BSPC 16

Chapter 16

The evening before the inauguration.

Shulayman returned to his room before the sun even set.

After he finished changing, the servants bowed politely and left.

Being alone with him—sober—for the first time in a long while felt a little awkwardly masculine.

‘Somehow, it feels like it’s been ages since I was like this with him.’

I hadn’t properly faced him in the last few days. He wouldn’t get back to his room until after midnight, and he vanished the moment dawn broke, so it made sense.

Most nights I’d fall asleep on my couch and wake up to find myself alone on his bed. The faint warmth left on the sheets proved he’d been beside me.

Shulayman looked at me for a moment, then lifted me up and gently set me on the bed.

I thought I’d never get used to this situation, but now it didn’t feel strange at all.

A smile escaped me.

He watched my expression carefully and murmured quietly.

“You seem to be in a good mood tonight.”

…Did he just read my mood?

Perking my pink ears, I looked up at his impassive face.

A cat’s expression shifts in such tiny ways that even people good at reading animals can misunderstand them. Their ways of expressing things are very different from the usual ideas people have.

For example, if a dog wags its tail to say it’s happy, a cat often does the opposite. Cats show emotion by puffing or making subtle tail gestures.

‘Wow, he really is more considerate than I thought.’

I felt a strange quiet pride at how Shulayman, who was slowly improving as a butler, was growing more attentive. I nodded in appreciation, and he gave a faint smile.

His eyes, like red gemstones, softened.

He looked much nicer when the hint of a smile was there.

But the more I stared at him, the hotter my face felt. Why was I blushing?

Thinking it was just my imagination, I shook my head lightly.

“To be honest, I haven’t been sleeping well these past few days. Because of someone.”

‘…Who would that be?’

No wonder his behavior had been odd recently. Has he got himself a girlfriend or something?!

“There’s someone who’s been on my mind. When I’m working, when I’m eating, I keep thinking about them.”

Huh. He must be in his adolescence.

‘You rascal. I went through that too. I totally understand that feeling.’

He, who once seemed scary, suddenly seemed a little bit cute.

I bumped his forearm with my front paw to cheer him on.

He made a bewildered face, then continued speaking.

“Also, they were hugged by another man. That image keeps replaying and I can’t stand it. …I can’t understand myself. It’s the first time I’ve felt like this.”

Oh my.

‘The person he likes must be cheating on him…’

He looked about my age, so it was horrifying he’d witnessed something like that so young.

I felt genuinely sorry for Shulayman and looked at him with an expression of pity.

‘Is there any way I can comfort him?’

After a moment’s thought, I did what my old cat used to do whenever I was sad or crying alone.

I bounded up onto his lap and rubbed my face and cheeks vigorously against him.

‘No one can resist the baby-cat knee rub technique!’

If that doesn’t cheer you up, you’re not human.

“Meow!” (I feel good. I’ll knead for you too!)

I pressed his arm with my paws; the solid, frozen man slowly stroked my cheek.

‘Huh? His touch feels…nice.’

Warm and ticklish, my mouth opened involuntarily.

“Meow.” (I like your hands.)

“…So he likes it?”

His touch became a touch more eager. He was clumsy, like someone petting a cat for the first time, but his big, warm palm felt wonderful.

Feeling pleased, I rubbed both my cheeks against his hand.

Then, suddenly losing all sense of reason, I bit down on Shulayman’s finger.

“Ah.”

He made a small sound and I snapped back to my senses.

‘Oh no, this was a mistake…!’

I was just about to go too far—this was like spoiling a perfectly cooked meal with ashes.

“Meow…” (Sorry. Are you okay…?)

I slid my mouth off his finger, which didn’t move, and watched his eyes.

But something about his expression was strange.

‘Why does his face look like that…?’

Shulayman’s face had flushed as red as his pupils. I had never seen his face that red in my life.

‘Did I do something to make him incredibly angry?’

Feeling guilty for trying to comfort him, I shrank a little. He withdrew his hand slowly and muttered in a sulky voice.

“…You gave something this nice to that person too, huh.”

Excuse me? What did you just say?

For a moment I doubted my hearing and pricked up my ears. Maybe I needed my ears cleaned.

‘Have I been bathing too often lately? I should ask Arin to clean my ears tomorrow.’

While I scratched my ear with my hind paw, Shulayman got up, blew out the candles, and prepared to sleep.

“Let’s go to sleep. You’ve heard, tomorrow’s the inauguration, so we need to get up early.”

