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Chapter : 3. Chapter 1. You Who Came Like a Dream (3)
At dawn, Mary arrived and handed Ronell a warm corn porridge.
It was bland and unseasoned, but Ronell was just happy that she didn’t have to go to the mansion.
“Young Master Lloyd went out hunting today.”
As Mary cleaned the bowl Ronell had emptied, she spoke gently.
“Really?”
“Yes. The Countess went with him too, so you can do whatever you want today. Just don’t make too much of a mess.”
“Thank you!”
Ronell politely thanked her and happily ran into the garden.
It was the time when morning was turning into afternoon.
Sunlight poured down brightly from above, and it felt like sparrows might come out to play.
She had always been popular with animals.
If she sat still, sparrows would land on her shoulders. Sometimes squirrels would come and leave acorns as gifts, and sometimes rabbits would come and sit on her lap.
And as expected—
The birds that had been gathered nearby immediately ran toward her when they saw her.
“Hello, did you all sleep well?”
Ronell greeted them warmly, and the birds chirped excitedly and surrounded her.
One landed on her head, and two hopped onto her lap.
“Yes, I ate breakfast too! It was delicious.”
The sound of flapping wings and chirping filled the air.
Ronell happily held out her hand to a bird trying to land on her palm.
“Also, the Countess and the young master went out. They’re not here. Oh, and yesterday a really pretty cat came by! It comforted me. It was kind and gentle—”
At that moment, a cat suddenly appeared from above and started smacking Ronell’s arm with its tail.
The birds scattered in shock and ran away.
Ronell rubbed her sore arm with a teary face.
Smack. Smack.
The tail attacks continued loudly.
Doesn’t look kind.
One bird whispered.
Doesn’t look gentle either.
Several others agreed.
Ronell, unable to understand them, blinked her watery eyes and suddenly grabbed the cat and hugged it tightly.
“Kyah!”
The cat struggled wildly.
After a while, it gave up and glared at the birds with a fierce expression.
She’s mine.
Its blue eyes were full of possessiveness.
The birds shrank back.
We were here first… one bird protested weakly, scratching the ground.
Ronell, unaware of the tension, looked at the now (relatively) calm cat.
“Did you go home safely last night?”
Ruby, who had been about to get annoyed again, started purring without realizing it under her gentle hug.
Damn it. This isn’t good.
The cat that had come to punish its “unfaithful” candidate found itself relaxing instead.
The hand was just too nice…
“…I should be mad…”
But her touch felt so good that its body loosened despite itself.
“I had a good breakfast today. I hope you ate something tasty too.”
Of course I did. Premium fresh salmon is always the best. Remember that.
Ruby nodded and burrowed deeper into her arms.
The gentle hand kept stroking its back as requested.
The cat glared at the birds, silently threatening them.
The birds hesitated but still didn’t leave.
What are you standing around for? Get lost.
“Too harsh!”
Ruby’s eyes insulted them thoroughly.
The birds flapped angrily in protest.
Only Ronell, unaware of this silent war, continued gently petting the cat.
Good food, warm lap, nice weather, kind hands—life was good.
Ruby was just about to settle in for a nap when it noticed the hand had stopped moving.
“Stay here, kitty. You all shouldn’t come out either.”
The candidate set it down quietly.
Frozen Ruby and the stiff birds watched her carefully.
Her thin legs were trembling slightly, as if she was scared.
What’s wrong?
Before the cat could react, it twitched its ears.
“Hey, you idiot!”
A rough, unpleasant voice came from the garden gate.
Lloyd slammed it open and walked in arrogantly.
“You didn’t freeze to death yesterday?”
“I’m sorry.”
“What, you didn’t freeze to death?”
Ronell shut her mouth.
Lloyd sneered.
“Yeah, that’s something you should really be sorry for. Why are you even alive?”
And Ruby couldn’t take it anymore.
The cat suddenly leapt and attacked Lloyd’s face.
Claws scratched his cheek.
“Aaagh!! What the hell is this!!”
Lloyd grabbed the cat and threw it away.
