Nowton looked at Juicy in fascination, then smiled as best he could at the still wary and frightened cub.
Maybe we could just be friends.
That way your mum won’t be so sad.
Nowton smiled humanely.
“Oh, come on.”
“Kahang, kahang, kahang!” (Go away, go away!)
Come on, you’re the weird one!
Juicy was even more bewildered by the fact that Crown Prince Nowton, who had been threatening with his powers, was now smirking.
So she stampeded ferociously left and right, warning him to stay away from Sophie.
Staring blankly at his furious sister, Nowton stopped in his tracks.
“Ah.”
He sat down on one knee, smiled, and held up his little finger.
“Is it because of Aunt Sophie? I won’t touch her. I promise.”
“Quang…….”
“Chet. Then you come over here. I need to talk to you.”
Nowton grumbled.
Juicy’s eyes flickered between Nowton’s pinky and the others, never letting go of the tension.
In the room, the light snow was still falling hard.
Everyone was more relaxed than before because of it.
Turning to face Nowton again, Juicy felt somehow more relaxed and no longer afraid.
Nowton didn’t seem to be lying.
“Sophie’s safe now. Let’s go see what she has to say.
I don’t know how it happened, but I’ve just awakened my powers.
We can fight again if we have to.
Juicy thought optimistically.
Besides, judging by the beast’s senses, it seemed that Nowton would no longer take me for granted and attack me.
I could definitely feel its momentum slowing down towards me.
“Have I awakened your senses, you opportunist?
Juicy grumbled, then set her chin and walked as imposingly and intimidatingly as she could to stand in front of Nowton and glare.
“Well, if you’ve got something to say, say it!
She stood tall, but when she got closer, she realised the size difference between her and Nowton.
“I’ve heard that once humanised, a Sioux is free to return to their true form if they wish.
Juicy tried to imagine what Nowton would look like in his true form.
He’d be an enormous tiger.
Gold fur with deep scarlet stripes, huge paws and sharp teeth, gold eyes that glowed ferociously.
Fearful and strong, Kumho.
“Damn.
Juicy thought that if she faced the golden-eyed Nowton, she would die from a single bite, even before the battle of the two powers had begun.
A chill ran down her spine.
“Hmm…….”
Nowton sat up on one knee and tilted his upper body further to peer into Juicy’s face, specifically into her blue eyes.
He leaned his face closer to hers, and for a moment, Juicy lost all sense of fear and alertness.
“Why, why, why!
Instead, I felt overwhelmed.
He was certainly very handsome, being the boy version of Litain, but this kind of hideous(?) handsomeness was not my style.
“…….”
‘Why didn’t you say anything when I called you over? Are you going to have a snowball fight like your dad?
Juicy had managed to hold out with the skills she had honed in her years of snowball fights with the Emperor, but it was hard to understand Nowton, who kept staring at her.
However, she was convinced that he was her brother.
He’s handsome, but not at all flirtatious, and he seems to have a bit of me in him.
His eyes were very similar to mine, still a white tiger, but humanised.
Looking at him up close, I suddenly remembered a child who looked like the exact opposite of him.
She was delicate and pretty.
She liked the way he was polite, relaxed, and intelligent for someone so young.
‘I hope she’s real,’ Juicy thought as she remembered her dream.
‘I wish she was real. I’d love to meet her, but that’s just a dream…….’
“Our white tiger.”
Then.
When Nowton finally broke the silence and spoke, Juicy tensed.
“You have beautiful eyes.”
But then his stupid comment made her legs buckle.
“What?!”
“I’ve never seen blue like this before. It’s not even the colour of the ocean……. It’s strange.”
“Khang……!” (What the hell!)
“So much so that my mother said she would risk her life to give birth to it.”
His tone was calm, but a bitter smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“Do you know your mother’s face?”
“Quang.” (I don’t.)
“Poor thing. A child.”
“You’re a child, too, and you’re giving me such a childish look.
Juicy smirked, realising that his tone and content were similar to Emperor Litain’s, regretting his words.
‘Damned flesh and blood, why do you always threaten me first and then shake me down later?
Sighing, tired of the fiery tempers of the Penterin imperials, something rested on her head.
It was Nowton’s hand.
“What! Ah…….
Juicy cried out in horror and tried to run away.
But she couldn’t get away from Nowton, who was stroking her hair.
I couldn’t believe it was a boy’s hand, I could feel the calluses on his fingers.
I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
Isn’t he still young?
How many years of fighting with a sword would make a child’s hands like this?
Even if he had been born a Penthelin, it was no ordinary effort to train his swordsmanship to this level.
‘Poor thing.
“Congratulations, you’ve awakened.”
“Kyahang?!”
Taken aback by the sudden praise from Nowton, Juicy looked up at him in surprise.
A whip and a carrot after all this time? You’ve got to be kidding me.
Juicy glared, and Nowton smirked.
“I’m sorry if I pushed you in a rough way, but I like my sister because she’s cute and capable.”
“You pushed her?
Juicy rolled her eyes, trying to make sense of his words.
It sounded like he’d deliberately attacked her to help her awaken her powers.
“No way.
Nowton smirked at the backhoe, who looked at me like I was full of shit.
“You’re cute. You think you’re going to kill me by staring at me like that, you should bite me.”
“Crouch.” (For real!)
Juicy really wanted to bite him, but she was pretty sure her teeth wouldn’t even penetrate the outer layer of Nowton’s skin anyway.
Chuckling at Juicy, who was scratching the floor of the car in frustration, Nowton spoke again.
“Don’t die a quick death, Juicy. You’ll live a long, long time. I’ll take care of you.”
Uncomfortable with Nowton’s casual use of her name, Juicy blinked and said nothing in response.
Nowton’s tone was light, but his eyes were determined.
There was a glimmer of loneliness in them.
Nowton wanted to watch her more, but he noticed that the young white tiger’s legs were shaking.
It must be hard for her to use her powers in such a small body.
He remembered the day he’d first awakened his powers, and how he’d slept like a dead man.
“Good morning. . I’ll be back.”
Nowton stood up, looked down at little Juicy, and waved.
“Kyaa heng!” (Don’t come!)
Juicy growled and threatened, but to Nowton, it sounded like a cute cat purring.
“Next time, I’ll bring a present.”
What a gift.
Juicy snorted.
It was gifts that flooded this room.
The look in her eyes was one of determination, determined that if the damned flesh and blood ever came back, she would never let them know.
She had awakened her senses.
She was proud that she was no longer a fragile white tiger.
‘I’m going to be stronger, so I’m not afraid of you, and if you come and bully my people, I’ll kick your arse.
Juicy vowed to herself as she watched the departing crown prince and his entourage.
***
Two weeks passed.
“His Majesty will be back soon?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After receiving the report from his lieutenant and bodyguard, Count Talon, Nowton crossed his legs and lost himself in thought.
The Emperor had gone to inspect the Northern and Western Alterations himself.
It was a peaceful region, one that the Emperor did not need to inspect.
There were huge mountain ranges and rivers to the west, creating a natural border.
Thanks to this, there was no conflict with the Western Empire. Beyond the northern border, the land is frozen and inhospitable.
‘If you’re still going, it must be important.
The boy’s golden eyes gleamed sharply.
