Chapter 65
Teron placed a hand over his chest as if making a solemn vow.
As my initial wariness faded a little, a twinge of guilt began to creep in.
‘Maybe I was too harsh, doubting someone who actually saved me.’
In the worst case, he could’ve been part of the group that ambushed me—but if that were true, why would he risk himself to rescue me in the first place?
“Meow.” (Sorry for the late thanks. Thank you for saving me.)
“You don’t need to thank me. It was simply the right thing to do.”
“Meow, miaoo… miyaong.” (Either way, I can’t stay here. I have to return to the palace.)
Who had attacked our group, and why had Teron brought me all the way here—those questions didn’t matter right now.
‘Is Arin okay? And… Suleiman must be worried sick about me.’
I couldn’t even imagine how he’d react once he realized I was gone.
He was probably out there searching frantically already.
‘I can’t just sit around like this.’
As I buried my head in my paws and groaned, Teron, who had been quietly watching me, smiled faintly, his brows knitting.
“It seems you’re eager to go back. You’re worried about my brother, aren’t you?”
“Meow.” (It’s not just Suleiman. Everyone must be worried. I have to go back.)
At my straightforward answer, his face subtly stiffened.
Narrowing his eyes, Teron spoke slowly.
“They’re only using you. Once they get what they want, they might throw you away. Even so—do you still want to return to them?”
I froze, feeling as though he had seen right through me.
It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Suleiman or Hurem.
But the fear of being abandoned once I’d outlived my usefulness had always haunted me.
I’d grown up believing that unconditional love only existed in movies and fairy tales.
Teron looked at my crestfallen expression and continued, his voice calm but firm.
“When my brother becomes Sultan, he’ll have to take a consort befitting his position. To gain the support of the council and the Janissaries, he’ll likely marry a noblewoman of high rank—or a foreign princess. Could you really stand to watch that?”
“Meow…” (That…)
I couldn’t answer. My head dropped low.
Everything he said was true.
Suleiman was the heir to the throne.
The chances of someone like me ending up with him were infinitesimally small.
‘Even if we both felt the same way… maybe we really don’t have a future together.’
Between Suleiman and me, there was now something deeper than simple affection.
But the knowledge that we might one day have to part forever made my heart ache unbearably.
‘If I could never see him again… what would that feel like?’
Lost in such dismal thoughts, I felt tears begin to pool in my eyes.
‘Don’t cry. Don’t look pathetic.’
I bit my lip to hold back the sob threatening to escape.
Perhaps I looked pitiful, because Teron reached out gently and brushed the tears from my cheek with his thumb.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you, Ishtar. But… I doubt anyone around you would ever say such things. So forgive me for speaking out of turn.”
“Meow… meow.” (No… thank you for saying it.)
He’d clearly risked my resentment to offer his advice.
And really, there weren’t many people who would dare to give me such counsel.
Aside from Arin and Aziz, I didn’t have anyone I could truly confide in.
‘Maybe my world has gotten smaller without me realizing it.’
Resolving to pull myself together, I hastily wiped the remaining tears from my eyes with a paw.
Watching me, Teron smiled softly.
“If my brother ever hurts you, please come to me. I value you far more than any throne.”
“Meow.” (That’s kind of you, but that won’t happen.)
When I shook my head, he leaned closer, his voice a silky whisper at my ear.
“You don’t have to answer now. I’m… patient when it comes to waiting.”
A chill ran down my spine at the way his voice tickled my ear.
‘There’s something dangerous about him.’
I couldn’t explain it, but being close to him felt wrong—ominously wrong.
I quickly backed away, putting distance between us. Teron only chuckled, amused.
“Anyway, for tonight, I think it’s best to help you return safely to the palace. It’s too late now. When dawn breaks, I’ll escort you there myself.”
“Meow, miaoo?” (Can’t I just go now?)
“That would be unwise. You’ve heard, haven’t you? There was chaos in the city tonight. It’s dangerous to wander at such an hour—the remnants of those who attacked us might still be out there.”
I nodded in agreement.
