Chapter 2

My favorite web novel, No Use Running Away, was famous for its dark themes, practically defining the tags #Angst and #Regret.

The story began when the crown prince—the male lead—had a fateful encounter with the commoner heroine.

The problem was that he already had a fiancée: the story’s villainess.

He tied the heroine to him through a fake relationship, using her for his own purposes before gradually realizing he truly loved her. Then came endless suffering, misunderstandings, and regret.

He even went so far as to wage war against the Beastfolk Kingdom because of her.

“Meow.”

I tried moving so I could get a better look at the two of them, but instead of a groan, an awkward little meow escaped my mouth.

My entire body still ached.

Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—it wasn’t a dream.

First things first.

Survive.

Perhaps being picked up by Marcel was the greatest stroke of luck Heaven could have given me.

The novel overflowed with misery and regret, but these two were supporting characters, far removed from those tragic keywords.

“How did such a tiny kitten end up falling off a cliff?”

“It was probably abandoned. Look at its eyes—they’re different colors.”

“I suppose so. Do mother cats really abandon their kittens over something like that? It’s adorable.”

Marcel gently scratched my head with one finger, smiling.

His smile was even prettier than the novel’s illustrations.

As expected…

He was born to be a cat owner.

I managed to move only my head and rubbed my face affectionately against his finger.

Where could you possibly find a better owner than the second male lead, who had looks, personality, wealth, status, and power all rolled into one?

“You’re so affectionate. Are all kittens like this?”

“Marcel. It may look young, but it’s probably over ten years old. It was just born naturally sly.”

“Haha, sly? That’s a little harsh, Etienne. She’s a little lady.”

“What lady?”

“You rushed over to save her yourself, Eti.”

The moment Marcel called him “Eti” again, the corners of Etienne’s eyes twitched upward in irritation.

He always sounded prickly, but deep down he was a genuinely kind boy who constantly looked out for others.

Knowing how he was in the original story, I wasn’t bothered by his gruff attitude.

“Mew~”

“You know Etienne’s kind too, don’t you?”

Of course I do.

When the heroine was practically forced into the Beastfolk Kingdom, it was Etienne who helped Marcel rescue her.

“Kind, my foot.”

“There you go again. You’d be a lot happier if you were honest. Little one, you’ll have to understand. He’s just hopelessly awkward.”

“Marcel… I hate cats.”

Did Etienne hate cats?

Now that I thought about the novel again, my memory felt strangely hazy.

I’d reread it countless times.

Did I hit my head when I fell off that cliff?

*

The Imperial Palace was the perfect home.

Unlike the moldy basement studio apartment I’d lived in before, every room here smelled pleasant.

Warm meals arrived on time every day.

Best of all…

I no longer had to juggle convenience store, café, and restaurant part-time jobs just to scrape together rent and utility bills.

I felt endless gratitude for becoming a prince’s pet.

Well…

Except for the war that would happen in the future.

Just imagining a war between magic-wielding humans and the Beastfolk made me shudder.

“Marcel. Your left side is wide open.”

“Haha. I left that opening on purpose.”

Clang!

Their mana-infused swords collided.

Marcel’s warm yet overwhelming mana tangled with Etienne’s cold, razor-sharp mana, producing a low humming vibration.

Humans and beastfolk could resonate their mana with the person destined for them.

Mana Resonance dramatically enhanced magical ability and even awakened hidden powers.

That single setting was the foundation of the original novel’s central conflict.

“Yaaawn…”

Watching Etienne and Marcel train their Mana Resonance, I let out a sleepy yawn.

I was already used to it now.

But when I’d first sensed their mana, I’d been utterly shocked.

Even without using magic, I could feel some invisible force surrounding them.

Only after hearing their conversations did I realize…

That sensation was mana.

It made the fact that I’d been transported into a fantasy world feel all the more real.

“How are you supposed to lead your clan when you’re that trusting?”

“You’re just too sneaky.”

Marcel was the Second Prince of the Kalenia Empire and the novel’s second male lead.

Etienne was the future chief of the wolf beastfolk.

For generations, the Kalenian Imperial Family had chosen as crown prince the royal who could achieve Mana Resonance with the wolf beastfolk’s leader.

Yet despite resonating with Etienne…

Marcel wasn’t the Crown Prince.

He was only the Second Prince.

There were various reasons for that, but ultimately the position of Crown Prince depended entirely on the Emperor’s will.

“Mrrrow.”

“Oh? Is our little one getting bored?”

By the time I finished reminiscing about the novel, Marcel had already ended his training and walked over to the basket I was resting in.

As his hand stroked my head, I purred happily.

