The White Stoat Princess (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 7

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If I’d been a slightly larger creature, I could’ve clung tightly to Hadel’s arm or leg—but all I could manage was wrapping myself around a single finger.

Hadel stared down at me with an unreadable expression and muttered,

“That’s strange… you don’t seem affected at all.”

Intense flames surged into me through Hadel’s hand. Drunk-like, I wobbled and clung tightly to his finger.

“Kyuu.”

Ah, how warm.

‘Though a full stomach is nice, the warmth of flames filling my heart feels even better.’

I craved more warmth—knowing the sensation of flames overflowing in my chest made me yearn even more keenly for it.

‘When you’ve already tasted something so pleasant…’

As if flames were racing through my veins, I sniffed his hand and instinctively crept up onto his knuckles, then—without realizing—extended my tongue and licked his hand. In that instant, a surge of flame far stronger than mere touch flooded through my entire body.

‘Whoa!’

My eyes flew open. While I’d been limp as melted cheese just moments ago, now my whole body stiffened and trembled uncontrollably from the sudden heat.

‘W-what is this… this pleasure?’

This man—like a decade-aged fruit wine! Why does such dangerously alluring flame flow from his body?

Strangely, Hadel seemed to feel that jolt too. His crimson eyes fixed steadily on me.

“You…”

‘Huh!’

His gaze locked straight onto my pointed snout. I quickly buried it beneath my short forepaws.

‘I got so carried away savoring your mana that my tongue slipped out without me noticing!’

Bad mouth! Bad mouth!

Who would ever soothe my shame? Just as I shivered in silent self-reproach,

Hadel frowned and asked in a tone of disbelief,

“…Could it be… earlier you weren’t trying to bite me, but actually wanted to suck on my finger?”

Well, actually, I *was* trying to bite him.

‘But admitting that would mean confessing my pettiness.’

Jealous of his fading flames, resenting how another’s power surpassed my own—this new shame shook me deeply. Just as I twisted my body and let out a soft “Kyuu,”

Hadel, utterly misinterpreting my response, rested his chin in his hand and nodded knowingly.

“I see. You’re much younger than I assumed—a weasel, still inexperienced. That explains your poor control and how you don’t even know what you’re supposed to eat, so you go for sweets…”

That’s not it at all!

‘For all I know, you and I are probably the same age.’

Yet there was no way to convey that to him. In the end, I just shook my head and curled up tightly.

‘Sigh… believe what you want. I don’t care anymore.’

Either way, my belly was full, and my body warm.

‘This must be heaven.’

As I flopped backward, Hadel watched me quietly for a moment, then gently picked me up.

“You should brush off the crumbs before sleeping.”

I didn’t expect him to care about something like that—surprising.

With careful hands, Hadel brushed away the scattered crumbs stuck in my fur. All the while, the warmth he radiated fluctuated—sometimes stronger, sometimes fainter—like sunlight flickering in and out of clouds.

‘So he really can’t control his flames, huh?’

Maintaining a steady temperature shouldn’t be *that* difficult, should it?

‘Just how much mana is flowing out of him?’

If only I were in my human form, I could place my hand on his chest and scan his condition—but as a weasel, all I could do was absorb the warmth he gave.

‘If I stay close long enough, I’ll find a way.’

Once I do, maybe I can help ease Hadel’s burden a little.

‘I’ll take things slowly.’

For now, I was content—full and warm. As I melted back into a relaxed heap, Hadel placed me gently onto a cushion lying on the floor.

“Sleep now. Dawn is still far off.”

“Kyuu?”

And you?

Instead of heading to bed, Hadel walked toward a corner of the room after setting me on the cushion. There stood a freestanding coat rack.

Trending

The moment he pulled off his shirt, I quickly turned my head away.

‘Gah! Why strip so suddenly like that?’

Then again, it would’ve been absurd for him to announce, “I’m changing clothes,” to a mere weasel.

Thanks to my quick turn, I accidentally took in Hadel’s room. It was so stark, I couldn’t help but grimace.

‘What is this? Some kind of obsessive minimalism?’

Hadel’s room was entirely in deep gray—not that everything was literally painted gray.

There were almost no objects at all, and what little existed gave off a cold, sterile feel—likely because anything flammable had been removed.

‘Normally, bed frames are wooden, but his is made of metal. No curtains either.’