In this weakened state, I wouldn’t even make it out of these alleys safely, let alone reach the palace.
For now, I had no choice but to rely on Teron’s help.
‘But what should I even say once I get back? Should I tell them Teron saved me?’
Glancing around, I noticed he hadn’t bothered to bring my discarded clothes.
If someone found them in the alley, they’d probably assume I had turned into a cat.
‘Then I’d have to explain that Teron found out about my transformation…’
Which would mean admitting I’d met him when Suleiman was away—and even gone to his bedroom!
‘Ugh, what a headache!’
I could barely handle the chaos Suleiman alone caused in my life. Adding another man to the mix was just too much.
As I ruffled the fur on my forehead in frustration, Teron chuckled quietly.
“I can practically see the thoughts running through that tiny head of yours. Adorable.”
Hey! Didn’t you just say earlier you couldn’t understand me?
I shot him a sharp glare, but he only shrugged nonchalantly.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone that I saved you. My brother wouldn’t take it well—he might even misunderstand my intentions.”
“Meow…” (Hmm…)
“Of course, I’ll also keep today’s encounter between us. I’ve kept our previous promise, haven’t I? You can trust me on this.”
I recalled our earlier deal.
Indeed, since that day, not a single rumor about my feline form had surfaced anywhere.
Whether or not he was a good man, he was at least discreet.
After a moment’s thought, I nodded.
“Meow.” (Alright. Let’s do that.)
“Thank you.”
He smiled, then lightly brushed his lips against my paw—like a courtly hand-kiss.
The gesture left me oddly flustered.
As I awkwardly patted the spot he’d kissed, Teron began calmly outlining his plan.
“When dawn breaks, I’ll take you to the nearby temple and ask for their protection. As the prophesied cat, of course. Once my brother hears that, he’ll rush to your side immediately—no need for you to return to the palace yourself.”
“Meow.” (That sounds like a good plan.)
“There’s still time before we leave. Get some rest—you’ll heal faster if you do.”
That actually didn’t sound like a bad idea.
My eyelids were already heavy with sleep.
Letting out a wide yawn, I mumbled drowsily.
“Nyahh…”
“Good. Now then… let’s see who dared to lay a hand on you.”
Through the haze of my fading consciousness, I heard him muttering something under his breath.
But I was already half asleep and couldn’t make out the words.
A few hours later.
Suleiman had deployed his troops for a massive search.
He himself had been scouring the city all night, personally leading the effort to find her.
At first, some complained that it was excessive to mobilize so many soldiers for one missing woman.
After all, more than five hundred men were already combing the streets.
But once word spread that both Lady Ishtar and the prophesied cat under her care had vanished, the objections vanished instantly.
“Dawn is almost here. Still no sign of her?”
“I’m sorry, my lord. We’re doing our utmost, but…”
“Damn it.”
Cursing under his breath, Suleiman yanked the reins, urging his horse toward another sector.
‘Please… let her be safe and unharmed!’
Just imagining Ishtar—small, defenseless, trapped in the body of a kitten—shivering somewhere in a filthy alley made his head spin.
If anything had happened to her, he wasn’t sure he could bear it. He might very well lose his mind.
If she disappeared from his life forever, he couldn’t even predict what he might do.
‘I’ll kill them all. Every last one who dared to touch her—I’ll never forgive them.’
The veins on his temples stood out, pulsing with fury.
He would rather his own body be torn apart than see her suffer even a fraction of pain.
Grinding his teeth, he spurred his horse onward.
Through the thick pre-dawn fog, Suleiman’s massive steed thundered across the streets.
Just then, Iblan, who had been desperately chasing after him, shouted breathlessly.
“My lord! Please—slow down! We’ve found Lady Ishtar!”
Suleiman’s horse reared with a shrill neigh.
He steadied the animal in one motion and glared sharply at Iblan.
“Is that true? Where is she?”
“We received a report from the temple near the incident site. They’re sheltering a cat matching Lady Ishtar’s description. The creature even understands human speech—it must be her.”
Suleiman didn’t even wait for him to finish.
He spurred his horse forward at full speed—straight toward the temple.
