Night Raid on Tower Cat 3/5

Night, Arcadia Palace.

Atalanta tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. Finally, she put on her clothes, got up restlessly, and paced around the room.

However, although the palace was spacious, it felt as closed off as a cage; the soft silk robes, though light as a feather, clung to the skin, creating an uncomfortable, sticky feeling; and the jingling of the jeweled necklaces and hair ornaments, meant to display nobility, was utterly foolish...

All of this annoyed her.

Is this the house she's dreamed of a thousand times? Is this the life she's never had, and therefore constantly yearns for?

That's really... boring and superficial...

Confined in a magnificent cage, the muscular lioness raised her eyebrows in self-mockery, immediately yanked down the Gilgamesh ornament from the shelf, threw it into a drawer, and casually tore off her elaborate silk robe, preparing to change into loose hunting attire.

However, after rummaging through the empty cabinet, Atalanta's breath hitched and her brow furrowed.

In order to please her "mistress," she had long since discarded those things that represented her lowly status.

After standing there for a moment, Atalanta's face showed an indescribable confusion and dejection, her eyes filled with restlessness. Following her hunter's habit, she unconsciously wandered around the room, when suddenly she was attracted by something that was left untouched on the shelf.

The cleaned and wedge-fixed beast hide on the wall still looked lifelike, but the strong scent of spices on it completely destroyed any remaining ferocity.

Unexpectedly, after the death of the Calydonian Boar, which had caused the deaths of countless heroes, its fur became a decorative item to adorn this room.

But aren't I the same way?

Atalanta opened the window, letting the night breeze fill the room, bringing fresh air and a sense of tranquility from the outside world. Her emerald pupils reflected the gradually forming grandstands and Racetrack on the edge of the royal city, and a strange sense of unease settled in her chest.

A longing to break free from this cage and run freely in the mountains and fields filled my heart.

Just as Atalanta stepped onto the window lattice and peered out, a figure that slithered along the outer wall like a gecko leaped onto it, slipped into the open window, and landed in front of her with its back to the moonlight, its gaze strange and blank.

As the breeze blew, the strands of blue hair that fell on her skin tingled slightly. The Huntress quickly pulled away, realizing that she hadn't found suitable clothes yet.

"Hey, boss, what a coincidence..."

"Bang!"

Atalanta's face flushed instantly. She immediately covered her chest with her left hand, grabbed the ornament on the table, and smashed it against the figure.

"Get out!"

Suddenly, a series of clattering and rattling sounds came from inside the room. Someone covered his head and ran away in panic. Then, the lights were turned on, and two maids hurried across the corridor and knocked on the door.

"Princess Highness, what's wrong?"

"No, nothing... there are rats..."

"Rats? We cleaned it thoroughly..."

"Rat are common in summer, what's so strange about one running up here!"

Atalanta blushed, glanced at the guy squeezed in the corner, stretched out her arm, covered the guy's half-open lips and teeth, her cold eyes filled with warning and threat.

"Oh, I didn't mean to question you. Would you like to go in and clean it up?"

"No! It's already resolved! I'm sleepy, go ahead, we can talk about it tomorrow."

As the footsteps in front of the door faded into the distance and the flickering lamplight went out, Atalanta slowly released her grip, her teeth clenched, her face clouded with rage.

However, before the Huntress could make a move, the Divine Beast's Fur that had been taken from the wall was tactfully handed to her.

"Turn around!"

Atalanta let out a soft groan of shame and indignation. Samael glanced longingly at the expansive spring scenery before obediently turning his back to her.

Meanwhile, amidst the rustling sounds of clothes being put on, Atalanta asked in a muffled voice.

What are you doing here?!

"Of course, it's a marriage proposal."

Samael blurted out a reply, causing the Huntress behind him to catch her breath, her face darkening, and her eyes becoming more somber.

"What, you also want to become Princess Arcadia's husband? You want to inherit my throne?"

Hearing the sound of dressing stop, Samael turned around and stared with a smile at the Huntress who was now on guard and somewhat agitated.

"Haha, just kidding. I came here because I saw the message you left, so I came over to help you."

"Help? What do I have to ask you to help me with? I left that address just because I was worried you wouldn't be able to make a living and would have nowhere to go."

Atalanta's expression softened slightly. She hummed softly and turned her head to the side, the corners of her lips unconsciously curving upwards in the darkness as she spoke.

A certain indescribable joy and pleasure permeated the melancholy in my heart.

"So, I came here specifically to seek refuge with you?"

Samael muttered to himself, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"To put it bluntly, you're also participating in the race tomorrow?"

At this point, Atalanta's mood soured considerably, and even her gaze towards Samael became more distant.

"Certainly!"

Samael frankly admitted it without any hesitation, then looked at Atalanta with gentle eyes.

"However, I came here for you, Big Sister, not for Princess Arcadia."

Atalanta frowned slightly, crossed her arms, and leaned against a pillar, her gaze puzzled. "What's the difference?"

Samael rolled his eyes and helplessly shrugged.

"They're definitely different!"

I want to win, not to force you to marry me, or to covet the Arcadia throne. I just need to use this pretext to give you your freedom.

This unexpected answer stunned Atalanta, who stared at Samael in astonishment and muttered to herself unconsciously.

"Why?"

Samael stepped forward, patted Atalanta's shoulder familiarly, and smiled brightly.

"For a lion, only the vast wilderness and rugged forests are the right places for her to live and roam."

"Big Sister, I once looked up to and followed your example, so I don't want to see this worldly cage become a shackle that binds you, robbing you of your true nature."

At this moment, Samael, leaning against the windowsill and bathed in moonlight, winked mischievously and grinned.

"So, it doesn't matter who the Arcadia Princess is; it's just a boring bloodline certificate."

But in the world, there is only one true Huntress, Atalanta, capable of hunting the Calydonian Boar!

The moment the ancient serpent turned around, a figure fell into his arms, wrapped his arms tightly around his waist, buried his head in his chest, and whispered in a deep voice.

"Thanks..."

"There's no need to thank me. You helped me with that part of the journey before, so now it's my turn to help you."

Samael gently shook his head in response, as if comforting a fallen child, and stroked Atalanta's head with a smile.

Nestled in the embrace of the cave, the huntress felt as if she had returned to a familiar mountain stream and forest, where she no longer needed to distort her nature or pander to complex human hearts in order to gain approval; she only needed to be herself.

This long-awaited reunion filled her with both nostalgia and delight, gradually soothing the loneliness in her heart.

However, the only drawback is...

"You brat, while I can understand a lion's quirks, could you please not touch my tail? To a lion, that's a provocation, you know?!"

Atalanta gazed at the grotesque claws writhing behind her, her voice low and chilling.