SVPW 08

Chapter 08

He had lived with silence for far too long.

Disliking the presence of people, he had wrapped the Crown Prince’s palace in layers of protective magic and kept the number of guards and maids to an absolute minimum.

Especially at night, when weapons were set aside, merely knowing that someone was standing outside his door caused him extreme stress.

So much so that he couldn’t sleep in a dark room without a light on.

It was because of the trauma from long ago, when he had been kidnapped by beastmen.

For someone like him, the only things he felt any affection for were small animals.

Perhaps it was the small creature that had helped him during that terrible incident that had created a small opening in his heart.

“…It looks similar.”

When he first found the weasel, he had thought the small white creature resembled the animal that had helped him during that kidnapping incident.

Of course, ten years had passed. That animal had likely already died of old age. There was no way this weasel could be the same one.

Besides, how many animals in the world were small and white? Just because they looked similar didn’t mean they were the same.

Even so, the thought that the small creature might die made Shabelian unable to turn away.

The world was far too dangerous for something so small and weak to survive.

Especially if that place was the imperial palace.

Shabelian rose from the bed where he had been lying.

Then he walked over to the weasel, which was still snoring softly—grrr, snore, grrr.

The weasel had fallen asleep in a bizarre position: its rear resting on the blanket while its head hung off the edge onto the floor, arms spread wide as if cheering.

“Nocturnal, they said…”

Yet it was sleeping far too soundly in such a strange position.

The Crown Prince watched the scene for a moment, smiling faintly, before carefully sliding his hands under the weasel’s body.

Lifting the weasel with both hands, Shabelian walked back to his bed.

Then he gently placed the weasel in the middle of it.

“Sleep comfortably on the wide bed.”

The weasel, still wandering through dreamland and obviously unable to understand his words, suddenly stretched its limbs wide and adjusted to a more comfortable position.

“Do weasels normally sleep like that…?”

Shabelian tilted his head in confusion.

He had thought animals usually curled up when they slept.

For some reason, this weasel kept defying all of his expectations.

“Well, as long as you’re doing fine.”

Shabelian carefully lay down beside the weasel.

Because the weasel was sprawled out in the center of the bed, he had no choice but to curl up in less than half of the space.

But the position didn’t feel uncomfortable to him at all.

Pat, pat.

Shabelian gently patted the weasel’s rising and falling chest.

Soon, he fell asleep as well.

‘What is this?’

When I opened my eyes, something felt strange.

The ceiling seemed a bit closer… and strangely enough, everything felt comfortable and cozy.

Had the blanket always been this soft?

Boing.

Why did the floor bounce slightly when I wiggled my feet?

Blink. Blink.

Still sleepy, I blinked my eyes—then suddenly widened them.

This wasn’t the blanket on the floor where I had been sleeping.

‘A bed?’

Looking closer, I realized I was lying right in the center of the bed, sprawled out like a starfish.

‘…Did I finally conquer the Crown Prince’s bed?’

Maybe I had been so miserable sleeping on the floor that I raided the bed in my sleep.

Considering my usual personality, it wasn’t impossible…

“Ugh.”

Still, since I hadn’t been kicked out, the Crown Prince must not have been angry.

The Crown Prince wasn’t on the bed.

For a moment I wondered if I had stolen the bed while he ended up curled up on the floor, so I checked the floor too.

Thankfully, that tragedy had not happened.

“Stretch!”

I stretched as much as I could.

Then I checked the ruby around my neck with my hand.

No one had taken it while I was sleeping, right?!

Fortunately, the ruby was still there.

We had only spent one night together, but somehow it already felt like something I’d carried for ten years.

Feeling the smooth texture of the ruby, I quickly withdrew my hand, worried I might scratch it with my claws.

I had to keep this safe and use it later as emergency food.

Of course, there was no such thing as sentimental value or gratitude for the person who gave it to me.

To me, gemstones were simply slightly precious food.

‘So what should I borrow today?’

Was I getting more shameless?

I started searching the room, thinking about which gem I should eat today to transform into a human.

Yesterday I had eaten the pearl from a quill pen, and no one had noticed.

Honestly, the Crown Prince probably didn’t even remember such tiny details.

He hadn’t even looked closely.

To him, gemstones seemed to be nothing more than random trinkets lying around everywhere.

Well, he even put them on a pet’s collar.

So I decided not to feel guilty anymore.

‘That one looks good.’

Today’s choice was a lovely sapphire.

The sapphire was attached to the cord of the bed canopy.

Climbing up the hanging curtain, I plucked the sapphire out.

My sharp claws worked diligently again.

But after removing one, I noticed the other side was no longer symmetrical.

“Hmmm.”

If only one was missing, it might look suspicious.

In situations like this…

Tuk. Tuk.

The best solution was to remove both sides so it stayed balanced!

In an instant I secured two gemstones and slid down the curtain like a playground slide.

La la~

Humming happily, I carried one sapphire to the thick blanket inside my cage.

Using my claws, I tore open a small stitch in the blanket.

Fluffy cotton stuffing appeared inside, and without hesitation I stuffed the sapphire into the opening.

‘Perfect.’

It was flawless.

Now I had tomorrow’s transformation gem ready too.

