Chapter 17
A ripe, glossy-red cherry?
Sure, delicious. I’d happily eat it three meals a day.
But as a name? Absolutely not.
“Chrrt, chrrt!”
Then what about you? Should I call you Steak? Or “Boeuf Bourguignon Kreutz”?
I flailed my tiny arms in the air, eyes rolling dramatically.
“Cherry.”
Kain’s answer was flat, indifferent. He just repeated the name in that low voice of his, golden eyes daring me to object.
If only I could.
“Chrruu…”
…On second thought, maybe it wasn’t that bad. Ha, ha.
After all, I couldn’t really use “Muriel” anymore, not with the imperial hounds sniffing after me.
But before I could convince myself, the snake had to speak.
“What? Surely you don’t mean to say it’s because of the thief’s round, ruby eyes, like a ripe cherry? That’s far too obvious, my lord.”
Gerard again.
I’d often wondered how his head was still attached to his body after so many weeks here. This was another one of those moments.
Get a grip, Screw-Loose.
I thumped my tail hard against the table. Once, twice, several times.
He misread it, of course.
“See? Even Cherry doesn’t like it!”
No, idiot, that’s not what I meant!
I darted a look at Kain’s face.
Cold. His features froze over, expression going glacial. The study seemed to thicken with killing intent.
Gerard noticed only when Kain’s lips twisted into a thin, mocking smile.
“…Hah.”
“Now that I think about it,” Gerard stammered, “no name suits the thief better than Cherry. Born to be a Cherry beastkin, really…”
His babble came too late.
“Head.”
“…Yes, my lord.”
And that was how, after a long, miserable debate, I gained my second name: Cherry.
* * *
“No more freeloading, Lady Cherry. Starting today, you’ll work for your meals.”
Day two of my so-called employment began with Gerard lecturing me as he carried me into the study.
Apparently, here he considered himself my “superior.” Ugh.
Still, my duties turned out to be twofold:
- Sit by Kain’s side and roll around like a nut.
- Shred documents beyond recognition.
“Lady Cherry, this one too, if you please.”
Just like that.
Rip, tear, gnaw—!
I reduced a report to confetti, much like cracking a peanut shell. Gerard’s eyes shone with admiration.
“Amazing! Truly amazing. I suspected as much, but to think you’ve mastered Imperial script as well! You deliberately target key phrases to ensure nothing can be reassembled. How brilliant!”
“Chrrt.”
Well, of course. That’s basic.
I smugly rubbed my nose.
Truth was, shredding papers wasn’t necessary. All documents from the duke’s office were burned to prevent leaks.
“Think of it as double security!”
Gerard’s words, always with that bright smile. Really, he just wanted free labor.
How had I fallen this far? Once a marquess’s daughter, now reduced to office shredder.
Still, there was one benefit: information.
Sitting here, I learned more about the Empire than I ever had in the Academy.
So this is what it tastes like to stand at the peak of power…
I tore a letter with a sly grin.
Among the heaps of intel, one subject always drew me in: Kain Kreutz.
For instance: he was twenty. Right at marriageable age.
And he was being courted relentlessly by every noble family with an eligible daughter.
“Chrrt.”
No surprise there.
I’d already shredded several identical proposals. Add in the ones Gerard had quietly discarded, and it was safe to say every house with a maiden was trying their luck.
And why not? He had wealth, status, and—
I sneaked a glance. Even frowning over paperwork, a crease between his brows, he was unfairly handsome.
Of course he was popular.
Arms folded, I nodded to myself.
The rest of the mail was a mixed bag: reports, notices, requests.
But one letter in particular caught my eye, stamped with a snarling wolf.
A noble wolf family, one of the few with ties to House Kreutz. The seal appeared often enough that their correspondence was clearly regular.
Let me guess…
Something about the capital, the court, the emperor.
Sure enough, Gerard’s face tightened as he read.
He handed it to Kain, who skimmed it, one eyebrow rising sharply.
Why? What did it say?
I peeked—just enough to catch one word: “rumors.”
“The capital is in uproar over the Baron incident,” Gerard reported.
Of course. The killings had already been sensational enough. Now twisted into grotesque rumors spreading like wildfire.
“Not only the string of noble murders, but also the slaughter of commonfolk. The tales are… escalating.”
His voice grew grim.
And indeed, the gossip was spilling out from the capital, flooding across the Empire.
“Soon the throne will involve itself,” Kain muttered, rubbing his temples.
House Kreutz had already leaned on the press, suppressing articles and buying up sketches of his face. All thanks to money and influence.
But suspicion still lingered.
“In hushed voices, your name is being mentioned, my lord,” Gerard said.
Tall, black-haired, golden-eyed. The composite sketch was crude, but it matched him enough to convince the gullible.
The throne would make him the first suspect.
If only it ended there…
“I don’t like the feel of this,” Gerard confessed.
Neither did I.
If the emperor wanted, he could pin the crime on Kain without lifting a finger. All the evidence pointed his way.
To the emperor and the capital nobles who loathed Kreutz, this was the perfect chance.
“Soon they’ll apply pressure,” Kain said.
“I’ve prepared countermeasures,” Gerard replied gravely.
At last, the two looked like duke and advisor rather than clown and jester.
If they dig into this castle, I’ll be in trouble too…
I propped my chin in my paws, frowning.
Then—
Muffled voices outside. A knock.
The butler entered, pale as parchment.
“What is it?”
“M-my lord… a guest has arrived. From the palace.”
* * *
The guest’s arrival threw Black Dragon Fortress into chaos.
“Lady Cherry, I must ask you to remain in your chamber for now.”
Gerard ushered me away, voice firm.
Whoever it was, they were no ordinary visitor.
Kain’s expression had twisted darkly as he strode off to meet them, less “welcoming” than “ready to kill.”
Not exactly what I’d call a reception…
“Cherry, the castle may grow noisy. Please, stay put. Promise me, yes?”
“Chrrt.”
Fine, fine.
I waved him off, though my eyes had long since locked on something else.
Sevi’s hidden passage.
“Thank you,” Gerard said, leaving at last.
The moment the door shut—
“Chrrt.”
Our secret signal.
It wasn’t long before I heard the wet patter of movement in the ceiling.
Two glowing yellow eyes blinked down from the shadows.
[Snack time?]
Later, Sevi. Later.
[There is no later.]
Do you want there to be no snacks ever again?
[…Fine. But double next time.]
Clever beast.
With Sevi’s knowledge of the castle’s layout, finding the audience chamber was easy.
The only problem—
“You barge into my fortress unannounced? Have you decided today’s the day you die?”
—was the murderous tension waiting inside.
Ohh What’s next?~