Chapter 57
“You don’t have to do that, Ishtar. There’s no need for you to go helping out with matters outside the palace.”
“I already promised Lady Hurem. Besides, I’ve started to really enjoy using holy power lately, and I want to practice a bit more.”
Suleiman had tried to convince her to postpone volunteering at the clinic, but her firm resolve eventually forced him to raise the white flag.
‘…Honestly, I don’t want to let her go at all.’
If this had been before he met Ishtar, he would’ve pushed through with his own decision without hesitation.
She was the only woman in the world who made his heart tremble.
He didn’t want anyone else to see her; he wanted to keep her entirely to himself.
But he knew that too much greed might make him lose her altogether—and that fear ultimately made him relent.
“Fine,” he sighed. “But every time you go out of the palace, I’m assigning you a full escort. Don’t even think about refusing that.”
“I don’t want to make a big scene with guards. It’s not like I’ll be going every day—maybe once or twice a week at most…”
“Absolutely not. Or should I just go with you every time you go to the city?”
“Ugh… that’s even worse.”
Seeing that he meant it seriously, she flusteredly shook her head.
Without saying another word, he got up from the bed and began extinguishing every lamp and candle she had lit.
Only the cozy glow of the fireplace and the silvery moonlight filtering through the window remained.
“It’s late. Let’s go to sleep.”
“Yes. You should head to your room now…”
“I don’t want to.”
He lay down beside her, slipping his thick arm under her neck for a pillow.
Startled, she froze, clutching her blanket like a shield.
“I—I’d rather just use a real pillow. That would be better, I think…”
“Did you already forget what I said? I told you I’d put you to sleep tonight. Instead of whining, you should try actually getting some rest.”
Half-threat, half-command. Terrified, she immediately shut her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
“Mmm. Snore… snore…”
Her exaggerated fake snoring sounded no different from when she was a cat.
‘…Too cute.’
Chuckling, he gently pulled her closer and began to pat her back in a slow, rhythmic motion—like a lullaby in the form of touch.
The tender motion gradually melted the tension in her body.
Soon, as always, Ishtar drifted off first. Once her breathing evened out, Suleiman carefully slipped out of her bed.
“You still sleep so soundly,” he murmured.
She didn’t stir in the slightest, her peaceful face unmoving as if nothing could wake her.
Whether as a person or a cat, she always slept deeply.
“…I wish you could stay by my side forever.”
If he were to say that when she was awake—what would she say?
But he wasn’t foolish enough to blurt out such a confession at the wrong time.
If he said it now, she would only feel burdened.
‘Besides, right now, I’m just the one receiving her help.’
If Ishtar decided to leave him now, the curse that had vanished thanks to her would surely resurface.
And yet, what frightened him more than the return of the curse was the thought of her disappearing from his life.
“Just wait for me a little longer, Ishtar. I’ll work harder—until I’m a man worthy of you.”
No reply came, only the gentle sound of her breathing rising and falling against the blanket.
The firelight flickered across her lovely cheek.
He stood there for a long while, gazing at her silently, before lowering his head to press a kiss to her smooth forehead.
“Mmm…”
She let out a faint murmur in her sleep and turned over.
Suleiman tucked the blankets carefully around her again, then picked up a handful of her hair and kissed it tenderly.
“Sleep well, my lovely princess.”
The next morning, I woke up in a half-dazed state.
“Yaaawn.”
Sunlight streamed through the curtains in blinding brilliance—it was clearly late.
As the rays stung my eyes, I rubbed them groggily—and suddenly noticed something odd.
The place I’d woken up wasn’t his bed, but my own room.
‘Right. Last night, with Suleiman, in this room…!!’
As the memories came flooding back, I let out a silent scream and started smacking my pillow.
Apparently, it was loud enough that someone from the next room knocked on the door.
“Are you awake, Lady Ishtar?”
“Ah… y-yes. Come in.”
Hearing Arin’s familiar voice, I let out a sigh of relief and got up.