There was a fireplace, but no firewood. Even the bedding seemed to be the bare minimum—only kept because truly flameproof alternatives didn’t exist. Everything else had been cleared away.

‘Shouldn’t there at least be a mirror, a sofa, or a table?’

There wasn’t even a wardrobe—his clothes hung solely on that freestanding rack.

‘The room’s so spacious, yet so desolate?’

At the very least, there should’ve been a book. I wanted to read—preferably a history book.

‘Just what era is this? The war seems over—but how much time has passed since then?’

With nothing left to explore, boredom set in. I buried my head into the cushion.

‘If only I knew Hadel’s full name, I could figure out where I am. Guess I’ll have to ask him eventually.’

What’s your full name? Tell me!

Right on cue, Hadel finished changing and approached me. I opened and closed my mouth a few times, trying to form words.

‘My anatomy makes human speech impossible—but it’s only seven letters! I can do this!’

Lightening my mood, I tried:

“Kyuu kyuu kyuu-kyuu-kyuu.”

…Agh, damn it.

Naturally, only weasel noises came out. I forced a bitter smile.

‘Hehe… right. What would a mere weasel know of eras or place names?’

And even if I knew—what good would it do? I *was* just a weasel now.

‘Depressing.’

Miserable over my helpless state, I buried my head again. Hadel pressed down firmly on my skull.

“You were all excited, looking around—why suddenly droop again? Finally sleepy now?”

“Kyuu kyuu.”

Leave me alone.

‘I’m a bipolar weasel. Don’t touch me.’

As I wallowed in self-pity and chirped morosely, Hadel tilted his head in confusion.

“You’re utterly incomprehensible—what are you even thinking?”

“Kyuu!”

I said don’t touch me!

I snapped my head around irritably—and our eyes met. My eyes widened in surprise.

‘Huh?’

In the dimly lit room, his face glowed faintly in the lamplight.

‘Was he… smiling?’

He wore a bright, gentle smile.

But like a fleeting illusion, it vanished the instant I blinked. I rubbed my eyes with my forepaws.

‘Did I imagine it?’

I wanted to ask him to smile again—but Hadel stood up, making it impossible to see his face any longer. He towered far above me.

His footsteps thudded against the floor as he headed out, saying,

“Don’t even think about sneaking out of here. Sleep well.”

Where’s *he* going at this hour?

‘Hurry up and leave already—then I can roam freely without worry.’

Preferring solitude myself, I replied obediently.

“Kyuu.”

“The lavatory’s over there—feel free to use it.”

ads

“Kyuu.”

Following his finger, I saw a door set right into the wall.

‘So that leads to a bathroom?’

A toilet built into the castle wall?

‘Is this palace even older than ours?’

The royal palace I’d lived in had been expanded repeatedly over decades, so the original structures remained intact. Most featured holes drilled through the walls—waste simply dropped down outside the fortress. The newer sections had proper external lavatories.

‘Then I won’t be opening that door.’

Even as a beast, I refuse to use *that* kind of toilet. I’ll need to explore outside this room to find a proper one.

Just as I resolved to escape,

“If you ignore me and wander the castle recklessly…”

Hadel stopped and turned back—as if reading my mind. I snorted dismissively.

‘Hmph. Like your threats would actually work.’

“I’ll never give you sweets again.”

“Kyuu?!”

It worked—perfectly.

The moment those words left his mouth, my pupils trembled violently. I gnawed my forepaw in anguish.

‘Sob… sweets. They’re too precious.’

If I hadn’t known their taste, I could’ve let go—but after experiencing it once, how could I possibly give it up? Glaring at him with narrowed eyes, I seethed.

‘You cunning bastard! You gave me sweets on purpose just to manipulate me like this!’

But then—

‘Huh? He’s smiling again.’

This time, I saw it clearly—Hadel’s usually rigid lips had softened into a gentle curve.

“Then sleep well.”

His voice remained stern, yet no longer sounded cold. Even after he closed the door and left, I could only blink blankly for a while.

‘What’s with that man? Why smile at me so sweetly like that?’

It almost seemed like he *liked* me…

‘Ugh… now my mind’s all flustered.’

Right, I should just sleep. Curling into a ball on the cushion, I lay there—fully aware that Hadel liked *me*, the weasel… yet my heart still fluttered strangely that night.

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