Night had fallen completely.
In a small kitchen lit by a single, old hanging lamp, the clinking of utensils mixed with soft laughter. Hana sat cross-legged on a rattan chair, spoon-feeding her grandmother warm rice and vegetable soup. Light-hearted chatter filled the air.
But in the room next door—its door left half open—the air felt much tenser.
Mathien sat on a sunflower-print cushion, staring sharply at the woven bamboo ceiling. His blue eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
"I cannot stay here any longer."
"Fed with salty canned food, cuddled like some stuffed toy, given a name like Chiro."
"This is an insult to my entire bloodline."
He stood up.
—or more precisely, tried to stand up in a dramatic fashion.
But his round, heavy body betrayed him; one of his hind legs slipped, and he landed back down with a soft thud.
"…Tch."
"Even this body... has turned against me."
Unfazed, Mathien slowly walked to the wooden window. He raised one paw, trying to push the slightly open shutter. But his tiny claws weren't strong enough. He scratched below the window.
No luck.
A low growl escaped his throat.
"Grrrh…"
His eyes moved quickly, scanning the entire room. Then… they stopped at a small cupboard in the corner. It was short, and above it—a vent left slightly ajar.
"There it is… my way out."
Mathien backed up a few steps—just enough for a cat of very non-ideal proportions to make a leap. His tail rose. His ears stiffened.
"For Valtherion…"
He jumped.
CRASH!!
Mathien slammed into the cupboard and flopped to the floor, knocking over two flower vases. One of them shattered.
"MEOWWRR!!"
A sound of panic—and indignation.
From the kitchen, Hana's voice rang out.
"Huh?! What's wrong with Chiro?"
Footsteps approached. Mathien panicked. He dragged his chubby body behind the curtain, hiding like a guilty criminal.
Hana appeared at the door, flashlight in hand.
"Chiro?" she called softly.
Her eyes landed on the broken vase.
"Huh? It's broken?"
Mathien held his breath.
She shrugged. "You're so weird. So cute though—stop jumping around, or your belly's gonna sag even more."
"You dare insult my stomach?!"
But all he could do... was hiss quietly.
After Hana returned to the kitchen, mumbling "What a weird cat, but so adorable I can't be mad,"—
Mathien slowly emerged from behind the curtain.
His eyes narrowed. His steps were heavy. His breathing still ragged from the failed jump.
He waddled toward the corner of the room, eyeing the short wooden cabinet.
Without a word, he crouched and crawled under it.
It was dark, narrow, and dusty.
Perfect.
"This place reflects the ruin of my soul."
He curled into a ball. His thick orange tail wrapped over his face. He pressed his cheek to the cold floor and exhaled.
"Leave me alone."
"Let the world be silent."
"Let that naive human cry over her missing fat cat."
Unfortunately, things didn't go according to plan.
Two minutes later—
"Chirooo~ where are youuu~"
Footsteps drew near.
Mathien squeezed his eyes shut tighter.
"Don't find me. Don't find me."
"Huh? Under the cupboard?"
"No. No. You see nothing—"
Suddenly, Hana's face peeked in from under the cupboard, flashlight and all.
"FOUND YOU!!"
Mathien flinched. So much for dignity and dramatic solitude.
Hana beamed.
"Are you sulking, Chiro? I'm sorry, okay? But you scared me! C'mon, come out~ I'll even buy you cheese-flavored sardines!"
Mathien didn't move.
Hana slowly reached out, trying to touch his head.
"Don't touch me, lowly human…"
But his body... was too comfortable to bother moving.
This cupboard was dark. Cold. Quiet.
The perfect place to mourn his fate as a dethroned royal fluffball.
Eventually Hana gave up. She smiled and shook her head.
"Okay then. If you're still mad, I'll leave a pillow out here… so you can sleep comfortably. I'll read you a bedtime story later too."
"…A story?"
"I am part of Valtherion's history and she wants to read me a bedtime story?!"
Hana left and returned with a small pillow. She placed it just outside the cupboard and walked away, humming softly.
Mathien glanced at the pillow.
He was quiet for a while.
Then, slowly...
he scooted out.
And plopped onto the pillow.
"Not because I gave in..."
"But because the floor was cold."
And for the first time, a soft snore escaped from the throat of the great prince…
…now fast asleep, hugging his own tail.
🌸🌸🌸
Morning sunlight streamed through the bamboo window slats, warming the wooden floor and the little pillow in the corner. The scent of half-bloomed flowers blended with the crisp village air.
Mathien slowly opened his eyes.
His breathing was deep, tired... still heavy.
He stretched lazily on the pillow Hana had placed the night before—the pillow he was supposed to ignore but now felt far too cozy to leave. He let out a small yawn, ears twitching as footsteps echoed from outside the room.
Tap tap tap!
Rushed steps. Then dragging. Then hurried again.
"What now…"
He glanced over, half-lidded—then froze.
There in the room stood Hana.
Wearing her school uniform, she sat on the floor, struggling to put on her socks while trying to hold up her ponytail. Her bangs were still a mess. Her left cheek was faintly red—probably from sleeping in a weird position.
But her smile was still there, even as she yawned.
"Chirooo~ you're up too? Morning… ugh, I overslept again!" she muttered while looking for her shoes.
Mathien said nothing.
He stared.
Morning light landed softly on Hana's face. It lit her jet-black hair and her naturally fair skin, kissed daily by the sun in the flower fields.
Her uniform was simple. One sock still half on.
But something about her…
Something made Mathien stop complaining—for just a moment.
"She's annoying."
"Too loud. Too clumsy."
"But why… can't I look away?"
He swallowed—whether from the smell of toast coming from the kitchen or the strange tightness in his chest…
Hana stood, then turned to him—still half-curled on the pillow.
She grinned, bright as ever.
"Don't be moody, Chiro~ I'm off to school now, okay? Don't wreck the house! Let's go to the flower field later this afternoon, yeah?"
Mathien didn't reply. He just watched her.
And somehow, his furry cheeks tingled. Warm.
"What kind of Valtherion is this?"
"Why is my heart beating like this… inside a cat's body?"
The door closed.
Hana left.
Mathien stared after her until her footsteps faded. Then he looked down, pulled his tail close, and let out a long sigh.
"…I need to turn back into a human."
"Before I lose my mind."
🌸🌸🌸