Chapter 398: If: Imuir Hears Bai Yu’s Thoughts 6

Chapter 398 if: Imuir Hears Bai Yu's Inner Voice 6

Wh-what?

Imuir dazedly listened to the doctor’s thoughts, his eyes widening slightly, round like a kitten’s.

*What do you mean... you never planned to dose me?*

The doctor's inner voice continued, "I don't agree with the Black Robe Society's actions. Grand Duke Imuir is a good ruler, and besides... well, in any case, I wouldn't poison him."

The phrase trailed off, as if the doctor himself hadn't fully thought through what he meant by "besides," leaving it vague.

Imuir scratched the corner of the table, frustrated beyond words.

Besides what? Say it clearly!

But before he could dwell on it further, the doctor sighed and said, "I'm sorry. What the lady said is true. I did bring poison—it's in the bookcase by the bed. You can search for it. As for me... I submit to your judgment, Your Grace."

Bai Yu's inner voice added, "If it eases your mind even a little."

Even if his goal was getting home, harming the Grand Duke was never his aim.

"..."

*No, hurting you doesn’t bring me joy—it just deepens the ache.*

The Grand Duke gave him a deep look. "Until the investigation is complete, I will keep you under house arrest. You are not to leave."

Bai Yu accepted calmly, "As expected."

He had expected to be thrown into the dungeons like the lady, subjected to punishment. Though he had 66 with him, it wouldn't have been comfortable. House arrest was a mercy compared to what he anticipated.

As for what would come later—once the Grand Duke investigated Bai Yu's identity and connections—he would likely be sentenced to death. That had been Bai Yu's intended outcome. Yet, for some reason, he felt hollow instead of triumphant.

Perhaps it was because the Grand Duke's eyes were too sorrowful, his eyes red-rimmed, stubbornly fighting tears, as if Bai Yu had truly wronged him.

Bai Yu thought, *Guess I did hurt him after all.*

"..."

Imuir remained silent, then raised his hand and rang the bell, calling for the butler. "Take him back to his room. Unless I command otherwise, he is not to leave the estate."

The old butler glanced at the Grand Duke, then at Bai Yu. He wanted to say that housing him near His Grace was a risk and that the dungeons would be safer. But years of reading expressions told him it was better to stay silent.

So, without a word, he stepped forward and said to Bai Yu, "Please follow me."

Bai Yu hadn't expected that when Imuir said "confinement," he truly meant just that.

No questioning, no chains—he was simply returned to his own room, without even a guard posted at the door.

And when night fell, a plush-tailed Platinum Kitten arrived as promised.

It sauntered boldly into the doctor's room, hopped onto his bed, dug into the blankets, and nestled itself into Bai Yu's arms.

Today, the kitten was strangely clingy.

It didn't speak, only rubbed against Bai Yu nonstop, as if it had suffered some terrible slight.

Bai Yu gently lifted the dumpling out, cradling it in his hands, and was surprised to find the kitten's eyes shiny with unshed tears, tear tracks at the corners.

“……？”

He couldn't help but soften his voice. "Who upset you?"

Imuir showed no injuries and seemed perfectly fine—yesterday, he was completely normal. So why was he like this today?

As soon as Bai Yu spoke, Imuir, who had just been soothed, felt even more aggrieved, his eyes glistening with another layer of tears.

A kitten's emotions were far more intense than those of a human. Imuir could control the Grand Duke's expression, but not the kitten's. He fiercely raised his tiny paw, trying to wipe away the teardrops threatening to fall.

But his paw was gently held down.

Bai Yu held the kitten's paw. Not having a handkerchief, he took a clean piece of clothing from the bedside, folded it into a small corner, and carefully wiped away Imuir's tears.

But no matter how much he wiped, the tears kept coming. The kitten's eyes brimmed until they overflowed. Bai Yu paused, slightly at a loss. "What's wrong? Who hurt you?"

The Platinum Kitten was an unusually expressive little cat, and this was the first time Bai Yu had seen him so distraught.

The doctor gently stroked the soft fur on the kitten's forehead, coaxing, "I’ll make them pay, okay?"

"..."

The more Bai Yu comforted him, the harder it was for Imuir to hold back. He batted Bai Yu away with his tiny paw, leaped from his knees, and slammed into the doctor's chest like a cannonball.

"..."

For a kitten, the impact was shockingly strong, forcing Bai Yu back a step. He caught him, chuckling. "What’s wrong with you?"

Imuir was both heartbroken and furious. *How dare you ask what’s wrong?* In his anger, he opened his mouth and took a small, restrained bite at the edge of Bai Yu’s sleeve—which he’d long eyed like soft white bread.

