zzz novels

🌸 Special thanks to: sleepy for your Kofi support!ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰🎔 I really appreciate it, thank you very much!🌸    Previous            TOC              Next    “Is it okay to leave the castle vacant like this?” “I have some business nearby.” “It’s not a place you can easily come and go to just because you have business.” Fenrir did not hide his displeasure, perching himself atop a rock. The last time he had contacted Cabelenus, he had been in Schwarhan. Even if he had

Previous            TOC              Next    “Perhaps in the past, but the current Duke Melta is not someone Your Majesty needs to concern yourself with.” “Too many nobles follow Duke Melta to simply ignore him. It wouldn’t be wrong to keep an eye on him.” “That is precisely why there is nothing more to see. Old men are only preoccupied with protecting what is theirs.” Marquis Mandalin chuckled and tilted his wine glass. Each time he swirled the glass, the wine inside slo

Previous            TOC              Next    “Even so, I’m okay now.” [That is not possible. It must have been hard.] The monster’s voice sagged like waterlogged cotton. A monster that had lived a long time knew humans. Humans never dared to feel jealousy toward those in positions far above their reach, but when such a person came close, they would seize the chance to slander and envy them viciously. To them, a god who had lost authority would have been prime prey. There

Previous            TOC              Next    “Actually, there’s something I’ve been thinking about ever since I found the writing in the hidden room.” “Something you’ve been thinking about?” “Once or twice might be a coincidence, but when several small coincidences stack up, it isn’t a coincidence anymore.” Alicia’s eyes hardened. When the parts that had bothered her were pieced together, an entirely new story emerged. “I think the paradise from which Prime was exiled mig

Previous            TOC              Next    “Do you dislike the Grand Duke?” “I hate him. That is why I want him to feel the pain of losing someone he loves.” “Then why did you eliminate the witch?” “When I heard people describe the witch, every one of them reminded me of that woman. Thus, I thought it best to affix the label of ‘witch’ to that woman as well.” “That’s an interesting idea.” Even if the witch hadn’t been defeated, that woman would have eventually been bran

Previous            TOC              Next    “…Can you tell me how much time I have left?” [Even if it holds out, it will not last twenty nights.] “...” [It is fine. You know the answer.] “What do you mean that I know the answer?” Instead of answering, the monster pointed over Alicia’s shoulder with the tip of its nose. In the direction it pointed, Cabelenus stood, gripping the hilt of a sword. “Is the conversation over?” “Well… the monster told me that you already know t

Previous            TOC              Next    “She gave you your name?”  “Mum said I had to keep it a secret until I became an adult, but I know it’s okay to tell you. You’re on my side, after all.”  The small hand tensed. Cabelenus, in turn, tightened his hold on Michael. “…I think I’m starting to understand why your name is like that now.” “What’s wrong with my name?” Michael tilted his head, but no answer came. Cabelenus only stared at the signature in the book. “Mister

Previous            TOC              Next    “Thank you, sir.” The elderly man with white hair trembled as he reached out his hand. Beneath his thick white eyebrows, his aged eyes were filled with awe. “There’s no need to thank me.” James reached out and took the old man’s hand. As his sleeve slipped back, a bracelet glinted on James’s wrist. "How can you say such a thing after all that you’ve done for us, sir?!" “I merely did what needed to be done.” “Hearing you say tha

Previous            TOC              Next    “…Am I really your king?” [You were.] “I was?” [You. Loved too many things.] [You never became only our king.] “I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Alicia gave an awkward smile. The monsters with pitch-black fur weren’t exactly pleasant to look at, but having seen them a few times already, she wasn’t afraid. [We. Learned the ways humans communicate.] [We wanted to talk with you.] [We practised for a long time.] [Do you trul

Previous            TOC              Next    “Just in case, I’ve put the soldiers on standby. If a problem arises, we’ll be able to respond immediately.” Gazeff handed the polished sword to Cabelenus. Cabelenus grasped and released the sword’s hilt several times, as if gauging it. He had held countless swords, but somehow today’s sword felt heavy. Gazeff looked back and forth between Cabelenus and Alicia, then spoke cautiously. “…Are the monsters really going to appear?”

Previous            TOC              Next    “...Are you alright?” Cabelenus muttered in a low voice. His stomach churned and bubbled, and thirst surged, but the gaunt arm in his hand weighed on his mind, stopping him from giving in to his own greed. “This is a bit awkward.” “Sorry, I should have held back.” Cabelenus furrowed his brow and lifted his head. She was a woman barely holding on as it was. He had no intention of pushing her beyond her limits. “No, that’s not wh

Previous            TOC              Next    “It’s not like that. How could I ever find you repulsive? I just…” “You just?” Alicia stifled a breath of overwhelming emotion and, without hesitation, grabbed Cabelenus’s hand. Cabelenus obediently followed her into the corridor, just as she wished. As soon as the door closed, Alicia’s shoulders slumped. Even if it wasn’t intentional, a wound was still a wound. “I’m sorry.” “You don’t need to apologise.” “I was anxious, so I s

