IBTBD 14

Chapter 14

Just because I refused once, he brings up taxidermy!

I trembled with fury, tail quivering, but there was nothing I could do.

They might treat me like some “hero,” but before Kenihg Kreuz, I was no more than a dustball rolling under the bed.

“How is it? Changed your mind yet?”

He leaned in close, face practically touching mine as I blew out an indignant snort.

To think such a handsome face could look this hateful.

In a way, it was impressive.

When I didn’t react, Kenihg tapped the table lightly—tok tok—then stretched his hand out again.

Should I just bite him?

I stared at those graceful fingers, smacking my lips, but pressed down the rising urge.

There had only ever been one choice from the beginning.

“Chuu…”

Hesitating, I finally climbed onto his hand.

Plopping down with my rear planted, his hand came down to stroke my head.

It was cool enough to make my fur bristle, yet the motion itself was gentle.

“Yes, what a good squirrel.”

“Lord Kenihg, you’ve already won the thief’s trust.”

“Yeah, seems like it.”

Trust, my ass.

I, Muriel Aymond…
I will never forget this humiliation and disgrace.

“When I got there, the incident had already happened.”

After fiddling with me for quite a while, Kenihg finally began the story he had postponed.

For some reason, he looked noticeably more at ease.

A week ago—he hadn’t explained why he left his ducal estate to stay in the Viscounty of Baron, but there was only one possible answer.

Most likely it was one of his manic episodes.

There weren’t many reasons a duke of the Kreuz family would leave his castle without attendants.

Even his closest aide, Gerard, spoke casually of such “excursions.”

Most likely, it was preparation in case he failed to suppress the mania.

I couldn’t ask outright in squirrel form, so this was only speculation.

“To be precise, I was one of the victims myself.”

Kenihg crossed his legs and spread open a newspaper on the table.

Grotesque headlines and pixelated crime scene photos sprawled across the page.

“A victim?”

“Stray dogs. They ransacked the domain and suddenly attacked.”

“Stray dogs… You mean the mercenary band from the East?”

That group of carnivorous beastkin from the East.

At first, they took guild commissions like any mercenaries.

But after growing in power?

They turned into little more than thugs doing every kind of foul deed.

“Don’t know what their goal is, but it seems they’re eyeing the North. So…”

“So…?”

“I gave them a lesson.”

His golden eyes flashed with a chilling brilliance.

Gerard didn’t ask further. He already knew that the stray dogs no longer existed in this world.

“They won’t dare show their faces again anytime soon.”

Kenihg leaned back on the sofa, relaxed.

Watching that beautiful yet terrifying sight, I thought again about Kenihg Kreuz.

There was no such thing as “forgiveness” or “understanding” in his dictionary.

Best not to act rashly around him.

Still…

Clearly, there was a third party involved in this case—the stray dogs.

Could they be the same attackers who had struck other noble families, perhaps even House Aymond?

That’s something I’ll need to look into.

But another question nagged me.

Even if he’d been distracted or outnumbered, Kenihg was of the Black Dragon lineage.

No one could rival him in sheer strength.

Yet when I saw him at Bear Mountain, he had been on death’s door, torn to shreds.

How could mere stray dogs push him to such a state?

Could it be… he’s weaker than he looks?

Maybe I should try taking the Black Dragon Castle next, just like Bear Mountain…

I was sneaking a sidelong glance at him when—

“You must have had extra trouble, then.”

“Something like that.”

Gerard and Kenihg exchanged words without a flicker of expression.

Extra trouble? What did that mean?

“With wounds like those, it’s nowhere near fatal.”

As if reading my thoughts, Kenihg whispered at my ear.

He must’ve been talking about what happened at Bear Mountain.

But what did that have to do with “extra trouble”?

While I puzzled it over, Gerard spoke:

“Then you didn’t use that, I presume. Fortunate indeed. We’ll collect it and dispose of it—wouldn’t do for it to leak.”

That?

