Chapter 66
When I opened my eyes again, the sun was already high in the sky.
The sunlight was so bright it stung my eyes, and I instinctively lifted my hand to block it.
“Ugh, it’s so bright… huh?”
Realizing that what came out of my mouth was an ordinary human voice, I hastily ran my hands over my body.
‘I’m back to being human!’
I shot up from the bed and quickly looked around. The sunlight poured into the familiar room, with its elegant furniture and quiet fireplace.
I was lying in Suleiman’s bed.
“You’re finally awake.”
I turned my head sharply toward the voice and saw Suleiman watching me with a dark, somber expression.
“…Suleiman?”
Seeing him in his human form again, I noticed how gaunt he looked. His usually neat and composed appearance was gone — his hair was a tangled mess, and the deep shadows under his eyes made him look utterly exhausted.
“How long was I asleep? And how did I end up here…?”
“I got word early this morning from the temple that you were safe. You’d lost consciousness in your cat form, and I brought you back to the palace.”
My last memory was of talking with Theron, and then falling asleep — that was it.
Since I’d somehow returned safely to Suleiman’s quarters, I guessed things must’ve gone according to Theron’s plan while I was asleep.
“I’m sorry. You must’ve been so worried. I wanted to come back sooner, but I suddenly turned into a cat and—”
“Don’t say anything.”
His voice trembled, heavy with sorrow and strain. Then, before I could react, he pulled me into a tight embrace.
I gasped softly and tried to pull away, but his arms only tightened around me.
“Just… for a moment. Stay like this.”
Through the thin fabric of our clothes, I could feel the solid warmth of his body pressed against mine. The faint dampness of his dark hair brushed against my neck, sending a hot flush to my cheeks.
“S-Suleiman, wait—”
“Just a little longer…”
With his head bowed low, his voice was hoarse, almost pleading.
He held me as if letting go would make me disappear again, refusing to release me for a long time.
He looked so heartbroken — like a dog that had lost its master and finally found them again.
‘Well… a rather large dog.’
I was just thinking that this must be what it felt like to own a big dog instead of a cat when he finally spoke again.
“When you disappeared… I thought I was going to die, Ishtar. If anything had happened to you, I… I couldn’t have endured it.”
“I’m fine, really. Not a scratch on me, see? I’m full of energy.”
I raised my voice a little, hoping to reassure him.
Suleiman finally let me go and looked me over from head to toe, as if to make sure I was telling the truth.
When he seemed somewhat convinced, he rubbed his face harshly with both hands and muttered,
“I’ll find the bastards who attacked you. And I’ll make sure they can never even dream of doing something like this again. I’ll give them the most miserable end imaginable.”
A moment ago, his gaze toward me had been soft and tender — now it burned with murderous fury.
I swallowed nervously, wondering what exactly “the most miserable end” meant coming from him.
“But who could’ve done something like that? I mean, there’s no point in kidnapping someone like me…”
“Kidnapping? They were trying to take you?”
“Yes. I heard them say something about not killing me because it would lower my ransom… They tried to drag me away at first, then later they decided to just kill me.”
The memory of the knife swinging down toward me sent a shiver through my shoulders.
Noticing my fear, Suleiman didn’t press further. Instead, he gently patted my head.
“I’m sorry for making you recall something so awful. You should still be resting — I was too impatient.”
“No, it’s okay… I want to know who they were too. Do you have any guesses?”
“Iblan and I believe the attack was meant to eliminate you — to strike at me and my mother by hurting you.”
That actually made sense, so I nodded. He rested his chin on one hand and continued quietly.
“But if their first goal was kidnapping… then maybe they planned to use you as leverage to threaten me.”
Hmm. In that case, the culprit probably knew about my connection to Suleiman.
‘Someone in the palace… or maybe someone connected to the clinic.’
It hadn’t even been a month since I’d started moving around outside the palace, and only a handful of people knew about Suleiman and me.
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t think of anyone who’d be involved in something like this.
Then I suddenly remembered someone I’d completely forgotten and gasped.
“Oh no — what about Arin? She was hurt trying to protect me!”
“You mean Iblan’s sister? She’s safe. The physician said she received a timely blessing treatment and recovered well.”
“Thank goodness…”
I let out a long sigh of relief, my shoulders slumping as my strength faded.
‘I feel so weak…’
I guess all the chaos had worn out both my body and mind.
Suleiman carefully helped me lie back down and pulled the blanket over me with great care.
“Anyway, don’t think about anything else today. You need rest.”
“…You should rest too, Suleiman. You look terrible.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m just happy you’re back. I could die from relief.”
He reached out and brushed the stray strands of hair off my cheek and forehead.
His touch was so gentle and affectionate it made my nose tingle.
“Don’t say things like that… It’s embarrassing.”
I pulled the blanket up over my face, hiding my tomato-red cheeks.
Suleiman chuckled softly and lightly pinched my cheek.
“You’ll get used to it soon enough. I’ll be saying things like that more often.”
“You really are…”
“Get some proper rest today. I’ll send someone to attend to you — ask for anything you need. If you feel even a little unwell, have them call me immediately. Understand?”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong, though…”
“Still, it’s best to be cautious until we’re sure. If Aziz were here, I’d have him examine you, but… he’s away, so it can’t be helped.”
Only Hürrem knew where Aziz had gone after telling everyone not to look for him.
Suleiman stood up, reminding me several times to take it easy before leaving the room.
I stared blankly at the door he’d gone through and let out a quiet sigh.
‘Is it really over now?’
Only a day had passed, yet it felt like several.
Meanwhile, having confirmed that Ishtar had returned safely to the palace, Theron was already on the move.
‘I’ve been away too long.’
Leaving the palace right after such an incident had been a huge risk, even for him.
If anyone suspected he was involved with Diader, it could’ve been disastrous.
But he couldn’t just abandon Ishtar when she was in danger — so he took the risk to help her.
He returned to his prince’s quarters early that morning.
Since the entire palace was in chaos over Ishtar’s disappearance, he managed to slip back unnoticed — though it could easily have blown up into a major scandal.
“You’ve returned, Your Highness. I’ve been waiting.”
“Yes. The report can wait. Let me change first.”
Having disguised himself as a servant to sneak past the guards and reach his chambers, Theron stripped off his outer garments.
Beneath them was a body entirely unlike his refined, gentle face — solid muscle and lean strength.
Unlike ordinary swordsmen whose bodies bore countless scars from battle, Theron’s skin was smooth, unblemished. His genius in swordsmanship was such that he’d never once lost in combat.
“Allow me to dress you, my prince.”
Layer by layer, fine silk clothes were draped over his well-toned frame until he once again looked every bit the noble royal.
When the attendants withdrew, only Theron and one elderly man remained in the room.
“You were gone so long I feared something had finally happened to you, Your Highness. Seems this old man worried for nothing.”
“Your tongue grows bold, Mirham. Are you not afraid I’ll have it cut?”
“If you wish to kill me, be my guest. At my age, death holds little terror. Ha ha!”
Mirham chuckled heartily, stroking his white beard.
He was the steward of the prince’s household — an old man with snow-white hair, but the only person Theron truly trusted and could speak openly with.
Anyone else might have lost their head for such words, but Theron merely gave a faint smile instead of drawing his sword.
“Was there any trouble last night? Report everything, no matter how small.”
“There were several events of note, my prince. But one in particular… I believe it’s what you’d most wish to hear about.”
“And that is?”
“The identity of the men who attacked the carriage belonging to the lady called Ishtar.”
