MFTR 90

Chapter 90

Let’s Sleep Together

“Meow, meow, meow-ow! (Wh-what, what are you doing!)”

Why is he wearing only a robe…!

Anette quickly raised her front paws to cover her eyes.

If she had known there was a way to change appearances, she might have run away from Hayworth long ago—or perhaps she wished she had the talent of a magician herself.

…Such idle thoughts had long since vanished.

As the presence seemed to draw nearer, she cautiously lowered her paw. Kardin was striding toward her, still dressed in nothing but a black robe.

Curling her small body tight, Anette looked up at him warily.

‘Why isn’t he in pajamas!’

Of course, she had assumed he would step into the dressing room connected to the bath and return in sleepwear.

Even when she was in the body of a child, Kardin had always seemed tall to Anette. But he usually bent a knee, sat on a chair, or otherwise matched her eye level, so she never felt too intimidated.

And since she had only ever seen him in fitted suits, she had thought him slender. Now, seeing him draped only in a robe, his physique looked much larger and more solid.

‘Especially those muscles showing through the robe…’

Gulp.

Unconsciously swallowing hard, Anette suddenly remembered: the man before her wasn’t just a charming, playful figure—he was a war hero, the champion of the continental swordsmanship tournament.

And that extraordinary knight now sat down heavily on the bed, not even bothering to dry his wet hair.

The worries he had set aside while fussing with the kitten now rushed back at him all at once as the alcohol wore off.

He still hadn’t decided what to do about Jeon and Luke—how to handle them, how to send them away.

Logically, he knew that with the monster subjugation soon at hand, he would eventually have to relent and ask for their help.

Emotionally, though, he feared they might stubbornly insist on seeing Anette, regardless of the subjugation, and refuse to back down.

That wasn’t the only problem.

What pained Kardin most was that, after two days apart, the first time he saw Anette again she was angry with him—and it was his fault.

〈Because you told me to do whatever I wanted, without anyone’s permission?〉

〈Except for going into that room, right.〉

He didn’t regret telling Anette to live freely by his side. That wish was still sincere.

But he hadn’t anticipated that she would be curious about the secret he was hiding. That oversight had caused this whole mess, and he blamed himself for being careless.

He had no clever solution to ease her heart, so with a faint sigh he ran a hand through his wet hair.

Unlike his usual perfectly polished appearance, now he looked unguarded and disheveled.

Kardin had no idea that the kitten before him was watching with sly, glittering eyes. Instead, he tried to think optimistically.

Since he had shown her a cowardly side again today, maybe Anette would be too angry to bring up that room again.

And as for Jeon and Luke—since Anette was in a child’s body, she probably wouldn’t insist on meeting them right away. As long as he could coax those two properly, everything might work out.

‘If worst comes to worst, I’ll just tell them the princess isn’t hurt in body but in heart—that she’s so disillusioned with Hayworth that she can’t even bear to see their people’s faces.’

Of course, Anette’s consent would be needed, but it didn’t seem like a bad approach.

“Well then, I’ll talk to the princess tomorrow.”

He had to discuss whether or not to accept Hayworth’s request for support anyway.

Though the mood might be tense, the thought of seeing her face again made him feel lighter.

At that moment, he noticed the kitten by the mirror tilting its little head at him curiously.

Kardin chuckled.

He had never thought himself fond of animals, but for some reason, this one seemed unbearably cute.

Was it because of the red fur, identical to his princess’s hair?

Or perhaps the soft, rounded eyes that reminded him of her?

“I think it was love at first sight.”

The thought of giving this kitten to Anette as a gift, raising it together—it almost felt like they were already starting a warm family, before even having children. His lips curved up uncontrollably.

For someone who had never grown attached to anything outside of Anette and the royal family, Kardin now tenderly pulled back the covers and patted the bed.

“Come here. Sleep with me.”

His blue eyes, unusually dewy like his damp hair, curved gently.

