More than anything else, what I like most is the color of his eyes. Just like his soft golden hair, he has beautiful golden eyes. He usually wears a blank expression, but if you quietly watch those golden eyes, you can tell that he does have his own subtle ways of showing emotion.
The Crown Prince, who had been striding along with me in his arms, suddenly stopped. Then he looked at me quietly for a moment before gently stroking the back of my neck with his fingers.
“You lost your collar again.”
He murmured softly as he rubbed my nape. I felt a jolt in my chest and hurriedly licked my front paw as if nothing were wrong.
The moment we entered the imperial palace, my patron put a collar around my neck. At first, it irritated me, so I secretly took it off and tossed it aside—but what was this? When I looked at it properly, there was a dazzling gemstone attached to the collar. The gem was as big as my current front paw, which meant it was unquestionably worth a fortune. I carried the gem in my mouth and buried it deep in a secluded corner of the Crown Prince’s garden. Right now, as a cat, all I need is food—but once I return to being human, I’ll need money. After hiding the collar and playing innocent, my patron put another collar on me. Delighted, I buried that one too. Then he put yet another on me. By now, I’ve already stored away five gemstones underground. Having savings gives me a reassuring sense of security, but it seems I’ve been overdoing it. There’s no doubt my patron is starting to suspect me.
As I licked my front paw clean and glanced at him, his golden eyes narrowed slightly.
Was I really found out?
After staring at me for a moment, my patron removed his hand from my nape and started walking again. I let out a silent sigh of relief. That was far too close. If I got kicked out of the imperial palace over a few gemstones, my status would immediately drop to that of a thief cat. From now on, I’ll limit myself to one gem per week instead of one per day.
Cradled in my patron’s arms, I watched as humans bowed wherever we passed. They greeted us so deeply and respectfully that the valleys of the maids’ chests were laid bare. Maintaining a dignified, refined expression, I appreciated the beautiful view. Since I’m a cat right now, staring so openly is hardly a fault. We’re different species, after all. You don’t see humans getting charged with sexual harassment for fiddling with a puppy’s nipples or a dog’s junk, do you?
Ah. Of course, I’m an exception. Just because I’m a cat doesn’t mean I’ll allow anyone to touch or inspect my body freely. When I first arrived at the imperial palace, there was an attendant who shoved his face between my hind legs under the excuse of checking my sex. I warned that shameless bastard by carving claw marks into his face. Since then, no one has dared touch me without permission.
A familiar door appeared before my eyes. I jumped down from the Crown Prince’s arms and walked ahead toward where the bath was.
Passing through two doors, a massive bath filled with rising steam came into view. Honestly, calling it a bathtub feels inaccurate—it’s more like a swimming pool filled with warm water. Either way, a fragrant floral scent drifted from the enormous bath. I glanced back once. Beyond one of the doors, maids were undressing my patron. Standing with his arms slightly spread as they tended to him, he looked every bit the Crown Prince. To be honest, I’d like to be waited on like that too, but since I don’t wear clothes, I have no choice but to pass.
I dipped one front paw lightly into the bath. The temperature was perfect.
Out of courtesy, I let out a single meow toward my patron beyond the door, then jumped into the water. As I submerged myself in the warm bath, I felt my fur soak through completely. Holding my chin high, I paddled diligently and started swimming. A cat swimming gracefully—how magnificent is that?
After swimming for a bit, my patron entered the bath and sat down. I turned toward him, cut through the rippling water, and stepped onto his thigh. It’s not that I was tired or anything. Swimming for too long is just bad for your health.
My kind patron gestured to an attendant, who placed my personal platform into the bath. I settled onto the platform beside him and enjoyed my bath at leisure. I could see black fur floating around with the ripples, but I decided to ignore it. It’s not like I’m the one cleaning it up.
When I looked to the side, my patron had his eyes gently closed. He must’ve been tired. After watching him for a moment, I carefully moved my tail, which was submerged in the water. Sneaking closer underwater, my tail brushed against his side. I deftly moved it to tickle him. My patron slowly opened his eyes and looked my way. I widened my eyes innocently and stared back at him. Naturally, I retracted my tail. He alternated his gaze between his now-empty side and me, then stroked my head lightly with a finger. Seeing him close his eyes again drained me of some enthusiasm. If I’d pulled that on Simon, he’d be fuming by now, but this guy is just no fun to tease. With how gentle he is, I honestly don’t know how he manages to survive as Crown Prince. I worry he’ll end up like one of those kind, meek princes in historical dramas who get bullied and eventually driven out.
As a form of encouragement, I patted my patron’s shoulder once with my front paw and climbed out of the bath. When I shook my body dry, he also rose from the water. Following me around like this—it’s obvious he’s been very lonely living in the palace. This is really a problem. Without realizing it, I’m starting to feel responsible for him. This gentle, kind man living alone in such a vast palace without anyone to truly talk to is starting to seem pitiful.
But it’s best to rein in these feelings. I need to break the curse and return to my rightful place as soon as possible.
