chapter 40
“How… how did you hide that you’re a beast…?”
Did I just hear that right?
My heart pounded as I met Kenich’s calm, unwavering gaze.
“You knew I was a beast?”
Since when?
No, how?
I had so many questions I wanted to ask, but my mouth felt frozen.
“And you’re only telling me now, after showing no hint all this time…?”
Why now?
It felt as if someone was strangling me, and I struggled to breathe.
At the same time, memories flashed before my eyes like a slideshow.
How ridiculous I must have looked, begging for my life with all sorts of antics.
“Did you keep me around just because it was entertaining to watch me like that?”
Shame washed over me, and I couldn’t lift my head.
I wanted nothing more than to escape this room immediately.
Just then—
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Lord Kenich, it’s Gerard.”
“I told you to stay out.”
“Well… it’s an urgent matter.”
“Come in.”
Gerard entered, his face unusually tense.
With Kenich’s mood already sharp, it was clear that something serious had happened.
“Sir Astrahan has proposed a deal.”
Though the words were meant only for Kenich, I, as a beast, heard them clearly.
“A deal?”
It must be a deal concerning me.
Since I had removed the medium that controlled his mind, now it was his turn to pay a price.
The silent air in the Duke’s office was heavy and oppressive.
Gerard soon spoke again, his voice grave.
“Sir Astrahan says he will hand over the list of spies planted in the Black Dragon Castle.”
“Did he request to be freed in return?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Gerard nodded quietly.
From Kenich’s perspective, it wasn’t a bad deal.
He couldn’t remove Erjin from the start, and the longer he kept him detained, the heavier the burden became on the Duke of Kreutz’s household.
The security troops, too, and soon the palace would be notified.
“How many spies are there?”
“Twelve, according to Astrahan’s side.”
“That’s quite a few.”
“You might want to speak with them directly.”
“Good idea. Release the little cat, and reassign Lia Viper as the overseer.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare it.”
After a brief bow, Gerard left the office.
Only awkward silence lingered between Kenich and me as the conversation ended.
My thoughts were so tangled that I didn’t even remember how I left the Duke’s office.
Only this remained:
“The rest of the discussion will be tonight.”
Kenich’s flat voice echoed long and low.
That night.
Kenich did not return to the bedroom until past midnight.
Until the outside world was shrouded in darkness.
I remained alone in the bedroom, trying to organize my thoughts.
“What… will happen to me?”
Now that my identity as a beast was exposed, would I be driven out of Black Dragon Castle?
Or, like Erjin, could I become a valuable asset in dealings with the royal family?
Either way, it was utterly unpleasant.
“I just… wanted to live without worry.”
I shifted on my bed, deep in thought.
Then, I sensed someone approaching from beyond the tightly closed door.
It was undoubtedly Kenich.
I curled into a tight ball, burying my face in my tail.
I planned to pretend I was fast asleep.
Through the slowly opening door, Kenich entered, and a sharp, metallic scent tickled my nose.
“…Smell of blood?”
I nearly lifted my head to look at him.
Fortunately, Kenich was unharmed.
The scent was a mix, too varied to belong to just one person.
Probably…
He must have been tracking the spies that Erjin had infiltrated into Black Dragon Castle.
“Hah…”
A long sigh echoed across the silent bedroom.
Whether it was to contain his anger or to finally find some peace, I couldn’t tell.
“I’d know if I could see your expression,” I thought, clutching my tail tightly.
“…Cherry.”
A shadow fell over my closed eyes, and a warm breath brushed my head.
“…!”
Could it be that he realized I was awake?
Judging by past events, the odds were high.
Despite his indifferent nature, Kenich was exceptionally perceptive.
Still, I stayed curled up, tightly shutting my eyes.
“Not yet…”
I wasn’t ready to reveal my secret.
I feared whatever words might come from Kenich’s lips.
I felt his persistent gaze over my closed eyes, but it didn’t last long.
“Good night, Cherry.”
A low greeting, and his large hand rested gently over my body.
Some time passed…
“…Asleep, I guess?”
Kenich’s breathing was steady and even.
I cautiously opened my eyes.
Moonlight streamed through the window, revealing Kenich’s face.
So close that our noses almost touched.
“W-What…?”
How did he get this close without me noticing?
Truly defenseless, I thought.
I lightly reached out to push Kenich’s face away.
Though I’d seen this sight daily recently, it never felt familiar.
“More importantly…”
I heaved, pushing my short body up.
I had unfinished business.
Erjin Astrahan.
Tonight might be my last night in Black Dragon Castle, but I needed to settle matters with him.
“The mind control is fully lifted now; maybe he remembers something useful.”
Having done this several times before, slipping out of the bedroom was not difficult.
The guest room Erjin used before had a broken window, so I wouldn’t go there…
As I passed another room, I heard a faint movement below.
“Here.”
Ghost-like, Erjin had noticed me first.
He must have anticipated my arrival, leaving a dim light burning.
Following the light carefully, I misstepped—
“Chuut…!”
Like a monkey falling from a tree, I stumbled.
Like a squirrel falling from furniture.
But I felt no pain.
Instead, something warm and slightly firm pressed against my rear.
“I’ve got you.”
Reassuring, as if to calm me.
I peered cautiously and found myself resting in Erjin’s palm.
Beneath flowing blonde hair, his pale face filled my vision.
I hadn’t noticed before in the underground prison, but he had grown thinner.
Yet his beauty remained undiminished.
If Kenich was a sharply chiseled handsome man, Erjin seemed sculpted with soft, flowing lines.
His golden hair swayed with every movement, and his eyes curved particularly round when he smiled—a trademark.
“The room got messy while I was gone. The owner of this castle clearly knows nothing of consideration or respect.”
Apparently, he didn’t realize that I was the one who caused the mess.
“Chuu, chuut…”
I mumbled an apology, avoiding Erjin’s gaze.
“You kept your promise well, though. The final medium seems to have been a pocket watch.”
Erjin pointed to the shattered pocket watch on the table.
Technically, it was a mirror.
‘No need to explain,’ I thought.
There was no other choice.
I carefully studied his face.
Seeing no reaction, it was fortunately not a family heirloom.
Relieved, I let out a shallow sigh.
Erjin’s gaze turned to me.
“It was a birthday gift.”
“Chut?”
A birthday gift?
Who on earth would give such a dreadful thing?
