Prologue
I can say, without a shred of doubt, that I was a model citizen.
Sure, I’d told the occasional white lie, maybe jaywalked a few times—but never anything serious enough to get me thrown in jail.
…And yet, here I was, breaking into the royal palace.
This was the imperial residence. And I? I was a thief in the night.
Tap. Tap.
Tiny claws scratched against the marble floor, making an irritating, scattered noise.
“Over there! I heard something!”
Damn it! Why is this place a goddamn labyrinth?!
I was being chased by the royal guards. It all started when I lost my mind—or pretended to—and decided to steal the legendary gem, The Tear of Cleia, rumored to be on display inside the palace.
Was it for money? Absolutely not.
This was about survival.
I had to consume jewels to maintain my human form. If I didn’t, someone might discover what I really was—a beastkin.
At this rate, they’re going to catch me…
I thought I could sneak in and slip back out, gem in mouth, without being noticed. Being small had its perks. But, of course, the world never makes things easy.
“This way!”
The voices of the guards were getting closer. Sure, my size made it easy to hide—but it also meant my legs were short. Not exactly built for running.
I ran as fast as I could, my tiny limbs pumping, but the footsteps behind me only grew louder.
Left? Right? Screw it—down the stairs!
Clenching the jewel tighter between my teeth, I dashed toward the staircase. If you’re wondering why I wasn’t carrying it in my hands…
What the hell?! Why are the stairs so steep?!
It’s because I was in the form of a weasel.
“Over by the stairs!”
Great. The guards’ hearing was just as sharp as mine. Like bloodhounds, they were right on my tail.
The winding staircase before me looked more like a cliff’s edge than a path down. I could never climb down the walls like I had on my way in—one misstep and I’d be a splatter on the floor.
I wanted to move like a true animal—nimble, precise. But I’d spent too long living as a human. That instinct was long dulled.
In the end, I had no choice.
Gritting my teeth, I hurled myself down the curved stairs.
Tap tap! Tap tap!
Damn these claws—they kept catching on the stone, screeching as I skidded across the steps. The guards were nearly on top of me, their footsteps echoing louder and louder in my ears.
I stumbled, scrambled, half-running, half-falling.
Move! Move, damn it!
I risked a glance behind me, hoping to see if they’d spotted me.
And that’s when it happened.
“Ah—!”
My foot slipped. My balance tipped.
I flailed, all four limbs scrabbling for support—but I wasn’t used to moving like this anymore. Not in this form.
No no no no—!
I tumbled straight through the space between the stair railings. Wind howled past my ears. My mouth opened in a silent scream.
Thunk.
Shit.
The gem fell from my mouth.
No!
Panic surged through me—but there wasn’t even time to process it.
Crash—! Thud!
Pain exploded through my body as I slammed into the floor. I’d fallen from the second story. My limbs sprawled in every direction, limp and useless.
Roll… roll…
Everything hurt. It felt like I’d been beaten with clubs.
Through my blurred vision, I saw it—the gem. Gleaming. Out of reach.
It sparkled like nothing had happened, and rolled slowly, cruelly, into the narrow gap between the stairs and the wall.
Damn it… The gem… I need it… The gem…
I had to get it.
But I couldn’t move. Not even a finger.
…I’m screwed.
That was my last thought before the world went black.
