Norax moved the moment he heard it.
The sound of something shattering echoed through the hallway, followed by a panicked, trembling scream.
"D-Don't come closer…! Please—stay away from me!"
Pain shot through Norax's body as he forced himself forward anyway. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored them and reached the room at once.
The door was already open.
Inside, the room was a mess.
A broken vase lay scattered across the floor. Pillows had been thrown aside. One chair was overturned. At the center of it all, Eirys Valestria was crouched down, hugging herself tightly, her shoulders shaking.
Several maids from neko cafe stood frozen around her, panic written clearly on their faces.
"Please, calm down—"
"Lady, it's alright—"
"We're not going to hurt you—"
Their voices only made it worse.
Eirys flinched violently every time someone moved.
Her breath was uneven. Her fingers dug into her own arms as if she were trying to anchor herself to reality.
Celstia rushed in from behind. "Master—!"
Norax raised his hand immediately "Stop. Celstia, wait here."
Celstia hesitated. "But—Master, she's—"
"There's broken glass," Norax said quietly. "Careful."
He stepped forward slowly.
The maids looked at him as if they were drowning, clinging to the last piece of driftwood.
"She won't let us near her," one maid whispered urgently.
"We tried to change her clothes, but she woke up suddenly," another said.
"She keeps saying it's heavy… she has a fever, too. We wanted to check, but—"
Norax already knew
His gaze settled on Eirys From her point of view, the world was chaos.
Fear.
Anxiety.
Confusion.
Worry.
Too many emotions layered on top of each other—colors crashing together, pressing down on her mind like a storm with no escape.
Norax stopped several steps away.
He didn't approach.
He didn't touch her.
"Everyone," he said calmly, his voice low and steady, "please calm down."
The room fell silent.
Eirys felt it first The crushing colors—
slowly, slowly—began to fade.
Fear loosened.
Anxiety thinned.
The pressure receded, like water pulling back from the shore.
Her breathing steadied.
Confused, she lifted her head slightly.
For the first time since her curse awakened—
She saw something different.
In front of her was a merged color Black and white, quietly intertwined.
It wasn't sharp.
It wasn't painful.
It didn't press down on her chest.
Her body trembled—not from fear, but from unfamiliarity.
She tried to stand, but her legs gave out. Weak and dizzy, she stumbled forward—
—and fell into Norax's chest Norax stiffened, but he didn't move.
"Easy," he said gently. "No one here will hurt you."
He still didn't touch her Eirys, confused, reached out instinctively and pressed her hand lightly against his chest. She couldn't see him. She didn't know his face.
But the color—
Warm.
Steady.
Quiet.
The other colors around him settled as well.
Behind her, another presence appeared—soft, pink, gentle. A different kind of warmth.
Celstia.
Norax spoke again, carefully choosing his words.
"The maids only want to help you change clothes and check your fever. "
"We are not the ones who kidnapped you. We saved you from that place. So… please, don't be afraid."
Celstia nodded and moved forward slowly, carefully guiding Eirys toward the bed.
The other maids began cleaning the room in silence Eirys swallowed hard.
"I… I can't see," she said weakly, her voice trembling.
"I don't know who is here… I can't even change my clothes… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
Celstia gently took her hand "It's alright,"
Celstia said softly. "We're here. You have a fever. Please let us take care of you."
She paused. "May I know your name, lady?"
Eirys focused on the pink, glossy color in front of her.
There was no hostility. No pressure.
"Eirys…"
"Eirys Valestria."
For the first time since she woke up—Eirys Valestria stopped shaking.
Warmth surrounded her.
Affection she hadn't felt since her family—
Since she was told she was useless. A burden. Trash.
Norax turned away slightly, his expression unreadable.
His chest felt heavy Before he could sink further—"Master," Celstia said quietly. "Please step outside. The lady needs to change clothes."
Norax snapped out of it. "Ah—sorry."
He turned back toward Eirys "Lady Eirys," he said, his voice steady again.
"Please take care of yourself first. Eat something. You're too thin. We'll talk later… alright?"
Eirys hesitated She didn't want that warmth to disappear But she nodded.
Norax turned and left the room Even after he was gone, the calm lingered.
