Chapter 87
“…They won’t give up on me?
Why?”
I couldn’t even ask out loud. I just blinked in confusion. Then Lord Ferdinand spoke first.
“The Aymond family has always had mind-related powers, right?”
Mind powers included things like illusions, brainwashing, and memory control.
Long ago, many noble families often came to us Aymonds asking for help.
But not anymore.
The reason was simple:
‘Because from my father’s time—Logan Aymond—the family powers declined sharply.’
It was something everyone whispered about. My father, Logan, was considered the weakest head of the family in history.
His only ability was making a very short illusion.
But it lasted less than one second—so it was basically useless.
And I inherited that useless power.
All I had was a weak telepathy—barely enough to talk with animals.
‘So why would anyone chase after me?’
I couldn’t understand at all.
Then—
“Ah!”
I suddenly remembered something I once read in a book in the mansion’s storage.
It was about the first head of the Aymond family, Lisette Aymond.
Outsiders didn’t know, but Lisette had a power called the “Word Command.”
She could give power to words and make them real.
One of her famous abilities was the “Oath,” an unbreakable vow.
Using this power, she helped bring peace between herbivores and carnivores. For that, she was awarded the Marquis title.
‘Maybe… that’s why they’re after me.’
Because Lisette was also an albino squirrel like me.
But I was nothing like her. I was just a weak squirrel that couldn’t do anything.
When I remembered those blue eyes again, I shivered without realizing it.
At that moment, a big warm hand landed on my back. It was Lord Ferdinand.
“Don’t worry, little one. You have me behind you.”
He grinned. “I may look like this now, but I was once a fearsome warrior who ruled the battlefield.”
He rubbed his nose awkwardly.
“Chuut!”
I pressed my tiny hands together and let out a small laugh.
After spending days with him, I knew Lord Ferdinand was a little clumsy as a grandpa.
But his strength and wisdom built over long years were unquestionable.
“And you’re not alone. There’s also Konig, and Eloise. You don’t need to be afraid anymore.”
“Chuuut!”
I’m not afraid at all!
I only nodded.
“Still, you’ll need to build strength just in case. First, let’s practice turning back into a human.”
“Chuut…”
But I don’t have mana…
It felt impossible from the very start.
I pouted and looked at him. He seemed to understand my meaning.
“You mean you have no mana?”
“Chuut!”
Yes!
“Ha! Don’t worry. Now you have this bracelet.”
It was actually a crystal containing Konig’s mana.
“From what I see, thanks to this crystal, some mana that would normally vanish is now staying inside your body. For now, let’s try using this mana. Over time, more might gather.”
“Chuut!”
I’ll work hard!
I raised my tiny hand high. He laughed and gave me a high-five.
And so, for a week, I trained hard under Lord Ferdinand.
But I didn’t know this training would cause big trouble…
***
The next morning—
“Lord! Lady Cherry—!”
Gerard’s panicked shout rang through the Black Dragon Castle.
The little squirrel mascot of the castle had collapsed.
“This is all my fault. I pushed the tiny child too hard.”
Ferdinand blamed himself, but this wasn’t just muscle pain like before.
“Chuuut…”
Unlike before, Cherry didn’t even groan. She lay completely still, breathing so faintly it looked like it could stop any moment.
That weak breath was the only sign she was still alive.
“How is Cherry?” Eloise asked urgently.
The castle’s physician shook his head.
“There’s nothing physically wrong.”
It was the tenth time he had checked her.
Her heartbeat and breathing were slow, but not dangerous.
To be exact—
“She is in a sleep state.”
“Sleep? What do you mean?” Eloise frowned.
They had shaken her and called her name dozens of times, but she never woke.
She only lay limp, letting out faint breaths.
Ferdinand, Eloise, Konig—all their faces darkened.
The physician hesitated, then spoke carefully.
“The Black Dragon Castle is not really a suitable place for a squirrel.”
Squirrels are weak against the cold—they even hibernate in winter.
And this castle was always chilly, like putting a cactus on a snowy mountain.
“Winter is coming soon. Lady Cherry’s body may have entered hibernation.”
“Hibernation? You mean… she fell into winter sleep?”
“Yes. Normally it lasts from October to March, about five months. But…”
“But what?” Eloise’s sharp eyes glared.
“Let’s hear him out first,” Ferdinand calmed her.
“Usually, squirrels eat a lot before hibernation. But Lady Cherry showed no such signs. It doesn’t seem like normal hibernation… so if we’re unlucky…”
The physician bit his lips. He couldn’t say the words out loud:
She may never wake up again.
He knew the Kreutz family well. If angered, they became demons in human skin.
Recently, they have softened thanks to Cherry. But now she was in danger…
Finally, Ferdinand burst out:
“Just tell us! What will happen to her?!”
The physician bowed deeply. “There is a chance… she may not wake from this hibernation.”
The room went silent.
“…What should we do then?”
Konig spoke at last. He had been sitting quietly beside Cherry the whole time, fiddling with the blanket.
Even his low body temperature felt dangerous for her right now.
“Keep her warm. That’s the most important thing. Also, leave snacks nearby in case she wakes up. But she must rest completely.”
“I understand. Stay ready to check her anytime. For now, you can leave,” Ferdinand ordered.
“…Yes.”
The crowd left, and Konig carefully lay down beside Cherry.
“Now… I’ll only worry as much as a squirrel’s tooth.”
He muttered coldly, but his heart was heavy.
Work piled up like a mountain, but nothing mattered. He only wanted to stay by her side.
If he left even for a moment, it felt like she would disappear.
And it wasn’t just paranoia.
Because even though her breaths were so faint—Cherry’s scent still filled the entire room.
Something strange was happening to his squirrel.
“…Say something, Cherry.”
