Chapter 14
The duchess, who had been listening to the conversation, stared straight into my eyes. Madam, don’t tell me…?
“Meow.”
“Would emerald be better, or perhaps sapphire?”
“Oh my, Duchess, why are you even hesitating! You must use the turquoise emerald that was auctioned off yesterday at Christie’s jewelers! They even say His Highness the Crown Prince had his eyes on it, but if not for the young lady, that jewel would never shine properly!”
“Countess Scott makes it sound as though I simply must buy it.”
It sounded like the duchess was subtly telling her to restrain herself, but Countess Scott looked even more pleased.
A turquoise emerald, huh. It would match Eloise’s eye color well.
No—if it ended up around my neck, wouldn’t that just be a walking advertisement that I belonged to Eloise?
“The duchess has such excellent taste, I’m looking forward to Miss Lisette’s necklace as well.”
“They say Lady Fennel prefers dogs more, don’t they?”
“She’s rather stubborn and not swayed by trends, which always worries me.”
“If everyone only chased trends, how would the empire function? It’s fortunate Eloise has a friend like Lady Fennel.”
The duchess’s conversation with Marchioness Fennel almost sounded like a veiled rebuke aimed at Countess Scott.
Even I could sense the hidden meaning, but perhaps Scott was truly clueless, because she cheerfully added,
“Of course! Both Lady Monclaire and Lady Fennel are simply wonderful! If only my Robin could be half as much like them, I would have no more wishes in this life.”
Not foolishness—just simple innocence. That must be why the duchess kept her nearby.
She did look like the type who could pick up gossip easily, though.
Their conversation naturally shifted to worries about their children, and two rounds of tea were finished.
All the while, I stayed beside the duchess, flicking my tail and showing off my presence.
“Duchess, thank you so much for inviting us today.”
“I owe today’s news entirely to you, Countess Scott.”
“Oh, nonsense! I’ll bring you even more stories, so call me anytime!”
As expected, Countess Scott’s value in society was her gossip.
Marchioness Fennel glanced at me carefully, meeting my eyes with a small smile.
“At the upcoming imperial tea party, Miss Lisette will be coming too, won’t she?”
“We’ll need to make it clear who was first. The Crown Prince’s side—or the cat’s.”
“Quite right.”
“Wouldn’t it be lovely if Lady Fennel also came with her dog? It’s always more fun when everyone’s together.”
“Of course. I’ll let the other ladies know as well.”
At the duchess’s meaningful remark, the marchioness beamed.
It was obvious those two were scheming something.
Even after the guests had left, the duchess and I remained in the drawing room.
He should be arriving soon.
I leapt down from the chair, yawned, and settled by the duchess’s feet as she poured herself another cup of tea.
I had the feeling we were both waiting for the same person.
Right on time, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hall.
“Have you come to fetch the runaway cat?”
Without even looking up to see the source, the duchess raised her teacup to her lips.
Eloise entered the drawing room, her eyes fixed solely on me as she approached.
“It’s the little one entrusted to me by His Highness.”
“And you dote on her so much, yet plan to merely ‘look after her for a while’?”
Eloise didn’t answer. She simply knelt down and stretched her hand toward me.
“Come here, Lisette.”
Instead of going to her, I burrowed into the duchess’s skirts.
I hadn’t even begun my strategy yet!
A crease formed on Eloise’s brow.
The duchess set down her cup and said with disapproval,
“Take Lisette with you to the imperial tea party in a few days.”
“Cats are territorial animals, Mother.”
“I hear the Empress herself asked that woman to bring her cat.”
Eloise sighed softly, rising to her feet.
Their gazes met head-on—sharp and cold, like air colder than midwinter frost.
I tried to stay put, hoping they’d talk more, but wasn’t sure if it was the right move.
“I’m keeping my place well enough.”
“They say the Crown Prince covets the turquoise emerald at Christie’s. Wouldn’t it suit Lisette nicely?”
“…Do you also think that woman is better than me, Mother?”
