The Butler's Overwhelming Interview
“Mommy, I’ve missed you so much…”
Her voice always made my heart feel warm, like everything else in the world suddenly became soft and gentle.
I couldn’t help it. My tail started wagging happily, and I rubbed my face against her fluffy fur.
“Kyaoong?”
But you said you couldn’t come yet… so how did you even get here?
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Still, my body isn’t completely ready. It’s still too hard to stay long in the lower realm.”
“Kyaoo?”
Then why are you here already?
“So I can’t stay long. But I can spend a little time with you. I came as a surprise gift. Do you like it?”
“Kyaooo!”
Of course I do!
She pulled me tight into her arms, pressing my forehead against hers.
“Our little one, have you been taking good care of yourself? Let Mommy see your face.”
She let out a small pink tongue.
I screwed my eyes shut, ready for the usual sloppy kiss.
But the feeling was actually nice.
Slurp.
“Kyaoo?”
Huh?
Mommy’s tongue on my forehead brushed my fur in the gentlest, cleanest way—way gentler than my usual grooming.
“Kyaoo? Kyaoong?”
Mommy, how did you do that? This is different from last time!
I looked up at her in surprise. Her ear tips turned bright red, and she coughed lightly, shrugging her shoulders.
“How is it? I practiced a lot so I could lick you properly even when I was clumsy with my human body.”
“Kyaaaang!”
Yay! It’s so soft!
I happily licked the underside of her chin. She laughed cheerfully and glanced around the room.
Her gaze lingered for a moment on Princess Kailian, who was still sound asleep.
… I should wake her up.
Even if I did, first impressions of a drooling sleeper are kind of weird…
“The scent of a human is thick.”
“Kyaoong.”
Even when she drools and sleeps, she’s still a good kid.
She gave me an unreadable expression for a second, then scooped me up and carried me toward the window.
“Little one, the room feels a bit stuffy. How about we take a walk outside?”
“Kyaoo!”
Yay! I haven’t slept either!
I nodded happily in agreement.
Outside, the cool night air slipped between my fur. The damp, cozy smell of dew on the grass tickled my nose.
There was a faint, unpleasant scent of insects, but it was minor.
She held me close and strolled slowly along the quiet forest path near Valder’s Castle.
“Hoo hoo… being out here with you, it feels like a dream…”
She buried her face in my back and sighed happily.
“Kyaoong.”
Mommy.
“Why is that, my little one?”
“Kyaoo.”
You said we’d take a walk, but you’re carrying me the whole time.
Walking when you’re just hugging me like this…
I didn’t hate being held, but I wanted to walk too.
I stayed very still, wagging my tail slowly.
She asked carefully, “Little one, do those humans treat you really well? Nothing like making you hungry or… anything like that?”
“Kyaoo!”
What is she even asking?
I poked her arm with my tail while she stared at my belly.
“Kyaoo.”
Yeah… everyone treats me great. Everyone likes me, we eat together, we sleep together.
“Is that so…? I’m glad. Even without Mommy, you’ve been so brave…”
She gave me a slightly sad smile and gently stroked my head.
“Our cute little one, tonight we should sleep together.”
“Kyaoo!”
Of course!
I nodded so hard my head almost spun.
Sleeping with Mommy was always the best!
“Kyaoong.”
Then let’s go back to the room and sleep in the empty bed.”
I pointed at Valder’s Castle with my front paw.
She shook her head and looked up at the sky instead.
“Not that boring room. Look, there’s a really nice cloud right over there. That would be better.”
“…Kyaoo?”
Cloud?
I was still trying to understand when my body suddenly lifted.
She held me and rose into the air.
“Kyaooooo?!”
What the—?!
The ground under my feet got farther and smaller. Valder’s Castle looked tiny below us.
I squeezed my eyes shut, heart dropping into my stomach.
“Kyaoo! Kyaaaang!”
What?! How did you do that?! Can you even fly, Mommy?!
The shock wore off, and I unleashed a flood of confused words at her.
This is insane… I’m a flying white tiger now…
She gave me a small smile and flicked my nose.
“If you get a little bigger, you’ll be able to do it easily. Don’t be jealous.”
“Kyaoo?”
Really? I believe Mommy.
