’s not even attending classes properly these days. How does he expect to grow up like that?”
Baek Gahyeon clicked his tongue and shook his head.
Despite his elegant, noble appearance, the words he spat toward his younger brother were sharp and cutting.
In truth, Baek Gahyeon—who was widely known as a polite and refined young noble—had a cold, blade-like personality.
“For someone of the White Tiger direct line, he has no sense of dignity, running around like that. And that child he’s with…”
He glanced at So-ya.
“I heard she recently had her spirit core severely injured and even had to visit Aunt Sara.”
“What if she collapses again while running around like that? That foolish little tiger…”
Gahyeon was bothered by So-ya playing with Garyul, since she might collapse again at any moment.
Without a doubt, Garyul must have insisted on playing together.
Since childhood, Garyul had always been fond of people, following others around and begging to play.
Of course, Gahyeon had always rejected him coldly—but So-ya was clearly the type who didn’t know how to refuse and just went along with it.
She probably can’t even say she doesn’t like peaches and just eats them… predictable.
At that moment, Ho Jeok-a chuckled softly.
“So you’re worried about the cotton-ball girl.”
Gahyeon frowned.
“Worried?”
Worried? Me? About that tiny cotton ball?
“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I worry about someone like that? I’m just saying that idiot can’t even take care of himself.”
He turned sharply away from the window, clearly annoyed.
“More importantly, the branch-line tigers should be arriving soon.”
It was already the end of summer.
When autumn arrived, the greatest festival in the western lands would be held—the San-gun Festival (Mountain Lord Festival).
“Yes, young master. Everyone is already preparing for this San-gun Festival, saying it’s their best chance to catch the clan head’s attention.”
Who would become the next prominent figure in the White Tiger Clan had become a major topic among the tiger clans.
Parents with daughters were especially eager to have them adopted into the White Tiger Clan.
Even if they became Sa-eon’s adopted daughter, they would not be cut off from their biological family—and if one were chosen as the Yellow Dragon’s bride, it would bring unimaginable honor.
“So, who are the candidates for this festival?”
“I’ve seen the list Brother Jeok-young compiled. First, the brown tiger clan’s young lady Arang…”
“She’s too foolish. Not suitable to represent a clan.”
“The black tiger clan’s Lady Sa-hye…”
“She’d be lucky not to embarrass her entire clan.”
“And the silver tiger clan’s Lady Siyo…”
“She… I don’t know. I just don’t like her.”
All the girls Ho Jeok-a listed were carefully selected by Ho Jeok-young and even submitted to Sa-eon as strong candidates.
But to the overly strict Gahyeon, none of them were satisfactory.
“If I’m going to have a younger sibling… shouldn’t they be smaller, whiter, and softer?”
He muttered in dissatisfaction, then looked out the window again.
His gaze fell on Garyul, the baby tiger, and So-ya, panting as she chased after him across the garden.
For a long time, Gahyeon watched the tiny white “cotton ball” and the even tinier white intruder playing together.
Meanwhile
So-ya had been dragged into playing with Garyul all day—ball games, tag, running endlessly across the garden.
Garyul, in his baby tiger beastkin form, never stopped moving for even a moment.
He had skipped training again today to play, and only when Suri finally grabbed him and dragged him away did the playtime end.
“Oh my, young lady. That must have been exhausting, right?”
Yeon-jeong asked as she handed So-ya a cup of cold water while she sat breathlessly on the grass.
“Master Garyul really didn’t stop running for a second. As expected of a tiger.”
“If you didn’t want to play and he was bothering you…”
So-ya quickly shook her head while gulping water.
“N-no! I really had fun!”
It had been a long time since she had played like this.
Chasing the ball, running with the wind brushing her cheeks, her heart pounding wildly—it felt refreshing and joyful.
Plus, Yeon-jeong and San-ho had occasionally suggested resting and brought snacks and drinks, so it wasn’t too exhausting.
She found herself hoping she could play like this again.
“But is there really a ghost in the White Tiger Palace?”
On the way back to the room, holding Yeon-jeong and San-ho’s hands, So-ya cautiously asked what had been on her mind.
“Our little cotton ball lady, are you afraid of ghosts?”
“N-no! I’m not scared… I just… what if ghosts take the young masters away?”
She imagined Garyul from earlier and drooped her brows.
“I didn’t know tigers could be so small and cute. I feel like I should protect them.”
The tiger with soft pink paw pads was much smaller and cuter than anything she had seen in picture books.
The young master said he could fight ghosts with sharp teeth and claws… but…
No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t imagine him actually winning against a ghost.
“Ah!”
Yeon-jeong and San-ho burst into laughter.
“Master Garyul is cute, after all.”
“If you say you’ll protect him, everyone will be delighted.”
“Really?”
So-ya’s face brightened.
Sa-eon had saved her life, so she also wanted to protect them in return.
Ghosts were a little scary… just a little…
It’s okay. Ghosts don’t take me anyway.
People from the Vermilion Bird Clan used to whisper that even ghosts wouldn’t bother taking a girl like her.
So So-ya felt confident she wouldn’t run away even if she was scared.
I will protect them!
She clenched her fists determinedly.
Sa-eon’s Office
Sa-eon sat at his desk, reviewing documents.
A faint shadow lay across his face.
Since hearing about So-ya’s damaged spirit core, his mood had not been good.
He understood better than anyone the pain of a damaged spirit core.
Because years ago, during the war with the northern lands, his own spirit core had been severely contaminated and damaged.
Fortunately, So-ya’s condition was not severe, and with Sara’s help, it could be stabilized.
But unless the spirit core was fully healed, the root problem would remain.
And there was only one way to truly heal it.
“…Dragon Blood Grass.”
Sa-eon murmured quietly.
He himself had once searched for Dragon Blood Grass to purify his corrupted spirit core.
That was how he ended up making a deal with the imperial prince.
Come to think of it, he had not heard from the prince since then.
Even after reports from the south were delivered, the prince had not asked what had been stolen.
The last message had been that he would come see what was stolen once the palace matters were settled.
What is that quiet prince thinking…?
The situation in the central lands had been unstable lately, and at the center of it all was the Fifth Prince, Tae I-rim.
Is he really trying to start a purge within the imperial palace?
Sa-eon pressed his temples, feeling a headache forming.
It wasn’t only the confusion of the situation—his corrupted spirit core also reacted badly at night, especially on nights with a full moon.
“Looks like I won’t be sleeping tonight.”
He glanced at the rising full moon outside.
On nights when yin energy was strongest, Sa-eon always stayed in his office instead of going to bed.
Sleep brought him nightmares from the battlefield.
Rustle… rustle…
The only sound in the room was turning pages.
“Haa…”
Sa-eon wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
His condition was especially bad today.
Thinking he should rest his eyes for a moment, he leaned back in his chair.
And then—he fell asleep.
A short while later.
Creeeak.
The door slowly opened.
Under the moonlight, a small shadow quietly slipped inside.