I peeked past the door just to make sure he wasn’t around—and thankfully, he was nowhere to be seen.
“Prince Suleiman already left for the palace. It’s almost noon, actually.”
“It’s that late already?”
“Yes. I came by earlier, but His Highness said you were sleeping soundly and told me not to wake you.”
What—does that mean he came in here while I was asleep?! Then that means…
“Don’t tell me he… while I was asleep…”
“While you were asleep…?”
Arin tilted her head in confusion, and I quickly clamped my mouth shut.
It had been over ten hours since his kiss had turned me human again—so the fact that I was still in human form could only mean one thing.
‘If I’m still human… that means he kissed me again before he left!’
My face flushed so hot I thought I’d burn up, and I clutched my forehead with a groan.
‘Ugh, I’m seriously going crazy.’
Truthfully, I already felt like I’d fallen under that wicked prince’s spell.
Just last night alone—he’d insisted he wanted to see me in human form, then crawled right into my bed, claiming he’d “put me to sleep.”
How was I supposed to stay calm when my heart nearly leapt out of my chest every time he got close?
“Lady Ishtar, you’ve been acting a little strange lately. Are you feeling unwell? Should I fetch some medicine?”
No, I was perfectly fine—he’s the one who’s strange!
I shook my head furiously and sighed.
‘His behavior lately… it’s definitely changed.’
His tone had softened, his touch had grown more casual, more affectionate.
Knowing full well that Suleiman wasn’t the type to show tenderness to just anyone only made my heart flutter harder.
‘Could it be… he has feelings for me too?’
If that were true, then our hearts might actually be aligned.
That thought made my face heat up all over again—but just as quickly, anxiety washed in to cool it down.
After some fussing from Arin, who insisted on calling a physician to check on me, I finally managed to calm her down and get ready to go out.
As I stepped out of my room, a mix of anticipation and worry tangled in my chest.
I tried to suppress the strange, ticklish excitement as I walked.
A few days later, I found myself on the way to the clinic in the capital.
Fortunately, Suleiman didn’t come along.
Unfortunately, I somehow ended up with fifteen guards.
“Eblan, there are way too many people… I’m just going to a clinic! You alone would be more than enough.”
“His Highness ordered that the entire royal escort be deployed. Please comply, my lady.”
“What? Don’t tell me you mean his personal guard unit…”
“That’s correct. For today, the royal guards under my command will be responsible for your protection.”
What the heck—using the prince’s elite guard for this?!
I gawked at the black-clad soldiers surrounding my carriage. Each wore a full dark uniform that covered even their faces, curved swords at their waists, their discipline and precision obvious even to an amateur’s eye.
‘At this point, the carriage is pointless. We’re practically a parade.’
The carriage itself was a gift from Hurem—something she’d given me to use discreetly when traveling outside the palace.
It had a plain, unassuming appearance meant to avoid drawing attention.
But now, surrounded by these heavily armed men, it looked anything but discreet.
“With this many guards, we’ll definitely stand out. Maybe we should rethink this—”
“The prince’s orders take precedence. There will be no changes.”
Ugh, still as stiff and by-the-book as ever.
I shot Eblan a glare before turning away in frustration.
But then I noticed something odd—Aziz was nowhere to be found.
Scanning the area, I turned to Arin, who was loading the last of the supplies into the carriage.
“Arin, have you seen Aziz anywhere?”
“No, I haven’t. Oh—but his attendant dropped this off earlier. He said you should look at it once you’re in the carriage.”
She rummaged in her apron and handed me a small leather pouch, about the size of my palm.
Just then, Eblan announced, “It’s time to depart. Please board the carriage.”
“Alright.”
Once Arin and I climbed inside, the carriage began to move.
As we passed through the palace gates, I untied the pouch that Aziz had supposedly sent me.
Inside was a letter—and a small blue gem.
I turned the gem in the sunlight, watching it glimmer, then unrolled the note to read what it said.
