CSTB Chapter 5

The sunlight pouring through the window made it obvious that the sun was already high in the sky—but to Rose, it felt like there was another sun right in front of her.

She blinked her eyes open and stretched out her long body in a big yawn.

Somehow, the emperor was already fully dressed, his military-style Cravat tightly in place. A tiny, almost imperceptible smile flickered across his lips as he watched her.

“You look much better.”

He had noticed it last night too, even in her weakened state before bed—but his eyes truly resembled a blazing sun.

Just locking eyes with him made her feel like her entire body was bathed in warmth, reaching deep into her heart.

As Rose was once again overwhelmed by the emperor’s divine beauty, a young maid standing nearby cautiously spoke up.

“Your Majesty, shall I prepare Miss Rose’s breakfast?”

The emperor glanced at the maid as if wondering why she was stating the obvious.

“I-I’ll go prepare it right away!”

Flustered under his gaze, the maid fled the room as if escaping danger.

He always wore such a fierce expression, even during casual conversation—but when he looked at her, his eyes held undeniable warmth.

It was hard to believe that a man like him could ever be considered a tyrant.

“Heehee…”

Her body felt refreshed, she no longer feared for her life, and she had this breathtaking man by her side. How could she not look forward to the future?

“From now on, I’ll stick to this man like gum and admire his beauty all day!”

She had just made that resolution when the emperor, whom she expected to take her with him, turned around and made to leave alone.

Wait, is he really going without me?!

“Meooow! Myaa! Nyaaaooow! (Your Majesty! Please take me with you!)”

Rose stretched out her paw and cried out in protest. She wanted to see more of his face and explore the outside world.

“Stay put.”

As expected of a so-called tyrant, he wasn’t easily swayed. He gently stroked her from head to tail and then coolly walked out of the room.

[Tch…]

Even if he was warm toward his cat, he was still a cold man in general. Rose let out a small sigh of disappointment.

“Miss Rose, breakfast is ready.”

After the emperor left, and Rose let her outstretched paw fall in defeat, her breakfast arrived.

Despite her disappointment, hunger won out, and she climbed down to the floor. The moment she saw her bowl, she let out a cheer.

“Meoooow! (Beef?!)”

A porcelain dish, small and elegant, was filled to the brim with perfectly grilled beef.

And not just any beef—this looked tender, juicy, and expensive. Something she couldn’t even afford when she was human!

“Miss Rose, please eat slowly. There’s plenty more.”

Enchanted by the aroma, Rose buried her face in the bowl and stuffed her mouth with meat.

“My butler is truly top-tier!”

It was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. She forgot all about the regret of not being able to flirt with a gorgeous man.

She had beef for both breakfast and lunch, played with the maids, got her daily exercise in…

“Rose! You’ve made it! You’re finally living the dream!”

Several days passed like that—falling asleep in the emperor’s arms, waking up under twin suns (the real one and his face).

One day, after yet another gourmet beef breakfast, Rose was rolling around, basking in the joy of her luxurious new life.

“Miss Rose, you’ll have to come with me for a moment.”

Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open, and a man Rose didn’t recognize rushed in.

“Oh my… another handsome man?”

Though not quite as stunning as the emperor, the newcomer had calm brown hair and mysterious gray eyes—definitely handsome.

“What brings you here, Lord Chamberlain?”

The maid, who had been brushing Rose’s fur, addressed the man as if familiar with him.

Instead of replying, the chamberlain gave a troubled smile and gently lifted Rose into his arms.

“What the—where are we going?”

Rose’s long body stretched lazily from the bed before she was scooped up and held skillfully.

The chamberlain supported her bottom like a pro and carried her out of the bedroom.

“Why is everything so sparkly?”

It made sense that things looked bright—the weather was perfect and the sun was shining—but still, everything seemed to sparkle unnaturally.

“Wait… is that real gold?”

She’d figured the emperor was wealthy, but she hadn’t realized just how wealthy.

“My butler is filthy rich!”

Everywhere she looked—roof edges, window frames, decorative trims—glinted with gold.

The sunlight reflected so intensely off the gold that she could barely see the actual buildings.

“No wonder they keep serving me beef every day!”

She was so overwhelmed by her reality as a pampered palace cat that tears welled up in her eyes.

And the garden—how vast it was!

They passed through section after section, each more beautiful than the last.

