Chapter 13
After returning to my room, Arin even gave me a rose spa massage before carefully placing me on my sofa.
After finally getting some fresh air and a bath, I felt drowsy beyond belief.
‘Maybe it was a good idea to come here after all…’
Of course, it wasn’t really my will that brought me here but the needs of others.
Still, I liked living with Arin, and even the servants and attendants I occasionally ran into treated me kindly.
Compared to the days when I was chased through the streets and lived in constant anxiety, these days felt entirely different.
But I couldn’t just sit here and be satisfied. I had absolutely no intention of living the rest of my life as a cat.
‘I need to find a way to turn back into a human no matter what.’
There was really only one thing I was worried about.
The time I could stay human after transforming from a cat was far too short.
I had confirmed that a kiss could turn me into a human, but wasn’t that time ridiculously short?
If I was just going to revert back in a matter of minutes, then sticking close to the prince and running tests would be the smarter option.
‘If I confessed everything to Aziz, I could ask the prince for his cooperation… but…’
I still didn’t find Aziz very trustworthy.
“Nyaaah…” (Ugh, my head…)
I shook my head, trying to empty my tangled thoughts, when the door creaked open and Süleyman entered.
After scanning the room, he fixed his gaze on me.
‘He’s always ignored me till now, so why’s he staring like that?’
Snorting, I put on a haughty look and ignored him.
While I was busy grooming myself, my roommate finished his bedtime preparations with the help of the palace servants.
“Have a restful night.”
When the attendants left, the room became quiet.
But there was one unusual detail tonight.
Instead of sitting at his desk to work, Süleyman just stood there, staring at me.
‘Why is he acting like this…?’
They say when people start acting differently, it means trouble.
And indeed, trouble came—but in the weirdest way.
Süleyman suddenly walked over to where I lay sprawled on the sofa and scooped me up in his arms.
“Nyaaaah!” (Hey, what are you doing!)
I wriggled inside his grip, but he muttered a threat.
“If you don’t stay still, I’ll tickle your side again.”
“Nyaak!” (Ack!)
Faced with his stern warning, I had no choice but to let my tail droop.
‘Damn it…! He figured out I’m weak to tickling!’
Ever since I became a cat, I had become overly sensitive to human touch.
That was probably why Arin’s caresses always made me melt so quickly.
‘He’s the one who told me not to bother him, and now look at him!’
Süleyman placed me down beside the pillow on his bed, and I looked up at him nervously.
“I asked Aziz about the seizure I had yesterday. He said I should stay close to you. That’s the only way for the curse to weaken.”
I flinched at the word seizure.
‘So that strange black aura was a curse…?’
Remembering the snake-like black energy writhing inside his body, I shivered from head to tail.
“I’ll be reviewing some documents. Stay put and behave.”
With that, Süleyman moved to his desk, where candles burned brightly.
The crackling of parchment and the popping of the firewood sounded almost like ASMR.
‘This bed is more comfortable than I thought…’
The last time I was on this bed, I hadn’t been in the right state to appreciate its comfort.
Arin’s sofa and cushions were nice, but they couldn’t compare to Süleyman’s luxurious bedding.
The quilt was so incredibly light and fluffy, and the sheets were softer than wool.
It felt like sinking into a soft jelly that hugged me on all sides.
After watching Süleyman turn pages for hours, sleep inevitably overtook me.
Once again, I failed to steal the prince’s lips tonight, and instead drifted into a deep, snoring slumber.
Sometime later, the candlelight went out, and Süleyman climbed into bed.
Even in my sleep, I instinctively nuzzled closer to the warmth, slipping into pleasant dreams.
“Nyawn…” (Yaaawn.)
The stinging morning sunlight made me squint as I woke up with a small yawn.
I thought my belly felt warm as if lying on a heated floor—until I realized the truth.
To my horror, I was lying not on a quilt but on Süleyman’s chest.
“…First my arm, now my chest? You’re quite the cat with strange tastes.”
No, that’s not it!
Did he seriously think I would willingly climb on top of a scary guy like him?!
“If you’re awake, get off. I haven’t been able to move for a while now.”
He didn’t look like someone who had just woken up. There was none of that drowsy, half-asleep air.
‘Wait… how long has he been lying like this?!’
Mortified, I quickly scrambled off his body and hid under the blanket.
Süleyman gave a short snort and then called for someone to help him prepare to leave.
I stayed under the blanket until I heard the door close, then cautiously poked my head out.
‘He’s gone… phew.’
Letting out a sigh of relief, I glanced around the bed.
I needed the bathroom and a drink of water, but from the height of the bed, there was no way down.
‘Seriously? He could’ve at least put me back down before leaving!’
I silently cursed him, but thankfully Arin soon came to rescue me.
