Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Cat in Heat
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Angsuk—what could that even mean…
Humans have this habit of getting jealous and resentful over the smallest things: a neighbor's land value spiking, stocks soaring, or any kind of good fortune befalling someone else.
Especially when it's someone you see every day and already don't get along with?
Then it really drives you insane.
Jenia found it odd that Leah wasn't picking fights with her today like usual, but what really got under her skin was Leah's face, glowing radiantly and shining like polished jade.
From what Jenia could infer, something had put her in extremely high spirits.
But what could possibly make Leah this happy in such a short time…
"...You seem especially cheerful today."
In order to turn her suspicions into certainty, Jenia tossed out a probing opener.
Normally, Leah would have shot back with something like, "Your boyfriend's a beast," or "Beat it, you thieving cat." But instead, she shook her head gently with a benevolent smile.
"I've been sorry toward you all this time…"
"Pardon?"
Caught off guard by the sudden apology, Jenia's mind rang with an inexplicable alarm.
"What do you—"
"The position of Empress is incredibly tiresome… I felt like I'd been too harsh on you, knowing you'll soon walk a tough path yourself…"
Ever since the First Princess had ceased her activities, Jenia had become the queen of high society. She slowly parsed the hidden meaning in Leah's words.
She was certain it wasn't genuine worry or blessing for the future of the empire's noblest woman.
Jenia, staring at Leah with trembling eyes, whipped her head toward me in an instant.
Her sharp mind had already pieced together the connection.
"Yo... You're not telling me…!"
I accelerated time with my circle.
While leisurely observing Jenia's widening eyes and contracting pupils, my mind raced for an escape route.
But this was a peaceful academy annex mansion—there were no convenient variables to deflect the conversation.
Just as I resigned myself to accept my fate and turn my back…
Footsteps!
"Looks like the Albheim princess has arrived! I'll be right back!"
"Li... Liam! Wait! Hey!"
Swift teleport to the front gate. That bought me a solid two extra minutes of survival time.
"Kyaa!"
Kanf shrieked in surprise at my sudden appearance.
The boldness she'd shown on day one was long gone, replaced entirely by the timid bird-chested princess.
Tsk tsk. How's she gonna survive this harsh world like that?
The elf, who would have normally flinched, was calming her startled heart after the crown prince split her arm like a biscuit in a prankish surprise.
Convinced that this man could turn her into mincemeat without a trace if he wanted…
But how could the crown prince know she thought that far?
Right now, he was just a frail crown prince scared of his fiancée's piercing glare, personally greeting the guest.
"Right on time."
"...There was a spell on the path…"
"? I set it pretty easy."
Veins bulged on Kanf's forehead, but it wasn't my fault.
I flung open the front gate and welcomed the guest.
"Let's... walk slowly. Nice and easy."
"Pardon…?"
"It's like cooling an overheated furnace. Necessary work."
"Furnace…?"
Ignoring Kanf's confusion, I mentally sketched out how to persuade Jenia.
On my knees? Nah, used that already. Serious talk? Too preachy… For now, use Kanf to buy a little more time.
Kanf's sullen expression brightened the moment she spotted Veronica.
"Veronica!"
"Hehe, Aneis. You made it safely?"
"I missed you…"
This girl, huh?
She likes Veronica way too much. No chance. Veronica's mine.
If she dared go full GL route, I'd burn down the World Tree in Albheim…
A glance sideways: Jenia still eyeing me suspiciously, Leah smiling serenely like a Buddha.
"Alright! Everyone, let's head out!"
"""Yes!"""
They seemed to shelve their suspicions for now. Once things got started, everyone got serious.
I led the group to the long-distance teleportation magic circle.
Meanwhile, in the magic department, a professor with cat ears was passionately teaching her students.
Her bobbed hair swaying lightly, yellow eyes brimming with energy as she lectured—it was more than enough to make the male students' hearts flutter.
Students who'd taken her first-semester class often requested her for the next term, it was said.
"Alright! And with that, today's lecture comes to an end! Good work, everyone!"
The students responded brightly to her warm smile.
-Good work, Professor!
-See you next week!
Professor Rachel nodded to the cheerful students, then turned her gaze to the white-haired, yellow-eyed male student.