Ronell snapped back to her senses and caught the poor animal before it hit the ground.
She rolled on the dirt while holding the cat.
Dust filled her mouth. Bitter taste.
Branches stabbed her back painfully.
Tears welled up.
“M-Mom!! Mom—!!”
Lloyd ran inside screaming.
“Mary! Where’s my gun!? You didn’t put it away yet, right!?”
“No!”
Ronell screamed in panic and quickly hugged the cat tightly.
Then she started hopping toward the wall, trying to get it away.
Ruby, safely held in the candidate’s arms, blinked in confusion.
…What are you doing right now?
“Run, kitty! Hurry!”
Ronell tried to push the cat away while waving her other hand at the birds.
The birds chirped worriedly and flew into the trees.
The only calm one was the white cat.
It watched the panicking girl and lazily swished its tail.
This weak little thing—there’s no way I’d lose to her.
I should’ve scratched him more!
It was still annoyed it hadn’t clawed him harder.
“Kitty…”
But its candidate looked like she was about to cry.
“Lloyd is going to come back with a gun. You need to run, okay?”
At that moment—
Bang!
A gunshot echoed.
Ronell crouched down.
No… the cat can’t get hurt.
Lloyd had once injured a raccoon just because Ronell had held it.
“Please run, kitty,” she whispered.
Footsteps approached from afar.
“Move, bastard. Before I shoot your back.”
Ronell turned and saw Lloyd’s twisted expression.
Blood gathered on his scratched cheek.
“Move. I’ll shoot, I swear.”
He raised the gun.
Ronell didn’t hesitate.
Mary had said cats always land on their feet.
And she had eaten breakfast today—thankfully.
Without thinking further, she grabbed the cat and threw it over the wall.
Cats land safely… it’ll be fine…
“Hey! Why are you chasing my prey!!”
Lloyd grabbed her by the collar and shook her.
“I was generous enough to let you stay in the house, and now you’re stealing too?!”
Ronell clenched her teeth and let herself be dragged away.
＊ ＊ ＊
Ruby landed smoothly on the ground.
Of course.
I am a cat.
But—
What the hell did you just do, candidate?!
That was my chance to rip that brat’s hair out!!
The cat stomped the ground in frustration, then froze.
“….”
“Hey! Why are you chasing my prey!!”
“…”
“Mom said I was being generous letting you stay, and now you’re stealing?!”
Who’s your prey?!
And I wasn’t stealing anything!!
The cat gritted its teeth and almost jumped back up—
But stopped.
This would just repeat endlessly.
It slowly paused.
It couldn’t stay here forever.
Obviously not—my premium feather bed is much better.
And if it disappeared, that brat would definitely hurt the candidate again.
The cat flicked its tail.
Fine.
I’ll make her a proper butler, not just a candidate.
Wait for me.
Not knowing Ronell had already been dragged inside, the cat meowed loudly as a signal.
Tonight, or tomorrow at the latest, it would bring either Reinhardt or that grumpy granddaughter Aisila.
Money is no problem anyway.
It ran forward confidently.
Leaves crunched under its feet.
Ruby returned to the mansion and immediately rushed into Reinhardt’s study.
Where is my butler?!
Answer me!!
But Reinhardt wasn’t there.
The cat stomped in frustration.
Not here? Then the study!
Not there either.
The cat ran into the hallway, irritated.
Where is he?!
Just when it was about to lose its temper—
Click.
A door opened behind it.
Elegant high-heeled feet stepped onto the carpet.
A lazy voice followed.
“Honestly, this cat’s shedding…”
“…Lady Aisila, cats naturally shed fur.”
“So baldness is fine but this isn’t? I should transplant it onto Grandpa’s head.”
“I don’t think Mr. Duncan is going bald.”
“You’ll see. I’ll pluck it all out—HEY, CAT!!”
Ruby grabbed her robe and pulled it urgently.
Startled, Aisila’s irritated red eyes slowly filled with confusion.
“What now? You usually ignore me like I’m a rock.”
The cat slapped her clothes impatiently.
A desperate meow echoed through the hall.
What else?
Save my butler, human.
