Chapter 36
A few days later.
Tired of nothing but eating and sleeping inside the room, I asked Arin to take me to the library.
Only after employing every gesture and paw signal imaginable did I finally get across my desire to “go to the library,” and I heaved a deep sigh.
I’d thought living as a cat was tolerable enough.
But as time passed, the inconveniences were still there.
‘I wish Suleiman would hurry back.’
Once I returned to my human form, I could flip pages as much as I wanted and walk to places on my own two feet.
Being carried around comfortably like this wasn’t bad either, but…
Since there was still a person inside this body, I couldn’t help wanting my freedom back as soon as possible.
“It must be frustrating for you, right? We’ll be there soon. Please bear with it a little longer,”
Arin said with a truly apologetic face. I flicked my forepaw to show her it was fine.
Honestly, I did want to walk outside myself, but with my short legs it would take half a day to get to the library.
While I was mulling over the date of Suleiman’s return, Arin suddenly stopped walking.
“Isht… no, Kitty. We’ve arrived. This is the library.”
“Meow.” (Okay.)
“Oh dear, I need to watch my mouth. I keep slipping up,”
the girl said, tapping her head lightly.
It was still a top secret that the person named Ishtar and the prophetic cat were the same being.
Hürem and Aziz had hinted that the truth would be revealed when the time was right, but even I didn’t know the exact reason yet.
“Shall we sit over there? The sunlight’s nice there, it’ll be good for reading.”
“Meowr.” (Good idea.)
“Hehe. Got it.”
Nimble as ever in understanding my meaning, Arin trotted to a seat by the window.
“Alright then, I’ll go ask the librarian if they have the book you wanted. It’s the one written on this paper, right?”
“Meow.” (Right.)
“Just wait a little bit and I’ll bring it over.”
Once Arin disappeared toward the librarian, I lifted my head and looked around.
‘It’s pretty quiet and nice here.’
Today we hadn’t come to the central library but to a shabby, secluded storage-library.
If I’d gone to the main one, people would have surely swarmed, crying, “The prophetic cat is reading a book!”
This library was built mainly to store centuries-old tomes and thus was rarely visited.
We’d come here to borrow an old book that Aziz had recommended to me.
‘…Looks like it’s taking her some time to find it.’
It had already been twenty minutes since I saw Arin go off somewhere with the librarian.
I could easily guess Aziz had picked something hard to find.
“Meowhaaa.” (Yaaawn.)
I gave a huge yawn and blankly watched the old-book dust floating in the air, dancing in the sunlight.
As I dozed off under the warm rays, a handsome man’s face suddenly popped into view.
“Fancy meeting you here, Kitty.”
“Meow!” (Gah!)
Startled, I leapt up, slipped, and was caught lightly by a large hand.
Its owner was none other than the 4th Prince, Theron.
‘Theron, this guy…! Why does he always pop out of nowhere?!’
I shot him an annoyed glare and hissed softly.
He looked slightly embarrassed and stroked my nose bridge as if to soothe me.
“My apologies. I only wanted to greet you because I was happy to see you. I must have startled you.”
Knowing it doesn’t make it okay!
If I added up all the heart attacks you’ve given me, you’d owe me two or three punches to even it out!
With my face scrunched up, I smacked his palm with my soft paw.
It was a wordless protest to back off, but Theron ignored it and instead gently stroked my nape and cheeks.
‘Uh… uh-oh? This isn’t good.’
He skillfully used his thumb and palm to scratch all the right spots, and a purr slipped out of me involuntarily.
Startled at myself, my eyes flew wide open.
‘This guy… his cat-handling skills are incredible…!’
That sense of “cat-whisperer” I’d felt from Arin—I felt it from Theron several times stronger.
Instinctively rubbing my face against his palm, I saw him smile faintly.
“Hmph, you’re as adorable as ever. Feeling a little better now?”
No, not at all.
…But my eyes were already half closed.
‘Damn it. This guy is so annoying…!!’
I clenched my teeth and looked up at Theron, who was smiling placidly.
I wanted to bite him out of spite.
But at least this was less humiliating than drooling over a catnip toy.
“You didn’t come here alone, did you? You have someone with you?”
