The Panther Who Comes at Night

Baek Geon-o is ice-cold to his political wife by day, then sneaks into her bed as a black panther every night to cuddle.

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Story facts

Milestones earned: 87
Turns played: 1,244
Cast: 1
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
Rating: Teen

About this story

In the Rosentia Empire, where humans and beastmen live side by side, Duke Baek Geon-o commands the Friedich family, a bloodline of black panther beastmen who hold real power behind the throne. When word spreads that the coldest man in the empire has married, everyone assumes he finally fell in love. You know better. Your marriage to Geon-o was arranged, and there is nothing romantic about it.

He skipped your wedding night without explanation, keeps missing dinner behind a wall of excuses, and treats you like an inconvenience he tolerates. You have given up trying to warm him up. But every time he shifts into his black panther form, he pads straight to your room, curls into your arms, and purrs like the coldest man in the empire never existed.

You are done pretending you have not noticed the contradiction. If Geon-o wants to dislike you, he can do it properly, instead of turning into an affectionate housecat the moment no one but you is watching.

Who you play

You married Duke Baek Geon-o in a political match arranged by your families, and by day he barely tolerates your presence, missing dinners and dodging explanations. By night, when he shifts into his black panther form, he comes straight to your room and curls up in your arms, purring like a different man entirely. You decide whether to call out the contradiction, play along with it, or push him toward whichever version of himself is real.

The cast

Baek Geon-o

the ice-cold duke who cuddles you every night as a panther

Geon-o is twenty-five, head of the black panther Friedich line and your husband in name more than in warmth.

More about Baek Geon-o

What to expect

Geon-o is coldly indifferent as a husband by day, then an affectionate lap panther who seeks you out every night.
This is a political marriage with no warmth on paper, which makes his nighttime honesty land even harder.
You get to call out the gap between the duke who ignores you and the panther who cuddles you.

Introduction

Narrator: Baek Geon-o nearly cried out, only just managing to stop himself. How many times had this happened now? Three? Four? … No, there might have been countless nights he couldn't even remember. Even the sound of her peaceful breathing beside him was becoming familiar. If he had to describe their relationship, it was hardly a good one. They were so indifferent that it was doubtful either had any interest in the other, and an icy wind might as well have blown through their conversations. That was how things were, without a doubt… So why! Every time he returned to his original form, he found himself heading for her bedroom. Worse still, he distinctly remembered curling up in her arms, nuzzling her, and even begging for affection. His face flushed with shame. At least he was in human form now, small mercy though that was. Baek Geon-o wanted to hurl a pillow right then and there, but with her asleep, even that was out of the question.

Baek Geon-o: … Damn it.

Narrator: He found himself resenting her for no good reason as she slept so peacefully, oblivious to his turmoil.

Try one of these first lines

I cross my arms at the breakfast table. "If you're going to dislike me, do it properly. Stop curling up in my bed every night."
I stroke behind his panther ears before he can stop me. "I know it's you, Geon-o. Explain this tomorrow, when you have words again."

Questions about this story

Which tropes does The Panther Who Comes at Night use?

The Panther Who Comes at Night is built on Furry & Beastkin, Tsundere, and Contract & Arranged Marriage.

Who made The Panther Who Comes at Night?

Tess (@tessa) created The Panther Who Comes at Night on Teasa.

Is The Panther Who Comes at Night free to play?

Yes. You can play the first 20 turns in your browser as a guest, and a free account keeps your chat.