Watching us while wiping away his sweat, Etienne frowned.

What’s his problem now?

“Meow.”

It had already been a month since I started living with Marcel and Etienne.

At first, I could barely walk on four legs.

And I simply couldn’t believe I’d ended up inside a novel.

But now…

I’d mostly adjusted to being a cat.

My injuries had healed considerably as well.

Thanks to Marcel and Etienne taking care of me, I’d settled into this world without much trouble.

“Has she gotten bigger? That basket looks a little cramped.”

“Meow.”

The only thing I disliked was still being confined to the basket.

Not because I hated it.

I just wished I could wander around freely.

“I think it’s time to get a bigger basket. She’ll be more comfortable lying down.”

“You’re overprotective, Marcel. It’s about time you let her walk around.”

“You think so? I’ll have the servants take her for walks around the palace starting tomorrow.”

Most of my daily care was handled by Marcel’s attendants and maids.

Marcel would stop by the sitting room where I stayed whenever he had time.

The only unusual thing was that he always insisted on bringing me along whenever he trained.

As for Etienne…

Apparently he hadn’t been joking when he said he disliked cats.

Every time he looked at me, he subtly showed his displeasure.

“Etienne, why do you insist on bringing her to every training session if you hate cats?”

Wait…

He’s the one who wanted me brought here?

“…A warning. If she realizes someone is stronger than she is, she won’t foolishly attack them.”

“Haha. A little cat like this couldn’t even leave a scratch.”

Exactly.

Especially considering that someday I’d grow into the kind of cat that could bite through the neck of a lion beastfolk.

Picking fights now would only be my loss.

Marcel lifted me out of the basket and placed me on his lap, gently stroking my fur.

Ah… this is nice.

The servants who cared for me were all kind.

My owner was the best anyone could ask for.

Every day was peaceful.

The hardships of my previous life—running away from my family’s contempt and struggling to survive alone—felt as though they were finally healing.

I hope this happy cat life lasts forever.

“By the way, Marcel. How long are you planning to keep calling her ‘little one’?”

“Someone else is supposed to give her a name.”

“What?”

“Mew?”

…What?

Why wasn’t you, my owner, naming me?

Who else could possibly—

Wait.

You’re not planning to send me somewhere else, are you?

“I’d been thinking about it ever since I brought her to the palace. Besides, Etienne says he hates cats.”

“I mean… I did say that, but you’re the one raising her. It doesn’t matter to me.”

“Haha. Come on, Etienne. Are you actually going to miss her once she’s gone?”

So he is sending me away…!

Marcel…

I don’t mind being called “little one.”

Using my fluffy little paws, I desperately kneaded his rock-hard thigh.

“W-Well… I was the one who rescued her. And she’s still recovering.”

Looking flustered, Etienne awkwardly argued on my behalf.

Matching his words, I dramatically collapsed across Marcel’s lap and made my front paws tremble pitifully.

“Meeeow…”

It was time to employ a skill I’d learned from social media:

The Veteran Employee’s “I Need Sick Leave” Performance.

Relax the eyes.

Speak in the weakest voice possible.

Add slightly trembling hands—

No.

Paws.

Back in my previous life, I’d gone to work even while burning with fever because I desperately needed the money.

Who would’ve thought I’d end up using that experience like this?

Apparently, it worked.

Concern spread across Marcel’s face as he looked down at me.

“Oh dear… you’re still sick, aren’t you? You devoured an entire steak this morning and were running around afterward, so I thought you’d recovered.”

…

I had absolutely no excuse.

Not that I could make one.

The only language I could speak now was meow.

After all…

Where could there possibly be a better home than the Imperial Palace?

Or a better owner than Marcel?

Sure, there were plenty of good people around him.

But there were also countless humans who treated helpless animals cruelly.

Memories of animal abuse stories I’d seen in my previous life surfaced, making my body tremble for real.

“She’s shaking even more. Gren, call the veterinarian.”

“At once! I’ll bring them immediately, Your Highness!”

The head steward, Gren, dashed out of the training grounds like the wind.

One of the maids hurried over with a warm towel.

“Your Highness, perhaps the little lady would like this…”

“Thank you.”

“Our little one’s already charmed everyone in the Prince’s Palace.”

His tone was playful, but the concern in Marcel’s eyes was unmistakable as he gently draped the towel over me.

…Maybe I overdid it.

Embarrassed, I squirmed deeper underneath the towel.

Etienne let out a quiet sigh.

“So… who are you planning to send her to?”

“Lady Montclair.”

…Who?

Even beneath the towel, I heard that name loud and clear.