Chapter 4
“It’s not for that kind of use.”
The duke spoke flatly.
“Then… for what, exactly?”
“I brought it here to keep it alive, for now.”
“Pardon? Ah, I see. You mean to interrogate it later. In that case, please leave it to me.”
The butler looked down at Ibi with an expression that said ‘at least I’ll make it painless for you’, while several servants discreetly made the sign of the cross behind the duke’s back.
What—what’s wrong with these lunatics?!
Half-conscious Ibi snapped awake as if doused with cold water.
I have to get out of here right now!
“Chyuut!”
With a brave cry, Ibi spread her cape wide and took off into the air—toward freedom!
Sunlight glinted on her fur as she soared, tracing a graceful arc.
Ah… suddenly moving like that made me a bit dizzy…
No sooner had she thought that than she tumbled straight to the floor with a thud.
“Chyu… chyuuu… chyu?”
As she rubbed her throbbing forehead, she heard a heavy, snorting breath right beside her.
Huh? An animal sound?
The uneasy feeling had barely formed when she cautiously lifted her head—
The duke’s warhorse reared up before her, neighing fiercely, its hooves striking the air.
“Chyupit!”
The enormous hoof slammed down beside her face with a deafening thud.
Pale as snow, Ibi scrambled around for somewhere to hide.
Just then, she spotted a tall black pillar and scurried up it in a panic.
But shiny decorations blocked her path.
These decorations… look familiar?
She stopped, tilted her head up—
“Chyu…?!”
—and met the cold, impassive face of the duke staring down at her.
Of all the places…!
She realized, too late, that she had climbed right up the duke’s chest—clinging to the golden buttons and medals hanging from his uniform.
What do I do now? Am I really going to end up as a glove…?
Tears welled up in her eyes.
She darted pleading looks toward the servants, silently begging for help—but they all averted their eyes.
Their faces seemed to say, “Sorry, little squirrel, but I want to live too.”
“…”
Life is a lonely battle…
In the end, she had to get through this herself.
Okay, deep breath. Even when facing a tiger, if you stay calm, you’ll survive. Just be confident. Be dignified—
Be confident… and save your life first!
Ibi quickly rubbed her cheek against the duke’s chest as if this had all been intentional.
“Chyu chyuut chyu chyuut!”
I wasn’t trying to escape! Really!
She threw her ultimate weapon—her wide, glistening, imploring eyes.
They sparkled like a thousand tiny beams of light aimed straight at the duke.
“…”
All of them bounced harmlessly off his blank expression.
Ah, that didn’t work… Wait—!
The duke’s large hand suddenly closed around the back of her neck, lifting her up so they were eye to eye.
“Are you hurt?”
“…Chyu?”
“Seems like you’re fine.”
Wait—am I hallucinating? Did he just ask if I was hurt?
She was still wondering when his brows furrowed and his tone dropped lower.
“You are not allowed to be injured without my permission. If there’s even a scratch on that body, you’ll pay for it with your life.”
“…”
…Pfft.
Of course. Not concern—just tyranny.
Ibi, now past tears and teetering into defiance, glared up at him. The duke raised an eyebrow, faintly amused.
“Funny. You were half-dead a moment ago, and now you’re full of energy.”
Naturally, that made her—
Eh? Wait… I actually do feel better?
Whenever she’d coughed up blood before, her strength would be completely gone.
But now, energy was coursing through her body.
What’s going on?
While she tilted her head in confusion, the duke casually tossed her to the butler.
“Enough chatter. Clean it up, then call for the physician.”
“Y–yes, my lord!”
Only then did the butler and servants relax, finally realizing what the duke had meant.
* * *
Nestled in a basket lined with soft towels, Ibi began to nod off.
After being in the cold for so long, the warmth made her drowsy beyond resistance.
No… can’t sleep… This is the villain’s lair. Who knows what might happen…
Maybe calling for the physician was just a prelude to interrogation.
She hadn’t even heard the duke’s earlier conversation with the high priest because she’d been coughing up blood.
I have to prove I’m no ordinary flying squirrel…
Her head drooped… once, twice—then thunk.
She was out cold.
Sprawled with her wings open, she looked like a squished mochi cake.
The maids sneaking glances at her couldn’t help but stifle giggles.
“She finally gave in to sleep. Gosh… she’s adorable.”
“How can anything be that small and squishy? I just want to poke her once.”
Their whispering didn’t last long.
