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Chapter 11
“Thank you for sparing the time, Duke Redmond.”
Artyf sat across from Leandro Retel, the young heir of House Retel, in the reception room.
Leandro’s polite voice rippled like calm water, yet his blue eyes—so similar to Sharlize’s—were honed sharp like a blade.
“My father was originally scheduled to meet you, as I mentioned in the letter, but something urgent came up, so I came in his stead. I ask for your understanding.”
“That’s fine.”
Artyf sipped his tea calmly. He guessed Duke Retel must have gone to Waiford territory. A silver-haired woman had allegedly been sighted there, and Artyf himself had just dispatched men to investigate.
“Since you must be busy, I’ll get straight to the point.”
Ignoring the customary noble pleasantries, Leandro went directly to business. This was unusual for him, given his reputation for gentle, noble manners.
‘That just shows how precious Sharlize is to him.’
But if that was the case, he should have protected her properly from the beginning.
“Go on,” Artyf said flatly, swallowing the bitterness in his throat and feigning indifference.
“I don’t believe you kidnapped Sharlize.”
Currently, rumors all but confirmed Artyf as the kidnapper. Yet nobles attuned to information knew better—it was baseless gossip. Most of all, Artyf had no reason to do such a thing. Kidnapping the daughter of a duke merely to divert the Crown Prince’s attention carried far too much risk. Artyf wasn’t foolish enough for that.
“Still, the longer you’re continuously mentioned as the abductor, the more trouble it brings you.”
Artyf smirked inwardly. He says he doesn’t suspect me, yet his eyes are full of wariness.
“That is why I wish to request your cooperation.”
“What kind of cooperation?”
“The cat you picked up off the street—it’s the same one found in Sharlize’s room, isn’t it?”
“Who knows.”
Artyf forced his voice to remain casual, choking down the fury boiling inside him. Just as he expected, Leandro had come for the silver cat—his Sasha—the only lead to Sharlize’s disappearance.
‘Sasha may very well be Sharlize herself.’
“No harm will come to the cat.”
“I refuse.”
There was no point in listening further. He had tolerated this much only because Leandro was her family.
“Once the investigation is over, the cat will be returned to you.”
“Returned?”
The word grated in Artyf’s ears, and his brow twitched.
“We only need to find its previous owner.”
“You can’t seriously think the kidnapper carried my cat into the crime scene and left it there.”
“The cat could have followed its owner.”
“Be realistic. What are the chances of that?”
What a waste of time—such absurd speculation when he could be spending that time petting Sasha.
“Realistically, what were the chances of a duchess’s daughter being abducted from a heavily guarded mansion?”
Leandro’s storm-like gaze bore into him, and Artyf thought:
‘I’ll have to strengthen Sasha’s protection.’
“Moreover, what are the odds that on the very day of her disappearance, the cat from her room ended up in Duke Redmond’s hands? Even the smallest possibility is enough for me to pursue.”
Hearing Leandro’s unshakable resolve, Artyf rose to his feet.
“This conversation is pointless.”
“Duke—”
“And Sasha’s owner is me. There is no former owner. Touch what is mine, and you’ll make an enemy of Redmond.”
After delivering his killing-edge warning, Artyf strode out of the reception room.
Leandro’s face had changed drastically in just a few days. His cheeks were hollow, his once-gentle expression utterly gone.
— Brother…?
“Meow…?”
Even my weak little cry made Leandro turn. His blue eyes widened in recognition. Yet just as quickly, his expression froze into ice. He turned to Sienna, my handmaid.
“Is that the cat?”
“Yes! It’s her! The fur color is the same as the lady’s hair. It has to be that cat.”
At Sienna’s certainty, Leandro approached me. But his aura was so different—so cold—that I felt afraid.
“Stay back.”
As Leandro reached for me, a man suddenly appeared, stepping in front of me protectively. His face bore a long scar across one eye.
‘Where did he come from all of a sudden?’
Straightening, Leandro glared at him.
“You block my way?”
“I serve House Redmond. If you threaten Sasha, I will stop you—whoever you are.”
“Threaten? You think I would harm such a small cat?”
The man was massive as a bear, his bulk completely shielding me from Leandro’s view. I peeked between his legs to watch the confrontation.
“Leave now.”
When the man’s hand fell to his sword hilt, Leandro’s knight immediately drew his blade.
“Stand down.”
“But, young lord—!”
“Enough.”
Leandro’s command was firm. Reluctantly, the knight obeyed.
“I don’t wish for conflict with Redmond. I only came to confirm.”
“You cannot. Leave now.”
Banished yet again, Leandro stiffened.
I darted forward in panic. The man had done nothing wrong. Both sides’ actions made sense, but Leandro was my brother. If he was acting rashly in another family’s estate, it was because of me.
— Brother.
When I mewed, Leandro bent down on one knee.
“Truly… the same color as Sharlize.”
His hand stroked my head, gentle and warm. Perhaps the fear I felt earlier was only his frayed nerves showing.
— Are you even eating properly? You look so thin.
“Sasha. Even the smallest clue—if only you could give me one.”
His face looked utterly exhausted. While I had been eating and sleeping well here, my family clearly hadn’t.
— This breaks my heart. Do you think I’ll thank you for this?
“Now I see why Duke Redmond dotes on you.”
“Then you’d best back off.”
A sharp voice cut through our tender reunion. Artyf was descending the grand staircase.
“Alcott.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Artyf, without taking his eyes off Leandro, addressed his knight.
“Unharmed? Then you’ve disobeyed my orders?”
“Forgive me. I’ll accept any punishment.”
I gaped at Artyf in shock. Did he think Alcott had neglected his duty because I had approached Leandro on my own? To call it disobedience, and so coldly—how rude could he be?
“At the next noble assembly, I will lend my support to Redmond.”
Withdrawing his hand from my fur, Leandro rose.
“Sasha. Come here.”
Artyf ignored his offer, calling to me instead.
I hesitated, looking back at Leandro, but eventually padded toward Artyf. He scooped me up and turned to leave.
“The Emperor’s faction is troubling you, isn’t it? Let me resolve that for you.”
Artyf froze mid-step.
“It’s for the people of Redmond.”
Slowly, Artyf turned back to face Leandro.
“Of course, I don’t mean to take the cat permanently. Once Sharlize is found, I’ll return it to you.”
Unease prickled at me, and I clutched at Artyf’s clothes. Seeing Leandro again had been good, but I didn’t want to go with him. My family might not harm a cat, but still—!
As long as they didn’t know I was Sharlize, staying with Artyf was safest.
‘You’re not going to hand me over, are you, Artyf? I’m your cat. Who lends out their own pet like some bargaining chip?’
I looked at him desperately, but his gaze was fixed on Leandro.
“Let’s put it in writing. You know as well as I do—if Redmond and Retel join forces, nothing is impossible.”
As Artyf silently listened, Leandro drove in the final nail.
