CHAPTER 34…………………………………………
Seeing Rex trapped between the wall and Chester, Urenia racked her brain.
Unfortunately, no good solution came to mind.
‘I don’t know. I’ll just greet him first.’
She forced an awkward smile and stiffly bowed.
“H-hello, Duke. Fancy meeting you here…”
The corners of her lips trembled slightly.
Catching that, Chester frowned.
“I asked what you were doing.”
His cold, pressuring tone nearly made her want to cry.
Just then—
Grrrrowl.
A loud stomach growl echoed beside her.
Chester’s attention shifted away from Urenia.
He spotted the plump white cat and narrowed his eyes.
“What is that?”
Before Urenia could stop him, he approached Rex and crouched down to examine him.
Under his sharp gaze, Rex sat neatly with his paws together.
“Is this your cat?”
“Uh… y-yes. It’s mine.”
“I didn’t know you kept a cat.”
Chester stared at Rex intently.
Urenia began sweating nervously.
“I didn’t either—no, I mean! I just ended up raising it somehow.”
“You could’ve brought it into the mansion. No one here is allergic.”
Chester turned toward her again.
Seeing her fidgeting, he frowned.
“Don’t tell me you were worried about my reaction?”
“…What?”
“If that’s the case, you can keep it inside. Pets are good for children.”
He looked back at Rex, his gaze lingering on the fluffy belly.
“It looks pretty fat. Must eat a lot. That can’t be cheap.”
—“Who are you calling fat?!”
Rex exploded.
Chester’s eyes widened.
“…Did I just hear that? Teacher, did you hear it? I think the cat spoke.”
—“Calling me a pig now? I’m a great mage, the master of the Magic Tower—mmph!”
Urenia lunged forward and clamped his mouth shut—
But she was too late.
Chester instantly drew his sword and pointed it at Rex.
“Reveal yourself. What are you?”
“Duke!”
“Step aside, Teacher.”
Ignoring her, he spoke coldly.
“A monster? But monsters have been extinct for centuries.”
—“Monster, my foot! Call me a pig-cat while you’re at it!”
Rex glared angrily.
He pushed Urenia’s hand away and shouted,
—“Who do you think keeps this empire peaceful? The Emperor and everyone else—so ungrateful toward the Magic Tower master!”
“Magic Tower master…?”
Chester lowered his sword slightly.
Urenia held her forehead.
It’s over.
After warning her so many times to keep it secret—
He exposed himself.
‘Then why threaten me about it…’
She sighed.
Rex turned his head away, pretending not to notice her exasperation.
Chester muttered in confusion,
“This cat is the missing Magic Tower master?”
—“Yes. I am the great mage, Legrius Dravelt.”
Now resigned, Rex puffed out his chest proudly.
He then warned sternly,
—“Do not reveal my presence here to the Emperor or anyone else.”
Chester blinked slowly.
Then he sheathed his sword and crossed his arms.
“His Majesty is desperately searching for you. From what I hear, there’s a mountain of work waiting for you. As his subject, I can’t ignore that.”
—“Just try it!”
“What will you do? Curse me?”
—“You think I can’t?”
Rex threatened sharply.
Watching her dignified teacher argue like this, Urenia stared in disbelief.
‘A curse? You said magic is meant to save people!’
Was he abandoning his principles for the sake of his vacation?
He had appeared as a cat, threatened her, and now this—
Her fond academy memories were shattering.
—“The Valerio family shouldn’t treat me like this. I’m the one who helped find a solution for the young lady’s illness. I was the one who guided Urenia!”
At that, Chester looked at Urenia.
She nodded quickly.
“Lord Rex led me to Lady Lilian’s room. That’s how I made contact with her.”
“…I see.”
Chester’s hostility softened.
Rex seized the moment.
—“Without me, she never would’ve entered that room.”
“I owe you.”
Chester bowed slightly.
Rex puffed up with pride.
—“At least you have manners. I already thought you were decent when you caught Urenia when she collapsed.”
“…You were there when she fainted?”
—“Of course. I had to make sure things went properly.”
“So… you watched her collapse and didn’t help?”
—“…Huh? That’s how it sounds?”
Rex blinked.
Sensing things turning against him, he hurriedly added—
—“Anyway, it’s thanks to me that she got better!”
“Let’s be precise.”
Chester’s brow twitched.
He smiled coldly.
“The one who saved Lily is Teacher. You barely helped, yet you’re trying to take credit. Very fitting for a pig-cat.”
—“Pig-cat?!”
“You said it yourself earlier. Already forgot?”
“MEEEOOOW!”
Rex bristled with fury.
The brief peace shattered as the two glared at each other again.
—“Urenia! Leave the Valerio family immediately! No need to help the ungrateful!”
“Teacher, ignore what that pig-cat says.”
—“You think Urenia is like you?!”
Caught between the two stubborn men, Urenia let out a deep sigh.
It seemed this would take a while.
“…It’s noisy today.”
Meanwhile, Maeve Dalton Valerio stood in the hallway, casually ignoring the cat’s loud cries outside.
The cat had been appearing more often lately—almost as if it lived in the mansion.
When it first showed up, Nadia had asked whether to drive it away.
But Maeve saw no need.
Because Lilian liked cats.
So the animal had naturally settled in.
The occasional noise wasn’t too bothersome.
Besides—
Maeve had something far more concerning on her mind.
“….”
She raised her hand to knock—
Then stopped and sighed.
She had already repeated this several times.
Even coming this far had been difficult.
Entering the room was even harder.
Standing before Kylus’s door, her mouth went dry.
‘I’ll do it later.’
In the end, Maeve lowered her hand and turned away—
Just as she was about to leave the door behind…
