BHOP 20

Chapter 20

The Villain’s Household’s Top Munchkin

Whether it was because Tionis had given prior notice or not, the maids didn’t come to my room even after night fell.

Thanks to that, I could enter the secret dressing room attached to my room without worrying about anyone noticing.

Inside the dressing room, there were roughly dozens of outfits hanging.

“…Hyden. What is all this?”

“The Grand Duke instructed it.”

“This many?”

“From here to here are outfits for casual wear, and these are dresses.”

“…Aren’t these pajamas? There are more than ten of them.”

“Yes. The Grand Duke said he prepared multiple sets in case you might like different ones.”

According to Butler Hyden, it was Tionis who instructed that all these clothes be brought here.

Apparently, no one besides Tionis and Hyden even knew this dressing room existed.

I had no idea why he had set up such a secret room or where he got all these clothes…

But Tionis really seemed intent on treating me as an equal.

I reflected on myself for ever thinking of him as a villain, then began rifling through the clothes in front of me.

‘Wearing pajamas out… doesn’t feel right…’

Even if I had been confined in a small room, I was still a young lady of a count’s household.

It wouldn’t do to just wander outside in pajamas, so I picked a blue one-piece dress that matched the color of my eyes.

It was easy to wear and neatly designed, with frills at the hem.

After putting it on, I carefully stepped out of my room. As expected, the hallway was empty.

The distance between my room and Tionis’s wasn’t far, and since I often slipped in and out in my cat form, I could enter just as usual.

But there was one thing I had overlooked.

‘It’s my first time going there as a human, right?’

I had been so focused on needing to release my magic that I completely forgot I’d have to face him as a person.

I only realized it once I was standing in front of Tionis’s door.

As a cat, I could ignore his words, flick my tail if annoyed, or just meow…

But in this form, I had to face him and use my abilities.

Even worse, I was supposed to sing while doing it!

…Maybe I’ll save the singing for another time, since this is the first time.

Feeling gloomy, my body drooped, but the situation was already set.

I had promised to come at night, and Tionis had said he was looking forward to it.

I couldn’t delay any longer. Slowly, I knocked on the door.

“Tionis… I’m here…”

‘Yo.’

The honorific almost slipped out naturally, but I swallowed it back quickly.

I wondered if my weak voice could even be heard, when suddenly a thumping sound came from inside.

“…Come in, Mari.”

Tionis’s voice finally reached me. I clenched both hands into fists.

‘…Phew.’

I took a deep breath so my nervousness wouldn’t show and opened the door.

Carefully peeking in, I didn’t see Tionis sitting on the bed as I had expected.

‘Huh?’

I clearly heard his voice telling me to come in.

Panicking, I opened the door fully, and he was there—sitting at his desk in uniform in the middle of the night, reviewing documents.

Even wearing glasses.

“Mari. You’re here?”

Sensing my presence, he spoke. He seemed about to look at me… then returned to the documents, his golden eyes focused with intensity.

He must be really busy.

Long fingers holding the documents, golden eyes reading carefully…

Glancing downward, I saw his neat black uniform adorned with golden ornaments.

‘I’ve never seen him in uniform at this hour.’

He must have come back after finishing some important tasks and hadn’t even had time to change before continuing his review.

But…

‘…What is that doll?’

Incomplete with the otherwise picturesque scene, there was a cat doll on the desk.

A white cat with black markings—exactly like the one I transformed into.

‘…’

At this point, it was clear he had some secret hobby of collecting cute things.

I crossed my arms at a distance, examining the doll.

It didn’t look newly acquired. It seemed to have been hand-washed recently, still soft, but pilling was visible in several places, and the color had faded slightly.

At least a few years old.

And yet, it looked just like me in cat form, which gave me an odd feeling.

While I stared at the cat doll, Tionis still couldn’t tear his eyes away from the documents.

I edged closer, observing him.

The document he’d been reviewing hadn’t turned a page since I arrived.

It must be extremely important to focus on immediately.

‘Is it really okay to speak to him now?’

Maybe I should have come tomorrow instead…? What should I even say?

Fiddling with my fingers, I cautiously pointed at the cat doll with my index finger.

“Um…”

“Oh, Mari. Sorry.”

As soon as I spoke, Tionis responded, as if he’d been waiting for it.

“I lost track of your coming because I was focused on work…”

But the moment his gaze shifted to where I was pointing, he couldn’t finish his sentence.

A thick stack of papers slipped from his hand, scattering sheet by sheet across the desk.

…Why are they all blank?

“Tionis?”

“…Ah.”

In the middle of the night, his black-gloved hand covered his mouth.

His eyes darted around, and then—snap!—his other fingers flicked. Instantly, the cat doll vanished from view.

All that remained was a faint breeze brushing against my hair.

It happened in an instant.

“…?”

“The work is done.”

I stared at Tionis, utterly bewildered, but he calmly placed his glasses on the desk as if nothing had happened.

Even his golden eyes, which had been flustered moments ago, now looked serene.

…Seems like he does this when he doesn’t know what to say or wants to move past a situation.

“Bed or sofa? Which is more comfortable? You decide, Mari.”

…The thought of asking about the cat doll vanished instantly. His words, which could easily be misinterpreted, swirled in my head.

Of course, he probably meant where it’d be best for me to use my abilities.

“Like usual, on the bed…?”

“…Let’s go to the sofa.”

I hurriedly replied, feeling that the bed wasn’t appropriate.

“Good.”

Where did he learn such slick lines?

And yet, his gaze wasn’t on me, but in the opposite direction.

Where exactly are you looking?

Tionis walked past me toward the sofa, then gestured for me to sit first.

“Sit here.”

“Ah, okay.”

Following his gesture, I sat quickly, nervously fidgeting with the hem of my dress. I could sense Tionis sitting opposite me.

Immediately, one of my eyebrows twitched slightly.

“Why?”

Maybe he noticed, because Tionis asked right away. His animal instincts really are sharper than mine.

“Well… I thought if I put my hand over my heart, it might be too far.”

To use my abilities, we had to be close, and it felt too far from here.

“I see.”

Tionis suddenly stood and strode over, sitting down next to me.

Now, if I leaned slightly, our shoulders would almost touch.

But nothing inappropriate happened.

He turned his body toward me, probably to allow me to see my heart, but did it carefully so that even our clothing didn’t brush.

I cautiously turned toward him as well.

…Still, the way I was showing my chest felt extremely awkward. It seemed so unnatural that I could almost hear creaking echoes in my mind.

‘Maybe he thinks I have trouble interacting with people.’

Come to think of it, my behavior when he discovered I was human wasn’t normal.

I had crouched like a cat facing its natural enemy, stayed on guard, couldn’t make eye contact, and barely spoke.

At least with Hyden, because he made strange remarks, I could converse a bit.

Perhaps Tionis introduced me to Hyden first to understand my personality.

That must mean Tionis is really considerate of me.

He’s acting carefully, approaching slowly, making sure I feel safe.

He’s never met someone like me before, so he doesn’t know how to handle it.

Look, my eyes can’t meet his properly; my pupils are shaking.