No Bad Butlers in the World
The dawn in the forest was deep and soothing.
The tent floor, warmed by the finest magic stones the Emperor had bestowed, felt cozy and comforting. But my tongue was as parched as a desert.
I’d eaten too much meat yesterday, after all.
“Kyuuung…”
Water… cool water!
I blinked my sleepy eyes open.
Beside me, Kailian was curled up asleep, her one hand tightly clutching the very tip of my tail like it was the most precious thing in the world.
Now my butler can’t sleep alone anymore.
Her lips curved into a peaceful smile, as if the party with the animals yesterday had been really fun.
She must have stayed up worrying about me before I appeared. I shouldn’t have woken her.
I carefully slid my tail out from under her hand. She shifted in her sleep but didn’t wake.
I activated my stealth paw pads and silent footsteps, then slipped soundlessly out through the tent gap.
This was the power of the feline beastfolk.
*Whoosh.*
The fresh scent of the morning forest rushed into my nose.
Cold, damp earth; wet fallen leaves; and the warm, earthy aroma of the animals keeping watch over the tent.
The sky still glittered with countless stars, heavy with deep indigo.
I sniffed the water scent and headed for the small spring hidden behind the tent.
The surface of the stagnant water reflected the dawn starlight like scattered gem dust, sparkling and alive.
*Plop, plop, splash.*
I drank without thinking, throat working. The cool thrill racing down my tongue and into my throat, the refreshing chill that reached all the way to my bones.
Once the thirst was quenched, the world around me slowly came into focus.
“……Kyuu?”
Strange…
The stars in the spring’s reflection moved on their own.
What was going on?
When I looked up at the real sky, the stars above were still. But the ones below danced, spinning in circles like they had a mind of their own.
One by one, they rose to the surface, *pop, pop, pop*.
At first I thought they were fireflies, but they were nothing so ordinary.
Translucent, luminous fragments of light.
Some were droplet-shaped, others dandelion puffs, still others tiny birds.
The moment I saw them, I knew.
They were spirits.
Dozens of small lights swarmed around me.
Normal beasts would have fled. I wasn’t one of them.
The spirits blinked with curiosity and approached.
“Kyuu?”
Hello?
I extended a paw. One small light gently landed on it. Cold yet pleasantly warm, like a living breath.
They laughed with the sound of bubbles and tugged at my whiskers, tickling behind my ears.
“Kyua.”
I’m happy to meet you too.
I rubbed my cheeks against the spirits.
Inside the tent, Kailian felt the warmth that had been beside her vanish and woke with a start.
My place felt empty.
“……Blanc?”
She shot upright, heart pounding like it had dropped.
The lingering warmth on the empty spot was lukewarm. She hadn’t left long ago…
Fear flooded her.
Had some wolf come and taken me while she slept? Or had I wandered too deep into the forest out of curiosity, lost my way, and started crying?
“No…”
She didn’t even grab her outer robe, barefoot on the rough ground, and sprinted out of the tent.
Her soles scraped against the earth and soaked in dew, but all she could think was *find Blanc*.
Kailian scanned the forest until she spotted a faint blue light drifting from the spring.
She held her breath and crept closer. When the branches parted and her view cleared—
Her steps stopped.
“……Ah.”
She covered her mouth. It felt like a dream that wasn’t real.
Blue mist hung over the spring.
There sat the small, precious Blanc, tail wagging. Dozens of glowing spirits swirled around him like a galaxy.
Every time Blanc’s tail flicked, light particles scattered.
His white fur reflected the spirits’ light, glowing with a mysterious silver sheen.
It was so sacred and pure it was almost too beautiful to approach.
Kailian took one involuntary step forward, then stopped.
She looked down at her own hands.
They were pure white, but her eyes always saw red bloodstains on them.
The hands of the Blood Princess—the one who had taken the blame for the imperial bloodbaths, the one who had slaughtered countless lives with a mad dog’s madness.
Spirits were pure beings of nature.
She knew.
Nature spirits despised anyone reeking of blood and killing intent.
If she approached, that beautiful sight would be destroyed.
There was no place for someone like her in the perfect, beautiful world Blanc was enjoying.
She smiled bitterly.
*Thank goodness. He’s safe. That’s all that matters.*
Kailian quietly backed away. She would watch from afar until Blanc and the spirits finished their play.
