Chapter 66
“Were you worried? Just a little, like a squirrel’s claw.”
“Chuuut…?!”
A squirrel’s claw…?
I just stared at my hands at Kenich’s reply.
‘It’s as tiny as an acorn crumb…!’
It was so small that you wouldn’t even notice it unless you looked closely.
The answer was far beyond any expectation, and I couldn’t hold back anymore—I lunged at Kenich.
As I nipped his straight-outstretched fingers, a small “Ah” escaped him.
‘I didn’t even bite that hard!’
Even though I clearly knew that dozens of arrows wouldn’t faze him.
Kenich flopped dramatically onto the bed, whining, and then reached out to pull me close to his face.
He kneaded my body like dough, then suddenly grabbed my cheek and stretched it.
“Chuu, chuuuut…?”
Why is he doing this all of a sudden?
I glared at Kenich with my axe-like eyes.
Seeing the usually graceful line of his mouth pressed into a straight line, I could tell he was angry.
Or… perhaps sulking?
“If you do that again next time, I won’t worry about it.”
“Chuuut?”
Really…?
“Is that a little harsh? After all, we live together, you know.”
Li-Live together…?
First a companion squirrel, and now a cohabiting squirrel…
I instinctively turned my head.
Sometimes he really has no shame at all.
After my initial surprise, I nodded.
I was curious about what Kenich would say next.
But instead of answering, Kenich tapped the tip of my lips with his finger.
‘W-what does that mean?’
Even though my tail twitched in response, it seemed meaningless.
“Next time, I’ll only worry as much as a squirrel’s front tooth.”
Kenich’s mischievous mouth twisted upward.
“Chuu, chuuuut…!”
A squirrel’s front tooth? That’s literally the size of rice flour!
This little troublemaker dragon!
“I’ve been taking care of you for two days without sleep, Cherry, so now it’s your responsibility to put me to sleep.”
Faced with Kenich’s firm demand, I sang a lively lullaby for the first time in a while.
“Chuut, chuut!”
“Cherry, you have to touch me gently. It hurts if you hit me like that.”
‘Touch you gently… what am I supposed to touch…!’
Smack, smack.
I playfully tapped his clever little forehead, struggling a bit, but soon I heard the soft rhythm of his breathing.
In the dim moonlight, it was obvious from the dark shadows under his eyes that he really hadn’t slept for two days.
“Chuut.”
Hmph, even though you were worried, you lie.
I stretched out his cheek and prepared to go to bed myself.
‘Huh…?’
For a moment, I felt my heart beating off rhythm.
A wave of nausea swept through me, making my vision spin.
Mana reversal.
Kenich’s mana was being absorbed by me, a sign of transformation into human form.
I had actually expected this a little.
Ever since waking up in the duke’s bedroom and hearing that I had absorbed Kenich’s mana.
‘But here… now?’
It was supposed to be a good omen, but I didn’t welcome it here.
This was not the safe Black Dragon Castle, and there was nowhere to hide.
‘What do I do?’
Sweating and spinning around the bed, I thought frantically.
“My room is at the end of the third-floor corridor. If Kenich gets tired, feel free to come visit anytime.”
I remembered Yelloyse winking at me as she left her room.
‘Can I go see Yelloyse?’
Two days ago, just before the incident, she had suspected me of being a spy sent from another noble family.
I had no idea how she’d react if I appeared before her in human form.
But…
‘I don’t want Kenich to find out even more!’
After deciding that, I immediately sprang off the bed.
Fortunately, the Vulken duke’s mansion had many gaps between the walls, unlike the gold-thread decorations.
“Haah…”
A yawning guard was stationed at the door, but I didn’t stop.
Instinctively, I realized my human transformation was imminent.
“Chuu, chuuut…”
As soon as I squeezed through the gap in Yelloyse’s door…
Puff—!
Smoke swirled, and my height increased.
“Ah…”
Now fully transformed into human form with not a shred of fur, I hurriedly grabbed Yelloyse’s outer coat.
Just as I was about to turn back…
A chilling metallic sensation brushed the back of my neck.
The sharp tip clearly belonged to a dagger, no need to look.
‘Why do siblings always start with daggers!’
My nonexistent tail trembled.
Yet Yelloyse only advanced, sharpening her blade, pushing me back.
“You’re a clumsy intruder.”
Her voice was like a thick fog.
“Th-That’s…”
I could only mutter helplessly.
“You dared to eye my things. Slowly turn around.”
Apparently, she thought I was a thief trying to steal a princess’s belongings.
This misunderstanding could only escalate.
Should I run now?
After a moment’s hesitation, I shook my head.
She could easily handle a man the size of a bear with one hand; I wouldn’t get away.
While I hesitated, Yelloyse’s patience seemed to hit rock bottom.
“You’d better turn around quickly.”
In the quiet dawn, she spoke firmly, suppressing her anger.
“Or else…”
‘Or else…?’
Yelloyse kindly showed me the consequences of disobedience.
Plunk—
A silver dagger brushed my hair and landed in the floor.
‘If I don’t obey this time, I die…!’
The hairs—or rather, my head—stood on end as I slowly raised my hands.
Step by step.
I carefully turned around to face Yelloyse.
In the moonlight shining through the window, her golden eyes glared at me, bright as the full moon in the night sky.
“U-Unnii…”
Please, just spare my life.
“……”
“……”
Only suffocating silence filled the space between Yelloyse and me.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have called her “Unnii”.’
I didn’t know where to look, while Yelloyse stared straight at me.
In her golden eyes, my reflection was clear.
My untamed silver hair hung down, and my cherry-colored eyes quivered with shame.
Feeling insignificant, I fidgeted with my hands.
“Cherry…?”
Finally, her lips parted, and she spoke my name.
‘She really recognized me?’
Then how do I explain this situation?
From where to where?
Even as my mind went blank, I lifted my head to look at Yelloyse.
I had to see her expression.
“Cherry, right?”
She asked cautiously.
Her eyes were slightly wider than usual, surprised, but her expression was normal.
‘Can I even call myself Cherry right now?’
I wasn’t sure.
In that helpless moment…
“Cherry.”
Yelloyse confidently called my name and reached out to wrap her hands around my shoulders.
She only called my name… and yet.
“…Kuk.”
The constant anxiety that had plagued me melted away, and tears welled up.
Even though Yelloyse hadn’t said anything, it felt like I finally had an ally.
A safe refuge where I could hide, no matter what I looked like.
By the time I reached that thought, I think I cried out loud for the first time in three years.
Yelloyse said nothing, only gently patted my back.
