PSW Chapter 20: Dreams and the Past Perhaps it was just a dream...
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Dust swirled in the thin beams of light that managed to seep into the tightly shut room. The air was thick with the stench of mildew and rot, soaking into his senses until his head throbbed with nausea.
On the window, distorted shadows stretched long, their mouths open wide in eerie, cackling whispers—like demons peering into a cage, observing the monster within.
He could hear the muffled voices of people outside, discussing him as if he were nothing more than an object on display:
【…Is that the prince?】
【Poor thing. Is he going to be locked up here for his entire life?】
【Of course. He was born in this place. He’s grown this much, and he still can’t even speak. The prophecy… the prophecy doesn’t make mistakes. He…】
【Then why doesn’t the king just kill him?】
【You don’t know? He looks exactly like the king’s mother. And the king… when it comes to his mother… tch…】
【His skin and features… they really are beautiful. Even more stunning than any princess I’ve ever seen.】
【Do you like him? Heh, you could try offering him some food. No one has ever taught him anything. He doesn’t know anything. Just like a wild animal. You could…】
【Forget it. It stinks too much in there.】
【That's true! Hahaha—】
【Hahaha—】
The piercing laughter drilled into his ears, echoing endlessly in his head. It felt like the whole world was screaming at him.
His skull throbbed as if it would split open. Rage erupted in his chest, burning so fiercely it threatened to consume him from within. He wanted to stand up, to slaughter everyone who dared to humiliate him!
But he couldn’t.
Because of the chains.
Because he—
“Meow!”
A sharp and urgent cat’s cry suddenly rang out, slicing through the chaos of his nightmare like a bolt of lightning. Something struck his consciousness with a heavy punch.
The man lying flat on the bed abruptly opened his eyes. A glacial blue gleam slashed through the darkness, his irises like sharp-cut sapphires, reflecting a lethal intent buried deep within.
The oppressive blackness of night enveloped everything, suffocatingly heavy. His cold, pale skin seemed almost luminous against the darkness, as if he were some ethereal being sealed away from the mortal world.
It was a dream.
Yofar quickly regained his senses, but the lingering humiliation and fury from the nightmare gnawed at his reason. At the same time, a faint sting on his face made him aware of another fact—someone had just hit him!?
Some lowly maid dared to lay hands on his face?
Unforgivable—!
The Pharaoh’s face darkened, his icy blue eyes flaring with ghostly fire. He cast his gaze downward, only to be met with two floating green flames.
A furious Yofar: “……”
What in the hell was that?
He froze, squinting slightly to focus. It was then that he finally made out a small, dark shape sitting on his chest, its form a pure, abyssal black.
Then, judging from the ticklish sensation against his skin, the fluffy texture, the warmth of a tiny body, and the fact that only one creature could possibly be here in his chambers at this hour—
“Bastet?” Yofar frowned, calling the name.
In response, the darkness sprouted a tiny, soft pink mouth and let out a crisp—
"Meow~"
Yofar: “……”
There are few things in life more disorienting than this:
When you stare into the abyss… and the abyss meows at you.
And worst of all—
You actually find it kind of cute.
Best had been sleeping soundly when Yofar suddenly began tossing and turning in bed, murmuring incomprehensible words. As time passed, his voice grew louder, his body tense, as if he were trapped in a nightmare.
At first, Bastet wanted to call for the maids to wake Yofar, but when it turned to look at them, the women averted their gazes and hesitated, unwilling to approach.
Bastet was extremely frustrated.
It had no idea that Yofar suffered from frequent nightmares—nightmares from which he sometimes awoke killing the first thing he saw. The maids wanted to help but were too terrified of being executed if Jorfal woke in a fit of rage.
Hearing his distress, the little black cat lashed its tail impatiently. Then, after a moment of thought, it made its decision.
It leapt onto the bed, perched on Yofar’s smooth, muscular chest, and delivered a devastating flurry of cat punches straight to his face!
'Papapapa!'
Meow!—Holy hell, litter slave, wake up! You’re having a nightmare!
'Papapapa!'
