Chapter 9
“Meow…”
A small cat, white-furred with long black markings running down its back, slept without a care in the world.
It seemed to be dreaming of something delicious—smacking its lips, rolling over to expose its belly, and rubbing itself against a hand.
Even when fully stretched out, its legs were still shorter than Tionis’s fingers, and he covered his mouth as a soft laugh escaped him.
Feeling how warm it was, Tionis gently brushed over Marianne’s whiskers as they kept burrowing into his palm.
“Mmng.”
“…When you’re awake, you act exactly like a cat. But when you’re asleep, you’re completely defenseless.”
Tionis felt oddly satisfied, arbitrarily deciding that it was because she felt safe with him at her side.
Truly, he had waited years for a day like this.
The only thing he hadn’t anticipated was Marianne continuing to pretend to be a cat.
Did she think her identity would be discovered and she’d be handed back to the Fontine count’s family?
If anything, this place was a paradise that could hide her perfectly.
Still, he decided to wait until she truly opened her heart.
If he continued treating her gently and giving her everything she liked, he believed that day would come eventually.
Even so, when she’d claimed she used the litter box, he had been utterly shocked.
When he realized it was a fake made of water, he had felt both irritated—and oddly impressed.
Just as he was about to stroke her head with the hand propping up his chin, he noticed her eyelids twitch and froze.
Not wanting to wake her, he simply looked down at her quietly. That alone was more than enough.
…I’ve finished reviewing the documents. Should I go check on the Cabellug Knights?
It had already been several days since he’d heard that monsters had overflowed into the Servel Mountain Range.
He’d dispatched the Cabellug Knights, but given they hadn’t returned yet, the number of monsters must have been considerable.
And then…
While staring intently at the small tongue smacking in her sleep, Tionis recalled the day he had picked Marianne up.
A cat collapsed in the snow, bleeding heavily among scattered clothes—and a crumpled note stained with blood.
The long-awaited plan had succeeded.
Judging by the date, it was about time.
Whether they would truly return… was another matter.
According to the plan, they should have come back together—but only Marianne had crossed the portal.
“I’ll be back, Mari.”
His gentle voice settled like a shy confession.
Marianne’s lips were curved upward, giving the illusion that she was smiling.
“Kyaaa—!”
A massive monster cloaked in white fur leapt down from the towering trees toward the Cabellug Knights.
Green saliva dripped from between its long fangs—an ominous liquid that melted flesh on contact.
Though its body was easily three times the size of an adult man, it had gone unnoticed until now.
Likely thanks to the fur covering its entire body.
But the seasoned Cabellug Knights struck before it could land, cutting it down with ease.
Wiping the sticky saliva from his blade, the knight commander shouted,
“Just a little more, everyone! The number of monsters has increased lately, but we can handle this, can’t we?”
“Yes, Commander!”
They answered with vigor, though in truth, days of nonstop subjugation had exhausted them mentally and physically.
No matter how experienced they were, they had never fought monsters this continuously—nor without Tionis personally commanding them.
To make matters worse, the snowstorm was growing fiercer.
Though the commander said they were enough, even he wasn’t confident.
Through the swirling snow, the silhouettes of monsters kept increasing. There was no telling when it would end.
The Cabellug Knights tightened their grips on their swords.
But they didn’t need to do anything more.
—Whoosh!
A jet-black sword aura flew in from afar, cleaving dozens of monsters in half and scattering them across the snow.
“…Your Grace!”
Color instantly returned to the exhausted knights’ faces.
From behind them, Tionis appeared atop a black horse.
The one happiest about his arrival was undoubtedly the commander.
Ignoring the monster remains splattered across his face, he rushed over and urgently reported what had been building up for days.
“Your Grace, the number of monsters is abnormal. Their behavior is extremely aggressive—almost as if they’re enraged.”
If the monsters had truly spilled into the Servel Mountains, it made sense. Even without crossing the mountains, Tionis could see herds of monsters roaming.
And this was after the Cabellug Knights had already fought them off as best they could.
“Enraged, you say?”
He’d cut down everything he saw on the way here, leaving him no chance to observe their behavior.
Tionis swept his gaze over his knights, who had endured days of battle without him.
Just that glance—cold enough to sting—made them all flinch, and the commander hurriedly added,
“…Y-Yes! Normally they hesitate when we approach. But now, even when alone, they charge at us like they want us dead. As if someone tampered with their cores.”
Tampered with their cores.
Tionis recalled the face of the Fifth Prince, trembling beneath him.
But the Fifth Prince didn’t have the nerve for that. It was probably another disposable pawn of the imperial family.
Crunch.
The sound of Tionis grinding his teeth rang softly, and everyone instantly held their breath.
“Spread out to both sides.”
The knights, who had been sitting rigidly atop their horses, immediately split apart.
As Tionis focused to draw out his sword aura, he suddenly froze.
The mana tangled around his heart—was somehow neatly organized.
…No way.
The only one capable of that was Marianne.
But she was still pretending to be a cat. She hadn’t even opened her heart to him.
And yet…
Did she use her ability on me while I was asleep…?
His disbelief caused his mana to waver for a moment, but the distant roar of monsters pulled him back.
Mana surged into his sword, forming a blazing aura.
Tionis raised his blade high. As he slashed horizontally, an overwhelming sword wave tore across the mountain range.
The entire mountain shook violently, followed by shrill, ear-splitting screams.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of monsters were reduced to ash where they stood.
Afterward, Tionis and the knights waited for a long time, but no more monsters appeared.
“Return.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
There was no courtesy like ‘Good work’—not that anyone expected it.
The Cabellug Knights showed no disappointment. If anything, they looked relieved.
No matter how cold and terrifying the Grand Duke was, once he arrived, everything was resolved in an instant.
The commander let out a deep sigh, feeling the burden lift—then suddenly remembered something and hurriedly pulled an item from his coat.
“Your Grace. This was stuck to a tree along the way—pierced by an arrow.”
The note he had carefully kept was soaked and limp with blood.
Tionis stopped and unfolded it.
The commander, who had worried Tionis might throw it away as an ill omen, felt glad he’d kept it when he saw how carefully it was handled.
Then Tionis’s eyes widened.
[Your Grace. The mission is complete. I am there.]
“…!”
Tionis immediately grabbed the reins and turned his horse around.
The day he had promised his loyal subordinate years ago—it must be today.
He hadn’t expected much, in case something went wrong… but they had returned.
Just as promised.
“…Y-Your Grace! Where are you going?!”
The knights shouted in confusion at his sudden action.
“Cabellug Knights. Return to the duchy without me. I have unfinished business.”
His tone left no room for argument, and none dared follow.
“Hya!”
Spurring his horse onward, Tionis raced toward that place.
When he arrived, a woman was waiting for him, bent forward in greeting.
“It’s been a long time, Your Grace.”
“…You’re later than expected.”
Despite having rushed here.
Words sharp with barbs slipped from his mouth, completely at odds with his actions.
Even so, the woman didn’t flinch.
She slowly straightened up.
“From Fontine to the North… walking takes a bit of time. I apologize.”
She even smiled sheepishly.
“……”
Tionis’s gaze dropped.
There wasn’t a single uninjured part of her body. Blood seeped through the bandages wrapped around her frame.
For a brief moment, guilt and relief crossed his eyes—before quickly settling back into calm.
It was a flicker so brief that an ordinary person would never have noticed.
“…You did well. Let’s go back, Becky.”
That was all he said.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
But Becky smiled brightly as she looked at the hand he held out without ceremony.
Because she knew exactly what it meant.
Let’s go home.
