Chapter 34
A few days later.
Fourth Prince Theron was walking alone in a secluded garden.
This place, filled with vibrant flowers in every direction, was one of his favorites.
“They’ve grown beautifully. Quite admirable.”
Theron gently touched a modestly blooming petal and smiled softly.
The flowers, planted from seeds specially imported from a distant eastern country, boasted vivid colors.
The garden, deep within the prince’s residence, was off-limits to anyone except Theron and his designated gardener.
On the surface, it was arranged so he could stroll alone, but there was a hidden reason behind it.
“I’ll be able to make quite a lot of medicine this time as well.”
A satisfied smile spread across Theron’s face.
Though he was known for loving flowers and enjoying tending his garden, his true hobby was making medicines.
Theron didn’t care for flowers that were merely beautiful—they bloomed briefly and then withered away, pleasant only to the eye.
But poisonous flowers were far more useful.
They could be used as medicine to heal, or as a deadly toxin to take life in an instant.
With a soft snap, a stem broke in his hand.
As he inhaled the flower’s fragrance, a masked figure appeared behind him.
“Have you been well, Lord Theron?”
The voice that escaped the mask was feminine.
Theron glanced at the woman, and a cold voice escaped his lips.
“I told you not to show yourself recklessly. Do you want to die?”
The gentle smile from earlier had vanished, replaced by the chill of his stare.
Theron’s warning did not end there.
Fwoosh.
With a short gust of wind, a long, thin diagonal cut appeared across the masked woman’s cheek.
Red blood dripped, and the mask slipped off.
Beneath the thin mask was the face of a beautiful woman—except for a large burn scar on her face.
After a brief silence, she spoke again.
“I confirmed that no one else was nearby. I apologize for disobeying orders.”
“Enough. Get straight to the point.”
“I came to report on the investigation you ordered.”
Theron flinched at her response.
“…Proceed.”
“I could not find any information on a woman named Ishtar. Her age, birthplace, family—everything about her background is a complete mystery.”
“What about the rumor that she came from the Sultan’s palace?”
“That, too, could not be verified. The only certainty is that one day, movements were detected at Prince Suleiman’s palace. There is no record before or after that event.”
Apparently irritated by the answer, Theron clenched the flower tightly in his hand.
“I heard there were some people recently dismissed from the palace. Any findings from them?”
“No. Nothing.”
“Then kill them all.”
“Everyone… you mean?”
“Yes. Imagine what rumors will spread if those exiled by my brother are found dead. I’m looking forward to it.”
The items in his hand fell to the ground with a soft clatter.
At last, Theron’s face returned to its original radiant smile.
“Return to your place, and carry out your duties.”
“Yes, sir.”
Before the words could finish, the woman disappeared.
Theron resumed his leisurely walk and stopped upon noticing a yellow flower on one side of the garden.
It was the flower the cat had been interested in the last time he had been in the flowerbed.
Harmless to humans and little known, it was a unique flower that was almost poisonous to cats.
If ingested, it could be fatal.
“…When we meet again, I should tell him not to go near here.”
His eyes deepened as he remembered the small white cat swaying in the wind among the flowers.
‘We shouldn’t get close, yet why do I keep thinking about it?’
It wasn’t just any cat—it was Suleiman’s.
If it was a prophetic cat, it might have to be eliminated one day.
That alone was reason enough to kill it, as it supported his brother.
‘But I don’t want to harm the cat.’
He didn’t want to hurt it at all—he wanted to bring it into his palace and care for it himself.
If anyone tried to harm the cat, he wasn’t sure he could forgive it.
“…To kill humans without hesitation, yet care about a mere cat.”
He laughed ruefully and stroked the flower.
Perhaps it was because he had long acted like a normal person, suppressing his true self.
The cat’s existence, which stirred the buried nature of humanity deep in his heart, was unexpectedly welcome.
“Now that I think of it, there’s something else.”
Something else had recently been capturing his attention.
A woman named Ishtar, in whom Suleiman—who showed no interest in women—was completely captivated.
What kind of face would Suleiman make if he lost her?
