Baek Saeon, the head of the Baek family who ruled the western region, was also the teacher of the Fifth Prince.
His disciple, the Fifth Prince Tae I-rim, was the only legitimate heir of the imperial family, yet he had no interest in the throne. Not only the throne—he showed apathy toward everything.
About three years ago, he had gradually regained some liveliness after a certain turning point, but even so, unlike the other princes, he still did not desire the throne.
And yet, that prince changed overnight.
That morning—the day Saeon had brought back the “cotton ball” from the southern lands—he received word that the prince was in critical condition and requesting him, so he headed to the imperial palace.
But when he arrived, the eleven-year-old prince, supposedly suffering from a severe fever, was sitting upright on his bed waiting for him.
His pale face and reddened eyes showed he had not fully recovered from the fever, but he was not in a condition serious enough to urgently summon Saeon.
[Greetings, Your Highness.]
[Welcome, Teacher.]
At that lazy greeting, Saeon paused.
Was it because of his fever-hoarse voice? Something felt different from usual.
[The reason I called you today is because I have a request.]
[Please speak.]
[Go to the south, the land of the Vermilion Bird. Steal the most valuable thing there. In return, I will give you the Dragon Blood Grass you have been searching for, Baek Saeon.]
Saeon froze.
Dragon Blood Grass.
A legendary herb said to bloom from dragon’s blood, a divine medicine that appears only once when an emperor ascends the throne—it was not something a mere prince could promise.
As if reading Saeon’s thoughts, the Fifth Prince Tae I-rim spoke quietly.
[I will become emperor.]
That gentle voice was not fragile in the slightest.
Only then did Saeon realize—the prince had not addressed him as “Teacher” a moment ago, but by his name.
Before the emperor, everyone was merely a subject…
[I promise you, Saeon. Before this year ends, I will take the throne and give you the Dragon Blood Grass.]
Saeon silently swallowed and studied the prince more closely.
His eyes, expression, tone, voice—everything about him felt entirely different from the boy Saeon had known.
He was eleven years old, the same age as Saeon’s second son, yet his gaze was deep and his expression unnaturally mature.
[…What exactly am I supposed to bring back?]
[Something no one recognizes as valuable, but which is truly priceless. You will recognize it at a glance.]
The request was vague—almost like a riddle.
[We don’t have much time. Leave before today’s sun sets.]
[I didn’t expect to be ordered to steal something. “The most valuable thing,” no less. That sounds tempting. What if I take it and run away with it?]
Saeon joked lightly with a smirk, but the prince’s teal eyes turned cold for an instant.
[It is not something that can be possessed. You only need to show me that it is safe.]
Tae I-rim spoke as if stating a fact.
As if he already knew what Saeon would steal.
Something most valuable, yet something no one could own.
At first, Saeon thought of the Vermilion Bird clan’s sacred artifact, the Vermilion Treasure Bow.
Such a divine relic was not something humans could possess.
And so he went—and ended up finding Soya instead, bringing her back.
“Well… if it’s not something like that, then that’s a relief…”
Jeokyoung’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“If you’ve given the girl the westernmost room, of course people will misunderstand. That room was originally prepared to adopt a branch family girl.”
“There’s no other room for a girl in the White Tiger Palace. It can’t be helped.”
“That’s true, but I still have to ask…”
Ho Jeokyoung glanced at Saeon cautiously.
“Are you planning to officially register that cotton-ball girl into the main family instead of a branch candidate?”
“What? I never—”
Saeon began to deny it immediately—but paused.
An image suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Soya, the tiny girl, running around the White Tiger Palace, calling him “Father” with a bright smile…
“Hmm…”
Saeon stroked his chin thoughtfully.
A daughter… Not bad, maybe…
“Wait. My lord, you’re not seriously thinking ‘Hmm… not a bad idea,’ are you?”
“……”
“Of course the cotton-ball girl is very small and cute and adorable compared to the tiger young masters!”
“Mmm.”
At the words small, cute, adorable, Saeon nodded absentmindedly with a faint pleased expression.
Jeokyoung’s eyes widened.
“That’s exactly why it’s a problem! This is about choosing a representative young lady for the clan! This is not just about liking or finding her cute!”
Saeon’s faint smile slowly faded.
“…I know.”
Choosing a branch girl was for the sake of the clan. It couldn’t be decided based on emotion.
And above all, Soya wasn’t even a tiger.
But she also had nowhere else to go. He had brought her here—so it was his responsibility.
Saeon glanced at Jeokyoung and asked cautiously,
“Jeokyoung… does it absolutely have to be only one young lady…?”
“Absolutely not!”
Jeokyoung shouted.
“If you bring in two, they’ll inevitably be compared! And who do you think will end up feeling inferior?”
“Hmm.”
“It would be unfair to both girls! And especially harmful to the cotton-ball girl!”
“….”
“I understand her circumstances are pitiful, but you can’t save every pitiful person in the world. You should find her another suitable household.”
“….”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You cold-blooded, heartless red fox.”
“…My lord, hearing that from you feels strange.”
“You don’t even feel sorry for that tiny cotton ball?”
“Of course I—!”
Just then—
“My lord.”
A voice came from outside.
It was Yeonjeong of the Red Fox clan, assigned to Soya.
“What is it?”
“I have something to report regarding the young lady in the western room.”
At her words, Saeon’s expression instantly hardened.
Gayul was hiding in the bushes, observing the small cotton ball his father had brought back.
‘Her name was Soya.’
She was very small compared to the people of the White Tiger Palace. And weak. That’s why he couldn’t stop paying attention.
‘Why is she so small?’
Before the cotton ball appeared, Gayul had been the smallest in the White Tiger clan.
And now there was someone even smaller than him.
It fascinated him—and worried him.
‘And why is she so weak? She collapsed in Father’s arms on the very first day.’
Her pale face looked like she might be sick just sitting in the sun.
‘If she’s weak, she won’t survive…’
Gayul felt anxious thinking something might happen to her.
“Ah, young master. If the clan head finds out you’re skipping training like this, you’ll be in big trouble.”
Suri, who had followed him, was also nervously worried.
“I said go away. I’m doing something important. I need to figure out what that cotton ball is.”
“Can you even find out by spying like that? Why not just ask her?”
“What if I ask and she gets startled and falls over?”
“Why would she fall just from being asked?”
“….”
Gayul remembered how she had startled and fallen just from making eye contact with him yesterday.
If she was even smaller and weaker than him… she might even faint.
“If you’re not going to ask, can we go to training now?”
“But she’s so small and weak. I have to watch her. My heart keeps pounding. What if she just goes puff and collapses…”
Just then—
“Huh…!”
“Huh?!”
Soya, who had been dozing in the sunlight, suddenly collapsed for real.
Gayul burst out of the bushes.
“Cotton ball! Cotton ball, are you okay?!”
But when he reached the rock where she had been sitting, she was gone.
“Where did she go?”
Confused, he looked around—and noticed something small at his feet.
A tiny white baby bird lay there, fast asleep.
“…Don’t tell me… cotton ball…?”
Gayul’s eyes widened.
As a ten-year-old tiger beastkin who had never left the White Tiger Palace, he had never even seen animals outside.
So a small fluffy creature like this was completely new to him.
“Oh! That must be her! Look at those tiny feathers! Only the cotton-ball lady could be this cute—”
“Shh! Quiet! You’ll wake her!”
Gayul scolded Suri and carefully lifted the tiny baby bird.
“She must be really tired… huh?”
Then suddenly, his eyes widened.
