I was a fairly common half-beast in this world. To be precise, I was a rare species with 1/4 rabbit beastkin blood flowing through me and another 1/4 cat beastkin blood, while the remaining 2/4 was purely human. Don’t ask me how such a mixed breed came to be—I honestly don’t know myself.

What could I do about being born this way? Thankfully, despite my complex lineage, I lacked the animal tails and ears characteristic of beastkin races. Instead of a tail, I had a tailbone like humans, and my ears were rounded human ears too.

Though rarely, when extremely excited, the area above my ears near my temples would tingle, and cat-like ears would suddenly pop out.

Among beastkin, cats, foxes, and lionesses were known for their beauty, but being of mixed blood seemed to give me an appearance twice as striking as theirs. My pale pastel pink-tinged silver hair, transparent blue-gray eyes, and snow-white skin, coupled with cheeks flushed like blooming flowers and thin-lined lips—all these features were delicately arranged on my petite frame.

Considering the rapid development characteristic of beastkin races, well… even I had to admit my appearance was remarkable.

Whether this was a blessing remained questionable. In this world, only those of high status like Princess Kesera truly benefited from exceptional beauty.

“Ah! Shasha, there you are.”

Commander-in-Chief Rictusa addressed me just as I was leaving the princess’s private chambers.

“Hello, Commander. I’m afraid the princess is busy tonight.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Commander Rictusa was a half-beast like me, though I’d heard he belonged to the gentle and loyal horse clan. He was also my guardian and like an older brother who had watched over me since childhood. After that incident when I was mistreated by a stranger next to the princess’s bedroom, the princess had instructed Commander Rictusa to look after me.

“I really needed to see the princess today. This is troublesome,” he said, his clear blue eyes clouding with concern.

For the record, Rictusa’s reason for visiting the princess at night had nothing to do with intimacy. The princess refused to grant audience to the straightforward and honest Rictusa, forcing him to resort to these evening visits.

So don’t misunderstand—judging by Rictusa’s ascetic and proper character, he was a man who couldn’t even utilize his handsome face properly. He probably had never properly courted a woman.

“Shasha, are you busy today?”

Rictusa called me Shasha. In the imperial language, “Sha” means “small,” making my name literally mean “little Rictusa.”

“The princess entrusted a young man to me, so I need to feed him later.”

“I see.”

“But I have about thirty minutes.”

“Your birthday is in a few days. You’ll be turning twenty—old enough for a coming-of-age ceremony. Unfortunately, I’ll have to leave for an expedition then, so I won’t be able to celebrate with you.”

Ah, my birthday is approaching already.

I nodded and took Rictusa’s outstretched hand as we walked along the back path of the imperial palace. The stares of people gawking at Rictusa as we passed were almost overwhelming.

His handsome features were undeniable, and his tall stature and firm physique visible through his uniform befitted his role as Commander-in-Chief of the imperial army. Rictusa was a celebrity known throughout the mighty Eodiphia Empire.

Since we were both beastkin and his rose-gold hair and blue eyes somewhat resembled mine, people often mistook us for siblings. I thought he might dislike such rumors, but fortunately, Rictusa didn’t seem to mind.

We finally arrived at a jewelry shop.

“I’ve picked out your gift in advance. I hope you’ll like it.”

Rictusa instructed the shop owner to bring the prepared gift. Soon, an ankle bracelet with the same design as Rictusa’s wristband was fastened around my ankle.

“Thank you so much, Commander Rictusa.”

“Shasha, how long will you keep addressing me so formally as ‘Commander’?”

“Then, Lord Rictusa?”

“Oh Shasha… People see us as siblings, yet you treat me so distantly.”

“But I’ve called you that for five years.”

“That’s precisely why I feel disappointed.”

“What should I call you then?”

“Never mind. Just call me whatever you wish.”

Rictusa smiled faintly and bent one knee. He placed my foot on it and fastened the ankle bracelet with both hands.

“It suits you perfectly, Shasha.”

I returned an innocent smile to Rictusa, who always gave me sweet cotton candy-like smiles.

* * *

“I brought you food.”

By late afternoon, Narcissus finally opened his eyes. His slightly curly golden hair had settled more calmly than the previous night. This young man with mythical looks—true to his name—was probably the most beautiful “human” man in this world, if my memory of the book was correct.

