Midnight Stroll and a Delicate Favor
I woke from sleep and slowly opened my eyes.
The room was still pitch-dark, but my mood was better than ever.
“Kyaaow…”
Finally… I’m going to meet Mom…
In my dreams, the warmth of Mom’s body, that gentle licking, and the voice that called me with endless love—every single feeling was still embedded in my body.
The emptiness I felt when I saw Lumia and Gumiho was completely filled.
I couldn’t stay quietly lying around on this dopamine-burst day.
I turned my body toward Kailian, who was hugging me tightly while she slept.
“Kyaa.”
…Should I mess with her for a little while?
I lifted one front paw and carefully reached toward Kailian’s cheek while she slept soundly.
Thump… thump.
I kneaded Kailian’s soft cheek, leaving paw prints all over it.
She always massages my belly and pinches my cheeks… now it’s your turn.
“Ugh… ah, really… Blanc… what time is it right now… you…”
“Kyaa.”
I have no idea. While messing around, do you even think about the time?
I smiled and licked Kailian’s cheek with my tongue.
At that moment, Kailian suddenly furrowed her brows and threw both arms around me, pulling me in with a loud “kyaaaah?!”
Whoa?! My air is cut off! She’s so huge because she grew up too much!
Kailian hugged me tightly and shoved my head deep between her breasts.
“Blanc… sleep a little… be a good boy and sleep… you pig…”
“Kyaa! Kyaaaaah!”
I can’t breathe! Hey, let go!
I struggled with my front paws pushing as hard as I could against Kailian’s chest, trying to breathe.
Since I’m her butler… I can’t even use my claws! This is cheating!
After a tough struggle, I managed to escape Kailian’s arms.
“Kyaa… kyaa.”
I let out a frustrated sigh and crawled sluggishly toward the edge of the bed.
Flop.
I landed lightly on the floor, puffed up my fluff that was pressed against Kailian, and shook my entire body.
I stretched my front legs long and arched my hips high, giving a satisfying stretch.
“Kyaaarm…”
I almost died messing around like that.
Now what?
I was already awake, and the butlers would wake up soon. There was still quite a bit of time left.
I thought for a moment, then carefully approached the door.
I put strength in my hind legs, looked at the door handle, and jumped up, grabbing it.
Click… creak.
I used my weight to quietly turn the handle.
This is beginner-level skill.
Once I stepped out into the dark imperial palace corridor, I swished my tail, thinking about where to go.
‘Should I go see Lumia and Gumiho?’
Lumia, who always slept in my arms, had started sleeping with her mother Gumiho last night, so they had their own room.
I walked down the corridor, silencing my paw steps perfectly with my holy foot jelly, and arrived right in front of the room prepared for Gumiho and her daughter.
This room was also equipped with a door handle. I jumped, opened the door, and peeked through the gap.
“……”
The room was faintly lit with magic. On the large bed, Gumiho and Lumia were hugging each other affectionately.
Lumia was sleeping while drooling, clutching one of Gumiho’s tails tightly. Gumiho was gently stroking Lumia’s head with her tail.
…She’s sleeping well even without me…
I felt a twinge of jealousy that I wasn’t there, but seeing how happy she looked gave me relief.
Well… I know how good it feels to meet Mom now, so it’s fine.
“Kyaa.”
She’s sleeping so nicely… My little sister is doing great.
I didn’t want to disturb them, so I quietly turned to leave.
At that moment, Gumiho sensed my presence and slowly turned her head. Our eyes met through the gap, with her cheek pressed against it.
…Caught me red-handed.
Gumiho smiled at me with an incredibly soft and gentle expression.
Then, without waking Lumia, she sent me a silent greeting with her mouth movements.
‘Thank you… really. My benefactor.’
The sincere feeling in that silent greeting made me flustered, so I looked away.
“Kyaa.”
Sleep well.
I nodded once and carefully closed the door again so as not to disturb them.
I confirmed Lumia was sleeping well, so now where should I go?
I wandered through the empty imperial palace corridor, ears perked up, listening for any interesting sounds.
In the distance, at the end of the corridor, I spotted the only room still brightly lit with light.
‘What’s in there that it’s lit even at this hour? Are they eating a midnight snack?’
Curious, I slid my face through the slightly open door crack.
