The Northern Grand Duke’s Hamster

Thud. My body tumbled once over the thickly piled wood shavings before coming to a stop. Sprawled out on the ground, I let out a sigh.

‘Good thing I had Reload active.’

If not for that, I would’ve been dead for sure. One freak accident is enough for a lifetime—especially in a place where a fall means they won’t even find your corpse.

—Squeak. (Ugh.)

More than that, I was worried about Kyle.

He may seem tough, but he’s also incredibly kind. And after swearing to protect me, he had to watch me slip away right in front of him. That must have been devastating. Even though I told him I’d come back, I doubt he believed it. Honestly, even I found it hard to believe myself.

Still, it’s not like I had many choices. Staying behind to open a nut shop wasn’t exactly an option, nor could I just fall with him. It was too late to set up shop, and I wasn’t about to take that plunge together.

Because it’s not just you protecting me—I have to protect you too.

There was no other way.

Even knowing that, I couldn’t shake this strange, lingering unease. Tossing and turning, I scratched my side with a small paw.

At least this place was familiar now. Just lying here made me feel drowsy. I must have been completely drained after everything that had happened.

In the end, I succumbed to the overwhelming exhaustion and closed my eyes.

‘I should apologize when I get back.’

For disappearing like that.

***

Bang.

The door swung open with an unusually rough sound.

Startled out of my sleep, I practically jumped into the air. Couldn’t they be a little more gentle? A hamster’s heart is small and delicate!

“Your Highness.”

The person entering the study was Kyle, followed by his knights.

Judging by the way he carried himself, he hadn’t even bothered tending to his injuries. His arm still looked stiff and uncomfortable. His clothes were stained with dirt, dust, and even traces of blood. His entire appearance was a mess—beyond that, he looked downright terrifying.

Thud!

Kyle strode inside and slammed his hands against the desk, inhaling deeply. His expression was darker than ever, his presence so intense that some of the knights who followed him stiffened in place.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop by a degree. I burrowed into the wood shavings, covering myself, and watched Kyle closely.

“Your Highness, you haven’t rested in two days now. You should take a break—”

A knight standing near the doorway spoke carefully, but Kyle didn’t even look his way.

“Leave,” he muttered under his breath.

The knights exchanged glances before bowing and quietly exiting the study.

The heavy door shut behind them, leaving only silence. Kyle’s voice, low and sinking, filled the empty space.

“…It didn’t have to be you.”

A bitter feeling settled in my chest.

It wasn’t new knowledge, but Kyle had spent his entire life in the unforgiving North, fighting against monstrous beings just to survive. He had witnessed countless deaths—things I couldn’t even begin to imagine, things I’d never even read about in books.

That was how Serena had described him in Heart of Winter. A man burdened with death.

But because he was always fussing over me, always trying to steal kisses, I hadn’t fully realized it until now.

Why was he surrounded by so few people when he was always so willing to help and be helped?

How many others had he lost in the same way?

Just wait a little longer, Kyle.

Just a little longer.

I’ll find my way back before it’s too late.

***

In the meantime, I had done everything a hamster possibly could.

When Kyle sat staring at Cashew Nut in the palm of his hand for a long time, I nuzzled him affectionately, trying to cheer him up. I even initiated a kiss for the first time in my life.

When that didn’t work, I went and fetched a macadamia nut and put on a little eating show right in front of him.

Honestly, I wanted to throw it away and demand some real meat instead, but I endured and ate five whole nuts.

Hey. If your pet hamster turns into a food fighter, at least pretend to watch. Look, I’m eating!

When I finished stuffing myself and flopped onto his palm, Kyle finally reacted. He gently stroked my forehead twice with his finger before tucking me into his chest pocket.

So, in the end, all of it had been pointless.

I pressed myself against the transparent wall of the enclosure, watching as Kyle left the study and turned off the lights.

—Squeak! (Hey!)

—Squeak squeak! (I put on a whole show for you!)

But Kyle, looking utterly drained, didn’t even hear me. He simply shut the door behind him.

That was about an hour ago.

After going back and forth on it, I finally decided to use Reload.

I pulled out some clothes from the wardrobe, changed, and headed toward Kyle’s room.

Originally, I had planned to appear the next morning—after he returned to the castle. If someone who had fallen off a cliff arrived before the search party, it would be suspicious. It was bad enough that I had to explain how I survived; I didn’t want to deal with people questioning how I got back so quickly too. That would just double the headache.

So, my plan was to lift his mood first in hamster form before revealing myself.

But now…

“…Sigh.”

I let out a sigh in front of Kyle’s room. It was still too early for him to be asleep, so I should be able to meet him.

Visiting someone’s bedroom at this hour… It wasn’t just suspicious—it was downright perverted. But since I was already branded as his pet pervert, it didn’t really make much of a difference.

Knock, knock.

I knocked out of courtesy. There was no response, but I pressed down on the doorknob anyway. The room was already dark—he must have turned off the lights.

I stepped inside cautiously. Fortunately, the curtains had been pulled back, allowing faint moonlight to seep through.

Is he asleep already?

I should have just come tomorrow, I thought. But then—

“Shu?”

A voice came from the darkness.

Kyle had emerged and grabbed my wrist.

Startled, I lifted my head to look at him. His damp hair clung to his skin, suggesting he had just finished washing and was now wearing a loosely draped robe.

Damn it, man. Could you not sneak around like that?

“How the hell…?”

He looked utterly shocked. It was as if he were staring at a ghost, trying to determine if I was real.

