Chapter 35
“With that tiger brat locked up, there’s no need for you to stay trapped in the room anymore.”
“Cherry, you must’ve been bored. This is good news.”
Erjin’s imprisonment had brought a rare peace to Black Dragon Castle. Which meant—
I was back to my “job” as a working squirrel.
This morning’s duty was to sit under a sunshade Gerard had prepared and watch König’s sword training.
“It feels good to be outside again, doesn’t it?” Gerard asked.
I frowned hard.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“Chut?”
Do I look comfortable to you?
Yes, I was out of that stuffy bedroom. But I was still stuck inside a pouch, clutched tightly in Gerard’s hands under König’s orders.
“Gerard, if you lose Cherry again, I’ll let you lose your head too.”
That icy warning from König still echoed in my ears.
So here I was, squished between Gerard’s palms like a precious nut.
***
I sniffed. Nothing smelled strange—just the rosewater scent from Kreutz’s top perfumer.
But Erjin had claimed he’d sensed my mana. König hadn’t noticed anything.
While I sat brooding, a knight suddenly ran up.
“Lady Cherry!”
“Chuut?”
He bowed so low I almost fell over.
“I never got to thank you for finding my wedding ring the other day. Without it, my wife would’ve thrown me out! You saved my life!”
Ah. That shiny thing I picked up? I only gave it back because he was wandering around with such a desperate look.
“Chuut, chuut.”
Don’t mention it.
But the knight’s eyes filled with tears.
“To think someone so kind, warm, and even adorable could exist in this cold, heartless fortress!”
“Chuu… chuut…”
Stop, you’ll make me blush.
He even vowed, “I, Hans Moore, will guard you with my very heart, even if I must split it in two!”
…Bit dramatic, but thanks?
Soon more knights and servants crowded around.
“How can she fit into such a tiny pouch? So cute!”
“I just want to bite her!”
Please, no Black Dragon-style jokes about eating me, thank you.
But then—
“I heard she relies heavily on Lord Viper.”
“Must be true—look, she’s sitting calmly in his pouch.”
“Chut?!”
What kind of ridiculous rumor is that?!
First of all, this pouch is not my choice. Second, the only Viper I like isn’t Gerard!
I burned with the urge to correct them, but all I could do was wiggle helplessly inside the pouch.
***
I sighed as Gerard fed me the finest southern peanuts. Crunch, crunch.
‘Today I was supposed to search Erjin’s cell for another control item… and train that rude white eagle Bishop with Lia. Only then could I send word to Bear Mountain.’
Instead, here I was—stuck, helpless, unable to move without Gerard.
Could I really just sit around like this?
‘Honestly, I could shake Gerard off easily.’
But König’s threat echoed again. If Gerard “lost” me a second time, his head might really roll.
I glanced at Gerard’s pale neck.
…As annoying as he was, I didn’t want that.
“Cherry, why are you so quiet all of a sudden? You’re making me nervous,” Gerard said with a smile.
“Chuuu…”
His instincts were sharp as ever.
Was there no way I could act and keep him safe?
Then—fwip. A black feather floated down onto my head, casting a shadow.
My eyes widened.
‘Ah. Of course. That method!’
By noon, the training yard rang with clashing steel.
“His Grace seems especially fierce today…”
“Yeah, looks like we’re in for hell again.”
It was one of those “red alert” days. Until Cherry appeared, that is.
Normally, König’s sparring was merciless. But when Cherry intervened, training sessions ended early, punishments were lighter, and extra drills were halved.
She was becoming more than just a mascot—she was a symbol of power.
Even Lia Viper, once just a senior knight, had been assigned as Cherry’s guard, gaining privileges like exemption from extra duty.
Among the knights, that was considered the best benefit in the fortress.
“Ugh, ugh…”
The knight commander barely held his ground as sparks exploded from his clashing blade. König’s strikes were deadly enough to kill if even one slipped through.
“Your sword feels sharper than usual, my lord. Something troubling you?”
“Troubling…”
König’s golden eyes gleamed with hostility.
He couldn’t calm himself—not after this morning.
The moment he’d woken, Cherry had smelled faintly of forest dew—Erjin’s scent.
To others, not unpleasant. But to König, all other beasts’ mana stank, sharp and rotten.
All except one.
Cherry’s faint, sweet fragrance—the only scent he could stand.
And that was being tainted.
His grip tightened on the sword.
SO HE DOES KNOW. Oh cherry, you’re being tricked~