IBMB :09

CHAPTER :09

“Now, I believe it’s time for you to prove your usefulness.”

König, who had been kneading my body like a hand warmer, set me down next to his pillow.

Lying on his side and gazing down at me, he looked like he was getting ready for bed.

*’But what “use” does this dragon-boy keep talking about anyway?’*

I wracked my tiny brain, but no clear answer came.

Even if just for a comfortable life in this crazy Black Dragon Castle—and for the sake of that expectant look on his face—

I really needed to show him *something*…

“Chuu?”

What on earth was I supposed to do?

When I tilted my head in confusion, a sigh escaped from above.

“Put me to sleep. Just like you did in the mountains.”

*What on earth is that supposed to mean?*

I stared at König in utter disbelief.

Only then did I notice the deep dark circles shadow his handsome face.

The skin under his eyes was dark, as if he hadn’t slept for days.

Paradoxically, however, those shadows only added to his decadent charm.

*’No wonder…’*

“My Lord is a light sleeper, so take care.”

Gerard had repeatedly warned me of that before leaving the bedroom.

It seemed König’s insomnia was a long-standing issue.

After all, those with the most to protect are always the most exhausted.

“Chu-chut.”

Mhm, mhm. I knew that feeling all too well.

Having been a wealthy magnate on Brown Bear Mountain, I could fully empathize with his situation.

The client’s needs were identified, and the root cause of the issue was found.

*’The problem is how to solve it…’*

Unfortunately, I didn’t possess any sleep-inducing powers.

Even as I pondered, König continued to watch me intently.

As the seconds ticked by, the expectation in his eyes slowly faded into cold disappointment.

If I was proven useless, I would surely die as well.

*’I have to do something!’*

Steeling myself, I hopped, hop-hop, over to König’s side.

I took a deep breath.

“Chu-chut, chu-chut.”

*Lullaby, lullaby, little dragon…*

I began to sing.

Wiggling my paws inside my pouch, I didn’t forget to pat König’s shoulder as well.

“……Hah. No interrogation will be necessary.”

It was a flat statement, but it carried a threat sharper than a guillotine.

I felt an icy gaze prickling the crown of my head, but I forced myself to ignore it.

And desperately kept singing my lullaby.

*’Am I singing a war march or a lullaby?’*

Even I couldn’t tell anymore.

How much time had passed like this?

My arms were beginning to ache, so I stole a glance at König.

And, to my astonishment—

“Chuu…?”

König’s eyelids had closed.

That wasn’t all.

His chest rose and fell in a slow, deep rhythm, and I could hear the faint sound of soft, steady breathing.

*’They say eyelids are the heaviest things in the world.’*

Even *the* König couldn’t resist exhaustion, it seemed.

I swallowed a sigh of relief and let my body relax. My shoulders were stiff from singing so desperately.

Up close, König’s sleeping face was really…

Wow, he was stunning.

Bathed in the faint moonlight, his face looked like a masterpiece.

*’Success!’*

*Wait, this actually worked…?*

*Why did he suddenly fall asleep?*

I was thrilled, but a small question lingered in my mind.

But the important thing was that I had proven my usefulness.

Looking out the window, it was already the dead of night.

This was a hard-won peace in the terrifying Black Dragon Castle.

Unfortunately, however, sleep did not come easily to me.

Part of it was the worry that this ruthless dragon-boy might wake up at any moment, but more than that—

“Kre…uz…”

It was due to a suspicious presence right outside the door.

As soon as the guards stationed outside left, a strange presence had immediately slipped into their place.

“Deserving of death… Kreuz… Kill… must kill him…”

It was raw, unadulterated hatred directed at König—or rather, the Kreuz family.

Given that they knew the exact guard rotation schedule, they were definitely an insider of the Black Dragon Castle.

*’Was I being too naive?’*

I had thought this was the perfect place to hide from the Imperial Family’s clutches.

It seemed the Black Dragon Castle wasn’t safe either.

Then again, this was the Black Dragon Castle.

The stronghold of the Kreuz family, who had stained half the continent with blood.

It would be more unrealistic if there *weren’t* spies hiding with daggers in their cloaks.

*’Should I wake König up right now?’*

I pondered, curled up inside the pouch.

The problem was how to do it.

I was trapped in this pouch, and I couldn’t recklessly make noise to wake him.

That might only alert the person outside the door.

Even as I agonized over it, the low, cursed whispers outside didn’t stop.

Given who they were targeting, they didn’t seem brave enough to break in immediately.

