Chapter 12
“Are you sure this is alright?”
Rowen, Shavelian’s aide, asked him.
It was out of concern—Shavelian had accepted Prince Michael’s rather childish request even though he already had enough work to keep him busy late into the night.
“He’s not usually like this. I should indulge him at least once.”
“But…”
“How could I refuse after seeing that expression on his face?”
The image of Michael, lips fidgeting as if he had made a big decision, flashed through both of their minds.
“That’s true.”
“And I could use a bit of rest myself.”
At Shavelian’s words, Rowen nodded.
“Then I’ll postpone anything that isn’t urgent until tomorrow.”
“Do that.”
The two of them headed toward Ruby’s room to fulfill the request: “Let’s take a walk with the pets we’re raising in the garden!”
Does a weasel even need a walk? the thought briefly crossed their minds.
But letting Ludwig roam freely in a spacious area while setting up a tea table nearby didn’t sound like a bad idea.
“I’ve instructed the maids to prepare refreshments. Should we arrange a light meal as well?”
“That would save time. Go ahead.”
“Yes, sir.”
Combining time with Michael and lunch in one go seemed efficient, and Shavelian readily agreed.
They turned a corner in the corridor at a leisurely pace.
At that moment, Rowen spotted a woman entering the Crown Prince’s room.
White hair tied in twin braids. A maid’s uniform.
The weasel’s assigned maid.
She hurried in, making a clatter as she disappeared inside.
Wow… I almost died from running.
It had been a long time since I’d run that hard.
The strange familiarity of running for my life made my stomach churn.
The moment I entered the room, I transformed into an animal.
Then I quickly slipped into the cage covered with a black cloth.
Thank goodness. I made it in time.
Click.
Just as I let out a sigh of relief, the door opened.
I peeked outside through a small gap in the cloth.
Crown Prince Shavelian and a man who looked somewhat familiar entered together.
“That’s strange.”
The man in black slowly scanned the room.
“What is?”
The Crown Prince came right up to the cage and carefully lifted the cloth.
I immediately flopped down on the cushion and pretended to be asleep.
A rattling sound followed, and then warm fingers poked my back.
Seriously… couldn’t you just wake me with words?
I opened my eyes, pretending to be startled, and the Crown Prince smiled.
“Let’s go for a walk, Ruby.”
The way he said it really made me feel like a pet…
Well… I guess I am?
“Squeak!”
I lightly smacked away his hand as he tried to pet my back.
If I let him, he’d keep doing it!
He covered his stinging hand with the other and made a pitiful expression.
“No matter how nocturnal you are, you still need some sunlight.”
Looks like I need to make it very clear I’m in a bad mood today.
If they start looking for the weasel during the day like this, it’s going to be a problem.
“Squeak! Squeak-squeak!”
The Crown Prince seemed to understand my protest and hesitated slightly.
Then he turned back to the man.
“So, what did you mean earlier?”
“I clearly saw a maid enter this room.”
At those words, my body stiffened.
Wait—he saw me?!
“But she’s completely disappeared.”
“Maybe you were mistaken.”
The Crown Prince hadn’t seen it himself.
Yes. Push it! Just insist he’s wrong!
“I definitely saw her. White hair in braids, wearing a maid’s uniform—the one in charge of the pet.”
“But there’s no one here.”
The Crown Prince looked around the room.
“I think you’re mistaken this time, Rowen.”
Rowen frowned, still unconvinced.
“Unless she turned into smoke and vanished, then I suppose I was mistaken.”
Yeah… not smoke. A weasel.
“More importantly, with such a prickly temperament… will it get along with Michael’s dog?”
“Since they’re different species, probably not.”
Huh?
“They don’t get along if they’re different species?”
Well… normally, a small animal like a weasel would be in danger.
“Still, it doesn’t seem like the type to get attacked.”
Rowen said, glancing at the slightly reddened back of Shavelian’s hand.
What, are you saying I’ve got a nasty personality?
“Let’s get going.”
At Rowen’s urging, Shavelian hesitated.
“How should we carry it?”
He probably thought I’d scratch and cause a fuss.
Not that I was planning to.
“Something to put it in… Ah, this will do.”
After looking around, Rowen picked up a basket.
It was the bread basket that had carried my bread.
“…”
Am I bread?
I was about to get annoyed when the Crown Prince spoke.
“Good idea.”
How is that a good idea?
Putting me in that scratchy wicker basket?
I have perfectly good legs!
“I’ll lay down a blanket.”
Hmm. At least he’s somewhat considerate.
I watched as he placed a soft blanket from the cage into the basket.
Then Shavelian hesitated in front of me.
For someone who looks like that…
Maybe I scared him too much. I stepped forward slightly.
His eyes widened a bit.
“Did you see that? It came toward me.”
“I think it’s trying to threaten you.”
“No, it’s definitely opening up.”
No. It’s neither.
I just want to get this over with!
“Touching it is risky. Perhaps we should use tongs.”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
I glared at Rowen.
You clearly don’t know how to handle animals!
Then the Crown Prince placed his hand near my feet.
A familiar gesture.
“Come here.”
Still don’t like that commanding tone.
But I didn’t want to waste time, so I climbed onto his hand.
His face lit up.
“This… feels oddly ticklish.”
“It looks like stiff fur.”
I really don’t like that guy.
“It’s not the fur… it’s my heart that feels ticklish.”
…Huh?
Honestly, the Crown Prince was even more burdensome than Rowen.
“Woof!”
I mean… it’s not like I didn’t expect this situation.
“Ludwig really likes Ruby!”
Prince Michael seemed to think this counted as getting along.
“Woof! Woof!”
Oh, shut up already. My ears are going to fall off.
Ludwig liked me a lot.
So much that he had been licking and nuzzling me for over ten minutes, even placing me on his paws and grinning happily.
I scratched my head as I felt the wetness on top.
“Seems worrying about different species was unnecessary.”
The Crown Prince and Prince sat at the tea table, watching us on the lawn with very warm smiles.
Of course, I looked like I’d just eaten something awful—but there’s no way they could tell.
“Ludwig is very gentle, so I thought they’d get along!”
Michael said happily, his voice so cheerful it could make anyone smile.
Well… except me.
I was starting to regret my choices.
Slurp. Slurp.
Because Ludwig kept licking the top of my head without a clue.
Annoyed, I shook my head and looked up—
Ludwig opened his mouth wide.
“Squeak!”
Hey—wait! Are you trying to swallow me?!
Thankfully, that horrible thought didn’t come true.
Instead, Ludwig just gently clamped his mouth over my head.
His teeth were fairly sharp, but there was no force behind them, so it didn’t hurt at all.
It was just…
This looks absolutely ridiculous!
