Chapter 5
A small baby and a cat, surrounded by fully bloomed flowers, faced each other in a tense standoff.
“W-Why is the Fourth Prince over there…?”
A red cat lay low in the overgrown grass, letting out a low, threatening growl as if it might bare its teeth and pounce at any moment.
At the sharp end of the cat’s raised tail and piercing gaze stood Yerinian—who had recently been diligently practicing how to walk.
“You must save Her Highness the Princess immediately—!”
“No.”
Licht smiled faintly, recalling the dramatic turn of events from the past.
“Leave it.”
At his incomprehensible command, the cat—who had been waiting for the perfect chance—swiftly leapt forward.
Today was the day of my first walk.
Up until now, my nanny would occasionally take me out onto the terrace for some sunlight, but on Mir’s advice that too much sun wasn’t good, I had never gone far.
‘Alright! Today’s the day.’
I was going to walk five steps while holding onto the wall.
Ever since that humiliating night of learning to roll over, my body had been steadily progressing toward walking.
At first, I would take a step or two and immediately fall over, bursting into tears—but now, with the help of furniture, walls, or someone’s hand, I could manage up to four steps.
The nanny and maids, who had been secretly anxious about my slow development, were so delighted that their tails practically popped out through their clothes.
‘Do beastfolk always have their tails pop out when they’re excited?’
The glossy, swaying tails were so mesmerizing I almost wanted to grab one.
“Princess, the head maid has some business today, so it looks like it’ll just be the two of us for the walk. Is that alright?”
Alice, one of the maids who took care of me, asked gently, meeting my eyes.
“Mm!”
I raised my arms energetically on purpose.
Alice, who would come of age next year, was especially sociable. Unlike the nanny and another maid, Roen, who treated me very formally as “Your Highness,” Alice always called me “Princess” in a warm, friendly way.
Held in her arms, I was carried down the corridor leading to the royal garden.
“Tomorrow is finally your birthday banquet. Humans seem more romantic than beastfolk. They even hold a special banquet to celebrate the first year of birth.”
Alice chattered excitedly, listing all sorts of details about the banquet.
It all felt unfamiliar to me—I had never once had my birthday celebrated before.
“They say the Head has invited all the most renowned merchants. Among them is even a tailor who works for the human imperial family.”
“…Liiht?” (“…Licht?”)
“Isn’t that proof of how much he cherishes you?”
Alice looked more excited than I did, though she still carefully kept to the shaded paths to avoid the sunlight.
At that moment, a sweet fragrance drifted through the air.
Instinctively, I turned my head toward it—and my eyes widened.
For the first time since I was born, I saw a garden filled with flowers of every color imaginable.
Countless varieties swayed gently in the breeze, and the fading sunset made them look like a mirage that could scatter at any moment.
The beauty of the scene struck so deeply it almost hurt.
It felt similar to the overwhelming sensation when I first looked up at the sky in this life.
I forced my eyes not to tear up.
“This is a flower garden only accessible to direct royal family members.”
I barely registered Alice’s explanation, completely captivated by the view.
Watching my reaction closely, she asked with a resolute expression:
“I’ll put you down—would you like to try walking for a bit?”
Is that okay? I’m not even truly part of the royal beast clan.
Sensing my hesitation, Alice smiled.
“The Head said it’s alright for you.”
“Really? Put me down!”
As my face brightened, she carefully set me down on the clean path.
“Careful, Princess.”
Holding my unsteady hand, Alice guided me forward.
One step… then another…
It took a long time for each step.
“You’re doing great, Princess. We should have this moment painted.”
Alice fussed excitedly as she led me among the flowers.
I focused with all my strength on walking, trying not to fall.
Just as I was about to take my fifth step—
“…Princess?”
A sharp, thorn-like voice pierced through the rosy sunset.
Both Alice and I turned at the same time.
The child couldn’t have been more than three years old.
He glared at me with cold eyes, his red hair and ears resembling the sunset itself.
Alice’s face went pale.
“F-Fourth Prince…!”
At the word “prince,” I instinctively thought of Noa, the Third Prince who often visited my room.
‘There are three princes living in the main palace…’
So this must be the youngest—and he clearly held open hostility toward me.
“Something without even ears is a princess? Since when did our family have a princess?”
“Well… Her Highness was brought from the continent by His Majesty—”
“My brother did?”
The ears atop the Fourth Prince’s head twitched.
“Yes. I believe you were going to be formally introduced at tomorrow’s banquet.”
