PLML 38

CHAPTER 38

The man pulled out a seal he had hidden in his coat. It was a golden seal, one that only members of the Imperial Knights were given.

“You were sent by Ferus, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“May I ask your name?”

The man didn’t respond.

‘If he won’t give his name… he must be a knight who operates in the shadows without publicly disclosing his identity.’

Among the nobility, it was common to hire unofficial bodyguards. This was due to the frequent assassination attempts that arose from factional struggles.

Typically, one had to register their name on the official knight roster to become a bodyguard. However, since that list was often used by rival factions to identify and exploit weaknesses, more nobles had begun to employ secret, unregistered guards.

The royal family was no exception.

“This way, please.”

The man extended his hand. Jaina took a step back and sharply turned her head.

“My mother told me never to follow a stranger whose name I don’t know.”

The man asked, exasperated:

“…Are you joking?”

“Do I look like I’m joking? Cotton Candy, what do you think?”

Cotton Candy nodded as if to agree with Jaina. Its twitching little ears were so cute that Jaina couldn’t help but smile like a mom.

“See? Cotton Candy thinks so too.”

As Jaina stood her ground, making it clear she wouldn’t move until he gave a name, the man sighed deeply.

“…Call me Loser.”

‘What? Why Loser of all things?’

She was too old to laugh at people’s names, but Loser? Jaina barely held back a snort.

“Alright then, Sir Loser. I’ll be in your care.”

Jaina reached out her hand.

“Pardon me, Your Grace.”

Loser scooped Jaina up into his arms.

He leapt out the window and dashed into the dark forest. He was so fast it felt no different from riding a horse. Jaina, startled, instinctively grabbed onto his neck. Cotton Candy clung to her, puffing up and kicking its little legs in protest.

After running for a while, they reached a carriage.

Loser gently set her down and opened the carriage door.

Once inside, Jaina tried to calm Cotton Candy, who was wriggling with a sour look in its pebble-like eyes. It crawled up to her neck and bit her earlobe—lightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to be annoying.

Then it licked her ear.

“Ahaha, that tickles, Cotton Candy!”

“Kyuu!”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry! I won’t do it again.”

Though Jaina apologized, Cotton Candy didn’t stop licking. Unable to bear the tickling anymore, she grabbed its tiny body and pulled it off.

“Are you jealous?”

“Kyuu, kyuu!”

“Don’t be like that. You know you’re the only one for me.”

Her eyes softened as she smiled. Cotton Candy blinked at her, then turned its head with a huff. Its twitching tail made its feelings clear.

‘So cute.’

The inside of the carriage was nothing like its plain exterior—it was wide and luxurious. The seat cushions felt like a bed.

She grabbed a blanket and pillow neatly folded on the opposite seat.

‘This is way too soft.’

Jaina punched the pillow, trying to flatten it. She even threw it around with both hands, which made Cotton Candy stare at her, puzzled.

Feeling embarrassed, Jaina gave an awkward smile.

“No, it’s just… it’s too tall to use as a pillow.”

Cotton Candy jumped up and bit the pillow. Its sharp teeth sank into the velvet, and it stomped on it with its tiny claws, shaking its head.

Riiip— Thick fabric tore, and the stuffing burst out like snow.

Proudly, Cotton Candy dropped the ruined pillow in front of her.

“Thanks, but… isn’t the stuffing just going to keep falling out now?”

“Kyuuu!”

“No, it’s fine. If I fold the fabric like this, it should work.”

She pulled out some stuffing to lower the height, then folded the torn fabric over it. It wasn’t perfect, but it made a passable pillow.

‘Perfect.’

She lay down on the seat, raised the blanket, and beckoned to Cotton Candy.

“Come here.”

Hesitating for a moment, Cotton Candy finally wriggled into her arms. Holding the fluffy ball under the cozy blanket, Jaina quickly drifted off to sleep.

“Your Grace.”

“Mmm…”

“Grand Duchess, please wake up.”

Grand Duchess?

“Lady Jaina Blake.”

Jaina…

‘Wait, are they calling me?’

Still half-asleep, Jaina opened her eyes. She blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling and tried to piece together what had happened.

‘Oh, right. I fell asleep in the carriage.’

When she sat up, Cotton Candy clung tightly to her.

“Kyuu?”

It rubbed its head against her hand. Jaina gave a sleepy smile and petted it.

“We’ve arrived.”

