Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)-Chapter 112: She’s mine

I bring the blade down.

Full force.

A clean, fast swing.

But not to her neck.

No, I aim lower.

SLAASH!

Steel carves through flesh like paper.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Her scream tears through the air, filled with raw agony. Amanda collapses to the ground, convulsing, her limbs seizing as pain consumes her.

Her right arm—

It lands on the ground with a sickening thud.

Severed at the shoulder.

Blood erupts in violent spurts from the wound, gushing in thick, arterial arcs. The stone courtyard runs red in seconds, her torn sleeve soaked, her pristine uniform stained beyond recognition. It pools beneath her in a spreading tide of crimson.

The crowd jolts backward in horror.

Some students cry out.

Others stagger away, retching, clutching their mouths.

The scent of blood, hot and metallic, saturates the air.

Amanda twitches on the ground, her one remaining hand digging into the stone, clawing, nails scratching uselessly for something to hold onto.

She bites down on her knuckles to muffle the sobs, her face contorted in unbearable pain.

Still… even now…

Through gritted teeth and trembling lips, she forces the words out:

"Th-thank you… for your m-mercy… Your Highness…"

I stand over her, watching coldly.

My expression is blank, my heart steady.

"Don't ever do that again."

Then I turn, eyes still fixed forward.

Voice sharp and commanding—

"CLERICS!"

The word cuts through the stunned silence like thunder.

From the edge of the courtyard, a group of five robed figures rush forward. White and gold trim flutter around them. They are all healers from Luminaris Academy, faces pale but trained.

They kneel at my feet, heads bowed low.

"Your Highness."

"Heal her," I command. "Do not let her bleed out."

"Yes, Your Highness."

They scramble into action, rushing to Amanda.

As they perform their magic, their hands glowing with light, their mouth murmuring incantations as another person press his palms to her wound to stop the bleeding. Magic hums faintly, but Amanda is barely conscious now. Her breathing shallow, body limp.

But at least, her screaming has stopped.

I close my eyes.

A thick drop of blood slips from the tip of my blade.

Drip.

It hits the stone with a soft patter.

Drip.

Like the ticking of a quiet, merciless clock.

Amanda lives.

She will live.

Broken, but still alive.

Well…

Not that I ever truly wanted to kill her to begin with.

But no one else needs to know that.

Not now.

Not ever.

Now then…

I turn away from the bleeding girl and begin my slow walk back across the courtyard.

Back toward her.

Toward Morvena.

She bows deeply the moment I approach, lowering herself with grace and reverence, her voice gentle and full of quiet gratitude.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."

Kindness?

Of course, cutting off Amanda's arm instead of killing her is already considered a kindness in many people's eyes.

I narrow my eyes at her.

My tone, in contrast, is cold and sharp.

"Morvena Lysanthir d'Aurelle," I begin, each syllable cutting through the quiet like a blade, "aren't you forgetting something?"

She blinks, lifting her gaze slightly. Confused.

Tch…

Is she actually stupid?

That would explain a lot. Only someone truly dumb would pull a reckless stunt like what she did earlier.

"You defied my authority in front of everyone," I continue, my tone rising. "You dared to speak nonsense to my face—challenging a direct order. Did you think that would go unpunished? That I, a princess of this kingdom, would just let that slide?"

The crowd stiffens again. Even the clerics pause.

But…

Morvena smiles.

And that smile—

Damn it.

It's so warm. So serene.

It softens her face, makes her blue eyes glow like morning skies.

Ba-dump.

My heart pounds, loudly and wildly.

And honestly? Fuck this.

This sensation… this warmth in my chest… it's disgusting. It's like cockroaches crawling beneath my ribs.

Just… what the hell is wrong with me?

"No," Morvena says calmly, still smiling that stupid, dazzling smile. "I don't expect to be spared, Your Highness."

And then, without hesitation, she lowers herself onto her knees.

Both hands placed neatly on her lap.

And slowly, she tips her head forward… exposing her neck.

A gesture of absolute submission.

"I am aware of my crimes," she says. "And I am ready to accept any punishment you deem fit. Without resistance. Without regret."

