I waited for Prince Saedel’s answer with great anticipation.

Smile, man. Tell Hadel to be nice.

However, contrary to my expectations, Prince Saedel did not utter a single word of courtesy. Instead of Prince Saedel, a middle-aged man standing next to him chattered away to Hadel.

“Thank you for the warm welcome.”

“It seems you brought a lot of knights. Are there enough tents?”

“Don’t worry. There’s plenty of empty land in the North, so it’s not difficult to pitch tents.”

He speaks smoothly, but am I the only one who hears it as a sarcastic remark about the barrenness of the North?

‘More importantly, why isn’t that jerk saying a word?’

I glared at Prince Saedel with sharp eyes. Whether Hadel was exiled from the capital for not being able to control his flames or became a distant duke from the throne, Hadel was still Prince Saedel’s elder brother.

Yet, when his elder brother greeted him first, why doesn’t he even respond?

A knight of Hadel’s, feeling a similar displeasure as me, growled.

“But why isn’t His Highness the Prince saying a single word?”

“His Highness is tired from the long journey. Please guide us to a place where we can rest.”

“You call that a response…!”

As the knight burst out in anger and took a step forward, it happened.

He blocked Prince Saedel’s path and spoke in a cold voice.

“Please do not approach our Prince Saedel. What if the flames hurt His Highness?”

“…!”

At those words, Hadel’s face contorted. I stopped watching and started running quickly from where I was.

I couldn’t just stand by and watch anymore.

I diligently moved, sneaking and dodging to avoid being noticed by Prince Saedel’s entourage. Along the way, there was a grand banquet hall, so I couldn’t help but overhear the murmurs of those people.

“Flames are ominous.”

“Did you see? Those red eyes? Creepy.”

“Now I understand why His Majesty exiled the eldest son to the North.”

Hearing those words, I clenched my teeth.

‘Since when were flames considered so ominous?’

Did I cause some problem when I went berserk to stop Espen? Otherwise, I couldn’t understand the reason for despising the fire attribute to such an extent.

‘It’s upsetting.’

Thinking about how Hadel’s heart would be shattered again by the family he was meeting after a long time, I couldn’t just sit still.

Now, there was a welcoming banquet for Prince Saedel in the grand banquet hall. So, Hadel’s room should be empty, right?

Entering the room through the small hole Hadel made for me, a deeply depressed voice rang in my ears.

“Where have you been?”

“Nyuu…”

Hadel.

Would it have been better if he wasn’t in the room? Or is it better for him to be in the room without seeing that jerk’s face?

Either way, I was so upset that my heart was turned upside down.

On the floor, there was a jacket Hadel had worn today, as if he had thrown it. Passing the boots that were carelessly tossed, I crawled onto the bed. And I crawled onto the thighs of Hadel, who was sitting with his back against the headboard.

‘Huh?’

Glancing to gauge his mood, my eyes met Hadel’s with a clink. Hadel’s expression was dry. His long fingers rubbed my cheek a little firmly.

“Did you eat chocolate cookies in the kitchen again?”

Who would have thought you were the chocolate cookie ghost?

I could have gotten angry, but instead of getting angry, I held my position firmly and buried my face in Hadel’s arms. Hadel stroked my back and said,

“You came back.”

“Nyuu.”

“Did you come looking for the fireplace because it’s cold?”

“Nyuu.”

Hmph, think whatever you want.

I closed my eyes tightly. Hadel, who had been fiddling with me for a while, whispered in a voice as small as a sigh.

“…Thank you.”

I pretended not to hear.

Anyway, it was clear that Prince Saedel was not the person I had been waiting for to ease Hadel’s loneliness.

‘Ugh, then why did he even come?’

It would have been better if he hadn’t come at all. Because he was too much of a big shot to ignore, Hadel couldn’t kick Prince Saedel out even after suffering that humiliation.

Far from kicking him out, Hadel had to see that hateful face at every meal.

‘Argh! If you hate it so much, just say you don’t want to eat together. That jerk is clearly leaving you alone on purpose to torment you.’

I was so irritated that I kicked the bed with my front paws. Hadel’s palm touched the top of my head.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nyuu!”

What do you mean what’s wrong? It’s because of you!

‘What did that hateful jerk say that made you dress up so nicely again? You don’t usually dress like that.’

Hadel was wearing a formal black jacket. He usually only wore loose shirts, but today, for whatever reason, he was wearing a jacket that clung tightly to his body, which suited him well like a black leopard.

‘No, why is my baby so pretty?’

Seeing him dressed up so prettily, even my anger seemed to melt away. I wagged my tail again.

‘Yes. Let them act as petty as they want. Hadel already won in terms of looks. Even if he just eats and comes back without saying a word, my baby has won.’