I looked down excitedly, then quickly snapped my head back up at the distant view.
“Ky, kyaoo.”
It’s so high…
Even if I was strong, would I survive a fall from this height?
My instincts kicked in. I curled my tail into a tight ball and hugged Mommy’s neck with both front paws.
“Kyaoong…”
Mommy, I’m a little scared…
I trembled and burrowed deeper into her arms.
“Don’t be scared, little one. Mommy’s holding you tight. There’s no way you’ll fall. Look, there’s a nice cloud right nearby.”
She stretched one hand toward the large, fluffy white cloud floating in the night sky.
Swish.
The clouds gathered like living cotton candy under her touch and merged into one huge, flat cushion.
This is the divine beast’s cloud… or a fairy’s cloud… or something similar…?
She lowered me gently onto the cloud.
“Here, it’s safe. Come down and see.”
She carefully set me on the cloud, ready to step off.
“Kyaoo…”
I-I don’t want to go down… it might fall.
I clung desperately to her arms and wrists, claws almost out. I barely held back so she wouldn’t get hurt.
My ears flattened, and my whole body shook with fear of stepping on air.
“Oh dear, little one…”
Her face flushed when she saw me looking up with scared, teary eyes.
The sight of me whimpering in fear only made her maternal heart melt even more.
“Hoo hoo hoo… our little one, you’re so scared.”
She laughed softly, refusing to let me go and pulling me back into her arms.
“Kyaoong…”
I’m staying like this.
Instead of answering, she kissed my forehead.
“Yes, yes. I understand. Mommy will keep holding you. Don’t worry. We’ll sleep here together.”
She lay back on the cloud with me still in her arms.
“Kyaoo…?”
I really won’t fall…
After a while, my pounding heart finally calmed down.
I stayed curled like a koala in her arms, carefully draping my long tail underneath so it poked and prodded the cloud.
Poke, poke.
It felt exactly like a high-quality wool blanket, wrapping my tail in soft warmth.
… Sorry, scientists. But I’m a divine beast, so you’ll understand.
“Kyaoo!”
The texture is so weirdly nice…
I forgot I was scared and crawled off her chest. I cautiously stepped onto the cloud with all four paws.
Pong, pong.
Every step, soft clouds slipped pleasantly between my paw pads.
It felt like walking on giant marshmallows.
This was the most wonderful sensation I’d ever felt.
“Kyaoo…”
Can I eat this?
Maybe it tastes like water…
I hesitated, then gave up.
Mommy, watching from the side, smiled with deep affection and warmth.
“You like it, my little one. Come here and sleep now. It’s getting late.”
She opened her arms.
Without a second thought, I ran into her warm, spacious embrace.
The cloud’s fluffy softness mixed with Mommy’s body heat.
A cool night breeze blew around us.
In this moment, this was the perfect bed.
“Kyaoong…”
Good night, Mommy.
I rested my chin on her chest, closed my eyes happily, and fell asleep.
Umm…
Morning sunlight poured through the windows.
Kailian tossed restlessly, slowly waking up.
“I slept well… Blanc, are you awake?”
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and reached for the spot beside her.
Blanc, who always slept glued to her side, should have been there.
Swish, swish.
“…Huh?”
Only a cool, empty bed sheet greeted her hand.
Kailian’s eyes snapped open.
She bolted upright and scanned the room frantically.
“Blanc? Blanc!”
No sign anywhere.
Even when she checked the bed, the warmth was long gone.
Her face turned pale.
“No… stay calm, you pig… you were probably hungry and went for a midnight snack and slept there…”
She tried to push away the thought that Blanc had abandoned her.
“…This time I’ll confiscate your treats for a month.”
She hurriedly changed clothes and grabbed the door handle, yanking it open.
Bam!
“…?”
Kailian froze the moment she saw the person standing outside.
Behind the open door stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman whose presence felt impossibly mysterious and somehow… forbidden to stare at too long.
Her golden eyes regarded Kailian with cold, indifferent detachment.
Kailian’s body refused to move. Only her eyes could shift.
She glanced downward.
Blanc was sleeping peacefully in the woman’s arms, face completely relaxed.
“You’re the one raising my child…? Ah, we certainly have a lot to talk about…”
Why did her gaze feel so… heavy?