Sitting side by side with my patron, I let the maids dry my fur. Of course, the one drying me is my personal maid, Julia. Julia has a pretty face and a generous chest. I had to scratch every flat-chested, ugly maid who tried to approach me before I could secure Julia’s exclusive service. After a few claw marks, they finally got the message, and ever since then, the big-chested Julia has always been the one assigned to me.
Once my patron and I were fluffy and dry, the maids withdrew. As he’d been doing every day lately, my patron picked up a thick book and began reading. I sat beside him and looked it over. The leather-bound cover and thick pages are things you don’t often see where I came from—quite fascinating. I can’t read the squiggly letters filling the pages, but that’s fine. I’m a cat, after all.
It didn’t take long for me to get bored of sitting quietly and watching him read. I started feeling restless. This is my patron’s fault. How could he do this to me? Boring me like this is grounds for disqualification as a patron. And if he spends every day sitting around reading like this, won’t he turn into a total loner? Humans should live like humans—socialize a little, learn how to have fun. If he keeps this up, he’ll end up isolated from society and live out his days alone.
Ah, honestly. It’s a pain, but it can’t be helped. Looks like I’ll have to personally save him from becoming a book nerd.
I made up my mind and boldly moved my body to rescue him.
When I climbed onto the book he was reading and sat down, those golden eyes turned toward me. I stared straight back at him.
You still gonna keep reading?
His face remained expressionless. Still, I didn’t miss the faint emotion that flickered through his golden eyes—awkwardness. After watching me for a moment, my patron gently pushed me aside with his large hand and fixed his gaze back on the book. Annoyed, I smacked his forearm with my tail—thwap, thwap. But like someone soothing a fussy baby, he simply stroked my head once and continued reading. That pushed me over the edge.
So this time, I climbed right back onto the book and sprawled out on top of it.
“……”
Awkwardness flashed through his golden eyes again. I narrowed my eyes and met his gaze.
You still reading? Even now?
My patron let out a faint sigh and rubbed my head as he spoke.
“Are you bored?”
At that, I got up and stepped off the book. It’s not that I’m bored—I’m trying to save him from becoming a book nerd—but there’s no need to explain that.
Wisely, my patron closed the book. Then he opened a desk drawer and took out a fresh feather pen. Seeing the tip of the feather pen—the same one that had entertained me yesterday and the day before—I narrowed my eyes.
Crown Prince Calyx felt a moment of awkwardness at the sight of the cat perched atop his book. The cat stared at him with wide eyes, showing no intention of backing down. The book wasn’t urgently important, but even so, he hadn’t managed to read more than a single page for two days straight. Every time he opened it, the cat interfered.
The Crown Prince gently pushed the cat off the book. In response, a black tail smacked against his forearm. He stroked the black head once and returned his gaze to the page.
“……”
The cat climbed back onto the book—this time flopping down completely. It couldn’t possibly understand his words, yet it somehow felt like it was saying, Play with me. A creature that posed no threat whatsoever, yet exerted an overwhelming pressure.
“Are you bored?”
When he asked quietly, the cat stepped off the book as if it had understood him. In the end, the Crown Prince closed the book he’d been reading. He opened the drawer and took out a clean feather pen. The cat’s eyes seemed to light up the instant it saw the pen in his hand. Calyx began gently waving the feather back and forth right in front of the cat’s nose.
Strange.
Calix thought to himself.
The cat’s movements were frantic as it chased the feather with wide eyes. It scampered and leapt around excitedly, clearly having fun. But for a cat, its movements were remarkably clumsy, its reactions slow. It lacked the agility and keen sensitivity typical of cats. He’d assumed it was because of the sudden change in environment—but given that nothing had changed even now, that didn’t seem to be the reason. Perhaps it was simply born that way.
Nyaa—
After thoroughly destroying one feather pen, the cat cried out at Calyx. He took another new feather pen from the drawer and tossed it toward the bed. The cat dashed after it, then suddenly slipped, crashed down with a thud, sprang back up, and resumed running. Definitely not catlike reflexes. With abilities like that, hunting prey on its own would be impossible.
A cat dull in its instincts as a predator…
Perhaps that was why it approached him so fearlessly, unlike a proper beast.
Nyaanya—
It seemed to have grown tired of the feather pen. The cat stared at Calyx and cried. He slowly reached out and stroked its head. As he did, the cat’s eyes narrowed. He’d been told that expression meant it was feeling good—but Calyx couldn’t be entirely sure. A creature that not only didn’t run away when touched, but actively enjoyed it… even after several days, the sensation felt unfamiliar each time.
Calix lifted the cat at his feet and placed it on his lap. Without a hint of alarm, the cat settled there and swayed its tail lazily. He gently wrapped his hand around its slender neck—no thicker than what his fingers could encircle—but there was no reaction. Completely different from the puppy he’d once held as a child, which had panicked, thrashed, and died with its neck broken. This one didn’t panic at all. It simply blinked at him blankly.
“You really are a strange one.”
Calix brushed his hand through the cat’s soft fur, a faint smile lingering on his lips.
this lecher???? wdym you like them big-chested you’re literally a cat