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Chapter 06
The other girl standing beside Rolanda, following her lead, bowed politely.
“Um… I’m Karin. I’ve been assigned to help Systia-sama with her daily life alongside Rolanda-sama.”
Unlike the confident Rolanda, Karin was thin and frail, with rounded shoulders and a soft voice.
Though the day was bright and sunny, Karin looked pitiful, like a cat drenched in rain.
I smiled warmly and reached out my hand to the cat who was about to be “devoured” by Rolanda with me.
“Nice to meet you too, Karin. I’m counting on you.”
Rolanda and Karin went off to clean the main residence, which had gotten messy from lack of maid attention, while I sat across from Tigris-oppa in the tea room.
Sipping the consomme soup Karin had made, filled with chunks of meat, a warm sensation spread through my body, making me feel relaxed.
“Ahhh. The fruit was delicious, but this consomme soup is amazing too. In Gladwin, you really have to eat meat.”
At my words, Tigris-oppa slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.
“You like the soup?”
“Yes! Thank you for bringing her!”
“I didn’t expect you to specifically ask for Rolanda. It just so happened that she volunteered to take care of you in the main residence.”
“Really?”
I had asked Tigris-oppa to call her, just in case Rolanda wouldn’t come to the main residence like in the original story. Seems that wasn’t necessary after all.
Hmph. What a sly beast.
She even volunteered to come here to ‘devour’ me?
I pretended to drink water, covering my mouth with the cup and pouting slightly.
Watching me, Tigris-oppa spoke, a faint trace of worry on his face.
“By the way, are you really okay staying in the same building? I plan to wrap up my own work as quickly as possible as you requested, but if anyone discovers you’re a hamster before that…”
I dangled the hat decoration on my headband back and forth and smiled.
“It’s fine! If my ears show, I can just say it’s a hamster-ear headband. I’ve practiced a lot for this, you know?”
“But…”
Even as I spoke, Tigris-oppa still looked full of worry.
I knew exactly what he was worried about beyond me being discovered as a hamster, but I said nothing.
Don’t worry, Oppa.
Nothing you’re worried about will happen.
That night, I strapped my prepared items to my waist and quietly left the bedroom.
Even though I had prepared thoroughly, the thought that failure could mean death made me extremely tense.
Soft, soft.
Walking down the stairs covered with a plush carpet to the first floor, I heard voices murmuring from the kitchen.
Thankfully, it seemed the work hadn’t started yet.
I crept closer, listening to the conversation between the two beastmen.
“…How do you feel about it?”
“It’s much prettier and more charming than I expected. It really feels like the kind of place where the young lady of Gladwin would live. With the current chaos in the main residence, it also feels more reassuring. Rolanda-sama said it’s her first time in the main residence too, right?”
“Yes. Only selected beastmen are allowed to work in the main residence.”
“That’s right. When I said I was going to the main residence, everyone was jealous.”
“You too? I was.”
Rolanda laughed brightly.
I pressed myself against the wall by the kitchen entrance and peeked inside.
Karin had her back turned, so I couldn’t see her face, but Rolanda’s face was clearly visible.
Karin spoke in an excited voice.
“The main residence itself is nice, but I really like Systia-sama. Unlike the other Gladwin members, she’s very kind and lovable.”
“In that sense, the main residence is really a good place to work. The twin young masters are always breaking things.”
“Right. Just the other day, they were fighting and completely destroyed a wall.”
“Really? What were they fighting about this time?”
Hesitating, Karin replied.
“I’m not entirely sure… but it seemed they couldn’t agree on whether Systia-sama looked cuter in a tiger-ear headband or a hamster-ear headband.”
…Seriously, these oppas. What on earth are they fighting over?
Rolanda nodded, as if she understood, and smiled.
“They’re like that. What’s so important about being born from a fine tiger lineage? They always fight over ridiculous things and end up causing trouble for others.”
