Farewell with Excessive Affection
The splendid Eastern-patterned carriage waited in front of the palace gates, its ornate doors gleaming under the afternoon sun.
“Haah… I really don’t want to leave. Not being able to see Master Blanc for a while… it already feels like my heart is about to burst.”
In front of the carriage, Haetae embraced me with a deeply regretful expression.
After the marriage proposal had finally come to an end, she was heading back to the East.
“Kyaung! Kyaang.”
Don’t be too sad. I’ll come back soon, okay?
I obediently curled up in her arms for the time being, sticking out my tongue to gently lick her white cheek.
Then I rubbed my head all over her face with my fluffy tail, giving her my own special goodbye farewell.
I had grown quite attached to her during these days, but sending her off like this made my heart feel a little heavy.
“Fufu, wait here for me. I’ll return quickly.”
Haetae smiled softly, her eyes curving in delight at my coquettish behavior.
“Mua~!”
“Kyau…?”
What’s that something that just touched my lips?
Haetae suddenly lowered her head and pressed a sudden kiss to my small snout before jumping away.
It was only for an instant, yet I had clearly felt the distinct sensation of lips meeting lips.
She’s become way too bold lately.
“Kyaung…”
If you come back, how exactly do you plan to make up for it?
“Haha, Master Blanc’s lips were already taken by me first. Well then, I’m leaving now.”
With a victorious smile aimed at Kailian, Haetae slipped into the carriage without a backward glance at the servants still loading her luggage.
The Emperor’s eyes, which had been frozen in place, suddenly flashed red.
“I’ll prepare a Haetae skin just for you today.”
Kailian’s hand reflexively reached for the sword at her waist.
“Swish.”
How dare you steal Master Blanc’s lips? Get off the carriage at once! No, don’t get off— I’ll split the carriage in half with you inside.
Spewing killing intent, Kailian charged toward the carriage, but the knights following her in escort suddenly went pale and grabbed her arms, trying to hold her back.
“Your Highness! You must restrain yourself. This is a diplomatic matter!”
“Shut up… you guys are making too much noise?”
“Kyaung! Kyaang!”
Hey, hold still, you’ll kill someone! Hurry and leave already.
I scrambled up to Kailian’s neck, desperately using my sticky foot jelly to cover her eyes while I twisted and fought back.
Thanks to me and my fellows, the knights who had grown used to Kailian’s fear allowed Haetae to slip out of the palace without receiving a single blow.
She was as good as dead the moment she returned.
That afternoon, Rosalia also prepared to leave the princess’s palace.
“Kyauung…”
Are you leaving too?
One day and two butlers were already gone; my tail drooped instantly.
Why were there so many goodbyes?
I was already having a hard time missing Mom and Grandpa.
Rosalia, who had noticed my gloomy expression, knelt down with a kind smile and looked up at me.
“Please don’t be too upset, Master Blanc. After the meeting ends, I’ll return right away.”
“Kyung.”
Go carefully and come back safely.
“When I return, I’ll bring specially made magic toys from the Tower and plenty of premium snacks. Please look forward to it.”
“Kyaung! Kyaah!”
For real? If I’m getting snacks, make them something a little weird.
My ears perked up at the mention of snacks.
Rosalia waved elegantly with a magic circle and vanished in a teleport.
After the lively commotion of the princess’s palace, only Kailian, Lina, and Lumia remained with me.
“Kyung…”
It’s strangely quiet.
Without Haetae and Rosalia’s voices, the vast room felt especially hollow.
I rested my chin on the cat tower, flicking my tail listlessly to ease my melancholy.
“Kyaang…?”
Big brother, why are you like this?
Lumia, who had been rolling around beneath me, cautiously peeked up at my face.
When she saw how listless I was, her ears drooped too.
She was thoughtful enough to worry about my mood as well.
“Kyaung!”
I can’t stand it anymore. I’m bored, so I’m getting even sadder! Let’s play!
I sprang up from my spot and left the room.
Kailian was away for the moment, so the only one left to indulge my whims was Grandpa.
Lumia wagged her tail and trotted after me.
Tap tap, tap tap.
We walked with grand, dignified steps toward Grandpa’s conference room.
“Uh… Your Majesty! Master Blanc and Lady Lumia!”
“Kyaung.”
Hello, open the door for me.
The imperial guards at the conference room door instantly bowed politely and swung the doors wide open.
Creak.
“So… for this year’s northern front— huh?!”
“… Divine Beast, sir?”
“Lady Lumia too?”
As soon as we burst into the conference room, the gazes of dozens of high-ranking nobles all turned toward us.
