Chapter 55:Who is the cat that stole the fish?
Dawn filtered through gauze curtains.
Frandor woke first—limbs tangled over Isabelle: legs waist, arms neck.
Isabelle flat, vine-wrapped statue.
Frandor flushed crimson. Careful untangle.
Isabelle stirred. Tease arc.
“Majesty—sleep wilder than ‘nightmare.’”
Face pillow bury. Muffled shame.
“…No say!”
“Shy now? Who swore ‘just sleep’?”
“Isn’t?”
“Else—what?”
Meaning hit. Ears red. Stubborn.
“Hmph—defile queen—arrest!”
Isabelle sat. Black cascade. Lean close. Finger chin lift.
“Shed arrest me, my queen?”
Rose. Left Frandor bed—blush, throb, frozen.
No flee.
Burrow quilt, pillow head—better hide.
…
Blink: Rose Knights Isabelle-led, full Mills city.
Three months stay—first day holiday. Explore, supplies.
Bustle street. Leanna boxes hug. Murmur:
“Three months—whetstones enough.”
“Whetstones? Magic, captain.”
Melin twitch. Wrong buy.
“So? Isabelle tasks hard. Pass + LV30+. And you…”
Boxes bag. Eye Melin jewelry.
“Budget generous—why jewelry?”
Caught. Behind back. Sky gaze. Guilty.
“Hobby.”
“Don’t recall.”
“Some mother.”
“More? Black white pair—saintesses?”
Steps close. Face near. Melin bite, sweat, guilty writ.
Group essentials—she secret gifts. Known: thieving cat.
So?
Love saintesses—gifts!
Others no—less love!
Aaliyah absent—bet gifts too!
Guilty → righteous.
“Tch—so? You dumb whetstones. Magic no weapon wear.”
“Budget mine—gifts show love. You ungrateful!”
Leanna retort:
“Ungrateful? Celis good heart-kept. Best repay: perfect Knights no worry!”
“Whetstones. Leader example—chase me.”
Eyes close. Hair flick. Noble sacrifice.
Melin frown. Off.
Sneak hand box.
Clang—
Drop. Lid off. Jewelry gleam.
Melin glare. Leanna blink innocent.
“You! Thieving cat!”
“What? Who hid jewelry whetstone? Annoy!”
Melin swat. Leanna laugh sprint.
Behind: Teresa palm mouth smile.
Holiday: Leanna shed leader—true teen frolic.
Mature—teens still.
But…
Head Ashe.
Fourth captain. Gold loli. Fortress dragonkin aid.
Noted: Leanna “mother” joke—Ashe dim, worry.
Painful past.
Step quiet. Beside.
“Ashe supplies?”
“Mostly… extra coin…”
“Save. Future gifts.”
“M.”
Head low. Breath. Hide. Ask:
“Teresa magic materials?”
“Aide need.”
“Aide?”
Chase stop. Crowd curious.
Brow pick. Teresa cough. Hand chest. Feign naive blink.
“Eh? Unknown? Isabelle aide three months. Mentor absent—I your magic teacher.”
“Call mentor try.”
“…Ha? Real thieving cat here?!”
Chase +1 Teresa. Bell laughs street linger. Passers turn—girls: knowing smile.
Teens—youth bloom.