Previous            TOC              Next    "How much have you drawn? It’s not too hard, right?” “...” “What’s with that look?” Alicia lifted her head at the gaze she could clearly feel. Across from her, Cabelenus stared at her with a distinctly serious expression. “Doesn’t something appear somewhat different?” “Different, you say?” “Yes.” Seeing Cabelenus’s earnest expression, Alicia pondered for a moment before bursting into laughter. A faint blush spread across her ch

Previous            TOC              Next    "So, when are you going to tell me your second wish?" "Are you rushing me now?" “It’s cause you keep putting it off all the time.” Although Cabelenus voiced his complaint, he still switched the plates between himself and Michael. The steak on the plate was sliced into bite-sized pieces, perfect for eating. "Don't worry. I thought about it really well today." "That’s good to hear." "What’s this, Mister? Do you really want to hea

Previous            TOC              Next    “The task?” “All finished.” “That’s good.” Cabelenus gestured toward the sofa across from him with his chin. Gazeff carefully sat on the sofa, holding a bundle of documents close to his chest. "For someone who’s completed the task, your expression doesn’t look very good. Is there a problem?" "Sir Philip, who led the pursuit squad, said that the hardest part was trying to keep someone alive rather than killing them." "Looks like

Previous            TOC              Next    “The Grand Duke’s pursuit was fiercer than I expected. One misstep, and we could’ve been killed.” Fenrir laughed brightly, pulling off the hood he had been wearing. “How can you laugh right now?” “We were lucky, so it’s worth celebrating.” “You call this lucky?” Gritting his teeth, James thrust out his left arm. Though an arrow was deeply lodged in James’s arm, Fenrir’s expression as he looked at it was unnervingly calm. On the

Previous            TOC              Next    "You're working hard." Alicia's eyes widened at the shadow cast over her, but then she gave a small smile when their gazes met. “I’m sorry, I was so focused that I didn’t notice you arrive.” Alicia put down the pen she was holding. “Is the translation going well?” “It’s a language I haven’t used in a long time, so it’s slow going, but I’m gradually picking up speed.” “Still, don’t overdo it. I never asked you to push yourself.”

Previous            TOC              Next    “What’s going to be over?” “Those tiresome problems.” “Sometimes I don’t understand what you’re saying, Mister.” "I feel the same way." Cabelenus nodded lightly and returned his gaze to the documents. Michael leaned back against the sofa, sulking as the tedious wait began again. He wasn't sure how long he had been staring blankly at the ceiling when he finally heard footsteps outside. Michael darted out without a moment’s hesit

✨ Special shoutout to Jinari for your Ko-fi support! Love your wonderful little messages as well, thank you~ 💓  ✨    Previous            TOC              Next    “So? So what does the wolf do?” Michael not only wrapped his whole body in the blanket but also covered his face with both hands, yet his eyes, visible through his fingers, were full of anticipation. One of the things Michael loved was the fairy tales his mother read to him. “Well, I wonder what it did?” Alicia

Previous            TOC              Next    “So, in my opinion… huh? My lady!” A smile spread across Fenrir’s face as they were talking. Cher clicked his tongue as he watched Fenrir dash off like a chicken with its tail on fire. Fenrir insisted there was no problem, but every time Cher saw him like that, he couldn’t help but worry that Fenrir might cause trouble again. “I was looking for you, my lord, so I’m glad we get to meet right away.” “Are you feeling alright? You

Previous            TOC              Next    “Don’t you have anything to say to me?” “As for you, Mister, don’t you have anything to say to me?” Alicia smiled at the sight of the father and son sitting across from each other, locked in a silent stare-down. They were probably thinking the same thing, but it was rather endearing that neither could speak first because of their pride. “Just be honest and say it first.” Alicia subtly hinted to Cabelenus. But Cabelenus couldn’t

Previous            TOC              Next    Michael opened his eyes, or rather, tried to, but frowned. He could only open his swollen eyes so much. Even so, Michael refused to give up and forced his eyes open as much as he could. The child had a habit of snuggling into his mum’s arms upon waking. But contrary to the child’s hopes, what appeared first were a pair of golden eyes. “Mister—” “Shh.” Cabelenus pointed to a spot with a nod of his chin. In the direction he indic

Previous            TOC              Next    “Why do you think you’re a monster?” “The monsters only come to me. And…” Michael swallowed his words and lowered his head. The words: ‘What if Mum becomes unhappy because of me?’ lingered on his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them. If he heard such words even from Cabelenus, it would truly feel like everything was over. “And? What comes next?” “I don’t want to say.” Michael buried his face in Cabelenus’s shoulder

Previous            TOC              Next    “Gazeff.” “My lady, you were supposed to be resting in your room… Wait! This blood… are you hurt?” Gazeff hurried over as soon as he noticed Alicia. He looked at the bloodstains that hadn’t been wiped away. Alicia quickly spoke up. “This isn’t my blood.” “It’s not your blood, my lady?” Gazeff furrowed his brows and looked up at Fenrir. Fenrir quietly averted his gaze. An accomplice knew better than to speak. “Actually, somethin