Chapter 10
…A cat?
I’d developed a knack for spotting cats no matter where I went, so instinctively I turned toward the darkness.
The rustling sounded exactly like something about the size of a cat moving through the bushes.
A moment later, I found it.
I smiled brightly.
Two green eyes were glowing from within the grass.
“I knew it. There are cats everywhere.”
For a moment, I completely forgot my circumstances.
Afraid I might scare it away, I didn’t approach.
Instead, I crouched down at a distance and quietly watched.
The cat lightly leaped onto the stone wall separating the rear garden from the annex.
For a brief instant, silhouetted against the moonlight, I caught a clear glimpse of it.
“…Ah…”
The cat paused and glanced back at me.
“You’re beautiful.”
“You’re the perfect cat.”
“So adorable…”
Its fur was gray.
Its glossy coat shimmered with a mysterious bluish sheen beneath the moonlight.
The longer fur around its chest resembled an elegant scarf, while its magnificent, fox-like tail curled neatly around its paws as it sat there with quiet dignity.
It was quite large, with graceful lines, firm muscles, long legs, and a perfectly balanced physique.
Among all the cats I’d ever seen…
It was easily one of the most magnificent.
The gray cat cast me one calm glance.
Then, as though completely uninterested, it effortlessly leaped over the wall and disappeared.
I continued staring at the place where it had stood.
Then, suddenly…
Sadness overwhelmed me.
The comfort I’d worked so hard to build up only moments ago collapsed beneath a wave of longing.
“My cats were healthy like that too…”
The warmth of those tiny creatures I’d loved—
Perhaps the very center of my life—
Flooded back into my mind.
An unbearable loneliness seized me.
If I closed my eyes…
I could still feel the softness of their fur in my hands.
The delicate way they’d rub against me.
Their tiny voices that always made me smile.
Every sensation remained vividly alive inside me.
“I miss you…”
At some point, I’d become someone who could go from dry-eyed…
To having tears stream down my face in an instant.
Ever since the day I’d found my beloved cats lying dead, coughing up blood.
The cats I’d treasured so dearly…
The ones I’d only wished would stay healthy…
Live long…
And be happy.
“I miss you…”
People always said,
“They’re just cats.”
But to me…
They were never just cats.
After my mother—the person who’d been my greatest support—passed away…
They became the only family…
The only friends…
Who gave me a reason to keep living.
“Why did they have to die like that…?”
The feeling of watching everything I loved be brutally crushed by someone else’s hands…
Was unbearably empty.
I stood alone in the darkness.
The dirt beneath my feet gradually darkened with my tears, as though rain had fallen.
After standing there for quite some time, I finally came back to my senses.
The gray cat…
The one I’d thought had already left…
Was sitting atop the wall again.
Its mysterious green eyes were wide open.
It simply stared at me.
Like a statue.
“…Hello.”
Cats possess a mysterious kind of magic.
Even after crying until you’re exhausted…
They somehow manage to make you smile.
“You’re really adorable.”
Perhaps seeing me smile through tear-stained cheeks looked strange.
This time…
The cat proudly disappeared for good.
How did she know I was there?
Dimitri, who had been wandering the gardens in his cat form, was genuinely surprised.
He’d made only the slightest sound.
Yet Lewayne had immediately noticed him.
She hadn’t seemed like someone trained in martial arts, but her senses were extraordinarily sharp.
At least she didn’t recognize me.
Judging from the way she’d called him beautiful and adorable, that much was obvious.
According to the rumors…
Lewayne was infamous for abusing and killing beastmen with shocking cruelty.
Yet there she had been…
Crying alone because she missed her cats.
He found the contradiction curious.
Not that he’d ever paid much attention to rumors in the first place.
Still…
It was interesting.
They call her a devil…
She doesn’t seem much like one.
As far as he knew…
Demons didn’t cry like that.
Traveling around in the body of a small animal often allowed him to witness trivial yet fascinating moments like these.
Thinking little of it, Dimitri finished his nighttime stroll and returned to his office.
Completely unaware that each quiet step he took carried with it the faint beginnings of curiosity.
At that very moment—
Inside a grand estate in Elvas, a territory bordering Blois—
Lewayne’s name was being discussed.
“So Dimitri actually brought Lewayne Larcel back with him?”
Sophia, the head maid of the Duke of Blois’ household, bowed her head.
“Yes, Madam.”
An elderly noblewoman with snow-white hair set her teacup down with a sharp clack.
She was the former Duchess of Blois.
“Hmph. A daughter from House Larcel.”
