Chapter 13
Shalala, Pop! The Magical Boy Appears! (1)
The man gazed at the pale face illuminated by the moon and pondered.
If those jewel-like eyes opened and looked at me, with eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, how would my heart react?
Without even thinking about what would happen if Odelia woke up and found him there, he lay down beside her.
“Open your eyes.”
“……”
“Come on, open your eyes.”
Even though he knew there was no way she would wake up, the man kept whispering to Odelia.
He kissed her black hair as it slipped between his fingers and stroked her pale cheeks over and over, but Odelia didn’t awaken.
Staring at Odelia, who wouldn’t open her eyes as though under a spell, the man thought:
“What are you, really?”
Why do I want to stay by your side?
Why do I crave your touch?
The man recalled the affection he’d received daily in the form of a cat.
The gentle hand that rubbed against his face with small but strong fingers. The soft lips that kissed him while whispering, “Good morning.” The scent he smelled every time he fell asleep in her arms.
Thinking back on the past few days, when he’d hesitated between wanting to know the reason for her constant affection and not wanting to know, the man pulled Odelia into his arms.
Her body was too small and fragile to hold him.
“You must love me, Odelia.”
***
It had been about a week since I became friends with Ian.
And I was now regretting it.
“So, last night, I was with Father and—”
“Your Highness, let’s be honest here.”
“Hmm?”
“You haven’t been doing any work, have you?”
At my casual question, Ian’s pupils trembled like crazy. This guy, seriously.
For the past week, Ian had practically worn down the doorstep of the Marquis’s residence with daily visits. It was to the point where it felt like he was commuting here instead of working at the palace.
If tabloids existed in this world, rumors would already be flying that Ian and I were dating.
“But friends can visit each other anytime—”
“This isn’t a place for people to come just to slack off and do nothing. Did you leave your common sense in the palace basement?”
At my blunt sarcasm, Ian furrowed his eyebrows dramatically.
“So, how long do you plan on staying today?”
At my question, Ian held up three fingers.
“Thirty minutes?”
“……”
“Three hours?”
When he just nodded without answering, I threw the book I was holding.
“Get out.”
“Odelia……”
Ian looked at me with puppy eyes, but I remained firm.
Is he crazy? It was already 3 p.m. If he stayed three more hours, he’d basically be here for dinner too!
Getting more dumbfounded by the second, I straightened my posture and asked:
“Be honest. Why do you come here every day when you don’t even do anything?”
Honestly, all Ian did when he came over was eat brunch with me, watch me play or read while exchanging a few words, have afternoon snacks, and watch me read books again.
If this was how he spent his time, he might as well go watch pandas at the zoo.
“I like watching you. It’s entertaining.”
“And what are you going to do when His Majesty the Emperor summons you after loafing around like this?”
“……It’ll be fine.”
After a long pause, he said that, but what part of this situation was fine?
Just then, with a flap of wings, a large crow flew in through the open window.
“……”
“……”
“Meow~”
Breaking the awkward silence, Ruby yawned loudly.
Tied to the crow’s leg was what was clearly a letter.
At that moment, a particular scene from the original novel flashed through my mind.
When Odelia had been imprisoned in the palace, the Emperor—Ian’s father—had sent her a letter to cover for Ian’s mistake. The letter told her to live forever hidden away in Binka Palace.
It hadn’t left much of an impression back then, but I did remember the Emperor’s unique habit of sending letters via crow.
If my memory was correct, then this letter—
“Your Highness, that crow… surely—”
“What are you saying, Odelia?”
With a dazzling smile, Ian turned his head away as if it was nothing.
“How could a crow show up in a place where people live?”
“Stop denying reality.”
I responded seriously to Ian’s blatant denial, but he kept shaking his head like the crow didn’t exist.
He’s really chosen selective eyesight now.
Letting out a sigh at his refusal to acknowledge the obvious, I set Ruby down from my lap and walked over to the crow.
Ian frantically tried to stop me, but of course, I ignored him.
The crow, elegantly preening its black feathers, lifted its leg as if to say, “Here, take it.”
Guess crows really are smart. It seemed to know exactly who the letter was for.
I untied the letter, bound with luxurious gold thread, and as soon as I had it in hand, the crow flew out the window as if its mission was complete.
“Shall I read it for you?”
“No thanks.”
When I waved the letter at him, Ian clamped his lips shut like he absolutely refused. It wasn’t even addressed to him!
Given the crow’s behavior, it was clear I was the intended recipient. A royal messenger bird wouldn’t misdeliver.
I casually opened the letter, ignoring Ian groaning beside me.
There weren’t many words inside. The message was simple:
“Your Highness.”
“Hmm?”
“His Majesty says to tell you… you have three days.”
“……?”
“To catch up on your overdue work.”
At my words, Ian’s face instantly turned pale.