His hair was rough as usual, as if he didn’t bother to brush it, but it suited him even better that way. Hadel, who had been staring at my wagging tail, asked,

“Let’s go eat together, Nyuu Nyuu.”

“Nyuu.”

I shook my head. There would be a lot of delicious food at the banquet, but if Hadel was bullied because of me, I would get even more upset and might cause trouble.

“Are you really not going? I heard they’re serving the cheese ciabatta sandwich you like.”

“Nyuu…”

Hadel rarely spoke at length to entice me. Cheese ciabatta sandwich! I wanted to sneak into Hadel’s pocket right away if I could.

‘But what shouldn’t be done, shouldn’t be done! If I actually go with you, I’m sure I’ll regret it later.’

When I made up my mind firmly, Hadel tried to persuade me again.

“Even though this sandwich doesn’t have any vegetables in it?”

“Nyuu.”

Do you think I’m a child? How old do you think I am to try to entice me with something like vegetables?

When I snorted indifferently, Hadel added another word, which was unlike him.

“If you don’t come now, next time I’ll leave out the ham.”

“Nyuu!”

That’s too much!

I bustled around Hadel, asking with my eyes.

‘Are you really going to give me just plain bread? That can’t be right?’

As if understanding my gaze, Hadel crossed his arms and replied,

“It’s too bothersome to make yours separately. Just eat plain bread.”

“Nyuu!”

That’s too much!

What if Hadel really only gives me plain bread?

‘A cheese ciabatta sandwich with ham! It’s my favorite.’

I looked at Hadel with a desperate gaze.

‘Aren’t I cute? Aren’t I lovely? Yet you’re really going to give me only plain bread? Really?’

Did my eye attack work? Hadel’s broad shoulders trembled slightly. After staring at me with a conflicted expression for a while, Hadel bent his knees and met my gaze.

“If you like it so much, why don’t you want to go?”

“Nyuu.”

I pretended to be sick and lay flat. However, Hadel, who had watched me for a long time, didn’t fall for my trick. He asked in a low voice,

“…Is it because of me after all?”

“Nyuu!”

I sprang up, meaning that wasn’t the case. But it was clear that my consideration had upset Hadel instead. The moment our eyes met, Hadel’s face contorted in agony.

“Then, rest well here.”

“Nyuu, nyuu.”

I called out to Hadel in a desperate voice, but Hadel left the room without looking back.

As soon as the door closed, I thrashed about fiercely.

“Nyuu nyuu!”

Ugh, why are you getting hurt! Why!

‘I was just trying to avoid it for Hadel’s sake.’

But if such actions end up hurting Hadel, isn’t it a meaningless consideration?

My head hurt from rolling around, but I lifted my head with a start.

‘Alright. I’ll just go to the grand banquet hall too.’

I get to eat my favorite sandwich, and Hadel gets to be with me. Isn’t it all good things?

‘Those jerks will ignore Hadel whether I’m there or not anyway. It would be better for me to go and fight bravely for him.’

It’s definitely not because of the sandwich. I made the decision solely for Hadel’s sake.

With that thought, I ran diligently towards the grand banquet hall. It wasn’t difficult to find as I just had to go towards where there were more people.

‘Hadel, I’m coming!’

While I’m at it, I should also give that hateful Prince Saedel a back kick.

Thinking that, I stopped in my tracks as I approached the grand banquet hall.

It was because Prince Saedel was striding out of the grand banquet hall.

‘The meal can’t be over already.’

Hadel had just gone a moment ago.

Then there are only two possibilities. Either he ate before Hadel arrived, or he left without even eating just to hurt Hadel.

“Nyuu!”

Either way, he was still a bad guy. Furious, I stepped forward in front of Prince Saedel, shouting.

His sapphire-blue eyes contorted with utmost contempt towards me. He kicked me lightly with the top of his foot and said,

“What’s this filthy beast?”

“Nyuu!”

I felt genuinely and immensely shocked. Since coming to the duchy with Hadel, the servants sometimes scratched my insides, but no one had ever kicked me.

‘Did he just disregard me? And what’s with that contemptuous gaze?’

If I could, I wanted to give a flying kick to that back that was passing by me. Who does he think he is to look down on me like that? And what? Filthy?

‘I’m not filthy! I bathe with Hadel every day! Do you know how clean of a ferret I am?’

I grumbled at that despicable back, but I hung my head low.

No matter how much I get angry, he doesn’t even care.

Because I’m a ferret.

‘Hadel.’

I turned around, thinking of the person who cherished me. And just like before, I ended up meeting Hadel’s gaze again.

Ah, I should have just stayed in the room.