The Butler Fight – The Ultimate Tug-of-War Over My Foot Jelly
The softest, most perfect sensation in the world—there was simply nothing like it.
Rosalia buried her face in the divine beast nestled against her chest. The fur brushing her nose was impossibly plush, and the faint, sweet scent of milk drifted through the air, soothing her soul and body until she felt at peace.
Is this... happiness?
For the past several decades she had ruled the Magic Tower, a colossal organization, and had forgotten what it truly meant to live a peaceful life.
Spells, budgets, faction rivalries—her mind had always been crammed full of cold, rigid matters.
Right now, holding this small, warm ball of fluff, every last ounce of stress melted away like snow in spring. The throbbing headache, the fatigue pulling at her neck, all of it vanished as if it had never existed.
“Kyuuwuu...”
Blanc, nestled in her arms, let out a drowsy sigh and rubbed his head against her chest. That tiny movement alone struck straight at her heart.
I’m going mad... He’s just too cute.
She stroked his back with trembling fingers. Her razor-sharp nerves had finally begun to unwind.
At this moment, she would have let even the Emperor grab her by the throat. No, let the Earth Dragon’s bone come at her— she would have handed over the entire imperial treasury if it meant keeping this child happy.
She gently toyed with the divine beast’s jelly-soft paw pads.
Click.
The door to the audience chamber swung open. No urgency, no loud noise—just a cold, sharp presence that made the temperature inside the room plummet as though winter had arrived.
“...Please explain yourself, Tower Master.”
The voice was ice laced with killing intent. Kylian stared at Rosalia, eyes narrowed.
She had come straight to the chamber the moment she realized Blanc was missing.
And now she had witnessed the divine beast she cherished most being held in the arms of another woman.
Kylian’s brows furrowed.
“Why is the Imperial Divine Beast being held in your embrace?”
The cold killing intent stabbed into Rosalia’s skin. An ordinary person would have knelt instantly, but Rosalia was the Tower Master—she had endured far worse.
She slowly lifted her head and met Kylian’s gaze. At the same time she pulled the divine beast even closer, as if daring the princess to take him away.
“Your Highness,” she said calmly. “You have arrived.”
“You asked, didn’t you? What are you doing to my Blanc right now?”
“As you can see, His Excellency is resting comfortably.”
“Your lap must feel wonderful, since you climbed right onto him. I waited because disturbing him was unthinkable.”
“On purpose?”
Kylian’s eyes sharpened at the word.
Jealousy burned in her chest. Another woman had already held him so comfortably? That fact scratched at her pride like a thousand claws.
Kylian stepped forward, her boots clicking with every measured stride.
“Hand him over. I will take him now.”
“He is sleeping deeply right now. If I wake him against his will, he will only grow stressed.”
“My family’s arms will always be more comfortable than a stranger’s.”
Kylian reached out gracefully, yet the air around her hand crackled with the raw power of aura ready to tear flesh at any moment.
This is mine. Let go.
Her will was crystal clear.
Rosalia’s violet eyes narrowed.
She found the situation absurd. The mighty Tower Master had turned into a bloodthirsty gladiator over a single tiger cub. But there was no choice.
She could never release the bundle of fluff in her arms knowing it would plunge her right back into that hellish pain the moment it left her care.
“Your Highness, as Tower Master I beg you—please allow him to remain like this a little longer.”
“For what reason?”
“It is for the healing of my mind and body. This child saved me.”
“Healing?”
Kylian gave a scoff. The corner of her mouth twisted into something bitter.
“Tower Master, do not misunderstand. Blanc is part of the Empire, not your medicine. Take your troubles to the mages in the tower.”
She stretched her hand out, cutting off further discussion.
“Hand him over. This is an order.”
Rosalia bit her lip. Refusing an imperial order was blasphemy, and besides, she would have to explain the budget cut to the next treasurer. But she refused to let go of the divine beast.
“No.”
“What did you just say?”
“I said no. His Excellency is here because he wanted to be. He is not Your Highness’s possession.”
The tension between them crackled like lightning. Cold air poured from Kylian’s body while Rosalia’s sharp mana swirled around her own, shaking the very air.
Both women’s eyes burned with the same fierce pride.
And in the center of their savage catfight, I was trapped.
“Kyuuwuu...”
Why are these two idiots acting like this?
Kylian had been showing no madness lately, but now her eyes had gone wild and the old look was back. Even the unfamiliar butler looked ready to pounce.
“Kyaow!”
Let go! My chest is being squeezed, you crazy woman!
I shoved her chest away with both forepaws, desperately trying to loosen her grip.
Why are you fighting here instead of letting me sleep for a bit?
I yawned widely on purpose and rolled my body around to make things difficult for her.
“Kyaow!”
