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Chapter 55
“It’s been a while, Sir Alcott.”
He was the second eldest of the “handsome brothers” — and my former bodyguard — Alcott Bendingk.
Though he was usually blunt, I knew something about him: he loved cats just as much as Allen did.
“……My apologies.”
I’d reached out my hand to greet him, but what came back was an unexpected apology.
“For what?”
“For the rudeness I showed you when I pretended not to know your true identity, and for threatening the young Lord Retel during his visit to the mansion. I sincerely apologize for both.”
“If you mean ‘rude,’ are you talking about when you petted me all over?”
Alcott flinched. Seeing a bear-sized man with a scar across his eye squirm like that made me want to tease him more.
Honestly, compared to what Allen did to me, it was nothing.
Alcott had stared at me for ages, holding back, and finally gave my head the lightest little pat. That was all.
“Did Artif not forbid you from touching me?”
“……Once my service as your escort was over, I planned to report directly to His Excellency and accept my punishment.”
“What? I was joking.”
“No. It was a clear case of disobeying orders, and even if there had been no command, it was still improper of me to touch you knowing who you truly are. I deserve to be punished.”
…Did Artif really issue that kind of order?
“I said it’s fine. How could anyone resist petting such an adorable cat?”
“I must insist—”
Ugh, this brick wall! Can’t even take a joke!
“Then are you going to tell Artif that Pretty Boy kissed me, too?”
“That’s…”
“Oh, and last time, Pretty Boy even tried to mount me.”
“……”
Alcott was so flustered he couldn’t speak.
“If you don’t tell Artif you petted me, I won’t tell him Pretty Boy kissed me.”
After a long, stiff silence, sitting upright like a soldier awaiting judgment, Alcott finally spoke.
“……Thank you.”
It was too embarrassing to even call that a threat — but it worked.
Was this really something to be that serious about?
Deciding I’d rather tease Allen instead, I leaned back as our carriage passed through the Redmond mansion gates.
Pulling my hood low again, I followed Allen, who’d come to greet me, up the stairs.
“Allen.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“How’s Pretty Boy doing?”
“Oh, very well. Though he gets a little sulky sometimes. I think he misses you, my lady.”
“He did like me quite a lot. He even kissed me, you know.”
“Ha! That was so cute. I nearly cried watching the two of you being so affectionate that I bit my tongue trying not to bawl.”
Seeing that grotesque expression of his again made me feel like my long-gone cat fur was standing on end.
“Does Artif know?”
“About what?”
“That my first kiss was with Pretty Boy.”
Allen froze.
His head turned slowly, creaking like a rusted hinge, and his terrified eyes met mine.
“Why?”
“Y-you’re not going to tell him, are you?”
“Tell him what?”
“T-that Pretty Boy k-kiss— mmph!”
He slapped both hands over his mouth in panic.
So I said it for him.
“That Pretty Boy kissed me?”
“Ahhh, my lady!”
Allen flailed in distress, then looked at me with the same pitiful expression Pretty Boy gave me whenever I had snacks.
“Could you please keep that a secret? I beg of you!”
“On what terms?”
“What do you want? Anything at all. I’ll do whatever you ask!”
“Hmm.”
I pretended to think, and Allen immediately started babbling.
“Are you hungry? You used to love veal steak, didn’t you? I can have it prepared right away.”
“I’m not really hungry, but my shoulders feel a bit stiff.”
Allen darted behind me and started massaging my shoulders.
Ah, yes. This was the good stuff. Alcott could learn a thing or two from this man.
“Would you like to go to His Excellency’s chambers? You always liked that spot by the sunny window — I’ve even added soft new cushions there. You can relax and enjoy my massage.”
“Shouldn’t I go to Artif first? He said all my energy was drained.”
“Oh, come now. If I force you to go straight to him, he’ll just get angrier at me for it.”
Allen chuckled like a shameless flatterer.
“Okay, that’s enough. You’re pressing too hard.”
“Oh dear, forgive me. I almost bruised the fair skin of the world’s most beautiful lady. I’ll go cut off my own hands at once.”
“Forget it. I’ll let it slide this time.”
I said coolly, and Allen bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
“I’m unworthy of such mercy! Then, where shall I escort you?”
“To Artif.”
“Yes, ma’am. If you get tired, please say so. I can carry you on my back — my legs are surprisingly sturdy.”
“Just hurry up.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Completely recovered from my earlier disappointment with Alcott, I cheerfully followed him to the top floor of the mansion.
We stopped before a familiar door — the same room where Artif and I had parted ways before the full moon when he turned into a wolf.
“When you enter, look at the floor,” Allen said.
“The floor?”
“You’ll understand when you see it. I’ll wait in the study.”
“Alright.”
I didn’t quite get it, but since it was Artif’s room, I didn’t think much of it. I was about to knock when Allen spoke again.
“M-my lady… You really won’t tell His Excellency that Pretty Boy kissed you, right…?”
He looked so nervous.
I’d teased him enough, so I gave him what he wanted.
“Of course not. Don’t worry.”
He sighed in relief.
Watching that, I couldn’t help but wonder:
Just what on earth has Artif been saying about me that makes his men go pale at the mere mention of a cat kiss?
Maybe he was one of those obsessive, possessive types — like the ones you only ever see in romance novels.
If that’s the case, there’s no escaping him now.
Thinking such silly thoughts, I opened the door.
And froze in shock.
The room was enormous — two chambers’ walls knocked down into one.
But I couldn’t go straight to Artif, because thick iron bars blocked my path.
Beyond them sat a black wolf, quietly watching me.
“Artif…”
When I softly called his name, the wolf nodded. His tail wagged eagerly behind him.
But that happy sight only broke my heart.
Inside the room, there was nothing but a large cushion and a single phonograph — his only company, perhaps.
The emptiness of it all made my eyes sting, and tears spilled before I could stop them.
If only I had recovered my power sooner, if only I had recognized him earlier… he wouldn’t have been so alone.
“Hh—”
As I lowered my head, tears dripping down, something gleamed on the floor — a key.
I lifted my gaze again to find the wolf right up against the bars.
The iron door was locked with a huge, heavy padlock — the kind you could barely hold in one hand.
“You really…”
Rubbing at my face, I grabbed the key, unlocked the padlock, and tossed it aside.
“Whine—!”
He barreled into me the moment the door opened, and I threw my arms around him, burying my face in his thick fur.
The bars were so tightly spaced that even in human form, I wouldn’t have been able to pass through.
“Artif, be honest.”
The wolf’s head bobbed up and down.
“You tidied up the room to look nice for me, didn’t you?”
“……”
His neck stiffened.
That was answer enough. I sighed from deep inside.
“Let’s talk after you turn back into a person.”
I spread out a blanket over the cushion where he’d likely been sleeping.
“Here, use this to cover yourself.”
The wolf’s eyes flicked to the blanket, then darted away.
“Why?”
He didn’t answer, just lay flat on the floor.
“You don’t want to use the blanket?”
No response — just pressed himself down lower.
“Why not?”
“……”
So frustrating. Can’t even make eye contact!
How on earth had Artif managed to hold back all this time when I was Sasha?
“If you don’t use the blanket and turn human, you’ll be naked. Why does that bother you?”
“……”
“Artif. Come here.”
“……”
“I’m coming to you, then?”
As I dragged the blanket closer, the wolf sprang up and backed away, then flopped down again.
“Are you going to say it or not? Where’s your communication card? Why don’t you want the blanket — don’t tell me you want to be naked?”
The wolf’s body gave a visible twitch.