I hesitated a moment before nodding.
Theron’s face turned slightly serious.
“Leaving you alone in a place like this… your master’s people are too careless. Even if it’s quiet here, it’s still dangerous. I can’t understand what they’re thinking.”
Well, I didn’t know it would take this long either.
Arin was probably so intent on getting me the book I needed that she wasn’t thinking of anything else.
‘He looks kind of angry.’
Unlike his usual easygoing self, Theron seemed furious about something.
Feeling awkward, I fidgeted my paw.
Then he tapped one of his fingers with my plump paw.
‘What is this…?’
I looked up at him questioningly. His face lost its smile and he spoke quietly.
“It’s strange.”
“Meow…?” (What…?)
“The old me would’ve hated the cat by my brother’s side. But now I don’t, not at all.”
Why would you even think that’s strange?
Compared to my overwhelming cuteness, that’s only natural.
I puffed up my chest and raised my chin proudly.
The hand that had been gently stroking my face now slowly closed around my neck.
“With just a little pressure from these fingers…”
Squeeze.
As his hand softly pressed my nape, I gave him a puzzled look.
‘Is this some new kind of expert massage?’
Clueless about the mood, I tilted my head.
Then Theron gave a small smile and whispered at my ear:
“I could snap your neck right now.”
“Meow?!?!” (W-what?!)
Horrified, I pushed at his hand with all my strength.
Theron let go easily and put back on his bright smile.
“Of course, I’m joking.”
…?!
What the hell is wrong with this lunatic?
Sensing a strong psychopath vibe from him, my tail trembled.
Normally, I would have punched him or run off.
But oddly enough, my legs gave out and I couldn’t.
“Oh dear. Looks like I startled you again.”
Isn’t that obvious?!
In human terms, I’d just been strangled almost to death and survived!
As I started inching backward, Theron’s eyes grew complicated—part regret, part hesitation.
‘Wait… was he serious?’
The thought that he might really have wanted to kill me made my mouth go dry.
With nowhere left to retreat, I rolled my eyes around from his palm.
He seemed to notice my fear and gave a sad smile.
“As I’ve said before, Kitty, you’re strange. No matter how magical you are, you’re still just an animal—why do you keep getting under my skin?”
No, please. I’d rather you didn’t care about me.
You’re starting to scare me!
Sensing danger, my tail flicked nervously.
I glanced at the floor, wondering if there was anywhere to escape, but the dizzying drop below made me squeeze my eyes shut.
Then Theron softly drew me into his arms.
“If we meet again in the next life, I hope you’ll meet me before my brother and become my cat.”
At the phrase “next life,” a dreadful premonition struck and my back stiffened.
Yet strangely, I couldn’t move a muscle.
Then it happened.
Theron, gazing at me intently, lowered his head and kissed me lightly.
With a small smack, his lips touched mine and parted.
It might have been a gesture of affection toward a kitten.
But tense as I was, with a human inside, I couldn’t help but be completely shocked.
Blinking my big eyes blankly, I suddenly drew in a sharp breath at the pain that followed.
“Meow…?” (Wh-what…?)
My body shook violently, unable to hold itself up, and then a tremendous pain surged over me like a tidal wave.
“Kitty…?”
I thought I heard Theron call me, but to my ears it was just shrieking white noise.
As the pain engulfed me, my body trembled like someone being electrocuted.
Some cold liquid—tears or drool—splashed at my chin, but I had no attention to spare.
“Grrr…” (Ugh…)
Groaning low, I curled up, convulsing in Theron’s palm.
“Oh no…”
I sensed him springing off somewhere in a hurry.
But dulled by pain, I felt as if I were floating in midair.
‘Is this… the end…?’
Panting weakly, I lifted my head.
Through my rapidly fading vision, a blurred face appeared.
Theron’s face overlapped with Suleiman’s.
Just days ago, he had left my bedroom, promising to return safely—an image flashing before my eyes like a lantern slide.
‘Sulei… man…’
I still had so many things left unsaid. Was I going to vanish leaving only this behind?
Desperately, I pleaded with someone—anyone.
“Meow….”
Please.
Someone, save me.
