“W-Why would you say it like that…?”
By that point, Justyn seemed to realize how his words must’ve sounded. Even with his whole face covered by a mask, his reaction was crystal clear.
The flush beneath his eyes deepened, and this time, both ears turned bright red in perfect symmetry. Watching such a blatant change made Ries feel ticklish on the inside, like his chest was squirming.
Justyn fumbled to explain himself.
“Your identity… I have to keep it hidden. That’s all it meant. I didn’t— It wasn’t that I wanted to be the only one to touch you or anything like that… ah.”
“……”
And with that, he went down in flames.
If only he hadn’t added that last line. It might have been salvageable. But Justyn’s mouth had betrayed his will, and once the ripple had begun, there was no stopping it.
Ries’s eyes darted around restlessly. He stared at the floor by his feet, glanced at Justyn’s chin, then flicked a look at his reddened ears.
He fidgeted his toes without meaning to, the words he’d just heard looping over and over in his mind.
His master was always like this—choosing the most embarrassing words possible, whether on purpose or by accident. And the funny thing was, every single one of those comments was always sincere.
So how could he possibly complain about it? Ries didn’t want to avoid that blind, unwavering affection. After a moment of inner debate, he muttered,
“Okay, I got it.”
“……”
“If anyone else tries to pet me, I’ll dodge.”
The hand that had frozen awkwardly in place twitched ever so slightly in response. When Ries sneaked a glance up, Justyn’s eyes were uncharacteristically wide.
“…Haha.”
Then he laughed.
His voice sounded hoarse, as if something were caught in his throat—yet at the same time, it carried a weightless relief, like he’d finally set down a heavy burden.
“Alright. Let’s promise.”
Ries gazed into those eyes, where faint ripples of laughter still lingered.
The way the sunlight sparkled in those pupils, the angle of his softened gaze, the emotion held within them—all of it etched itself clearly into Ries’s heart.
Seeing his master smile from this eye level… it felt completely new. And if possible…
I want to keep seeing him like this—from right here.
Ries liked that Justyn would bend down for him if necessary. But this—this version of him was even better. He couldn’t explain why. He just felt that way.
So he nodded with all his might.
It was a heartwarming conclusion. Thanks to it, the thick tension that had nearly bound the two of them in place began to ease. Still, they had unfinished business.
Justyn tightened his grip on the measuring tape again.
“I’m going to measure the rest. Tell me if anything hurts.”
Since Ries had refused to let anyone else take over, the only choice was to let Justyn finish. He brought the tape back to Ries’s chest—the spot where he’d failed earlier.
Then the legs, the hips, the thighs, the ankles, and more.
Justyn resumed the process meticulously, and the two of them had to endure three more rounds of painfully awkward silence.
The ordeal finally ended much later—after a grueling hour and a half of effort.
***
That afternoon, the Crown Prince dropped by Justyn’s office and tilted his head curiously.
“Duke?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You look… strange. A bit tired, perhaps?”
“I’m fine.”
Sure you are. With the faint redness in his eyes, it was obvious a lot had happened.
But Harrison had no reason to pry into what someone insisted was “nothing.” Besides, something far more interesting had caught his attention. He turned his head toward it.
“This is the first time we’ve been properly introduced in this form, isn’t it? Ries, was it? You look exactly like you did as a cat. I’ll be counting on you.”
The man had soft yellow hair that brought to mind a plush feline coat, and pale gray eyes that glinted like twin gems. He looked just like the Duke’s beloved cat—now in human form.
His frame wasn’t broad, and his features were delicately arranged like a porcelain doll’s. Thanks to that, there was no sense of disconnect when comparing the cat he remembered to the person before him now.
Harrison knew about the Beastkin, but this was the first time he’d ever met one. His eyes brimmed with curiosity.
Ries hesitantly took the Crown Prince’s extended hand and gave it a gentle shake. Though the moment the handshake ended, he immediately scurried away.
And not just that—he went and hid behind the Duke’s back like a startled kitten. Harrison couldn’t help feeling slightly offended.
“I didn’t even do anything. Why’s he being so wary?”
“He’s just shy around strangers.”
“…Funny. For someone so shy, he seems awfully comfortable around you, Duke.”
“……”
No response. Harrison let out a deliberately exaggerated sigh.
“This is outrageous treatment. I came rushing over to deliver the results, all in the name of keeping my promise to you, no less.”
With that, he flourished the stack of documents in his hand. Ries, peeking out from behind Justyn, instinctively locked eyes on them.
“You processed this quickly.”
“Well, you were the one who asked, weren’t you? I pulled a few strings.”
He plopped himself down on the center sofa and flipped through the documents.
