Chapter 23
Leaving the fluttering note behind, I searched for a familiar silhouette. Fortunately, the cat was lying on my pillow, belly up, purring away in sleep.
Look at that carefree pose. I couldn’t tell if he hadn’t woken up yet or had gotten up and gone back to sleep.
I had definitely seen him turn into a human in the early morning. When on earth was he going to wake up?
In the original story, once the heroine rescued Richard and he recovered, he transformed into a human immediately. This Richard probably wasn’t much different. I had to be ready for when he finally woke up.
To have a proper talk with him, I put the room under lockdown. I also added that, since I was bedridden with period cramps, I wouldn’t speak to anyone who entered for three days.
“When will he wake up?”
The long wait grew boring. Eventually, I gave up on watching the cat and went to the bathroom.
When I came back, freshly washed, the cat was gone—and the boy I had seen in my dream was lying on the bed.
“…Oh my.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise and stared wide-eyed at his state.
Hair darker than night, skin as white as if carved from milk-colored plaster, fine features still showing a trace of youth—
It was unmistakably the male lead from the original, Richard.
He hadn’t opened his eyes. His smooth hands gripped the bedsheet as a faint groan escaped him. Cold sweat dotted his face, twisted in pain.
With ragged breaths, he let out a hoarse voice. I couldn’t make out the words, but the tone was that of someone desperately pleading.
“…S-stop.”
Even with his face all scrunched up, he was handsome. A tear slid down his cheek. His trembling arms flailed in the air, trying to grasp something.
It seemed like he was trapped in a terrible nightmare…
Without hesitation, I clasped both of his hands. He suddenly gripped mine hard and yanked me toward him. My frail body toppled right onto him.
My head buried into his neck. I tried to push away from his chest with my elbows, but then he suddenly let go of my hands and wrapped his arms tightly around me.
“…N-no. I don’t want to.”
His whole body trembled as he held me. Feeling like a body pillow, I stayed still in his arms—there was no way to escape.
“…M-mother.”
…Damn. So his mother was in the dream.
Come to think of it, Richard’s mother had only recently died. He hadn’t even had time to mourn before nearly dying himself.
What a tragic life.
A pang of pity hit my chest. Sympathy welled up inside me—why were there so many in this world grieving for their lost mothers?
I freed my right arm, the only one I could move easily, and gently stroked his hair, murmuring softly.
“Richard, it’s okay. You’re a good boy. I’m here. It’s all right.”
His tight hold on me slowly loosened. Just as I was about to breathe in relief, a sharp pain ripped across my back. Fingernails dug into my skin.
“Ahhh!”
What the hell—why was he clawing at me?!
Gritting my teeth, I tried to pry his hands away. His body trembled again, his breath coming fast.
“D-don’t follow me…!”
What now? Did the dream change? Was he dreaming about that time again?
“I… I want to live…”
Yeah… that was it. Poor kid.
Sweat drenched his forehead and neck, glistening in the light. The more he thrashed, the deeper his nails bit into my skin.
Biting back a groan, I tried to calm him.
“It’s okay. You’re safe now. No one’s chasing you any—ah!”
Damn cat—this hurt like hell.
My back burned as if seared by fire. All I could do was endure his despair and cries, wishing this painful moment would pass quickly.
After convulsing like he was having a fit, Richard suddenly went limp. I finally managed to free myself from his arms.
…God, that was exhausting.
His PTSD seemed serious—would I even be able to have a normal conversation with him when he woke?
Lifting my heavy chest, I checked on him. He was soaked in sweat from head to toe, barely breathing.
I fought off sleep to keep watch. Just before losing the battle to drowsiness, a rustling sound brushed my ears.
Every nerve in my body stood on end. Then—a cold sensation touched the back of my neck.
“Who are you?”
Ah, awake at last. And… what’s with the blade?
I fixed my gaze on the ungrateful brat pointing a dagger at me. My sleepiness vanished instantly, my vision sharpening.
Moonlight dusted his black hair, slid down a sharp nose, and shimmered in eyes like a full moon reflected in a lake.
Richard Eldrian, Crown Prince of the Eldrian Empire.