He shook his head in disbelief at first, then kept repeating “no” like he was trying to deny reality. He paced nervously, eyes darting everywhere, looking utterly distressed.
“If I were you, I’d go back and get to work now.”
“It’s not that I hate the work… it’s that I hate being apart from you.”
“That’s called escapism.”
Ian started wailing dramatically. So noisy.
Even Ruby shook his ears like he was annoyed.
I guess that’s why the Emperor sent the letter to me. If it had gone to Ian, it probably would’ve ended up unopened and ignored.
Seeing the angry handwriting emphasizing “please deliver this,” it seemed this wasn’t the first time.
I figured I had to coax him back to the palace somehow.
Now that I thought about it… Ian hadn’t sneezed around Ruby lately. He used to sneeze like he was dying just from being near him.
“Your Highness.”
“If you’re about to say something cruel again, please stop.”
“No, it’s not that. Just… You haven’t sneezed lately, even with Ruby nearby.”
Ian shrugged like even he wasn’t sure why.
“Though… I still react badly to other cats.”
“Maybe it’s because Ruby’s a rare breed?”
Weizen, who had entered with a tray of snacks, chimed in.
“Rare breed?”
“He seems unique. Usually, white fur and blue eyes are common for cats, but red eyes are rare. And though he looks like a longhair breed, only the fur along his back from head to tail is long—the rest is normal.”
Ian and I both nodded at that.
It was true; I’d never seen a cat like him, even in my past life.
“Maybe a purebred?”
“Or just a mutt?”
“How would I know that?” Weizen answered, exasperated.
Right… I kept forgetting Weizen was surprisingly brainy despite his large frame.
He looked like he could wrestle sea monsters barehanded, but he was dead serious when it came to strategy and books.
As I absentmindedly played with Ruby’s fur, lost in thought, Ian scooted closer and placed his hand on Ruby’s belly.
“It’s strange. Even this close, no sneezing.”
“Right? Oh, did you know cat allergies are actually caused by cat saliva, not fur?”
“Huh?”
“I heard that when cats groom themselves, saliva gets on their fur. When that dries and floats in the air, it causes allergies.”
“…I see. You’re adorable.”
“Can you listen properly, please?”
When I mimicked a grooming gesture by licking my hand, Ian blurted out some weird nonsense again. Does he even use his ears for listening?
As Ian kept playing with Ruby’s fur, Ruby wriggled irritably. Then Ruby’s small, soft mouth twisted strangely—
“Enough.”
At the unfamiliar voice, not only I but also Weizen and Ian froze in place.
The white cat that had been whining on my lap was gone.
I had no time to process where the cat had gone or why Ian was suddenly all the way across the room.
Turning my head slowly, I saw flowing white hair and crimson eyes looking down at me.
“Ru…dolph?”
Snowflake-like silver hair, blood-colored eyes, and a face more beautiful than most women.
When I called his name, Rudolph smiled sweetly and wrapped an arm around my waist, then reached out to stroke my cheek.
The cold touch on my skin snapped me back to my senses.
Stay calm. The man in front of me—Rudolph—was a notorious villain from the novel.
Master of the Magic Tower, magical genius, the red-eyed monster, murderer, sorcerer… and many more infamous titles.
I twisted my body to escape, but thanks to being dragged near the sitting room entrance, I misjudged the distance and ended up falling on the floor.
Rudolph didn’t even flinch.
Instead, as if annoyed by the situation, he swept his long hair back and smiled radiantly.
“I wanted to hide it a bit longer… but I got too pissed and came out.”
His languid voice, deep and teasing, was different from Weizen’s masculine tone or Ian’s seductive bass.
It sent shivers down my spine.
Did he coat his voice in R-rated syrup or something? Why was it so sensual?
Panicking, I tried to get up, but Rudolph suddenly pulled me into his arms.
“I wanted to wait a few more days and tell you after we slept together a bit longer.”
As he chuckled softly, goosebumps broke out all over me.
For the past several days, Ruby—no, Rudolph—and I had slept in the same bed. From the very first day until now. Night after night, day after day.
The adorable cat purring in my arms and the seductive man in front of me overlapped in my mind, making my whole body crawl with horror.
“Kyaaaaa!!”
Crazy pervert, psycho, fraud, lunatic!!
I scratched and punched at Rudolph’s arms, trying to break free.
Weizen and Ian shouted my name, panicked.
“Odelia, calm down—”
“How can I calm down?! That bastard’s been sleeping with me in my bed!!”
At my outburst, Weizen and Ian’s faces froze instantly.
Then Weizen pulled a gun from his coat, and Ian gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist.
Their faces were the picture of murderous rage, but I was grateful for their quick thinking.
“Odelia, why are you reacting like this? You loved sleeping with me.”
“Are you out of your mind?!!”
