The Nightmare Cannot Overcome My Belly Fat
The nightmare couldn't be defeated.
It was a dream. My head knew this was just a dream, but my body refused to move.
Darkness gripped my ankle and dragged me into the swamp.
"......Blanc?"
My voice came out rough and metallic, echoing through the empty corridor like gravel. Normally, before I even called his name, that fluffy white cotton ball should have burst out.
Outside the window, black rain poured down. The candles on the walls flickered and died one by one, plunging the imperial palace corridor into deeper darkness.
The nightmare that had tormented me every single day before meeting Blanc reappeared in vivid detail.
I was alone in this vast castle. The moment that realization slammed into my brain, I ran.
My lungs felt like they would burst, but I couldn't stop. I had to find him.
The others could go to hell. I just needed Blanc. As long as he stayed by my side.
"Blanc! Where are you! Answer me!"
I threw open the door of the princess's palace. The room was completely empty. No fluffy white mass on the sofa, under the bed, or by the window where he always loved to nap. Even the toys he liked to roll around the floor were gone.
My gaze landed on the giant laundry basket in the corner.
Ah, he must have been there earlier. Just hiding to play a prank.
He was probably hiding again, giggling at how I'd freak out when I found him.
I dug through the towels in the basket with shaking hands like a madwoman.
"He's not here..."
Nothing. Only cold, damp towels. There was zero trace of Blanc's warmth anywhere.
The world felt like it was collapsing around me.
[Blanc has left.] [He left because of you. You've lost him again because of you.] [You're always alone. Because you've always smashed everything with your own hands.]
A familiar voice echoed through the darkness. The voice that had whispered in my ear since childhood. The voice I hadn't heard once since meeting Blanc.
The terror of not being loved. The thought that Blanc had abandoned me the same way Mother had. It was eating away at my mind.
"No... don't go..."
Hot tears streamed down my cheeks.
I dashed back out into the corridor, then the gardens, the forests. Everywhere Blanc might have gone.
He was nowhere. Not a trace of that warm body heat, the sweet milk scent, or the playful wag of his tail. Everything had scattered like smoke.
"Please... don't leave me alone..."
I collapsed onto the cold stone floor of the corridor and howled. I reached out into the empty air, but there was nothing to grab.
The terrible loneliness and chill were swallowing me whole. Darkness pressed against my throat. I couldn't breathe.
I wanted to see Blanc again.
KRRRACK!
The world shook violently. Something massive fell from the sky directly onto me.
Heavy. Familiar. Warm. It thawed the ice in my frozen body.
".....?!"
My breath caught. The darkness vanished. My vision turned completely white. The crushing weight was so intense it pressed down on my entire face, making it impossible to breathe.
"Ugh... ugh... no..."
A faint, pitiful groan from behind me pulled me back to consciousness.
I forced my eyes open and perked my ears. The groan made my left ear twitch.
"Cyaow...?"
What's wrong with the butler? Why is he hurting?
The butler sleeping beside me looked terrible. He was drenched in cold sweat, clutching the pillow so tightly his fingers had gone white.
From between his blue lips came soft sobs. Tears poured endlessly from his tightly closed eyes. The pillow beneath him was already soaked through.
"Cyeuut."
Why is she like this...?
I moved closer and licked the tears streaming down her face.
Slurp...
Is she having a nightmare?
"Cyaot!"
No matter how much I licked, she showed no sign of stopping. What kind of dream made her suffer like this?
Time to wake her up, butler.
I pushed her head down with my snout, then pressed my paw against her cheek. She still didn't wake.
It seemed my short absence earlier had triggered her trauma. Even a short disappearance could shatter her like this, but with the butler's scarred heart, it made perfect sense.
"Blanc... don't go.. where are you..."
She waved her hand desperately at nothing. The pitiful gesture of someone who had fed me, put me to bed, yet trembled so violently because I was gone.
"Cyaow..."
Stupid butler. Right beside me.
I stood up. My eyes glowed in the darkness. I looked down at her face.
