Chapter 275: The Catgirl’s little flutter

The morning mist had yet to clear, but the marketplace was already buzzing.

Wooden stalls and tents stretched along the muddy road. Vendors hawked their goods, and the air was thick with the mingled scents of spices, baked bread, and leather.

Silk from the East gleamed under the morning light with a luxurious sheen. Friesland merchants displayed fine woolen cloth, while a few Lombardians loudly hawked gilded daggers.

At the entrance to the marketplace, guards from the monastery were collecting entry fees one by one, preventing cunning merchants from sneaking over the fence.

Su Ling stepped barefoot on the damp stone pavement. Her silver hair fluttered gently in the morning breeze, and her pink jewel-like eyes curiously took in her surroundings.

Phil walked beside her, her cat ears swiveling alertly, her tail wagging with excitement.

“Look at that!”

Phil suddenly tugged at Su Ling’s sleeve, pointing at a street performer juggling.

“Back in the palace, we never got to see shows like this!”

Indeed, the royal palace never had such lively performances. His Majesty Sista preferred elegant harp recitals or dignified court balls.

Su Ling followed her gaze.

She saw a dark-skinned performer swinging a long rope, tracing graceful arcs in the air. A monkey in a little red hat nimbly did backflips on it.

The crowd burst into cheers.

A few children giggled and tossed copper coins into the hat at the performer’s feet.

“It’s… adorable.”

Su Ling murmured, her voice so soft it was almost swallowed by the surrounding noise.

She watched the monkey finish its last backflip, then nimbly jump onto the performer’s shoulder, grab a peanut, and shove it into its mouth.

“Hehe, want to get a closer look?”

Phil leaned close to Su Ling’s ear, her warm breath brushing the silver-haired girl’s earlobe.

“I can lift you up!”

Phil gently wrapped her tail around Su Ling’s wrist.

Su Ling’s cheeks immediately flushed crimson. She shook her head frantically, her silver hair swaying with the motion.

“N-no, that’s okay…”

But her gaze unconsciously followed the monkey.

She watched it jump from the performer’s shoulder onto a little girl’s outstretched hand, making the girl shriek with delight.

“See, see? Let’s go pet it too!”

Phil cheered immediately and pulled Su Ling’s hand, diving into the crowd.

The silver-haired girl stumbled along, stepping on the damp stone pavement, feeling a rough, real sensation she had never experienced before.

At that moment, the noise of the marketplace, the warmth of the sun, and the heat of Phil’s palm all made Su Ling truly feel—

She had finally stepped into the real world.

After the lively performance ended, they continued browsing the stalls.

Tii walked half a step behind them, her red hair as striking as fire among the crowd.

Her emerald eyes swept over the array of stalls, a faint, knowing smile on her lips.

“Little Su Ling.”

She suddenly stopped, her fingertip lifting a silver chain.

The pendant was a tiny crescent moon, glowing softly in the sunlight, much like Su Ling’s brows and eyes.

“Want to try this on? It’ll suit you.”

Su Ling was about to lean in for a closer look, but a sudden surge of people pushed her off balance.

Phil immediately shielded her with her body, her tail raising in alarm.

“Careful!”

By the time Su Ling steadied herself, Tii’s figure had disappeared into the crowd.

“Tii?”

Su Ling stood on tiptoe, scanning the area, her silver hair flying in the wind.

Phil grabbed her hand.

“Don’t panic. Let’s go to a conspicuous spot and wait for her.”

The two moved through the crowd, asking every nearby stall owner.

“A red-haired lady?”

The old spice merchant squinted.

“She headed toward the bell tower.”

But under the bell tower, there were only a few children playing.

“Maybe she went to the stables?”

Phil frowned, her cat ears twitching nervously.

“Or the mill? Ugh… this is tough.”

Su Ling shook her head, her voice soft.

“It’s okay. Tii is strong. She can take care of herself.”

Phil pressed her lips together but said nothing else, though her tail tapped the ground uneasily.

The two continued strolling slowly.

The noon sun grew scorching, and sweat beaded on Su Ling’s forehead.

They sat down on a stone wall near a bakery.

Phil bought two cups of hot goat’s milk, the aroma of milk mingling with cinnamon.

“Here.”

