🔊 TTS Settings
~Chapter 16~
He left a few words behind, then turned and walked away without hesitation — but suddenly stopped mid-step.
Did he perhaps think that was going too harsh?
Of course, that would make sense. There are so many beastmen of the predatory class in this castle!
As the beastmen of the predator class clasped their hands together and desperately prayed—
“Ah, and the cat beastman too.”
Meow!
“And the dog beastman — she’d probably be scared as well.”
Whimper…
“None of you are to appear before the young lady.”
And with those few extra words, he left half the group crushed in spirit.
She had a room now.
Not a rat hole — a room.
‘This is the first time I’ve ever had a space that’s mine.’
It might be just a room to anyone else, but to Elodie, the feeling was something special.
She’d spent years dozing off wherever she could, half-asleep, waking at the slightest sound.
Always ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
‘The only place I ever felt safe was in Sera’s arms.’
But she couldn’t stay there forever.
Now it was her turn to protect Sera.
Elodie felt her heart lift at the thought of all she could do with this space — to train, to grow stronger.
‘Okay, first things first — walking practice!’
If she practiced in secret and then suddenly walked up to Sera on her own two feet, wouldn’t that be the best surprise?
Then she’d say:
‘Sera, stop thinking about carrying me around. From now on, I’ll be the one carrying you.’
Elodie imagined herself as a huge, muscular rat lifting Sera up in one go.
‘…Still a bit much right now, huh.’
But one day, when she built up enough strength, she’d do it.
That meant she needed to go to the training yard.
‘And I’ll have to get over my fear of crowded places too.’
She straightened her resolve.
No more sneaking around like a rat — now she could walk proudly, wherever she pleased…
That’s when a knock sounded at the door.
Knock knock.
“Hello! I’m here to serve young Miss Ratson from today— Oh my! Miss?”
Elodie poked her head out from under the bed, looking awkward and guilty.
A total mess.
The squirrel beastman and head maid, Squirrel, gasped and hurried over.
She pulled Elodie out from under the bed, brushed off the dust, and asked gently,
“Wh-what were you doing under there?”
“…Think I thaw somethin under duh bed. (I thought I saw something under the bed.)”
Elodie avoided her worried gaze and mumbled evasively.
In truth, she’d gotten startled and instinctively tried to find a mouse hole — only to crawl under the bed instead.
“Please tell me next time, Miss. I’ll handle it for you.”
“Mm.”
“Oh dear, your clothes are a mess. You’ll need to change.”
Clothes?
Elodie looked down at what she was wearing — a large, dress-like nightgown that clearly dated back to before the curse.
When she transformed into an animal, her clothes disappeared, and when she changed back, they reappeared.
“It’s fine, tho. (It’s fine, though.)”
It was short for her now, but aside from that, it looked clean and fresh — as if she’d just put it on.
After all, she hadn’t turned human once in the two years she’d been missing.
There was a little dust from rolling on the floor, but since the room was spotless, a little brushing took care of it.
“It’s quite short — you might find it uncomfortable to move around in. And it’s still a nightgown, after all.”
Uncomfortable was an understatement.
It wasn’t just the length — it was the whole concept of having to wrap herself in crinkly fabric instead of soft fur…
“Dun wan wear uncomfy ting. (Don’t wanna wear uncomfortable things.)”
“Pardon?”
“Jus wear sumthin. (Just something simple.)”
Flustered, Squirrel sat her down and started explaining desperately.
“Human bodies don’t have fur, so you can’t keep warm at all! Look here — see how smooth your skin is?”
“Mm.”
“If you catch a cold, it’ll hurt a lot, right? So you must always wear clothes, no matter what.”
Elodie made a flat, unimpressed face.
She hadn’t meant she wanted to go naked, for heaven’s sake.
It’s not like she was about to be arrested for indecent exposure.
She did have decency — and ratly dignity — thank you very much.
“Well, do you have any design preferences then? Maybe a favorite color…?”
Elodie blinked, wide-eyed, at the kind suggestion.
“Dunno.”
“Then how about something cute? Since you’re young, maybe something sparkly and bright?”
“Don’t know what dat means…”
“Well, as long as the young miss likes it, that’s all that matters.”
But that was the problem — she didn’t even know what she liked.
Design? Color? Sparkles?
She’d never once thought about things like that.
She’d only ever thought about finding her next meal, surviving another day.
‘Does that kind of thing fill your belly?’
Life — or rather, rat life — didn’t leave room for frivolities like that.
Humans must have too much time on their hands if they could waste it worrying about what to wear.
Whether you wore rags or silks, you were still the same person underneath.
‘Then again, Cinderella couldn’t go to the ball because she didn’t have a dress.’
Over a piece of cloth, of all things.
She remembered vividly how pathetic she’d felt when she couldn’t even get Sera something she wanted so badly.
“Ah.”
“You do like sparkly things, then?”
“Sera like sky color.”
“Lady Bluewood does?”
“Mm, and gold look good on her too.”
Elodie suddenly perked up and began choosing enthusiastically — for Sera.
Squirrel had no idea what brought on the change but happily helped her pick something beautiful.
“Sera! Gift! (Sera! A gift!)”
Elodie, cradled in Squirrel’s arms, presented a big box she was hugging tightly.
She’d nearly dropped it a few times, and the maids had tried to take it from her for safety, but she’d stubbornly refused — insisting on carrying it herself.
“I picked it. (I picked it myself.)”
Sera, resting in her room, looked surprised and a little dazed.
Even as she blinked in confusion, her hands moved automatically to open the lid.
And when she saw what was inside, she gasped and covered her mouth with one hand.
“Oh my goodness, Elodie. It’s beautiful.”
Sera lifted the dress from the box and held it against herself, twirling lightly.
The layers of lace bloomed like flower petals, the skirt fluttering around her in the air.
Gold dust shimmered over sky-blue fabric, glimmering under the chandelier light like starlight.
‘Is that… a halo?’
Had she just given an angel wings?
What if she actually floated away now?
Elodie squinted, almost dazzled by the sight.
Sera smiled — the same radiant smile she had back in their old life, when Elodie brought her a single wildflower from the fields.
A smile that could light up the whole world.
‘She smiles like that no matter what I give her.’
Even when the prince gave her mountains of gifts, she never looked like that.
She’d smiled politely back then — but it wasn’t the same.
Elodie once believed that if Sera married that highborn prince and lived a life of luxury, she’d finally be happy.
What a foolish thought.
What Sera truly needed…
‘…was something you can’t see or touch, wasn’t it?’
Sera was the kind of girl who could shine even in rags — as long as there was love.
And because Elodie wanted her to shine forever, she had decided to love her for life.
Even if the world abandoned Sera.
Even if Sera stopped loving her someday.
Elodie never would.
“Hmm, I wanted to be the first one to give you something, though.”
Then Sera scratched her cheek shyly, set the dress down, and lifted Elodie high into her arms.
“I haven’t even finished choosing yet.”
“Huh?”
“How did you manage to pick something that’s exactly my taste on the first try?”
Well, that’s easy — because I know you better than anyone.
Ask me about my own taste and my mind goes blank, but ask me about Sera’s, and I could list a hundred things right now.
“I was picking out clothes that might suit you, Elodie — but you beat me to it.”
Only then did Elodie notice the pile of clothes stacked on Sera’s bed — pajamas, dresses, daywear, even gowns.
All tiny, all made for a five-year-old.
“…Those… are for me?”
