“By the way...” Siegfried cleared his throat and leaned in to whisper in my ear, “Looks like somebody else is in a good mood today.”
“Who?” I followed Siegfried’s gaze and was speechless at what I saw.
How long has he been lying there?!
“Professor!”
Professor was sprawled across the floor, bathing in a warm sunbeam shining in through the window, despite the fact that I’d ordered him to stay in my room. What the hell is he doing here?
He must’ve just shown up, because there’s no way we wouldn’t have noticed him earlier. It was impossible to miss something that large.
I quickly got up and rushed over to him. “What are you doing here?!” I whispered, trying not to raise my voice.
His fluffy tail swayed, but otherwise he ignored me and kept napping.
“I haven’t even told anyone about you yet! If you just wander around like that...”
“You don’t have to.” I didn’t hear his voice out loud, but in my head—most likely so Siegfried wouldn’t hear our conversation.
“Huh?”
“You don’t have to explain it to anyone. I’ve been your beloved pet since childhood, always at your side. No one will question it at all.”
I was about to ask him to explain when suddenly Siegfried leaned over my shoulder to peer down at Professor. When did he get up to stand behind me?
“You’re especially cheerful today, aren’t you?” he cooed. “Did you get something yummy to eat?”
For all of Professor’s talk about how he should be revered as a sacred beast, he made a loud contented noise and rolled over so Siegfried could rub his belly.
“Ha ha. Professor’s always so cute. You should come visit the palace sometime with Kreis, and I’ll treat you to something special.”
“Woof!”
What kind of divine beast shows his belly to someone that easily, huh?
“His pets are the second best after yours. They feel so nice.”
That’s not the point. You’re supposed to be a divine beast! But wait a minute. How much exactly does Siegfried know about you?
“Like I said, I’ve been your beloved pet since you were little.”
So basically, even though he hadn’t originally existed in this world, he’d been seamlessly inserted into Kreis’s life? Was that seriously within the realm of a divine beast’s power? And if so, why not just go a step further and rewrite everyone’s memories so that Gilles never...
“Like I said, my role is to watch over you.”
Stop reading my mind. Now. Also, you’re useless. Completely useless!
“No, no. That’s a terrible misunderstanding. I’m actually very helpful, thank you very much!”
It was hard to take him seriously when he was sprawled out on the floor with his belly up.
“Kreis?”
Yes, I was sure now that Siegfried couldn’t hear Professor’s voice. He was giving me a curious look as I stood there silently, staring at Professor.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just thinking that Professor looks a little chubby lately. Maybe we should hold off on any treats.”
“Chubby? Where on this adorable body am I chubby?”
I ignored Professor as he bared his fangs at me in irritation and instead turned toward Siegfried with a smile.
“Don’t mind him. He’s just mad because his weight is a sore spot.”
“You did not hit a sore spot! It was just plain rude! And don’t you dare think you can distract me by—nngh, awooo...”
As soon as I scratched his chin, Professor’s mood flipped instantly.
“Yes, right there. Mm-hmm, that’s the stuff!”
I couldn’t imagine how anyone could seriously call this creature a divine beast.
After another good round of petting to settle Professor down, Siegfried and I went back to the sofa. He looked ecstatic as he bit into a financier.
“These are even better than the last batch, Kreis.”
Siegfried was usually very dignified as the king, but now he looked like a carefree child.
His praises made me happy. I’d never gotten used to taking compliments, though. Not as a child and certainly not now, so I still didn’t quite know how to respond.
I’d been the same way back in my previous world. I lost my parents young and grew up in a group home, never really learning how to connect with people. Love was something that always seemed out of my reach. And after being reincarnated as Kreis, who had never been loved by his parents, I had to wonder if I was just destined to lead a life without affection no matter what world I was in.
“Pfft.”
I heard a stifled laugh that made me turn toward Siegfried. “Is something funny?”
“I was just thinking how adorable you are, Kreis.”
“Huh?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. That utterance was much too impolite and I quickly covered my mouth, but he didn’t mind. Instead, he tugged gently at my ear.
“The tips of your ears turned red. That always happens when you’re embarrassed.”
“What?!” I quickly covered both of my ears. I had no idea I had such a reflex. Or perhaps it was one of Kreis’s reflexes. Either way, now that I knew about it, the thought of someone seeing me in that state was incredibly embarrassing.
“Why are you hiding it? It’s adorable.”
“A-Adorable? You should be saying that sort of thing to Lady Risthea, not me!”
Siegfried fell silent, the smile still on his face. But after a brief moment, he continued. “Risthea is a different kind of adorable than you.”
Risthea was Siegfried’s fiancée. She was a noble known for being the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. And the two of them made the most beautiful, perfect couple—so perfect that the people of this kingdom were eagerly awaiting the day when Risthea would become their queen.
Of course, it made sense that someone like Kreis couldn’t compare to Risthea. So to call him “adorable” might be the same thing one would say when they saw a chipmunk.
Anyway, Siegfried’s opinion of Kreis wasn’t directed toward me.
I knew Siegfried cared for Kreis so much he’d stay silent even when it was difficult for him. If he were to learn that the real Kreis that he treasured so much was already gone, how would he react?
“How is Lady Risthea, by the way?”
“I saw her just this morning. She’s doing fine.”
Currently, Risthea was living in the royal palace undergoing the training necessary to become queen. Once she was finished, she and Siegfried would get married and rule the kingdom together—that was as far as my thoughts could get before that nightmare of a memory flashed through my mind again.
“Ah!”
“Kreis?”
It had been Kreis’s fault that that future had never come to pass.
Count Kurtz, Risthea’s father, was among the nobles who betrayed Siegfried. Risthea had stood by Siegfried’s side until the very end. She’d tried everything she could to convince the others, but it had all been in vain. Siegfried had been ousted from power, along with Kreis.
And I would never allow that future to repeat itself.
“Will Lady Risthea’s training still take some time?”
“Yes, I think she has quite a bit left to do.”
If Siegfried had married Risthea, then Count Kurtz would’ve never betrayed him. Right now, Kreis didn’t have the kind of influence it would take to suggest a royal marriage. His role was still just that of an assistant to his father, the marquess. His opinion carried basically zero weight in high society.
“I see...” I said. “I’m sure Lady Risthea will make a wonderful queen.”
“Kreis, do you want her and me to get married soon?”
“The entire kingdom does.”
“I’m sure they do, but I’m asking how you feel, Kreis.”
Of course I did.
But I couldn’t bring myself to come right out and say it. I hesitated for a moment, wondering how the real Kreis would’ve answered. There was no doubt he’d longed for Siegfried and Risthea to marry, but I wasn’t sure if he would’ve stated such feelings bluntly. At this point, I couldn’t tell which thoughts were Kreis’s and which thoughts were my own, which completely threw me off.
I’d lived both lives—mine and Kreis’s—and because both sets of memories felt equally real, I’d begun thinking of Kreis’s life as my own. It was hard not to.