Chapter 12
I had no way of knowing—or caring—what had happened to the thief… no, the Fifth Prince.
In any case, once he was gone, the estate became extremely peaceful.
No matter how vast the residence was, it posed no problem for someone like me who could move without making a sound.
I pictured the route in my mind and walked straight ahead, arriving at the library without a single misstep.
Am I a genius or what?
To find the way so easily without getting lost, after only seeing it once. Amazing, Marianne.
Feeling absurdly proud, I puffed out the fur on my chest—even though no one was watching—then froze in embarrassment at my own behavior.
…Was I always like this?
It seemed I’d been unknowingly influenced by how much Tionis and the servants doted on me.
I was sure of it. Because if I thought about it for even a second—
“Mari, the jelly on your paws is just like marshmallows. Soft enough to melt into cocoa.”
“Oh my, Lady Mari! To catch a flying insect in one try—how impressive!”
“To climb such a high place! As expected of Lady Mari!”
They praised me every single day over the most trivial things.
Well, if I had to be precise, Tionis wasn’t exactly praising me—he was just interpreting things however he pleased.
Anyway… the doorknob’s way too high. How am I supposed to get in?
There was no one around, but transforming naked in the hallway still felt wrong.
I rolled my eyes around, scanning the area. A low stool sat nearby, so I hopped onto it and launched myself at the doorknob.
The gold-plated handle was heavier than expected, but after several attempts, the library door finally opened.
Yes!
My small body was already panting from exhaustion at how hard that had been. Letting go of the doorknob, I hurried inside before the door could close.
The smell of books.
I love it.
My tail shot straight up without me realizing it. With every step, it swayed side to side like it was dancing.
But there were too many books.
Instead of choosing right away, I wandered around aimlessly, overwhelmed, until quite some time passed and I finally selected one.
[The Blessing of the Dragon Divine Beast]
A title that seemed like it would tell me exactly what I wanted to know.
But just as I’d feared before entering the library, the book was placed on the very top shelf—which meant there was no way I could reach it in my current body.
What do I do…
If it were on a lower shelf, I could’ve carefully pulled it out with my teeth, returned to my room, read it in secret, and hidden it.
But being at the very top made that impossible. Every shelf was packed tight, so I couldn’t even climb up.
There is a ladder, but…
Perhaps for moments like this, a ladder had been provided—but there was no way a cat weighing under four kilograms could move it.
Which meant there was only one option.
I guess I have no choice.
Since no one was around anyway, I’d just transform briefly—
Even though I’d already confirmed no one was inside, I still nervously reverted to my original form, awkwardly trying to cover my not-even-hand-sized body with one arm as I dragged the ladder over.
I was just about to take the book—
Creeeak.
The sound of the door opening pierced my ears clearly.
I wasn’t in my cat form anymore, but even so, it was impossible to miss.
The library was utterly silent, and my hearing was keenly focused on the entrance.
The only person who ever came here was Tionis.
And at this hour, of all times.
Being discovered in the library like this would look extremely suspicious. I might even be treated like an outside intruder.
Sure, a cat being here was strange too—but that was still better than this.
In the instant countless thoughts flashed through my mind, my body moved on instinct and I transformed back into a cat.
But maybe because I’d changed too hastily—
I hadn’t climbed down the ladder yet, and it lost balance, tipping sideways.
…I’ll get crushed at this rate!
Being discovered was no longer the problem—this was a matter of life and death.
I scrambled and leaped aside.
Bang—!
The ladder slammed onto the floor, and I felt the person who’d entered the library flinch.
I lowered my body and peeked out with just my eyes from atop the lowest shelf.
Contrary to my expectations, it wasn’t Tionis.
A person wrapped in white bandages…?
Was what I’d just seen real?
As I stared in disbelief, the figure hurriedly left the library.
What? What was that?
I’d been certain it was Tionis.
I hadn’t seen them clearly, but they were definitely smaller and more slender than him—and wrapped head to toe in white bandages.
Could it be… a new intruder?
Before, I’d survived because Tionis’s room was nearby—but in a space like this, if I ran into someone alone, I honestly had no confidence I could win.
Just in case they returned, I hid myself as best I could and waited.
Thankfully, even after quite some time, the door never opened again.
I cautiously ran back to my room.
Not only had I failed to get the book I’d marked, but the fallen ladder had coated my head in dust.
Still, I didn’t have the luxury of caring about that.
* * *
“Lady Mari, good morni—oh my! Why is your fur in such a state?”
At exactly seven in the morning, Flan opened the door with a large brush in hand, then froze in shock mid-greeting.
…Yeah. That makes sense.
Honestly, it was impressive she’d only reacted that much after seeing the mess I was in.
By the time I’d dashed back to the room, it was already morning.
When I’d seen my dreadful reflection in the mirror, my tail had puffed up in shock—but I hadn’t had time.
Hardly any time had passed before Flan and the other maids barged in.
If I’d tried to transform back to wash myself, I would’ve been caught on the spot.
“There’s dust all over your head too. Did you have fun playing by yourself at night?”
…Well. I did go to the library, so I guess I did play alone.
This is a secret just for me.
I subtly avoided the worried gazes of the maids.
Normally, Flan brushed my fur alone—but seeing the state I was in, she must’ve judged it impossible.
She exchanged looks with two other maids.
All three nodded grimly and began brushing my fur together, their movements smooth and practiced.
And whenever the maids gathered like this, idle chatter inevitably began.
Stories about the estate—or even the Grand Duchy as a whole—so I perked up my ears and listened closely.
“Have you heard the rumors about a woman’s singing being heard every night in the estate?”
At Flan’s words, I flinched and flicked my tail upward.
The maid brushing my tail slipped.
“Oh my—Lady Mari, I’m so sorry!” she apologized hurriedly.
I wrapped my tail around her hand to signal it was fine.
“They say it’s around dawn. But the creepiest part is—people say it’s coming from the Grand Duke’s room!”
“That’s a secret, but even the butler said he heard it himself.”
“…Really?”
As they whispered, their faces stiffened, and even their brushing hands began to tremble.
…Wow. That’s definitely about me.
So this is how rumors spread in the estate.
Technically, it wasn’t even a false rumor.
I wasn’t a ghost, though.
If I told them I was only doing this to survive, would they believe me?
I really should tell Tionis the truth before the rumors get worse…
But Flan—and these maids.
If they found out I was human, would they still treat me the same way?
Untangling my fur so gently, petting me so warmly.
Of course, I was human, so they couldn’t do that anymore—but would they still look at me with soft, warm eyes?
…Or would things return to how they were when I first arrived here?
That bleak coldness.
The thought made it impossible to meet their eyes.
The maids, unaware of my turmoil, continued chatting.
“Do you think… the Grand Duke might be possessed by a ghost?”
“Come on. Sir Kaberug’s Grand Duke? No way.”
They finished brushing me and neatly placed the combs back into the box, still whispering.
Flan lowered her voice as if someone might overhear—though to me, it was as clear as if she were speaking right next to my ear.
“They say a woman wrapped head to toe in bandages wanders the halls at night.”
…What?
My ears, which had been drooping in dejection, snapped upright.
A bandage-wrapped woman?
I think I just saw someone like that.
“Could it really be a female ghost?”
“That’s terrifying!”
Despite saying how scary it was, the three of them—who had just finished grooming me immaculately—wiped the sweat from their brows and smiled in satisfaction.
I climbed onto my cushion and stretched my front paws out.
Hmm. So what I saw earlier wasn’t just my imagination?
Is there really a new intruder?
Neither Tionis nor the butler had said anything yet.
…I’ll have to investigate further.
