Chapter 67
Yeloise simply watched the little girl who had thrown herself into my arms, crying her eyes out.
Just five minutes ago, Yeloise’s mood had been like a balloon swollen to its limit. She was on edge, ready to burst at the slightest thing.
It was her chronic insomnia, as always, that plagued her.
Her sleeping arrangements had changed, and on top of that, there had been a recent attack, leaving her far more irritable than usual.
Even though she had finally fallen into a light sleep under such conditions…
A single unfamiliar footstep unsettled her.
“Thief?”
The careless sound of the footsteps did not belong to a skilled assassin.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a small shadow peeking into her wardrobe in the dimly lit room.
Daring to lay hands on Princess Kreutz’s belongings…
It was rare that she felt the need to set an example.
But then…
“Uh, unni….”
Her eyes met those of the terrified little girl, trembling all over.
“Cherry.”
A small, plump squirrel with a swishing tail popped into my mind.
At first, I had been startled.
“I knew she had mana and guessed she was a beastfolk, but…”
The difference between imagining it in my head and seeing the squirrel I had cherished appear in human form was immense.
Then came a wave of deep regret.
“Ah, I shouldn’t have thrown the knife.”
The fact that Cherry had gone out of her way to find me at this hour meant she must be in serious trouble.
Only a few days ago, I had pressured her, accusing her of being a spy.
“For her to come to me now…”
I could only imagine how desperate her situation must have been.
Yeloise just let out heavy breaths.
For some reason, it seemed that Kenich didn’t know about Cherry transforming into a human. Or perhaps Cherry didn’t want to tell him.
Either way, I felt sorry for frightening a child who was already pushed to the brink.
At the same time…
“I think I roughly understand what happened.”
The puzzle pieces that hadn’t fit before now fell into place.
Why mana emanated from the squirrel.
Why a beastfolk would live in Black Dragon Castle, even while pretending to be an ordinary squirrel.
There was no need to ask further.
“Was Cherry the heir of the Edmond family?”
Three years ago, there had been rumors that shook the capital, and I had heard about them too.
The story of a minor herbivorous noble family attempting rebellion against the royal family, only to be executed.
“It was said that Lady Edmond threw herself off a cliff after being pursued…”
It seemed she had miraculously survived.
It was a relief, even if belated, to see that Cherry was still alive.
“You must have had a hard time.”
Yeloise just held the little girl close, as if she might cry again at any moment.
Whether the child before her was Cherry or Muriel Edmond made little difference.
What mattered was that this small girl had saved Yeloise and her brother countless times.
As Cherry cried into her arms like a child, I could feel the fear she had been suppressing.
The royal family, nobles, even street urchins… The life of constantly being hunted, with nowhere to lean on, had been merciless, and it needed no words to understand.
“To think I doubted her… that she might be a spy sent by another noble family.”
Yeloise despised her past self. She wished she could turn back time and silence that judgmental mouth.
Still, there was one comfort—
“Cherry, it’s okay now.”
She could promise that to the child crying in her arms.
Yeloise Kreutz had the wealth and power to protect Cherry. She could make her a noble in the western continent, and if necessary, even stand against the royal family to protect her.
And if Cherry wished, she could also keep this secret from everyone in Black Dragon Castle.
So…
“Cherry, whenever you need help, come to me.”
Sniffle, sniffle.
After crying for a full hour, I was finally able to stop.
When I said I’d only stay for one night, Yeloise nodded without asking anything.
“I’m short, so it’s fine if I sleep on the sofa.”
“Hmm, that won’t do.”
“Eh? Why…?”
“I’m not comfortable having a guest in my room sleep on the sofa.”
“But…”
I refused several times, but there was no way I could win against Yeloise.
“And don’t you share the same bed as Kenich?”
“Uh, that’s…”
I felt my face grow hot without even realizing it. Even though I was still in squirrel form, just hearing this made me embarrassed.
“Well, the human form won’t last that long anyway…”
In a couple of hours, I would return to my squirrel form, as usual. Then even if I talked in my sleep, I wouldn’t disturb Yeloise.
I glanced at her.
“Come on.”
I approached her side as she tapped the edge of the bed.
“……”
Yeloise turned her body slightly and just watched me quietly.
“Awkward…”
It was my first time sleeping next to someone in human form.
Like a newlywed on the first night, I didn’t know what to do with this awkwardness.
I tugged the blanket up to my chin and carefully spoke.
“Um… can I call you unni…?”
“Oh my, haven’t I already been your unni? I consider Cherry Cherry my little sister.”
Yeloise twirled my messy hair on the bed.
When I was a squirrel, she had touched my tail; now she played with my hair as a human.
“There were so many things I wanted to do if I had a younger sister. I can do them with you, Cherry Cherry.”
She mentioned going to boutiques and even hiring skilled servants to style my hair.
Her suggestion to do a dessert tour in the western continent made me laugh.
“Sounds fun.”
I wanted that day to come quickly, but at the same time, unease kept rising.
“But you’re not asking anything…?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just… everything.”
“Do you want me to ask?”
I shook my head vigorously at Yeloise’s question.
“Not exactly… but, I might have come to Black Dragon Castle with ill intentions…”
At my words, Yeloise just chuckled softly.
“Gerard said you were kidnapped, though?”
“That’s true, but I could’ve stolen something from Black Dragon Castle too…”
Even though I was already habitually sneaking into the castle’s kitchen.
Clearing my throat awkwardly, Yeloise squinted her eyes and smiled.
“Do you need money?”
“Not money… really, I just need a safe place.”
I glanced at Yeloise, gauging her reaction. I knew that the head of the Rose Guild, well connected with both the royal family and the capital’s nobles, couldn’t be unaware of my reputation.
Seemingly confirming my thoughts, Yeloise nodded. A silent signal to continue.
“I’ll eventually have to leave Black Dragon Castle.”
“Leave Black Dragon Castle…?”
Yeloise’s eyes shone sharply in the darkness.
“Well, I’m not really part of the Kreutz family.”
“Was that your worry?”
I just nodded slightly in response.
“I’ve already considered you, Cherry, as a member of our family.”
Yeloise reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear.
“You saved Kenich and me several times. Though late… I’m truly sorry and thankful to you, Cherry.”
She went on to say that I had saved not only the Kreutz siblings but the entire Kreutz family.
“What?”
“Cherry Cherry, if you hadn’t blocked that arrow, Kenich would have surely lost control.”
Yeloise said this with certainty. She, too, as a dragon beastfolk sensitive to mana, had understood the gravity of the situation.
“But there was nothing I could do. It was my fault that Kenich was put in danger.”
