In the northern territory of the Century continent, a towering castle stands amidst a range of mountains shrouded in mist year-round. This is the stronghold of the Eclipse family.
On the highest floor of the castle, a place where no one is allowed to enter without permission, there are only two rooms: the private quarters of Duchess Celeste, and another, smaller room, though no less carefully maintained.
The first light of day filters through a thin white curtain, spilling gently into that smaller room. The early sunlight falls softly on a heap of black fur sprawled across a large bed draped in fluffy white blankets.
Rimi, rounder than before, lies belly-down on the bed, her four limbs stretched out in every direction. Her sleek, shiny black fur is now thick and plush, nearly blending into the covers. Perhaps two years of warmth and proper care have caused her body to accumulate a fair amount of… fat. Not that she cares in the slightest.
A long yawn escapes her. Rimi stretches out her legs, arches her back, and flicks her tail lazily through the air before letting it drop. It isn't until the sunlight hits her eyes directly that she finally opens them, slowly and reluctantly.
Her yellow cat eyes glint in the morning light, the pupils narrowing into vertical slits as her dazed gaze scans the room. After a moment of indifference, she gives her head a soft shake, then leaps from the bed in a smooth, silent motion.
Her steps are as light as air. Rimi pads toward the door and stops in front of it. Her golden eyes flash with a fine thread of light, and click the lock unlatches smoothly, the door creaking open ever so slightly as if it's been waiting for her.
She slips through the narrow hallway that connects the two rooms, and when she reaches the duchess's chamber, she unlocks that door in the same silent manner. Once again, the door slides open without a sound.
She slips through and pauses.
Inside is a familiar scene, though no matter how many times she sees it, it never feels familiar
The soft morning light spills over the large bed, where two figures lie quietly. Celeste, her platinum hair gently fanned out, is embracing a smaller body within her arms, Cassius.
'Even after two years by the kid's side… I still can't get used to how beautiful he is'
She thinks to herself as her gaze settles on the sleeping face of the boy.
Cassius has just turned seven this year, but his features are already well-defined. His skin is smooth and white like porcelain, long curled lashes casting delicate shadows on his cheeks, a small, straight nose, and rosy, softly puckered lips, he looks almost like a finely carved statue. His face holds a naturally refined elegance, clear and serene
'Unbelievable… Someone with beauty that rivals or even surpasses that terrifying woman'
Rimi gently hops onto the foot of the bed, treading carefully so as not to disturb the mattress. She slowly makes her way toward Cassius's face, places her front paws softly on the edge of the pillow, and then lowers her head…
Lick
A gentle lick across his left cheek.
Cassius frowns slightly.
Rimi licks again, wetter this time
"Mmm…" Cassius lets out a soft groan, eyes still closed. He shifts slightly, turning his head the other way.
Rimi doesn't give up. She steps in closer, nudges her forehead gently against his, then starts licking his right cheek.
"Mm… Rimi…" he mumbles in a sleepy voice, his eyelids fluttering open. His long lashes tremble slightly.
He blinks at the black fuzz right in front of him. And then Rimi lick once more.
Cassius lets out a quiet laugh, his small hand reaching up to gently pat Rimi's head.
"You're awake?" Rimi says, curling up beside his cheek, her tail swaying softly behind her.
It takes another ten minutes before Cassius finally gets out of the fluffy white bed. He stays wrapped in the blanket like a spring roll, while Rimi lies curled up on his pillow, occasionally giving his cheek a little nudge with her back foot, as if to prod him along.
Celeste, of course, is already awake. But she remains still, holding Cassius in her arms as she always does, not for any particular reason, other than simply because… she wants to. Only when the boy finally sits up, rubbing his eyes and sluggishly crawling off the bed, does Celeste rise with graceful ease, smoothing out the folds of her long white gown before leaving the room. Before she goes, she makes sure to call Hela to help Cassius with his morning routine.
After washing his face, getting dressed, and having his hair neatly groomed, Cassius steps out of his room with his soft, sleek black hair brushed to perfection, while Rimi, as usual, is curled up like a round fluffball in his arms.
The long hallway is lined with thick carpet, and soft morning light streams in peacefully through the tall windows. The castle is almost silent, save for the small footsteps of Cassius and the occasional click of Rimi's claws whenever she shifts in his arms.
"Rimi" Cassius says, tilting his head slightly to look down at the creature he's carrying "you're heavier again"
"I am not" Rimi replies flatly, though one of her ears twitches slightly "You're just getting weaker"
Cassius frowns, then giggles. He shifts one hand down and gently squeezes Rimi's soft, round belly.