And in there, the horrific sight made me instinctively stick out my tongue.
“Haa… damn it… Your Majesty… hold it in… no… I should hold it in… there’s nothing else I can do except quickly inherit the throne… haa…”
On the desk, there was a mountain of endless paperwork piles, and in the middle of them lay Demian, buried deep.
‘That’s… what a person’s face looks like?’
His dark circles were so severe now he could almost compete with a panda. The hand holding the mechanical pen mechanically was trembling nonstop.
Demian looked like he could faint at any moment, yet he was processing the documents.
‘Grandpa, you should give him a little break… This guy is going to die before he becomes Emperor.’
“Kyaa…”
Come on, butler, cheer up.
I briefly approached the pitiful Demian and thought about giving him a quick paw massage.
‘No… I shouldn’t interrupt.’
If I go over and comfort him now, he’ll grab me and complain, and probably won’t work.
Instead, I’ll do the massage after he finishes his work during the day.
It’s not because I’m avoiding trouble. I just want to help.
I stepped out more carefully and quietly, pulling my head back from the gap.
“Kyaa.”
You did great. When you finish, I’ll give you a lot of paw massages.
I looked at Demian one last time and sent him my silent cheers.
Gurgle… gurgle…
The moment I left Demian’s room, my stomach made a loud noise and immediately started protesting that it wanted energy.
…Should I visit the kitchen? There probably aren’t many people this early.
I moved down the dark corridor, silencing my steps, and dashed to the kitchen.
Arriving in front of the kitchen, I peered through the door gap with four eyes.
“Kyaaaw…”
Oh?
Contrary to my expectation of an empty kitchen, it was brightly lit like broad daylight.
Dozens of imperial chefs in white aprons were bustling around, preparing the morning meal.
The sound of knives chopping on cutting boards, wood burning in the ovens, and the rich aroma of meat broth and fresh bread filled the entire kitchen.
Ah… my mouth watered.
I wiped the drool on my front paw with my holy foot jelly and carefully checked the inside of the kitchen.
Am I getting something to eat?
I stood awkwardly in the doorway, tail swishing, unable to enter or leave.
At that moment, the chef flipping meat in front of the oven noticed me.
Now he’s finally looking my way.
“Eh?! B-Blanc?!
His surprised shout made all the busy chefs turn their heads toward me.
“Kyaa…”
Stop staring at me… I’m scary.
“Oh my, what brings you to the kitchen at this early hour?”
“Could it be you’re hungry and came looking for food?”
“Your Highness Blanc! I’ve finally perfected the recipe for Galbi-jjim that I learned from the East! Please taste just one bite for me, Your Highness!”
“No! Please try my newly developed cheese salmon steak first!”
Each chef excitedly brought up samples of their morning dishes on silver trays and rushed toward me.
In an instant, a small feast appeared right in front of me.
“Kyaa.”
So you want power because of this taste. Now I finally understand why villains are obsessed with power. This is enough to cause attachment.
“Kyaa. Kyaa.”
You want me to eat because you really want it? It’s not because I’m hungry and eating.
I scratched my front paw loudly to hide my embarrassment from coming to the kitchen.
I started tasting the dishes the chefs offered.
Slurp… crunch… munch…
“Kyaaaa!”
This is heaven… the table below is better than under the persimmon tree.
I stuffed my chubby cheeks full with the food.
Each time I emptied one bowl, the chefs clapped in ecstasy as if they had received a prize.
“Ooh…! Your Highness Blanc has eaten every single bite of my dish!”
“As expected, the imperial palace’s greatest gourmet! How adorable and majestic your eating face is!”
Having devoured the small feast set up in the kitchen in no time, I hopped onto the large bowl in front of me to digest.
“Kyaa.”
Time to pay the bill.
I placed my soft front paws on the bread dough prepared by the chefs.
Thump… thump… knead… knead.
The bread dough, receiving my holy energy-filled paw massages, instantly gained immense elasticity and shine.
“Kyaa!”
I paid for it with this?
After the chefs’ enthusiastic send-offs, I returned to Kailian’s room.
“Kyaaauu…”
Ah, I’m full and warm, so I’m sleepy again…
I crawled back into Kailian’s embrace, who was snoring softly, and settled under her strong arms.
Lying on my back, I slipped into a deep, sweet sleep.