The Villain’s Aide Has Run Away - Chapter 12.1
Each time light touched it, the cat’s fur shimmered faintly with a bluish sheen. There was no doubt it was the Empire’s spirit beast.
Could it really have been taken out from within that black mist? Even as he thought it impossible, Kailos’s face was steadily hardening.
He admitted it, he had played a mean trick on Leslun. He had found it distasteful, that way Leslun burned himself up to protect his family.
Still, he had no grounds to discriminate for that reason alone. He had only intended to give him an unsolvable problem and trouble him for a moment…
“This is Blue.”
Leslun extended the hand that had been supporting Blue’s hindquarters slightly forward. The cat, who had been napping, yawned wide, cracked one eye open as if annoyed at the noise, then shut it again as soon as it saw Kailos.
Then, nestled back into Leslun’s arms, it adjusted into a comfortable position. The only change was the way it turned its head.
To Kailos, it all felt like some kind of lie.
“You could hardly see inside, could you? As though it were wrapped in black mist.”
“That’s right.”
Leslun recalled the pitch darkness that had filled the cage and answered honestly. Only, when he had stuck in his hand and pulled it out again, clinging to his bitten middle finger had been a tiny kitten.
“How did this happen?”
Even to Kailos, the spirit beast had never shown itself. He had thought it so sensitive and temperamental that inside the mist would be a proud, grown cat.
Yet it turned out to be an adorable kitten with fur glinting blue…
“Blue isn’t the kind of creature that attaches itself to anyone.”
At Kailos’s doubt, Leslun looked down at Blue, who had not left his side ever since leaving the cage.
“He is gentle and good-natured.”
Kailos’s expression showed he could not believe it.
“Gentle and good-natured? That cat in your hands?”
“Yes. Would Your Highness like to hold him?”
Without any ulterior motive, Leslun spoke as he extended Blue slightly toward Kailos so he could see better.
“…Hmm.”
Perhaps taking Kailos’s hesitation as something else, Leslun stepped one pace closer.
At that, Blue stretched and stood. As it righted its balance from a brief wobble, it leapt toward Kailos.
Startled, Kailos caught Blue with both hands. The soft fur of the kitten pressed against his palms.
Then, after licking its lips briefly, the cat sank its teeth deep enough to leave marks in the Crown Prince’s finger.
“……”
After that, it simply nestled back down in Kailos’s hands.
The spirit beast that was supposed to safeguard the next generation of the Empire—had landed in the Crown Prince’s grasp.
“…It just so happens I needed someone to take care of Blue. This works out well.”
Quickly regaining composure, Kailos spoke as though satisfied. Then, with hands moving almost frantically as if shocked, he shoved Blue back to Leslun.
Both Blue and Leslun looked utterly at peace. It was quite—no, very—regrettable that he hadn’t gotten to see Leslun flustered, but there was nothing to be done.
If Blue favored Leslun, what could he do about it?
Yet, someone did raise an objection to Kailos’s order.
“But Your Highness, Leslun is an aide.”
It was Robin, who, like the Crown Prince, had only just regained his composure.
“It is good that Blue is attached to him, but Leslun already has a great many duties to perform.”
With only two aides as it was, and now to have one caring for a cat?
The spirit beast revealing itself was certainly a momentous event, but to Robin it was just as important that he might now lose the junior aide he had only just gained.
Kailos, however, had his own counterpoint.
“Wasn’t one aide enough before? Now that I have one more, it seems I’ll actually have time to spare. So I’m only asking that he divide a little of that time.”
Who else but Leslun could care for Blue?
Besides, you used to do everything alone, didn’t you? Then what’s the problem? Kailos said.
“Leslun, have you eaten?”
That remark was meant for Robin to hear. It shifted part of the blame for Leslun’s collapse, caused by being neglected of meals, onto him.
“If only there had been two more aides. Then I could have attended to every little thing with the utmost care.”
Robin shot back without hesitation.
Because they had grown up together, they could exchange smiles on the surface, but between Kailos and Robin there was an unyielding contest of nerves.
The matter had begun because of Leslun. Yet, caught in the middle with no say in the matter, all he could do was quietly stroke Blue’s back.
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