Chapter 02

“Want to know a secret? I haven’t even told Mary this.”

“Meow—”

“Oh, Mary is the only person in this mansion who looks after me. She’s really kind. Sometimes she even shares her food with me.”

As if that’s enough…

Completely unaware of the cat’s unimpressed thoughts, the girl carefully chose her words.

“I actually remember my mom very clearly.”

More than watching the Countess take Lloyd’s side…

What had made Ronell truly envious was seeing Lloyd and his mother walking away together.

Because they were together.

Because they lived together.

Neither Mary, the Count, the Countess, nor the Count’s son could ever imagine it, but Ronell remembered her mother perfectly.

She remembered the gentle embrace that used to cradle her every sleepless night while soft lullabies soothed her to sleep.

As if acknowledging her words, the cat lazily swished its tail.

Oddly enough, that indifferent gesture comforted her.

Instead of bursting into tears, Ronell found herself smiling.

“…Thank you. Really.”

The pleasant weight resting on her lap and the warmth radiating from it gently tickled her heart.

The cat glanced at her with its sapphire-blue eyes before beginning to purr steadily.

Maybe I’m imagining it…

But she truly felt warmth spreading throughout her body.

Because she was no longer cold, Ronell hugged the cat tightly.

She stroked its long, beautiful fur.

Scratched behind its alert ears.

Even rested her cheek against its elegant body.

As the chirping of insects continued, the darkness deepened outside.

Shadows from the garden swayed gently beyond the window with every passing breeze.

It really was freezing just a little while ago.

It definitely was.

Yet somehow…

She wasn’t cold anymore.

The girl’s breathing gradually became soft and even.

She had completely fallen asleep.

The cat, which had been pretending to sleep with its eyes closed, quietly opened them.

The white cat, Ruby, whose butler was none other than Reinhardt Duncan, the wealthiest man in the empire, was accustomed to sleeping on luxurious beds.

This wasn’t its favorite pristine white goose-down cushion.

It was inside a dusty, shabby shed.

Curled beside a pitifully skinny little girl.

Hmm.

Ruby curled its tail into a neat circle.

After casting a spell to block the cold wind…

And another to warm the girl’s feet…

The slight crease between Ronell’s brows gradually relaxed.

Ruby’s blue eyes carefully examined the girl’s pale face.

What kind of dream is she having?

A nightmare?

Or a happy dream?

She almost looked as though she were crying.

Ruby gently placed one soft paw against Ronell’s cheek.

Beneath its warm paw pads, her skin was dry.

Thankfully…

She wasn’t crying.

So Ruby quietly watched over the restless little girl for a very long time…

Until the eastern edge of the sky slowly began to brighten.

Dawn had arrived.

The dark blue sky gradually faded as the first light of morning spread across the horizon.

The earliest rays of sunshine hurried toward the earth.

Morning meant it was time to return home.

Ruby knew that perfectly well.

Even so…

The cat lazily licked one paw, lingering as long as it could.

Only after hesitating for quite some time did Ruby carefully slip free from Ronell’s embrace and quietly climb out through the window.

Before leaving…

The white cat looked back one last time.

✦ ✦ ✦

Morning arrived beneath a sky dotted with fluffy white clouds.

Golden sunlight lazily played across the air before quietly slipping through the windows of the Duncan estate.

Inside one of the rooms, a woman dressed in a tailored suit delivered a report in a calm, emotionless voice.

Sharp, intelligent eyes gleamed behind horn-rimmed glasses.

She was Mitchell Smith, the personal secretary to Aeshila Duncan, heir to the House of Duncan.

Adjusting her glasses, Mitchell concluded her report.

“…That concludes the last will and testament of Mr. Reinhardt Duncan.”

Silence followed.

Then Aeshila Duncan let out a long sigh.

Green smoke drifted between her sensual lips.

It came from an expensive cigarette rolled with dried Tishullen flower petals.

The richer the green smoke, the finer the quality.

“Again.”

“…Pardon?”

Aeshila answered lazily, her face completely expressionless.

“The ridiculous part. Read it again.”

Mitchell looked back and forth between the document in her hands and the woman before her.

From the glossy, luxurious paper…

To the breathtaking beauty reclining before her.

Dressed only in a crimson silk robe, one leg crossed over the other.

The document carried the faint scent of roses.

[Last Will and Testament]

The gold-embossed title stood out brilliantly.

It was a copy of the will personally signed by Reinhardt Duncan just two days earlier.

Without hesitation, Mitchell began reading again.

Aeshila waved a graceful hand impatiently.

“Skip the part where he leaves eighty-five percent of his fortune to me.”

“And skip the five percent he left to my useless father.”

“Read the last sentence.”

She idly twirled a lock of her black hair.

Behind long fluttering eyelashes, crimson eyes burned with quiet irritation.

“You mean…”

“‘Ten percent of the estate shall be inherited by the next owner chosen by the cat, Ruby’?”

“…Ha.”

“…”

“My dear grandfather has finally gone senile.”

Aeshila slowly applauded three times.

Every clap dripped with sarcasm.

She didn’t care about losing ten percent of the inheritance.

She was still receiving eighty-five percent.