After finishing my morning routine, I let Arin brush my fur, something I had grown used to. She chirped happily,
“The governor’s inauguration ceremony for Lord Süleyman is almost here! Ah, I’m so excited.”
“Nyaa.” (Oh, yeah.)
“All the ordered goods arrived today too. We need to choose the most suitable ones from among the gifts. But there are so many… Oh dear, what should we do?”
While I remained uninterested, Arin’s cheeks flushed with excitement as she snapped her fingers.
“Ah! We should go directly to the storeroom together. It’s too much to bring here, so we’ll just try things on and bring back what works. How’s that? Isn’t it a great idea?”
“Nyaoon.” (Annoying, but fine.)
“Perfect! Let’s go right now.”
She scooped me up and marched out.
The “storeroom” turned out to be a grand chamber filled with gifts.
In one corner, boxes labeled For the Cat were stacked high.
“Nyaaah…?” (Don’t tell me all of this is…?)
When I asked with a baffled look, Arin nodded.
“Over a hundred boxes. The value of the items and jewels inside is enormous.”
My mouth fell open, eyes sparkling.
As someone naturally drawn to money, this was a place that grabbed my interest.
But my hopes were quickly crushed by her next words.
“Do you see the armed guards over there? Because of the valuables, security is extremely tight. We’d better just pick quickly and go.”
My tail drooped in despair.
Excitedly opening boxes like parcels, Arin squealed over the jewels and cat dresses, but I had no interest in any of them.
‘There’s no way past those guards…’
I pretended to play along while secretly observing the guards.
But their sharp gazes never left us, and I soon gave up.
After about an hour, utterly exhausted from Arin’s fussing, I trudged down the palace corridor.
She was carrying an armful of packages and couldn’t spare a hand to hold me.
“Sigh, I should’ve brought a basket. I guess I got greedy since so many looked good on you.”
“Nyaoon.” (You don’t say.)
Most of what she picked was adorned with silver, gold, and gems.
I even considered sneaking a few away for myself, but if something disappeared, Arin would take the blame.
‘She’s too honest—she’d probably confess right away.’
Sighing, I pitied her as she staggered under the weight.
All this trouble… just because of one cat.
If only I could turn human again, I’d help her carry the load.
I was gazing out at the trees and gardens below when a man’s voice called from behind.
“Oh? We meet again here.”
I reflexively glanced back.
There stood a blond man with a radiant smile.
“P-Prince Teron!”
Crash!
Startled, Arin dropped all the packages she was carrying.
The words were meant for me, but she must’ve thought he was addressing her.
“Ah, I’ve startled you again. I didn’t mean to.”
Teron reached to help, then froze, conscious of all the eyes around.
In the palace gardens it wouldn’t have mattered, but here, in the palace corridors, he couldn’t just help a mere maid.
Quick-witted Arin bowed quickly.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’ll fetch a basket and clean this up right away, please forgive me.”
“…No need to apologize. Take your time.”
With a troubled smile, Teron winked at her reassuringly.
Blushing furiously, Arin hurried away.
‘I can’t blame her.’
I understood perfectly well.
With a dazzling face like his, speaking kindly and even smiling with his eyes—anyone would melt, even stone-hearted folk.
“I thought you’d be in the Sultan’s palace. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”
Still awkward from only having met him once before, I avoided his gaze, eyes darting everywhere.
Then he suddenly bent down on one knee before me.
“Nyaa?” (Huh?)
What’s with this sudden proposal vibe?!
My ears burned pink as I awkwardly rubbed them with a paw.
“Someone as small and adorable as you shouldn’t be left alone. You could get stepped on. I’ll wait with you until your friend returns.”
Cradling me gently, Teron smiled softly.
As he stroked my back, he murmured,
“I’ve heard the Sultan never lets cats he likes leave the harem. But it seems you weren’t so fortunate.”
“Nyaoon…” (That’s not it…)
He must’ve mistaken me for the Sultan’s cat because of the choker.
I couldn’t explain otherwise, so I just kept quiet.
“What if I asked the Sultan to let me take you to my palace? My longtime companion cat passed away, and I’ve been lonely ever since.”
I instantly understood—his cat had crossed the rainbow bridge.
‘Poor guy… that must’ve hurt.’
Having once been a pet owner myself, I could sympathize at least a little.
To encourage him, I nuzzled his shoulder.
Teron’s eyes widened slightly, his face flushing red.
“…It feels like you saw right through me. You really are an extraordinary cat.”
Blushing in front of such a dazzlingly handsome man—it was quite the sight.
‘How satisfying.’
Being handsome really is the best. Thrilling.
But the peaceful moment didn’t last long.
A dark shadow suddenly appeared behind us and cut it short.
“…What exactly are you doing here?”
