‘Surely Esben hasn’t become an animal like me.’
As I gazed at the boy resembling Esben, my heart sank heavily. Not wanting to delve into gloom, I quickly turned away.
‘Whatever happened to Esben, it’s none of my business now. That’s all in my past life.’
And I was living my life now. Dwelling on an irreversible past was foolish.
Yet, thinking of Esben made my already cold feet feel like they were freezing over. I hurriedly moved on.
‘I need to go to Hadal.’
No sooner had I gained freedom than I wanted to return to his side. This must be an addiction to his warmth.
‘But which way is the office?’
Wandering around an unfamiliar castle, I finally met someone.
“Whoa! A stoat!”
‘A person!’
She was a young maid in a black hat, wearing a long-sleeved dress covering her ankles.
Seeing a woman for the first time since becoming a stoat, I excitedly stood on my hind legs.
“Quee!”
But no response came. Another maid, holding a large basket, whispered to her.
“Shh! The master said not to acknowledge the white stoat if you see it around the castle.”
“Ah, right.”
Their conversation left me speechless.
‘What kind of order is that, Hadal?’
Not to acknowledge me? So, I’m supposed to only talk to you? Some new form of torment.
However, the maids quickly left, following the strict orders of the Duke. I scratched my head, puzzled.
‘They seemed to be carrying laundry. Wouldn’t a castle usually have more than ten maids just for laundry? Are there no other maids?’
Following them might lead me to other maids, possibly ones cleaning the office.
‘Better to follow the workers.’
With my tiny steps, how long would it take to explore the whole castle? I started following the maids.
Initially, they didn’t notice me, but when one looked back and saw me, her face fell.
“Oh, what do we do? The stoat is following us.”
A stoat is a stoat; what’s with “stoat lord”?
‘And if you notice I’m following, slow down. It’s hard for me to keep up.’
Naturally, it was more exhausting for me, moving on all fours with a much smaller stride.
‘It’d be nice if they’d put me in their laundry basket.’
Hoping for such a trick, I flashed them a sparkling gaze. The maid who had advised ignoring me spoke again.
“Still, ignore it. What if the master gets angry and starts spewing flames?”
“Ugh, just the thought is terrifying.”
“Should we run?”
“Yes!”
Hey! Where are you going! Hey!
They ran off, leaving me dumbfounded, standing alone.
‘…Hadal, you’re living a lonely life.’
Though it felt more like I was the lonely one, I pushed that thought aside. Feeling sorry for myself, I cried.
‘People fear Hadal’s flames, so he must have reduced staff to a minimum. Such a kind soul.’
Feeling down, I flopped onto the corridor floor. My paws were grimy from wandering through uncleaned areas.
‘But he wouldn’t let the castle get dirty, right? It’s a Duke’s dignity at stake.’
Hire more people, I say. And maybe someone to cater to me, who’d move in the direction I flick my hair.
While I was grumbling with selfish complaints, a familiar voice called my name from afar.
“……Quee?”
“Quee!”
I sprang up joyfully. It wasn’t my imagination; it was really Hadal!
“Queequeequ!”
I rushed towards him, and Hadal gently picked me up.
“Did you already come this far after I said you could roam around?”
“Quee.”
“Hmm?”
His touch drove away the cold enveloping my body, making me feel soft and warm instantly.
Overjoyed to see him, I spread my arms and clung to his arm.
Then Hadal frowned and said,
“If you’re cold, just say so. Don’t just cling like that.”
‘Fool.’
I blushed and pouted internally.
‘It’s an honor to be held by you.’
In Hadal’s arms, I easily reached his office. My instincts were impressive; I had run in the right direction towards his office.
‘Heh, such a clever stoat I am.’
As I was feeling smug, Hadal’s palm pressed down on my head. He pointed to a dark green door and spoke clearly.
“This dark green door is my office. Come here if you’re hungry.”
‘Office!’
It was the place where we had the meeting last time. Hadal set me down on the office floor. Excited to be down, I stood on two legs, startled.
‘Ah, it’s cold.’
Why is it so cold, and why is the window open? The corridor was warmer.
Tap tap tap.
I quickly started scratching Hadal’s leg, asking to be picked up again.
Hadal chuckled and bent down to pick me up.
“Such a spoiled one.”
He said that, but was the slight lift of his lips his imagination?
‘He likes it when I ask to be cuddled.’
Not wanting to admit I enjoyed being held too, I grumbled to myself.
