CBDBS l CH 21

Chapter 21

The next day.

As expected, chaos broke out in the Kreutz ducal castle.

“My lord, forgive me. This was clearly a plan prepared in detail for a long time. We’ve found these all over the castle.”

Gerard handed something to Kenig, who was reclining on his bed. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary marble ornament.

“It looks harmless, but when the set time comes, it burns and releases sleeping fumes… then melts away completely.”

In other words, it was a sleeping incense stick disguised as decoration.

“Leaves no trace once it’s done. A perfect crime.”

There was little doubt who the culprit was.

Erjin Astrahan.

That shameless guest who had taken over a room in the castle.

“He really tries everything.”

Barjun crushed the incense to dust in his fist.

In truth, they’d already known Erjin was sneaking around the castle at night. From the very day he entered the fortress, Kenig had placed spies on him.

“I thought he’d snoop around my study at most…”

But to aim a blade directly at his throat?

Kenig’s mouth curled upward in amusement.

Meanwhile, Gerard lowered his head further.

“It doesn’t look like he acted alone.”

“Even after we purged the place, there are still some left?”

Kenig’s voice was flat.

After the poisoning incident, Kreutz castle had undergone a massive clean-out. Anyone even remotely suspicious was removed. Only those with clear records and proven loyalty were kept.

And yet traitors still crawled out of the cracks. Like cockroaches.

But that wasn’t the real question.

The real question was—

“Why?”

For over ten years, Kenig had never once seen Erjin Astrahan act on his own will.

No desire. No ambition. Just drifting through life, a useless stray cat.

That was what Kenig thought of him.

So why now? Why suddenly call himself the emperor’s hound?

That was what Kenig wanted to know.

“There are reports he’s still staying in the guest room. Should we capture him?”

“He dared to aim for my life and still hasn’t run away. What is he thinking? …No. Let’s wait and see.”

“But, my lord…”

Gerard swallowed the rest. One look at his master’s face made him close his mouth.

What Gerard considered “dangerous” didn’t apply to Kenig.

Because dragon-kin were different. Especially black dragons—their hearts were harder than any substance. They could not be killed by ordinary means.

‘That’s why he’s so calm.’

“There are countless ways to wring a stray cat’s neck.”

Kenig’s gaze drifted down. To his palm. To the small squirrel pressed against his stomach, fast asleep.

Cherry.

She was sleeping so deeply, she wouldn’t notice if someone carried her away.

“Was Lady Cherry trying to protect you again?” Gerard asked quietly.

“…Who knows.”

Kenig answered lazily.

But the truth was, when he’d first woken up, his heart had plummeted.

The bedroom door was half broken, wide open. Cherry was nowhere to be seen.

For the first time in his life, Kenig’s vision went white.

His tangled thoughts had screamed only one thing:

Erjin Astrahan.

Kill the bastard who dared sneak into his chamber and steal his squirrel.

But then—

“My lord! We found her! Lady Cherry is safe!”

She’d been asleep under a fallen blanket at the side of the bed.

“This quilt is too heavy for her to pull down herself…” Gerard muttered.

It was strange. Why break in, only to leave with nothing?

Strange enough that nothing made sense anymore.

“My lord, should we run another mana test?” Gerard asked carefully.

“Clearly, Lady Cherry must have bravely fought him off.”

Half a joke, half a desperate attempt at reason. How else could they explain it?

But Kenig’s answer was firm.

“No. Enough tests already.”

“Yes, my lord….”

Countless mana scans had been done on the suspicious squirrel. Every time, the result was the same: no mana.

Gerard no longer cared if she was secretly a beastkin or not. He just wanted answers to the puzzle. But if his master refused, he would obey.

“No more mana tests. Leave us.”

“As you command.”

When Gerard withdrew, the matter seemed to be over.

Until Kenig lowered his voice.

“Cherry. How long are you going to pretend to be asleep?”

***

“Squeeeek!”

I leapt into the air, startled out of my fur.

Truthfully, I’d been awake for a while. But when Gerard suggested another mana test, I had no choice but to fake sleep for dear life.

Still, another ordeal was waiting for me—

Kenig Kreutz himself.

Or rather…

The dazzling sight I’d glimpsed through my barely open eyes.

His body.

Hard, sharp muscle lines like furrows carved into the earth. His silk robe hangs loose, revealing his abs.

Why on earth am I sleeping here?!

My head spun so fast I thought it might burst.

The last thing I remembered was throwing myself at Erjin with all my strength. Then—nothing. Blackout.

Maybe I’d heard him say something, but I couldn’t recall what.

The only thing I was sure of was that, for a moment, his spell had broken.

But I’d reverted to squirrel form right after, and when I woke up—this.

First thing’s first. I need to get away from him.

I tried rolling aside, feigning sleep, but my body rolled right back.

Because his hand was holding me firmly in place.

So that sound I kept hearing was him laughing at me… he knew I was awake all along.

“Tch.”

That sly dragon.

I raised my head to glare—and was met with a sight too distracting for my own good.

Leaning against the headboard, eyes half-closed, lips curved in a mocking smile.

That look means only one thing…

“Perverted squirrel.”

I knew it.

“Tch.”

I turned my head away, but couldn’t escape.

He lifted me into the air, holding me as easily as a wine glass.

“Cherry. Don’t you have something to tell me?”

Tell him? He wouldn’t even understand if I did.

I snorted.

But his expression only darkened.

“Yesterday, I swear I heard your voice.”

“…Squeak?”

My… voice?

“And I think I saw you too.”