MFTR 85

Chapter 85 

I Never Said It Was Such a Cute Cat 

“Your Grace? How come you’re here without a word of notice?”

Martin cracked the door open just enough for his face to peek out and asked cautiously.

The duke in the black mask, standing in the hallway, scoffed as though the question was ridiculous and pushed the door wide open.

“Uwaak!”

“Shh.”

Slipping swiftly and silently into the room, the duke raised a finger to his lips.

Not realizing that he was only trying not to alert the guest downstairs, Martin nodded his head up and down furiously in agreement.

Only after Martin quieted did Cardin lower his hand and quickly scan the room, where he spotted Larisa standing awkwardly.

“M–My lord…”

“I saw the carriage, so I suspected as much. But why are you here? I also heard the princess stopped by earlier, so explain that first.”

“H–How did you know that?”

Larisa flinched in fright, worried he might have already discovered Annette’s condition.

Hidden behind Larisa, curled up small, Annette also tensed.

“Servants were sent to the princess to inform her that guests from Hayworth would be staying in the annex. But her room was empty, so I looked into it.”

Cardin’s sharp gaze fixed on her.

“You didn’t already run into them, did you? And come to think of it, why are you here alone…?”

“No! I only just heard the guests would be staying in the annex today. I haven’t seen anyone except the mage here.”

Terrified he might think Annette had met the Hayworth party, Larisa jumped to deny it.

“Is that so?”

“Yes! My lady is… probably resting in her room. I only came here by myself. You can check if you want.”

Even with her head spinning from the pressure of lying to a duke, Larisa clung desperately to the idea of protecting Annette.

Watching Larisa defend the secret with such conviction, poor Martin was moved to tears of admiration.

Cardin, meanwhile, fell into thought.

In truth, he already knew Annette had not run into Jeon or Luke.

If she had, there would’ve been an uproar by now, and more than that, Jeon Millard wouldn’t have tried to block him just moments before Martin opened the door.

〈Your Grace, what brings you all the way to the annex?〉

〈Didn’t you hear there’s a mage living here? I hardly need to explain private matters.〉

〈…My apologies. I thought perhaps you’d changed your mind and were going to let the princess see you.〉

Remembering Jeon’s deadpan face while joking around made Cardin let out a dry laugh.

It was the first real conversation he’d had with the man, but since Jeon was always stuck like glue to Annette, Cardin knew him well enough.

“That guy isn’t the type to play coy.”

Jeon fussing so much whenever Annette was involved was both ridiculous and strangely reassuring.

The moment he’d heard from a servant that she’d headed toward the annex, his reason had nearly snapped.

Even though he soon received a report she’d returned to her quarters, he couldn’t dismiss the chance that Jeon might’ve seen her, so he rushed over. Luckily, it seemed that hadn’t been the case.

Now there was another question to resolve.

“What business brought the princess here?”

“Huh? Uh, well, that is…”

Larisa faltered for a moment, then steadied her trembling voice.

“The truth is, my lady loves the bunny doll you gave her. She kept listening to your voice from it. When I told her we’d have to replace the magic stone soon, she said she wanted to ask you about it herself, and so she came.”

‘Oh no!’

Listening from behind, Annette nearly cried out.

Why would you say that!

She had even taken an experimental antidote to prepare herself to confess to him, but now that Larisa had revealed her secret thoughts, she was too mortified.

“Really… the princess? My voice?”

Cardin’s bewildered tone reached her ears.

Annette, too embarrassed to look up, couldn’t see, but Cardin’s expression was alight with joy, like a dream come true.

Even with a mask on, his happiness was so plain that both Martin and Larisa were startled.

Larisa, despite the tense situation, found herself hoping their relationship might mend, and nodded enthusiastically.

“Of course. My lady presses the doll’s belly every chance she gets!”

The only one suffering was Annette.

She curled up tighter, groaning inwardly.

“If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve set it not for a hundred but a thousand times…”

At that moment, Cardin, who had been speaking to Martin, suddenly froze.

He was staring fixedly at Larisa’s side.

Larisa swallowed nervously.

“Th–Then I should get going. I rushed back because I forgot my lady’s handkerchief…”

Turning stiffly, she pretended to spot it on the floor and bent down to fetch Annette when—

“A cat.”

