CHAPTER 10
That evening, Aslan didn’t come out of his room, let alone speak to me.
When dinnertime approached, I sent a maid, but the answer I received was:
“Aslan said he won’t eat dinner?”
“Yes, Master…”
Flora, Aslan’s personal maid, lowered her head apologetically.
Oh dear. What’s gotten into him? That’s not like him.
As I touched my forehead, Flora suddenly teared up and began to blame herself.
“I’m sorry, Master. I think it’s my fault for saying something unnecessary…”
“What do you mean, unnecessary?”
“I told him I went to the market. He was really curious about what it was like, so I explained a few things, and…”
Ah. I started to understand what had happened.
Lately, Aslan had become more curious about the outside world. Hearing about the market must’ve sparked a curiosity he couldn’t contain.
But honestly, it wasn’t just Flora’s fault.
Aslan was no longer a cat—he was human.
Cats are territorial creatures, but humans are social beings.
Now that he had become human, it was only natural for him to wonder about the outside world.
“It was just… a little sooner than expected.”
Still, it wasn’t Flora’s wrongdoing. I gently consoled her and sent her back.
“It’s okay. I’ll talk to him.”
“Sniff… Thank you, Master.”
Once she left, I quietly knocked on Aslan’s door.
“Aslan, are you asleep?”
No answer.
I gently turned the knob. The door was unlocked. I slowly opened it.
Peeking in, I saw the blanket bulging on the bed—he was probably hiding under it.
“Classic protest behavior.”
If he were truly mad at me, he would’ve locked the door.
I chuckled and entered his room. Sitting beside the lump under the blanket, I spoke.
“Aslan. Aren’t you hungry?”
“No.”
“Want to go for a walk?”
“No.”
“Mommy will push you on the swing.”
“Don’t need it.”
Wow. He was really sulking this time.
I gently patted the round bundle under the blanket and asked,
“Do you want to go outside that badly?”
The blanket shifted a little—as if he nodded.
Truthfully, I wasn’t staying locked up in this mansion entirely by choice.
My twin brother, Prince Mars, was gradually losing interest in me, but not completely.
This mansion was safe. My people were always protecting me.
But outside… anything could happen.
“If he knew I had no power left, he might leave me alone…”
But if Mars found out about Aslan, he might change his mind.
“He’ll definitely misunderstand and think I plan to return to the palace.”
Even if Aslan and I weren’t related by blood, Mars wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate both of us.
The safest choice was to convince Aslan to stay inside.
However—
“He’s human now. I can’t hide and confine him forever.”
That would be no different from abuse.
“…I’ll need to station a lot of guards.”
In the end, I raised the white flag. With a short sigh, I spoke into the blanket:
“Let’s go.”
“Huh?”
Aslan popped his head out in surprise.
I poked his nose and repeated,
“Let’s go outside.”
“Really!?”
Aslan jumped up on his two feet.
His mood had clearly improved.
But still suspicious, he narrowed his eyes and asked:
“You’re just going to take me to the garden again, aren’t you?”
“Nope. We’re going to the market. But if you don’t want to go, I’ll just go alo—”
“I’m going too!”
He shouted before I could even finish.
“You’re really not lying, right!?”
“Of course. When have I ever lied—”
His expression shifted. Right, I’d said that before and gotten a dirty look.
So I changed my words.
“Okay… I did lie sometimes. But this time I mean it.”
“Yay!”
…Maybe I talked to cat-Aslan too much. He’s picked up on odd phrases.
“Mom, pick out my clothes! And do my hair again!”
“Alright, alright. I’ll do everything.”
“Yay!”
Aslan jumped up and down, arms raised high.
Sheesh. He sure bounced back fast.
As always, I’d never be able to win against Aslan’s stubbornness.
Meanwhile, in the study of the blue-roofed house in Green Village…
Lloyd couldn’t stop seeing Minerva’s tearful face as she clutched Aslan in her arms like a child.
“Could Princess Minerva really have tried to poison Prince Mars?”
