CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER-173.

Cutie clenched his fists the moment his eyes fell on her. Standing there in the golden light, Kaya faced Veer, who chuckled with a low, knowing glint in his eyes. She looked flustered, slightly out of breath, her brows drawn. And from afar, to someone like Cutie who had watched her far too closely for far too long, the image was nothing short of unbearable. It looked like two lovers standing close, sharing a moment no one else could interrupt.

His eyes narrowed. The color had faded from them slightly, paling in silent resentment. A deep pang swelled in his chest, yet before it could show, a soft pat landed on his shoulder. His head turned slowly.

Behind him stood one of the newly arrived beastmen, looking puzzled. "Um, Mr. Cutie, are you not going to join the walk?"

Cutie paused, his cold gaze softening like a veil had been dropped over his true face. A small smile tugged at his lips—calm, practiced, and convincing. "Yeah, I was just thinking of something."

With that, he began walking again, others following behind, steps measured and composed. But his heart... it was already far ahead, storming.

Meanwhile, Veer noticed the approaching group.

Instead of stepping back, he leaned in, whispering close to Kaya’s ear.

"Be aware of that damn rabbit."

Kaya froze at the proximity, lips parting in surprise—but before she could say a word, he pressed a sudden peck against her cheek.

Then, with a rustle of feathers, his wings spread out, catching the wind. Just as he took to the air, he paused mid-hover, glancing back down with a smirk.

"Oh, I forgot."

A small bundle flew through the air. Kaya caught it instinctively, cradling it in her hands. It wasn’t large, but it felt oddly warm, and heavier than it looked.

By the time she looked back up, Veer had already transformed fully into his vulture form, soaring high above and disappearing out of sight, leaving behind only a stunned silence and a racing heartbeat.

Cutie stopped a few steps behind her, his presence quiet but heavy.

"Good morning." His voice was soft, but something in it trembled.

He sat down on a log nearby, not looking at her directly. Kaya, still holding the bundle, turned and gave him a small smile. "Yes, good morning."

But his fingers curled again.

His gaze flicked to the packet in her hands. Jealousy—sharp, acidic—rose like bile.

"If you don’t want that," he said, voice tightening at the edge, "give it to me. I’ll throw it away."

He raised a hand, fingers slightly outstretched.

But Kaya stepped back—just enough to make her stance clear. Her eyes met his, unwavering.

"No. Forget it." She looked back at the bundle, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. "I’ll keep it."

Then she turned and walked toward her house, her back straight, her steps even.

Cutie stood frozen, a strange hollowness settling into his chest.

For a long second, he didn’t move. Didn’t breathe.

Only stared.

And clenched his fist even tighter.

.

.

After coming back from the bath, Kaya’s fingers moved through her damp hair, gently towel-drying the ends, when her gaze landed on the bundle she’d tossed onto the table earlier. It had been sitting there like an uninvited guest, quiet yet unignorable.

Her hand paused mid-motion.

Her brows twitched, just slightly, as her memory replayed his words—Veer’s voice, specifically the way he’d casually said that name. Cutie.

Her expression darkened with thought.

How the hell did he even know that?

And that wasn’t all.

Kaya’s eyes slowly dropped to the band around her wrist—the one he’d tied on her without permission. She had tried, more than once, to remove it. Yanked, twisted, even brought a knife close to the knot, but it wouldn’t budge. Not even a scratch. The thing looked like an ordinary fiber band, soft enough against her skin not to leave marks... but stubborn like it was made of some flexible metal—steel wrapped in silk.

She didn’t know what the hell it was made of or what kind of sorcery he used to tie it, but it stayed there. Just stayed.

And the worst part?

The scent.

It wasn’t bad—on the contrary, it was annoyingly calming. Subtle, like a whispering breeze over warm sand. A smell that had no right making her shoulders drop the way they did every time she caught it.

Kaya exhaled, stepping toward the table. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she stared down at the bundle. She hesitated for a second.

And then she thought, What else could go wrong?

If it was poison, well... maybe she’d die. Maybe she’d wake up in her own world again.

And if not? Then at least she could stop wondering. Living and dying—sometimes the difference didn’t feel all that sharp anyway.

With that, her fingers moved, slow and deliberate, as she untied the wrap of leaves.

What lay inside made her blink.

A hide—thin. Shockingly thin. Folded with precision, almost reverence. Not just any animal hide either. It was light, soft to touch, but strong—like it had been refined through time and technique she didn’t recognize. It felt unfamiliar, yet something about it stirred a strange emotion she couldn’t place.

Suddenly, something clicked in her mind. Her gaze dropped to the folded hide lying quietly in the corner, and with hesitant hands, she began to open it.

And believe it or not—it was huge.

What the hell?

The package had looked small, almost unimpressive. Maybe it was the way it was folded... maybe the material was just unusually thin. But now that it was unfurled, it stretched almost as wide as her room—nearly covering everything. Kaya blinked, her brows furrowing. What was this thing even made of?

She laid it out on the ground carefully, pressing it flat with her palms. It didn’t feel coarse or rough like animal skin should. It was... smooth. Soft. Not furry, but not like leather either—just a strange, velvety texture under her fingers. Intrigued, she stepped onto it.

Her eyes widened.