Chapter 04

Cats and humans weren’t supposed to be able to communicate.

No matter how much a cat meowed or how much a human talked, a real conversation simply shouldn’t be possible.

Yet Mitchell calmly watched the bizarre sight unfolding before her.

A perfectly composed secretary’s smile remained on her lips.

“So…”

Aeshila looked down at the cat, who was vigorously smacking the hem of her robe with its paws.

What a temper.

Bending down, she rescued the poor garment.

Smack.

This time, a fluffy white paw lightly slapped the back of her hand.

“So… you’ve chosen your next butler?”

“Meow!”

Finally, you’re using that brain of yours.

Ruby nodded enthusiastically, staring up at Aeshila with eyes full of anticipation.

“I see.”

“Congratulations.”

“Not that I’m particularly interested in hearing you brag about it.”

Aeshila answered flatly and turned to leave.

Ruby immediately rushed after her.

Sharp little teeth clamped onto the hem of the luxurious robe, painstakingly embroidered by artisans from the Province of Diera.

The unexpected tug nearly made Aeshila lose her balance.

Unable to ignore it any longer, she frowned and looked down.

Ruby was frantically pawing at the floor, even swishing her tail in agitation.

The sight was almost ridiculous.

“Did your future butler reject you?”

“…”

“Serves you right.”

“I told you to stop being so bad-tempered.”

That’s not it, you idiot!

Ruby’s beautiful blue eyes slowly filled with tears.

Looking as though she might burst into tears at any moment.

Seeing that, Aeshila let out a long sigh.

“What is it?”

“Meow…”

“So… you did find your future butler?”

Ruby hissed impatiently.

Aeshila continued throwing out guesses one after another, sounding almost like a fortune teller reading someone’s future in a back alley.

“…Your future butler doesn’t hate you…”

“Hey.”

“You rotten cat.”

“If you hit me again, I’m leaving.”

“Meow!”

“Then why are you dragging around someone you can’t stand?”

“…Your future butler wants to see me?”

Yes! Exactly! That’s it!

Ruby blinked excitedly over and over.

Aeshila stared at her before answering without emotion.

“What a shame.”

“I don’t particularly want to meet them.”

Smack. Smack.

Ruby immediately resumed attacking her with tiny paws.

Aeshila sighed again.

Since her grandfather had gone away on business, she was the one responsible for taking care of this troublesome cat.

At the very least…

Morally speaking.

“My life is exhausting…”

Up until now, Mitchell had quietly watched the miraculous conversation between human and cat.

Finally deciding it was an appropriate time to interrupt, she politely asked,

“Are you going out, Lady Aeshila?”

“Yes.”

She looked down at Ruby.

“Should I wear my riding clothes?”

“Meow!”

“His Majesty the Cat says riding clothes.”

Mitchell had absolutely no idea how such a short meow had translated into that answer.

Wisely…

She chose not to ask.

Instead, she left to prepare Aeshila’s riding attire.

Aeshila looked back at Ruby, who was trotting happily after her.

“Is your future butler a decent person?”

“Meow…”

A very decent one, human.

An exceptionally decent one.

It almost sounded as though the cat were emphasizing every word.

Aeshila let out a quiet chuckle.

“Fine.”

“I’m a little curious about the person who managed to win over such an impossible cat.”

“I suppose I’ll go meet them.”

After changing into the riding clothes Mitchell had prepared, Aeshila gracefully mounted a magnificent white horse.

“Shall I accompany you, Lady Aeshila?”

“Hm…”

“No.”

“I’m only planning to meet Ruby’s future butler and return.”

As she gathered the reins, she looked up.

Ruby was already perched atop the stone wall, glaring impatiently as if asking,

What are you waiting for? Hurry up.

Honestly…

The ungrateful little furball had gone right back to ordering her around the moment she’d agreed to help.

You should never take in a white cat.

Completely unaware of her thoughts, Ruby gracefully bounded away.

Aeshila tugged the reins.

The horse, which had been lazily enjoying the autumn afternoon sunshine, neighed loudly before galloping after the cat.

Hooves rhythmically struck the earth.

Watching Ruby race ahead, Aeshila followed at a relaxed pace.

The cool evening breeze brushed pleasantly across her cheeks.

✦ ✦ ✦

When the Countess learned her beloved son had been injured…

She made no attempt to hide her fury.

Listening to Lloyd’s deliberately exaggerated sobbing, she clenched her teeth.

“How dare you!”

Ronell tried to stand.

But immediately collapsed back onto the floor.

Her ankle had likely been sprained.

It simply couldn’t withstand the strength of a grown woman.

It hurts.

It hurt so much.

The pain was so overwhelming that the only thought she could manage was—

It hurts.

She couldn’t even scream.

Only weak groans escaped her lips.

The Countess’s gaze pierced down upon her like needles.

After silently staring at Ronell for a long moment…

The Countess suddenly walked toward the fireplace.

The sharp clicking of high heels echoed ominously through the room.

Mary bit her lip anxiously.

Lloyd curled his lips into an even crueler smile.

Serves you right, bastard.

He mouthed the words silently.

“I still remember the day you first arrived.”

The Countess spoke calmly.

That calmness only made her even more terrifying.

Beneath her flat, emotionless voice simmered unmistakable hatred.

“Your very existence is an insult to me.”

Ronell lowered her eyes.

She had heard those words countless times before.

Yet…

Why did they never become easier to hear?

Sometimes…

She wanted to protest.

I didn’t choose to be born.

But she knew no one would ever listen.

“I’ve been remarkably patient with you.”