Red camellias in one corner, fields of purple cineraria in another, wide open lawns perfect for croquet, and now they were walking through towering cypress trees.

“Miss Rose, you must stay calm, okay?”

The chamberlain repeated this several times as they briskly made their way through the garden. But Rose was too enchanted by her surroundings to pay attention.

“The weather’s amazing!”

The sky was bright and clear, the air crisp. Even though it was winter, she wasn’t cold.

She had soft fur and warm arms holding her close.

Surrounded by blue skies and colorful flowers, Rose felt deeply moved.

“Who would’ve thought I’d enjoy winter one day?”

In her past life, winter was nothing but misery—fretting over heating bills and what clothes to wear.

To have her life change so drastically, it was enough to make her cry.

“And it’s all thanks to my butler.”

She could sleep whenever she wanted, eat whenever she liked, and best of all—she had him.

—So, how was Rose’s day?

The emperor, cold and expressionless as ever, still took perfect care of her.

Thanks to that, Rose grew more and more certain: this man is the tyrant male lead who reforms after meeting the sunshine heroine.

His expression was icy, his tone intimidating, but not once had he harmed a maid.

He even seemed to leave the room when he sensed his presence made them uncomfortable.

Through all these little gestures, Rose could feel just how kindhearted he truly was.

To think she would spend her life in the arms of this perfect butler—her heart swelled with joy.

And just as she was pining to see him again…

“Ah! My butler!”

The chamberlain turned a corner, and there he was—the emperor, sitting at a head table, likely at a tea gathering.

Other nobles sat across from him, politely engaged in conversation.

“Rose?”

The moment she saw him, Rose wiggled free and bolted toward her beloved butler.

“I’m here, butler!”

But the emperor froze. Though he told a servant to bring cushions and a blanket for her, he didn’t look exactly pleased.

“Is he not happy to see me?”

He glanced questioningly at the chamberlain, as if this hadn’t been agreed upon beforehand.

Well, yeah. I guess it would be odd for a ‘tyrant’ to be seen doting on a cat in public.

“Your Majesty, here are the cushion and blanket.”
“Give them to me.”

The emperor placed the cushion beside him and gently set Rose on top, wrapping her carefully in the blanket.

Though his movements were rough, his touch was gentle.

Snugly swaddled, Rose peeked her head out between the blanket and cushion.

That must’ve looked cute, because the emperor’s face briefly softened—then hardened again.

“Why not just smile, tyrant or not? Loving cats isn’t a crime.”

He probably had some sad backstory that made it hard for him to smile. Rose couldn’t help but feel bad for him.

“Come on, sunshine heroine. Hurry up and appear!”

But that thought vanished the moment she saw the perfect strawberry shortcake placed before her.

“Can I have a bite? Just one bite, please?” she pleaded silently.

Just then, an older nobleman seated to the emperor’s right spoke.

“Your Majesty, about selecting a candidate for empress before the social season begins…”

He looked older, but his sharp blue eyes radiated a formidable aura.

“I said I wasn’t interested in that conversation.”

The emperor cut him off instantly. The air turned icy, and everyone pretended to sip their tea to hide their discomfort.

“I’ve said it dozens of times—I have no interest in marriage. Yet every time the season nears, we’re back to this topic.”
“But Your Majesty, you must think about producing an heir. This is your second year on the throne.”
“How many more times must I say I’m not interested, Lord Cel?”

As tension mounted and everyone held their breath, the nobleman continued boldly.

“There’s talk among the people, Your Majesty. That damned cat is clouding your judgment.”

Rose squinted and glared at the man.

“Seriously? Me again?”

She was furious. The emperor’s eyes reflected his own annoyance.

“If you have something to say, say it plainly.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t play dumb. You called Rose a cursed cat. And yet I—who share her eye color—am not cursed?”

The icy exchange left the room in a frozen silence.

“Yikes. This atmosphere is intense.”

Even Rose tensed up. At that moment, a woman seated to the emperor’s left whispered softly.

“Noah, I know you mean well, but your reaction is excessive.”

At the mention of that name, Rose’s eyes widened in realization.

“Noah?!”

The emperor—her butler Noah—was not the tyrant who reforms after meeting the sunshine heroine.

He was the real tyrant who gets overthrown by the novel’s protagonists.

“Noooo!!!”