“Also, um, the princess wants me to bring you to her tonight as well.”

Narcissus, who hadn’t even glanced at me when I arrived, finally raised his gaunt red eyes. He stared at my mask with a face full of wariness before dropping his gaze back to the tray of food.

“You look weak. Should I feed you?”

“Not hungry.”

“That won’t do. The princess ordered me to make you eat, even by force if necessary.”

“This place seems full of abnormal humans.”

Hmm.

I silently took out a bowl of porridge and held it out to Narcissus.

“You might be right. But won’t you eat anyway? If you meet the princess in this state, your body won’t survive.”

Narcissus picked up a spoon. A forgotten prince from a defeated nation—he seemed to have accepted his miserable fate.

“Why do you wear that mask? Is that also the princess’s order?”

Narcissus asked, looking at my silver hair flowing down over the white mask.

“Yes.”

I reluctantly answered. Fortunately, he didn’t ask why I was bundled up in thick clothing.

“Well, it’s time to go now.”

I quickly cut off the conversation before Narcissus could ask anything more unnecessary and stood up.

* * *

Tonight, like clockwork, I laid him on the bed and slathered him with fruity-scented oil. Each time my fingertips touched his thick manhood, my body instinctively flinched.

Ugh, why am I reacting this way to someone my age?

Meanwhile, Narcissus, whose eyes met mine while I was trembling, turned his head sideways with an embarrassed or disgusted expression.

‘Men’s reproductive organs are so strange…’

I tightly closed my eyes at the sight of his manhood beginning to nod and sway independently. Narcissus must be even more embarrassed than me—probably wanting to hide in a mouse hole if he could.

As his sunken pubic bone became slippery with thin oil, it was time to attend to the most sensitive area. I cleared my throat a couple of times before carefully grasping the gl*ns. Then, using my other hand coated with sweet oil, I held Narcissus’s member and gently rubbed it back and forth.

Like yesterday, a low moan of desperate restraint filled my ears.

“You could… just pour it roughly. Why are you doing it so… hah… meticulously?”

“The princess told me to pay special attention to this area.”

I suddenly felt like a pervert.

To shake off that thought, we focused on our respective tasks in silence for a while. I continued moving my hand, and Narcissus lay there, frowning and staring at the ceiling.

“Your voice makes you sound quite young.”

“Huh?”

He suddenly looked into my eyes through the mask and asked. I exhaled a slightly quickened breath and tilted my head, pretending not to have heard what he just said.

“Never mind. But… you were the one who fed me that cocktail with strange drugs yesterday, weren’t you?”

Oh. How did he know?

While Princess Kesera was taking Narcissus all night, there was one time when he fell asleep, practically passing out from exhaustion. That’s when the princess knocked on the door twice, ordering me to bring a cocktail laced with aphrodisiac and cold water.

So I brought those items, gave Narcissus a cold water baptism, then tilted his dazed head back, opened his mouth, and poured the cocktail in little by little. The princess, fully exposing her slick n*ked body covered in s*men, held Narcissus’s head in her arms and stroked it tenderly while I faithfully carried out my duty.

For some reason, watching that scene made me feel slightly nauseated.

Anyway, I thought Narcissus had definitely passed out then. Was I wrong?

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

Well, I was completely caught. As Narcissus’s accusation snapped me back to reality, my fingertips reflexively curled around his manhood.

“Ah, haa, ugh, wait, wait a moment!”

The restraints binding Narcissus’s limbs rattled and shook. Startled, I hastily backed away.

“I’m sorry.”

And quickly apologized.

“Yes, I was the one who fed you that cocktail.”

He said nothing, his face deeply furrowed. After that, I lost track of time as I continued preparing him.

The princess must have been quite satisfied with last night because she instructed me to dress Narcissus in silk clothes instead of rags. Narcissus changed his clothes and put on accessories without uttering a single word.

All night long, I stood outside the princess’s bedroom, listening to the shrill cries of ecstasy, pleasure-filled exhausted breaths, and occasional whip sounds leaking from inside. Those chaotic noises, seemingly tireless, stirred my ears for quite some time.

Beside me, stiff and rigid, was another bitter cocktail laced with strange drugs, just like yesterday.

Once again, nausea welled up inside me.