Chapter 01
On an autumn morning bathed in warm sunlight, the last will and testament of Reinhardt Duncan, the wealthiest man in the Ederka Empire, was made public.
The first and second clauses of the will came as no surprise. They were exactly what everyone had expected.
However, the final clause was enough to leave everyone who read it utterly dumbfounded.
Who was it that once said…
Reinhardt Duncan was the greatest madman—no, eccentric—in the empire?
The last clause of his will read—
“Ten percent of Duncan Company’s shares shall be inherited by the next owner chosen by the cat, ‘Ruby.'”
It was a single sentence with an astonishing impact.
And the very next day, the Persian cat with snowy white fur and sapphire-blue eyes set off on a journey to choose its new owner.
✦ ✦ ✦
Long rays of sunlight stretched across the hallway.
As always, the late autumn afternoon was peaceful and drowsy. Amid the gently flowing silence, a door quietly creaked open, and a little girl cautiously peeked her head through the gap.
Good. No one’s here.
Only after checking once more did she seem to relax. Standing on tiptoe, she hurried quietly out of the kitchen.
In the Ederka Empire, illegitimate children existed—and yet, they did not.
And Ronell Artes, the illegitimate child of the House of Artes, was no different.
The servants of the grand mansion pretended not to hear her when she spoke. They pretended not to see her at all, treating her as though she simply didn’t exist.
Ronell carefully crossed the thick carpet.
She wanted nothing more than to run outside, but she restrained herself.
I can’t make even the slightest sound.
You know very well there’s something even scarier than being treated like a ghost.
If anyone happened to notice her—
“Hey, idiot. Didn’t I tell you not to run?”
Ronell flinched and stiffly turned her head.
Standing at the top of the staircase was a young boy glaring down at her with obvious irritation.
“S-Sorry… Young Master Lloyd.”
“They say bastards are stupid. I guess you really can’t learn.”
But… I wasn’t running.
She couldn’t even complain.
All she could do was bite her lip.
When Lloyd pretended to throw the thick book he was holding, Ronell instinctively covered her head.
Laughter echoed down from above.
“What? You’re not even going to dodge? You’re hopelessly stupid.”
If I dodged, you’d just get angrier…
The book suddenly left the boy’s hand.
Ronell froze where she stood, unable to move.
The book flew through the air—
Crash!
—and smashed the flower vase sitting atop the hallway console table.
Ronell’s already wide eyes grew even wider in horror.
Moments later, both children heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
Steady footsteps walking confidently across the thick carpet.
There’s only one person in this mansion who walks that loudly…
Ronell’s heart sank.
Lloyd merely sneered.
As one despaired and the other smiled, the footsteps drew closer.
Soon, the Countess of Artes appeared.
One glance at the shattered vase, the fallen book, the trembling illegitimate child, and her smirking son was enough for her to understand exactly what had happened.
“Mary.”
The maid named Mary hurried out of the kitchen Ronell had just left.
After bowing deeply, she waited for orders.
The Countess elegantly commanded,
“Clean this up.”
Then she looked at Ronell.
“And you.”
“I-I’m sorry, Madam.”
Ronell forced out the apology.
The Countess let out a cold scoff.
“What a meaningless apology.”
“If you were truly sorry, you would have disappeared from my sight already.”
“I… I was just… leaving.”
“How many times must I tell you that your very existence is a disgrace to the House of Artes?”
“S-Sor…”
“I told you to know your place.”
“Live as though you were dead.”
“…”
“Why do you insist on appearing before my son and upsetting him?”
Ronell silently lowered her head, enduring every icy word tightening around her throat like a noose.
“Instead of being grateful that we’ve generously given you even a roof over your filthy little head…”
Her emotions welled up from deep inside.
But she forced herself to endure them.
Because the Countess wasn’t wrong.
“Mary.”
“How much longer was this child supposed to stay in the garden shed?”
“W-Well… one more week before returning to the mansion, Madam.”
“Make it ten days.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Mary immediately bowed.
Ronell quietly nodded as well.
At least… this is all the punishment I’ll receive.
She was fortunate.
Far luckier than she’d expected.
Feeling grateful for that alone, she kept her eyes fixed on the floor.
The rustling of elegant skirts gradually faded away, accompanied by the scent of roses.
I’m glad it’s over so quickly.
Just as Ronell let out a relieved sigh—
The Countess’s shoes suddenly reappeared before her.
“Hold your breath.”
“…Yes, Madam.”
“I told you I don’t even want to hear your disgusting breathing.”
Ronell immediately held her breath.
Her face slowly turned bright red.
Only after watching the child struggle did the Countess finally turn away.
She extended a hand toward Lloyd.
Grinning, the boy eagerly took his mother’s hand.
Together, they disappeared upstairs.
The moment they were gone, Ronell rushed outside through the front door.
“I made it through dinner again…”
Every mealtime, Ronell had to secretly sneak into the mansion.
Officially, she was nothing more than a ghost within these walls.
No one could bring food to someone who wasn’t supposed to exist.