It’s not that he trusted Mars.
But even so, Minerva herself had admitted to the crime.
He hadn’t had the time to think about it back then, but now it seemed strange.
Minerva always treated Mars like he didn’t exist—as if he were beneath her.
Mars, on the other hand, nearly hated her.
If anyone had a motive, it would’ve been Mars trying to poison Minerva—not the reverse.
Minerva had no need to do something so foolish. She was next in line for the throne.
“Could it be she allowed herself to be falsely imprisoned… just to give birth?”
No, that didn’t make sense either.
If the emperor had known she was pregnant, he would’ve given her the title of crown princess immediately.
But Minerva hadn’t told anyone.
That pointed to one thing:
“The child’s father couldn’t be revealed.”
Damn. I’ve learned something complicated.
Should I report this to the emperor?
As Lloyd massaged his throbbing temple—
“Father, are you busy?”
“Ayla.”
His daughter Ayla peeked nervously into the room. Lloyd quickly softened his expression.
“What is it?”
“Um… A traveling troupe is visiting Fran Village tomorrow. Can I go watch them?”
A surprising request. Lloyd’s eyes widened.
“You want to see that?”
“Yes.”
Ayla shyly nodded.
Now that he thought about it, she hadn’t left the estate even once since coming here.
“If I say no, I’m no better than the former Duke Eckhart.”
And this was the first time Ayla had ever asked for something.
Unfortunately, of all places—it had to be Fran Village.
Lloyd calculated the odds of running into Minerva there.
“She just lost her child a few days ago. Knowing her, she wouldn’t take the child out again so soon.”
She seemed keen to keep her daughter hidden.
Having finished weighing the risks, Lloyd nodded.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
Ayla’s face lit up.
“Really?”
“Yes. But get to bed early tonight.”
“Okay, Father!”
She beamed and left the room.
Once she was gone, Lloyd leaned back in his chair and muttered:
“Just who is the father of that child, that Princess Minerva would give up the throne for him?”
Minerva had never been close to any man.
That’s why she never even had a fiancé despite being the heir to the throne.
So who had she loved so deeply that she gave up everything to hide away in this remote village?
“And why am I so curious about this now?”
He had never cared for others—especially not Minerva. He had avoided taking an interest in her at all costs.
But her tear-streaked face kept haunting him.
“I’m going mad, seriously…”
He couldn’t focus on work.
Even with his eyes closed, her face lingered in his mind.
The next day.
Before heading to the market, I dressed in the plainest clothes I could find and tightly secured a bonnet and cloak to hide my face. I made sure to tie Aslan’s bonnet firmly too.
“You absolutely can’t take your bonnet off, okay? And don’t let go of my hand.”
“Mmhmm!”
Aslan nodded enthusiastically, excitement all over his face.
That was great and all, but we needed a quick review first.
Looking into his eyes, I asked:
“Alright, let’s go over what I taught you. When we’re outside?”
“Hold mommy’s hand tight and don’t take off my bonnet!”
“If a stranger offers you something or tries to talk to you?”
“Pick someone at random and shout ‘Help me!’ really loud!”
“Good.”
Thankfully, Aslan remembered everything.
Even if he’d bombarded me with “Why?” questions before, he still retained what mattered.
Downstairs, the butler Louisa was waiting for us.
She bowed deeply.
“Have a safe trip, Master. Young Master.”
“We’ll be back, Louisa!”
Aslan cheerfully waved goodbye. Louisa smiled warmly in return.
Louisa used to be my aide in the palace. Now, she was our house’s butler. She gave me a discreet signal—everything was in place.
I nodded, satisfied.
“Have everyone follow quietly. And watch Aslan closely. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Then I turned to Aslan.
“Let’s go, Aslan.”
“Yeah!”
With a radiant smile, he practically skipped along.
Being nearly dragged by him, I prayed earnestly.
Please, let nothing happen today.
I held Aslan’s hand tightly and headed toward the market.
