Chapter 63
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Chapter 63
I waited anxiously outside Baek Gayul's chamber.
"Please don't worry so much, young lady."
"Why don't you wait inside the room?"
Despite Yeon Jeong and San Ho's suggestions, I stubbornly held my ground.
"I'll wait here until Chung Ha comes out."
Chung Ha, who had arrived at Baek Ho Palace moments earlier, went directly into Baek Gayul's chamber.
The reason for Chung Ha's visit was that Baek Gayul's first growth period was approaching.
Young beast-kin undergoing growth pains instinctively recognize only their birth mother even as their reason becomes clouded, finding true solace in her embrace.
Thus, the only being capable of easing the agonizing growth pains that must be endured alone was the mother beast-kin herself.
Yet as considerable time passed since Chung Ha entered Baek Gayul's chamber without her emerging again, my worry deepened.
I crouched down before the firmly closed door.
Seol Yo, in his wolf form, squatted beside me and whimpered softly, keeping me company as we waited.
How much time had elapsed?
Just as I covered my mouth with my small hand and stifled a yawn.
Click—
The door opened and Chung Ha finally emerged.
"Chung Ha!"
I sprang to my feet and rushed toward her.
"How is older brother Gayul? Is he alright now?"
"Yes, he's doing just fine. He's sleeping soundly. I even placed the charm that my little cotton ball gave him right beside him."
Color bloomed across my face at those words.
"Thank goodness...!"
Seeing my joy, Chung Ha stroked my hair and asked.
"Would you like to go in together next time?"
"Is that allowed?"
"You can slip in while he's sleeping. Just keep it a secret from everyone else."
At those words, delivered with a playful wink, my eyes widened in surprise.
Was that really allowed?
The question lingered for a moment, but.
"Don't worry—I'll make sure my little cotton ball stays safe and protected."
"Yes!"
I answered eagerly to Chung Ha's reassurance.
Father and my older brothers tended to be somewhat overprotective of me.
The same was true of everyone else at Baek Ho Palace, including Yeon Jeong and San Ho.
This was the first time an adult had encouraged me to break the established rules and do something in secret.
And it was to be hidden from everyone else...!
For the first time, the thrill of transgression set my heart racing wildly.
"Oh, I'm hungry. Will my little cotton ball guide me to the Dining Hall?"
Chung Ha chuckled softly and extended her hand to me.
It was the moment when I reached out to hold Chung Ha's hand.
Just then, I spotted Baek Gahyun walking toward us from the opposite direction.
"Oh? Hyun oppa!"
"So...."
Baek Gahyun was about to respond with a smile to my call when he suddenly noticed Chung Ha beside me, and his expression hardened.
"Hi, Hyun. It's been a while. How have you been?"
Chung Ha bowed respectfully toward Baek Gahyun and greeted him warmly.
"...."
Baek Gahyun stared at Chung Ha silently for a moment, then smiled thinly in response.
"Hello, Chung Ha. It's been a long time since we've met."
A pause.
A faint crack appeared across Chung Ha's face.
"Welcome to Baek Ho Palace. Soya, I see you've been showing our guest around. Since she's an honored visitor, please take good care of her. Then, Chung Ha, I hope you have a peaceful stay."
Baek Gahyun offered a flawlessly polite greeting and turned away with a neat smile.
'What...?'
I noticed something very strange about Baek Gahyun's demeanor.
Though he was smiling gently, his attitude was distinctly cold and distant, as if he were drawing a clear line.
And that attitude of his continued not just for that one day, but throughout Chung Ha's entire stay.
* * *
"Hmm. When I heard that Baek Sayeon had adopted a daughter, I naturally assumed she'd be a tiger, so I brought a weapon."
Chung Ha murmured in a deliberately serious voice while gazing at a long object wrapped in white cloth.
"It might be a bit large for a little cotton ball."
"Oh, no! It's fine! I love it!"
I eagerly extended both hands.
As I unwrapped the white cloth, a long spear with two crescent-shaped blades appeared.
