After Ruri concluded her tea party with Lydia, she went to Jade’s office. Upon entering the room, she saw Jade at his desk with pen in hand, filling out the papers that buried his entire desk. He looked weary from all the work he’d been doing.
“Yikes. I’m guessing that you’re far from done?” Ruri asked.
While dragonkin had keen senses, Jade unexpectedly hadn’t noticed Ruri come into the room, so when Ruri started speaking to him, his head jerked up in surprise. He then stood up so fast that he kicked his seat away from him and pulled Ruri into a tight, tight embrace.
“Whoa! Jade-sama! Don’t squeeze so hard! I’m gonna die! I’m gonna die!” Ruri tapped on his arms to signify that he was hugging too hard.
Jade loosened his grip. As Ruri sighed in relief, Jade looked at her sternly and said, “Please, Ruri. Turn into a cat. I’m dying for my cuddle fix.”
His face was so determined that it looked like he was about to propose to her all over again, but he ended up proposing for cuddles.
Ruri sighed in disappointment. “Okay, okay. I get the picture.”
Ruri exasperatedly put her bracelet on, figuring that if she couldn’t help Jade with his work directly, she could at least help ease his mind. In the blink of an eye, she transformed into a white cat. Jade scooped her up, and his cheeks rose into a warm smile.
“Aaah, my first cuddle session in so long,” Jade mumbled as he petted Ruri’s fluffy fur, letting his fingers soak in the cuddly goodness.
“Jade-sama, you really are a handsome man with handsome shortcomings,” Ruri commented, her eyes half open as she accepted his gentle strokes. “So, tell me, Jade-sama, which do you like better? Me as a cat or me as a human?”
“What are you talking about? Of course, I like you as...” Jade started, trailing off into total silence.
“Like me as...what?”
“E-Erm, like you as... Err...” Jade stammered, his eyes drifting.
Ruri was hoping that he would quickly reply that he preferred her as his human wife, but it seemed he couldn’t tell a lie. He was cursed with honesty.
After giving Jade the stink eye, she quickly slipped from his arms.
“Ah, Ruri!”
“Jade-sama, you’re on a cuddle ban!” Ruri declared.
Jade’s mouth practically hit the floor as he reached out his hand. “No way! Please wait! Give me another chance! I swear I’ll make the right choice this time!” Jade pleaded like he was trying to reconcile from a bad breakup, though the actual matter at hand wasn’t severe. He was just that distraught over not being able to touch that sweet, sweet fur.
“If you like cats more than me, then I’ll just send the bracelet to Celestine-san. She can turn into a cat, and you can cuddle her all you want.”
“Wait, no. I only want you as a cat. If I were approached by any other cat... Well, I’d be happy, truth be told, but you, Ruri? You make me even more happy. Also, dealing with Celestine would be a pain in the neck,” Jade added, trying to dig himself out of his hole, but he only buried himself a little deeper.
“Then are you saying I’m disposable?” Ruri questioned.
“No, no, no. I’m not saying that at all. I love cats, but I wouldn’t cuddle Celestine!”
“Really, now? In that case, I’ll try it with Celestine-san. You won’t pet her even if you are starved for cuddles, right?”
“Uh... Of course not?”
“Why did you pause like that?! You don’t care so long as it’s a cat, do you?! I want a divorce! Di-vorce!”
“No, you can’t do that!”
Just then, the door swung open and Euclase entered the room. “Your Majesty! Why aren’t you working?! You still have much more to do!”
“Wait, Euclase. Now isn’t the time for that. I’m on the verge of divorce,” Jade cried.
“And the nation is on the verge of anarchy. If you’re going to divorce, then do it after you’ve finished your work!”
“Who said we were going to divorce?! I’m trying to prevent that! No way will I ever get a divorce!”
“A fine thing for a cheater to say! Jade-sama, you’re a cheating louse!” Ruri declared.
“You’re wrong, Ruri! I haven’t cheated with anyone yet!”
“‘Yet’?! Does that mean you intend on cheating later?!”
“No, it doesn’t! How did you get that idea?!” Jade was so flustered that the more he tried to explain himself, the deeper he sank into the quagmire.