*Rustle.*
The moment she lifted her foot, she stepped on a dry twig.
“……!!”
The spirits froze in unison.
Dozens of lights swung toward the hiding spot.
Kailian froze where she stood, certain the spirits would vanish because of her.
*Shimmer.*
The spirits trembled. Lights quivered as they retreated, spreading out over the spring like they wanted to hide.
As expected. They had smelled the blood scent I gave off.
Disgust. Fear. Caution.
Kailian’s chest tightened at their reaction.
It felt like a sharp blade had been driven deep into her heart.
I really… can’t be saved.
Just as she lowered her head to turn away—
“Kyuaaaang!!”
Blanc shouted.
I leaped onto the rock by the spring, blocking the spirits fleeing in panic. I slammed my paw on the ground.
Hey! Where are you going?! We’re your butler! We love you!
I raced over to Kailian and gently bit the hem of her hesitant pants, tugging her toward the spring.
“B-Bblanc? No… they don’t like me… I…”
“Kyuu!”
Quiet down, come here!
I dragged her right up to the spring.
I stood in her way and growled at the hovering spirits.
This person is my family. I allowed it. So don’t run away.
The message reached them.
The spirits that had retreated now inched forward again.
The most curious little spirit flew cautiously over and landed on Kailian’s trembling hand back.
“……Heh.”
Kailian held her breath, afraid the spirit might flee.
It didn’t. Instead it tickled her hand and shared warmth.
Warm.
That was the signal. The other spirits swarmed in.
They hid in Kailian’s hair, perched on her shoulders, resting.
“You… don’t fear me?”
A tear fell from Kailian’s eyes.
The world’s voice that called her monster and witch seemed to melt away in the spirits’ warm light.
These pure beings accepted her past just because she was friends with Blanc.
“Kyaaang.”
I raised my paw to her knee and wagged my tail.
Look, it’s fine. Don’t be scared, butler. I’m here. No one will scold you.
Then the forest spirits gathered above Kailian’s head.
They linked their lights into a perfect ring.
By gathering the life force of grass and flowers, the formless lights gained substance.
The spirits made tiny wreaths.
White mist flowers heavy with morning dew and wildflowers glowing with blue light formed a crown on her head.
It felt weightless. The scent and healing warmth were real.
“A gift…?”
Kailian touched the crown with trembling fingers. She felt the pulse of life in her palms.
The spirits laughed *kya-kkya* and spun like acrobats. It was the blessing of spirits that saw and heard everything.
You are no longer a sinner stained by blood, they seemed to say. You are a friend of this forest.
I watched the scene with delight.
Now, maybe my butler will take better care of herself a little.
I licked my paw and patted the back of the crying butler with my tail.
The eastern sky began to blush red.
Morning was coming.
When the sunlight hit, the spirits shimmered regretfully and slipped back into the spring and the trees.
It was like a dream of a summer night.
“Thank you… I really thank you.”
Kailian whispered toward the empty forest.
She picked me up and hugged me tight.
“You really appeared in front of me and let me live with you.”
“Kyuu.”
Got it. Today I’ll give you double the snack.
I rested my fluffy tail on her cheek.
Her feet were muddy, clothes soaked with dew, but her face shone brighter than ever.
The crown on her head remained, glowing softly.
We returned to the tent to pack. The animals said goodbye, each returning to their own places.
After gathering our things and leaving the forest, someone unexpected was waiting at the entrance.
Emperor Karsion stood guard at the forest’s edge.
“Abababa…”
Kailian froze.
The Emperor slowly turned his head toward us.
His gaze swept over my wet clothes, muddy bare feet, and Blanc in her arms, finally lingering on the glowing crown above her daughter’s head.
The Emperor asked no questions.
He simply closed his eyes, then opened them, watching his daughter’s peaceful smile beneath the crown.
“Did you have fun?”
“Yes, I did, Abababa.”
Kailian smiled softly.
The Emperor stepped forward and draped his thick cloak over us both at once.
“You’ll catch a cold. Let’s go inside.”
The Emperor’s rough hands gently stroked the crown on Kailian’s head.
He looked at me and mouthed silently.
“Good work.”
“Kyuu.”
No problem.
