That day was wonderfully sunny. The temperature was just right, neither cold nor hot. The occasional breeze carried the scent of flowers, somehow giving off the feeling that spring was approaching.

After the Pope disappeared like that, the temple, which had been cowering, opened its doors wide today to welcome unfamiliar guests.

Sister Mary, who suited the papal position even more than I had imagined, wore white vestments and smiled kindly.

“Living this long, I get to see a day like this.”

That’s right. This is a moment that will never come again in this world. Something that has never happened since the world was created.

Sister Mary held a large water basin with both hands and proclaimed in a voice that was solemn yet warm.

“We will now conduct the baptism ceremony for His Majesty Emperor Kailas.”

Today was the day Kyle would receive baptism as a believer who worships God, officially becoming a faithful member under the Pope.

* * *

“To think I’d become a follower of that talkative, incompetent fellow who can’t do anything…”

That was the first thing Kyle said when he returned to the imperial palace after receiving his baptism obediently. Hearing that, I tilted my head.

‘Wait, how does Kyle know that our God is extremely talkative?’

Sometimes the messages sent to me were so numerous that it was actually hard to concentrate on worship. The content was mainly like this:

[He says prayer and worship are just talking to me anyway.]

[Stop closing your eyes and look into mine.]

‘But I thought I was the only one who knew that!’

This was something that could only come from someone who had actually received messages. I smiled warmly, expecting sweet episodes between Kyle and God.

Then Kyle narrowed his eyes and stared at me intently.

“……What are you thinking about to smile like that?”

“Thinking that Kyle is cute?”

“Cute? Me?”

“Yeah.”

His sparkling golden eyes narrowed, making them look even more like cat eyes.

Kyle, who had been making a slightly sulky expression at my words, grabbed my arm tightly and acted spoiled.

“I feel icky. Wash my hair for me.”

“Huh? Why do you feel icky?”

“They poured water all over me for the baptism earlier. I feel icky.”

“Holy water is sacred water. It contains God’s breath blessing Kyle.”

“Would that God really bless me?”

“……”

I couldn’t bring myself to answer that question. Because harsh messages immediately poured down.

[What? Icky? Argh, !%$#*@$^%$@ ……(censored)]

[There is a communication error making smooth communication difficult. We apologize.]

At this point, the boundary of who was picking on whom first was becoming blurred.

While I was pondering whether I should tell Kyle to apologize or tell God to show mercy, Kyle rubbed his cheek against my palm and said.

“Hm? I listened to Ran’s words obediently. Don’t I deserve a reward?”

“Ugh.”

Seeing him do this, it’s clear he knows. That I’m weak to Kyle’s aegyo.

‘He knows I’ll give in! He’s not even a baby kitten, and here’s this mountain-sized man acting cute…’

Just when I was steeling my wavering heart, clothes rustled and fell, the large man disappeared, and a black panther with thick bear-like paw pads was sitting there.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Fine. Just this once!”

……I gave in!

[He feels hurt by our baby.]

Even if you feel hurt, there’s nothing I can do. No, is this even something to feel hurt about in the first place! Honestly, you don’t really feel icky. You’re just saying that because you want to act spoiled with me.

[He says it’s outrageous to use God’s name for acting spoiled.]

‘If you put it that way, I can’t help it.’

I looked at Kyle, who was sitting obediently in front of me, with trembling eyes. Kyle deliberately wiggled his round ears, knowing my heart had completely crumbled.

“Kuk.”

Recently, he had been stubbornly refusing to transform into a black panther. I touched his round ears. The fluffy fur wrapped around my palm like velvet.

“I understand why God created beast-folk.”

As I muttered this while touching Kyle’s dense ear fur, Kyle looked at me with puzzled eyes. I answered in a serious tone.

“Humans are good, but cats are good too, so maybe he combined them.”

“……”

At my words, Kyle narrowed his eyes. He had an expression that seemed to say, ‘I’m not a cat.’

