PUBW 01

Chapter 01

Darkness spread thick across the world.

An endless sea without a single shining star—only the full moon asserted its presence.

The moon poured down its strange light, so different from the sun, upon the earth.

That light fell upon a massive black wolf. At that instant, something flickered in the wolf’s crimson eyes.

The wolf, who had been staring out the window, turned around and walked heavily away.

The dull sound of beastly footsteps echoing through the room soon shifted into the weighty clack of leather shoes.

With a screech of metal, the heavy iron-barred window creaked open. Through the gap, light spilled in, revealing a man with jet-black hair and blood-red eyes.

At the same time, moonlight seeped into a quiet room elsewhere, brushing against a sleeping woman.

Her radiant silver hair shimmered beneath the moonlight, giving off a holy aura.

It was a breathtaking sight, as if peeking into a goddess’s slumber—too divine to approach, yet impossible to look away from.

But her peaceful face suddenly twisted.

And it all happened in a fleeting moment.

The blanket draped over her body collapsed as if falling away in surrender.

“Miss~ It’s time to wake up.”

At the maid Sina’s voice, a little pink nose twitched beneath the covers.

“I’m coming in!”

Sina carefully stepped into the room.

It’s already seven?

She always wondered how closing her eyes for just a moment could somehow mean eight whole hours had passed.

“Miss, I really think you should rest today.”

As Sina gathered the canopy that had fallen loosely around the bed, she spoke gently.

“Your fever only went down last night. Your body is so fragile—you need to take it easy. Can’t you just skip breakfast one more day?”

It had only been last night that her body finally recovered after a week of illness.

She had grown so bored of lying in bed and had resolved to start moving again today.

But once morning actually comes, I don’t feel like getting up at all.

“His Grace also told you not to attend today. What if you fall ill again…”

Sina pouted, muttering anxiously, then suddenly froze. A sharp slap! broke the silence, as if she’d been struck across the face.

Puzzled, I cracked open one eye—only to find Sina staring at me in shock.

“…?”

When I fully opened my eyes and blinked at her, she actually stumbled backward.

“Y-your ladyship—no, Your Grace!”

What’s wrong with her…?

Sina was sensitive at times and often startled me with her emotions, but today she seemed especially odd.

Wait… am I sick again?

There were times I wouldn’t even realize how bad my condition was until others pointed it out.

I had been frail since childhood, so feeling unwell was almost second nature to me.

I sat up, intending to check for fever in the mirror.

Hm…?

Something was off. My body felt different—lighter somehow.

Though I’d never been full of energy, right now it almost felt like I could fly.

And that wasn’t the only strange thing.

Did the chandelier shrink? No… it looks farther away, doesn’t it?

I rubbed at my eyes, thinking I must still be half-asleep, but then froze. A fluffy white puffball appeared in front of me.

—What is that—huh?!

“Meow-owp!”

I clapped my hands over my mouth.

I’d meant to mutter softly, but what came out wasn’t words at all—just some strange mewling sound.

Oh no… it really must be a dream.

After all, there’s no way my hand should feel so soft and squishy against my mouth.

“….”

Trying to ignore reality, I slowly lowered my hands—and fell speechless.

Between tufts of silvery fur, plump pink jelly-like pads peeked out.

—Hahaha… ha…

“Meow, meow, meow…”

This had to be a dream. It couldn’t be anything else. And yet my heart dropped to my stomach.

“Did you search the bathroom properly?”

My father’s sharp voice rang out.

“S-sorry, sir! I was so startled by the cat that I forgot to check. Forgive me.”

Sina stammered nervously.

Amid the tense atmosphere of rushing footsteps and people gathering, one word lodged itself in my ears.

Cat…?

Before I could even process what she meant, Father stormed into the room.

“Charlize!”

—Father!

“Meow!”

I jumped up and answered instinctively, but once again, only a meow came out.

The moment Father’s eyes locked onto mine, his face hardened.

“What are you waiting for? Catch that cat immediately!”

His thunderous order sent the maids scrambling.

Sina darted into the bathroom to search, while others spread their arms and advanced toward me.

“Here, kitty kitty~”

They surrounded me, closing in carefully, their voices sweet but their movements threatening.

“Got you—ah!”

I leapt instinctively, slipping between their hands and darting through a gap.

That was the signal—the others lunged, dozens of hands reaching for me.

Without thinking, I bolted toward the door.

A servant guarding the entrance tried to block me, but I slid between his legs and barely brushed past him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Father watching me with a cold, hostile stare—a look I’d never seen from him before. That chilling gaze was the last image of home I carried with me as I escaped the mansion.

I had no destination. I just kept running forward.

My lungs burned, my thighs ached as if they would tear apart—but I couldn’t stop.

No one was chasing anymore, yet I didn’t have the courage to face the reality of being a cat.

“H-hey! Stop!”

Focused only on fleeing, I tripped over my own legs and fell.

“Meooow!”

Pain shot through my knees, and gritty sand filled my mouth.

I spat and gasped for breath—

—when a sharp neigh split the air.

“Whinny!”

A huge shadow loomed over me.

No way…

I looked up slowly, dread curling in my stomach. Enormous hooves rose above me, about to strike.

I have to move!

Time seemed to slow, the hooves descending inch by inch—but I couldn’t move at all.

I curled up, hugging my head, unable even to scream.

“Whoa, whoa.”

Instead of pain, silence followed. Trembling, I opened my eyes to see the horses standing perfectly still in front of me.

I-I’m alive…

Relief drained the strength from my legs, and I collapsed limply onto the ground.

“What happened?”

A man inside the carriage asked the driver.

“A stray cat ran in front of the carriage, my lord. My apologies.”

The coachman explained quickly.

“Did it… die?”

A light, airy voice gasped.

“No, but it seems too frightened to move.”

I sat frozen, barely hearing their words. Alive, yes—but my hands still trembled.

I had fled my family as a cat, nearly died under a horse’s hooves… it was too much, one disaster after another.

As I tried to steady my breath, the carriage began to move again.

The horses passed, followed by a jet-black carriage.

Black?

I lifted my head to look. In the Empire, black carriages were rare.

I tried to glimpse the crest, but instead, through the window, I locked eyes with a pair of chilling blood-red eyes.

That man…!

A black carriage. Pitch-dark hair. Crimson eyes.

In the Empire, only one person matched all three.

Duke Artif Redmond.

“Stop.”

His lips moved, his voice low and commanding.

The carriage slowed, and before it had even come to a halt, he flung the door open and leapt down.

Though his actions were urgent, his face betrayed no emotion.

“Your Grace? Why are you—”

But I couldn’t hear the rest. His crimson gaze pierced straight through me.

Before I could flee, a flash sparked in his eyes.

—Ack!

“Meow!”

In an instant, he had grabbed me by the scruff of the neck.