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chapter 27
“This is impossible.”
Teansis shook his head as if what I said were absurd, denying the notion that I could be a queen.
“The Queen Monster is literally a monster. A human cannot possibly have such abilities.”
“But they call me that… the Queen…”
As I spoke, I looked at the cat, who let out a soft chuckle before speaking.
“Monsters can tell exactly who the queen is. It doesn’t matter whether she is human or not.”
“I’m just curious—why am I considered the queen?”
“I don’t know how a human like you became the queen. But I do know that the blood flowing through your body is the blood of a queen. Your blood is very fragrant and has a strong influence on us.”
“My blood?”
“Yes. Monsters follow and adore the queen as if it’s their destiny from birth. Your sweet blood irresistibly attracts and is precious to us.”
Teansis probably didn’t hear a word the cat said, but just hearing my question made his expression serious.
It seemed that the moment the word “blood” came out of my mouth, his demeanor changed.
In a noticeably subdued voice compared to before, Teansis spoke.
“What does that monster say is the reason you are the queen?”
“That… it’s because of my blood…”
Suddenly, Teansis stood up, running his hands roughly through his hair even before I finished speaking.
Just by looking at his expression, I could sense how serious the situation was.
“Did that monster really say it’s because of your blood? That your blood is the blood of the queen?”
“Yes. That my blood is fragrant and has a strong influence on them…”
“Lady.”
Teansis stepped closer to me as he spoke. The cat let out a sharp cry as he closed the distance in an instant.
“Meowww!”
But Teansis didn’t glance at the cat at all. Instead, he looked at me with his serious purple eyes and continued.
“This is a truly significant matter. For a human to possess the abilities of a Queen Monster is an unimaginable event.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. I had already sensed it. From the moment I heard the cat, I realized this wouldn’t be something that could be taken lightly.
Yet I still openly told Teansis everything because I felt there were things only I could do.
“Then, like the cat said, can I stop the monsters trying to leave the Taran Forest? Another war would be disastrous.”
“Of course that’s important. Even if you can stop them now, in a hundred or two hundred years, another war could break out if nothing is done.”
“Should I go to the Taran Forest?”
Teansis hesitated to answer my carefully posed question. His purple eyes flickered with indecision.
“It is true that there is credibility to you being the queen. Monsters have risked their lives to save you, and now they can even communicate with you. Moreover, your blood affects them.”
“Then…”
“But this is not a decision to be taken lightly. The Taran Forest is not an easy place, and if you go there solely based on what that monster said and something happens, no one will be able to save you there.”
The cat sharply interjected, as if to protest.
“I’m not lying! I don’t intend to put you in danger!”
I didn’t think the cat was trying to deceive me. But I could understand why Teansis was worried.
He spoke calmly, looking at me.
“What I mean is, we should act cautiously. It’s better to confirm everything accurately than to rush and risk mistakes.”
“What if, while hesitating, monsters in the Taran Forest—”
“The Akruse family is not that weak. Didn’t you see how I captured that monster?”
“Ah…”
I couldn’t help but glance at the cat monster. It looked away with a sullen expression, as if it had nothing more to say.
“What I mean is, if more monsters try to leave the Taran Forest in the future, it could be dangerous—but I’m not saying it’s happening right now. As long as I remain head of the Akruse family, such a thing will not occur.”
I was momentarily speechless, feeling the weight of his confidence. Somehow, his assertiveness felt admirable.
The cat muttered something under its breath.
“Annoying guy…”
Teansis was right. There was no need to act as if we were being chased. We could wait, observe the situation, and then act.
“You are correct, Duke. Let’s wait until the situation is clearer before taking action.”
“A wise decision. Above all, your safety is paramount. The Kamar Academy is a place with many outsiders, so let’s head north to where the Akruse family resides.”
“North?”
“Yes. I will protect you.”
He said it casually, but those words carried great weight. Teansis was a man who kept his promises, and his vow to protect me meant a lot.
My heart fluttered unexpectedly, but I steadied myself. I still had secrets I hadn’t shared with him.
‘Should I tell the Duke that I became young by taking the alchemy professor’s experimental medicine?’
I wanted to tell someone, but I had promised Zer to never reveal it, and the current situation prevented me from disclosing everything to Teansis.
The emergence of the Queen Monster’s abilities was a tremendous matter. If revealed publicly, I didn’t know what might happen to me.
Even now, I couldn’t fully protect myself, so I didn’t want to live a life swayed by others.
“…What if I don’t want to?”
Teansis’ purple eyes flickered, surprised. My answer seemed completely unexpected.
“If I say I don’t want to follow you to the north, Duke, will you lock me in the underground prison as you said before?”
When he first brought me to his quarters, Teansis had threatened to imprison me if I didn’t speak honestly.
Now that he knew my abilities, he might once again act coercively if I didn’t comply.
“……”
Teansis remained silent for a while, his gaze intensely fixed on me, hinting at inner deliberation.
Finally, he spoke in a lower, subdued voice.
“May I ask why? I believe that staying close to me is the safest for you. If someone learns of your abilities, they might use them for ill purposes, putting you in danger.”
“You are right, but unless I reveal it myself, I don’t think anyone could easily detect my abilities. Besides, I have reasons to stay here.”
“Can you tell me what those reasons are?”
“……”
“Does it have anything to do with the alchemy professor?”
“…Yes.”
For some reason, Teansis frowned deeply at my answer. He seemed displeased.
I thought, maybe this time, I would truly be imprisoned by him.
‘What if he tortures me to force me to reveal everything?’
I pictured him demanding the truth, and my mind briefly panicked.
