For a moment, Dominique’s eyes shook with confusion.
Logically, there was no way that girl in front of him could be connected to the cat he had met so many times.
But—
‘They look way too similar?!’
Meanwhile, Mabel feigned innocence and asked Dominique,
“Meow-Meow? Who’s that?”
“N-No one. It’s nothing.”
Dominique quickly shook his head.
A cat turning into a human? That couldn’t be possible.
Though flustered at first, Dominique soon composed himself and eyed Mabel warily.
‘Forget it. Don’t get involved.’
A girl with no known identity, name, or background.
Her clean clothes and neatly tied hair suggested she’d been well taken care of, but—
He didn’t want to get tangled up with some random kid and end up in trouble.
‘I should just go train.’
With that thought, Dominique turned to leave her behind.
But—
“Where are you going?”
Suddenly, his cloak was tugged from behind.
Startled, he turned around to see the girl puffing out her cheeks, staring right at him.
“You’re just gonna leave me alone?”
She pouted as she asked.
Dominique’s gaze immediately turned cold.
Smack!
He brushed her hand off and growled softly,
“Don’t touch me.”
She looked small and innocent—but who knew?
What if this was just a new form of bullying?
“……”
Meanwhile, the girl looked down at her rejected hand, her expression turning sullen.
She then dropped her head and muttered just barely above a whisper,
“Hah… after all the meals I shared with him… ungrateful guy.”
“What?”
Dominique furrowed his brow, not having caught what she said.
Then suddenly—
The girl lifted her head with pride and declared,
“I came to the Grand Temple with Adrian and Sabina!”
Dominique flinched.
Adrian.
That name belonged to the temple’s treasured Hero.
‘So this girl… is an important guest.’
If he upset her, the temple might find fault with him again.
Dominique unconsciously tensed up.
Meanwhile, Mabel flashed a victorious smile.
“So, are you not gonna play with me?”
“……”
Dominique pressed his lips into a thin line.
Mabel glanced sideways at him and muttered just loudly enough to be heard,
“Oh… how sad. Maybe I’ll tell Adrian how mean someone was to me…”
“What do you want to play?”
Dominique finally gave in with a sigh and sat down beside her.
He peeked at her sideways.
‘Why is she wandering around without a nanny or guard?’
If she really came with Adrian, that was a problem too.
She looked way too young to be left alone.
‘I should probably take her back to Lord Adrian.’
That seemed like the safest option.
Dominique let out another sigh and offered Mabel his hand.
“If you’re lost, I can escort you back—”
“I’m not lost.”
She cut him off, her eyes wide and clear.
“I came to make friends.”
“……”
What on earth was she talking about?
Dominique was starting to lose track of the conversation.
Meanwhile, the girl smiled brightly and scooted closer to him.
“So, what’s your name?”
“…Sorry?”
“My name’s Mabel!”
“……”
This girl jumped from topic to topic like a bouncing ball.
Dominique sighed again.
“…It’s Dominique.”
Dominique.
The name felt strange on his tongue.
He’d only ever been called “that brat” or “you” before.
Feeling a little bitter, Dominique snapped back to reality when Mabel continued cheerfully,
“So you’re Dominique, huh? Adrian’s talking with the Saintess right now.”
Saintess.
At that word, Dominique’s face shifted slightly.
Everyone praised her benevolence, but Dominique—
Had never once felt her so-called kindness.
She only ever looked at him with disapproval.
Maybe because of the temple’s close ties to the imperial family…
As he got lost in thought again—
Mabel looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
“So until they’re done, will you play with me?”
…Why should I?
Dominique swallowed the retort that rose to his throat.
Instead, he looked at her with a reluctant expression.
Mabel grumbled internally.
‘Geez, it’s so obvious.’
He looked way too annoyed.
But expressing displeasure openly? That’s rookie behavior.
A seasoned pro, in this kind of situation, would…
“Here. I’ll give you this.”
Mabel dug into her pocket and suddenly held something out.
A small chocolate wrapped in golden foil rested in her tiny hand.
Ever heard of snack bribery?
“This is super yummy! It’s my favorite!”
Mabel beamed.
Dominique looked at her again, feeling déjà vu.
“Is this… for me?”
“Mew.”
A little white cat had once come to him proudly wearing a candy necklace.
He could still remember the sweetness of that candy on his tongue.
Letting out a deep sigh, Dominique took the chocolate.
“Thank you.”
“Hurry and try it—it’s really good!”
Mabel urged him.
Unable to resist, he unwrapped it. A wave of sweetness hit his nose.
Inside was a round chocolate studded with almonds.
Mabel watched eagerly, her eyes shining as if saying, “You’ll regret it if you don’t eat it now.”
Overwhelmed by her enthusiasm, Dominique popped it into his mouth.
The long-forgotten sweetness relaxed his stiff expression, just a little.
“…Thank you.”
“No problem! If you like it, that makes me happy!”
She smiled brightly, then tilted her head and asked,
“But why are you speaking so formally to me?”
“Huh…?”
“Aren’t you older than me?”
“Well…”
Dominique trailed off.
Mabel was indeed younger than him—but she was also a special guest brought by Hero Adrian.
If he treated her like an equal, people at the temple might take issue.
He was a disgraced prince—one wrong move and he’d be criticized again…
Just as Dominique was biting his lower lip, unsure of what to say—
“Friends don’t need to be formal with each other.”
Mabel declared firmly.
Dominique looked at her without thinking.
“I want to be friends with you, Dominique!”
Their eyes met—and Mabel smiled like sunshine.
‘Ugh, winning this kid over is harder than I thought.’
She was sighing on the inside, though her face didn’t show it.
“Let’s play, okay?”
Dominique stared at her again with a slightly dazed expression.
After all, no one had ever tried to get close to him like this before.
Maybe that’s why—
He felt this strange, ticklish warmth inside.
‘Well, training’s done for the day anyway.’
They barely let him join in the first place.
If anything, entertaining a VIP might even earn him some leniency from the priests and instructors.
“What do you want to play?”
His voice had softened without him realizing.
“What do you usually play?” Mabel asked casually.
But then she froze mid-sentence.
‘…He probably doesn’t get to play at all.’
She knew how the trainees and instructors constantly bullied him.
Forcing down the bitter thought, Mabel smiled brightly.
“Hide and seek!”
Dominique blinked.
“Hide and seek?”
“Yup!”
Mabel nodded enthusiastically.
