Chapter 60: The Missing Person

At the spot Kiki pointed to, Lulu was still clutching my foot, his black eyes wide open. I thought he was asleep, but it seemed he had woken up.

“What’s wrong with Lulu?”

“Meow. Meow.”

“I don’t understand cat language.”

Kiki’s ears folded back and twitched as he climbed down from the table, walking over to the makeshift desk where the writing tools were. He used his mouth to pull out the cork stopper from the ink bottle, leaving a round ink stain around his mouth.

‘Oh no, my heart.’

His fluffy paw hovered over the ink bottle for a few seconds before dipping into it and pulling it out. Then, he began stamping his paw onto the white paper.

‘What is he doing?’

Clutching my chest, I carefully pried Lulu off my leg. After rolling him onto the bed and making sure he was settled, I walked over to the makeshift desk.

Kiki’s tail was tucked between his legs. His ears drooped, and his eyes looked pitifully teary.

“What’s wrong?”

There were paw prints stamped on the white paper lying on the desk. They looked like footprints left in untouched snow.

“How pretty.”

“Meow.”

Kiki pointed at the paper with his chin. I took a closer look at the paw prints.

Are those… letters?

“Lulu a? What’s after that? Affection?”

“Meow!”

Xavier’s fur bristled as he flared up in frustration.

It seemed like he was trying to write something, but it was hard to decipher.

Ah, so he was upset because the writing didn’t come out properly, and that’s why he tucked his tail? He must have been frustrated.

“Not love, then… Apology? Are you saying you made up with the raccoon yesterday?”

When I looked at him with wide eyes, Xavier sharply turned his small head away.

‘What’s this? Why do I feel so ignored?’

Eventually, he turned his back to me and leapt off the desk.

“I’ll give you a kiss. My holy power has gathered a bit now.”

But Xavier jumped onto the bed and suddenly tried to grab Lulu by the scruff of his neck.

‘What is wrong with him? Can’t he just talk like a human for once?’

But due to his physical limitations, Kiki failed to grab Lulu’s scruff and instead used his hind legs to kick him over onto the bed.

“Kiing!”

However, Lulu wasn’t one to simply take it. He quickly got up despite his heavy body and shoved Xavier down with both of his hands.

“Meow!”

The two animals began rolling around, entangled to the point they looked like a single lump.

‘Didn’t they make up yesterday?’

“Stop fighting! You’re driving me crazy!”

The two animals froze mid-tumble at my outburst. At that moment, Kiki, who had climbed onto the raccoon’s stomach, pressed down hard on Lulu’s pendant with his paw.

A brief flash of light scattered into the air.

Kiki pressed so hard that Lulu, his obsidian-like eyes wide open, began coughing harshly.

“Ah, the pendant!”

I suddenly remembered the words written on the pendant: ‘Press to find its owner.’

“Oh! You were trying to find Lulu’s owner. You forced it because Lulu didn’t want to touch the necklace, right?”

Xavier hopped off Lulu’s stomach with a triumphant sway of his tail, wagging it as he came into my arms.

Lulu lay sprawled on the bed, utterly defeated. He looked at me with sad eyes before sluggishly turning his back and climbing down the opposite side of the bed.

“Lulu, where are you going? Your owner will come. You need to wait until they arrive.”

The raccoon, who obviously couldn’t understand my words, left the barracks.

“Xavier, what do we do? What should we say when the owner shows up?”

“Meow meow.”

He looked up at me and placed his paw on my cheek.

Was he telling me not to worry? No, he looked extremely satisfied.

Then, he gave me a sly look.

“Wh-what’s with that look?”

The cat’s face slowly approached mine, his lips brushing against mine softly.

Chu.

A soft sensation lingered on my lips before vanishing, and the familiar black smoke began to rise from the cat’s body.

Soon, a heavy masculine figure appeared before my eyes.

‘Heavy.’

Xavier was on top of me. The problem was, he was completely naked.

“Now it’s just the two of us?”

“Could you… put on some clothes?”

His body was so hot!

Does he always have to be like this whenever he transforms back into a human? One day, I’m going to have a heart attack.

“Hmm.”

Xavier narrowed his beautiful eyes again.

“If you give me a kiss here.”

He then puckered his red lips dramatically.

“You’re unbelievable! Do you not even think about how much you make my heart race?!”

Slap!

Annoyed, I slapped Xavier’s bare back with my palm.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

“You deserve it for being annoying!”

“What… what does that mean?”

“It means you’re asking for it.”

I snorted loudly, got up from the bed, and ignored his pitifully drooping eyebrows.

“Looking at me like that won’t work.”

“Yuria.”

Xavier tried to approach me, his face full of mischief.

