TCML 37

Chapter : 37

I’ll Change the Male Lead This Time

Hyperion watched Kaela head up to the castle, then slowly opened his palm.

‘How many times has it been already?’

Between the spreading light in his hand, Babil appeared—transformed into a cat, curled up and fast asleep under Kaela’s blanket.

—Come out. Now.
—Kiiing!

It had been a long time since Babil had slept so deeply, and he resisted fiercely. It took a considerable amount of power just to move him.

After relocating Babil to his own room, Hyperion finally let out a low sigh.

“Seriously… this is driving me insane.”

Ever since meeting Kaela, Babil had been acting completely out of control.

Worst of all, it was instinctive.

Boom—! Boom—!

Fireworks continued to bloom endlessly in the night sky as Hyperion made his way back to his room.

—At least now you’re not alone. I’m here.

It was a road he’d always walked alone. Fireworks he’d grown sick of seeing.

And yet tonight, everything felt strange.

It was as if Kaela’s voice lingered right beside him.

—Kiiing!

Just then, Babil’s dissatisfied whine echoed in Hyperion’s ears. Since they were originally one being, they could hear each other’s voices.

“Get a grip. If it’s unbearable, then eat Laviel or something. Why would you go to Kaela’s room of all places…?”

Suddenly, something flashed through his mind.

‘…What?’

—Babil looked like he had a pretty high fever earlier. Are you okay?
—Mm, luckily I don’t have a fever.

Hyperion turned his head and looked back at the path he’d walked—and at Kaela’s room at the end of it.

‘Why…?’

Come to think of it, the splitting headache that had felt like being stabbed had completely vanished.

“This is a visitation card bearing the imperial seal.”

Early in the morning, after receiving a message from Aile, I headed to the reception room of the detached palace used as the Imperial Knights’ headquarters.

“Even without revealing your identity, you’ll be able to move freely throughout the festival areas. Ah, of course, that includes the interior of the temple, which is usually restricted.”

What Aile handed me was a luxurious-looking, gold-colored amulet.

‘Oh, so this is the free-pass card.’

I remembered seeing it in the original story.

Only high-ranking individuals within the imperial family and the temple possessed one—Phoebe and Hyperion each had their own.

It was basically a cheat item that made everyone kneel the moment it appeared. Phoebe had used it to great effect when she swept through the imperial palace.

“By the way, Miss—do you happen to know what went on between His Highness and Lord Babil?”

“Hyperion and Babil?”

Aile suddenly asked me with a puzzled expression.

“Did something happen?”

When I returned to my room last night, Babil had already vanished as if by magic. The closed window, the blanket left on the floor.

I had wondered if Hyperion had forcibly dragged him away…

“Well, Lord Babil has been… since early morning…”

Aile made a quiet tsst sound and gazed out the window.

Following his line of sight to the outdoor training grounds across the way, I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes.

“What on earth is he doing?”

Since the crack of dawn, Babil had been running laps around the training field alone. He was moving at incredible speed—as if he had boosters attached.

“It seems His Highness ordered him to. He looks like he committed some sort of offense.”

Even Aile looked completely baffled. Apparently, this was unprecedented.

“Lord Babil has never disobeyed our lord before, so I truly have no idea.”

“Since when has he been doing that?”

“Since dawn.”

“…What?”

I stepped closer to the window.

It was already early summer, with the sun blazing from the morning.

Yet not a single bead of sweat appeared on Babil’s pale face.

“It seems His Highness intended to exhaust Lord Babil, but that may be difficult. Strangely enough, he looks even more energetic since yesterday.”

—Whenever that woman shows up, my head hurts.
—But… when I’m next to my wife, it gets better.

Just as Aile said, Babil practically flew across the field. He even looked like he was smiling.

‘How many people is that?’

Young noble ladies who had gathered in the capital for the festival were hiding in the bushes, sneaking glances at him.

“Uh… wife?”

