PSW Chapter 56: Pushed Away
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The dazzling sunlight bathed the palm tree leaves in vibrant green.
In the palace courtyard, a pair of ducks with speckled backs swam leisurely in the pond. The lotus leaves crowded together on the water’s surface, while pink and white lotus flowers had begun to wither. Near the courtyard’s corner, beneath an exquisitely maintained grapevine trellis tended by the servants, clusters of unripe green grapes hung—still too tart to eat.
A black cat lay listlessly on a stone table, meant for the royal members of the harem to admire the beauty of the courtyard. It looked utterly dejected.
"Sigh..."
The black cat let out a long sigh.
This was the second day since its unpleasant encounter with Yofar.
It knew Yofar was angry, but it couldn’t figure out why. Nephthys and Hesse, being high priests, couldn't speak recklessly in front of Yofar. That was understandable. But even the elderly lady-in-waiting, Alina, who took care of it, had an expression that screamed, I know what's going on, but I won’t tell you—figure it out yourself.
Inside, Bastet was fuming.
Oh, come on.
Everyone knows except me.
And none of you are telling me—not even secretly!
It was as if, should they reveal the reason, Yofar wouldn’t be happy but even angrier. Every time someone passed by, they’d glance at the sulking black cat with a look of exasperated disappointment, as if saying, How could you be this clueless?
"Meow—ahhhhhh!"
Damn it, why?! Can’t you all just say it outright? For crying out loud—!
Bastet, overwhelmed with frustration, rolled onto its back, grabbing its own head with both paws in exasperation, almost biting its tail bald.
Last night, it had even offered its paw to Yofar—the clean one, not the one used for digging holes in the sand—yet still, it failed. Yofar didn’t even touch it, simply turned over with a cold expression and went to sleep. No matter how much Bastet clawed at Yofar’s shoulder from behind, there was no response.
Bastet even sniffed its paw to double-check.
Nope, this is the right one. Smells just fine.
As a cat, it had always been the one getting pampered. Now, having to do the pampering itself, it finally realized—this was a real skill.
The whole day, Bastet couldn’t get any useful information out of anyone. So, it came to its favorite garden courtyard to relax and clear its mind—to properly reflect.
The palace was vast, but for a cat, it only took a month to master every secret corner. Bastet could appear in places where no one would ever expect to find it.
Back when it first arrived in Egypt, getting a cat’s body had been an exhilarating experience. It had a period of absolute freedom, running wild, exploring almost every inch of the palace. Though it still occasionally got lost, all it had to do was climb a wall, and it would always find its way back to familiar ground.
Bastet had chosen a few quiet, picturesque courtyards as its secret bases. These areas were once part of the palace, sectioned off for the pharaoh’s wives, princesses, and princes.
Egyptians didn’t bother naming such sections of the palace; instead, they simply referred to them by the residents, calling them "First Prince’s Hall" or "Second Prince’s Hall."
Now, with the legitimate royal bloodline nearly wiped out—besides a few aging priests—Yofar was the only one left. By all logic, these areas should have been neglected and, over time, abandoned.
However, Yofar’s terrifying reputation ensured otherwise. Though he never bothered with these places, his servants dared not slack off. Aside from the palaces of the former queen and a few princes he had slaughtered—which remained untouched—most of the others were immaculately preserved.
These places had since become Bastet’s favorite secret hideouts.
Of course, some palace maids also frequented these courtyards, using the solitude to whisper their grievances and secrets.
Bastet, consumed with thoughts of Yofar, sprawled out in exhaustion. But when its triangular ears picked up a faint rustling sound, its emerald-green eyes snapped open, pupils sharpening like blades.
In that instant, Bastet became a true cat—alert and wary—gazing intently toward the source of the sound.
At the far end of the vine-covered walkway, where round, plump palm trees stood, a corner of a white dress peeked out. The fabric had pleated, embroidered edges and was adorned with delicate blue flowers painted in dye. Small, colorful stones dangled from the hem, making it look exquisite.
A maid?
Bastet tilted its head, whiskers twitching as it sniffed at the air.
She had seen palace maids only wearing soft linen white dresses with wide waists and double shoulder straps. From the chest down to the waist, they wore different colored belts to distinguish their ranks and assigned areas.
A dress this beautiful—this wasn’t something a maid would be allowed to wear.
Then who was it?
The answer was quickly revealed.
With light steps, Yano approached, her face partially covered by a veil. She held a small pouch in her hands, her brows curved in a gentle smile. As she reached Bastet, she extended the pouch toward the black cat.
"Little one, do you remember me?"
Bastet’s emerald-green eyes instantly lit up!
"Meow!" The kind lady who saved me last time!
Hearing Bastet’s way of addressing her, Yano’s smile widened. She gracefully sat down on the stone bench, lifting her skirt slightly. As she opened the pouch, the rich aroma of specially prepared dried meat curled through the air, immediately catching Bastet’s nose and eyes.
Yano removed her veil, revealing delicate and soft features. She took out a piece of dried meat, biting into it herself, then handed another piece to the small black cat. With the meat between her teeth, her words were slightly muffled.