His already sharp features twisted in anger—completely different from Noa, who had already known about me.
‘Why does he look even angrier now?’
Sensing danger, Alice stepped back, shielding me.
The Fourth Prince’s trembling body suddenly transformed into a small animal.
‘A cat.’
I stared blankly at the red cat, its posture low and ears flattened.
A low, threatening growl rumbled from its chest.
‘…What do I do?’
Its tail lashed wildly—it looked ready to leap at me and bite my neck at any moment.
‘I don’t want Alice to get hurt.’
But I couldn’t use magic either.
I glanced anxiously at Alice’s arm protecting me, then turned back.
The cat’s sky-blue pupils had narrowed unnaturally, filled with hostility.
Red mana, matching its fur, flowed around its body. Sharp fangs peeked between parted lips.
“Hiss!”
The moment the cat lunged at me—
A black shadow dropped from above.
It happened at the exact instant I was about to use magic.
I quickly stopped channeling it and stared at the figure that had stepped in front of me.
‘…Licht?’
The shadow blocking me snapped his fingers.
A familiar silver mana gently caught the red cat midair.
Frozen in its attack posture, the cat’s ears drooped.
“As.”
“…Meow.”
Licht exhaled lightly and tapped the cat’s nose.
“Don’t cross the line.”
As he slowly turned toward me, a dark shadow fell across his blue eyes—out of place in the soft glow of sunset.
“She’s very important to us.”
His low voice made my heart sink.
‘Important…?’
As I processed his words, his large hand stroked the cat’s red fur.
The sharp claws that had extended from its paws retracted.
“Good boy, As.”
The now-docile Fourth Prince was patted lightly on the head.
Licht smiled—but unlike his curved lips, his gaze toward me was colder than ever.
“Yerinian.”
“…Mm.”
“I’ll come get you tomorrow. Be ready.”
With that meaningful remark, Licht disappeared—taking the Fourth Prince with him.
Alice, who had been holding me tightly, finally relaxed.
“…We’re alive.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, she lifted my stiff body into her arms.
“Are you alright, Princess?”
I nodded weakly.
‘Something feels off.’
As Alice hurried out of the garden, I clung to her neck and bit my lip.
I had a strong feeling that tomorrow’s banquet wouldn’t go smoothly.
The morning of the birthday banquet arrived quickly.
‘Ah… I’m tired.’
With hollow eyes, I let the nanny help me sit up.
I had barely slept, plagued by nightmares of the Fourth Prince.
‘I just want to rest… forget the banquet.’
But there was no way Licht—who personally organized it—would let me skip it.
“Happy birthday, Princess!”
Alice cheerfully wiped the drool from my mouth with a handkerchief.
Since my baby teeth started coming in, drooling had become a constant nuisance.
“Th-thank you.”
Alice beamed at my simple gratitude and gestured to Roen.
“Happy birthday, Your Highness.”
Roen stiffly handed me a gift box tied with a ribbon matching my hair color.
My eyes widened.
Everyone smiled as they watched me.
Swallowing my drool, I reached out and grasped the soft ribbon.
‘A present…’
It was my first time receiving something so beautifully wrapped.
“…Th-thank you for this too.”
At my shy words, tails popped out from everyone present, swaying gently.
If I stayed here long enough… would I even get to see Licht’s tail someday?
As I had that silly thought, the nanny took the box away.
“We’re short on time—shall we open it after the banquet?”
I nodded eagerly, my eyes following it.
“Mm.”
“I’ll go check on the preparations downstairs!”
Alice rushed out, her yellow tail swishing behind her.
“His Majesty had this specially made for you.”
Roen placed another box in front of me.
Inside was a pink dress adorned with frills and ribbons.
“Oh my, how adorable.”
“It suits the Princess perfectly.”
“…Dozens?” I thought, recalling the nanny’s words about raising many children.
Beastfolk must live longer—and age more slowly—than humans.
The tailor had kept his promise.
“This will be the finest dress.”
The dress was slightly extravagant—but undeniably cute.
‘Is this Licht’s taste?’
Since it had his approval.
With their help, I changed into it.
“Our Princess is so well-behaved.”
“Even among human babies, she’s unusually calm.”
“You’re starting to walk well too. You may grow slower than beastfolk, but I wish you’d grow just like this—slowly.”
As time passed, the banquet drew near.
And just before it began—
Licht came to see me.
When he saw me, fully dressed up, the corner of his lips twitched.