Move! Get away!
I pushed Rosalia’s purple-haired arm aside and swatted Kylian’s hand with a forepaw.
“Kyaow!”
Both women froze at the same time and stared down at me.
I leaped onto the back of the sofa, planted myself firmly, and alternately looked at the two of them while thumping my tail on the cushion.
“Kyaowuu...”
Such pitiful butlers. Fighting over nothing but me and still managing to do a good job.
“Your Highness... did you see? His Excellency did not push me away. He clearly likes me...”
“Wake up. I saw exactly what you did with my arm. Where is this nonsense coming from?”
“Did His Excellency not also push away your hand?”
“Silence.”
Kylian cut Rosalia off with a cold tone and reached for me again.
“Blanc, come here. You do not belong near such a dangerous mage.”
Her voice was nothing like the ice she had used on Rosalia moments ago—now it was dripping with honeyed sweetness.
“Your Highness is far too attached. Isn’t His Excellency getting tired of it?”
“Attached? No, it is protection. And Tower Master, your gaze is more like the look one gives at a research specimen. That is unpleasant.”
“Kyaow...”
Butlers, when did you start using informal speech with Purple Mama? Is that okay?
The two women’s gazes slammed back into each other.
Kylian showed no intention of backing down, and Rosalia, having already tasted my healing, had no plans to yield either.
Hah. This cuteness has turned both the Tower Master and the princess into doting butlers.
From the atmosphere between them, it was clear they would not sleep tonight.
While I struggled to decide how to mediate, heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway.
“The Emperor has arrived!”
The chamberlain’s thunderous shout froze the already tense air inside the room.
The doors burst open and Emperor Karsion strode in. Behind him followed the pale, trembling chamberlain and a squad of imperial guards.
“Pyuuu...”
Everyone worked so hard. I’ll have to give them a nice hug later.
Karsion’s crimson eyes swept the room—Rosalia with the drool stain on her lip, Kylian with her aura crackling, and Blanc sitting on the sofa looking at the two of them with pitiful eyes.
“...”
The Emperor’s brow furrowed. He did not need long to understand the situation.
“What in the world is going on here?”
Rosalia stood up hurriedly and bowed. Kylian followed suit, but Karsion’s face remained like stone.
“Your Majesty.”
“Grandfather. You have come.”
Karsion clicked his tongue as he approached. He passed between the two women and reached straight for me.
“Blanc.”
At his call I leaped from the sofa and happily nuzzled into his arms.
“Kyuuwuu!”
Grandpa butler. Grandpa is the real celestial maiden.
I rubbed my face against Karsion’s hand, complaining about my unfair treatment. These butlers were trying to sandwich me!
Karsion wrapped me in one strong arm and patted my bottom with a rough hand.
“Good, good. You’ve worked hard.”
His cold gaze shifted to the two butlers before him.
“You dared to challenge an imperial tiger, is that right?”
“Kyaow!”
That’s right!
“Tower Master, you are not here because of Blanc, are you? It must have been the Earth Dragon’s bone.”
Rosalia jolted as if she had just remembered something forgotten.
Ah, right. The dragon bone.
The true purpose that had slipped her mind in the haze of the divine beast’s healing and cuteness finally surfaced. But she did not panic. To her, the dragon bone was still just another scrap of metal.
She lifted her head with a serious expression.
“Your Majesty, regarding the dragon bone... I will reconsider.”
“What?”
“I offer a trade. I will not receive this month’s Tower support. In return, I will serve for free for one year.”
Her gaze locked onto me, the divine beast resting in the Emperor’s arms.
Why, no, I’m being selfish. Don’t look.
I hid my face in Karsion’s chest.
“Instead, please allow His Excellency to visit the Tower once a month. For emotional connection.”
Before the words finished, Kylian’s face twisted into something ugly.
“Tower Master, are you serious right now?”
Karsion let out a dry laugh as well.
“Refused.”
Karsion turned his back without hesitation.
“Blanc is not an object. Renting him out is an insult to my grandson.”
“Your Majesty! Wait! Then at least a walk! Just let me touch him once!”
Rosalia’s desperate cry came from behind, but Karsion strode forward, holding me securely toward the study hall.
Kylian followed, flashing a cold, victorious smile.
I watched the retreating purple-haired butler from over the Emperor’s shoulder.
She stood there like a lovesick woman, gazing at me with an expression of someone who had lost their beloved and was mourning.
An ominous premonition prickled my fur.
I quietly buried my face in Karsion’s sleeve.
The next morning, an unexpected guest arrived.
“Greetings, Your Excellency. Starting today I will be working here. Please treat me well.”
It was Rosalia. She had come from the palace and grabbed my paw.
“Kyaow...”
Go away at once.