CBDBS l CH 54

Chapter 54

“Are you doubting me right now?!”

…Or so I imagined she might say.

Instead of flipping the table like some stock villainess out of a novel, Eloise continued calmly,
“By now it should’ve been moved to the warehouse.”

Not a hint of anger on her face.

“I’ve already tested it in several ways, but more confirmation would be best.”

Her tone carried nothing but common sense.

I stiffened in surprise.

Every noble lady I had ever seen was arrogant, treating any disagreement as a personal attack on her honor and family.

Naturally, I had assumed Eloise—the Empire’s most powerful heiress—would be the same.

Guess you really can’t know a person until you meet them yourself.

That realization brought a new thought.

Why, then, was she called the Empire’s Worst Villainess?

Wasn’t that title reserved for someone who’d slice off heads for blocking her path, or crush entire businesses simply because she disliked them?

Puzzled, I gnawed absently on a chestnut—

“Haa, I can’t hold back anymore.”

A soft sigh behind me—then my body floated upward.

And then—

Smooch.

Smooch, smooch, smooch.

Something soft and moist pressed against my cheeks and the back of my head.

W-what the—?!

It happened in the blink of an eye, leaving me petrified.

Eloise’s half-lidded golden eyes smiled down at me, wholly satisfied.

Reflected in them, I saw my pale beige fur marked with vivid, unmistakable lipstick stains.

That’s right.

I had just had my first kiss stolen—before my very eyes!

“Chuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!”

The instant I realized it, a shriek burst from my lips—followed by a string of curses unfit for human tongue.

“Chuchuchu! Chu! Chuchuchu!”

Eloise twitched at the sound, clearly suppressing laughter.

“What on earth are you doing?!”

König shot to his feet, his chair scraping against the floor.

But Eloise only grinned wider.

“With a round little head bobbing right in front of me, how could I resist? In fact, I think I’ll add one more condition.”

Her expression was that of a child who’d found a new toy.

Barbarian! Unhinged, perverted psycho!

I officially christened her Eloise Kreutz, Enemy of All Squirrels.

I wriggled desperately to escape—but failed.

I hadn’t taken three steps before her hand snatched me up again.

“I like you. So I must have you. Along with the crystal rights, give me Cherry too.”

“Chuuu?!”

Excuse me?! Who asked you?!

I stretched out my tiny arms to push away her approaching face.

No way was I letting her steal another kiss!

But just before her cheek touched mine, something solid cut between us.

König’s hand.

“Tch.”

He flicked his hand in disgust, as if her face touching it had soiled him, then scooped me up with the other.

“Cherry isn’t a doll you can claim just because you want it.”

“True, I’ve never seen a doll this cute and clever before. Which is why I want it even more.”

“Wanting something doesn’t mean you can always have it.”

“Unfortunately, that’s never been the case for me.”

Eloise’s voice rang with absolute certainty.

She wasn’t wrong.

As the firstborn daughter of House Kreutz, she had been born with wealth and power in her hands.

Everything—except one thing.

The title of head of the Kreutz family.

For that role was always reserved for a black dragon.

Eloise, who had inherited her mother’s blazing red scales, had been excluded.

Was this hunger born from that single lack?

Her eyes gleamed with fierce ambition. I will have it.

“Why don’t you give up this time, little brother?”

She smiled, her long eyes narrowing.

She was laughing, yet her expression was unreadable, veiled in shadow.

But her opponent was König Kreutz.

“Perfect. Then take this chance to learn—some things can never be yours.”

His golden eyes split vertically, slitted like a dragon’s.

“Ha. Have you forgotten who holds the key right now?” Eloise reminded him.

But König only sneered.

“Doesn’t matter. You know better than anyone that it doesn’t.”

“Because you’ve got more money than you know what to do with?”

“Money. Or anything else.”

König’s lips curled into a dangerous grin.

If he wanted, he could buy the mine outright with an unimaginable bid.

The only reason he had suggested cooperation was to minimize risk.

But after hearing everything, even that wasn’t necessary.

There’s no need to even confirm whether her crystal is real.

Because—

[Truth]

Everything Eloise had said so far was true.

Finding the crystal in that antique shop.
Her desire to claim me.

Unpleasantly, not a single word had been a lie.

I don’t know how to explain it, but…

When her lips touched the back of my head, my stomach churned violently.

It felt almost like I’d change back into a human…

And then—

I want it. I must have it.

The moment I heard her inner voice, the nausea vanished.

Strange.

Was this animal instinct? Or my ability?

Normally, it never worked on those stronger than me.

I could hear the thoughts of servants and animals, but never once had I managed to read König.

But now…

I could feel it clearly—these childish siblings were on the verge of a real fight.

Even now, a chilling aura was seeping from behind both of them.

“Ah, this is bad.”

Gerard clutched his head, clearly foreseeing disaster.

“…Maybe I should run while I can,” I thought I heard him mutter faintly.

Traitor!!

I glared daggers at him.

To my left, König.
To my right, Eloise.

And me, trapped between two dragons about to clash—while that snake was plotting his escape!

Outrageous.

“Chuuut, chuut…”

Don’t you dare leave me behind.

I let out a pitiful cry, clinging to him, then turned back to the two dragons.

I had to stop this before it escalated.

Both their golden eyes were slit like blades, but at least they hadn’t transformed yet.

That meant words could still reach them.

The problem is, what words?

All I could say was “chu” and “chuu”…

Maybe I should just bite their hands and run for it?

But then—an idea sparked.

Yes. That might work!