I Became a Cat That Sleeps with an Obsessive Tyrant Every Night - Chapter 48

Then, how do I get to the library? And how can I learn more about the oracle?

In the library, you can’t just take or borrow books recklessly. Moreover, borrowing Fabian Nelas’s prayer requires careful consideration, as it would leave a record of the transaction. It was suggested to discreetly read the book without attracting attention and leaving a trace.

As the nominated Deputy Minister of the Department of Magical Affairs, important information to be shared between Killian and Baron in the future was essential for me.

The yet-to-be-solved homework-like future was looming over me.

Moreover…

“……”

I never thought that Killian would leave me somewhere, even if this was Baron’s house. 

Why did I have such vague trust in him?

Even though not long ago, I was trembling at the thought of when he might kill me.

No, now I needed to pull myself together and inquire about my future.

“Did you become like this because I became a person?”

After asking, I realized that my question was a bit strange.

Normally, becoming a person would be a good thing, but my question had a nuance similar to, “Did you abandon me after becoming a human?”

What I meant was that if Sanua didn’t send me divine power, I could easily turn back into a cat during the day and discreetly investigate for clues in the castle. To convey my intentions more accurately, I decided to clarify.

“No, what I meant was that I’ve become a form unsuitable for hiding…”

“That’s not a problem at all, your ‘form.'”

Killian interjected with a faint smile.

“You’ll be here for a few days, there’s something you need to learn here. Baron will give you detailed explanations.”

With his added words, I finally let out a sigh of relief and a smile.

“Oh, I see. It’ll be quick, then.”

I couldn’t help but grin foolishly, but the sense of relief was unavoidable.

“Understood, Your Highness. I’ll make sure to pay close attention to what Count Baron informs me during this time.”

I smiled brightly and looked up at Killian.

At that moment, a fleeting bitter smile seemed to hang on his lips.

“Will a month pass quickly?”

Killian asked with a sly smile.

Is the month I know different from the month in this world? It couldn’t be.

“About two weeks, wouldn’t that be quick?”

“I see.”

He casually replied while looking down at me.

“For you, a month seems to be quick.”

He seemed somewhat displeased.

I discreetly shifted my gaze to the tip of my toes, pondering what might have touched his feelings.

What did I say just now that could have caught his attention?

Was it an issue that I said a month would pass quickly? Why would that be?

“Do you dislike being apart from me for a month?”

“Of course not.”

His immediate response was so sharp that I was left speechless.

I threw the question out there as a joke, but his sharp response left me speechless.

I didn’t think it would be that.

I pursed my lips in dissatisfaction and reconsidered what I had said earlier.

Come to think of it, Kilian mentioned that my form wasn’t the issue. So, could it be something else?

“Could my existence itself be the problem?”

“What?”

Upon hesitating, I asked, and Killian burst into laughter all of a sudden.

But the words I brought up weren’t entirely incorrect.

The presence of cats in this empire is still frighteningly ominous, and it would be difficult to convince everyone based on the prayers of Fabian Nelas.

It’s not easy to go around and prove that my presence is harmless.

“I can’t fathom what you’re thinking. It might be better not to entertain such thoughts.”

As if advising me to come to my senses, Killian lightly poked my nose.

Well, I did ask after much contemplation.

“But, Your Highness, do you have anything else to say?”

“Why?”

“My throat is a bit… sore.”

Upon my response, he narrowed his eyes as if he heard an unexpected sound.

There was something he was overlooking; the fact that he was exceptionally tall. To look at him directly, I had to almost lean my neck backward.

Feeling a slight strain on my stretched neck, I gathered the courage to add more.

“Could you please sit down?”

There were plenty of empty seats. When I tapped on an empty spot and flashed a cheerful smile, he let out a perplexed laugh.

“I’m asking you to sit.”

As he willingly took a seat on the sofa, his large shadow, backed by the fireplace, enveloped my entire figure.

“Oh…”

Amidst many available seats, I was surprised that he chose to sit next to me. However, he casually rested his elbow over the backrest, gazing at me.

“Why?”

Asking why he chose to sit next to me among the many available seats would be impolite, wouldn’t it?

I nodded my head slightly, trying to meet his weary yet bright red eyes.

“No reason.”

Even so, staring at people so leisurely is a bit too much.

It’s unfair, Your Highness, your face is too captivating.

The room I was staying in was one of the guest rooms in Count Baron’s mansion, a cozy space that showed signs of meticulous care over the years. Positioned around the central fireplace on the wall, there was a sofa and table on the left, wing chairs and footstools on the right, and quaint frames hung on the walls. Near the large window, there was a small desk and chair for work, and a bed adorned with a charming floral canopy a little further away.