"Want some? I brought it from my homeland. It’s really good—I can never get enough of it."
Her manner was relaxed, her movements effortless yet carrying the refined grace of nobility.
Bastet knew she was a princess, but seeing how naturally she conversed with a mere cat, her favorability in Bastet’s heart rose a bit more.
She seemed like someone with a good temper.
The usual awkwardness and distance Bastet felt toward unfamiliar women faded. Feeling slightly shy, it gently bit into the dried meat, letting out a small "Mrowr" of thanks.
"You’re welcome," Yano responded, her voice bright and cheerful, as if infused with sunlight—always lighthearted and warm.
"Is your injury better now?"
"Meow!" Much better—cats heal fast.
"Hmm~ That’s good. I was worried your master would punish you. His face was so dark back then—darker than a burnt cooking pot..."
Yano chewed on her dried meat, shrugging as she casually complained about Yofar in front of Bastet. The moment Bastet heard that, its mind couldn’t help but picture Yofar’s strikingly handsome face superimposed with a soot-covered pot bottom.
It couldn’t hold back—it burst into a snorting laugh.
Bastet hadn’t expected someone to dare say such things about Yofar. It turned its head to look at Yano.
Yano didn’t seem to mind the cat’s presence, nor did she expect a response. Her gaze was unfocused, lost somewhere in the distance. As she ate, she vented her thoughts freely—just like the maids who secretly came to these courtyards to pour out their grievances.
She spoke of the unease of arriving in a foreign land, the worries she had for her homeland, the taste of dinner, the customs she couldn’t quite get used to...
Bastet was suddenly reminded of its past life—those university days.
Sitting on a park bench, listening to a classmate ramble on about all the frustrations in their life.
At times like these, people just wanted to voice their unhappiness—just like Yano beside it—not expecting answers or comfort, only wanting to let their feelings out.
Bastet drifted into memories, unaware of how late it had gotten.
The pouch of dried meat was now empty. Yano clapped her hands, brushing off the remaining crumbs, then stood up.
"Ah—so much better. Thanks, little one, for keeping me company all this time."
She winked at Bastet.
Bastet finally snapped out of it, shaking its head sheepishly. "Meow~" No need to thank me.
It had listened to the first part of the conversation, but after that, its mind had completely drifted—wandering thousands of years into the future. It had no idea what Yano had said toward the end.
"Oh, I was so caught up in talking that I forgot to ask—you, why are you here…? I heard that the king always brings his cat wherever he goes."
Yano's eyes held a faint curiosity.
Bastet froze for a moment, then thought about its personal conflict with Yofar. There wasn’t really anything worth hiding, so it was just about to explain.
But the moment the words reached its mouth, an odd instinct kicked in, loudly protesting in its head. The little black cat blinked, then let out a soft meow:
‘It’s nothing. He’s just very busy, and I don’t understand those things anyway. I just wanted to come out and enjoy the sunshine today.’
"I see."
Yano didn’t seem suspicious. She reached out and gently stroked Bastet’s back, her fingers gliding over its fur.
"It’s amazing… talking to you feels just like talking to a person. The Egyptian cat god must be really powerful. Do you come here often? Can I come find you to play? It feels like… no one here really welcomes me."
A hint of helplessness appeared on Yano’s face.
"Maybe it’s because I’m Assyrian," she murmured. "Assyria and Egypt had a very tense relationship in the past."
Bastet hesitated.
Looking at the loneliness and sadness on Yano’s face, it finally nodded in agreement.
She had saved both it and Aesla’s lives. If it refused even something this small, wouldn’t that be too heartless?
Seeing Bastet nod, Yano clapped her hands happily.
"That’s great! Then I’ll head back now. Tomorrow, I’ll bring more dried meat!"
"Meow."
—Alright.
Bastet watched Yano leave, noticing how her steps seemed much lighter than before. Seeing her so happy, Bastet’s own mood improved as well.
Giving itself a little pep talk, it jumped off the stone table and headed back toward Yofar’s bedchambers.
Bastet walked in full of determination and hope—only to be met with Yofar’s ice-cold expression.
Any excitement it had fizzled out instantly—like a balloon popping against broken glass.
Pop!
Just a few scraps left behind.
That night, when Bastet transformed into human form, it stayed close to Yofar, speaking softly and trying to say all the right things. But no matter what, Yofar refused to respond.
He didn’t even explain what Bastet had done wrong.
The silent treatment was driving Bastet crazy.
It was Bastet’s first time being in a relationship. It knew its brain didn’t always work fast enough, so it was open to being corrected. If I did something wrong, just tell me! But instead, Yofar expected it to magically figure things out on its own. If it didn’t, he would just stay cold and distant.
Isn’t this exactly how misunderstandings start?!
And on top of that, everyone in the palace was Yofar’s subject. His servants, his people.
They all assumed Bastet must have been the one at fault.
And if it was at fault, it should take the initiative to realize its mistake, sincerely apologize, and beg for the king’s forgiveness.