*’That’s a relief, but…’*

Just listening to those thoughts made the fur on the back of my neck stand on end.

I had a feeling my life in the Black Dragon Castle was not going to be easy.

* * *

“Chuuu!”

It was early morning when I woke up, letting out a bizarre squeak.

*When did I fall asleep? What about the spy?*

I scrambled up inside the pouch and looked around, only to lock eyes with König, who was adjusting his clothes.

“You have terrible sleeping habits.”

“Chut—”

*Whose fault do you think that is?!*

I glared at him when his back was turned.

The dark circles on his handsome face had faded slightly.

Was that why?

I momentarily hallucinated a halo glowing behind him.

Hmph, anyway.

*’If I hadn’t stayed awake to keep watch, you might already be dead!’*

Even after the murderous aura outside dissolved and the guards returned, I hadn’t been able to fall asleep for hours.

“Why is it glaring at me like that? Are squirrels normally this fierce?”

“The little thief seems to be exceptionally so.”

As soon as König, who was buttoning up his shirt, asked, a reply came instantly from behind him.

It was Gerard, the sycophant of the Black Dragon Castle.

He narrowed his already slitted eyes further as he observed me.

He looked like he was accusing me: *’You didn’t do anything funny last night, did you?’*

*’Hah.’*

Frankly, I was dumbfounded.

At a time like this, they should be catching the rat—no, the spy—who snuck into the castle.

Only then could I live in peace here.

“Chuu—”

I let out a heavy sigh without realizing it, my mind plagued by worries.

Suddenly, my body was lifted into the air, pouch and all. It was König.

After a few strides, he set me down on a sunlit table.

And piled high upon it was…

“Chuuu!”

…something that instantly turned me into a crazed squirrel.

It was a three-tiered dessert tower that I’d only ever seen at annual banquets back when I was a Marquis’s daughter.

The only difference was that the bottom tier was filled with pine nuts, almonds, and other savory nuts.

It was packed with savory nuts, while the tiers above held an assortment of fruits and vegetables.

“I heard this is what squirrels eat.”

*’Of course! I’d kill for this!’*

To reassure the doubtful-looking König, I decided to show him with actions rather than words.

The moment the pouch’s ribbon was untied, I scurried over to the dessert tower.

I quickly nibbled on a crunchy almond and leaped straight up to the third tier.

Green grapes, apples, and even cherries!

They were southern fruits, incredibly rare to find on Brown Bear Mountain along the northern border.

“Nom nom nom.”

Yes, this is the stuff!

Tasting sweetness for the first time in three years was absolute heaven.

A happy hum escaped my throat, and tears welled in my eyes when I bit into a cherry—a specialty of my hometown.

But I must have been too blinded by the food.

For the great conqueror of Brown Bear Mountain to fall for such a cheap trick…

*Creak, thud—*

*’W-What is this?!’*

When I looked up at the loud clang, I was surrounded on all sides by metal bars.

“……Chut?!”

A cage?!

And it was easily taller than an average adult!

“It’s a success, My Lord!”

“Contrary to my concerns, it doesn’t seem to be a particularly smart squirrel.”

I didn’t know why this dragon-boy looked disappointed, but…

That’s right.

I had fallen for a “cherry” trap and walked straight into an ambush.

“Chu, chu-chut!”

*You damn lizards…!*

As I shook the bars in a panic, König knelt to meet my eyes.

“Behave. I told you before, this place is full of danger. The inside of the castle isn’t entirely safe, either.”

*Does this dragon-boy know something?*

But my hopes were instantly crushed by his next words.

“It would be trouble if some careless soldier accidentally stepped on you, right?”

*’Are you serious…?’*

“Gerard and I have a mountain of work to do, so we must head to the office. And just in case you’re thinking of anything,”

König smiled sweetly and spoke in a slow, measured tone.

“If you’re not here when I get back, that spot will be yours.”

I didn’t even have to look to know what he was pointing at.

It was the display cabinet he had threatened me with earlier.

*’You ungrateful lizard…!’*

Locking up a perfectly fine shifter in a cage and threatening to taxidermy her if she runs, all with such an angelic face…

*He really has a screw loose!*

* * *

Once the annoying reptile duo left, I actually had a surprisingly comfortable time.

They had apparently put some effort into it; there was a cozy little nest, tunnels, and even a running wheel inside the cage.

*’Hmph, who would run on that? Do they think I’m an actual squirrel?’*

*Whirrrr.*

I grumbled as I vigorously spun the wheel.

Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed from somewhere, and then…

[Slurp.]