Teansis exhaled quietly and spoke in a calm, subdued voice.
“I can read your thoughts from your expression.”
“Well…”
“I will never force you under any circumstances. This is not because of the alchemy professor’s orders under His Majesty’s command.”
His purple eyes darkened as he continued.
“I have chosen to trust you, Lady.”
I couldn’t help but stare at him in awe.
He trusts me.
I had rarely trusted myself, so being trusted by him made my heart race.
“You… trust me?”
“Yes. I trust the Lady I have seen so far. Not just anyone would enter the dangerous Taran Forest claiming to have the Queen’s abilities. You are good-hearted. You must have your reasons for not telling me everything.”
A shiver ran deep in my chest.
Teansis was truly remarkable—not only in appearance but in character as well.
“Thank you. I didn’t expect the Duke to trust me… but it feels good.”
“Promise me one thing. Once your personal matters are settled, you will come with me to the north.”
“Later, not now?”
“Yes. Going north will allow you to learn much more, and it’s far safer than Kamar Academy. I believe this is better for you, not anyone else.”
I pondered briefly, but he was right. One day, I would have to go north. If I could stop the monsters trying to leave the Taran Forest, I must go to prevent another war.
More than that, I wanted to see the Taran Forest myself at least once.
“I will. Once things are settled, I will go north with you.”
Teansis nodded, relieved.
“I will place my people near you from now on. I will ensure they are unobtrusive, but this is a measure for your safety, so please understand.”
“No one knows about my abilities yet—could my safety really be threatened here?”
Teansis’ eyes flashed like a wild animal. It was as if he were imagining that very scenario.
“Nothing should happen, but if it does, I must stop it.”
I felt unexpectedly precious to him, and it made me dizzy.
Perhaps sensing my feelings, Teansis continued.
“Your existence, Lady, might even influence the fate of the Valkanus Empire.”
“Me?”
I asked in disbelief, but Teansis stayed silent. I felt he, too, had things he had yet to tell me.
At that moment, the cat, which had been quietly grooming itself, spoke.
“Queen, why are you talking so long with that guy?”
“Huh?”
“Do as you wish, Queen. If you want something, just give me the order.”
“What happens then?”
“I will make it happen for you. Even if it means dying.”
“What?”
“If you want to stay here, you stay. If you want to go somewhere else, you go. If anyone tries to stop you, I will fight them to the death. That is our queen.”
It felt as if someone had hit me in the head with a hammer.
I realized that I could command monsters. Even Teansis, if he tried to obstruct me, the cat would fight to the death.
Such blind devotion still felt strange. I had felt it before from the monsters who died in the warehouse for me.
I reached out and petted the cat’s head.
Both the cat and Teansis looked at me in surprise.
“Then I’ll give the order. Don’t die.”
“What?”
“I want you to survive and stay by my side, no matter what. I tend to feel very lonely.”
“……”
The cat stared at me in its deep blue eyes, speechless for the first time.
Teansis did the same, then asked softly,
“Is that so?”
He didn’t specify, but I understood he was asking if I really felt that lonely.
“Yes. Being alone is lonely. I’ve seen so many monsters die in the warehouse; I don’t want to lose the cat too. So I’m asking—though the cat left the Taran Forest first, can you forgive it just this once?”
Teansis hesitated briefly, then nodded.
“If the Lady wishes, I will agree.”
The cat, seemingly displeased, protested.
“This is my job! I don’t need to ask that guy! I won’t follow those conditions at all!”
Teansis glanced at the cat, then spoke again, having apparently remembered something.
“Still, it is a dangerous monster for the human world, so there are conditions. Can you follow them?”
“Yes. If it’s something I can do.”
“No! I won’t!”
Teansis carefully listed the conditions.
“First, do not harm humans. Second, do not transform in public. Third… protect the Lady if you face danger.”
I stared at him in surprise at the unexpected third condition. He explained,
“In case a situation arises where I cannot protect you.”
Grateful for his concern, I couldn’t help but smile.
While we shared this silent promise, the cat protested loudly.
“Protecting the queen is obvious! Why promise that guy! I’ll live my way and won’t follow any conditions!”
Teansis looked at the cat and asked,
“What does it say?”
I nudged the cat and forced a smile.
“It says it will follow the Duke’s orders.”
“What are you talking about! I never said that!”
I quietly whispered to the cat as it continued to protest.
“If you don’t follow the conditions, I’ll have to leave you here.”
“T-That…!”
“Say it now if you don’t want to. I won’t take you if you intend to threaten anyone.”
“…I’ll follow.”
“What?”
“I’ll do as you say!”
After that, the cat went silent, as if in disbelief. Teansis, curious, asked again.
“Will it really follow the conditions?”
“Yes. It says it will follow all the conditions you mentioned, Duke.”
I nudged the cat again, and it let out a resigned “meow.” Teansis let out a faint chuckle.
Basking in the warm morning sun, I stretched as usual after getting out of bed.
Though it was only one night, much had happened.
I returned to my room from Teansis’ quarters at dawn. Still tired from staying up late, I yawned.
“Meow.”
The cat leapt onto my bed, cute but demanding.
“Queen, when will you feed me? I’m hungry.”
“Alright, alright.”
Talking with this tiny, white, adorable cat made me realize last night wasn’t a dream.
I got up to fetch some Munochos I had been secretly saving from the alchemy lab, reflecting on how strangely my life seemed to have changed.
“Give me lots! That amount won’t even reach my liver!”
I petted the cat, which had followed me to my feet, and couldn’t help but smile faintly.
I didn’t know how the future would unfold, but compared to the past days when yesterday and today felt the same, I liked the present more.