“Just imagining it is enjoyable, brother.”
Theron discarded the flower in his hand without hesitation, a cheerful expression on his face.
He slowly faded into the flower-filled landscape, gradually disappearing.
That night, Suleiman left his residence early and headed to his own palace.
He wanted to inform his cohabiting companion of his absence.
Months had passed since he assumed the position of governor.
He was scheduled to tour nearby cities of the capital.
Gathering nobles and encouraging loyalty to the crown was one of the key duties of the capital’s governor.
‘But…’
For some reason, this time he really didn’t want to leave the capital.
It was a strange feeling he had never experienced before, despite having diligently fulfilled his duties until now.
Suleiman sighed deeply in front of his door.
When the attendant announced his arrival and opened the door, a beautiful woman inside rushed out to greet him.
“Welcome, Suleiman. You came early today?”
Her silver hair sparkled in the afternoon sunlight, dazzling his eyes.
‘…I feel like I can’t breathe.’
Had he ever held a single person so close to his heart?
Ishtar.
Every action she took overflowed with cuteness and charm, and he could not suppress the feelings rising within him.
The pink-tinted emotions, so unlike him, surged violently, and Suleiman slumped his shoulders.
“Are you all right? Are you sick?”
Ishtar, unaware of his conflicting emotions, placed her hand on his forehead.
“…There’s nothing wrong.”
Suleiman hesitated to take her hand and stepped back slightly.
From her perspective, it might have looked like he was avoiding her.
‘I suppose it’s better to keep some distance for now.’
Since their market visit together, his confusion had only grown.
Initially, he thought he enjoyed it for her sake, to ease her adjustment to palace life.
But that was a misconception.
He realized he genuinely enjoyed wandering the bazaar with her, sampling street food, and browsing cheap trinkets.
He worried about her stumbling or someone harming her, yet it still thrilled him.
When their skin accidentally touched…
He discovered for the first time in his life how fast his heart could beat.
He had to admit it.
Not only was he keeping her close for necessity, but also to satisfy his personal desires.
“Why are you acting so strangely today?”
Hearing her sudden question, he sighed deeply.
Her chattering about his sighs, asking if it was rude, made him feel unbearably fond of her.
Biting his lip, he quickly brought up the main point.
“Ishtar, I have to tour cities near the capital starting tomorrow. I’m sorry I’ll be leaving you alone.”
“Eh…?! Really? For how long?”
“Probably about a week. But it should take around five days.”
“Ah… so suddenly…”
Her disappointed expression oddly tightened his chest with satisfaction.
But her next words stung.
“Then I’ll have to stay in my cat form for a while again! Ugh, I hate that.”
He instinctively wanted to pinch her cheek, but restrained himself with superhuman patience.
“I’ll make sure you’re comfortable, so wait just a bit. I’ve told Aziz to pause your lessons temporarily too.”
“Even so, you should’ve warned me earlier, to prepare myself. Telling me just the day before…”
Even for a prince, that was harsh.
Seeing her puffed-up cheeks and cute pouting made his heart twinge oddly.
Should he just hug her?
What would her reaction be?
Such thoughts briefly clouded his mind.
But the fear that Ishtar might dislike him first took precedence.
‘Perhaps a little distance is better.’
Before, brief contact or being around her hadn’t been a problem.
Now, even a slight touch was overwhelming.
“Ah! How about I come along? I could see the outside world and avoid being a cat. Two birds with one stone!”
“…Absolutely not.”
“Why not?! Just hear me out. You won’t lose anything.”
Ishtar’s bright, sparkling eyes insisting on coming along made him sweat nervously.
“I’ll take you next time. Tours happen often, and there may be another before the end of the year.”
“Really? You promise?”
“Yes. Truly.”
It wasn’t empty words.
As a newly appointed governor, Suleiman planned to tour several more times to solidify his position.
Though he wanted her along more than anyone, he needed time.
Time to consider their relationship.
And the exact nature of his feelings.
“Take care, Suleiman. Be careful.”
“I will. I’ll return as quickly as possible.”