Coincidentally, the message before my eyes changed like this too:

[……]

What, they really do get along well.

“Come here, Kyle. I’ll give you a bath.”

Even though I already knew Kyle had two forms, when he transformed into a panther, the emotional distance between us suddenly shortened.

‘I guess I’m a natural butler type.’

With that thought, I rubbed my cheek thoroughly against Kyle’s fur, which I was touching after a long time.

The incident happened after I had completely dried Kyle’s wet fur with a towel.

“Wait, now you need to put on clothes, right? I should call a servant for that……”

Since I didn’t know how long the baptism ceremony would take, neither of us had scheduled any visits today. But the documents piling higher and higher on the emperor’s desk each day proved how busy Kyle was.

‘It seemed like he got even busier after what happened to the Pope. Noel looks more haggard every time I see him too.’

Though Noel had initially disapproved of me, lately he seemed desperate for the healing energy around me and kept coming like a bee drawn to honey, even without being called.

‘It’s fine when he’s a panther, but it’s still difficult when he’s human.’

Just as I was thinking this and turning around to call a servant and leave, strong arms, not panther paws, wrapped around me from behind in an embrace. A terribly low voice rang sharply in my ear.

“……Where are you going?”

“Eek!”

It was the sound of my breath being drawn in involuntarily.

I stammered and answered with lips that wouldn’t move properly.

“Well, I mean…… now you have to go to your office……”

“You touched my body all over and you’re just going to leave?”

“Wh-what are you saying like that?!”

Anyone who heard would misunderstand. I was just being a faithful cat butler, washing thoroughly with a very devout heart!

“My sincerity as a cat butler cannot be doubted!”

“Fine, let’s say that’s true.”

It’s not ‘let’s say,’ it really is true.

I turned my head to retort, but stopped short. Kyle’s golden eyes facing me were gleaming like he had spotted prey.

Tightening his grip on the hands holding me, Kyle whispered.

“I’m not a cat.”

* * *

In the end, I left the emperor’s palace late at night. As I secretly returned to my palace, Lady Eleanor kept sighing deeply.

Lady Eleanor had already nagged several times that it wasn’t good to be so intimate before marriage, given the national wedding procedures and public image.

I glanced around nervously and spoke in a voice as small as a mosquito’s wing flutter.

“……You can scold me.”

“I won’t.”

“You really can.”

“His Majesty should be the one hearing the scolding. Obviously His Majesty was the one who seduced you.”

“……”

Should that be called seduction?

‘I just felt like a mouse in front of a cat.’

Like being caught by the tail with sharp claws and swallowed whole in one gulp.

‘If I say it like this, I’ll get in more trouble, right?’

God, who dislikes Kyle, enthusiastically cheered me not to miss this opportunity.

[He says it’s fine, so spill everything!]

[You can do it! This isn’t tattling! It’s reporting for the public good!]

Who do you think you’re fooling? Besides, we caused trouble together, so it would be unfair if only Kyle got scolded.

After sneaking back to the palace, I was immediately put to bed. Lady Eleanor carefully tucked the blanket up to my neck and said.

“Sleep quickly. At this rate, the new bride’s face will be half gone.”

I raised a small objection.

“But I don’t get tired……”

I haven’t tested it, but wouldn’t I be fine not sleeping for about a week?

Of course, this objection didn’t work on Lady Eleanor at all.

“Shh. Close your eyes quickly.”

“Yes.”

Overwhelmed by her presence, I shut my mouth. Lady Eleanor, whom I expected to leave immediately, unexpectedly sat in the chair beside me, turned on a reading lamp, and opened a book.

I slyly opened my eyes again and asked.

“……Are you going to read?”

“Yes, until Lady Cioranne falls asleep.”

Her glasses reflected the reading lamp light, emitting a blade-like menacing gleam.

“And to block any persistent visitor’s approach.”

“……?”

Who would come visiting at this hour?