IBTBD 59

Chapter 59

‘I have to stop them somehow…!’

Contrary to my desperate thoughts, the Kreutz siblings and Gerard were steadily carrying out their plans.

“I’ll leave the carriage preparation to my sister.”

“Fortunately, it’s not far to Gelende, so we just need to leave the castle for a week.”

“Then let’s prepare to depart at 9 tomorrow morning.”

König, Gerard, and Yeloise.

As the three finished speaking and were about to stand, I hurriedly blocked their way.

“Chu, chuuu…!”

I stood there, arms spread wide in determination.

“Cherry, I understand your intention, but I can’t take you with us.”

König pressed my head down as he spoke.

“Chuut?”

What do you mean, “understand”?

No, are you saying you’re leaving me behind?

The one who can’t even sleep without me?!

“Chu, chuut!”

I could only burst out laughing at the absurdity.

It was now Gerard’s turn to persuade me.

He bent down to meet my eye level and explained carefully, point by point.

“Cherry, outside the castle isn’t as safe as here. Also, this investigation would be problematic if any information leaked. We plan to keep it as secret as possible. Naturally, we won’t be taking the knights with us.”

In other words, it was dangerous, so I was to remain in the castle.

‘I understand what you mean…’

But giving up was not an option.

“Chut.”

I snorted at König and Gerard, turning my back on them.

Even without these foolish reptiles, I still had a lifeline.

Yeloise.

I gently grabbed the hem of her clothes and opened my eyes with a pitiful look.

“Chuuu…”

“Ugh… ugh…”

Luckily, the charm worked.

Yeloise’s face contorted sharply, and her hands began trembling.

‘Now, let’s make it easy for her to stroke my soft tail.’

I subtly turned so that Yeloise could stroke me comfortably.

But even after a few minutes, there was no touch on my backside.

“…Cherry, Cherry, I understand your wish to come along, but this time it’s better to listen to König.”

Yeloise spoke from a distance, as if suppressing some desire.

“Chu, chuut…”

How could she say that?

I backed away in frustration and finally had no choice but to slump onto the floor.

Is this what it feels like to have your trust betrayed?

It felt like the world had collapsed.

I slumped my shoulders and sniffled, but soon my eyes gleamed.

I wasn’t Cherry to give up so easily.

“Chut.”

Even when the sky falls, there’s always a way out.

Just wait, you little dragons.

The next morning.

Early morning in the Duke of Kreutz’s bedroom.

“Cherry, you won’t even show your face for a week?”

König was heatedly engaged in a one-sided conversation.

The other party’s cheeks were puffed up like a squirrel storing nuts—red pouches that Cherry carried around.

Perhaps annoyed at being left behind, she had refused food and snacks since last night and had been hiding in the pouch the entire time.

It was a sort of protest.

‘Completely sulking.’

Seeing the pouch stubbornly immobile, König ran his hand down his dry face.

It was the first time he felt such tightness in his chest just from seeing someone hiding in a pouch.

Usually, people smile and laugh off things they don’t like in front of others.

If someone heard of a hunger strike just to defy them, perhaps they’d never eat again.

But today, there was nothing he could do.

All he could do was fidget with his cravat out of frustration.

“Is this… what it is…?”

König moved his lips, pondering, and soon named the feelings stirring inside him.

This was definitely…

Yes, it was the heart of a parent.

Worrying if the child misses a meal or where they are if not in sight.

“Is she breathing well?”

Even such trivial things concerned him.

Just as König reached toward the pouch, Gerard, who had finished preparing in the meantime, intervened.

“You’d better stop.”

In a stern voice unusual for a subordinate, he spoke.

“If you go on, she may continue her hunger strike. Now is the chance to correct Cherry’s habits firmly.”

‘That makes sense.’

König realized he would have to endure it for Cherry’s sake—until he saw his subordinate’s expression.

“Ugh, having to leave Cherry behind…”

Gerard grit his teeth, eyes wide with forced determination.

And he looked like tears could fall at any moment.

Despite the absurdity, I could understand his feelings a little.

He, too, had been restless since last night.

He couldn’t sleep as he usually did.

Was leaving Cherry behind really the right choice?

After all, the safest place for Cherry was beside him.

But if she might be in danger…

“Ah.”

Even thinking about it made him feel faint.

Clearly, it was better for Cherry to remain at the Black Dragon Castle.

“Cherry, I’ll be back soon.”

König whispered to the pouch as he bowed.

“…”

“In five nights. No, three nights.”

His tone was like soothing a child.

“Eh? My lord, that’s impossible! No, more importantly…”

Has our lord ever looked like this?

Gerard muttered from his place at the foot, but König ignored him.

“Cherry, if you need anything, tell Ria. I told her to fulfill any request.”

With that, König and Gerard left the bedroom.

Kuu, kuuuruk…

Inside the pouch, unaware of the unusual sounds being made.

Clatter, clatter.

About an hour after leaving the castle.

The old carriage was filled with heavy silence.

“Was this… the best option?”

König slowly parted his lips, staring out the window.

The narrow carriage made contact with Gerard’s knees, and wind whistled through the rough seams.

As it hit a bump…

Clunk.

The carriage jolted, and Gerard’s head nearly hit the ceiling.

“Ah!”

Already the eighth time.

He rubbed the back of his head in a circle.

“I can never get used to this.”

“Once we pass the duchy, a new carriage awaits. Hang in there until then.”

Yeloise spoke gracefully.

If one were to argue against the question of ‘Was this the best?’—

Of course not.

Even if a disguised carriage was necessary to hide the duke’s departure, there were better options.

Yet, they had chosen this old, outdated carriage purely for amusement.

After all, the Kreutz family always rode in splendid carriages. Seeing them in this decrepit carriage was worth it.

“This is an experience money can’t buy.”

Yeloise smiled.

“What’s that cushion only your side has?”

König pointed at Yeloise’s seat.

Unlike their cheap blanket, Yeloise sat on a soft, luxurious cushion.

“It’s preparation from experience.”

Unlike greenhouse plants, Yeloise had traveled the continent, experiencing many carriages.

And she realized cushions were essential in old carriages.

“No wonder you looked so comfortable.”

“Gerard, do you have something to say to me?”

“Ah, no.”

His eyes hardened, but as a Kreutz retainer, he could do nothing.

All he could do was clench his lips and find another topic.

“I was just curious if the fur sticking out from the seat was also prepared by the princess. The dense, fluffy fur swaying gently looks just like…”

“Cherry?”

“Yes, like Cherry’s tail!”

Gerard clapped his hands as he spoke.

“Chut!”

A sound that should never have been heard in the old carriage erupted.

“No way…”

The Kreutz siblings and Gerard froze, naturally.

Unaware or ignoring the situation…

The soft fur swaying like foxtail grass suddenly began to move violently, and a white tuft began to emerge.

First, a sausage-like hind leg.

Next, a peanut-shaped body.

And finally…

“Chuuu—!”

A small, round face with clear pink eyes like ripe cherries.

“Chuchuchut!”

I’m here, you little dragons!