My confusion didn’t last long.

Kenihg walked to a corner of the room and pulled a vial from a cabinet.

A tightly sealed brown bottle—just looking at it gave off an ominous, dangerous air.

It seemed like poison brewed for a very specific purpose.

No way…

My eye twitched involuntarily.

Was it possible… every time he suffered those manic fits, he drank this poison?

To deliberately weaken his own body, to minimize the damage he might cause.

Leaving Black Dragon Castle, secluding himself in remote places, all to prepare for the worst.

For the day he, like the first Kreuz patriarch, might fall completely into destruction.

“…”

I cautiously looked up at Kenihg.

His face was calm, as though this was nothing new. Neither confirming nor denying—but more convincing than any spoken answer.

“Chuu…”

I sighed without meaning to.

“Are you… worried?”

Kenihg tilted his head, eyes locking with mine.

Worried?

I can’t even solve my own problems, and I’m supposed to worry about Kenihg Kreuz?

How contradictory is that.

I quickly shook my head and turned away, but he pressed further.

“You are worried. In the mountains, you grabbed my leg and shook me desperately, remember?”

“Did that really happen? Every time you see my lord, you glare with those sharp eyes. Thief, you’re not very honest, are you?”

“Chuut—!”

That wasn’t worry, that was telling him to go find another grave plot!

Unable to explain myself to these self-centered reptiles, I pounded my little chest in frustration.

“There’s no need for such concern. The Kreuz family’s regenerative ability far surpasses imagination. Unless he takes a direct hit from Lord Ferdinand’s Breath, he won’t even be left with a scar. Of course, weak little me would be reduced to ashes, but still.”

Gerard dabbed at imaginary tears with a handkerchief.

And I recalled the sight I’d seen the night before—through the loose folds of Kenihg’s gown.

His bare skin.

Now that I think about it… there wasn’t a single scratch.

Only a few days earlier, he had been drenched in blood.

I had hastily applied Celosia ointment, but that was just a stopgap.

As far as I knew, Celosia had no such miraculous healing effect—only temporary clotting.

Then…

I slowly looked up at Kenihg. He met me with a languid smile.

Heat bloomed across my face.

So embarrassing.

Truthfully, I wondered if this healing power might actually be my ability.

I prayed it was. Over and over.

Yes, I could hear animals’ voices, read people’s emotions—but those were useless talents.

At best, I could chat with animals. Against stronger people, even my mind-reading didn’t work.

And besides, it’s not something visible…

No one would believe I’d awakened an ability.

Even if I went back to the Academy, I’d just be mocked again.

Without realizing, I pressed my lips tight.

Pathetic as it was, I often dreamed nightmares about returning to the Academy.

In them, I announced to my professors and peers that I’d awakened… only to be met with scornful eyes.

Maybe that’s why I often thought:

“Reading thoughts barely counts as a power.”

So I wished for something more obvious, like in the novels—an ability visible to the eye.

The kind that could save a dying person. A true miracle.

That way, I’d be recognized as useful.

That way, I’d be someone indispensable, never left alone.

So foolish.

Disappointment weighed me down, draining the strength from my body.

Even after more than three years, I was still clinging to miracles.

How pathetic.

Tears threatened to spill.

Curling my tail tight around me, I buried my face. Voices drifted above me.

“…Why is it suddenly acting like this?”

“Who knows? Maybe because of you, Lord Kenihg?”

“Because of me?”

“The thief realized you’re too strong to need its protection. Just like the former captains who left the Kreuz family in despair.”

At Gerard’s words, a flustered grunt slipped from Kenihg.

Yes, I feel powerless—but it’s not because of him.

Should I just stand up and pretend nothing was wrong?

But then—

“Should I… give it the medicine again?”

Rustling, as though pulling something from his pocket.

And then—

“Perhaps that would be best.”

Gulp.

I heard Kenihg swallow.

“Chuuut—!!”

No, you idiot reptiles! That’s not it!