A decadent beauty, smiling like a seducer, beckoned softly—and Anette froze.

Her legs moved as if enchanted, and suddenly her little body was lifted into the air.

“……!”

Only when her paws sank into the soft mattress and bedding, and Kardin’s scent filled her nose, did she snap back to her senses.

Seeing his face so close, she darted away in a panic.

Fortunately, the bed was so wide that even three or four adults could lie in it, so she didn’t risk falling.

Kardin quickly realized that the tiny kitten, despite its innocent appearance, was surprisingly stubborn.

As much as he wanted to cuddle the warm little cat to sleep, there were too many things awaiting him tomorrow to waste time on a battle of wills. Reluctantly, he gave up, lay back, and muttered:

“My sleeping habits aren’t that bad.”

With that wistful remark, his eyes soon drifted shut.

And a little later…

As his even breaths filled the room, Anette finally relaxed, sighed, and tiptoed closer.

The sheer strangeness of being in Kardin’s bedroom as a cat made the whole situation feel dreamlike.

‘No, the most unreal thing is probably this man’s looks.’

Lying down and resting her chin on her paw, Anette gazed at Kardin’s face as though admiring a work of art made by the gods.

Golden hair shining even in the dark, finely shaped brows, long eyes, a sharp nose, and those delicate red lips—he looked almost otherworldly.

Seeing his face so peaceful, like an angel, she felt both beauty and serenity.

And she wondered again:

〈I may find every side of the princess lovable, but you’re not the same, are you.〉

She had always believed she wasn’t someone worthy of another’s interest or affection.

So how could someone as dazzling, flawless, and perfect as Kardin care so deeply for her?

It felt like too much fortune to be real, as if every misfortune she had endured was simply to lead her to this moment.

The thought was absurd—and yet Kardin’s presence felt like a miracle.

He was the happiness she had never known, the one person she never wanted to let go of…

The first person who made her want to be loved.

Unable to tear her eyes away, Anette stretched out a paw and gently stroked his cheek.

Even when she had small, childlike hands, she’d hesitated to do this—but now, with her feline paw, she could touch him more freely. The irony of it made her sigh inwardly.

‘I want to return to my real body soon.’

She wanted to look into his eyes properly, to talk, to hold hands, to embrace him—and to kiss him.

Even if he had spoken his heart unaware that the kitten was her, she now knew Kardin’s true feelings. That knowledge filled her with satisfaction and a swelling joy.

The impatience and unease were gone.

‘…If he wants obsession, I think I could even give him that.’

The thought of fulfilling Kardin’s wishes made her heart flutter.

Her chest swelled with indescribable emotions, her heart pounded, and suddenly she let out a small yawn.

‘Now that I think about it, what a day it’s been.’

Worrying about Kardin, then being startled by Jeon and Luke’s arrival from Hayworth, and on top of that, turning into a cat.

Recalling the long day, fatigue washed over her.

Curling into a ball, she lay down.

With Kardin beside her, warmth seemed to spread through her body.

A strange sensation of heat and rushing blood filled her, but her heavy eyelids soon defeated her, and she drifted helplessly into sleep.

The next morning dawned bright and clear, as though the storm that had raged all night had been a dream.

Birds chirped beyond the window.

Enjoying the peaceful noise, Anette slowly opened her eyes when she felt warm breath against her shoulder.

The first thing she saw was golden hair gleaming brighter than the sun and long lashes fanned against pale skin.

‘Ah.’

Then she remembered—last night, she had fallen asleep as a cat in Kardin’s room.

Smiling faintly at the memory of such an extraordinary day, she suddenly froze at the sound of a mature woman’s laugh near her ear.

Her hand flew to her throat instinctively, and she was shocked by the feel of bare skin. Looking down, she saw slender fingers—five of them.

Not a furry paw. Not a child’s maple-leaf hand.

“…I’m back to my body?”

Her own voice—unfamiliar after so long—spilled out, and with that realization, all her thoughts came to a halt.