The flat murmur sounded right beside her.

He had reached the spot before Larisa and was looking down at the little cat.

While Martin, Larisa, and Annette all froze stiff, only Cardin remained at ease.

“I heard you complaining that stray cats smelling herbs were climbing trees and sneaking into rooms. So you’ve decided to keep one?”

“Uh…?”

The question was aimed at Martin, who blinked in confusion, then suddenly widened his eyes.

“Gasp! Then the cat hair…!”

Catching himself, he slapped both hands over his mouth. Larisa, realizing what he’d nearly revealed, glared daggers at him.

While tension simmered between the two, Cardin’s gaze never left the cat.

Annette trembled in her small furry body.

Her heart pounded so fast it felt like it would burst.

Whether it was because she’d run into Cardin at the worst possible time or because she had become a small animal, the masked man seemed like a predator hiding his claws—and she was terrified.

“But…”

Cardin spoke slowly.

“I never said it was such a cute cat.”

His unexpected words made everyone freeze.

Then he added casually,

“Princess.”

“…!”

“…!”

Martin and Larisa exchanged glances in shock.

Did he recognize me?

Annette jumped at the sound.

She had hastily changed her eye color when he arrived, but her fur was still the same reddish hue.

So I’ve been found out…

“Yeah. It’d make a nice gift for the princess.”

“…!”

“Come with me.”

Before she could react, Cardin scooped her up and tucked her into his coat pocket.

He let her tiny head peek out, tickled her under the chin, then held out his other hand to Larisa.

“The handkerchief.”

“Huh?”

“The princess’s handkerchief. Give it.”

“Y–Yes, here…”

In a daze, Larisa handed it over, only realizing afterward that he’d just snatched Annette as well.

Mustering all her courage, she protested weakly,

“M–My lord. That cat is…”

“Don’t tell the princess.”

“…Yes, sir.”

It was nowhere near enough courage to stop him.

Larisa’s eyes welled with tears as she answered. Cardin, satisfied, kicked the door open and left.

“Myaaaooow!”

Only Annette’s pitiful cry was left behind.

“Welcome ba—huh? A cat, Your Grace?”

Samuel tilted his head as he greeted Cardin in the office.

From his master’s pocket, a small, adorable cat had popped out.

Cardin set the cat on the desk, and Samuel hurried over, exclaiming,

“Where did you find such a pretty cat? Even my picky eyes are—”

Smack!

His hand, reaching out without thinking, was slapped away. He grimaced.

“Why on earth…?”

“It’s for my princess. Don’t touch.”

Since it was to be given to Annette, Samuel couldn’t argue, but he pouted and muttered,

“Do you think gifting a cat will soften the princess’s heart? Unless you open that room wide or get rid of it entirely, I don’t see it working.”

Inside the pocket, Annette, who had been swaying nauseously during the ride and was slumped weakly on the desk, perked her ears at that.

She looked up to see Cardin’s face, mask now removed, filled with distaste.

As if he’d expected such an answer, Samuel gave a mocking laugh.

“Well, I suppose you couldn’t possibly discard all the things you’ve collected in there.”

“Samuel, you really are braver than most knights. It’d be a shame to waste that talent. I’ll tell Morton—starting tomorrow, you’ll join knight training.”

“Wh–What?! No, anything but that!”

Annette, not knowing how hellish knight training was for an ordinary civil official, only tilted her head in confusion at Samuel’s horrified reaction.

But soon her thoughts turned inward.

Even Samuel dared to talk so openly about that room, yet Cardin insisted on keeping it secret from her.

Her disappointment grew heavier, leaving her weak and dejected.

No matter how much she vowed to ignore that room in the future, she couldn’t help feeling hurt.

Drooping her ears miserably, she lay flat on the desk.

Cardin slowly placed his hand on her back, stroking her forehead and cheeks gently with his thumb.

Annette stiffened in surprise at the sudden touch, while Samuel shifted the topic.

“By the way, how did things go at the annex? You rushed out in the middle of your call with His Majesty, and I had to scramble to explain the situation.”

Cardin, still stroking the startled cat as if to soothe her, replied calmly,

“Thankfully, the princess doesn’t seem to have run into that sly bastard.”