With Eloise’s direct words, a strange tension settled in the room.
I left the duchess’s skirts and pressed my face against Eloise’s hem instead.
The duchess looked between us both, then turned away to sip her tea.
“Does it matter? Once the Crown Prince gets his hands on the jewel, he’ll surely give it to his mistress, not his fiancée.”
“Mother.”
“No matter who the rival is, I won’t watch Monclaire lose.”
Her icy aura seemed to soften slightly.
Eloise lifted me into her arms.
“Your ban on going out is lifted from today.”
“…I’ll be going, then.”
“If I’m not satisfied, I won’t let you back in. Keep that in mind.”
I couldn’t follow every nuance of their words, but it seemed the duchess had, in her own way, encouraged Eloise.
The moment she left the drawing room, Eloise called for Sophie to prepare for an outing.
In the original story, Eloise’s obsession with the Crown Prince came from insecurity.
Born into the great house of archmages, she grew up under immense expectations, only to plummet into disgrace. The only thing she had left to cling to was her position as the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
As the villainess, she sought to outshine the heroine in society—
trying to fill the void left by her unawakened magic with dazzling display.
Seeing her in person, her desire was even stronger.
“Meow.”
My mouth dropped open at the sight of the jeweler’s table overflowing with accessories.
It felt as though every jewel in the world was gathered here.
“Oh dear, was I too forward? It’s just that it’s been so long since you visited, I got carried away,” said Madame Christie, the jeweler, as she brought out refreshments with a cheerful laugh.
She even placed tiny crumbled cookies in front of me.
Eloise sipped her tea as her eyes skimmed over the display.
“Lately I’ve found a new hobby besides collecting jewels.”
“Of course—you have such a beautiful young lady cat at your side. Who could even notice jewels with her nearby?”
“Your flattery’s so sweet I may not even need cookies.”
I hopped up onto the sofa beside Eloise, and immediately felt Madame Christie’s gaze warm on me.
“Oh my, I mean it sincerely. She’s even lovelier up close.”
“Is that so? Then I suppose you won’t be saying another cat is prettier.”
“Leave it to me. At this tea party, I’ll make sure she shines brighter than any jewel.”
A true-born merchant, Christie even flattered the villainess sweetly.
I looked over each glittering piece on the table one by one.
As a cat, I had no need for accessories, but admiring them was a pleasure of its own.
“Lisette’s preferences come first,” Eloise said.
She picked up the famed turquoise emerald.
Under the light, the jewel gleamed exactly like her eyes.
For the Crown Prince to give this to his mistress instead of Eloise would be a terrible insult.
“That one—I set it aside especially for you, my lady, at great risk.”
“With such devotion, Madame, you’ll bankrupt House Monclaire.”
“You could buy my entire shop without blinking.”
I tilted my head at the emerald, and Eloise held it right before my nose.
Up close, it was breathtaking.
Like the clear waters of a forest lake, or the turquoise sea from my past life’s vacations.
“Do you like it, Lisette?”
“Meow!”
Of course I liked it—how could anyone not?
Eloise held the emerald against my neck, as if picturing it there, and frowned.
“Meow. Mrrrow.”
“Not good?”
I shook my head firmly in refusal, making her frown deepen.
That jewel belonged on Eloise’s neck. Only then would it shine fully.
I tapped her leg insistently with my paw.
“Oh my, how clever! I think she’s saying it would suit you better, my lady!”
“I didn’t know you spoke feline, Madame Christie.”
“It’s only that Miss Lisette is so intelligent.”
Apparently uninterested in keeping it for herself, Eloise started to put the emerald back into its case.
I quickly pressed a paw onto the lid.
That jewel had to be Eloise’s.
Even if my eyes turned to dust, I would never watch it pass from that damned Crown Prince’s hand to the heroine’s neck.
“Lisette.”
“Mrrrrow!”
Since my paws were already on the table, I took the opportunity to swipe aside all the jewels that didn’t suit Eloise one by one.
