Chapter : 12
Sa언, the head of the Baek family that governed the West, was also the teacher of the Fifth Prince.
His disciple, the Fifth Prince Tae Iryim, was the imperial family’s only legitimate heir. Yet he had no interest in the throne. Not only in the throne—he was indifferent to everything.
It was about three years ago. From a certain day onward, he gradually brightened and regained his vitality. Even so, unlike the other princes, he did not grow greedy for the throne.
But that prince changed overnight.
On the morning after he had picked up the little cotton fluff from the South, Sa언 received word that the prince was gravely ill and asking for him. He immediately made his way to the imperial palace.
However, the eleven-year-old prince, who was said to be suffering from a raging fever, was sitting upright on his bed, perfectly composed as he greeted him.
His pale complexion and reddened eyes showed that the fever had not yet fully left him, but his condition was not severe enough to warrant such an urgent summons.
[Your Highness.]
[You’re here, Teacher.]
At that languid greeting, Sa언 paused.
Was it because his voice was hoarse from the fever? Something… felt different than usual.
[I summoned you today because I have a request.]
[Please command me.]
[Go to the South, to the land of the Vermilion Bird. Steal the most valuable thing there. If you do, Baek Sa언, I will give you the Dragon’s Blood Herb you have searched for so long.]
Sa언 froze.
Dragon’s Blood Herb (龍血草).
The medicinal herb said to bloom from a dragon’s blood was a divine elixir that blossomed only once when an emperor ascended the throne. It was not something a mere prince could promise.
As if reading Sa언’s thoughts, the Fifth Prince Tae Iryim spoke in a low voice.
[I will become Emperor.]
His gentle, soft tone was not weak in the slightest.
Only then did Sa언 realize something—just moments ago, the prince had not called him “Teacher,” but addressed him by name.
Before the Emperor, all were merely subjects.
[I promise you, Sa언. Before this year ends, I will ascend the throne and grant you the Dragon’s Blood Herb.]
Sa언 swallowed silently and studied the prince more closely.
His eyes, expression, speech, voice—everything about him was distinctly different from the prince Sa언 had known until now.
Though only eleven years old—the same age as Sa언’s second son—the prince’s eyes were deep, his face mature beyond belief.
[…What exactly must I bring back?]
[The most valuable thing—though no one recognizes its worth. You will know it at a glance.]
The prince’s demand was like a riddle.
[There is not much time. Leave today, before sunset.]
[I never expected to receive an order to steal. The most valuable thing, you say? That piques my interest. What if I take it and run away?]
Sa언 replied with a light chuckle, half-joking.
For a brief moment, a chilling sharpness flickered in the prince’s teal eyes.
[It is not something that can be possessed. You need only show me that it is safe.]
Tae Iryim said firmly.
As if he already foresaw what Sa언 would steal.
The most valuable thing—yet something no one could own.
At first, what came to Sa언’s mind was the Vermilion Bird Treasure Bow (朱雀寶弓), left behind by the ancient divine beast, the Vermilion Bird. That sacred relic, kept by the Vermilion Bird clan, was not something a mere human could possess.
But then he found Soya—and changed his mind, bringing the child back instead.
“Anyway, if that’s not the case, then that’s a relief…”
At that moment, Jeokyeong’s voice broke his train of thought.
“Since you’ve given her the room at the very end of the West Wing, everyone will misunderstand like I did. That room was prepared for adopting a young lady from a branch family.”
“There’s no other room in Baekho Palace suitable for a young girl.”
“That’s true, but… I have to ask just in case.”
Ho Jeokyeong glanced cautiously at Baek Sa언.
“You’re not planning to register that little cotton fluff girl into the main family instead of adopting a branch-family young lady, are you?”
“What? Of course I’m not—”
Sa언 began to say he had never even considered such a thing.
But suddenly, an image filled his mind.
The little cotton fluff becoming the youngest young lady of Baekho Palace.
With her tiny legs toddling around the palace, spotting him, calling him “Father” with a bright smile—
“Hmm…”
Sa언 stroked his chin, adopting a deliberately thoughtful expression.
My daughter, huh. That might not be so bad…
“W–Wait! You’re not thinking ‘Hmm, that might not be so bad,’ are you? You’re not, right?”
“……”
“Of course, Miss Cotton Fluff is very small! And cute! And adorable! Unlike the tiger young masters!”
“Mm.”
At the words small, cute, and adorable, Sa언 unconsciously nodded with a pleased expression.
Seeing that, Jeokyeong widened his eyes and shouted.
