ISKC 17

Chapter 17

“Then let’s go to the bedroom!”

At that odd remark, Cassis’s brows furrowed slightly.

Rosalyn only straightened her shoulders with more confidence.

“Come on, get up. The baby’s getting sleepy.”

At last, Cassis rose to his feet.
He held the tiny kitten carefully in both hands, making sure not to startle it.

The sound of footsteps followed after him as he moved quietly.

At the foot of the stairs leading to the second floor, Cassis finally asked,

“Why are you following me?”

A question heavy with the suspicion—Is she planning to follow me all the way into my bedchamber?

Rosalyn answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Because you don’t know how to put a kitten to sleep, of course.”

Even she knew how outrageous it sounded to say she’d follow him into his bedroom.

‘Brazen-face strategy!’

The kind of confident attitude that made people go, …Well, maybe she has a point.

Cassis lowered his gaze.
The tiny bundle of white fur was already nodding off in his hands.

He had agreed to take it in because they said it might die soon, but truthfully, he had no idea how to handle such a fragile thing.

Cassis, the man who had swung his sword countless times on battlefields—yet the act of holding a kitten felt far more difficult.

“What if I hurt it by mistake? It could die.”

Rosalyn, utterly oblivious to his inner turmoil, struck right at the heart.

“That’s exactly why you need my help.”

Cassis said nothing, simply ascending the stairs.

What in the world am I doing…?

But that vague doubt vanished the moment he felt the faint warmth of the little life in his palms.

He was familiar with death.
And from the battlefield, he had learned one thing well: the sense of recognizing the spark of life.
To save even one comrade who still had a chance.

And this little kitten—at least it seemed to have that chance.
If it stayed with him.

They reached the second-floor chamber.

Rosalyn’s first impression upon stepping into the private quarters of the Black Iron Commander, a duke’s heir no less, was short and blunt:

‘Bleak.’

There was nothing.
Truly nothing but a bed.

The only so-called decorations were a suit of armor and a single sword propped against the wall.

‘Not that weapons even count as decorations… looks more like a museum.’

There was no scent of human life.
And yet, Cassis walked into the room naturally, proving this truly was where he lived.

He stopped before the bed.

“What do I do now?”

“First… sit down.”

Rosalyn pressed lightly on his shoulder.
Startled by the sudden touch, Cassis glanced at her hand—but obeyed and sat without a word.

‘Hmm, works better than I thought.’

The knight who had radiated icy winds was now oddly docile.
Perhaps his weakness was fragile beings.

Rosalyn gave her next command.

“Lie down.”

“….”

“You wanted to know how to put Snow to sleep, right? Then you’ll have to lie down with him.”

Though she had marched in under her own pretext, Cassis couldn’t refute her logic.
To learn how, he would have to experience it.

After a moment’s hesitation, he complied.
His hands, still holding Snow, hovered awkwardly over his chest.

“Now, place him right here on your chest.”

Rosalyn guided his hands, gently settling the kitten on his torso.

Noticing the gloves still on his hands, she remarked casually,

“You should touch him with your bare hands. He’ll like it better.”

She didn’t actually know whether cats preferred bare skin to gloves.
But that wasn’t the point.

‘Didn’t I come here tonight with one mission—to strip him down?’

Of course, she couldn’t just tear off his shirt right away.
Step by step. Start with the gloves.
Lower his guard, piece by piece.

Rosalyn wore the most shamelessly innocent face.

“…..”

At last, Cassis removed his gloves.

For the first time, his bare skin was revealed.

‘Gods… look at all those scars.’

Rosalyn barely managed to hide her shock.
His hands were covered with wounds, hardened and rough.
Of course, a man who lived by the sword wouldn’t have delicate hands, but this was far harsher than she had expected.

Catching his gaze, Rosalyn snapped back to her role.

“…Now, like pulling a blanket over him, cover Snow’s back with your hand. Gently. Like this.”

She demonstrated first, then pulled away.
Cassis imitated her, surprisingly obedient.

“Once he gets used to it, you can pet his head with your finger. Very gently.”

When Rosalyn stroked the soft fluff with the tip of her finger, Snow purred.

“What is that sound?”

“It means he’s happy.”

Cassis stared at the small creature curled on his chest.
In those unfathomable eyes of his, the white furball was reflected.

“Hold him for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

Rosalyn slipped out of the chamber.

She returned shortly, holding a shallow dish.

“If you place water nearby, he can drink whenever he wants.”

She looked around the bed.

“Let’s see… somewhere close is best.”

She moved toward the head of the bed, then abruptly spun around.

“No, better below—ah!”

She lost her balance.

Splash!

Water spilled from the dish, narrowly missing Snow—landing squarely on Cassis’s abdomen instead.

Rosalyn, steadying herself on the bed, found her face inches from his.

I was too focused on making sure Snow didn’t get splashed…

She faked a flustered expression.
The spill had been an act.

‘If he’s soaked, he’ll have to take his shirt off!’

She hadn’t counted on the awkward landing, though.

“…..”

Cassis’s blue eyes gazed steadily into hers.
The silence was deafening.

Rosalyn slowly rose, pretending ignorance.

“Oh no. Are you all right? What about Snow?”

She fussed over the kitten first.
Thanks to her careful aim, not a hair on him was wet.

But Cassis’s torso was a different matter.

“Good heavens, your clothes are drenched! I’m so sorry!”

She gently lifted Snow and set him down by the pillow.
Now freed from the kitten, Cassis sat up.

The wet fabric clung to him, outlining the hard ridges of his abdomen.

Rosalyn exclaimed in false concern,

“You should change right away. If you stay in wet clothes, you’ll catch a cold.”

Surely, he would have to undress now.

‘Success! Much easier than I thought!’

But just as she rejoiced inwardly—

“Leave.”

“…What?”

Cassis spoke in a flat tone.

“I’ve learned how to put Snow to sleep. You can leave now.”

Too calm for anger.
Almost as if he truly meant it—lesson finished, no more need for her.

Had he seen through her?
Or did he genuinely think the lesson was over?

Rosalyn decided retreat was wiser.

“Ah, right. I showed you how to do it, so my job’s done. Just put the water somewhere convenient.”

Staying longer would only arouse suspicion.

But leave for real? Cassis clearly didn’t know Rosalyn.

She paused at the door and turned back.

“But what now? The curfew’s already started, hasn’t it?”

The Aleon Empire enforced nightly curfews for security.
Rosalyn had timed her visit deliberately to be caught out after hours.

“…..”

Cassis’s face darkened, icy.

Rosalyn flashed the brightest, most innocent smile she could muster.

“Couldn’t you let me stay just one night?”

Because in the end, the shameless always win.

And so, Rosalyn was granted permission to stay the night at his residence.

Deep into the night.

Though late, she lay awake, staring at the ceiling.

Hmm… so what now?

She had succeeded in entering his house.
But failed to strip him.
Still, with one night secured, there was another chance.

Should I sneak into his room at dawn? …No, too obvious.

The classic trick—“Oh no, I had a nightmare, I’m so scared!”—came to mind.
But Cassis would probably reply with, “Nightmares are illusions,” and send her away.

As her eyes drifted idly across the ceiling, something flickered at the corner of her vision.

What was that?

She glanced toward the window.
Nothing unusual.

“Maybe just a bird?”
Perhaps an owl, or a bat.

Then—

Clatter.

A faint sound came from above.
Small enough that only someone awake would notice.

…Wait. Isn’t Cassis’s room right upstairs?

Rosalyn sat bolt upright.

It wasn’t only an excuse to visit his chamber.

Something felt wrong.