CBDBS l CH 10

Chapter 10

‘W-what was that?’

I looked around, but no one was there.

This Black Dragon Castle really has bad vibes. I should leave soon…

[Dummy. Here, up on the ceiling.]

‘The ceiling?’

I stopped running on the wheel and snapped my head up. Something shiny glinted in the corner where the ceiling met the wall.

Hidden in the dark, it flinched back, then slowly showed itself.

Bright yellow skin with tiny leopard-like spots—

‘A lizard?’

[Behold: the elegant, gorgeous Leopard Gecko, Sir Sebastian.]

‘Uh… right.’

I nodded slowly.

As expected, this castle never stops surprising me.

No mice—just an “elegant gorgeous leopard gecko” living in the ceiling.

I was still blinking between “startled” and “what on earth” when a loud stomach growl echoed through the room.

Oh. Hungry.

At the same time, a good idea popped into my head.

It was the same trick that let a little squirrel like me take over Bear Mountain quickly and easily.

I smiled kindly and held out a grape.

‘There’s plenty. Want to share?’

[Hem-hem. I shall not refuse.]

The leopard gecko scurried down the wall. I slipped my paw through the bars and casually unlatched the cage.

‘They thought this could hold Muriel? Adorable.’

I sniffed in the direction of the bedroom door, where König and Gerard had left.

[A-amazing! How did you do that?]

A delighted clapping sound popped behind my head.

Up close in the light, the lizard was smaller and even more yellow—clearly a youngster, despite the grand manner of speaking.

‘Child’s play. Want me to do it again?’

[No need.]

I leaned on the bars, showing off—only to be turned down at light speed.

‘Tch.’

[Then, pardon me.]

He bowed and dove in, gobbling lettuce first, then apple and grapes. He must have been starving.

‘S-slow down, uh… Leopard Gecko Ele—’

[Sevi shall repay this favor one day.]

He said it with his mouth stuffed full.

‘Right, Sevi. Have some water too.’

[Sebastian.]

‘Mm, Sevi. But… why do you talk like that?’

I meant it. I’d wondered from the start.

[Everyone in this castle talks this way.]

Ah. Of course.

Problematic castle in so many ways.

Sevi finished everything left on the three-tier tray. He patted his round belly and solemnly promised to repay the kindness.

‘What a sweet little lamb—no, lizard.’

Truth is, I’d been waiting for that line.

I closed the cage door with a clang, then stepped forward, herding Sevi toward the corner one step at a time.

I put on my best “debt collector from Bear Mountain” scowl.

‘That’ll be hard to accept.’

[W-why are you doing this? I have nothing right now…]

‘Oh, you do.’

I shook my head firmly.

Every place has a pyramid—higher and lower ranks. Bear Mountain did, and so does this castle.

Top predators eat easily. But small prey like Sevi? They get crumbs, if that. They wander all day looking for food.

Which means—they see and hear a lot.

‘Information.’

I used the scraps of intel that little, weak animals carried to me… and gave them what they most needed in return: food, medicine for their injured young, you name it.

That’s how my influence grew, until I stood at the top of Bear Mountain.

Sniff… What a moving story. Anyway—focus.

‘Bring me information.’

[…Information?]

He tilted his head, still not getting it.

So I crouched to his eye level and explained gently.

‘Sevi, where do you spend most of your time?’

[Above the Duke’s bedroom—up on the ceiling. Sometimes I visit the kitchen and dining room.]

So his main “home” was right above this bedroom. Which means—

‘You saw who came last night at dawn, didn’t you?’

Silence slid between us. His black, diamond-shaped eyes blinked slowly.

[Of course I did.]

‘Who was it?’

[Carrot-Head.]

‘Carrot… head?’

Who is that supposed to be?

[Wore swishy, trailing clothes.]

He swished his tail left and right to show the shape.

That’s the uniform of the maids at the Black Dragon Castle.

Unfortunately, that detail didn’t help much—half the servants wear the same dress.

‘Sevi, that’s not enough.’

Disappointment chased away the hope on my face.

But Sevi, though young, was quick. He read my mood and hurried to add—

[Sevi can guide you.]

He must have sensed this could decide our future partnership.

Which also meant… he could make things up if he wanted.

‘…Really? You know who it is?’

I narrowed my eyes.

[Truly. Carrot-Head has come several times. I even saw her hiding a powder!]

‘What kind of powder?’

I was sure it wasn’t anything good.

It would be ideal if the maid used it on herself—but honestly, that was unlikely.

The final target for that powder was probably König.

‘König Kreutz…’

He might lock me in a cage and threaten to stuff me, but I can’t let him die.

Because he’s the last shield that can keep me out of the Emperor’s hands.

After that, Sevi and I slipped through the hole he’d used and crawled into the castle’s ceiling.

Dust lay thick as snow along the wooden beams, like a tangled web.

‘Poor Sevi—you live in this?’

I was thinking I should pack him a snack for tonight when—

[What are you doing? Hurry.]

He hurried me from up ahead.

‘We’ll see about that snack…’

We squeezed through a tunnel where only my head fit, crossed a board barely clinging to a joist, and crept on for a long while.

Finally, noise rose from below.

[This is the kitchen.]

That sweet smell tickling my nose—no wonder. Today’s lunch was veal steak braised in red wine.

The most dangerous flavor is the one you already know. My inner crazy squirrel was about to burst out again when Sevi snapped me back.

[There—Carrot-Head.]

Through a tiny gap, I saw a middle-aged maid with vivid reddish-orange hair.

Her eyes looked sharp and mean. She minced parsley for soup garnish, glancing around nervously.

Then, making sure no one watched, she slipped a hand beneath her apron.

Out came a small, square paper packet.

‘Knew it…’

The worst of my guesses.

What came next was obvious: she’d mix the packet into König’s soup, then finish with the parsley.

A faint, thrilled laugh leaked from her lips.

“Finally…”

So different from the angry voice I’d heard last night—pure excitement.

Seeing that blissful smile as she prepared to harm someone made my stomach churn.

How can anyone be that happy while hurting someone?

I didn’t want to understand.

I covered my mouth, fighting nausea—when the kitchen door swung open.

“The Duke ordered lunch brought to his bedroom. He just left the office—hurry and prepare.”

‘Bedroom? He left the office now?’

Panic slammed into me.

I’d summarized the path from bedroom to kitchen earlier, but in reality, our route was anything but simple.

There were obstacles everywhere—and the kitchen-to-bedroom path was twice as long as office-to-bedroom.

Which means… I’m about to become a stuffed ornament.

“Chuuut—!”

Save the squirrel!