Only, now, still in the form of a cat.
With a pop, he transformed into a cat and slipped swiftly and silently toward his target.
He deftly climbed up Justyn’s leg without unsheathing his claws. Once he found the perfect spot, he flopped down with satisfaction and sprawled out.
Stretching his legs and settling in, he was once again enveloped by that familiar, comforting sensation—something he’d once loved most of all.
Feels like it’s been a while.
Maybe it was because he’d been spending more time in human form lately. It felt like ages since he’d last curled up next to Justyn while shedding fur all over the place.
In that sense, it was a win-win—he could indulge himself without disrupting Justyn’s work. But there was one thing Ries hadn’t accounted for.
“……”
From the moment he’d darted over in cat form, Justyn’s gaze had already been fixed on him.
Purrrrrrrr.
The purring from below filled the air, and as if reacting instinctively, Justyn’s hand—bare and ungloved—reached out to gently rest on Ries’s fluffy back.
“Meep?”
The purring stopped, replaced by a startled meow, but only for a second. With practiced ease, Justyn began stroking Ries’s back, and in the blink of an eye, Ries melted.
At some point, Justyn had even pulled out a small brush made just for cats, holding it with intent. His willingness to abandon work had never been more obvious.
Whenever his hand brushed against something soft, warm, and plush, something deep inside his chest turned all tender and fuzzy.
“Nyaww. Myaaaa~.”
Ries rolled around, reveling in the attention, until he finally flopped over on his belly.
Justyn, acting on impulse, leaned in. Closer and closer… until his lips first brushed against a soft, pink nose, then grazed the distinctly marked mouth shaped like ㅅ.
Ries’s eyes flew open in shock.
A single layer of mask still separated them, so the sensation was far removed from the soft warmth that had haunted his thoughts just days ago.
But the key issue was the intention behind the act.
What the hell was that just now?
He blinked rapidly, and only after a beat did his brain catch up. Just like before, Justyn had been the one to lean in first. The mask had gotten in the way, sure, but still.
…No, wait.
Suddenly, another voice in his head raised its hand in protest.
All those times he’d stared at Justyn in human form—nothing happened. Not a single hint. But the moment he rolled over and acted a little cute in cat form, Justyn went straight for the kiss?
Absolutely outrageous.
It was especially maddening because Ries had tried so many times to find the right moment to sneak one in himself.
“Ugh.”
So, Ries switched back.
No matter how plump a cat may be, it’s no match for the weight of a full-grown man. The sudden shift made Justyn grunt under the unexpected pressure.
But soon, as if possessed, his gaze shifted downward. To the one now seated across his lap, staring down at him with a pout.
Justyn’s arms tensed to support the new weight, his thighs stiffened underneath. Meanwhile, Ries—completely unaware of Justyn’s sudden tension—grumbled in a low voice.
“That’s discrimination.”
“…Discrimination?”
“Even just now, see? I’m still me in both forms, but you never kissed me when I was human. You only do it when I’m a cat.”
A faint flush was creeping into both his cheeks, but he seemed oblivious to it. Justyn swallowed dryly. An indescribable impulse was slowly rearing its head.
It had been nestled in his chest for quite some time. He still wasn’t entirely used to it, but sometimes, he found himself wanting to surrender to that current.
Just like now.
He wanted to press a thumb against those sulky lips, to brush a hand down the heated back of Ries’s neck. And then, more…
“…Ries.”
His voice came out cracked and strained, like he was holding something back. Ries flinched, a faint glimmer of anticipation surfacing in his eyes.
Knock knock knock.
But a sudden knock cut between them. It felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over their heads. Ries’s eyes widened as he looked at Justyn.
“……”
“……”
A heavy silence fell over the office. Justyn nervously chewed at his lip but said nothing to the person outside.
Unfortunately, that person was stubborn.
Knock knock knock knock knock.
“I know you’re in there, Your Grace.”
The knocking took on an oddly irritable rhythm, followed by a voice heavy with exhaustion. No need to even see the face—everything about it screamed who it was.