Hadal, holding me, sat at his desk. Papers were scattered on it, and an official was sitting beside him, writing for Hadal.
He pointed to a corner of the desk.
“Your cushion is over there. Climb up if you get bored.”
“Quee?”
My cushion, why there? When did he expect me to come to the office?
Confused, Hadal pressed my head and explained.
“I just brought it here. Anyway, you always end up crawling into bed.”
“Quee.”
That’s something I don’t know.
‘Waking up in bed every morning.’
Embarrassed by the topic, I curled up to avoid his gaze.
‘So what? There’s no one to lecture a stoat on manners. Hadal doesn’t even seem to care if I’m male or female.’
As I quietly stayed in his arms, Hadal resumed his interrupted work. His secretary wrote as Hadal dictated, but the writing was slower than the speaking, causing frequent pauses.
‘It looks inconvenient to work like this. If he just released his overflowing mana…’
Yet, I gazed at the papers hoping for helpful information, but they were dull. Unfamiliar years and names.
Bored, I pressed Hadal’s palm.
“Queeu.”
Hadal’s red eyes captured me. Familiar with my whines now, he understood easily.
“Want to get down?”
“Quee.”
“Fickle.”
Though his voice scolded, his hands were tender as he set me down.
Even on the floor, Hadal’s even-tempered voice was clear.
“The North welcomes the visit of the Bird Prince next month…….”
It seems a prince is visiting the North, as mentioned earlier in the letter.
‘Isn’t the prince one of Hadal’s siblings?’
But the letter he dictated seemed more like a formal correspondence to someone else rather than a family member.
‘Well, family relationships are as varied as stars.’
It wasn’t my place to interfere with the kind of relationship Hadal and his family had.
I stopped paying attention to Hadal’s letter and started exploring every corner of his office.
I saw the maids pass by earlier, but it didn’t look like the office was cleaned daily.
‘The lack of staff is a problem. Look, there’s dust everywhere.’
Usually, the residence of a duke would be meticulously cleaned every day, even under the sofa, but it didn’t seem the case here.
‘Well, with fewer people, there’s a limit. It’s Hadal’s flames causing the issue.’
Those flames, can’t he share some with me? One person has an excess causing chaos, while a poor stoat like me could use some.
While I was thoroughly inspecting the room, I returned to Hadal’s desk just as one of his subordinates knocked and entered. The man bowed to Hadal.
“Your Highness, a moment, please.”
“What’s the matter?”
Hadal’s expression hardened at the serious matter, and he left the office with the man. Left alone in the office, I stood up confidently.
Finally, a chance to prove my worth!
‘Maybe I should clean while Hadal is away.’
That’s right, cleaning.
Since cleaning the whole room would be too much, I decided to start with Hadal’s desk and the surrounding area. Luckily, the window was already open, so no need to bother with that.
The first task, of course, was dusting.
‘Ugh, the only thing I can use as a broom is my tail. No choice then.’
Cold Male Lead Became My Clingy Husband (Female-Dominant)
Feng Bai Su transmigrated into a matriarchal novel, becoming the sister of the female protagonist and the Seventh Princess of the Feng Ling Kingdom.
After working herself to death in her previous life, finally reincarnating as a princess, she only wanted to be a lazy fish who could eat, sleep, and play.
Until she met the male protagonist from the book, Wei Jing Mo, and he took a liking to her!
Wei Jing Mo is the top young man in Feng Ling City, talented in both appearance and ability, from a prestigious family, with a cold and otherworldly appearance, a figure like the bright moon in the hearts of noble ladies. It was thought that only the most powerful and talented noble lady in Feng Ling City would be worthy of such a brilliant young man. Who knew that this young gentleman would secretly admire the infamous Seventh Princess?
Short scene 1:
Feng Bai Su looked at the young man crying like a pear blossom in the rain before her, and couldn’t help but doubt her life.
Wasn’t the male lead described as a cold and otherworldly figure in the book?
Then who was this poor little thing crying with swollen red eyes and tear-stained face?
Short scene 2:
Wei Jing Mo stared intently at Feng Bai Su who was about to go out, wanting to say, “Be careful on the road.”
Before he could speak, Feng Bai Su suddenly bent down and bit his cheek.
Her peach blossom eyes were full of disdain: “Tsk! You’re so clingy!”
Wei Jing Mo: “…”
A talented fox spirit female lead with a flirtatious appearance but actually abstinent VS A cold-looking but actually naive and clingy little jealous male lead
