Chapter 41
Etienne pulled the blanket down to the tip of my nose and lifted me up in his arms.
It wasn’t like our physiques were that different, but maybe because he was a beastman, his strength was overwhelming.
“Etienne? How did you get in here? More importantly, have you seen Lizette— That blanket is—”
In the end, Eloise spotted us.
My heart pounded furiously in my chest. What should I say? Should I pretend I wasn’t myself?
While I hesitated, Etienne spoke first.
“It’s Lizette.”
Why was he suddenly so honest today? Last time he lied so smoothly.
I really didn’t want Eloise to see me like this. What a terrible guy.
“Lizette… you said?”
Considering the size of me wrapped up, several times larger than usual, Eloise looked doubtful.
“She just got a little bigger because of mana overflow. She’s not sick, so don’t worry. I was just about to take her to Payson.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll come with you.”
“Eloise, please tell Marcel to come to the Crown Prince’s Palace. He was summoned to the Empress’s Palace earlier.”
“But—”
“She says she’s embarrassed. Because she’s grown bigger. By the time you and Marcel return, she’ll be small again.”
That wasn’t exactly true, but surprisingly Etienne spun out a long explanation, so I went along with it.
“Eloise. Right now, I’m not cute. I… only want to show you my cute side.”
That part was sincere.
Hearing that, Eloise answered a few seconds later, her voice lowered.
“Lizette… as long as you’re not in pain, I’m relieved.”
“Thank you. El…ly.”
I carefully called her by her nickname.
Peeking through the blanket, I saw Eloise smiling faintly, her smile dazzling.
“See you later, Lizette, Etienne.”
Eloise said goodbye, Etienne gave a small nod, and then he ran swiftly away.
My whole body prickled again, but not painfully so.
Cool energy spread through my nerves — perhaps Etienne was still infusing me with mana.
I didn’t turn straight back into a cat like before.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be back before Eloise and Marcel arrive at the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
“Mm.”
For now, I had no choice but to trust him.
When his steps stopped, we had arrived at the Crown Prince’s Palace. Etienne placed me carefully on the sofa.
“Where’s Payson?”
“Before that…”
Etienne leaned in, pressing his forehead lightly against mine through the blanket.
His golden eyes were threateningly close, his hot breath tickling my nose.
“Close your eyes.”
“Wh-what?”
“This way you’ll feel the mana flow more quickly. Close them.”
I was flustered, but Etienne remained calm.
When I closed my eyes, a cold surge of mana cascaded over me from head to toe like a waterfall.
A few seconds later, his forehead withdrew. My inconvenient cat ears twitched among my hair.
“Etienne, I think I might be a beastman. Even if it’s strange.”
At the very least, I wanted to define what I was. Even if it wasn’t exact.
There’s nothing scarier than floating in anxiety over not knowing what you are.
No matter how much I pretended to be fine, that fear would slip out, making me drift in this foreign world.
“You’d know more about beastmen than I would but…”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
His ash-brown brows drooped as he apologized again and again.
Was it because he didn’t yet know what I was? Or because I wasn’t actually a beastman?
I swallowed the tears I couldn’t understand the meaning of his apology for.
After a brief silence, Etienne found my hand beneath the blanket and held it.
“Can you wait just a little longer?”
I nodded, afraid my swallowed sobs would burst out otherwise.
Not belonging to family, friends, or even society — it was a terribly lonely feeling.
But here, at least, I was beginning to find people who truly cared for me. That was some comfort.
“The time you spend in a half-human, half-beast state… might gradually increase.”
Through our joined hands, cool mana like an autumn breeze flowed into me.
The lingering heat within me cooled further.
“If someone else sees me like this, what happens?”
“Then the Duke of Monclaire’s banquet will be ruined.”
If that was all, it would be fine. But no, I’d be branded as a demon cat. Without thinking, I clutched Etienne’s hand tightly.
“Just keep hiding like this. I’ll always be the first to find you.”
“…How do you always know where to find me?”
I asked again, the question he hadn’t answered before. He’d said he’d tell me later.
His mana gradually calmed the turbulence inside me.
When his warm hand finally left mine, my body began to shrink again.
Instead of a child’s palm, I saw white fur and pink pads filling my view.
“Just… I can tell when your mana wavelength goes wild.”
“That’s not possible.”
“If there were other beastmen in the Imperial Capital, maybe they could sense it too.”
Did that mean I was emitting a wavelength only beastmen could perceive?
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“I told you already. I’ll be the first to find you.”
Where did he get such confidence? Etienne casually said it as he tidied the blanket around me.
He looked so calm I couldn’t help but let a laugh slip out.
Just then, the door burst open and Marcel, Eloise, and Payson entered.
“Are you alright, Lizette?”
“Lady Lizette, are you very unwell?”
“Lizette!”
Eloise rushed to me first, checking me over in my small cat form.
“No matter what you look like, it doesn’t matter to me.”
“I always want to be cute. Elly.”
When I called her by her nickname again, her expression — filled with worry and coldness — melted away.
Eloise was far too soft when it came to me.
Meanwhile, Payson finished preparing the examination tools on the table, glancing at us nervously.
“My Lady, may I check Lady Lizette’s condition now?”
“Ah…”
Eloise finally collected herself and placed me onto the examination table.
As various medical and magical instruments passed over my body, the room grew so silent even breathing was audible.
Eloise clasped her hands tightly, anxious, while Marcel gently patted her shoulder.
“Her mana level has greatly increased. It’s fluctuating somewhat, but not dangerously.”
“Even without any special cause? Payson?”
“The quality of her mana has completely changed from those mana-bearing animals found in the North. This case is unusual. We’ll need to continue observing carefully.”
“I’ll leave it in your hands, Payson.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Encouraged by Marcel, Payson nodded.
I hopped off the examination table and settled onto Eloise’s lap.
Her cool hands stroked my head, and the unease that had consumed me steadily subsided.
Whether I was a cat or a beastman didn’t matter — I just wanted to know what I truly was, and soon.
A few days later, another banquet was held in the Imperial Palace.
It was already the second since Eloise had come to the palace.
The first had been the First Snow Banquet in the central palace gardens. Thanks to the Empress’s consideration, Eloise had not attended.
That was because news spread through society journals that the Crown Prince had ordered a white dress especially for his lover.
A Crown Prince in love — how laughable. He’s only pretending for now.
If we’d gone, it would have only soured Eloise’s mood. Why avoid dirt out of fear when you can simply avoid it because it’s filthy?
But this time, the Emperor himself had extended the invitation, so there was no way to refuse.
He even sent a dress along, insisting she wear it — how could she not go?
“My goodness, my lady, I’ve never seen such a dazzling dress before.”
“Neither have I.”
Sophie gasped in admiration at the gown sent by the Emperor.
Even I had to admit, it was breathtaking — hundreds of diamonds glittered atop white silk.
It reminded me of a celebrity’s wedding dress I’d seen in my past life.
The mermaid-line gown suited Eloise’s flawless figure perfectly.
“You could be a mermaid straight out of a myth, Eloise.”
“Your tongue is wagging more and more like a tail, Lizette.”
Trust Eloise to make even the word flattery sound elegant.
I was sincere, but since Eloise didn’t take it that way, disappointment welled in me.
“Have a good time, Eloise.”
“I wish Lady Lizette could come as well…”
“But His Majesty the Emperor himself is escorting you, isn’t he?”
On top of that, the Emperor had even slipped in a veiled line in the invitation, implying he’d rather I not attend.