That wasn’t the issue.

The issue was just how enormous that ten percent actually was.

Ten percent of Reinhardt Duncan’s fortune…

Enough wealth to control the economy of an entire province.

“And he wants to entrust that kind of fortune to whoever a cat happens to choose?”

“What kind of irresponsible nonsense is that?”

“Has he completely lost his mind?”

Frowning, Aeshila massaged her temples.

Just thinking about the white cat her grandfather adored gave her a headache.

That cat was…

Ill-tempered.

Picky.

And, frankly…

An absolute menace.

She did sympathize with whoever would end up serving that spoiled creature.

But still—

Grandfather.

Ten percent of your fortune isn’t exactly pocket change.

Pull yourself together.

Crushing her cigarette into a crystal ashtray decorated with tiny diamonds, Aeshila slowly rose from her chair.

Mitchell casually asked,

“Are you going to see the family head?”

“Yes.”

“I should check whether he’s actually lost his mind.”

“I’m supposed to be the heir, after all.”

She strode down a corridor decorated with priceless paintings, ancient sculptures, luxurious tapestries, and velvet curtains before knocking on an enormous walnut-red door.

“Come in!”

A cheerful voice answered.

Opening the door, Aeshila leaned against the frame with folded arms.

It was the posture of someone already prepared to argue.

“Aesh! You’re late!”

Reinhardt Duncan scolded his granddaughter.

She had already been frustrated enough.

Being reprimanded for no reason only made it worse.

Her eyes narrowed sharply.

Reinhardt continued excitedly,

“Ruby already left to find the next butler!”

“Aren’t you excited?”

Grinding her teeth, Aeshila frowned.

“Grandfather.”

Her voice was unusually serious.

Reinhardt looked up and met his granddaughter’s piercing stare.

“Are you actually—”

Tap. Tap.

Both of them turned toward the window.

A pure white cat was elegantly tapping the glass with one paw.

It seemed Ruby had returned from choosing its next butler.

Seeing the white tail swaying outside, Reinhardt hurried to open the window before lifting Ruby into his arms with a beaming smile.

“Ruby! Did you enjoy your walk?”

“Did you find your next butler?”

Excuse me…

Who’s the master here?

Aeshila stared blankly at her grandfather.

Ruby casually tapped Reinhardt’s shoulder with one paw.

Hurry and serve my meal, butler.

Reinhardt understood immediately.

With utmost seriousness, he asked,

“What would Your Majesty like today?”

“The finest salmon from Werd?”

“Or organic chicken breast from Istarlot?”

The salmon sounds good.

Ruby gave a short meow.

Reinhardt hurried out of the study to fulfill the cat’s command.

Aeshila had come to question her grandfather’s sanity…

Only to be completely ignored in favor of a cat.

She let out another long sigh.

What an exhausting morning…

“Hey.”

Ruby slowly looked at her with its blue eyes…

Then deliberately turned its head away.

Curling up, it completely ignored her.

If Reinhardt had seen it, he would have praised the cat’s elegance endlessly.

But Aeshila, who had no talent whatsoever for serving cats, merely scoffed.

“You know I already figured out you’re no ordinary cat, right?”

You certainly talk a lot, little human.

Now hurry your grandfather along.

Where’s my breakfast?

Ruby’s blue eyes seemed to say exactly that.

With complete sincerity, Aeshila warned,

“Choose your next owner carefully.”

Ruby lazily meowed once.

After happily finishing the carefully prepared salmon Reinhardt had brought, Ruby meticulously groomed itself.

Today it would be seeing its future butler again.

Naturally…

It wanted to look as adorable as possible.

Perfect.

Ruby chose a ribbon decorated with a sapphire that matched its brilliant blue eyes.

After admiring itself in the mirror, it gave a satisfied meow.

As expected… I’m perfect.

It had dressed up nicely yesterday too.

Yet its chosen butler hadn’t even tried to pick it up.

Its pride had been deeply wounded.

This time…

That child won’t be able to resist hugging me.

Reinhardt reached out with teary eyes.

“Our Ruby…”

“You’re so beautiful…”

Ruby effortlessly slipped away from his hands.

Leaving behind its heartbroken butler, the cat gracefully leaped out the window.

Tap.

Small white paws landed lightly upon the roof.

After twitching its nose once, Ruby dashed off without hesitation.

A refreshing breeze accompanied the excitement welling inside it.

That child’s arms were surprisingly warm.

If she doesn’t hug me quickly today…

I’ll smack her with my tail.

Ruby proudly checked its reflection in the nearby river.

It had put extra effort into looking beautiful today.

Surely no one could resist.

My future butler had better appreciate all the effort I went through.

With that determined thought, the elegant cat quickened its pace.

Only one corner remained.

As Ruby trotted around it—

A bright, gentle laugh reached its ears.

Recognizing the voice of its future butler, Ruby’s ears perked up.

Huh…?

Wait…

Rushing forward, Ruby peered over the wall.

A little bird was perched atop Ronell’s head…

And she was reaching out toward several others with a smile.

What the…

You’re cheating on me already?!

Hissing indignantly, Ruby immediately leaped down to deliver justice.