"It's a spear."
"It's a plaything modeled after the Azure Dragon's sacred weapon, the Azure Dragon Halberd."
Chung Ha pointed to the azure dragon carving engraved on the handle as she spoke.
"Wow...."
I gasped in wonder at the sight of the azure jade embedded in the dragon carving.
It had been specially crafted to be short and light for young beastfolk, yet it was still a bit large for me.
However, since it was made as a plaything, the edges were rounded, so it didn't seem dangerous.
"Thank you so much, Chung Ha!"
I smiled brightly and bowed.
"I'm the one who's grateful for accepting it so happily."
Despite the misunderstanding from our first meeting, the two of us had grown quite close within just a few days.
This morning, Chung Ha even braided my hair in place of Yeon Jeong, though unfortunately her skills were rather lacking.
Chung Ha made excuses that she'd never touched a young girl's hair before, but I was delighted with it.
When Sayeon saw the braid Chung Ha had done for me, he asked if I'd been in a duel, yet I could only laugh it off.
I glanced at the other gifts piled in Chung Ha's luggage.
"What are those, Chung Ha?"
"Oh, these are things for Baek Gahyun and Baek Gayul. Baek Gayul is still going through growth pains, so I haven't been able to give them to him yet, and Baek Gahyun is...."
Chung Ha hesitated for a moment before continuing with a faint smile.
"Well. I'm not sure if he'll accept them happily."
Despite her smile, Chung Ha's eyes seemed tinged with loneliness.
"Um...."
Jeok Soya didn't know how to respond and trailed off.
Over the past few days, Jeok Soya had noticed that Chung Ha, who always appeared cheerful in front of others, couldn't seem to manage the same in front of Baek Gahyun.
And the reason for that was Baek Gahyun's consistently cold and distant demeanor.
"Still, I should try. I think I'd feel braver if my little cotton ball came with me. Will you help?"
Chung Ha asked Jeok Soya, whose face had darkened along with her uncomfortable feelings, in a bright voice.
"Yes, Chung Ha!"
It happened to be the time when he had just finished his afternoon training and was resting in his room.
Jeok Soya headed toward Baek Gahyun's room with Chung Ha.
"Elder brother, it's me, Jeok Soya. May I come in?"
"Jeok Soya."
At Jeok Soya's voice, Baek Gahyun brightened and opened the door himself, only to discover Chung Ha following behind.
"Ah, you've come with a guest."
"Yes, it's Chung Ha, and she came to―"
"This seems like rather immature behavior, Chung Ha. I find it disappointing."
Baek Gahyun cut off Jeok Soya's words and shot a cold remark at Chung Ha.
"If you have business with me in the future, don't use Jeok Soya like this. Come to me directly. It's unpleasant. Having someone else use my family."
"Elder brother, Chung Ha didn't mean it like that...."
Jeok Soya was startled by Baek Gahyun's sharp attitude and tried to stop him.
"I'm sorry."
Chung Ha hid the gift she'd brought behind her back and apologized with a smile, her face showing no sign of hurt.
"I didn't think that far ahead. I wasn't trying to use your family. I'm truly sorry, Gahyun."
"Seeing you apologize like that, at least you know shame. That's fortunate. The Cheong Family's dignity hasn't completely fallen to the ground, then."
Baek Gahyun turned away with a bitter smile playing at his lips.
Left alone in the corridor, Chung Ha stared at the closed door in silence for a long time after it shut.
Jeok Soya felt awkward standing between them.
* * *
That evening, after dinner.
"Yeon Jeong, why does Baek Gahyun avoid Chung Ha?"
Jeok Soya asked Yeon Jeong about the relationship between Chung Ha and Baek Gahyun, something she'd been curious about all along.
"The young master believes that the Lady of the House―or rather, Chung Ha―abandoned the young masters."
"Abandoned...them?"
"When the young master was very small, Chung Ha had to leave Baek Ho Palace."
Yeon Jeong told Jeok Soya about Chung Ha with a somewhat bitter expression.
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