Phil handed over the cup carefully.

When her fingertips accidentally brushed Su Ling’s hand, she flinched back as if burned.

Su Ling sipped the milk, her gaze still scanning the crowd.

Sunlight filtered through her silver lashes, casting tiny shadows on her cheeks.

Phil stole a glance at her profile, her throat tightening.

Finally, she had a chance to be alone with Su Ling.

There was so much Phil wanted to say.

“Su…”

The cat-eared girl finally spoke.

Her tail tapped the stone wall nervously.

“How… how do you see His Majesty Sista and Lady Tii?”

The silver-haired girl turned her head.

A gentle smile rippled in her moonlight-like eyes.

“I like them. His Majesty Sista seems strict, but she’s actually very gentle. And Tii always takes care of me…”

Phil’s heart felt like an invisible hand had clenched it.

She stared down at her own hands.

They still retained the warmth from touching Su Ling just now.

“What about me?”

The words almost slipped out, but she swallowed them back.

Su Ling seemed to sense something and gently took her hand.

“Phil is my most important friend too.”

“Friend… just a friend…”

Phil’s ears shot up, then immediately drooped.

She remembered the light in Su Ling’s eyes last night when she pleaded for Sista, and Tii’s intimate gesture this morning when she pinned a hairpin on Su Ling.

A sour feeling welled up from the bottom of her heart, turning even the goat’s milk bitter.

“Phil?”

Su Ling leaned in worriedly.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

The sudden closeness made Phil hold her breath.

She could count Su Ling’s eyelashes, smell the scent of roses and milk in her hair.

This distance…

Just a little closer…

“Su, I…”

Phil’s throat tightened.

Her tail unconsciously coiled around her own calf.

Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst from her chest.

“Hm?”

Su Ling tilted her head, looking at her.

Silver hair slid over her shoulder, glowing softly in the sunlight.

“I… the truth is…”

Phil’s cat ears twitched.

Her cheeks were bright red.

Her gaze darted around frantically, unable to look Su Ling in the eye.

“I’m not…”

“Phil?”

Su Ling blinked, confused, and moved a little closer.

“Your face is really red. Are you too hot?”

“No!”

Phil jerked her head up.

Her golden cat eyes flickered with panic and determination.

“I-I-I-I-I like you!”

The words were practically shouted.

Even a nearby merchant turned back to look.

“No!”

She flailed her hands, her tail puffing up like a feather duster.

“I mean as a friend… no!”

“No! I mean… not that…”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Phil jumped back as if burned.

“No…”

She suddenly crouched down and hugged her head.

Her voice came out muffled from between her arms.

“I just like you, okay…”

Su Ling froze.

Her eyelashes trembled.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Phil…”

She called softly, her voice carrying a tenderness.

While Su Ling was still stunned,

Phil suddenly stood up,

cupped Su Ling’s face in her hands.

Her palms were burning, but her fingertips trembled.

“I…”

She took a deep breath,

closed her eyes,

and lunged forward.

The kiss was as light as a feather,

carrying the sweet scent of goat’s milk and Phil’s trembling.

Before Su Ling could react,

Phil jumped back several steps like a startled cat,

her face red enough to drip blood.

“S-sorry!”

She stammered,

her tail wagging nervously left and right.

“I-I didn’t mean to…”

Su Ling’s fingers gently touched her own lips.

The warmth of Phil’s kiss still lingered there.

Her eyes sparkled as if filled with starlight.

“Phil?”

“I-I’ll go buy apples!”

Phil suddenly shouted and turned to flee.

But Su Ling grabbed the edge of her clothes.

The silver-haired girl’s cheeks were tinged with a faint pink,

yet a gentle smile curled at the corners of her lips.

“…I like you too.”

Phil’s tail went rigid.

She stood frozen like she’d been struck by lightning.

Her ears twitched.

Her golden pupils shrank into slits.

“R-really?”

Her voice trembled.

Su Ling nodded.

Her silver hair glittered in the sunlight.

She gently took Phil’s hand, interlacing their fingers.

“But next time…”

Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

“You don’t have to run away so fast.”

Phil felt like her heart was about to explode.

She tightly clasped Su Ling’s hand back.

Her tail wagged rapidly.

Her face was so red she couldn’t say a single word.