Living with the Dangerous Beast-Chapter 91: A Ball of Fluff

Chewing on the green jujubes as she moved through the garden, Sohwa was like a wild rose in bloom.

But when she transformed into a fox and roamed around, she looked more like a puppy.

Her fur shone with a luster that seemed to capture the moonlight.

She was so beautiful that it was literally impossible to look away.

In the grand ninety-nine-room mansion, only calls for “Ma’am” could be heard everywhere.

“Ugh, why is everyone so bothersome? Go about your business and stop following me!”

With each skip, her entire body moved gracefully.

How could anyone let such an adorable fox wander outside?

Who knew when some rogue might just scoop her up....

‘If only I could take her home. If only I could hold you one more time, my dear Baeksom....’

Beomhee, who had been watching with eyes fierce as the God of Death’s, reached out toward Sohwa as if she was enchanted by her godless-like beauty.

* * *

Upon hearing that the white tigress had indeed visited Mount Taeryong, Dohwi was furious.

He ordered Woongsik to stay by Sohwa’s side at all times.

“Ma’am, isn’t it ‘Myeon’ for cotton rather than ‘Som’? I’ve never heard of a character for ‘Som’ before.”

“I know, right.”

Even Sohwa, who was no expert in Chinese characters, knew that much.

‘Baek’ for white and ‘Som’ for cotton? What kind of name was that?

“Pfft. That white tigress lady isn’t quite as sharp as she looks.”

Woongsik chuckled as he repeated the name ‘Baeksom’ to himself.

“Even to that fearsome tigress, it seems Ma’am looks like a little ball of fluff.”

Sohwa’s steps came to an abrupt halt, and her figure grew tense.

Woongsik flinched at her silence.

“What did you just say?”

“Uh...?”

It was a big mistake—his lady mistress couldn’t stand being compared to anything even remotely resembling fluff.

Woongsik quickly covered his mouth, but the words had already slipped out.

“Did you just call me a ball of fluff?”

With narrowed eyes, far from her usual demeanor, she glared at Woongsik.

“M-Ma’am, that’s not it....”

“Woongsik, how could you, of all people!”

“It’s just... I meant to say that your fierce gaze even scared off the white tigress, but somehow... I must have misspoken....”

“Enough. Don’t speak to me for a while, hmph!”

“Ma’am! Ma’am!”

Woongsik reached out desperately, but the thoroughly offended Ma’am leapt straight up onto the wall.

“Leave me be! I need some time to myself!”

Sohwa then left the house.

* * *

“Hmph!”

Sohwa’s silk shoes kicked a pebble with all her might.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

Her husband was hailed as a hero of the mountains, while she was just some fluffy thing?

She’d barely escaped being called a rice cake!

It was clear that she’d soon gain yet another embarrassing nickname among the servants.

Thinking of the white tigress Beomhee, so powerful yet humble, made Sohwa feel downhearted.

If Beomhee had tried to steal her husband, Sohwa wouldn’t have stood a chance.

‘More like I’d be blown away with a single breath.’

If Dohwi had been with the formidable Beomhee... would he have been happier?

Surely, someone like Beomhee was far more suitable than a mere red fox with nothing but bluster.

She could almost see Dohwi and the white tigress standing side by side, a noble pair.

“...No! No!” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Sohwa shook her head with all her might.

She barely managed to chase the image of the two from her mind, but the deep sigh that escaped her could not be contained.

Sohwa wandered aimlessly until her steps brought her to a secluded valley, where dogwood trees were in full bloom.

This was her secret hideout, unknown even to Woongsik.

Around the time frost began to settle, the dogwood fruits would ripen into a vibrant red.

Remembering their sweetness, Sohwa licked her lips in anticipation.

‘Would they still be sour? Dohwi liked these fruits too.’

As she reached out to pick an unripe fruit, something landed with a soft thud and rolled to her embroidered shoes.

Looking down, she found a bamboo-ribbed folding fan lying at her feet.

‘A fan fit for a seonbi (* a class of scholars and intellectual sages during the Goryeo/Joseon dynasty)—what’s it doing all the way out here in the mountains?’

She picked up the fan and examined it curiously, when a long shadow suddenly fell over her head.

Startled, Sohwa quickly looked up.

A man sat on a distant rock, gazing down at her.

He wore a Bangsangsi mask (* A traditional wooden mask characterized by large ears, four eyeholes, and a smiling face, traditionally used to ward off evil spirits) and cradled a geomungo (* A traditional wooden string instrument about 160 cm in length, featuring six strings and 16 frets).

Everything about his presence declared him to be extraordinary.

The mask’s grotesque, four-eyed face seemed to pierce her soul, sending chills down her spine.