Chapter 22
Just because I had spoken once didn’t mean there was any guarantee I could do it again.
“I’m not a slave. So there’s no chance the beastkin kingdom will go to war again.”
But contrary to my worries, I was able to form proper words—not just meowing.
Well then, I’ll just lean into being a rude, impolite cat.
I already called someone a bastard, so there’s no need to start being polite now.
Again, countless eyes around me turned in my direction. I didn’t want Eloise to be misunderstood.
“Eloise treats me well. She even gave me blueberries Marcel didn’t.”
“Pfft.”
Marcel burst out laughing.
Since I had the chance, I let loose all the things I had been bottling up. I was surrounded by allies now, after all.
As an opportunistic cat, there was no way I’d let this slip by.
“She treats me way better than the crown prince does that other cat. Coco, you know? She bragged about being royalty and looked down on the rest of us. What kind of education is that?”
Maybe it was because I’d spent so long just meowing.
Like a child who had only just learned to speak, my pronunciation was a bit clumsy, but it was still perfectly understandable.
The crown prince pressed his lips together, as if something pricked at his conscience.
If he had nothing to hide, he wouldn’t waste his time on the words of a lowly cat.
I didn’t mention how he’d called Eloise useless. That was something I’d make him regret someday.
“If this is insulting royalty, then she’s guilty of impersonating one. Coco’s crime is worse.”
Marcel covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking, until he was laughing so hard tears came out.
I didn’t really see what was so funny.
“Pff—did you hear that, brother?”
“Hah. Former master, current master… even a cat says there’s no hope.”
In the end, the crown prince turned his back and disappeared with Marianne.
It was an entrance and exit that showed not a shred of courtesy to the empress, the hostess.
“Peace upon Calenia. My belated greetings, Your Highness the Second Prince.”
“Think nothing of it. It’s been a while, Raoul. Or should I call you the young duke of Monclair now?”
“Raoul is fine.”
While Raoul and Marcel exchanged greetings, the nobles subtly shifted their attention back toward us.
“We greet Your Highness the Second Prince. You must be busy dealing with northern affairs these days.”
“A bit. I just came because I missed someone. Oh, don’t misunderstand—about Lizette. Things feel emptier without her.”
“I wouldn’t dare misunderstand. If you feel her absence so keenly, why not take her back? It’s been quite a while for something that was supposed to be temporary.”
“They say the lady treats Lizette well. Even gave her blueberries I never did.”
Marcel laughed as he parroted my words from earlier.
No matter how sweetly he smiled, it didn’t erase the fact that he had once sent me to that villainess.
“Is there something about Lizette I don’t know?”
At Eloise’s question, Marcel looked me over carefully.
“Well, she was found in the mana-rich northern mountains. Maybe that’s why she can talk. Ancient texts mention northern beasts exposed to mana imitating human speech.”
Really? My ears perked at that.
For a moment, I had wondered how someone like me—who wasn’t beastkin—could talk.
If you thought about it, it was pretty terrifying. I’d worried that strange rumors might arise, further tarnishing Eloise’s reputation. But hearing that there was precedent put me at ease.
With Marcel’s public explanation, I had no need to shrink back. I should make this clear.
“Eloise, Eloise! I can talk!”
“Yes, it’s amazing, Lizette. Are your injuries alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine! I won!”
I purred happily, and Eloise’s eyes softened into a smile.
As the atmosphere lightened, nobles started inching closer to Eloise one by one.
Raoul naturally escorted his sister, while Marcel stepped back, likely waiting for the right moment—staying too close to Eloise would only spark rumors.
“Lady Eloise, it’s been so long! Your gown and parure today are absolutely flawless.”
“We worried so much while you were bedridden.”
“Lady Brittain, Lady Oslo. I didn’t realize I was in your thoughts so much.”
The young ladies greeted Eloise warmly, but they couldn’t take their eyes off me.
Even when Eloise shot them a frosty glance, they forced smiles.