“Why are you doing that so early in the morning, Babil?”

I asked directly as Babil waved both hands enthusiastically at me. He only shrugged slightly, his expression clearly saying I was told to.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Mmm. If I get tired, my wife can hug me.”

As he shook his head, his eyes curved into a soft smile.

“Oh my—w-what did Lord Babil just say?”
“I saw Lord Babil smile… I have no regrets left in life.”

As a warm breeze tousled his hair and thin shirt, sighs spilled from the bushes all around.

He’s a walking advertisement.

“My wife will hug me, right? Won’t she?”

Babil tilted his head, seemingly oblivious to the murmurs around him.

“For now, keep running, Babil.”

“Okay!”

Feeling overwhelmed by the growing number of stares directed at me, I waved him off.

With an energetic reply, Babil kicked off the ground and resumed running.

“I’ve known Lord Babil for quite a long time.”

Aile adjusted his glasses, having watched the entire exchange.

“This is truly strange. Ever since you arrived, Miss—both our lord and Lord Babil have been nothing but strange.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I replied lightly as I returned to my seat.

“Of course it’s a compliment! No—praise wouldn’t even be enough. I always believed there was no woman alive who could handle both our lord and Lord Babil.”

Aile’s voice grew louder as he followed me.

“So honestly, no matter who became Crown Princess, I didn’t have high expectations…”

His eyes sparkled as if he were about to kneel.

“Please. Please, I beg you—stay by our lord’s side for a long, long time.”

“……”

Avoiding his overly lively gaze, I spoke.

“Ah, the festival schedule is the same as last year, right?”

“Yes. It will open with the temple’s ceremony, The Blessing of the Blue Bird, followed by the hunting competition. On the final day, there will be a procession by the temple and the imperial family.”

Pointing to the golden VIP card in my hand, Aile added,

“That card is for observing all the festivities. You’ll be able to go anywhere, so it should be useful in many ways.”

“What do you mean by ‘useful’?”

“For this festival, Saint Phoebe will remain by His Highness’s side, but…”

He slowly stroked his chin.

“From now on, you will need to take that place.”

In other words, I was supposed to watch how the saint acted beside Hyperion—and remember it.

“I don’t think I need to imitate her exactly. I’ll just do my part.”

‘Though I don’t know how long I’ll be doing that…’

“You’re not thinking I don’t know how long this will last, are you?”

Aile pouted, having clearly read my expression.

“The contract says one year. And people—myself included—hope that the woman destined for His Highness stands beside him.”

That was how Ignis—and by extension, my ant-like life—would be protected.

“Well, who knows.”

Aile, gazing at the blazing summer of Ignis, spoke again.

His voice suddenly turned strange.

“That destined woman doesn’t necessarily have to be Saint Phoebe.”

“……”

Unable to immediately grasp his meaning, I looked at him in silence. Aile met my eyes and grinned.

“Miss, you know what Lord Babil looks like in his familiar form, right?”

“A black panther with red eyes.”

“That is Lord Babil’s true form—and thus our lord’s true nature as well. The most honest version of him.”

His expression shifted constantly, now playful, now grave.

“And that means… once he bites, he never lets go.”

I wanted to ask what that was supposed to mean.

Instead, I took a step back. Something felt ominous.

“It means there’s a very good solution—one that ensures your safe escape and our lord’s satisfaction.”

“And that… would be?”

As he added words smoothly, my eyes narrowed.

“Why don’t you revise the contract today? Five years, perhaps? No—ten? Twenty? If we’re being generous, how about thirty?”

‘I knew it.’

“I’ve heard your absurd proposal. I’ll see you at the opening ceremony, Aile.”

I stood up, holding the visitation card.

“My mother dreamed of a rabbit when she gave birth to me. You know rabbits don’t let go once they bite either, right? Miiiiss!”

Ignoring his pitiful cry, I walked away without a shred of hesitation.