Chapter 85
I stared at Konig with a surprised look.
“Do you even know what that means? Tsk tsk…”
Eloise shook her head just like I did.
It was clear Konig didn’t know the hidden meaning.
And honestly, I didn’t either.
I thought it was a present because I helped him get the crystal mine—just a reward.
Then Konig curved his mouth into a small smile.
“A crystal ring is for a partner who will stay with you forever, right?”
(Oh—he knew?!)
Why would he give this to me? He knows I’m a beast-person, but he doesn’t know my true form.
Well, he has seen me as a human before, but he doesn’t know I’m the same one.
‘Could Gerard’s claim that he fell in love at first sight actually be true…?’
I fiddled with my fingers, worrying about that thought.
“Even a companion squirrel counts as a partner.”
“Chut.”
Tch—of course.
“Why is your face so red? Just like Cherry…?”
Konig poked my cheek lightly.
I must have blushed without noticing.
“Oh my…”
“Ha! If I’d known this would be so entertaining, I should’ve come to the Black Dragon Castle sooner.”
When Eloise and Ferdinand joined in teasing me, I pouted in annoyance.
“Chuut! Chuutchut!”
Stop teasing me and just put it on!
I reached out, and Konig chuckled, taking a small jewelry box from the chest.
He carefully placed the bracelet on my wrist.
I thought it might be too big—
“Chuut?!”
But it adjusted itself and fit my wrist snugly.
“Chut!”
This is—
“Good thing I added automatic sizing,” Konig said softly, eyes half-closed.
Somehow I imagined the craftsmen were squeezed for work, but I’d let that go today.
“Chuyut, chut!”
Amazing…!
I blinked, watching the bracelet as I moved my paw around.
Even when I tumbled across the banquet table doing all sorts of flips, the bracelet didn’t fall off.
Everytime I moved, there was applause and whistles.
“Haha, you’re not ordinary!”
“Cherry, will you guard my merchant escort?”
Ferdinand, Eloise, the castle servants—and even Gerard—were all watching.
Feeling shy, I cleared my throat. Konig closed his eyes gently and reached out his hand.
“Cherry.”
“Chut?”
When he wore that gentle look, something scary usually followed… but not this time.
I looked up at him, heart pounding. His lips opened slowly.
“Now that you have the crystal bracelet, you should stay by my side forever, right?”
“Huh?”
Only then did I realize something was wrong.
Maybe this bracelet is a kind of binding—like when I once put a pearl anklet on Bishop…
I, Cherry, leader of the Squirrel Clan, was suddenly trapped by something shiny.
“Now you won’t be able to go anywhere. Right?”
Konig’s lecherous face filled my trembling view.
“Chuu, chuutt…”
This is definitely going very wrong.
***
Later, I wondered, ‘Is today my birthday?’
After the meal where I received the bracelet, Eloise said she wanted to show me something and led me somewhere.
Konig and Ferdinand came too.
We walked to the room next to Konig’s bedroom.
“Cherry, this is your room.”
“Chut…?”
My room? I stared at Eloise in surprise.
“I thought the second floor would be best, but he absolutely refused.”
Eloise narrowed her eyes and glared at her brother. Konig’s expression—just moments ago lecherous—looked annoyed now.
“I told you many times that Cherry doesn’t need another room. We share a room already.”
“That’s just your opinion.”
“…”
“Everyone needs a space of their own.”
Eloise reminded him of the past fights and the time I ran away—things I’d heard from Gerard.
“Princess, pfft! That’s a secret, pfft!” Gerard sneezed nervously, as if sensing Konig’s sharp gaze. But his protests didn’t reach Eloise.
“What if it happens again?” she said, teasing her brother.
“It won’t,” he answered.
“That’s what you say now. Somehow I think it’ll happen soon. If it does, I want Cherry to come stay in my room. Hmm, maybe I should move to the main residence?”
She winked. “By tomorrow, maybe neither I nor Cherry will be seen in the Black Dragon Castle.”
“Then I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth, don’t worry,” Konig said.
The mood turned warm—then sparks flew between the Kreuz siblings again.
“Ha. I’m really looking forward to Cherry’s room. The princess put effort into decorating it—how cute will it be?”
Gerard, the peacemaker, moved in to stop the squabble.
“Chuut, chut!”
I want to see it! I want to see my room!
I leaped down and ran into the room like crazy. Everyone’s eyes followed me.
“Cherry, do you like it?”
“Chut, chut!”
Of course I do!
My heart swelled. This is my room!
It was the nicest room I’d ever had. A large canopy bed, fancy furniture—roomy enough to roll around all day.
Back in the Aymond family house I had a room, but it was shabby for an heir. Old furniture from storage, little sunlight, and the servants’ footsteps right by the stairs—always making me nervous. After I left the academy, I was practically relegated to a detached cottage—a real abandoned house someone used to hide away.
Now, standing in this room, I felt overwhelmed. Tears threatened my eyes. Eloise’s voice sounded softly in my ear.
“Cherry, it’s a bit early to get emotional here.”
What else would there be?
Eloise reached out a hand. I climbed onto it with a racing heart. She led me toward a small inner room and opened the door—
“Chuu, chuuuuut…!”
What is all this!
I cried from the bottom of my heart. Dozens of dresses and matching jewelry filled the room—like a fashion salon moved in.
“Cherry, I prepared things I thought would suit you. Do you like them?”
“Chut!”
I almost burst into tears. In my whole eighteen years, I never had a gift like this.
My father ignored me; my mother was sick. My father’s concubine treated me coldly. My half-sibling gave me outdated clothes like charity. I’d lived with little care.
“Cherry…?”
Eloise seemed surprised by my watery face, but then smiled.
“I’m glad you like it. Next time I’ll take you to a boutique and have things made.”
She kissed my forehead lightly.
It felt like I had a new family. My heart warmed—yet a small fear crept in.
I’m scared.
Like my father, I worried their affection might vanish like a mirage.
If it did, I wasn’t sure I could bear it.