Meow!—Oi, litter slave, Yofar? Wake up! Your butt’s on fire! Your tiny Jiji is burning!
'Papapapa!'
Meow!—Half of your Jiji is already gone! Ahahaha~
After relentless efforts from the noble feline, its deranged master finally opened his eyes…
“Bastet?”
The breathtaking man still had beads of cold sweat on his forehead, his deep voice hoarse from sleep.
“Meow~” Yes, it's me, you lunatic.
“……”
The Pharaoh’s lips twitched slightly, but he remained silent.
Best assumed that Yofar was still trapped in the nightmare and had yet to fully wake up. Retracting its little paws, the black cat softly licked his chin and gently patted his chest with its tail. Then, in a voice as delicate as a whisper, it let out another tiny meow.
"Meow~"
— Had a nightmare? Don’t be scared, don’t be scared. I’m here. Go back to sleep.
"Meow~"
— I’ll protect you, litter slave.
"……"
The small, furry creature radiated a steady warmth as it lay on his chest. Its thin little tail moved gently, exuding pure affection and sympathy. Miraculously, it soothed the burning pain in his heart left by his bitter memories.
It was so small… adorable yet pitiful. If he wanted to, he could end its life with just one hand.
Then why?
Yofar curled his lips into a faint smile. Listening to its tiny, fierce little meows, he closed his eyes and cupped the fragile creature in his hands. Turning onto his side, he curled up, enclosing it against his throat in a protective embrace.
He silently asked himself—why did this cat feel as if it possessed such a pure and powerful soul? As if it were his other half? As if it were a healing balm to his pain? Why did he find its every movement so utterly endearing?
It’s just a cat…
Perhaps I simply have a fondness for this kind of animal. Yofar reasoned, attributing everything to the natural charm of his little pet.
If Bastet could hear his thoughts, it would’ve smugly declared: "Hah! Cat lovers never realize how deep they've fallen for their feline overlords!"
“Bastet…”
The low, husky voice, rich enough to make one’s heart itch, roused the drowsy little cat.
"Meow?" Now what, you psycho?
"If only you were human..."
Pfft—
Bastet’s green eyes widened in an instant.
Holy shit—did he find out?!
Yofar, oblivious to the absolute panic he had just triggered in his furry companion, rested his chin atop the cat’s tiny head. His icy blue eyes, still shadowed by the nightmare, gazed into the darkness, swirling with thoughts steeped in blood.
Nobles, ministers, priests, the selection of a queen… All of them.
Every last person who knew of his past, who had brought him suffering, who had mocked him—
I will crush their dignity beneath my feet.
Strip their flesh, coat it in honey, and let the insects devour them—bit by bit, down to their bones.
The beautiful man, cloaked in an ethereal, angelic façade, bared his fangs. Beneath him, blood surged like a river. Behind him, the shadows cast the grinning silhouette of a demon. The hatred distilled in his heart dripped from his slender, bone-white fingers like venom.
Drip, drip...
So calm, yet so insane.
No one had ever listened to the voice in his heart.
No one will escape...
No one will escape...
That was what he was saying.
Yofar closed his eyes, yet he remained awake the entire night.
Not because of the raging murderous intent in his heart—
But because they had forgotten something important.
Yofar: ...I'm allergic to cat fur.
Bastet: ...I'm literally a cat.
So why the hell are we cuddling?!
___
Author’s Note: 【Mini Theater】
The Next Morning…
Yofar was covered in red welts.
Especially on a certain part of his lower body.
Yofar stared at the little black fluffball before him.
Bastet: …Why the hell are you looking at me like that?! I didn’t do anything! This is all your fault for being an Egyptian who likes to sleep naked! You didn’t know I’m in my peak shedding season?!
Yofar continued to stare.
Bastet’s gaze flickered. …Okay, fine. I stepped on it. Just once. I swear. Heh… Hehehehe.
Yofar: Tonight, I’m eating cat.
Bastet: Huh?
Bows.
T/N: Please give support on my ko-fi page, thank you🍊🍊🍊
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