Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Dog Jokes and a Midnight Visitor
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Sir Evan asked cautiously, a touch of unease in his heart.
"What happens when it awakens?"
"It'll go berserk like a rabid little bastard dog."
"...Watch your language."
Nihil's crude words made Evan flinch, and he shot a quick glance at Lianus. Though he was giving an obvious hint, Nihil just shrugged once before turning to Lianus with a warning.
"Rian, be careful. That guy might just sink his teeth into your delicate little neck."
"What? Bite me?"
"Yeah, so how about we muzzle him?"
"......"
A muzzle, of all things.
Evan furrowed his brow at Nihil's attitude, which clearly treated him like a dog, but Carus took it as a joke and piled on.
"My friend, what about a collar? Shall I order a sturdy one?"
"Meeeooow!"
"......"
Unlike Evan, whose mood had soured completely, everyone else clustered together, chattering away.
Carus insisted on black for the collar since it looked tough, then glanced at Evan and suggested adding a cute yellow ribbon—no need to look too intimidating.
Nihil chimed in that they needed a doghouse to keep him locked up too, strutting about smugly at first, but soon he drifted off into his own thoughts, nodding vaguely now and then.
Lianus, who had been watching Evan's reactions, finally jumped into the conversation when Bella, now in human form, declared they should put a red ribbon and bell on him.
"Red's no good! He's my knight, so it'll be dark green! Right, Sir Evan? You prefer dark green over red too, don't you? Right? Right?"
Evan's eyes widened at Lianus's sudden outburst, but he quickly understood and smiled faintly.
Red symbolized the ducal house—and by extension, the Queen and her son, the 1st Prince. It was absolutely off-limits for the 2nd Prince's guard knight.
Forgetting that he'd just treated his own knight like a dog, Lianus stared at Evan intensely, with utter sincerity. Evan felt a warm swell of possessiveness from the little kitten he served and nodded contentedly, saying dark green sounded perfect.
"I knew you'd prefer dark green too, Sir Evan!"
Thrilled with the response, Lianus bounded over with a beaming smile and hugged Evan tightly.
Evan stroked the round, dark green head nestled in his arms, chuckling warmly. If this was what being treated like a dog meant, he didn't mind it one bit.
A collar? He could handle that easily.
Sure, the bobcat kid had him cornered now—he'd probably get called "woof-woof" from here on out—but since he called the kid "meow-meow" too, Evan decided to let it slide.
Soon enough, Carus headed back, saying he had unfinished business at the academy. Not forgetting to earnestly remind Bella to behave and listen well.
"So, what am I supposed to do?"
Bella finally asked her question upon arriving at the 2nd Prince's Palace, having heard no explanations amid all the chaos.
Nihil gave her a rough rundown of the situation and laid out his conditions for her to escort them during tomorrow's Sharton Street field trip.
"Don't step in unless Rian's life is in real danger. Avoid transforming or shifting in front of others if possible. Always prioritize guarding Rian. If you and Rian get separated from me, stay with him in cat form. Don't artificially alter the situation in advance."
"I have a question!"
Bella, who had been listening obediently, dramatically raised her hand and drew everyone's attention.
"Go ahead."
"What do you mean by 'don't artificially alter the situation in advance'?"
"Even if a dangerous person approaches, don't eliminate them beforehand."
"But what if our cute prince gets hurt?"
"That's why we brought on an extra guard knight—to make sure nothing big happens. We're not just going out to play. Constant meddling under the guise of protection would be a problem."
"Got it!"
Bella nodded solemnly as if she'd finally understood. Lianus, sitting beside Nihil, pressed his lips together determinedly too.
Nihil didn't forget to thoroughly reiterate the precautions for Lianus's safe Sharton Street field trip.
"Rian, you absolutely can't leave my side."
"Okay."
"If you get separated from me somehow."
"I'll stay with the kitty."
"Even if things go wrong and Meow-Meow can't reach you, Woof-Woof will be watching from the shadows, so don't worry."
"Okay."
"If you're tired or hurt."
"I'll tell you right away, no hiding."
"Food."
"Only what you give me, Nil."
"Signal?"
"Once for no, twice for yes, three times for no."
"Good."
Nihil nodded, smiling softly as he stroked the head of the diligently answering Lianus. Reminding him they had to wake up early at dawn tomorrow, he tucked him into bed and pretended to practice reading by reciting a picture book.
