Grandpa's Snack Surprise: Blanc's Fluffy White Fur Treat
I squirmed like crazy, trapped between Kylian’s soft, pillowy chest.
Once she realized it was really me, Kylian immediately scooped me up in a dramatic kidnapping hug and started raking her fingers through my silver-white hair and ears.
The ticklish, electric sensation shooting through my ears made me slam my paws harder against her chest.
“Hey, hey, our little Blanc. You’re so cute it’s killing me~”
“...Let me go!”
I shot both arms out, shoving her breasts with all the force I could muster.
“Kyaaa...! I need to breathe, dammit!”
“Hehe... mmm~”
Back when I was my real fluffy white tiger cub form, a good shove would’ve sent me flying. But right now my body felt like it had lost at least half its strength. I couldn’t even budge her.
Still, I poured everything I had into the push. Kylian’s torso wobbled a tiny bit.
“...Did I do something wrong?”
I panted desperately, tilting my head up to glare at her.
Kylian noticed where my paw had touched and froze for a split second, then her cheeks flushed bright red.
“...Right now I’m actually more scared of her than I am of Lina.”
“Mmm~”
Kylian stared down at my forehead, murmuring something under her breath.
“Why... ugh!”
I tried to ask what she’d just said, but she yanked me straight back into her chest.
“Then... when I grow up someday... you’ll be a grown-up man? Right?”
Kylian looked down at me wriggling inside her arms, a small, sweet smile curving her lips.
“...Blanc, you really are my greatest luck.”
“What are you saying?!”
I thrashed like a maniac and finally managed to wriggle free from her grip.
The second my paws touched the floor I bolted to the corner of the bed, frantically licking my tangled hair and fluffy tail straight.
“...I’m definitely telling Mom about this tomorrow morning. She’s been picking on me since the second I woke up.”
I flicked my tail in irritation. Kylian let out a soft, helpless chuckle at the sight.
“Alright, alright. I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it—you’re just too cute.”
“Sorry is only words, though. Does that really count?”
I pouted, turned my head away, and gave my tail another sharp flick.
“This is what they call an apology? I don’t think sincerity comes across when all you say is ‘sorry’~”
I needed something to hold in my paws... something that would prove she meant it.
Kylian must’ve read my mind because she stepped closer with a mischievous grin.
“I really am sorry. But today, no matter how much snack you eat, I won’t scold you. Sound good?”
“......?!”
“...Huh?”
The moment the words left her mouth, my eyes shot wide open.
She’d said I could eat as much snack as I wanted?
...The same person who used to scold me every morning just for seeing my belly?
“Is this some kind of trap?”
I eyed her suspiciously, but my empty stomach had already betrayed me—drool was pouring down my chin.
I slid closer to her face, tilted my head up, and asked softly.
“...You’re serious?”
Kylian watched my sparkling blue eyes and wagging tail, swallowing her laugh. The way I was clutching her sleeve and beaming up at her was absolutely adorable. And the tail—oh man, it was wagging so fast I could’ve sworn it was going to leave a tail-print on her dress. I wanted to freeze it forever in a picture.
Kylian smiled at that honest little tail.
“Of course. If I don’t let you eat snack today, you can ignore my orders and eat whatever you want from now on.”
“Got it!”
So I forgave her. Just like that.
I nodded enthusiastically.
How could I possibly refuse if she was offering unlimited snack?
I mean, I was pretty cute, after all. Even a butler’s heart could understand that.
We stepped out of the bedroom not long after.
Kylian walked beside me, casually slipping her hand into mine.
“...Holding hands while walking feels weird.”
When I was my original fluffy white tiger form, the only things I did were curl up in her arms or chase after her from behind. But side-by-side like this? My perspective was completely different. Of course I still had to crane my neck way up, but...
“I’m in my growing phase, so I’ll catch up fast.”
We were heading to Emperor Carchion—Grandpa—for morning greetings.
As we strolled down the long corridor of the Princess’s Palace, every servant we passed reacted like we were a circus act.
“Hah?!”
“W-what is that...?”
Maids cleaning the floor dropped their brooms. Messengers clutching scrolls stared with mouths wide open.
“Yeah, a princess of the empire holding the hand of some random boy and walking around would shock anyone.”
Kylian completely ignored their stunned stares and kept walking. I didn’t bother reacting either.
“It’s not like they’re seeing it for the first time. What’s the big deal?”
Just as we rounded the corner, I locked eyes with the royal cook who’d secretly packed snacks for me earlier.
He looked confused, like he had no idea who I was.
I sneaked a quick hand signal behind Kylian’s back and gave him a little wave.
“It’s me. I’m eating plenty of meat.”
