Chapter : 14
Soya apologized in a dejected voice.
“Did I cause trouble again? I’m sorry…”
At that sight, one of Sa-eon’s eyebrows crooked upward.
“Trouble? What are you talking about?”
What on earth had this little child gone through in those chicken-brained people’s land that the first thing she said after waking from illness was an apology?
Sa-eon barely suppressed the hostility rising toward the Jujak family. He couldn’t frighten the child.
“Not at all. So don’t worry about useless things, cotton fluff.”
Instead, he said that and gently ruffled Soya’s hair.
Soya’s eyes suddenly widened.
It was the same absent-minded yet gentle touch he used when patting the young masters’ heads.
She remembered sneaking glances again and again, secretly envying that touch.
Tears threatened to spill for no reason, so Soya bit her lower lip hard.
“S-Soya’s crying, Father!”
Gayuul shouted when he noticed the redness around Soya’s eyes.
“What?”
Sa-eon froze in confusion for a moment.
“It’s because of you! Father made cotton fluff cry!”
“N-No, it’s not!”
Seeing Sa-eon’s serious expression, Soya hurriedly waved both hands and shook her head.
“Really, really not! It’s just… I yawned! Look, haaam!”
She exaggerated a big yawn with her tiny mouth.
It was a clumsy motion that clearly showed how worried she was that Sa-eon might be misunderstood.
The awkward, cute sight made Sa-eon relax and chuckle.
“Looks like cotton fluff is very sleepy, yawning till her mouth tears.”
Seeing his relaxed face, Soya let out a sigh of relief.
Just then, Baek Sara, who had been watching the whole time, spoke to Soya.
“Hey, baby who looks like cotton fluff. Come talk with me for a moment.”
At the unfamiliar adult’s suggestion, Soya flinched and shrank back.
Noticing that she was shy, Sa-eon stepped in front of her.
“Sister, cotton fluff still needs rest.”
“Who said I’d eat the child? As the priestess of Baekho Palace, I have something to discuss with her, so move aside…”
“W-What, Aunt? You’re going to eat cotton fluff?”
Gayuul shouted in shock.
“…People say you’ve been neglecting your studies and training lately. You’ve really become an idiot.”
Sara rubbed her aching forehead.
“How can you think such a scary thing? Cotton fluff is so small, small, small…!”
Gayuul trembled while glaring at Sara as if she were the worst villain in the world.
“That’s right, Sister. Cotton fluff is too small to endure your fierce face…”
“All of you, get out of the shrine right now!”
Sara finally shouted sharply.
Everyone was kicked out, leaving Soya alone with Sara in the shrine.
“I am Baek Sara, priestess of Baekho Palace. Managing the spirit cores of young beast-folk is also my duty.”
Soya looked at Sara nervously.
Long snow-white hair, tall height, narrow eyes, cold impression, blue eyes…
“Huh…?”
Suddenly Soya realized Sara looked very similar to Sa-eon.
“She looks like Sa-eon.”
Strangely, her tension melted away.
“Hello, Sara-nim. I’m Soya.”
Soya greeted her in a calmer voice.
“Did you know your spirit core is broken?”
Sara asked abruptly.
“My spirit core… is broken…?”
Seeing Soya’s trembling eyes, Sara sighed.
“Seems you didn’t know. It wasn’t functioning at all.”
“Ah…”
Soya clutched the blanket tightly and bowed her head.
“My spirit core… is broken.”
She knew who did it.
It was Hwayu oppa.
He had taken her spirit core three years ago.
“Did he hate me that much…?”
Tears pooled in her pink eyes.
Drip. Drip.
Thick tear marks spread where they fell.
It wasn’t only her spirit core that was stolen.
The family that should have protected her, their love, everything was taken in an instant.
Since that day three years ago, Soya’s time had stopped.
Overcome with sorrow, she cried silently.
The coldness and hatred she had endured these past three years felt especially painful now—probably because of the warm kindness she received from the people of Baekho Palace.
Sara felt strange watching Soya cry quietly without even making a sobbing sound.
There was something about this child that weakened hearts.
Maybe that’s why Sa-eon couldn’t pass her by and brought her home.
“It would be better to say it later once I’m certain about the unusual energy in her spirit core.”
Sara recalled the pure, clear energy she sensed when first examining Soya’s core.
It was auspicious and radiant, comparable to divine beasts.
But it was too early to conclude. She would observe while Soya stayed in Baekho Palace.
“That aside…”
Sara crossed her arms, looking down at Soya.
“I don’t really like seeing her cry like that.”
She got up and drew curtains around the bed.
Rustle.
Startled, Soya stopped crying and looked up.
“Child.”
Sara lifted her chin arrogantly.
“The shrine is soundproof. You can cry loudly.”
“…What?”
“I don’t know how to comfort children. So cry all you want, and stop when you calm down.”
“B-But…”
In the Jujak family, people got angry if she cried…
Soya hiccuped silently, staring.
Sara raised an eyebrow.
“What? Do you expect me to hug and comfort you?”
“N-No, I…”
Just as Soya waved her hands frantically—
“Tsk, troublesome baby.”
Sara reached out.
Soya flinched—but then—
Thump.
Her small body was pulled into Sara’s arms.
“…!”
Soya stared up at her, eyes wide.
Tears welled up again.
“I mustn’t cry. Everyone will hate me, like the Jujak family…”
As she bit her lip—
Tap.
A hand touched her back.
Pat. Pat.
Clumsy but steady pats.
At that touch, Soya burst out crying loudly.
“Like a soaked cotton fluff.”
Sara muttered with a faint smile.
* * *
“I’m sorry, miss. We should’ve stayed by your side…”
Yeon-jeong and San-ho couldn’t hide their guilt after hearing Soya collapsed.
“N-No, please don’t say that!”
Soya waved her hands nervously.
“That won’t do. From now on we’ll hold hands and not separate, okay?”
“With me too, miss! Let’s hold hands!”
They both reached out.
Soya’s face brightened.
“Yes…!”
She grabbed their hands quickly.
Their hands felt different from Sa-eon’s.
Sa-eon’s was big and firm.
Yeon-jeong’s, held in her left hand, was smaller but soft.
San-ho’s, held in her right, was rough with calluses but warm.
And Sara-nim’s hand… was very gentle.
Despite her cold face and blunt voice, Sara-nim was kind.
Maybe everyone in Baekho Palace was gentle like Sa-eon.
“I want my hands to be warm too.”
Holding their hands tightly, Soya walked happily.
But after that day, Yeon-jeong and San-ho weren’t the only ones stuck to her.
Since the day Soya fainted, Gayuul openly followed her everywhere.
And a gloomy Suri chased after Gayuul.
On Soya’s fifth day in Baekho Palace, she carefully spoke.
“Young master… Suri-nim looks worried. Shouldn’t you go to training?”
“You’re weak, so it can’t be helped!”
Gayuul snorted.
“Who told you to faint all the time?”
“…I’m sorry.”
She heard the third young master saved her, and felt guilty.
Gayuul hurriedly changed his words.
“N-No! I mean… As the great third son of the Baekho family, I’ll specially protect you!”
“Huh? Why me…?”
“That’s because you’re cu… cu…!”
He stammered, face turning red.
“…Because I’m worried you might meet ghosts!”