“Did you match the cat’s clothes and necklace with yours, my lady?”
“Lizette chose them herself. I matched her, actually.”
“Oh my, what an extraordinary cat.”
“From what we heard earlier, you’re only keeping her temporarily…?”
The girls eyed me with greedy looks. None of them looked like suitable candidates for my human.
Eloise gently stroked my fur.
“Prince Marcel asked me to look after her for a while, but since she follows me so closely, I don’t know what to do. Lady Oslo, could you recommend a noble lady who might be suitable?”
It sounded polite, but what she really meant was: “Do you honestly think you’d be a better mistress than me?”
The girl who caught the hidden meaning laughed awkwardly.
“Oh ho, where would one find a better mistress than you, my lady? We only wished to be of service to His Highness the Second Prince.”
“Then I’m sure His Highness will be pleased. You should tell him directly.”
Sure enough, what the girls wanted wasn’t Eloise’s favor, but Marcel’s.
“Talking about me so much right in front of me is a little embarrassing, you know.”
“Your Highness.”
The girls flushed as Marcel suddenly interjected.
He swept his gaze over them before speaking.
“Instead of gossiping about me, may I borrow Lady Monclair for a while? I need to discuss the cat’s future with her. Perhaps one of you could be her new mistress?”
“Of course! By all means, Your Highness.”
“My lady, we’ll speak again later.”
With that excuse, Marcel confidently stepped to Eloise’s side.
He leaned in with a smile, muttering under his breath.
“Count Brittain, Marquess Oslo, Count Büffendorf, Viscount Stuart… I didn’t realize so many want to make the second prince their son-in-law. I’ll only disappoint them.”
“They fail to understand His Majesty’s will.”
“Exactly. Even if scandal clings to me, Father will protect my brother’s position.”
Marcel spoke with self-mockery, and Raoul—silent until now—suddenly chimed in.
“I will always be at Your Highness’s side.”
“Raoul, that’s treason.”
“I say this not as young duke of Monclair, but as Your Highness’s childhood companion.”
So Raoul, too, had once been Marcel’s playmate—no wonder they seemed close.
Raoul subtly placed his sister nearer to Marcel. This guy, honestly.
“Your Highness, the young ladies are waiting.”
“Ah, right. About Lizette—could you keep her with you for a while longer?”
“The longer you take, the better mistress you’ll find for her, I suppose?”
“I can’t promise that, but something’s been nagging at me. I’ll explain once I’m sure. That’s alright with you, Lizette?”
His blue eyes shone kindly.
He seemed to be waiting for an answer, but somehow speaking to Marcel in human words felt awkward.
A meow slipped out instead.
“Meow.”
“You were speaking so well a moment ago… Ah, looks like Mother is calling for you, my lady.”
Following his gaze, I saw the empress fanning herself and watching us from the central table.
Marcel led the way, with the Monclair siblings following behind.
Eloise didn’t look like she had any intention of putting me down, though I was fine now.
“Eloise, is the tea not to your liking? You’ve only been standing.”
“Mother, you’ll have my share sent to the prince’s palace, won’t you?”
“You’re leaving already?”
“I only slipped away briefly from a northern meeting. I’ll visit your palace this evening.”
So his excuse about wanting to see me had just been a pretext.
If he stepped out of a meeting, he must have been truly worried about Eloise. That was devotion, if anything was.
Raoul’s face showed the same reluctant expression as I smacked my lips wistfully.
“Young duke, my lady, enjoy your time with Mother before you leave.”
“And may peace be with Your Highness as well.”
Short, but his presence left a lasting impression as Marcel departed.
The greenery around him swayed as though stirred by the wind.
It would have been nice to see Etienne’s face, even briefly. The regret lingered.
“Eloise, young duke, sit down, won’t you? Lady Grace and I were just admiring Eloise’s gown and parure.”
After sitting beside the empress, the nobles spoke of nothing but dresses and jewels.
As if the crown prince had never come, and as if I had never spoken at all.