“But that won’t do! This is about adopting a young lady who will represent the family! It’s not a position where you can simply dote on her because she’s cute! Absolutely not!”
The corner of Sa언’s lips, which had crept up slightly, fell again.
“…I know.”
The decision to adopt a young girl from the branch family had been for the sake of the clan. It could not be swayed by emotion or impulse.
Above all, Soya was not a tiger.
But Soya has nowhere else to go. I picked her up—so it’s my responsibility.
Glancing at Jeokyeong, Sa언 asked in a casual tone,
“But Jeokyeong. There’s no rule that the family can only have one young lady, is there—”
“No, absolutely not!”
Jeokyeong burst out.
“Think about it, Head of House. If you adopt two young ladies at once, they will inevitably be compared. And which one do you think would end up shrinking under that comparison?”
“Hmm…”
“A good deed done with kind intentions might only make Miss Cotton Fluff suffer. And it would be disrespectful to the other young lady as well.”
“……”
“I know her situation is pitiful, but you can’t take responsibility for every pitiful person in the world, can you? It would be better to find a suitable family to send Miss Cotton Fluff to.”
“……”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You heartless, bloodless, cunning red fox.”
“Huh? It feels strange hearing that from you, Head of House.”
“Aren’t you worried about that tiny little cotton fluff at all?”
“I am, of course—!”
Just then—
“Head of House.”
A voice called from outside.
It was Ho Yeonjeong, a beastman of the Red Fox clan whom he had assigned to stay with Soya.
“What is it?”
“I have something to report regarding the young lady in the West Wing.”
At Yeonjeong’s report, Baek Sa언’s eyes hardened.
Gayul was hiding in the bushes, observing the little cotton fluff his father had supposedly picked up.
‘Her name was Soya, right?’
She was much smaller than everyone else in Baekho Palace. And weak. That was why she kept drawing his attention.
‘Why is she so small?’
Until Soya appeared, Gayul had been the smallest member of the Baek family.
But now there was a girl even smaller than him.
He found it fascinating—this girl a whole head shorter than himself.
Fascinating… and worrying.
‘And why is she so weak? On the first day she even fainted in Father’s arms.’
Sitting atop a large rock, her pale face looked sickly in the sunlight.
‘If she’s that weak, she won’t survive…’
Gayul’s heart pounded anxiously, afraid something might happen to the small, fragile Soya.
“Oh dear, Young Master. If the Head of House finds out you’re neglecting your training like this, it will be a big problem.”
Suri, who had followed Gayul, was just as anxious.
If the young master’s misconduct was discovered, he feared the blame would fall on him.
“Go away. I’m doing something very important right now. I have to uncover Cotton Fluff’s identity.”
Gayul waved both hands dismissively.
“Will you figure it out by spying like this? Why not just go ask her directly?”
“What if I speak to her and she gets startled and falls over?”
“She’ll fall just because you speak to her?”
“……”
Gayul recalled how their eyes had met just yesterday—and she had startled and fallen over.
If she was even smaller and weaker than him, she might not just fall—she might faint outright.
“If you’re not going to ask her directly, let’s go to the training grounds, Young Master. Please?”
“But she’s too small and too weak. I have to watch over her. My heart keeps racing. What if she collapses just from someone blowing on her…?”
And then—
“Gasp…!”
“H–Huh?!”
Soya, who had been dozing in the warm sunlight, suddenly toppled over with a thud!
Gayul burst out of the bushes and ran toward her.
“C–Cotton Fluff! Cotton Fluff, are you okay?!”
But when he reached the rock where she had been sitting—
She was gone.
“Where did Cotton Fluff go?”
Panicked, Gayul looked around frantically.
Then he noticed something at his feet.
A tiny baby bird.
He froze.
A small, snow-white chick with soft downy feathers lay there, eyes closed, asleep.
“Don’t tell me… Cotton Fluff…?”
Gayul’s eyes widened into perfect circles.
Ten-year-old tiger beastman Gayul had never left Baekho Palace.
He had never even seen a herbivorous animal before. This was his first time seeing a winged creature.
“Gasp! I–I think that’s Miss Cotton Fluff! Just look at that adorable little tail feather! There’s no other lifeform that cute in Baekho Palace except Miss Cotton Fluff—!”
“Shh! Be quiet! You’ll wake her!”
Gayul scolded Suri and carefully lifted the tiny chick—presumably Cotton Fluff—into his hands.
“Cotton Fluff must’ve been very tired… Huh?”
Suddenly, his eyes grew round with shock.