Then, just as I thought he was about to release my wrist—

“What the hell are you?”

His hand shot up and grabbed me by the collar.

What the fuck?

My brain couldn’t process the sudden shift. Raising both hands, I gestured, I come in peace.

“You don’t even recognize your own pet anymore?”

I deliberately added a joke, keeping my voice as nonchalant as possible. But Kyle’s expression remained dark.

“Are you a mage? How did you come back?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“You disappeared without a trace when you almost fell down the stairs too. What kind of magic did you use to vanish like that?”

I opened my mouth, speechless, then clamped it shut. As I hesitated, the system notification flickered into view.

[Strange activity has been observed near the ‘Tower of Frost,’ the closest mage stronghold to the Lawless Zone. Kyle is considering settling things once and for all with the Northwest Mage Corps, his longtime enemies.]

The Northwest Mage Corps?

Was Kyle suspecting me of being a mage?

Well… To be fair, surviving a fall from that height was miraculous. If I were in his shoes, I’d suspect magic too—especially since I didn’t even have a single scratch on me. Maybe I should have asked the system to give me some fake injuries…

“Calm down. First, can you let go of my collar?”

I patted Kyle’s hand lightly.

His eyes wavered. Even as he scrutinized me like I was some kind of anomaly, there was a flicker of relief in his gaze.

[Current Affection Level | ❤ × 10]

…Seriously? You’re happy while choking me? Is my survival really that good of a surprise for you?

“You look like you have a lot of questions, so I’ll let you ask three. I’ll answer them all. Oh, and before you waste one, no—I’m not a mage.”

Kyle’s sharp gaze bore into me. I felt like he was about to drill a hole straight through my skull.

“How did you survive? That cliff was so deep the bottom wasn’t even visible. After you fell, we searched everywhere and only found the cloak I gave you. And yet… here you are, completely unharmed.”

“This.”

I raised my right hand. A bracelet with a brilliant blue gemstone glimmered under the dim light.

“They say it brings good luck, and I guess they were right. I was lucky enough to get caught on a tree branch while falling. Landed in some bushes, too. That’s how I made it out alive.”

…Of course, it was all bullshit.

But what else could I say? Actually, I’m your pet hamster, and I used a system ability called Reload to switch back to human form. Yeah, right.

Kyle’s suspicion didn’t waver, but he seemed to be trying to make sense of it.

“I know it’s not the most convincing story. But trust me. I’m on your side.”

“Anyone can say sweet words. ‘Trust me’ is no different.”

“Then what if I bet my life on it?”

“…What do you mean?”

His grip loosened slightly. Taking the opportunity, I carefully pried his hand away.

“I’m saying I’ve staked my life on you, Kyle. Your future is my future.”

Kyle gave me a look like I had lost my damn mind.

Yeah, I get how this sounds. If I had a better excuse, I wouldn’t be bullshitting like this. But it was also kind of true.

“…Is your last question still valid?”

“Yes. Ask away.”

Kyle hesitated—something that was very unlike him. I patiently waited through the silence.

Finally, in a much softer voice than before, he asked:

“…Are you hurt anywhere?”

“……”

I was momentarily speechless.

For someone who had been interrogating me just seconds ago, that was way too gentle.

Feeling oddly flustered, I rubbed the back of my neck before clearing my throat.

“…Ahem. No injuries. Just a few scrapes. You do know I heal fast, right? I’ll be fine in no time.”

So, could you please stop looking at me like that, Your Highness?

Desperate to escape his gaze, I shifted my focus to the system window.

After eating a Long-Lasting Acorn Cookie and a Huff-and-Puff Almond Financier, my Miracle Gauge had dropped to rock bottom. It had fallen to 10%, which meant my Reload duration had been reduced to just one hour.

[Reload will be deactivated in 15 minutes.]

“It’s getting late, and you should get some rest. I’ll take my leave now. Sorry for showing up at such an odd hour.”

I kept up the chatter as I slowly stepped backward. The misunderstanding was cleared, I had said everything I needed to, and I had used my hour well.

But I didn’t make it to the door.

Kyle grabbed my wrist before I could retreat any further, holding me firmly in place.

“…Maybe I really should lock you up.”

Not gonna work, buddy.

I tugged at my wrist with a bright, easygoing smile.

“Unfortunately, I have a curfew.”

A strict one-hour curfew, to be exact.

“If you’re feeling lonely, why don’t you pass the time with that?”

I jerked my chin toward the knitting set by the bedside. Kyle followed my gaze, only to scoff like the very idea was ridiculous. Then, without warning, he pulled me into his arms.

…Hey, hey. What do you think you’re doing?

“You don’t need to go all the way back to your room.”

The next thing I knew, I was being tipped sideways, and my shoulder landed against the plush mattress.

Fifteen minutes left!

[(/へ＼*) ]

Don’t you dare start getting flustered now!

What the hell am I supposed to do?!

I squirmed, trying to push him away. My hands settled on his shoulders—only for me to freeze in place.

“……”

Kyle had fallen asleep.

Not even a minute after lying down, he had drifted off. His breathing was slow and steady, completely at ease.

It made sense. He’d had a hell of a day—unexpected chaos, nonstop tension on the journey back, injuries, and then on top of that, worrying about me. He hadn’t been able to relax even after returning.

Still… falling asleep this easily, with that peaceful of an expression, felt like cheating.

I couldn’t say anything.

I just watched his face, over and over again, for the full fifteen minutes.

[Reload will deactivate in 10 seconds.]

“…Good night, Kyle.”

I was glad I made it back to your side.