I found that I wouldn’t wake up from my sleep, and Killian said he immediately brought me here to Winston.

“So, I’ll return to the castle as a human?”

“Yes.”

Killian casually answered as he set down the teacup.

As we continued our conversation on the sofa, the time passed, and Killian decided to have tea brought by a servant.

Naturally, I thought of transforming into a cat and hiding inside his jacket or pocket.

“Isn’t it more comfortable now?”

“W-Well, of course.”

In every aspect, but especially in expressing myself when I had something to say, it was much easier.

Isn’t there only one person who understands the sound of a cat’s meow so well?

“But I don’t quite understand how I’ll go to the castle in this form.”

“You’ll attend the Imperial Ball.”

“The Imperial Ball?”

I was surprised, and I quickly put down the dessert I was eating, running my hand over my mouth.

In response, Killian furrowed his brow and gently brushed my mouth with a calm touch.

“Whether in this form or as a cat, there isn’t much difference, is there?”

It seemed like a subtle way of scolding me, so I pulled my head back, but he even flicked away the crumb that clung to my mouth.

As he brushed around my mouth, I recalled the upcoming masquerade ball, which I had almost forgotten due to his grooming.

“How do I go there?”

“Reinette. Drink your tea.”

He gestured as if instructing me to drink the tea.

“Drink while we talk. You’ve only been eating those pastries until now.”

When did he notice that? Glancing at the nearly empty tray of pastries, I reluctantly took the teacup as he indicated.

The warm lemon balm tea spread in my mouth.

After I had a few sips of the lemon balm tea, Killian spoke again.

“Sanua’s power isn’t perfectly trained, but it’s improving. Fortunately, you can now maintain a human form while awake, so hiding should no longer be necessary.”

“But going to the ball… I mean…”

“You’ll be introduced as the Princess of Brünnhilde Castle. We should encourage your mother to invite you to stay in the castle.”

I struggled to organize my jumbled thoughts and focused on his words.

In summary of Killian’s words, Brünnhilde Castle is one of the few marquisates within the empire. It has been run by a retired noble for a long time, and the family rarely ventures beyond their territory.

Killian, who defended the northernmost location through several wars, has tried to express gratitude to Brünnhilde Castle several times. However, they declined, fearing it might provoke Emperor Adolf. Being a retired noble in the far north, they didn’t attract much attention within the empire.

The retired noble of Brünnhilde Castle expressed willingness to help if there was anything they could assist with. Killian planned to leverage this assistance to introduce me at the Imperial Ball as the Princess of Brünnhilde Castle.

However, due to the noble’s reluctance to leave their territory, Killian intended to obtain the retired noble’s approval and attend the ball with Baron as a means of proof.

“Become the Princess of Brünnhilde Castle? Brünnhilde Castle agrees to this as well?”

“The Marquis of Brünnhilde married, but they didn’t have children, so there’s no successor.”

After experiencing several wars, Brünnhilde Castle decided not to pass their territory to distant relatives but to have Killian ascend to the throne if he wished. To ensure control over the northernmost territory, invaders had to pass through Brünnhilde Castle. However, with Adolf entrusting the army to his wife Gisela, Killian took on the responsibility of reinforcing the military in the north whenever minor invasions occurred. As a result, Brünnhilde Castle and its territories were under Killian’s protection.

Since even the relatives who were excluded from the Brünnhilde Castle were not concerned, it was inevitable to feel some resentment towards those relatives who refused to help.

“But what if someone finds out?”

“Who would dare to question the Marquis of Brünnhilde directly?”

His response left me speechless, and I pressed my surprised heart firmly.

At that moment, Killian took my hand and showed me the palm.

He slowly wrote words on my palm.

“Reinette Brünnhilde.”

The soft-sounding name that flowed from his lips felt like it was etched in my ears.

“Now, that’s your name.”

In the midst of my unrestrained emotions, I inadvertently clenched the letters drawn on my palm.

My heart raced, and tension surged to the tips of my head.

This couldn’t be an impromptu decision, no matter how much I thought about it.

It seemed like he had prepared and planned quite a bit.

“You think you can handle it?”

Killian said as he released my hand.

Can I handle it?

Looking at his gently smiling face, it was still difficult for me to find words.

If infiltrating the castle as a maid while still in my human form was the limit of my imagination, he presented a bold proposal beyond that.

“Do you really think I can secure an invitation from Emperor Adolf?”