At last, Justyn ran a hand down his face and responded.
“…Fine. Come in.”
His voice sounded slightly disheartened, but maybe that was just his own imagination.
There was no time to dwell on it anyway.
Instead of returning to his seat, Ries hastily switched forms again.
With another pop, his body shrank dramatically in Justyn’s lap just before the office door opened.
“……”
“……”
A shadowed gaze scanned the office. The stiff Justyn. The cat tail twitching near his lap.
And then, a pale face gave an unsurprised look that said of course.
No doubt, the work had been shoved aside in favor of cuddling with Ries. The voice that followed was half a sigh.
“You’ve grown entirely too used to this. Please, just finish by the end of the day. I’m begging you.”
The word too had extra emphasis. So far, it seemed like business as usual.
“…Alright.”
“…Is something wrong?”
The voice that came in reply was startlingly awkward—one of the rare times in their entire history together that it sounded like that.
And then there was this strange tension in the air.
Ketir’s eyebrow began to rise.
—…Perfect timing. Since you’re here, take me out too.
A weak, drained voice piped up from below.
Looking down belatedly, Ketir spotted a limp, half-crawling plush doll dragging itself along the floor.
“Huh? What do you—ah.”
Ketir swallowed the rest of his question.
The look on the plush doll’s face was something else.
With such simple features, it should’ve been hard to express emotions. And yet somehow, it was making the most bitter, sour expression imaginable.
Ketir instinctively knew not to ask any more questions.
His eyes drifted back to the cat—now with a stiff tail held upright—and though the change was obvious, he decided not to comment.
Instead, he picked up the unusually crumpled Sefiut in one hand and turned to the reason he’d come to the office in the first place.
“The Temple sent an invitation. Or more precisely… a letter from High Priest Greus.”
In his hand was a luxurious envelope sealed with a blue emblem depicting a woman facing away from the sea—emblazoned with the symbol of the Temple.
***
The entire estate had become a flurry of activity.
People carrying luggage. Others prepping carriages. Leaders barking out orders to keep everything running smoothly.
Ries leaned on the windowsill of the office and watched the scene below. From a distance, it was quite the spectacle.
“Looks like everyone’s busy.”
“We’ll be staying in the capital for a while. There’s a lot to move.”
“Didn’t expect we’d be heading back so soon…”
Indeed. Though it had come somewhat suddenly, they were returning to the capital.
Everything below was the result of that decision.
Who would’ve thought it’d all start from a single letter…
…Or maybe it wasn’t so sudden?
Ries tilted his head mid-thought.
His eyes rolled lazily toward Justyn. What had his expression been like when he first received the letter?
More than surprise, it was as if he’d expected it.
He did say that even without the invitation, they would’ve had to return to the capital soon anyway.
Ries recalled the conversation that followed.
The Day of Remembrance.
A sacred ceremony honoring the heroes who once stood against the Calamity, meant to appease the gods so the Empire would never again face their wrath.
The only annual event jointly hosted by both the Imperial Family and the Temple.
Justyn had never once attended. But this year, the Emperor had actively encouraged his presence.
“He said he’s heard my condition has improved.”
Back then, Ries had gulped dryly. The man’s reputation really was hard to ignore.
Naturally, he’d thought of that smug face and smooth voice.
“I have a feeling you’ll be heading to the capital soon.”
He’d said not to back out of their agreement.
Some “feeling.” He practically orchestrated the whole thing himself.
No wonder Sefiut hated those royal bastards so much. But before long, Ries’s expression crumbled.
Retracing past events also brought back memories of his own recent disaster.
His cheeks flared crimson as he shoved his face into both hands.
“Ries?”
“…It’s nothing. Just… let me stay like this a minute…”
Justyn’s worried voice barely registered.
No matter how flustered he’d been, how the hell could he forget that Sefiut was in the same damn room?!
Thinking back on all the outrageous things he said—complaining about discrimination, demanding kisses—only made him feel worse.
At that moment, Ries knew with gut-deep certainty: This embarrassing memory would outlive every other dark chapter in his life—forever.