That… was burdensome.
I felt a bit guilty for interrupting an important meeting, but I decided to ignore those feelings.
I don’t understand human speech anyway.
“Kyaung! Kyaang!”
Grandpa, hug me!
I ignored the nobles who were panicking over how to react to my presence and lumbered straight toward Emperor Karsion.
Puff!
“Blanc, what’s the matter?”
I naturally leaped onto Emperor Karsion’s thick thigh.
Then I curled my four legs into a perfect circle and began gnawing on a bread roll.
“Kyaang… kyaang!”
Me too! Me too! I want to sit on Grandpa’s lap with Big brother!
Lumia, who had been cowering under the nobles’ stares, dashed over with short little legs the moment I was picked up and climbed onto Karsion’s knee beside me.
She immediately stuck to my side and started gnawing on her own bread roll.
She always tries to copy whatever I do.
“Ahem…”
“Ah… that’s so unfair…”
The nobles coughed discreetly, sneaking glances at Blanc and Lumia.
Although we had disrupted the meeting by bursting in, no one scolded us for interrupting.
Instead, they only shot us warm looks, as if trying to calm the rising tension.
“Heh heh. You little ones came looking for me? Good, you’re here.”
Grandpa didn’t get angry in the slightest even though I had interrupted the meeting.
On the contrary, he smiled brightly and stroked our heads alternately with his large, rough hands.
“Your Majesty, shall we continue the meeting first?”
“Yeah.”
The nobles continued the meeting while trying to steal glances at Blanc, desperately pushing through the proceedings.
We stayed on Grandpa’s lap until the meeting ended, then headed to the kitchen to devour the wyvern jerky he had gifted us and finally returned to the princess’s palace.
“Kyaauumm…”
Full, and even getting head pats from Grandpa— I feel alive now.
When Lumia and I returned to the room with our bellies stuffed, Crown Prince Demian, who had just finished training and bathing, was sitting on the sofa polishing his sword.
After me, he seemed to cherish the sword even more.
It wasn’t the sword itself he loved, but the act of polishing it.
“Our little ones, did you have fun?”
Kailian brightened the moment she spotted us and approached with a warm smile.
“It was so noisy with everyone around because Haetae and Rosalia left. The princess’s palace looks extra empty now. Master Blanc, you two are leaving too— you look a little lonely.”
She touched the tip of my nose with a gentle voice.
“Kyung.”
But Grandpa played with us a lot. Demian was buried in documents and passed out.
“Still, it’s a relief you’re not sulking. Come here, sister will hug you.”
Kailian reached into my armpit and lifted me up, then pulled me tightly into her embrace until I felt like I was about to burst.
The soft scent and warm body heat enveloped me.
“Rumble…”
It’s so warm. Our butler’s arms are the best.
I closed my eyes and let out a happy rumble, and Lina beside me quietly moved closer.
“Your Highness. Master Blanc seems lonely, so I couldn’t just stand by. I’ll soothe his loneliness.”
Lina looked at me with eyes overflowing with affection and gently grabbed my plump paw.
Then she started kneading my foot jelly with surprising speed and dexterity.
“Kyaung.”
Her way of touching feels a bit strange?
I eyed her suspiciously, but her hands felt good, so I let her continue.
“Kyaang…! Kyaang…!”
Me too! Hug me too! Hug me too!
Lumia, who had been peeking up from under the sofa, jumped around in a panic.
She was probably jealous that everyone else was being hugged while she was left out.
“That’s right, Lumia. Come over and join us!”
Kailian loosened her arms just a little, then collapsed onto the carpet with me.
She pulled Lumia in as well and gave us a tight group hug.
In an instant, we were all wrapped around one another—Kailian, Lina, Lumia, and me.
“Aah, this belly… it’s truly addictive.”
“Master Blanc, please allow me to touch this foot jelly forever…”
“Big brother’s fur is so soft! Hehe!”
The blind devotion of the butlers poured down from all directions.
Hands moved busily over my back, head, belly, paws, and tail.
“Kyaung… rumble rumble…”
This is exactly what being a divine beast feels like. Not bad.
At first I was completely satisfied.
The overlapping body heat of the family felt like layers upon layers of warmth, and the loneliness caused by the absence of the two butlers was perfectly forgotten.
Ten minutes passed, then twenty—little by little the situation changed.
“Kyung…”
Hey, let go already, you kids.
How can you hold on for two whole hours…!
Is my belly your pillow?!
I struggled desperately, but I couldn’t break free from their firm grips.