“Cough… cough…”
Ibi’s little body jerked, and suddenly she began coughing up blood again.
“Oh no—what do we do?”
The maids panicked, unsure what to do as the still-sleeping creature kept spitting blood.
One of them turned to run for the physician—
“She’s coughing up blood again?”
The duke entered with the physician right behind him. Striding over, he reached toward Ibi.
“My lord, wait! Your pheromones could be toxic to such a young beastkin—!”
The warning wasn’t even finished.
“Cough, cou—”
The instant his hand touched her back, the coughing stopped.
Ibi began to breathe softly, peacefully—as if nothing had happened.
“……?”
Both the duke and the physician stared in confusion.
The duke slowly lifted his hand.
“Cough, cough!”
He put it back.
“Zzz… zzz…”
Lifted it again.
“Cough, cough!”
Put it back.
“Zzz… zzz…”
“……”
The duke shot the physician a look that said, ‘Are you seeing this?’
“I could practically use this creature as an instrument.”
“Q–quite so, my lord. This is most peculiar. Normally, no young beastkin or even animal can endure your pheromones, no matter how you restrain them.”
It was true.
That’s why the duke’s horse had been a rare, exceptionally brave one, trained for years.
“But this one clung to me earlier without any fear.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. How is that possible?”
The physician hesitated, unable to answer. The duke’s expression darkened.
Before the tension could thicken further, one of the maids timidly offered,
“Maybe… it feels safe?”
“What?”
“I–I mean… maybe the little squirrel knows you’re protecting it, my lord?”
“I’ve never protected this thing.”
His voice was cold.
Just then, Ibi’s tiny hand reached out, fumbling—then caught his fingertip.
“……!”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Completely unaware, Ibi hugged his finger tight and began to snore softly.
The duke tried to pull back his hand—but she clung tighter, refusing to let go.
He curled his fingers slightly.
A warm, fluffy ball fit perfectly into his palm.
He could feel the faint, frantic heartbeat pulsing against his skin.
The tiny body trembled, then pressed closer, rubbing her forehead into his hand—unaware whose grasp she was in.
The duke stared at her like she was some incomprehensible creature.
She relaxed completely, settling into his cupped palm.
“Zzz… zzz…”
She even started snoring outright.
To snore, in front of the head of House Noctis, of all people.
The duke let out a short, incredulous laugh.
“…What a ridiculous little thing.”
The maids and physician froze in shock.
Usually, when the duke laughed like that, someone’s face ended up broken.
But this time was different.
He neither smashed her nor seemed angry—just laid the little creature gently back in the basket, awkwardly careful not to wake her.
It was so unlike him that the others exchanged looks as if they’d just witnessed a miracle.
But only for a moment—because the duke’s tone returned to its usual cold, clipped form.
“Examine it.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The physician hurried forward and began his inspection.
After a while, the duke asked,
“Well? How can something that coughed up blood be sleeping so peacefully?”
The physician hesitated, then slowly shook his head.
“It’s not an injury.”
The duke’s golden eyes chilled.
“So it’s faking it?”
“N–no! I mean, the cause isn’t external. The child suffers from another condition.”
“Speak.”
“Yes, my lord. As you suspected, it is a beastkin. But judging by its light weight, it’s severely malnourished. Its fur is dull, and there are bald patches—clear signs of long-term starvation.”
“……”
“The internal organs and blood vessels are also weakened. Without knowing its age, I might have mistaken it for an elderly creature.”
“……”
“And though its fur hides it, there are marks of severe abuse all over its body.”
“Abuse…?”
The duke’s eyebrow twitched.
The physician swallowed and continued cautiously.
“Yes. Some bruises are fresh; others are old. There’s a long history of mistreatment.”
“……!”
Silence fell over the room.
After a long pause, the duke spoke, his voice low.
“How old do you think it is?”
“Its development suggests three or four, but in truth—about six years old.”
“Six… Are you certain? Beastkin normally learn humanization by the age of three.”
“Most likely, its growth was stunted by neglect. And also…”
The physician hesitated, then added,
“It seems it was never taught anything by its parents.”
“……”
The duke exhaled quietly.
“Nothing else?”
The physician paused again.
He had sensed something strange—a fleeting aura that seemed to suppress the little one’s pheromones. But it had been so brief that he couldn’t be sure.
Choosing his words carefully, he bowed his head.
“…No, my lord. That’s all.”
