IBTBD 11

Chapter 11

Step, step—only the sound of steady footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Gerard finally broke the silence, his tone still disapproving.

“My lord, do you truly intend to keep it by your side?”

“What?”

“I mean the thief squirrel.”

Even after saying it, the honorific still sounded ridiculous. But neither he nor anyone else could call it otherwise—because that squirrel was, without a doubt, a guest personally brought in by Duke Kreuz himself.

The duke’s retainers, Gerard included, had no choice but to treat the squirrel not as a criminal, but as an honored guest.

…Even if it was locked up in an iron cage.

What in the world is he thinking?

Gerard’s expression twisted in displeasure.

He had served Kenih for over ten years, but lately, he could not read him at all. The secrets had grown, and his behavior was no longer the same as it used to be.

This paranoid man who trusted no one—not even his long-serving retainers—had brought back a squirrel.

And not just any squirrel, but one that was clearly no ordinary creature.

“It must be a spy sent by a rival house,” Gerard declared firmly.

At first, he naturally assumed it was a beastkin who had reverted to animal form. The way it understood speech so perfectly, the cunning tricks it played to deceive him—there was no way it was just an animal.

They ran beastkin detection tests on it multiple times, yet the results never changed.

“No trace of mana has been detected—something every beastkin would possess,” the physician said every time.

And each time, his lord would respond with only, “Is that so,” wearing an unreadable expression.

It was obvious the duke knew something about the squirrel.

“It must have been raised for a special purpose.”

“A special purpose?”

Kenih stopped in his tracks.

“Think about it. Its fur is as soft as fine carpet, and its appearance… well, it’s terribly cute,” Gerard said with a serious expression. “It has none of the ruggedness of a creature that lived in the wild.”

“That’s why we must send it out of the castle at once.”

That was the whole reason for his long speech.

But his lord didn’t seem inclined to agree.

“Spies are already everywhere. Adding one more the size of a chestnut won’t change anything.”

“….”

Gerard fell silent, unable to refute that piercing remark.

The moment Kenih inherited the dukedom, he was surrounded by people who wished him gone. Only by the fall of the last Black Dragon of House Kreuz could they gain more power and wealth.

Assassins visited almost nightly; waiting for them had become Kenih’s routine. No wonder he suffered from terrible insomnia.

“Even so, I oppose this. There’s Lord Ferdinand, and the Imperial Court…”

“Enough.”

A mere gesture from Kenih silenced his lieutenant. They had arrived at his chambers.

Beyond this door awaited the squirrel. No doubt it would be furious at having been caged. The moment he entered, it would glare at him with bulging eyes and chatter angrily in its squeaky little voice.

Kenih’s lips curved slightly without him realizing.

So this is what it feels like to have someone waiting for me.

A foolish thought, but it lightened his heart.

When I touch it, my heart feels strangely at ease.

It had been that way in the forest, and again last night in his chambers. That peace even led him into rare, deep sleep.

Was it some mysterious ability of the squirrel? Or something else entirely?

He wanted to find out.

Above all—

It’s amusing.

The way it chattered in fear was worth seeing, and when he looked into its cherry-red eyes, he could almost read its thoughts as if its tiny head were transparent.

“No incidents to report, my lord,” the guards said, bowing as they let him pass.

But what awaited inside was—

“….”

“H-how could this be…?”

The cage was empty.

The snacks he’d placed inside were untouched, but the squirrel itself was gone.

The chamber immediately filled with shouts.

“Search the entire castle! It can’t have gotten far!”

Gerard quickly barked orders in place of Kenih, who stood frozen, his jaw clenched tight.

Just as Gerard was checking the corners of the room himself, fearing the blame might fall on him—

“Chirp!”

A tuft of white fur popped up between the sofa cushions. The squirrel flicked its tail in an absurdly arrogant manner.

Whatever that gesture meant, the intention was obvious—mockery.

“F-found it! The serial escape artist!”

“Defiance, then?”

“Without a doubt. It’s saying, ‘Such a shabby cage can’t hold me,’ loud and clear.”

Kenih and Gerard glared down at me, their faces grim.

As for me?

I was imprisoned.

Inside this damned pouch that had become like a second body to me.

Phew… that was close.

I had overheard Kenih’s return from the kitchen ceiling and bolted like my feet were on fire. If not for Sebi, who knew every hidden passage, guiding me, I’d have been a stuffed trophy by now.

“The thief is both our guest and under protective custody. To abandon the designated area counts as escape,” Gerard scolded.

“In Kreuz territory, escape is punishable by death.”

Since when were master and servant so perfectly in sync?

I had a thousand retorts but stayed quiet. Better to endure an hour of nagging than end up stuffed or executed.

Besides, something more important was about to happen.

It should be arriving about now…

As if on cue, a knock came at the door.

At last—the meal that would turn the Black Dragon Castle upside down had arrived.

Unlike the formal banquets, this was a simpler spread, laid neatly on the table.

There!

My eyes locked onto the soup, garnished with parsley. It was the very same soup I’d seen in the kitchen.

I can’t be sure the other dishes are safe. Who knows what’s changed since I left.

So my conclusion was simple—

Flip the whole table.

I’d already made preparations inside the pouch. All I needed was a distraction to slip free of Gerard’s watchful eyes.

As a servant raised the silverware for the poison test, Gerard’s attention turned.

I watched quietly, waiting for the result.

Minutes passed.

…Huh?

I froze.

The silver didn’t change color.

“It is safe to eat, my lord.”

Safe?

Impossible.

I had seen the maid, Hongdangmu, sprinkle strange powder into that very soup. I had heard her muttering curses at Kreuz.

But before I could process it, Kenih picked up a spoon, ready to begin his meal.

I had no time left. Even if I was wrong—even if I’d be punished harshly for it—

“O-oh…? T-the thief has escaped again!”

I shot out of the pouch like an arrow.

Straight toward Kenih Kreuz.

Thud, crack!

I slammed into his arm just as he raised a spoonful of soup, sending it flying. The spoon soared into the air, then clattered onto the expensive carpet. The bowl overturned, spilling the soup everywhere.

Chaos.

Success…!

The soup lay ruined on the floor, just as I’d intended.

The room fell into stunned silence.

When I dared to look, Gerard’s face was pale as paper. Kenih, however…

He wore an expression I had never seen before.

Undeniable fury.

“You…”

His face twisted as he reached toward me. I flinched instinctively, unable to stop myself.

Old habits. My father, the Marquis, had always believed violence was a form of discipline.

Kenih seemed startled by my reaction. For the briefest moment, he hesitated.

“…If you have something to say, use words. You’re hurt, aren’t you?”

He pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped my back.

Somehow, I had gotten drenched in soup. No wonder it stung.

“Squeak…”

But I couldn’t speak.

I fidgeted miserably with my paws, and Kenih sighed heavily.

“Fetch the physician. And bring cold water and towels.”

He ordered the servants.

That’s when Gerard, staring at the soiled carpet, spoke in an unusually low tone.

“My lord… we must summon the guards as well.”