“But…”

“…”

“But.”

When the Countess ordered Lloyd to leave the room…

Ronell instinctively realized something terrible was coming.

“You should never have laid a finger on my child.”

✦ ✦ ✦

“Hm.”

Ruby seemed to be running as though her life depended on it.

Narrowing her eyes, Aeshila gently patted her horse’s mane.

The intelligent animal appeared to realize it was meant to follow the cat.

Without needing any guidance, it expertly kept pace behind Ruby.

That gave Aeshila plenty of time to observe their surroundings.

The Marquis of Erju’s estate.

The Baron of Neran’s estate.

The Marquis of Pobre’s estate.

“So this is where all the prestigious noble families live.”

People who refused to accept that the world had already changed.

Idiots obsessed with bloodlines above everything else.

Most noble houses looked down on bourgeois families like the Duncans.

Remembering the contempt and disgust they always tried to hide, Aeshila smiled bitterly.

No…

To be precise…

The one they despise isn’t the Duncan family.

It’s me.

She looked toward Ruby.

“Surely your future owner isn’t asking to meet me just to insult me?”

No…

Surely not.

At the very least, Ruby took great pride in being the Duncan family’s cherished cat.

Surely she wouldn’t choose someone like that.

If she had…

Ruby would truly deserve to be called the most ungrateful cat in existence.

Just then, a rhythmic tapping sound caught Aeshila’s attention.

Ruby was repeatedly smacking the top of a stone wall with one paw.

The moment the cat saw Aeshila looking…

She pointed toward the mansion beyond the wall.

“Here?”

Yes, human.

Ruby meowed twice before disappearing somewhere beyond the wall.

Aeshila pulled the reins, bringing her horse to a halt.

She gracefully dismounted and walked around toward the front entrance.

An elegant pale-gray gate stood before her.

Mounted upon it was a crest.

A black camellia.

The emblem of the House of Artes.

“Hm.”

Aeshila’s lips twisted downward.

“This is… worse than I expected.”

Actually—

Much worse.

The pleasant mood she’d gained during the ride vanished instantly.

The mere thought of the stubborn Count of Artes made her frown deeply.

Clicking her tongue twice, she pulled the bell rope beside the gate.

The ringing echoed beneath the crimson evening sky, announcing the arrival of a visitor.

“Who is it?”

A gatekeeper approached, slowly looking her up and down.

His arrogant attitude immediately drained away what little patience she had.

I’m already irritated…

Suppressing the urge to snap at him, Aeshila casually gestured toward the mansion with her chin.

“I’m here to see Count Artes.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

Without answering directly, Aeshila took three gold coins from her pocket and tossed them into the air.

The gatekeeper instinctively caught them.

His eyes widened in surprise.

“So…”

“I don’t have an appointment?”

“…”

Seeing his hesitation, she tossed him something else.

This time…

A heavy coin pouch.

The gatekeeper caught it immediately.

“Ah…”

“So you do have an appointment.”

“My apologies for failing to recognize you.”

“May I ask your name, my lady?”

“Aeshila Duncan.”

There was no way he wouldn’t recognize the surname of the wealthiest family in the empire.

As expected…

His eyes grew round with shock.

Hurriedly stuffing the money pouch into his clothes before anyone could notice, he disappeared through the gate.

A few moments later…

The heavy lock clicked open.

“I’ll escort you to the mansion.”

“Lady Duncan, if you would allow us to care for your horse.”

“Very well.”

One servant cautiously approached the beautiful white horse.

Though his movements were gentle…

The horse clearly disapproved.

It snorted irritably, stomping its hooves against the ground.

Only after Aeshila gently stroked its mane did the horse reluctantly allow itself to be led away.

Since when did you become this picky?

The Duncan family’s animals are starting to resemble one particular bad-tempered white furball.

…It must be my imagination.

Please let it be my imagination.

Only then did Aeshila manage to erase the strange expression from her face.

As she followed the gatekeeper…

Someone suddenly stepped into her path.

“Please stop here, my lady.”

The commanding tone made Aeshila frown for what felt like the third—or perhaps fourth—time that day.

Though honestly…

She’d stopped counting.

She knew she was an unexpected guest.

She had intended to remain polite.

Hmm.

What should I do?

“And you are?”

“My name is Jeren.”

“I serve the House of Artes.”

“May autumn’s blessings be upon you.”

“Good evening, Lady Duncan.”

“I’m here to see the Count.”

“His Lordship has departed for his territory.”

“So I’m afraid you’ll have to return another—”

“Meow.”

The soft cry made both Jeren and Aeshila look down.

Ruby had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, meowing pitifully.

Unlike the butler, whose expression softened…

Aeshila merely raised one eyebrow.

She knew perfectly well that the pathetic act was nothing but an act.

Ruby’s real thoughts were undoubtedly—

Where’s my butler?!

Go find my butler right now!

Smiling slowly despite the cat’s impatient threats, Aeshila said,

“What a shame.”

“I’d at least like to meet the Countess.”

Though phrased as a request…

It sounded unmistakably like an order.

The overwhelming pressure in her voice made the butler blink.

“My apologies.”

“The Countess is currently unwell—”

“The Countess is the one managing this estate in the Count’s absence, isn’t she?”

“…”

“Then surely she cannot afford to treat a Duncan discourteously.”

“Am I wrong?”

“…”

“I will inform the Countess of your request, my lady.”

Pressed by her unwavering gaze, the butler finally stepped back.

“The sooner, the better.”

Aeshila smiled faintly.

“My patience…”

“Is rather limited.”