Rolanda is really crossing the line now.
While I frowned and rolled up my sleeves, a flustered Karin said.
“Well, it’s not really like that. Maybe they unintentionally broke things because they’re too strong. They even cleaned up heavy stones themselves and apologized.”
Rolanda looked at Karin silently for a moment, then leaned forward and lowered her voice.
“No need to do that here.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s just the two of us here. No other beastmen are listening, so there’s no need to brag here.”
I’m listening, you know.
I swallowed the urge to reply and continued to pay attention to Rolanda.
“Think carefully, Karin. The beastmen you need to impress here aren’t the twins, it’s me. I could cause trouble for you right now.”
“Ah… then I…”
“Exactly. Here, don’t be cautious. Gossip about the twins all you want. But don’t talk back to me.”
“Yes… I’m sorry.”
Karin bowed her head.
Her face was turned away, so I couldn’t see her expression, but I could roughly guess.
At that moment, I saw it.
Rolanda stretched her lips into a long, mischievous smile, licked them, and licked her lips with anticipation!
“Well, I’m not really going to harm you. I just said it.”
Anyone could tell she looked like she might.
I wanted to rush in and throw a spoon at Rolanda’s face, but it wasn’t the right time.
I waited silently for the chance to enter the kitchen, and fortunately, Rolanda soon gave me the opportunity I was waiting for.
“Sorry for the surprise. As an apology, here’s a gift. Do you like jerky?”
“J-Jerky?”
At the word “jerky,” Karin lifted her head sharply.
“I do! I love jerky!”
“That’s good. You haven’t had dinner yet because you’ve been working. Eat this first, then after finishing your current task, we’ll have dinner together tonight. How about that?”
Rolanda smiled and brought a bowl of jerky from one side of the kitchen, and Karin reached for it as if enchanted.
Finally, it was my moment to appear.
Gulp.
I stuffed the prepared treats into my mouth and stepped into the kitchen, my eyes shining.
Acting as a hamster wasn’t difficult.
The jerky smelled so good my eyes practically sparkled on their own!
“Wow, jerky! I smelled jerky somewhere—so it’s here!”
“Systia-sama!”
Both beastmen looked at me wide-eyed.
Karin was fidgeting like a child caught sneaking a snack, while Rolanda quickly composed her surprised expression, looking pleased that things went as planned.
Rolanda extended the plate of jerky toward me.
“Would you like some too, Systia-sama?”
“You’re giving me some too?”
“Of course. Take as much as you like.”
“Thanks, Rolanda.”
I took the plate with a bright smile, and the two beastmen’s eyes, filled with expectation at the delicious food, turned to me.
Karin was probably hoping I’d taste the jerky, express how fantastic it was, and then offer some to her.
And Rolanda…
I imagined what Rolanda expected me to do, smiled, and picked up a piece of jerky.
The light, savory, slightly salty flavor filled my mouth.
“Wow, this jerky is really delicious! I think it’s the best I’ve ever had!”
Karin and Rolanda’s eyes sparkled.
But unlike Karin, who was bouncing with excitement to eat more, Rolanda’s face gradually darkened.
“S-Systia-sama? Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Why?”
I blinked innocently and popped another piece of jerky into my mouth.
One, two… as more jerky went into my mouth, Rolanda’s expression twisted even further.
Just this much? It’s too easy to mess with her expression.
I picked up another piece from the plate and held it toward Rolanda.
“This jerky was prepared by you, Rolanda, but I ate it all without offering. Here, eat some too. I heard you haven’t had dinner yet? You must be hungry.”
“…Huh?”
“Eat it. You will, right?”
“Well…”
Rolanda pursed her lips without answering.
Right. She couldn’t understand what had happened, so she couldn’t respond, and she couldn’t eat the jerky without permission either.
As planned, following Rolanda’s original scheme, it would have been impossible to eat this jerky while standing normally and smiling!