No one would tell Bastet a thing. They all stayed silent, just like Yofar.
This massive palace—yet there wasn’t a single person Bastet could vent to.
It was completely alone in this battle.
If it dared complain about Yofar to Nephthys or Alina, they would only scold it and warn:
"Don’t anger the king. Do not displease him."
But no one ever cared whether Bastet would be angry or unhappy.
This was not Bastet’s homeland.
There were no family members or friends here to help.
Bastet felt exhausted. Staring at Yofar’s strong, muscular back, it said, “Yofar, I… I know I’m a little slow. Please don’t be angry. Just tell me what exactly I did wrong. Are you upset about what I said regarding Yano’s treatment? If that’s the case, I won’t mention it again, okay? I really shouldn’t have interfered with your decision…”
After speaking, Bastet waited.
Yofar still didn’t turn around.
But Bastet knew he wasn’t asleep.
The room was silent.
Just as Bastet thought that, once again, it wouldn’t get a response tonight, a cold voice suddenly cut through the quiet.
Yofar spoke:
“You called her Yano?”
Bastet’s ears perked up. Its eyes shone with excitement, and it nodded vigorously, not caring whether Yofar could see it.
“Yes! Yofar, you finally answered me! Are you not mad anymore?!”
Yofar turned around, his icy blue eyes meeting Bastet’s up close.
But there was no gentleness in them—only disgust.
Bastet froze.
Then, it heard Yofar’s mocking laughter.
“She is of the Assyrian royal family, Bastet. Did I ever allow you to address her so intimately? You are only permitted to call her the Assyrian Princess.”
“W-why…”
Yofar stared intensely at the boy’s soft, confused face.
After a moment of silence, he turned his back again.
As he did, Bastet barely caught the words “not” and “worthy.”
A bucket of acid poured straight over its heart.
Bastet stiffened, slowly turning around, leaving its back to Yofar. Its hands and feet were ice-cold.
What does he mean by ‘not worthy’?
Who?
Me?
Did I hear that wrong…? But he couldn’t have meant the princess, right…?
Then what am I to Yofar? Even addressing an Assyrian princess by name is…
Bastet squeezed its eyes shut, clenching its lips tightly.
Like a stone, it lay motionless on the bed, unable to sleep the entire night.
The next morning, before Yofar even woke up, Bastet transformed into its cat form.
It slipped out of the palace while the maids changed shifts, heading straight for the courtyard where it had agreed to meet Yano.
There, it sprawled across the stone table, its exhausted mind completely blank.
As expected, Yano arrived.
Bastet must have dozed off while waiting because when it woke up, she was already sitting beside it.
Startled, Bastet quickly let out an apologetic meow.
Yano waved a hand dismissively.
“It’s fine. I have nothing but free time anyway. But you look… really down. Did something happen?”
“Meow…” It’s nothing. I just…
Bastet’s mind was a mess.
Yofar’s words kept looping in its head.
“Talk to me,” Yano urged. “You don’t look well at all. Are you sick?”
She looked genuinely concerned.
Bastet’s tail swayed hesitantly.
After wrestling with the thought for a long time, it finally gave in and softly meowed:
“…Hey… do you mind me calling you by your name? I mean… I’m just a cat…”
“Of course not!”
Yano laughed, reaching out to pat Bastet’s tired little paw.
“That’s what you were worried about? Bastet—I’ll call you that too, then. You really are just like a human, overthinking everything every day. Haha!”
Her bright, carefree laughter was like medicine, soothing the ache in Bastet’s heart.
This kind of open, honest interaction—saying things directly—this was exactly what Bastet wanted from Yofar!
Looking at Yano’s smile, Bastet suddenly felt like it was staring at an old friend from its past life.
That day, the two of them talked until the sky turned dark once again.
Though Yano was a girl, she knew so much—her stories were colorful, full of wonder. She even knew how to weave tapestries and had met mysterious merchants from the distant East.
Every story left Bastet amazed.
Late at night, the two reluctantly parted ways.
Meanwhile, Yofar had finished his political duties and taken his evening bath.
The handsome Pharaoh lay in bed as the lamps dimmed, leaving only a few soft, flickering flames.
He figured he had ignored that little creature long enough.
Surely, by now, it had learned its lesson—understood that it shouldn’t get too close to anyone else.
Understood that it shouldn’t displease him.
And most importantly… it had been far too long since Yofar had indulged in the warmth of the boy’s voice.
Yes, this little lesson should end here.
“…Bastet.”
The proud king turned over, his voice low as he called for his cat.
But he did not receive the response he expected.
There was no teary-eyed, needy little kitten-boy leaping into his arms, seeking affection.
All he saw… was a thin, curled-up back.
A small, hunched figure, sound asleep.
The lines Yofar had prepared were abruptly swallowed back.
In the darkness, his gaze lingered on the boy’s slightly protruding shoulder blades.
Slowly… his brows furrowed.
T/N: Please give support on my ko-fi page, thank you🍊🍊🍊
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