“It’s certainly an old family, but Count Larcel has never been known for refinement.”
“He’s more merchant than noble.”
She clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“And Lewayne Larcel doesn’t exactly have a good reputation.”
“No doubt she’s just like her father.”
“That disgrace of our family has apparently decided to drag House Blois down with him.”
Then something occurred to her.
She tilted her head thoughtfully.
“Wait.”
“Wasn’t that girl desperately trying to win the Emperor’s favor?”
“So why has she suddenly married Dimitri?”
Her narrowed eyes grew colder.
“Something’s suspicious.”
“There must have been some sort of deal.”
She turned toward Sophia.
“I’ll have to meet her myself.”
The following day, around lunchtime, the butler came to my room.
“The Master wishes to have breakfast with you.”
“I’ve brought the maids who will assist you with getting ready.”
“From now on, these two will attend to you, Madam.”
After the butler left, the two maids remained.
The wariness on their faces was unmistakable.
It was understandable.
Given Lewayne’s reputation, they were probably expecting a demanding, ill-tempered mistress.
Quietly sighing, I decided to ease the tension.
“I know you dislike me because of the rumors.”
“I don’t enjoy being around people who dislike me either.”
“So let’s make this as painless as possible.”
Neither of them had expected me to say something so directly.
Their expressions turned awkward.
“You don’t have to explain yourselves.”
“I’m not trying to make things difficult.”
“I’ll wash my own hair.”
“Just help me get dressed.”
The shorter of the two maids glanced nervously between me and her companion before whispering,
“You don’t have to speak so formally to us.”
I awkwardly nodded.
Having grown up in a world where polite speech was simply common courtesy when meeting someone for the first time, speaking casually felt strangely uncomfortable.
After washing by myself, the maids cautiously dried my hair with a magic stone before unpacking my luggage and helping me into one of Linier’s dresses.
Since Linier had originally been the one meant to come here, only her clothes had been packed.
Unfortunately…
They didn’t fit me very well.
Linier had a slimmer build.
Lewayne’s body was noticeably more voluptuous.
The dress squeezed tightly around my chest, making it difficult to breathe.
I really need to buy some clothes.
Yesterday I’d had the chance to pack Lewayne’s dresses.
Instead, I’d prioritized taking the jewelry.
Now I regretted that decision.
After somehow forcing myself into Linier’s dress, I made my way toward the dining hall in the main residence.
The Duke was already waiting at the head of the lavish dining table.
Although sunlight streamed through the windows, he hadn’t ordered the curtains closed.
Instead…
He simply basked in the warm light.
The sight struck me as so unbelievably cat-like that—
Despite the fact he looked entirely human—
I couldn’t help smiling.
He’s adorable.
“…?”
“…!”
The Duke looked at me in surprise.
I was just as startled.
Did I really just think a grown man was adorable?
How can someone that huge be cute?
He’s human…
But his eyes are so cat-like that my brain is getting confused…
Shaking my head slightly to clear my thoughts, I apologized.
“I’m sorry if that bothered you.”
“I wasn’t laughing at anything.”
“It’s fine.”
“Please sit.”
He spoke generously.
Oddly enough…
He seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.
He’d worn that same pleasant expression during yesterday’s carriage ride as well.
He smiles quite a lot.
I’d assumed he was an irritable person.
Perhaps because our first meeting had left such a poor impression, his gentle side felt surprisingly unexpected.
Still…
That only made living together easier.
“Everything happened so quickly yesterday that we never had the chance to discuss the important matters.”
“So I invited you to eat together.”
“I see.”
There were certainly many things to settle.
He would undoubtedly want to hear more about his curse.
We also needed to discuss future treatments.
And now that I was the Duchess…
There were surely responsibilities waiting for me.
The moment I took my seat, the servants began bringing out dish after dish.
We remained silent while they busily arranged everything on the table.
The Duke’s side was filled almost entirely with meat dishes.
He didn’t even glance at the vegetables.
Apparently those had all been prepared for me.
Cats are carnivores.
This man is basically a cat.
Therefore… he’s a carnivore too.
The ridiculous thought kept circling in my head.
Each time he took a bite of neatly cut meat…
I caught brief glimpses of his sharp canine teeth.
Somehow…
You’d expect someone like him to have large fangs like a lion’s.
Instead…
His canines reminded me of the tiny, adorable fangs of a house cat.
“So cute…”
The words escaped before I could stop them.
I hurriedly covered my mouth.
Apparently he’d heard me.
One eyebrow rose.
“…Were those words directed at me?”
