Chapter 24
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
Chapter 24
Baek Gayul let out a fierce roar and scolded me not to laugh.
"Yes, yes, Young Master. I won't laugh."
But the way he roared through that tiny mouth was so adorable that I had to cover my lips with both hands to stifle my laughter.
Still, the giggles that escaped were beyond my control.
"Grrrrowl! Grrrrowl! (Stop laughing!)"
Baek Gayul's fur bristled on end as his body trembled, and then he abruptly turned away with a huff.
"Grrrrr... (You're just like your brother, you cotton ball! How could you betray me like this!)"
Thoroughly sulking, Baek Gayul grumbled.
His tail swayed back and forth as he sat with his back to me.
As I watched his swishing tail, my eyes rolling along with it, I suddenly remembered something and asked.
"By the way, Young Master, do you know what your second brother likes?"
"Grr? Sniff! (My brother's preferences? Who knows?)"
Baek Gayul replied indifferently, pawing at the ground.
Why should I care what that second brother likes—the one who handed me over to my master?
"Young Master, are you perhaps upset?"
"Grr!"
Baek Gayul didn't answer. Instead, he snorted dismissively.
His tail's movements grew more vigorous.
Watching his tail strike the ground with sharp slaps as if declaring "I'm upset!", I scratched my cheek with an awkward expression.
'Oh no. He really is upset.'
I pondered seriously.
The sight of Baek Gayul in his humanoid form, sitting with his back turned in a sulk, was far too endearing.
'I should appease him, but he's so cute that I don't want to.'
I should apologize to Young Master for laughing and ask him not to be upset.
But that silhouette, his tail striking the floor with those sharp slaps, was simply too precious to look away from.
Just then, Eun Siyo happened to pass nearby and spotted us both, approaching with a smile.
"My, Young Master Gayul! It's been so long. How have you been?"
Siyo greeted him warmly and extended her hand toward Baek Gayul.
"Grrrrr! (What?!)"
Baek Gayul bared his teeth and growled menacingly.
"Oh my!"
Startled, Siyo quickly withdrew her hand, but the enraged Baek Gayul lunged at her ferociously.
As Baek Gayul charged with such savage intensity that he seemed ready to bite her, Siyo froze in place.
"You mustn't do that, Young Master!"
I cried out, scooping Baek Gayul's body up in my arms.
"Grrr? (Uh, what?)"
Suddenly suspended in mid-air, Baek Gayul blinked his eyes in confusion.
"You're frightening the lady!"
At my stern rebuke—a tone I'd never used before—Baek Gayul's spirit seemed to deflate as his ears drooped and he began to make excuses.
"Grrrr, grrrowwwl....(That's not what I meant....)"
By nature, I was fond of people, but whenever I encountered tigers around my own age, I instinctively felt compelled to establish dominance.
This was why I frequently bickered with Arang, whom I'd known since childhood.
I had never once considered such instincts to be wrong.
Even when my second brother Ga Hyeon had rebuked me as an underdeveloped young tiger unable to suppress my true nature, I had simply snorted and dismissed him.
Yet now, for the first time, I felt as though I had committed a grave mistake.
'Did I act so violently that Fluffy became very frightened?'
Fluffy is small and delicate. I'm supposed to protect her. And yet I bared my fangs before her.
'What if Fluffy now thinks I'm a violent tiger and refuses to play with me?'
The thought sent a wave of worry through me.
"Whimper....(I'm sorry, Fluffy. Were you very scared?)"
I shook my large eyes and whined pitifully.
Then Soya smiled gently at me and spoke in a soothing voice.
"I know Young Master didn't mean to do that. But you should apologize to Miss Siyo, not me."
"Whiiine...."
I shook my head vigorously with an expression of extreme displeasure.
An apology? That was a word that had no place in my ten years of life.
I had completely forgotten that I had just told Soya I was sorry mere moments ago, and I was determined to hold out without apologizing.
"Would it help if I assisted you with the apology?"
