Chapter 46
That evening, I returned to my cat form, feeling much better.
The medicine seemed to have worked—my temperature was back to normal, the headache was gone—but even though the fever had subsided, my mind still felt light and floaty.
“What the hell is wrong with him?”
The “him” in question was none other than Suleiman.
Ever since that incident in the library yesterday—the so-called “Veil Kiss”—he had been acting strangely.
“Meowow.” (Seriously, I can’t figure him out.)
They say it’s not women but men whose hearts are fickle as reeds… I guess that’s true.
I pressed my chubby cheeks with both paws, frowning in frustration.
He was the type of person whose face practically screamed “I’m cold and unfeeling—don’t come near me.”
And he’d treated me no differently. Even though we’d been sharing the same bed for months now, he still acted distant.
He’d start being a little kind, then pull away again—like after that trip to the bazaar.
And now, after just a short time apart, Suleiman was acting like someone determined to shower me with affection.
“Meow, nyao? Meow!” (What’s with this sudden change of heart? What am I supposed to do?)
I waved my front paws wildly in the air, then rubbed my soft paw pads roughly over my face in frustration.
What kind of prince personally feeds a commoner, or wipes them with a warm towel?!
Well… maybe since I’m basically like his pet, it makes sense for him to take care of me?
“Kyahhh!” (Ugh, I don’t get it!)
As someone completely inexperienced in romance, I had no idea how to process this sudden turn of events.
Even when he was gone earlier, I’d been restless—my heart tilting like an unbalanced scale.
I’d been working so hard to suppress any budding affection or fondness toward him…
But when he started acting so aggressively affectionate, how was I supposed to keep my feelings in check?!
Overwhelmed by irritation, confusion, and a pounding heart, I began kicking at the blanket with my hind legs.
I was rolling all over the big bed when I suddenly heard movement near the door.
“…What are you doing, Ishtar?”
Oh no. Please don’t tell me he saw me freaking out like that!
I sprang up at the speed of light and sat demurely like a well-behaved housecat.
But the elegant image I imagined shattered instantly when I heard him chuckle.
“You look like a little ball of white yarn right now. All puffed up… cute.”
Why did my whiskers tingle when he said that?
A moment later, I realized why he said it.
All that rolling and kicking had completely ruined my semi-long fur—it was sticking out in every direction.
Ugh, how embarrassing!
Every cat’s dignity lies in the sleekness of their fur! I had brought shame to all feline-kind.
Whether housecat or stray, grooming is an instinctive passion for every cat.
And since I was in cat form right now, I gave in to that instinct.
Lick, lick!
Like a starving cat devouring a tube of treats, I groomed myself with fiery determination.
“Pfft. You really…”
His suppressed laughter echoed in the room.
“Grrr…” (Are you laughing at me right now?)
I was dead serious!
Whether it was instinct or my subconscious trying to impress my “owner,” I couldn’t stand leaving my fur messy.
Suleiman leaned against the doorframe, watching me calmly, apparently entertained by the sight.
But soon I hit a wall.
I could manage my belly, face, front paws, and legs—but there was no way to reach the fur on my back.
“Meow… mew…” (Ugh, I can’t reach…)
Still, I refused to give up, straining my tongue and whimpering in frustration.
When my eyes began to water with effort, Suleiman finally strode over.
“Wait a second. I’ll do it.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, making it dip under his weight.
Oh come on! He’s huge—can’t he sit down more gently?!
For a human it was a small movement, but for a tiny kitten like me, it felt like the whole world shook.
Before I could recover, his large, warm palm began to stroke my back gently.
“Meow…?” (Huh…?)
His touch, which I’d expected to feel awkward or uncomfortable, was surprisingly pleasant.
Unlike Aryn or Theron, who were practiced and elegant, Suleiman’s touch was rough and unrefined—but careful.
“…Honestly, I’ve never touched any animal other than horses. Hope you don’t mind.”
Hmm. Not bad for a first-time cat dad.
When I nodded to show my approval, he smiled softly and scratched the top of my head with his thumb.
“They say cats like being touched here.”
He lightly stroked the bridge of my damp nose, then gently scratched under my chin.
Ahh… that feels nice…
Before I knew it, my mouth was open and my tongue was sticking out.
Suleiman, sensing my satisfaction, moved on to the next “course.”
“How about here?”
Ah—no, not there!
He began to rub the back of my neck—one of the most sensitive areas for cats, rich with pheromones.
“Meowww…” (Soo good…)
The honest sound slipped out before I could stop it, and I quickly clapped my paws over my mouth.
This guy’s learning fast!
Whether from books or someone’s advice, he’d mastered how to please a cat in less than ten minutes.
And when he started pressing along my lymph nodes in slow, firm motions—it was pure bliss.
“Glad you’re enjoying it. I was worried about you.”
“Meow.” (Too good, actually.)
“Before I came back, I met your maid. She said you might be down from being stuck inside all day—and gave me this.”
From his robe, he took out a strange round object with a peacock feather attached.
I tilted my head.
A toy, maybe?
It had no handle—just a handmade clay ball with a feather—so I couldn’t tell what it was for.
“She said I’d know what it is if I smelled it. Go ahead.”
He held it out, and I sniffed it suspiciously.
Wait—this smell…!
It was catnip.
A handmade catnip ball, rolled smooth like candy—and it smelled divine.
“Meowwww!!” (Oh my god!)
I lost all sense of reason.
Clutching it between my paws, I licked it like a lollipop.
The taste and scent were heavenly.
The “cat narcotic” reputation was well-deserved—it was addictively potent.
“You could slow down a bit—”
Growl.
I smacked his hand away and buried my face in the ball.
Wet licking sounds and his helpless laughter filled the room.
Moments later, I fell asleep with catnip drool all over my face, looking utterly content.
That night, I dreamed of a palace made entirely of catnip and silvervine.
In my dream, I sipped elegant tea in a sunlit garden and munched on fresh cat grass.
I licked a giant silvervine pillar until my belly was round and full, then sprawled on a marble floor, rubbing my pink tummy in bliss.
When I finally sighed in satisfaction, the dream faded.
“Meowww.” (Yawn…)
Ah, what a wonderful dream.
I wished I could dream like that every night as I wiped drool from my mouth with a paw.
But as I tried to sit up, something beneath me shifted.
Huh? Why is my pillow so hard?
I blinked and squinted—and through my blurry morning vision, I saw something bronze and solid.
Wait. That wasn’t a pillow. It was a man’s arm.
“…Still biting and licking in your sleep, I see.”
“Meow!!” (Eek!)
Startled, I leapt straight up and dove headfirst under the blanket.
Tail stiff, body trembling, I heard him sigh.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. Come here.”
A large hand reached under the blanket and gently pulled me out.
He nestled me between his neck and shoulder, stroking my back soothingly.
“Meow…” (You scared me…)
When I was a kitten, even small sounds made me flinch.
He murmured softly, pressing his cheek against my furry forehead.
“You’re shaking. I’m sorry, Ishtar.”
His heavy breath fell warm against my head and neck, proof of his sincerity.
Oh no… this is way too close!
My whole body trembled again—but for a completely different reason this time.
Even in cat form, my heart was about to explode from embarrassment.
