Chapter 37
Chapter 37
“Hey, kitty!”
Rosalyn cried out in alarm as she saw the brown cat lying in a pool of blood. The small body trembled faintly.
She rushed over and pressed her hands tightly over the bleeding wound. But the gash was deep, and it wasn’t easy to stop.
“No… please…”
She summoned all the mana she had left, focusing on stemming the bleeding. After some time, the bleeding finally ceased, but she was left breathless, drained from the exertion.
What on earth had happened?
The first person to come to mind was Kyle. Just like he had ruthlessly shot down a ground parrot with a crossbow in the palace garden, could he have attacked this little one, too?
But if Kyle had used his crossbow, there should’ve been an arrow nearby. There was nothing. And the wound wasn’t something a crossbow could inflict. In fact, it was far more savage.
‘It looked like something had mauled him.’
Just then….
Rustle.
A noise came from the nearby brush, and Rosalyn quickly lifted her head. She glanced around, face tense with caution but saw no one. Maybe she had imagined it. But an inexplicable, eerie unease filled the air. Even the air she breathed felt thick, sticky, and unpleasant.
‘But somehow… It feels familiar. Just like…’
Just like when they were ambushed by goblins on their way to the palace.
Rosalyn clutched the cat to her chest and scanned the area urgently.
Rustle.
The dense foliage before her quivered ominously.
Whoosh!
“Kyaa!”
Before she could run, something shot out from the brush and coiled around her body—it was a long, whip-like tail. A figure soon emerged from the shadows.
It was no taller than a child, with a twisted, grotesque face and pitch-black skin. Razor-sharp claws extended from its fingers, and a pair of bat-like wings folded along its back. The long tail around her body was its own.
Its skin was slashed in several places, wounds that looked like they came from the cat.
Rosalyn stared at it, her eyes trembling.
A Gremlin.
A magical creature ranked higher than a goblin. But what was a Gremlin doing in the imperial palace?
Screech!
The Gremlin let out a hideous shriek and lunged, clawing for her chest. Its sharp talons slashed through the air, she couldn’t dodge, bound as she was.
She squeezed her eyes shut. But in that instant, the cat in her arms sprang up.
“Yaaaoow!”
Arch let out a fierce yowl and sank his teeth into the Gremlin’s arm. With a piercing shriek, the creature thrashed its arm violently to shake him off. Arch’s small body whipped through the air. The wound Rosalyn had stopped reopened violently.
Moments later, his eyes fluttered shut, and he dropped limply to the ground.
“No! Kitty!”
The Gremlin sneered down at her, its expression cruel. She had already exhausted her mana trying to save the cat thus she had no energy left to fight.
The Gremlin raised its arm again.
Rosalyn twisted her shoulders and head as far as she could, narrowly dodging the strike. Her quick reflexes were the only thing saving her now. But how long could she keep dodging?
She raised her voice and cried out,
“Help! Somebody, please help me!”
Annoyed by the failed attacks, the Gremlin let out a snarl and crept closer, baring its jagged teeth.
Up close, its face was even more grotesque. Rosalyn instinctively winced as it opened its jaw wide, revealing rows of sharp fangs.
Snap!
“Ah!”
A searing pain shot through her neck. She felt heat, then numbness. From afar, rapid footsteps echoed toward her.
Thud-thud-thud!
Aiden and several soldiers rushed over, weapons in hand.
Their eyes widened in horror when they saw the creature clinging to her.
“What the hell is that…?”
“Holy, what is that thing?!”
Aiden, at the head of the group, dashed forward. At the sight of him charging in with a sword drawn, the Gremlin startled and jumped back. The tail around Rosalyn loosened.
“Miss Rosalyn! Fall back, quickly!”
Aiden shouted and sprang after the Gremlin. The creature unfurled one of its huge wings to block the blow, but Aiden didn’t hesitate. He launched a rapid flurry of strikes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
His blade moved so fast it was barely visible. Overwhelmed, the Gremlin failed to land a single hit and was steadily forced back.
Screech!
In the end, it spread both wings wide and shot into the sky, fleeing. Aiden rushed to Rosalyn, now collapsed on the ground.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m okay… but the brown kitty, over there!”
The soldiers hesitated, glancing at the bloodied cat on the ground. Even Aiden didn’t approach. In the Empire, cats were seen as cursed and unlucky creatures. Most people killed them on sight. Frustrated, Rosalyn shouted at them.