Soya tilted her head and asked.
"...!"
I stared at Soya with an expression of utter shock.
Accepting help from this tiny Fluffy? That would be a terribly cowardly act, unbecoming of a tiger from the valiant Baekho Family.
If my second brother found out, he would surely sneer and regard me with contempt.
I was already sulking with Ga Hyeon over something that had happened days ago. I absolutely refused to appear pathetic before my second brother again.
With that thought, I squeezed my eyes shut and transformed back into human form with a 'pop!'
My face flushed crimson, I glared sharply at Siyo, and as she flinched at my fierce gaze, I cried out.
"I-I'm sorry, silver tiger...! As the third son of the great Baekho Family, Baek Gayul shall specially apologize to you!"
"No, Young Master. It's truly fine."
Siyo, flustered, waved her hands as she replied.
Then I turned back to Soya and spoke with confident pride.
"You heard that, Fluffy? She said it's fine!"
"You did wonderfully, Young Master."
As Soya smiled and praised me, the corners of my mouth lifted slightly.
It was the kind of expression that made one imagine my invisible tail swishing back and forth once more.
Meanwhile, Siyo observed the two of us intently before asking Soya quietly.
"What were you two discussing? I caught fragments mentioning your second brother."
"Ah, well. I wanted to make a talisman for the second Young Master, but he doesn't seem to care for stones much. Do you happen to know what he likes, Miss Siyo?"
Soya added softly that she hoped it would be something easily obtainable from the surroundings, since she couldn't afford anything expensive as a gift.
Baek Gayul, who had collapsed onto the floor during their conversation, grumbled and added his own comment.
"Why are you bothering me with another gift? I'm not worthy of such things! Just ignore it, Fluffy!"
I remained unaware of how petty and spiteful I sounded—like a tiger nursing a grudge.
"If that's what Hyeon likes..."
Siyo pondered for a moment before her face brightened with inspiration.
"What if I picked some Sky Flowers for him? The buds should be just beginning to bloom around this time."
"Sky Flowers?"
"They bloom on the slopes of Horim Mountain. They're difficult to find anywhere else, so they're quite rare even in the Western Lands. Since the Second Young Master enjoys flower arranging, he'd surely appreciate such a precious gift."
Soya's face lit up at Siyo's explanation.
The Second Young Master enjoyed flower arranging? I had no idea.
And with flowers, I could even secretly arrange them in a vase.
"Thank you so much, Siyo!"
Soya beamed with gratitude.
"Huh? Fluffy, you're going up Horim Mountain?"
Gayul, who had been listening to their conversation, tilted her head curiously.
"I'll ask Yeon Jeong and San Ho first."
Soya answered with eager anticipation, her fingers fidgeting with excitement.
Though climbing a mountain would be my first time, somehow I felt certain that Yeon Jeong and San Ho would permit it.
Everyone at Baek Ho Palace had always approved of whatever I wanted to do.
"Then I'll come with you! I know the path up Horim Mountain well!"
Thus Soya and Gayul decided to climb Horim Mountain together.
"Soya."
Just then, Siyo called out to Soya and handed her a small sachet.
"This is my thanks for the charm you gave me."
"Thank you, Siyo."
Soya smiled warmly in return.
"This isn't the time for that, Fluffy! You need to hurry and get permission!"
Gayul, even more excited than Soya, bounced eagerly and urged her on.
"Oh, Young Master, wait...! Oof!"
"Let's go!"
The impatient Gayul grabbed my wrist and dashed out.
* * *
"Yeon Jeong! San Ho!"
Soya hurried over to Yeon Jeong and San Ho to seek their permission.
"Um, tomorrow morning—would it be alright if I went up Horim Mountain with the Youngest Young Master and came back? I want to pick some Sky Flowers to give to the Second Young Master!"
Soya asked with an eager, hopeful expression.
At the sight of the young lady brimming with anticipation, Yeon Jeong's face grew troubled.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org