Still young and unripe now, but destined to one day bloom and stand at the pinnacle of every cunning creature.
He straddled me lightly, pressing me down, the blade aimed at my slender neck.
Beyond his soft fingers gripping the dagger, I saw a shirt spotted with blood. The loose fabric fluttered in the night breeze, carrying a faint scent of iron to my nose.
Incomplete strength and clumsy boldness blended into an alluring aroma—enough to make Venus’s own son jealous.
I stared at him for a moment, then spoke in an even voice.
“I am Ariel Vallienor, eldest daughter of Duke Vallienor.”
“…What?”
“This is the annex of the Duke of Vallienor’s estate. Haven’t you heard of the duke’s eldest daughter who is recuperating here?”
The boy’s sharp breaths cut through the night air. His tousled black hair, his golden eyes unable to hide confusion and emotion, his unguarded feelings spilled out wildly.
Was it true, or not?
Friend or foe?
Could he be trusted, or not?
Innocent confusion stabbed at my ears—clear even without words.
“This is Vallienor?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Didn’t you know?”
He must have seen the Lemur oak. Didn’t he come here on purpose? Or was he unable to tell dream from reality?
“Did you just call me ‘Your Highness’?”
“Yes. I know who you are—Crown Prince Richard.”
The strength drained from his hand. Clutching his head, he crouched down, letting out a thin groan.
“Wh-why… am I… here… Agh!!”
“Your Highness, calm down. I won’t hurt you. I brought you here to protect you.”
“Ahh… my memories… my memories…”
His body shuddered—and in an instant, he turned back into a cat.
“…Wow. What the hell just happened?”
I stared blankly at the cat before collapsing beside him, unable to fight the fatigue any longer.
Too much had happened in too short a time. My mind was a mess, but my empty strength made it impossible to stay awake. Sleep swallowed me whole.
When I woke, the sun was high.
Sitting by the door, I gulped down the thin porridge that had been delivered, and recalled last night’s events.
“I… I want to live…”
That frightened, trembling boy—drenched in fear and sorrow—who couldn’t even recognize the person who saved and cared for him.
So different from the original Richard, who was always composed, clever, and cold. Though, to be fair, this Richard was still much younger.
His confused golden eyes lingered in my mind. Even holding a knife, his body had trembled with fear.
“…Poor thing. Maybe I should revise my plan.”
Originally, my plan was to protect Richard until adulthood, help him get revenge on the First Empress and seize the throne, then remain an ally to prevent Vallienor’s downfall.
But after seeing the pain of a motherless, helpless child, I couldn’t bring myself to exploit him.
Using him under the pretext of protection just didn’t sit right.
In any world—real or fictional—every child deserves happiness.
I just wanted him to live happily in Vallienor. To grow up healthy alongside Jeremiah and Davina.
Sigh…
Revenge was meaningless. A normal, happy life was better.
Besides, the destruction-ending route seemed far off already. Why force everyone down such a harsh road?
In the original, Richard destroyed Vallienor for a clear reason: Jeremiah stole the heroine who had saved him and committed countless evils.
But the story had already changed. Richard had been saved by Vallienor, not the heroine. And with me here, Jeremiah would never commit those evils—I’d make sure of it.
“All right.”
I’d decided—if I was raising my younger siblings, I might as well raise Richard too, as my own little brother.
As for the love triangle with the heroine… I’d just step in and mediate.
“Hah… so basically, I’ve gained another sibling.”
With a wry laugh, I cupped water in my hand and held it to the cat’s face. Even half-asleep, he stuck out his tongue to lap at it.
“Take your time.”
I let him have my hand, lying on my stomach since my scratched back burned too much to lie flat.
Regardless, the sunlight streaming into the room was peaceful. Warm light wrapped around me and the black cat.
I didn’t know when I fell asleep, or what time it was when I woke in the pitch-black night. A feverish heat pressed against my forehead. The scratches from his claws must have gotten infected.
Lick, lick—
There couldn’t possibly still be water in my palm, yet I heard the sound of something being licked. Then, a strange sensation brushed across my back.
“Agh… that stings.”
