JSOML 08

Chapter 08

Just as she was drifting off to sleep, Lery dreamed of the loneliest yet warmest moment. It was within the old memories of ‘Ju Yena,’ which had now become the past.

In a narrow, dark place, Yena was suffering from a terrible cold.

*‘Cough! Cough!’*

*‘Cover your mouth properly when you cough. If we catch it, will you take responsibility?’*

*‘So annoying.’*

Even during breakfast, her uncle and cousins would give her dirty looks because of her persistent coughing. It felt like even being sick was a bother to them, leaving her lonely and upset.

After suffering alone for several days, she left school early and returned home.

*―Don’t spread your cold; go to the hospital.*

On the dining table, a hastily scribbled note from her aunt and a single crumpled bill filled Yena’s dry gaze.

*‘Mom…… I miss you…….’*

Yena clutched the crumpled money her aunt had given her and cried endlessly. Reading the coldly written words naturally made her think of her parents.

In times like this, her mom would take her to the hospital and even cook her delicious vegetable porridge. She genuinely wished for Yena not to be sick.

*‘Mom…… Dad…….’*

Yena’s childhood was no different from a mayfly’s life, drifting from one relative’s house to another after losing her parents.

It was a suffocating life where she had to exist like a ghost, as if she were there but not there at all.

Just as Yena was burying her face in her blanket, silently shedding tears.

Something black and soft touched her palm.

*‘……Huh?’*

It was a grateful presence that always seemed to know whenever Yena was having a hard time or feeling lonely, and would comfort her. It was like her one and only family.

*‘I’m so glad I have you at least…….’*

Yena held that presence close, feeling each other’s warmth. She groped for that scent she had missed so much.

*“Meow……. (Mm…….)”*

Lery felt the warmth through the tips of her fur and slowly opened her eyes. Beyond her blurry vision, Theodore’s sculpted face began to come into focus.

He was holding Lery, smiling lazily, and whispering softly into the back of her head, which felt like cotton fluff.

“Did you sleep well?”

Perhaps it was because of the gentle hand patting her back and the hazy moisture filling the air around him. For some reason, she felt even more dazed.

“Your face is as round as a full moon.”

His warmth was distinctly felt on Lery’s body as well. Lery blinked, then suddenly came to her senses.

*‘……Wait a minute. But what is this?’*

At the same time, something smooth and hard touched her pink nose tip. Startled by the unfamiliar sensation, Lery jerked her head away.

*‘Oh my god!’*

At that moment, Theodore’s pale chest, visible beneath his robe, filled her vision. Lery froze like a stone, not knowing where to look.

His attire, overflowing with peachy tones, was more than enough to challenge a general audience rating.

“Alright.”

While Lery was frozen, he had come up to the bed and set her down on the floor.

A large water droplet clinging to his hair then fell, *plop*, onto Lery’s eyelid.

*‘Ah, it’s cold.’*

Lery flinched reflexively at the cold.

Immediately, a soft hand wiped the droplet away. Lery instinctively squeezed her eyes shut.

*‘I am a cat right now. A cat…….’*

And for peace of mind, she hypnotized herself.

If she had seen that firm chest with human eyes, she would surely have become mentally dazed.

While Lery was agonizing in her internal struggle, Theodore looked down at Lery’s front paw.

Seeing the tightly wound bandages, forgotten emotions washed over him again.

“Was I wrong to suggest we go…….”

Theodore grumbled. He had been regretting it all along.

If only he hadn’t taken her to the temple, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

*‘If only I were a Guardian Deity Contractor.’*

His self-reproach ran deep.

It made sense—no matter how capable a mage, unless they were a Guardian Deity Contractor, they couldn’t use healing magic.

Perhaps that was why. When Lery got hurt, it was the first time he had wished he were a Guardian Deity Contractor.

*‘I’m fine.’*

Hearing his muttering, Lery felt embarrassed.

The accident and the injury were all due to coincidence. But seeing him downcast and blaming himself made Lery uneasy too.

*‘How do cats comfort others at times like this?’*

Without thinking, Lery tapped her front paw lightly on his chest. Suddenly, a bright red, peculiar window popped up.

**[SYSTEM: Theodore (Crown Prince)’s heart fluttered!]**

*‘……That worked, right?’*

A sticky background music like ‘Kiss Me Darling’ was also heard.