The second he realized it was me, his face went pale and he nearly dropped the empty tray he was carrying.
“...Never mind the surprise. I’ll just pack even more snacks for later.”
Today I was definitely going to devour the entire empire.
I chuckled softly and kept walking.
Finally we reached the door to Emperor Carchion’s office.
Knock. Knock.
Kylian gently tapped on the heavy oak door.
“Father, it’s Kylian. May I come in?”
“Come in.”
Kylian turned the knob and pushed the door open.
The office smelled faintly of fresh tea leaves.
Grandpa sat at his desk, leisurely sipping morning tea.
“Morning greetings?”
Carchion welcomed her with a warm, grandfatherly smile.
Then his gaze naturally drifted to the boy holding her hand.
“...?”
The teacup in his hand froze halfway to his lips.
“Grandpa’s surprised? Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it in no time.”
Grandpa’s eyes widened like saucers, trembling with shock.
“Who is that boy? I’ve never seen his face before.”
He frowned slightly, scanning me with a suspicious, wary glare—like he suspected an enemy had sent a spy.
But that suspicion lasted exactly two seconds.
The fluffy white tiger ears on my head twitched.
And the bushy tail behind me wagged happily.
“...No way.”
Grandpa slammed his teacup down, the porcelain clattering loudly.
“Blanc...?”
His voice trembled with disbelief.
I nodded solemnly while still gripping Kylian’s hand.
“Yes. That’s right. Hello, Grandpa.”
“Hah...”
A startled laugh escaped Grandpa.
He shot to his feet in disbelief.
Swoosh.
To match my eye level, he dropped to one knee on the cold floor in a perfectly natural, almost reverent motion.
“...If the court had seen that, they’d have fainted on the spot.”
Wait, really? I thought once they realized it was me they’d be less shocked.
Grandpa reached out with his massive hand, placed it on my shoulder, and stared straight into my eyes.
“It really is... Blanc.”
His voice was a mix of awe and wonder.
“Yes, Father. I was shocked awake this morning too. I suddenly changed.”
Grandpa gently pinched my cheek and asked.
“What exactly happened? Did you learn transformation magic from Haetae? Or did you eat something weird in Rosalia’s workshop?”
“I don’t know... It’s just a growth spurt. I have no idea when it’ll end.”
I was a little bothered that he’d pinched my cheek, but I stayed quiet to placate him.
“Heh heh heh! A growth spurt! Our Blanc grew up so fast!”
Grandpa threw his head back in a booming laugh and ruffled my hair wildly.
...I’d just spent ten minutes trying to fix my hair and tail because of Kylian, and now this again.
I was annoyed, but the memory of the snacks he’d given me made me obediently let him pet me.
...Petting skills are only second to Mom’s.
Grandpa finally calmed down, then suddenly stood up as if he’d thought of something.
“Perfect. Since our Blanc has grown so beautifully, I need to reward you.”
He walked to his desk and opened the lowest drawer—the secret imperial emergency food store that only a few people in the empire knew about.
“Me, Grandpa, and Lumia know this place.”
Shhh.
From the drawer he pulled out a thick bundle of imperial-special soy-marinated, glossy roasted beef jerky.
“Here, eat.”
He pressed the entire bundle straight into my paws.
Usually he only gave me one or two pieces...
“...You’re really letting me have all of this?”
I stared at the massive bundle in surprise, then back at Grandpa.
I really wanted to shove it into my mouth right now.
My mouth watered at the salty, smoky aroma that hit my nose.
“Of course. It’s my gift. Eat as much as you want.”
“Yay!”
I immediately grabbed the thickest piece and crammed it into my mouth.
“...Delicious!”
Chomp, chomp... Nom.
The rich meat juices and the faint applewood smoke that seeped out between my teeth filled my mouth. I wagged my tail so hard I felt like I was going to fly away.
Then I remembered Kylian standing right beside me.
“Oh crap.”
I kept the jerky in my mouth and subtly rolled my eyes toward the princess standing next to me, checking her reaction.
Normally I would’ve scarfed down breakfast before snack, but she’d confiscate it the second she saw me.
“Snack before eating is a no-no...”
I glanced sideways at Kylian with nervous eyes.
But her reaction wasn’t what I expected.
She watched me stuff meat into my mouth and glance at her, then—far from angry—covered her mouth and let out a tiny, amused laugh.
“...?”
“What... is she saying?”
“Kyaaang!”
Relieved, I happily shoved the rest of the jerky into my mouth.
“Urruuuung~”
Grandpa watched me and chuckled, still stroking my hair.
“Heh heh heh. Even in human form, your eating habits and appetite are pure, unchanged Blanc. That’s my boy.”