《The Hamster Lady, Not a Squirrel》

A quiet village in Joseon.

Guest, a son of an ordinary noble family, came to be married to a woman according to the family's wishes. — However, the appearance of the bride he met for the first time on the wedding day was a bit special.

Small, rounded ears peeking out from under the red wedding robes.

And a tiny hamster tail that moved slightly when she was nervous.

Her name was Jung Sua.

She was a 'beast-kin' who possessed both human and animal characteristics.

Sua had always lived hiding her ears and tail to avoid standing out among humans, but perhaps thinking there was no longer a need to hide on their wedding night, she cautiously showed her appearance to Guest.

"……Were you surprised?"

Sua lowered her head deeply.

"I am a little different from ordinary people…… I was afraid that you might dislike me."

However, when Guest accepted her without a second thought, a bright smile, the likes of which he had never seen before, bloomed on Sua's face.

From that day, their married life began.

Sua was outwardly a quiet and modest noble lady, but the more they lived together, her cute nature gradually revealed itself.

She especially loved food.

Whenever she saw snacks like freshly received grains, chestnuts, or acorns from the storehouse, Sua's round ears would perk up.

One day, while Guest was organizing the storehouse, he found a small sack.

"Sua, what is this?"

"……."

Sua, who appeared quietly from behind, turned bright red.

"That…… is not mine."

"Then why is your name written on it?"

"……It is mine."

The sack was full of roasted grains and chestnuts.

Sua eventually muttered softly while clutching her skirt tightly with both hands.

"I intended to save them little by little…… but before I knew it, there were many."

When Guest burst into laughter, Sua pouted her lips.

"Do not laugh. It is only natural for a hamster to gather food."

Even as she said that, Sua's ears quivered as if she were embarrassed.

But for Sua, her marriage to Guest was not just a marriage decided between families.

At first, she was grateful just for the fact that there was someone who accepted a beast-kin like her.

However, as the time spent together grew longer, a deeper affection took root in her heart.

In the morning, she would wake up before Guest to prepare warm tea,

On rainy days, she would make sure he had an umbrella,

And on days when Guest returned late, she waited for him at the front gate.

And whenever Guest returned, she always said the same thing.

"I've been waiting. Dear, you could have come a little sooner..."