Bella, transformed back into a cat, claimed the spot by the fireplace and volunteered for night watch duty. Evan eyed her suspiciously and planned to stand guard outside discreetly, but their blissfully oblivious yet utterly lovable prince cheerfully declared, "Sir Evan, looks like you can finally rest easy tonight!"—delighted as if it were his own good fortune. Evan had no choice but to return to his room.
It was a slightly awkward and noisy night, but peaceful all the same.
At least, that's what Evan thought.
Until he discovered the bobcat sneaking into his room in the dead of night, clutching a dagger.
The moment Evan snapped awake to a strange presence, his eyes met long white lashes illuminated by moonlight slipping through the window gap, and eyes like black opals.
The inhuman appearance and aura made him think it was a dream at first, staring blankly until the glint of moonlight on a small dagger's blade jolted him upright.
"...You're awake."
"Huh...?"
'You're awake...?'
Evan's jaw dropped at the flat, emotionless voice. He couldn't even muster anger at the bobcat's brazen nonchalance; instead, he quirked one side of his mouth in a wry, incredulous smile.
More unbelievable was that he hadn't sensed a thing until the intruder was right in his face.
Nihil glanced down at the dagger in his hand for a moment, then casually hid it behind his back. Pointless now that everything had been seen, but he even pretended to check Evan's reaction.
Evan ran a hand through his hair, his feelings a tangled mess.
"A bit late to hide it now, isn't it?"
"Go back to sleep. I'm leaving."
How could anyone be so shameless?
As Nihil tried to slip out like nothing had happened, Evan sat up and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, hoisting him up.
Like a cat caught by the nape, Nihil dangled limply, staring up at Evan before shyly averting his gaze.
"Why avoid my eyes?"
"......"
"You know you did wrong, don't you?"
"......"
The suspicious wild bobcat intruder stayed silent. When Evan held out his hand, he even obediently surrendered the dagger.
Evan could tell Nihil hadn't broken in with murderous intent, so he decided to give him a chance to explain.
"Why are you here?"
"...Bored."
"Bored enough to sneak in at this hour and shove a blade in my face? Huh?"
Evan smirked mockingly, deliberately shaking the lightweight body in his grip. Nihil dangled like a paper doll, offering no resistance whatsoever.
After a moment of silence, Nihil spoke quietly.
"...Needed something."
Evan had no idea why he'd come to him for it, but he knew prying too hard would get him nowhere. Better to coax it out patiently.
"What do you need?"
"......"
"Something so rare you had to threaten me for it?"
"......"
Nihil pondered Evan's question, shaking his head slowly at first, then tilting it as if reconsidering.
Evan sighed, set Nihil down on the bed, and lit a candle. The room, lit only by a sliver of moonlight, warmed with the soft glow.
"What is it you need?"
Evan pulled up a chair, straddled it backward, and rested his chin on the backrest, gazing steadily at Nihil.
Nihil hesitated, then—judging the situation hopeless to hide—muttered a single word, barely audible.
"Blood."
"...Blood?"
Nihil nodded faintly when Evan repeated it.
"Did you find some Sirentea somewhere?"
Evan tilted his head, wondering if Nihil had stumbled on some rare herb, glancing at his arm. Herbs didn't usually require blood, but since the kid had shredded his own arm digging up Sirentea not long ago, it wasn't impossible.
But Nihil shook his head firmly.
"If it was for Sirentea, I'd have used my own."
"...So you need mine?"
"Yes."
"What for?"
"I'm going to drink it."
"Ah, sure. You're going to dri—wait, what?"
Evan started to reply flatly, then blinked, wondering if he'd misheard, snapping his gaze up to Nihil.
Nihil's black eyes remained serene, almost making Evan doubt his ears—but no, he'd heard right.
Evan's mind raced.
Was the kid a vampire? They were said to be extinct, wiped out by humans long ago, but one hiding in secret wouldn't be surprising.
If desperation had driven him to break in for blood, what should Evan do?
Gazing at the small intruder before him, Evan debated giving blood or not. No malice or hostility—just maybe hunger, though Nihil hid emotions well anyway.
Hunger didn't fade easily, he'd said. Was this related?
At this point, Evan almost wanted to praise him for coming to him instead of the prince.
Silence stretched on.
Nihil, who'd been avoiding Evan's eyes, now stared back with eerie persistence, as if observing him. The flickering candle made his pupils seem to tremble faintly.
After much deliberation, Evan decided to share his blood. Better now than risk the kid snapping later and biting the prince's neck.
Eying what he tentatively pegged as a 'starving young vampire (presumed)', Evan rolled up his sleeve with a complicated expression and pressed a dagger to his forearm.
"...That hungry?"