Ignored by everyone as though she were invisible, Ronell would quietly slip into the kitchen, stuff food into her mouth, and flee.
She had no choice.
She was simply too hungry.
“I don’t want to run into Lloyd…”
Lately, whenever he got bored, Lloyd would hunt her down just to torment her.
Remembering the Countess’s cold gaze and Lloyd’s twisted smile, Ronell let out another heavy sigh.
I wish tomorrow morning would never come.
Dragging her feet, she crossed the garden toward the shed.
“So cold…”
The chilly autumn air wrapped around her body.
Her old, tattered nightgown did nothing to block the wind.
Rubbing beneath her eyes, Ronell wiggled her stiffening fingers.
“It’s going to be freezing tonight.”
Will the blanket be enough?
She still had ten more days to survive in the drafty shed.
Counting the days on her fingers, her spirits sank.
Just as she grabbed the doorknob—
Meow—
A small cry suddenly echoed behind her.
Startled, she looked up.
A white tail rested atop the garden wall.
Glossy white fur.
An elegant body.
And brilliant sapphire-blue eyes.
“AAAHHHH!”
Her scream rang uselessly through the garden.
With an annoyed expression, the cat lightly leaped down from the wall and gracefully approached her.
Apparently, it didn’t appreciate being screamed at.
The cat raised one plump, adorable paw—
Smack!
—and slapped her foot.
The crisp sound echoed through the quiet garden.
“C-C-C-C… cat?”
The cat stared at her as though she were hopeless.
Then it meowed again.
Night slowly descended.
As the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, the pale lavender sky quickly darkened.
Deep navy spread from west to east.
Yet throughout it all, the cat never stopped staring at her.
Summoning her courage, Ronell timidly spoke.
“Hello?”
“…”
“Hello… little kitty?”
Even in the growing shadows, the cat’s white fur gleamed beautifully.
Anyone could tell it had been lovingly cared for.
I want to pet it…
Without thinking, Ronell reached out.
Then she noticed her dirt-covered hands.
Her shoulders drooped.
No.
If I touch it… I’ll only dirty that beautiful fur.
“Meow…”
The cat purred softly.
Its brilliant blue eyes sparkled like the fireflies that filled gardens in midsummer.
Hugging her knees, Ronell quietly admired the dreamlike little cat.
It must have an owner.
A home to return to.
There was no way such a beautiful cat didn’t belong to someone who cherished it.
“Shouldn’t you go home?”
she whispered gently.
Instead of answering, the cat merely twitched its ears.
Its unwavering gaze seemed to ask,
What about you?
“Umm… I…”
“I live here… in this shed.”
“Would you like to come inside with me?”
The cat continued staring at her silently.
Feeling intimidated, Ronell wondered if she should apologize.
Just then, the cat gave a proud little nod.
As though asking,
Well? Aren’t you going to show me in?
Ronell quickly stood and opened the shed door.
“I’m… sorry it’s such a mess.”
Actually… it’s far more than just a little messy.
The familiar musty smell immediately filled the air.
Cobwebs hung from the ceiling.
Dust covered every corner.
A bug slowly crawled out from somewhere.
The cat calmly stomped on it with one paw before flicking its fluffy tail.
Then it turned to glare at Ronell.
It almost looked offended that she’d dared invite it to a place like this.
Embarrassed, Ronell lowered her eyes.
“I-I’m sorry.”
“I can’t go back into the mansion for a while…”
“If I could, I would’ve taken you there.”
“It’s really clean.”
“Nothing like this place.”
“Meow.”
“I’m sorry.”
Ronell reached out—
Then stopped herself again.
She couldn’t possibly touch such a beautiful, spotless cat with hands this filthy.
Maybe that was why the Countess and Lloyd never hit her directly.
She already looked miserable enough.
This cat belongs to someone.
I shouldn’t make it dirty like me.
I should return it safely to its owner.
“I’m sorry…”
Ronell clenched her teeth.
She knew she should be grateful simply to have somewhere to stay.
The Countess had told her that countless times.
Even so…
A wave of sorrow she had no right to feel suddenly overflowed.
She rubbed fiercely at her eyes, desperately trying to stop the tears.
Don’t cry.
The kitty might get scared.
She blinked rapidly.
Then the cat suddenly walked over and gently pressed both front paws onto her worn shoes.
“Hm?”
Without realizing it, Ronell knelt down.
The cat gracefully climbed onto her lap.
Curling into a tiny ball, it settled comfortably as if claiming the spot as its own.
A soft, contented purr filled the quiet shed.
The adorable sound tickled her ears.
“Are you… comforting me?”
The cat answered with a bright little meow, as though saying yes.
Treasuring the happiness she had unexpectedly been given, Ronell lay down on her shabby bed and curled up around the cat.
Beyond the broken window, the night sky glittered with countless stars.
The chirping of insects blended with the gentle sigh of the wind.
Holding the cat a little tighter, she watched its white tail sway lazily like a paintbrush.
The warmth in her arms naturally brought a smile to her face.
“Can I tell you a secret?”
Ronell lowered her voice to a whisper.