Eirys clutched the blanket lightly.
"I want… to see him again, "she whispered.
Celstia smiled faintly. "Let's change your clothes first."
Eirys nodded Norax returned to his room quietly.
The moment he opened the door, he froze.
On the bed sat a tiny mountain of blankets, slightly trembling.
From beneath it, a golden tail peeked out, swaying nervously.
Norax smiled He stepped closer on tiptoe and gently lifted the edge of the blanket.
"What is our Snaya doing?"
Two small hands shot out, pressing a finger to her lips.
"Shhh!"
Snaya whispered urgently. "Snaya is playing hide-and-seek with Chi."
She peeked out with wide, serious eyes. "Brother, don't talk. Chi might find us."
Norax nodded solemnly, then—
Cuteness attack Fatal damage.
Critical hit.
he thought, his chest tightening He carefully scooped her up into his arms.
"Are you feeling alright?" he asked softly.
"Mm… yes," Snaya nodded. "But I'm hiding."
She leaned closer and whispered, "Brother, come hide too."
Norax chuckled quietly. "Don't worry. Chi isn't here."Then he smiled. "And I brought cake."
"Cake?" Snaya repeated, her eyes lighting up—
—but then she shook her head seriously.
"No." She tapped Norax's forehead gently. "Brother needs to eat first. Brother worked hard."
She puffed her cheeks, acting like a tiny mother Norax felt something twist in his chest.
"Alright," he said softly. "Let's play together. We'll eat until Chi finds us."
Snaya beamed. "Yes, brother!"
Then she suddenly added proudly, "Oh! Ark said to call you… lewedr."
Norax coughed.beause that' sound like lewed not as leader
"…Snaya."
She tilted her head.
"Please forget whatever Ark taught you," Norax said seriously. "Just call me brother."
Snaya nodded firmly. "Okay!"
They left together, eating cake and playing simple games.
Snaya laughed, talked to Chi when the bird eventually appeared, and proudly explained the rules of hide-and-seek.
A few hours later, exhausted from excitement, she fell asleep in Norax's arms Norax carried her back to her room gently.
Chi was already there, perched quietly in his cage, watching over her.
After making sure she was comfortable, Norax stepped out.
The corridor was silent.
Eirys's room was quiet as well. She had taken her medicine and was finally resting.Celstia was also taking rest after work he thought
Norax turned away—but his mind wouldn't settle.
He thought and grab hand on his mouth
The image of the werewolf reverting back into a human body replayed again and again.
That somehow made it worse "…Coffee," he muttered. "I need coffee."
He headed down to the café The bell rang softly as he opened the door.
"Welcome back, Master!!!?"
A familiar pink-haired maid bowed enthusiastically—
—and froze Norax blinked. "…Elise?"
Elise stared at him in maid clothes "…Don't laugh."
Norax laughed "When did you take this job?"
"Shut up!" Elise snapped. "You left me alone! So I helped Ark!"
Ark appeared behind the counter. "Leader, what are you doing here? You should be resting."
Elise puffed her chest. "Ark, tell him! I worked hard!"
Ark nodded calmly. "Yes. She helped."
Then he muttered quietly, only for Norax to hear—"She broke three plates and tripped twice."
Norax tried to hold it in.
He failed.
He laughed.
"Elise—"
"Stop laughing, you ugly man!" she yelled. "You don't know how to appreciate kindness!"
"I said I'm sorry," Norax replied, still smiling.
Then laughed again.
"YOU'RE THE UGLIEST MAN IN THE WORLD!" Elise screamed.
The café erupted into laughter.
Norax laughed without guilt.
And for just a moment—
The weight on his chest felt lighter
After few minutes The laughter in the café slowly faded.
Norax leaned back against the counter, holding his coffee. The warmth seeped into his palms, grounding him.
Ark glanced at him. "Leader, you should really rest."
"I know," Norax replied. "Just… needed noise."
Elise crossed her arms, still in her maid outfit. "You're not allowed to die from overwork,and laugh" she said stubbornly. "i told mama and you would haunt by mama soon."
Norax smirked. "So you do care. And i know you don't tell her"
"Tch." She turned away. "Don't misunderstand."