He held back, not biting hard.

Having worked as a vet, Bai Yu was no stranger to kitten bites. Imuir’s nibble was nothing. He cradled the little dumpling, continuing to murmur gentle reassurances.

Imuir clung to his chest, stubbornly claiming the spot, refusing to budge.

Buried in the warm, soft embrace, the kitten slept soundly.

Dr. Bai, however, wasn’t so lucky. Pinned under the weight, he had nightmares of being smothered all night and woke the next morning rubbing his temples, dark circles under his eyes.

The kitten peeked at the doctor—who somehow still looked handsome, even exhausted—and guiltily averted his gaze.

In the following days, the Duke’s investigation pressed on urgently, while the doctor lounged in his room, eating, sleeping, and occasionally petting the kitten.

No one skimped on his meals—the food remained as refined as ever. Oddly, no guards were posted.

His room had no locks, no sentries. Bai Yu could wander freely, and the Platinum Kitten visited whenever it pleased.

Apart from nightly visits, the kitten often dropped by during afternoon naps.

After that one unusual day, the kitten returned to its usual lively self. One evening, it even tugged at Bai Yu’s sleeve, dragging him insistently toward the kitchen. Unable to resist—and fearing the kitten might damage its teeth—Bai Yu reluctantly followed.

As he stepped out, Bai Yu sighed inwardly. *The Grand Duke would throw a fit if he knew.*

Imuir tilted his head, eyeing him suspiciously before letting out a questioning meow.

—He had forbidden the doctor from leaving the estate, not his room. He simply thought staying cooped up all day would make the doctor sick.

It would be better to take a walk and make some late-night snacks for the Grand Duke along the way.

So that night, Imuir finally got to taste the long-lost beef paste again.

The investigation continued, with report after report landing on the Duke’s desk. Bai Yu had indeed never done anything harmful to Duke Imuir. Imuir mused briefly that the doctor had countless opportunities to poison his food—yet he never did.

The Grand Duke then thought that he should find a way to reconcile with Bai Yu.

Directly lowering his head would be beneath his dignity, and he couldn’t bring himself to admit weakness. After some back-and-forth, the matter was delayed for a while.

Then, an unexpected incident caught the Grand Duke off guard.

That day, he transformed into a kitten and naturally claimed the doctor’s chest as his spot, kneading the soft surface like dough. But suddenly, Bai Yu covered his mouth and coughed—then, inky purple blood trickled from the corner of his lips.

The kitten’s paws froze mid-knead as it stared blankly at Bai Yu.

The doctor’s eyes were slightly lowered, his face pale, his lips pale—only a smear of dark purple blood stained the corner of his mouth before he casually wiped it away.

The kitten was completely stunned.

The doctor had always been in good health, with a figure that was slim in clothes but toned underneath—at least far healthier than Imuir. The Duke couldn’t understand what had happened.

Bai Yu thought to himself, *Ah, it’s kicking in.*

The Black Robes poisoned all their members. If one failed to follow their orders, the poison would take effect at the appointed time, resulting in certain death.

Bai Yu couldn’t care less.

After all, once the investigation was complete, he would be executed by the Duke anyway. Whether it was execution or death by poison made little difference to him.

So, Imuir could only watch as Bai Yu casually wiped away the blood, completely unfazed by his condition. One of his hands still rested on the kitten’s head, gently stroking it—as if his own life mattered less than petting a kitten.

Imuir grew angry again.

He swatted Bai Yu’s hand away with his short paw, wanting to bite him hard or headbutt him. But the doctor’s condition was so poor that Imuir didn’t dare do anything. He just glared at him resentfully before suddenly leaping off the bed and scurrying away in a flash.

Bai Yu: “?”

With the kitten abruptly fleeing, the cat owner’s hand hung in midair. Bai Yu braced himself against the bed and stood up. The poison worked fast—without an antidote, death would come in days. Already, Bai Yu felt dizzy and weak. Leaning against the wall, he made his way to the door—only to see Grand Duke Imuir striding toward him.

The stunningly handsome Grand Duke was dressed haphazardly, as if he had thrown on his clothes in a hurry. From afar, he glared at Bai Yu, who had left his bed, and barked, “Get back in bed!”

Bai Yu: “?”

Imuir didn’t explain. He marched up, slammed Bai Yu’s door shut with a loud *bang*, and hurried off.

Bai Yu: “……?”

Twenty minutes later, the steward arrived with a whole team of physicians at Bai Yu’s room.