Just as she was enjoying her fluffy companion, Loser’s voice brought her back.

“Gasp! Sir Loser, what happened to your hand?!”

“…I was bitten by a monster.”

He casually wiped the blood off his hand with his robe. His rough hand bore visible bite and claw marks. Jaina immediately recognized them as Cotton Candy’s doing.

“You bit him?! What were you thinking?!”

Cotton Candy tilted its head innocently.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

“Kyuu! Kyu-rrr, Kyuuu!”

Cotton Candy chirped in protest, but Jaina couldn’t understand a word. Still, she had a pretty good guess.

‘He must’ve hated that Loser was carrying me yesterday.’

“Even so, you can’t just bite people.”

Cotton Candy drooped its ears and blinked sadly. The look was so adorably pitiful, Jaina almost gave in.

“You can act cute all you want, but that doesn’t make it okay.”

“Kyu.”

It nodded and licked her hand.

“Don’t apologize to me—say sorry to Sir Loser.”

“I’m fine. More importantly, please get out. His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting.”

Holding Cotton Candy, Jaina stepped out of the carriage. Squinting at the blinding sunlight, she was stunned.

“How did we get to the Imperial Palace in just one day?”

Even after rubbing her eyes, she was sure of what she saw: the rear entrance of the Imperial Palace. Standing there was Ferus, waving with a soft smile.

“I missed you, Jenne.”

Cotton Candy growled softly. Jaina whispered “Just bear with it a little,” so only it could hear, and then coldly replied:

“I told you not to call me that.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Just call me Jaina.”

“Aw, that’s too cold. With our relationship, a nickname is only natural…”

It was clear Ferus had no intention of respecting her wishes. Not wanting to drag the conversation out, Jaina ignored him and kept walking.

‘Oh, right. Cotton Candy.’

She untied the neatly fastened ribbon and lifted her clothes slightly to tuck Cotton Candy inside.

“KyuAAK!”

Cotton Candy squealed and flailed.

“Hold still! Cotton Candy!”

Slipping nimbly from her hands, it did a mid-air flip and landed lightly on the ground. Jaina clapped before realizing—

‘Wait, no, this isn’t good.’

“Come on, be good, okay?”

Cotton Candy backed away, clearly refusing to go under her clothes. Jaina started to panic—what if someone saw it? Oblivious, Cotton Candy even turned its head away.

“Hahaha.”

Ferus, watching from behind, suddenly laughed.

“Don’t worry, Jenne. I already dismissed all nearby guards, just in case.”

Ferus was hardly someone she trusted, but he wasn’t the type to lie about this. Jaina felt slightly relieved.

“Also, Jenne…”

Before she noticed, Ferus was right behind her, reaching out as if to embrace her.

“Wait, Ferus, what are you—?!”

His hand reached for the loose ribbon at her back.

“Jenne, I know we’re close, but you shouldn’t be walking around with your clothes undone like this.”

Golden strands of his hair brushed against her neck. Feeling strangely violated, Jaina slapped his hand away.

“You could’ve just told me that instead of touching me.”

“Haha, I just wanted an excuse to get close. Busted, huh?”

Ferus chuckled and raised his hands in mock surrender. Jaina straightened her clothes and calmed the snarling Cotton Candy.

“Well then, shall we go?”

Ferus led her through the Imperial garden to a tea table surrounded by roses and decorated chairs.

‘He didn’t bring me all the way here just for tea, did he?’

Jaina eyed Ferus suspiciously as she took a sip of tea.

“Jenne, what do monsters eat?”

“Special feed or raw meat.”

No sooner had she answered than Ferus summoned a servant and ordered raw meat.

Soon, a maid arrived with a silver platter piled with fresh, bloody meat.

Ferus placed the platter on the ground and gestured toward Cotton Candy.

‘Ah, I messed up.’

“I appreciate the thought, but Cotton Candy doesn’t seem hungry right now.”

“I heard neither of you ate anything in the carriage. Don’t worry—there’s plenty of meat, so help yourselves.”

‘No, it’s not that…’

Jaina gave an awkward smile and looked at Cotton Candy, who shook its head furiously.

Ferus, looking very pleased with himself, asked knowingly:

“What’s wrong, Jenne?”

“No, um… more importantly, why did you call me here?”

“Hmm~”

His blue eyes curved slightly as he rested his chin on one hand, blinking slowly. Then he lowered his gaze and smiled.

“I told you—because I missed you.”