I hate the wild. Every day the finest meats, the softest goose-down blankets, and people who adore me. I have no reason to leave.
"Uut... haa.."
I couldn't leave her like this. How do I wake her? Punching sounded like it would take too much strength with this fluffy belly, and using my claws would hurt her.
Yes. I had to take drastic action.
With resolute determination, I climbed onto her body. My target was the most sensitive spot on a human face.
I found the sure way to let her know I was here. I carefully placed my paws.
Thud. Thud. I stepped on her collarbone, past her jaw, and reached the perfect landing spot.
I folded my front paws neatly. I adjusted the angle of my hind legs. As stable and heavy as possible.
SLAP!
I settled my heavy belly right on her face. My rear end, hind legs, and soft stomach perfectly covered her nose, mouth, and eyes.
"......uek?!"
Her breathing stopped. The mouth that had been screaming in her dream was blocked by my belly.
I left only the tiniest crack near her nostrils, barely enough for air.
I was trying to wake her, not knock her out.
Here, butler. Feel this softness. Feel this fluffy fur. Feel this warm, toasty heat properly.
Rumbl.. Rumbl..
I rested my chin on her forehead and sang the lowest purr song I could make with my throat.
So my heartbeat and the vibration from my vocal cords traveled straight to her brain through her facial bones.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Small, regular, strong life.
Kailian's dream world shattered. The cold, empty corridor crumbled. Suddenly the world filled with white fluff and warmth.
My breath caught. It was heavy. Like a mountain pinning me down. But... it smelled. Sweet milk. Warm sunlight. And the maddeningly familiar beast scent.
"......fua!"
Kailian gasped sharply and snapped her eyes open. But what she saw wasn't darkness. White fur filled her vision. Fur poking her lashes. Fur tickling her nose. Even fur trying to enter her mouth.
"......tch. Tch."
Instinctively she spat out the fur in her mouth. Then she realized what she was lying on: this giant, warm life.
"......Blanc?"
Her voice was hoarse but no longer shaking. Fear vanished, replaced by disbelief and heavy pressure.
"You're... trying to assassinate me?"
The butler mumbled, but her words were muffled because her mouth was pressed against my belly. I didn't move an inch, standing firm.
Instead, I wrapped my tail around her neck. You can't run. Not in dreams or reality. While I bake the bread on top, you can't move.
"......"
Kailian tried to push me away but stopped. Her hands explored my back and rear.
Thick meat. Soft belly rising and falling regularly. The rumble song echoing in her ears.
This wasn't a dream. Blanc hadn't left. He was pressing down on me with all his weight.
A little too heavy, though.
"Heh heh..."
A relieved laugh escaped her lips. The butler hugged my body tightly with both arms.
Even though her face was buried and breathing was hard, she refused to let go. She dug deeper, inhaling.
"You're heavy, pig."
She said it while her touch was desperate. She rubbed her face on my belly. Wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. My stomach became the softest hand towel in the world.
Her fur was wet now, but she'd forgive me today.
"Don't go anywhere, okay?"
"Cyaow."
I'm not going. I'll stay with you.
I yawned lazily, then licked her forehead.
Slurp.
Her body trembled at the feeling of my rough tongue.
"In the dream... I had a nightmare where you disappeared. No matter how hard I looked, you were gone... I thought I was going crazy..."
She whispered. Her voice still carried tears.
"When I woke up, your rear was right in front of my eyes."
She giggled. The laughter vibrated through my belly.
"Thanks to you, the nightmare ran away. I was scared you'd squash me under your butt."
Her joke carried relief.
We stayed like that for a long time. I baked the bread on her face in earnest.
I folded my paws, set my stance, and put my full weight into it. I didn't want even a millimeter of gap, because the nightmare could sneak back in. I pressed firmly.
Kailian no longer tried to push me away. She kept her nose buried in my belly and closed her eyes again, using my heartbeat as a lullaby.
My regular breathing mixed with hers.
The sobbing butler wouldn't have nightmares anymore. I would protect her from them.
In the room, there was only the sound of my purr song and the peaceful breathing of a butler who had found peace once more.