“You’ll see for yourself when you read it, but here’s the gist: Name—Rienstine Elton. Twenty-two years old this year. Youngest son of the Viscount Elton family, who holds a tiny plot of land in the Empire’s northern reaches. A diligent young man who came to the capital to support his declining family.”
But that wasn’t all.
“The crucial part is this: by chance, he crossed paths with Duke Laufe. Impressed by his abilities, the Duke hired him as his aide. How’s that? No one’s going to question why the two of you are constantly together now.”
He handed the file across to Justyn, who sat on the opposite sofa. Crimson eyes swiftly scanned the content.
It was straightforward. Basic background info and fabricated life history for “Rienstine Elton.” All of it a complete lie—yet crafted with such care that not a single flaw was visible.
Understanding this immediately, Justyn lifted his gaze. His crimson eyes locked directly with the Crown Prince’s.
“Thank you.”
“Haha! I’d say there’s no need for thanks… but I did go through quite a bit of trouble, so I’ll accept your gratitude.”
Justyn expressed his thanks with sincerity, while Harrison waved it off in his usual breezy manner.
Ries, however, remained silent—unable to join the exchange. He simply stared at the file in front of him.
I have an identity now.
No longer would he be seen as suspicious just for walking around like this. And yet… one particular word wouldn’t stop tugging at his thoughts.
Aide.
The bold three-character word brought a certain someone’s face to mind: Ketir Ribote—the man who looked perpetually overworked and never seemed to have a single restful day.
And now Ries shared that same title?
Startled, he tugged on Justyn’s sleeve.
His movement was obvious enough that not only Justyn, but Harrison also turned to look at him.
“I… I can’t do any work.”
“……”
“Ahahaha!”
The reaction was immediate.
One man averted his eyes with a dramatic blink, the other burst out laughing. Still, Ries clung stubbornly to Justyn’s sleeve, unwilling to let go.
He was being completely serious.
If he actually had to work as an aide, he’d cause Justyn all kinds of stress—and poor Ketir might just keel over from the resulting rage.
“I’m not going to make you do any work.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Thankfully, Justyn’s quick reassurance calmed his nerves. Ries finally let go of his sleeve.
Harrison watched the scene unfold like it was a particularly amusing play. To think Duke Laufe could change like this.
It’d be a shame if I were the only one who got to enjoy this show.
And then—it happened.
In those bright yellow eyes staring back at him, something raw and visceral flickered to life.
“……”
Harrison swiftly tamped down the emotion that surged without warning.
He closed his eyes, ran a hand through his blue hair, and when he opened them again, that trace of emotion had vanished without a single hint remaining.
His expression followed suit, returning to its usual casual charm.
“So? Do you like it? I put a lot of effort into that identity.”
For him, slipping back into character was second nature.
The usual smile, the friendly tone—artificial, yet perfectly rehearsed. A persona built to perfection.
“…Yes. I like it.”
Though he looked a little uneasy at first, Ries nodded obediently.
“You’re grateful, right?”
“……Huh? Oh—yes.”
“Haha! Thank you for the compliment. It is my first gift to the dear Duke—and to the last remaining Beastkin in the Empire. I wanted it to be something worth being proud of. Didn’t even sleep properly while I was working on it, you know?”
The longer he talked, the wider Harrison’s grin stretched. Whatever leftover irritation had once lingered had already evaporated into thin air.
With sincere flair, he pointed directly at the Beastkin in front of him.
“Look at my poor skin—it’s peeling! And under my eyes, see? It’s practically black now. Isn’t it tragic? Don’t you just feel awful for me?”
“……”
Ries was at a loss for words.
Skin? Where?! His complexion looked smooth and radiant.
Eye bags? Maybe a little darker than before, but… compared to what he saw every morning on Ketir, this didn’t even register.
The gratitude he’d been building up suddenly grew wings and began fleeing before he could stop it.
Thankfully, Justyn stepped in.
“…Is there something you want in return?”
“Duke, you really do get straight to the point. Alright, I’ll take you up on that.”
Harrison’s smile sharpened as he raised a single finger.
“It seems like there are more residents in your mansion than I’ve been made aware of. Would you introduce them to me?”
See? That’s a small price, right? His gleaming eyes seemed to say it all.
His finger pointed toward a cushion next to the desk—clearly maintained with great care. It was the designated seat for the Duke’s feline companion.
But what he was referring to was on top of it.
All three pairs of eyes locked onto the chubby little plush toy lying primly on the cushion.
“……”
“……”
Neither of the two said a word.
And the object in question?
Didn’t move a muscle.
From its pillowy back radiated an overwhelming sense of resolve.