“What are you all doing?!”
She ran to the cat and gathered what little mana remained to stop the bleeding again. Her neck throbbed with pain, but she couldn’t afford to care.
All she could see was the little cat who had risked his life for her.
“Please… please live…”
Aiden watched her quietly.
How is she like this?
Despite being injured herself, she threw everything aside to save a creature everyone else loathed. He recalled a passage from a holy text of a saint who gave all to save the helpless.
If a real saint existed… she would look like this.
‘What an incredible woman.’
He felt ashamed for hesitating earlier. Rolling up his sleeves, Aiden approached her.
“Let me help. Let’s take him to the infirmary at the training grounds.”
“Huh?”
“They’re equipped with emergency supplies. I also know how to administer basic first aid.”
“Really? Sir Aiden, thank you so much!”
Her smile was radiant, like that of a saint.
“And please, send word to His Highness Theodor right away. This cat belongs to him.”
The soldiers nodded and took off running toward the palace. Rosalyn and Aiden headed to the infirmary. There, Aiden treated the cat skillfully. Arch, now bandaged, lay on a cot purring faintly.
“He’ll regain consciousness soon.”
“Thank you! Truly, thank… ugh!”
Just as she began to thank him, the room spun. Her breath caught in her throat.
‘Right… I was attacked too…’
She had forgotten, too focused on saving the cat.
“Miss Rosalyn, are you alright?!”
Aiden caught her as she collapsed. He laid her gently on the cot and examined her neck. There was no active bleeding, but the skin around the bite was turning purple.
“This isn’t just a wound,” Aiden said urgently. “It’s venomous.”
“… What?”
She barely managed to speak.
“If we don’t draw the poison out now, it could spread quickly. I have to extract it.”
What?!
Before she could respond, Aiden dropped to one knee beside the cot and leaned over her. Warmth touched her neck, and it was his lips.
A strong suction followed, pulling at her skin. The pain returned, sharper this time. She couldn’t help but let out a faint sound.
“Ahn!”
At that moment, their eyes met. His clear, innocent blue gaze locked with hers, and heat rushed to her cheeks.
‘What is this mortifying situation…?’
But Aiden continued, unfazed, drawing the venom out. He finally pulled away, spit out the poison, and said calmly,
“It’ll hurt, but bear with it. There’s still more.”
“… Alright.”
Rosalyn closed her eyes then warmth returned to her neck. The infirmary echoed softly with her shallow, stifled moans.
***
“Rosalyn and my cat were attacked?”
Theodor’s face hardened upon hearing the soldiers’ report. Arch was a swift and capable fighter. A creature like that wouldn’t be taken down easily. Who or what could have defeated him and then attacked Rosalyn?
Theodor turned to the soldiers, his gaze sharp.
“Was it the Empress? Tell me exactly who did this.”
The soldiers flinched under his fierce tone, glancing at one another.
“W-Well…”
“Speak!”
One finally swallowed hard and answered.
“It… was some kind of monster. We’ve never seen anything like it…”
“A monster?”
“Yes… Captain Aiden tried to kill it, but it flew away before he could.”
Why is Aiden always involved?
Annoyed, Theodor asked urgently,
“Where are Rosalyn and my cat now?”
“They’re at the training ground infirmary.”
Without another word, Theodor rushed out of his office. Every step aggravated the aching muscles from his workout, but he ignored it.
If anything happened to Rosalyn…
He didn’t want to imagine it. He would save her. No matter what. His lungs burned as he ran, but he didn’t stop.
When he reached the training grounds, he made straight for the infirmary.
Just as he approached the door, he heard a delicate voice from within.
“Ugh… Sir Aiden… it hurts…”
Rosalyn’s breathy, strained voice.
“It’s almost over. Just endure a little longer.”
“Mm… okay…”
Hearing their exchange, Theodor’s face turned to stone.
That bastard Aiden, what is he doing to her now?!
His imagination spiraled. Unable to bear it, Theodor flung the infirmary door open. And what he saw was Aiden, with his lips on Rosalyn’s pale neck.
Theodor’s eyes widened, and fury exploded in his chest.
“W-What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
TN: Just a serious, genuine question. Can they not suck it using a material except lips…? Does it really need to be the lipsssss??!