*‘……Wait? What’s with this atmosphere?’*

It seemed that her absentmindedly placed paw had given him comfort, as the corners of his previously serious mouth began to twitch.

“Are you comforting me?”

“Meow. (Yeah…….)”

In an instant, unable to contain his joy, Theodore scooped Lery up.

*‘No, no! Wait!’*

Is he going to hold me against his bare body again?

Anticipating his next move, Lery exceeded her embarrassment threshold and froze up again.

“……You mischievous cat.”

Enchanted by his companion cat’s charm, he rubbed his face against Lery’s body.

Lery’s eyes rolled around as she felt a tingling sensation in her heart.

*‘What is this…….’*

Should I run away? My mood feels weird, and I’m so embarrassed I could die.

As her hind legs struggled, her internal conflict grew deeper. Her desire to escape was sky-high.

But she felt she should fulfill her role as a companion cat to ease her conscience.

Lery slowly counted to 100 in her head. Simply hoping this moment would pass quickly.

“Lery, let’s sleep together tonight.”

He, who had been rubbing his face against Lery, set her down on a fluffy pillow.

Then, lounging his large body on the bed, he spoke in a languid voice.

“Lery.”

“Meow……. (What…….)”

“Are you going to get hurt again?”

He asked playfully, poking at her bandages.

Embarrassed, Lery turned her head away. Since she hadn’t been seriously injured in the first place, and the pain was a lie, her awkwardness doubled.

A harmless smile bloomed in his eyes. The smile he wore while still in his open robe felt incredibly sexy.

Lery swallowed hard.

“Why must you get hurt anyway?”

“Meow? (What?)”

“If you do this again next time, I’ll have to punish you.”

He bared his pearly white teeth and continued to poke Lery’s cheek. A playful dilemma was evident on his face.

“I wonder what kind of punishment it should be.”

Could this really be the same person who was worried just moments ago?

The small dimples lingering at the corners of his mouth seemed to add to his impish charm.

As Lery looked at him drowsily, he pretended to think for a moment, then lightly bit Lery’s paw.

“Meow! (What are you doing!)”

This is not okay!

Startled, Lery sprang up like a jack-in-the-box.

He uses his good looks as a weapon to bewitch me, and now he’s initiating unsanctioned physical contact!

Even if I overlooked everything else, I can’t tolerate this embarrassing act.

Lery’s eyes grew sharper.

*‘This brat.’*

“Haha. So cute, Lery.”

He burst out laughing. He just found even this reaction utterly adorable.

He tightly hugged Lery, who was looking sullen like a bee had stung her. Then, patting Lery’s back like a baby with his large hand, he said,

“Lery.”

“……?”

“How about we just live together, just the two of us?”

Where did that suddenly come from?

Lery looked up at him with wide eyes. With a face full of playfulness, he continued.

“Hmm……. There’s a beautiful island at the southernmost tip of the Sentineo Empire. It has an open sea and vineyards. Let’s build a villa there.”

“……?”

What nonsense is this now? Words you’d only say to a lover.

Feeling a bit grossed out, Lery’s eyes narrowed horizontally.

“Your room should have a nice view of the sea, right?”

His eyes were already there, brimming with happiness.

“That way, there would be no one to bother us…….”

“…….”

Savoring his words, which sounded like a lullaby, Lery also imagined that place. When she closed her eyes, she could almost hear the sound of waves.

However, the peaceful imagination was shattered by his next words.

“We’ll cover the island with sand so you can relieve yourself anywhere you want.”

“Meow?! (What?!)”

Unable to hold back, Lery bit his nose.

Reminding me of an incident I’ve been trying to erase from memory! I’ve been kicking my blanket every night already!

“Ah…… It hurts, Lery.”

He made a sad face and rubbed his reddened nose bridge.

After confirming the small teeth marks on his nose, Lery warned sharply.

“Meow! (Just try saying something weird again!)”

It won’t end this easily next time!

“We were having such a good time earlier.”

He pouted his widely smiling lips and whined.

Right on cue, the system window reflected his mood.

**[SYSTEM: Theodore (Crown Prince)’s disappointment has increased significantly.]**

Fine by me!

Lery turned her head away with a huff.