“Meow.” (Okay.)

So today too, I had to postpone stealing the prince’s lips.

‘Well, it’s not like every day is my day…’

Tomorrow is the day my one and only “can opener” rises to an important position, so I didn’t want to disturb his mood.

If he rose to an even higher position, I could serve impeccably as his ultimate butler.

Curling into a ball near Shulayman, I began to snore softly.

That night I had a strange dream.

I woke on an altar in a temple deep inside a densely overgrown mountain, greeted by the cheerful chirping of birds.

It felt like a dream, but the cold marble against my skin and the breeze on my cheek were so vivid.

Turning over to try to sleep again, someone prodded me.

“Child, wake up now.”

The voice in my ear wasn’t Shulayman’s, nor Arin’s.

‘Ah, why are they waking me up in a dream?’

Annoyed, I tried to twist away, and the person poked my side again.

When one of my most ticklish spots was attacked, I cried out without thinking.

“That tickles! …Huh?”

I was talking?

I shot upright and hurriedly felt my face and body.

“What is this…?”

I had the appearance of the woman I’d seen in the mirror the first day I met Shulayman.

The difference was that words came easily now and I could walk just fine.

“You’re finally awake. Maybe because you’re still a kitten? You seem to sleep a lot.”

“…Who are you?”

The beautiful woman in front of me was no ordinary person.

She wore a classical dress that seemed pulled from Greek myths, her long hair falling below her knees.

Her skin—every inch—was flawless. Tiny lights, like fireflies, floated around her, lending her an otherworldly air.

She felt less like a human and more like a goddess from Olympus.

“I have waited for you a long time. My child.”

“…Excuse me?”

I’ve never had a mother like hers. Before I could say that, she somehow read my thoughts and giggled.

“I am Ashtar, the god who called you to this world. You’re right—I’m not your biological mother. But we’re connected in a way deeper than that.”

“Ashtar?”

“Yes. I’ve been in this world for a while now; you must have heard my name.”

“I’ve heard it, but I didn’t know you actually existed.”

“Not all gods exist as formless beings. Just because something has a body doesn’t always mean it truly exists.”

Uh—this theology stuff is over my head.

“Anyway, most people don’t expect a god to suddenly pop up like this. Right?”

I raised my hand in protest and Ashtar smiled faintly.

“You’re right.”

“Then please explain calmly. Why did you call me to this world?”

“There isn’t enough time to explain our entire destiny.”

“But I have a lot of time now. I’m curious about everything.”

“Of course you are. I wanted to talk sooner, but there were interruptions, so it wasn’t easy.”

When I looked puzzled, Ashtar gave a sheepish, human-like smile and said:

“Being a god doesn’t make me perfect. I’m probably more imperfect than mortals. That’s why I need you.”

My head hurt.

‘Why does she always pick the complicated stuff?’

This goddess seemed excellent at speaking in circles.

“Could you explain it more simply? If you’re a god and can read my thoughts, surely you can make this easier.”

“Sorry. I used to be human, but now I’m something else. I’m not used to talking with humans.”

She spoke with a face that, if she were human, wouldn’t look apologetic at all, and seemed oblivious to that.

Sighing deeply, I asked bluntly.

“So to put it simply: you called me here, I was reincarnated into this world because you needed me, and you happened to use a cat’s body?”

Ashtar nodded and answered with a grim expression.

“Your power isn’t perfected yet, so I had to call you in the form of a cat. It’s my shortcoming.”

“But I’m human now… how is this possible?”

“This place is a dream world where my will is strong. Naturally you can keep your true form here. You can even use my power. Want to try?”

With the soft rustle of her long dress, Ashtar stepped closer. The sweeter, softer scent of something otherworldly soaked into the air the nearer she came.

“Do you see the fountain far away? Try to draw that water.”

“…Draw water? What do you mean?”

“Literally. I am the god who rules water and stars. As my avatar, you can wield my power.”

She pointed toward a massive fountain and explained further.

“Feel the flow of water in this temple. When you become one with its essence, you’ll be able to use your power freely.”

“Become one with water…? Meditate? That’s scientifically impossible.”

“You are a child of water from the beginning; you can’t fail to sense it. Close your eyes.”

I looked at Ashtar skeptically.

‘Well, it can’t hurt to try.’

After all, I was already in a world where magic and spells existed. Bringing up knowledge from my past life was useless.

I closed my eyes as she instructed.

“It’s your first time, so I’ll help. Once you’re used to it, you’ll do it quickly.”