"Um, Liam? Do you have a moment?"
-Jolt!
Belialr, sitting behind the crown prince and packing his textbook, jolted violently.
"Belialr? Are you alright?"
"Yes… I'm fine, Professor."
Seemed like a minor slip-up.
The Liam in front of him nodded with a smile.
"Ah! Shall we head to the professor building, then?"
"Yes, Professor."
At Liam's response, Rachel turned and exited the classroom.
Belialr frantically activated presence-concealing artifacts one after another.
After a deep breath, he gripped the cube in his hand and secretly tailed the professor.
If he got caught, who knew what that lunatic might do.
Pushing aside visions of a suffocating future, he maxed out his focus on the crown prince's movements.
"Come on in, Liam!"
The two entered side by side, nodding.
Once the door closed, it seemed soundproofed—no sounds or presences leaked out.
Belialr paled, pressed the cube to the wall, and switched to auto-mode spells.
Praying nothing would happen.
Unaware that the cube's face against the wall was glowing red…
"Ah! Sorry to bother you, Liam. There's a part in the paper I plan to tie into the class that I don't quite get…"
"It's fine, Professor."
"Look at me, getting ahead of myself. Want something to drink?"
"No, thank you, Professor."
"Mm… Then shall we sit?"
Rachel sat demurely on the sofa, her tail swaying softly.
The crown prince watched her with a deep smile, then plopped down right beside her, hips touching.
Rachel panicked at the sudden closeness.
"Um… Liam?"
"Yes? What's wrong, Professor?"
Sensing something off in his brazen demeanor but mindful of her position as teacher, she pivoted back to the topic.
"Oh, no… On page 17 of the paper you showed me last time…"
"Ah~ That part."
Sharing the paper brought their bodies into full contact.
The crown prince's scent wafted sharply into the beastkin's sensitive nose.
A warm yet dangerous aroma, sweetness veiling a fishy edge—his body fragrance scrambled Rachel's mind.
"Professor?"
"Ah! So... sorry, what part were you saying?"
To the dazed professor, the crown prince smiled faintly.
"I'll help you."
"Pardon?"
As if no answer were needed, he extended his arm around her shoulders, grasping her hand with his knuckles.
"Li... Liam! What is this…"
"Now... focus, Professor?"
His warm heat seeped in, his scent intensifying. The occasional tickle of his thick fingers on her hand sent chills racing down her spine, stiffening her tail.
"Nya!"
His firm forearm pinned her shoulders like a cat trap, and his interlaced fingers guided hers slowly over the paper.
"Focus."
His low whisper in her ear made her pounding heart race even wilder, like prey facing a predator.
Her hand traced the paper as he directed, his deep voice tickling her ear atop her head.
Undeterred by her twitching, perked ears, the crown prince continued explaining.
This was a situation to get angry over, yet for some reason, she couldn't refuse—her other hand just fidgeted on the paper.
"Li... Liam… That's… enough now…"
Her confused mind, ignorant of his intent, and her throbbing heart left her disoriented.
"Shh."
His merciless low voice slithered into her ear, corrupting her brain and denying refusal.
Thus the explanation dragged on, his touch grazing her tensed, huddled body.
"Nyaa!"
"Good girl… That's it…"
A gentle hand reached her head, pressing her soft, sensitive ear, igniting heat in her lower belly.
"Impressive, Professor."
Barrage of praise whispered in her ear sapped her strength, flooding her with immense relief.
Her tail instinctively caressed his waist and thigh.
The professor, who'd never dated due to her studies, couldn't comprehend the situation.
Looking up at him with unfocused eyes to read his intent, he just smiled leisurely.
Her tail rubbed his thigh softly, inching upward as she stared blankly at his face.
"Professor?"
"Ah! So... sorry!"
The one apologizing had switched, but she wasn't in a state to notice.
The crown prince rose with a bright smile.
"Today's session was enjoyable too. Call me anytime you need more help."
"Ah… Yes, thank you, Liam…"
Rachel gazed blankly at his retreating figure, no lingering attachment.
That dawn.
"Meooong... Meooong..."
"Meong...! Not yet... Why now..."
The early-onset heat cycle that tormented her for a while afterward—only she knew.