"This isn't weakness. This is definitely fat"
Rimi immediately lifts a front paw and thump! presses it right over Cassius's mouth.
"Shhh. Cassius" she says, with a tone that's mock-serious "There are certain things you must never say directly to a lady. Especially... about fat"
Cassius bursts out laughing, trying to push her paw away "But you're a cat!"
"A lady cat, kid. Which means you need to be even more careful" Rimi says with a pout, her tail flicking side to side.
The two of them walk out of the grand hallway and head down the path toward the garden.
A large glass door swings open to reveal a garden blooming with natural color. Even though the Eclipse castle no longer houses as many servants as it once did, this garden remains well-kept, thanks in part to Cassius, who personally takes care of it.
Cassius gently sets Rimi down onto the soft grass, then quickly makes his way to a watering can placed in the corner. He lifts it with both hands, tilts it, and pours cool water over the thirsty roots of the flowers.
Rimi trails behind, slowly weaving through the low bushes and flowerbeds. Her belly brushes against the cool blades of grass. She doesn't need to do much, just curl up in the middle of the flowers and she already feels like she's nestled inside the fluffiest nest in the world.
Cassius happily approaches the first patch of flowers. As he waters them, he looks back at Rimi and says:
"This is Squirrel Tail Grass. Its leaves are soft like a squirrel's tail, and if you touch them early in the morning, they feel damp, kind of like snow"
Rimi steps closer and nudges it with her nose. She sniffs, then gives a small nod.
"Gotta admit… it's pretty soft"
Cassius continues leading the way, pointing to a thick-petaled chocolate-colored bloom:
"And over there is Brown Orchid, and that one's Chocolate Cosmos. Aren't they beautiful?"
Rimi silently follows, curling up between two flowerbeds, letting the petals brush against her face like feathers. She looks up at Cassius and asks
"Hey, why are all your flowers brown? Is it because... you like brown?"
Cassius stops, tilts his head slightly, and glances around at the flowers swaying gently in the breeze. He blinks slowly, considering the question
"Ummm… I'm not sure" Cassius tilts his head again, his gaze still fixed on the brown blossoms. "I just feel... peaceful when I look at that color"
Rimi raises an eyebrow, her cat ears angling back "Is there any other reason?"
Cassius brings a finger to his lips, pretending to think. He folds his arms, staring off into the distance like he's trying to pull an answer from the air.
"…No" he finally shakes his head "I don't think so."
Cassius says nothing more and continues walking through the narrow paths of the garden. Rimi steps out from the flowerbed, quietly following behind him, her tail swaying gently with each step
The peaceful atmosphere remains. Morning sunlight filters through the canopy above, painting scattered patterns of light across the grass like a living canvas. The flowers Cassius passes seem to lean toward him slightly, as if greeting his presence.
But then
Clatter!
The sound of the watering can hitting the ground breaks the silence.
Cassius suddenly freezes in the middle of the path. His legs tremble, and then give out beneath him. He drops to his knees, hands covering his face as his body begins to tremble violently.
Rimi's eyes widen in alarm "Cassius?!"
She dashes forward, running on all fours, and skids to a stop beside him. Her round golden eyes are wide with worry.
"Cassius, what's wrong?" she asks again, this time her voice more urgent.
Cassius doesn't respond.
His face remains buried in his hands, but his fingers are digging into his skin, tight, tense, almost like he's trying to tear his own face apart. Through the gaps between his fingers, Rimi catches a glimpse of his eyes, wide open, unmoving, and…
"…White?"
Rimi steps back slightly, narrowing her eyes. Cassius's eyes are now completely white. Her breath escapes in a slow exhale, tension easing just a little, but her gaze stays locked on him.
'It's happening again… But why so soon this time?'
Her ears fold back, tail twitching rapidly in anxious rhythm. All she can do is watch.
Time passes in silence.
Eventually, Cassius's trembling stops.
He rises to his feet, slowly, but steadily. Still silent, he turns his head with deliberate slowness, scanning his surroundings. His gaze is sharp, alert, and distant, cold, almost unrecognizable. The white eyes settle on Rimi.
He blinks.
The whiteness fades, replaced by the deep, familiar yellow, warm and full of light, just like always.
Cassius blinks again, a few times, as if waking from a long dream.
Then he looks at Rimi and gives her a soft smile.
"Good morning, Rimi" he says, his voice calm and steady "What were we doing again? I got a little distracted"