Some examined him, others discussed treatments—but when Bai Yu looked up, past the crowd, he spotted Imuir hiding at the very back.

The Grand Duke hovered in an unnoticed corner, watching from afar. His beautiful eyes were filled with worry and panic—but the moment his gaze met Bai Yu’s, he abruptly lowered his eyes, not daring to look anymore.

Bai Yu frowned slightly.

He had a vague suspicion, but the sudden onset of the poison clouded his thoughts. He could only lie in bed, letting the doctors do their work.

Amid the clamor of the crowd, Bai Yu’s body grew heavier and heavier—until he finally slipped into unconsciousness.

He didn’t know that after the consultation, the doctors reported back to Grand Duke Imuir, all shaking their heads in agreement.

The poison of the Black Robe Society had no antidote except from the Black Robe Society.

The Grand Duke’s face fell.

Bai Yu floating between sleep and wakefulness, blinking groggily at one point to find Grand Duke Imuir’s face inches from his own. He looked as though he had cried again, his eyes even redder than the day he had confronted him, yet he stubbornly lifted his chin, refusing to let the tears fall—both heartbreaking and adorable all at once.

Bai Yu thought to himself, "Now what’s the matter?"

"Who else has bullied you besides me?"

But his throat was raw, words failing him.

Seeing him awake, Imuir lurched forward, grabbing his sleeve, his voice trembling slightly. "Water? Do you want water?"

Without waiting for the doctor’s reply, he picked up the teacup himself and brought it to Bai Yu’s lips, though his trembling hand betrayed him.

Then, something cool and damp landed on Bai Yu’s cheek.

Amused, Bai Yu thought, "Your Highness, your hands are so unsteady—you’ve spilled tea all over my face." But as he met Imuir’s glistening eyes, the realization struck him—that wasn’t tea. It was the Grand Duke’s tears.

"......"

Those sapphire-blue eyes, glistening with unshed tears—Bai Yu felt he had seen them before.

Slurring slightly, he whispered, "Kitten?"

The Grand Duke’s hand jerked, and the teacup clattered to the ground.

Imuir’s eyes widened.

Bai Yu thought with resignation, "There’s no leaving now."

Everything had spiraled out of control again and again, beyond salvaging. Originally, Bai Yu and 66 had agreed that if the poison took effect, he would refuse treatment and simply let death claim him.

But now, that was no longer an option.

Bai Yu realized he couldn’t abandon the Platinum Kitten, nor could he keep tormenting Imuir.

If he left this time, God knew how heartbroken the kitten would be.

So, silently, Bai Yu called out, "66, come out. We need to talk."

*

After the tea spilled, Imuir hastily poured a fresh cup and brought it to Bai Yu’s lips again, only to hear the doctor croak, "Kitten, you need to sleep."

The once radiant Grand Duke, now with two dark smudges beneath his eyes, had been hovering anxiously around Bai Yu’s bedside for who knew how long.

Imuir stubbornly refused. "No."

The doctors had said the poison acted swiftly. He was afraid that if he left, he might never see the doctor again.

Bai Yu insisted, "Listen to me."

He tried to negotiate. "How about this—you transform into your kitten form and sleep in my arms. I promise, by morning, I’ll be better. Okay?"

"......"

Imuir stared at him, his gaze heavy with doubt.

Bai Yu sighed again, "My hand is on you, petting your fur. You'll know the second I stop, won't you?"

Imuir was still doubtful, but he relented a little.

Bai Yu patted the bed, "Trust me, come on up."

The doctor's tone was so gentle yet undeniably firm. After a moment of hesitation, Imuir let his fine clothes drop to the floor, and from within the fabric emerged a Platinum Kitten.

The kitten hopped onto the bed and curled up beside the doctor, feeling a warm hand gently stroking its back, smoothing its fur in slow, soothing strokes.

Having gone so long without sleep, and lulled by the doctor's skillful petting, the kitten's eyelids grew heavy, and before long, it drifted into a deep slumber.

The next morning, Imuir shot awake.

He lifted his head urgently, trying to check on the doctor, but his view was blocked by the blanket. Frantically, his little paws scrambled at the blanket, desperate to free himself.

A second later, Bai Yu chuckled softly and reached out to scoop the kitten into his arms.

His color had returned, no longer pale as yesterday, and his hands held the kitten as steadily as ever.

Under the kitten's dazed gaze, Bai Yu gently dropped a kiss on the top of its head and smiled, "Good morning, my kitten."

Imuir still sat stunned, only to hear the doctor add with an amused lilt in his voice,

"Good morning, my... Duke."