“Put on some clothes, please.”

I covered my flushed face with both hands.

After a while, with my holy power replenished and Xavier back in his human form, there was something urgent to address.

“Let’s go eat some meat.”

“Huh?”

Xavier, who was fastening the top button of his shirt, turned to look at me.

What’s with that ridiculously handsome look, like he’s trying but not trying?

“I’m hungry.”

Xavier’s previously expressionless lips curved into a smile.

“You’re truly fascinating.”

“What?”

“Meat first thing in the morning? Aren’t you going to just nibble at it with that small mouth of yours?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I couldn’t understand the implications of his words.

In just two or three strides, Xavier reached me and pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Risking your life for me… I’m truly sorry and grateful. So….”

His breath grew slightly rough.

“I think I’ve come to understand my feelings. What this emotion is.”

“…….”

Xavier pulled back to look into my eyes.

What is he trying to say? He seemed like he wanted to say something back when we were with Pope Melvin, too.

I cautiously looked up at him.

His teal eyes softened as they gazed down at me.

Thump thump.

My heartbeat quickened.

It felt like something monumental was about to come out of Xavier’s firm lips, and all my attention was focused on them.

“I’m so jealous of that meat. You reject my lips but not the meat’s.”

“……Huh.”

I was dumbfounded.

That’s all he had to say?

“It’s not ‘huh,’ wife. This is a very serious matter.”

His overly serious expression left me even more speechless.

A man jealous of meat? I’d never heard of such a thing.

“Can’t you think of these lips as meat, too?”

“What?”

His red lips, perfectly shaped, moved closer to me.

My eyes widened further.

“Mine tastes better.”

This was revenge.

He was getting back at me for pushing him away earlier and not kissing him.

My wildly beating heart began to slow.

‘You think I’ll let you win?’

“Xavier?”

I called his name sweetly. Xavier blinked at me, his face moving even closer.

“Smack.”

“Ugh.”

I slapped Xavier’s mischievous lips with my hand.

＊

“Your Grace!”

“Master!”

When Xavier appeared at the dining hall in good health, cheers erupted from all around. Although they didn’t know the details, the servants, who had sensed that their master was unwell, teared up with joy.

Standing confidently in the center of the dining hall, Xavier addressed everyone in a loud, clear voice.

“I apologize for worrying you all. It was just a temporary illness caused by lingering fatigue from the battlefield, so there’s no need for concern.”

His voice was so strong and healthy that there wasn’t a trace of illness to be found, and the servants responded with a loud cheer.

“Yes, Your Grace! We’re so relieved you’ve recovered!”

“We heard the madam went far to find rare medicinal herbs for you!”

“Thank you, madam!”

Caught off guard, I also received words of gratitude, so I waved back in response like Xavier did.

“Your Grace!”

Ethan appeared, now cleaned up and in fresh clothes.

“Ethan, I heard you worked hard taking care of Yuria?”

“Oh, no. I’m just glad you’ve recovered.”

But suddenly, Ethan slowly knelt on the ground.

“I’m sorry. It’s my fault the madam was almost harmed by a bear.”

“Ethan.”

“When her cheek trembled from the pain, I realized I was already too late….”

“It’s not your fault.”

Xavier gently placed a hand on his shoulder and helped him up.

“…Your Grace.”

“Thank you, Ethan.”

Ethan’s eyes reddened as he lowered his head.

“Your Grace!”

Another booming voice rang out as Wilhelm appeared, carrying a tray piled high with meat. The meat-loving giant abandoned his tray and rushed toward Xavier, his massive body shaking.

“Your Graceee!”

“Hmm.”

Xavier subtly adjusted his angle to avoid him. Wilhelm, nearly falling forward, quickly turned and knelt before Xavier.

“I’m so glad you’ve recovered, sniff.”

“Wilhelm, thank you. Let’s consider the hug received.”

Still, Xavier personally helped Wilhelm up, patting his shoulders.

At that moment, Rexton appeared from behind. The dark circles under his eyes seemed to have lightened a bit.

“Your Grace, I’m truly glad you’re well again.”

“Rexton, thank you for your efforts.”

Even with his master’s gratitude, the brown-haired man simply bowed rigidly.

“I only did my duty.”

Xavier glanced around, looking between Ethan, Wilhelm, and Rexton before asking.

“But where is Jude?”

Xavier seemed to sense that something was off. It was only natural, as Jude, who would normally be the first to appear before him, was nowhere to be seen.

Wilhelm froze. His eyes involuntarily darted toward Ethan.

“Uh, Your Grace. About that….”

Ethan’s cheeks trembled as he struggled to continue.

I, too, wasn’t sure how to bring it up, searching for the right words.