Holding the remaining sapphire in my paw, I tossed it into the air like flipping a coin.

My mouth opened wide.

Plop!

Gulp.

Chirp chirp chirp!

The reason the birds were unusually noisy and kept gathering by the window as I passed by was not a coincidence.

“Go away before I catch and eat you in one bite.”

The birds were greeting me.

They were practically advertising that I was a beastkin.

Chirp!

I glanced toward the window.

The birds seemed delighted by my attention and began circling in the sky.

Even when I glared at them sharply, their cheerful chirping continued.

“Right. Right. So you think I’m easy prey.”

Normally animals would be frightened by strong carnivores with overwhelming presence.

But these ones seemed to know I was just a lowly weasel.

This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, so it wasn’t a big deal.

“Oh! Rosha!”

From the distance, Ella—someone I recognized—called out to me.

The birds immediately scattered into the blue sky as if they had never been following me at all.

Animals behaved as if they understood my situation, acting with such tact.

Seeing that made me think the phrase “bird-brained” used to insult stupid people was completely wrong.

Where could you find creatures this perceptive?

“Senior Ella!”

Social skills level: max.

I waved at her brightly.

“You came at the perfect time! I’m heading to the Third Prince’s palace right now!”

“Then shall we go together?”

I hurried over to Ella.

In her hands was a laundry basket filled with dried clothes.

“I’ll help carry it.”

“Okay! Thanks.”

I grabbed one side of the basket handle.

“By the way… have you heard anything about that… um… Ludwig S… whew. The dog pooping last night?”

That name was far too long to remember.

“I’m not sure about that, but I did hear the Third Prince was pacing around all night. Apparently the maids on night duty suffered quite a bit.”

“So he doesn’t have much patience, huh?”

Ella burst out laughing.

“He really doesn’t.”

Our giggles echoed through the corridor.

I wanted to ask if anyone had noticed the missing gemstones.

But a newly arrived maid asking about missing jewels would definitely seem suspicious.

So I decided not to.

‘It’s still too early.’

It would be better to just eavesdrop on the maids’ gossip.

For now, checking whether the Third Prince’s dog—Ludwig-something—had pooped was the priority.

“Let’s hurry and check!”

Who would have thought the day would come when I’d feel excited about going to see dog poop?

When we entered the garden from yesterday, the brown dog with the ridiculously long name was wagging its tail.

Just like yesterday, it lay weakly on a blanket.

Beside the dog sat Prince Michael, sticking close to it.

I bowed to greet him, but Michael waved his hand as if to skip the formalities.

“You’re finally here! Hurry and check on our Ludwig Spencer Verdi the Third!”

Seriously… saying the full name every time?

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Anyway, urged by the impatient Prince Michael, I approached the dog.

“Well? How is he?”

I hadn’t even touched him yet!

The impatient prince stomped his feet, but since he looked like a child of about ten years old, it was hard to dislike him.

I stroked the dog’s back and felt its belly.

The energy inside was still completely blocked.

‘Looks like he still hasn’t pooped.’

Though weak, the dog’s tail wagged gently.

“Oh my, are you feeling happy?”

Even while lacking strength, the dog made a soft rumbling sound as if smiling.

‘Well… with his owner worrying over him like this, right beside him…’

Even if he felt sick, he must still be happy.

For dogs raised by humans, their owners were like family—like parents.

Just like people, affection mattered.

At least Ludwig would never doubt that he was loved.

Prince Michael seemed the type to show his affection openly.

“Has he still not pooped?”

“No. Maybe you’re just a quack!”

“…It’s only been half a day.”

Seriously, what an impatient brat.

Still, seeing the anxious look on his face, I realized his impatience might come entirely from worry.

Watching him made me curious.

“When did you start raising Ludwig?”

“His mother, Sasha, was the first dog my mother gave me. She died a few days after giving birth to Ludwig…”

He lost his family too early.

Feeling sympathetic, I gently stroked the dog’s head.

“I decided I would take care of him like his mother for the rest of his life. That’s why I worry so much.”

My impression of the impatient and spoiled Prince Michael changed a little.

He was young, but responsible.

He reminded me of someone.

For a brief time, I had a family like that too.

“Your Highness is a warm-hearted person.”

The compliment slipped out before I realized it.

Prince Michael’s face instantly turned red.

“H-How dare a mere maid evaluate me!”

He shouted, stammering.

His voice was loud as if he were angry, but somehow he looked more embarrassed than furious.

Was he… shy?

Blushing over such a simple compliment from a maid.

It made him seem innocent—and far more ordinary than I expected from royalty.

Maybe I had too many prejudices about nobles.

“Hmph! Anyway, you stay right beside Ludwig Spencer Verdi the Third until he gets better!”

“But…”

I also had to act like a weasel… and the Crown Prince might return anytime.

Before leaving my room, I had covered the cage with a large blanket and left a note saying:

“Sleeping! If light wakes it, it will become violent. Do not disturb!”

But that wasn’t enough to feel completely safe.

“Make that poop or whatever come out already!”

There was no reasoning with someone like this.

“I’ll try my best with belly massages. But I can’t guarantee anything.”

For now, I decided to cooperate.

“Whine.”

And honestly, I was just as desperate for Ludwig’s “poop” as he was.