I stare at her in silence.

Unmoving.

Unblinking.

Right…

Now that she's revealed her secret, there's no going back for her. The others will come. The zealots. The nobles. The ones who see her as a stain on the kingdom.

Without protection—without my protection—she won't survive the night.

She'll be dead before dawn.

"Are you?" I murmur.

Morvena's brows knit slightly in confusion.

"Huh? Your Highness?"

And then—

For the first time in what feels like years… I smile.

Yes, I smile at her.

A real, soft smile.

Not cruel.

Not mocking.

Just… a genuine smile…

A smile that carries all the warmth still buried somewhere in my heart—if any remains at all.

And it almost startles me.

I didn't think I was still capable of smiling like this…

Not since Mother died.

Not since everything fell apart.

And yet… here I am.

…

"Tch," I scoff, quickly turning my head.

Damn it.

For one brief second, I actually thought I was cool.

But now?

Ugh!!!

Am I seriously this cringe?

That smile I just made—ughghghghh!

BRRRRRLL!!!

I shiver, even my tail bristles.

It makes me want to vomit.

How could I be so soft, so un-princess-like?

This doesn't suit my image at all!

Fuck!

And worse, there's probably hundreds of people who just witnessed that smile!

How the hell did I forget about them?!

I'm so, so fucked up right now!

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"WHAT?!" I snap suddenly, flaring my gaze toward the crowd like a blade.

"Hiiihkkk!!"

A collective jolt.

Everyone recoils, trembling.

"N-NOTHING, YOUR HIGHNESS!" someone squeaks.

"Tch."

I click my tongue, shake off the embarrassment, and force myself back into character.

I turn back to Morvena.

"Okay. Let me rephrase that more clearly for your silly little brain," I say, voice dropping cold again. "Are you saying that whatever punishment I drop on you, you'll accept it—"

I lean in, eyes narrowing.

"—without question? Without resistance?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I will," she replies without hesitation.

"Good."

A smirk tugs at the corner of my lips.

I wipe the blood from my sword in one swift motion, the crimson streak disappearing into the snowy white of my dress.

Then, I speak.

"I, Princess Felicia Aurelia di Ventaria, sentence you, Morvena Lysanthir d'Aurelle, to serve as my personal knight, from this day until my last."

Gasps ripple through the crowd like wind through tall grass.

"Eh??" Morvena too, is confused.

"You will obey my orders, protect my life, and aid me in crushing my enemies, purging corruption, and silencing every last fool who dares defy the royal bloodline," I continue. "This is not mercy. This is your sentence!"

Then, with a slow, deliberate gesture, I lower my sword to her shoulder—

The ceremonial bestowal.

A knighting.

"…Y-Your Highness??" Morvena blinks, still clearly stunned.

"Tch. What, cat got your tongue now?" I snap, annoyed. "Where the hell is your etiquette?"

She blinks rapidly, then scrambles to straighten up.

One fist clenched over her chest.

Her voice rises, clear and steady:

"By the name of Morvena Lysanthir d'Aurelle, I pledge myself to Your Highness Felicia Aurelia di Ventaria. From this day onward, I offer my sword, my strength, and my soul to your service. I shall protect you with my life. Obey your will without question. And remain by your side until the day my heart beats no more!"

I watch her.

Eyes locked.

Unmoving.

Then, wordlessly, I remove one glove and extend my bare hand.

She takes it gently, and bows lower—

Then presses her soft lips to the back of my hand in a kiss, a gesture of pure devotion.

The crowd watches in stunned silence.

And with that… it's done.

She's mine now.

My knight.

"…Go home," I say, pulling my hand back. "Pack your belongings. Tell your parents goodbye."

She looks up.

"Starting tomorrow… you'll live with me."

"Y-Yes, Your Highness!"

And with that…

I turn once more.

The wind brushes past us, gentle and cold.

The courtyard remains silent.

But deep within me, somewhere I thought long dead, a small warmth begins to flicker.

Because now…

I know one thing for sure:

Today…

I've gained a new ally.

Another cursed star, just like me.

And maybe—just maybe—

The night won't feel quite so lonely anymore.