TWTCB 17

Chapter 17

A few hours earlier.

After spending the entire day running around the garden with Garyul, So-ya was returning to her room holding Yeon-jeong and San-ho’s hands.

On the way, she was thinking hard about how to protect the benefactors of the White Tiger Palace from ghosts.

In fact, she had already come up with an idea.

[What is that ghost even doing? Why doesn’t it take that bad girl who made our Lady Lili suffer?]
[Even ghosts probably avoid her because she’s so filthy.]

People from the Vermilion Bird Clan had sometimes spoken about her like that.

At times, they even said that anything she touched was so disgusting that even ghosts would avoid it—and burned her belongings.

She remembered how painful it had been to watch her things turn into ash one by one.

But after hearing about ghosts in the White Tiger Palace, her thoughts had started to change.

If ghosts avoid things I touch because they find them disgusting… then if I place my belongings near others, ghosts will run away.

So-ya decided to place her things near her benefactors.

But she had nothing.

She had even lost the small pouch she had brought from the Vermilion Bird estate while fleeing from assassins.

Thinking of that pouch made her feel a little sad, because it was…

No, now is not the time for that.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts.

Then, while worrying about having nothing, a good idea suddenly came to her.

“Please wait a moment, Yeon-jeong-nim! San-ho-nim!”

She let go of their hands and ran back into the garden.

After searching around, she quickly found what she was looking for.

Her face brightened as she picked up three of the smoothest, prettiest pebbles she could find.

Yeon-jeong and San-ho, who followed behind her, looked confused, but So-ya just smiled and urged them to return.

Back in the room, So-ya blew the dust off the pebbles, washed them clean, and dried them carefully.

Then she held them tightly and silently prayed.

Because these are pebbles touched by So-ya, please make ghosts avoid them.

Of course, nothing visible changed.

But a satisfied smile spread across So-ya’s face.

Done!

Now she just had to place them next to Sa-eon and the young masters.

But going out alone at such a late hour was scary.

She glanced at Yeon-jeong.

“Lady, do you need something?”

Yeon-jeong asked gently.

So-ya hesitated, then leaned in and whispered.

“I heard there are ghosts in the White Tiger Palace… I want to place these pebbles next to Sa-eon-nim and the young masters so ghosts won’t take them away.”

“Oh! So it’s like a charm!”

“A charm?”

“Yes, something that drives away ghosts.”

“Ah…! Yes, something like that!”

It wasn’t exactly driving ghosts away—more like making them avoid it—but it felt similar.

“So I need to take these to Sa-eon-nim and the young masters…”

“Oh my, our little lady. Were you afraid to go out into the hallway alone?”

“Y-yes…”

So-ya nodded quickly.

Yeon-jeong laughed softly and held out her hand.

“Then shall I go with you?”

“Yes!”

So-ya smiled brightly and took her hand.

They first went to Garyul’s room.

Inside, Garyul was sleeping soundly, snoring with his blanket kicked off.

So-ya quietly placed one pebble beside him and slipped back out.

Next, they went to Gahyeon’s room.

It was completely silent.

Gahyeon was sleeping neatly in a straight posture, breathing evenly.

So-ya placed another pebble beside him and left.

Finally, they headed to Sa-eon’s office.

“Is the clan head still working this late?”

“Yes, he often works until very late.”

At the office door, Jeok-young greeted them.

“Cotton-ball lady? Are you here again to thank the clan head?”

“No, today I…”

So-ya quietly explained her reason.

Jeok-young reacted dramatically.

“Wow, charms made by the cotton-ball lady herself? The clan head will be so jealous!”

Startled, So-ya quickly added,

“I-I can make one for you too!”

“Really? You promise?”

“Yes…”

Just as she was about to hook pinkies with him, Yeon-jeong glared at Jeok-young.

“That’s unfair! You give a gift to him first instead of me?”

“‘Old fox’?!”

So-ya panicked at Yeon-jeong’s blunt words, not knowing they were siblings.

“I want one too, lady! Mine first!”

“O-okay!”

So-ya made a pinky promise with her too.

It felt strangely exciting.

No one had ever waited for something from her before.

So this feeling was new.

I feel like… I’m becoming someone useful.

Jeok-young opened the door.

“You can go in alone this time, lady!”

Encouraged, So-ya stepped inside.

“Hell—ah!”

She quickly covered her mouth when she saw Sa-eon asleep at his desk.

He’s sleeping.

He must be tired too.

She tiptoed carefully so as not to wake him.

Then—

“Ugh…”

A faint groan.

Startled, So-ya tripped and fell.

“Ack…”

She got up quickly, wiping away tears.

“I’m sorry, Sa-eon-nim. I didn’t mean to wake you… huh?”

But Sa-eon didn’t wake.

Instead, he looked pale and sweaty, as if he were in pain.

So-ya panicked.

Oh no… I was too late. Ghosts must have already gotten him!

She clasped her hands tightly.

Please… ghosts, don’t hurt Sa-eon-nim.

At that moment—

Flash!

The pebble in her hand suddenly glowed brightly.

So-ya’s eyes widened.

“W-what…?”

The light disappeared instantly.

Was that real? Or did she imagine it?

She rubbed her eyes, then looked at Sa-eon.

His expression had calmed.

So-ya’s face brightened.

It worked! The charm really worked!

She placed the pebble beside him and quietly left the room.

In the hallway, Yeon-jeong asked,

“Did it work, lady?”

“Yes!”

So-ya smiled brightly.

“The charm really works! The ghost was bothering Sa-eon-nim, but it ran away when it saw the pebble!”

“Oh my.”

Yeon-jeong chuckled.

“That’s a relief.”

“I’ll make one for you tomorrow too!”

“Alright. Then tomorrow we’ll wake up late and go pick the prettiest pebbles…”

“Ah, lady—you fell?”

“Hmm?”

“There’s blood here.”

Only then did So-ya notice the small scrape on her hand.

She must have hurt herself when she fell earlier.

“Oh dear, your soft little hand is bleeding…”

“I-it’s not that bad…”

But Yeon-jeong already grabbed her wrist firmly.

“We should get you back and treat it.”

“Yes…”

So-ya nodded obediently.

After returning, washing her hands, and applying medicine, she finally fell asleep peacefully.