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Chapter 04
“…?”
A blank, stunned expression immediately spread across the woman’s face.
From what she had heard, that person must be the marquis’ daughter. In that case, she was essentially the one who had adopted Neya.
With just that thought, Neya called her that.
So the mother she had always dreamed of… was such a beautiful woman!
The disappointment she had felt when first entering the mansion vanished completely, and before she knew it, her heart had begun to race.
Of course, for the woman who had suddenly been called “Mom” by a stranger, it was nothing but bewildering.
“I’m not your mom. I’m Azure.”
“Azure Mom?”
“…Forget it. Call me whatever you want.”
Azure gave up immediately. It already felt like a headache.
“……”
She stared at Neya, who had walked up close to her, then tugged on one of Neya’s cheeks.
“Are you really a cat? You look just like a human.”
“Kehyae—!”
“What was that supposed to be?”
Because her cheek was being pulled, her words came out distorted.
Neya stepped back and escaped Azure’s grip, rubbing her cheek.
“I’m not just a cat! I’m a Catsha!”
“Hah.”
At that sharp declaration, Azure let out a dry laugh.
“How old are you?”
“Seven!”
“If you’re seven in cat years, isn’t that basically middle-aged?”
“I said I’m a Catsha!”
Neya puffed out her cheeks in protest. Catshas had lifespans like humans, so a seven-year-old Catsha had the body and mind of a seven-year-old child.
……
Looking at her, Azure felt exhausted.
“I already have enough trouble with Gary… now there’s another hassle.”
Why on earth had the duke suddenly sent something like this? She was only annoyed.
“If introductions are done, please come out. I’ll prepare a simple lunch.”
At that moment, Shane’s voice came from outside.
Neya immediately left the room and ran into the kitchen where Shane stood.
“Please sit for a moment. It’ll be ready soon.”
Shane spoke, but Neya couldn’t resist her curiosity and approached him.
Climbing onto a small stool with effort, she proudly stood beside him.
Shane, who was preparing cabbage, glanced at her and warned,
“It’s dangerous.”
“I’ve never fallen before!”
Neya said confidently.
‘Well, she is a Catsha.’
Her balance was likely far superior to humans. Shane didn’t stop her further and continued cooking.
He cracked two eggs with one hand against the edge of the pan, letting them sizzle onto it along with bacon. The sound of frying filled the kitchen.
While the bacon and eggs cooked, Shane took out slices of bread wrapped in paper. His movements were practiced and smooth.
Neya watched with sparkling eyes.
“I want to do it too!”
“…Pardon?”
Shane looked at her awkwardly. Neya’s face was full of anticipation.
……
It would be faster to do everything alone, but looking at those eyes, he couldn’t refuse.
“Then… can you peel the cheese packaging and put it on a plate?”
“Yes!”
Neya answered brightly and grabbed the cheese.
She fumbled carefully with her small hands, focusing intensely on removing the wrapping. It was a simple task, but she was fully absorbed in it.
Behind them, Azure passed by.
She opened a cold cabinet enchanted with ice magic, took out a large bottle of milk, and drank straight from it.
“Don’t drink directly from the bottle.”
“Okay.”
Despite her reply, Azure casually continued drinking from the bottle and left the kitchen.
……
Neya paused mid-way through unwrapping cheese and stared at her back.
Then she swallowed.
“I want milk too…”
Hearing her mutter, Shane let out a small laugh and handed her a glass.
“Go ask the marquis’ daughter to pour it for you. But only one cup.”
“Understood!”
Neya shouted brightly and ran into the living room with the glass.
Azure was sitting at the table drinking milk. Neya climbed onto the chair opposite her.
“Milk, please!”
Neya smiled innocently, holding up her cup.
……
Azure glanced at her, then without a word tilted the milk bottle and drank it down in one go.
“…!”
As the milk rapidly disappeared, Neya grew anxious.
But Azure finished the entire bottle without hesitation.
She set it down and wiped her mouth, frowning.
“Ugh, my stomach feels heavy.”
“My milk…”
Just one glass of milk—but for Neya, it was a great tragedy. Her eyes quickly welled up.
“I knew this would happen…”
Shane sighed as he came out of the kitchen.
“Neya, there’s another bottle in the cabinet. I’ll give it to you later.”
“Another one?”
“Yes, but after the meal.”
“Okay!”
Neya instantly brightened again.
Later that afternoon, though it was already late, the three of them finally ate lunch.
The menu was vegetable-filled sandwiches.
Azure looked at Neya’s sandwich and asked,
“She’s a cat, right? Shouldn’t she be eating cat food?”
……
Shane looked at her with visible disgust.
“What, I’m not allowed to judge you with my eyes?”
“Neya, ignore her and eat.”
“Thank you for the meal!”
Neya happily picked up her sandwich.
For something made quickly, it looked surprisingly well-prepared. After one bite, her face lit up.
“It’s delicious!”
“Really? That’s good.”
Shane smiled slightly. Azure had never reacted like that to anything he made before—she would just eat silently.
“Do you always cook, Shane?”
“You can just call me Shane.”
“Do you always cook, Shane?”
She immediately corrected herself. Shane chuckled.
“Only breakfast or simple lunch. Usually the maid prepares meals.”
“But I saw you cleaning earlier…”
Shane had introduced himself as a butler.
Nobles who were about to adopt Catshas made them study aristocratic households. So Neya knew the difference between a butler and a servant.
“A butler isn’t supposed to clean, right?”
“Haha, is that so?”
Shane smiled faintly, almost bitterly.
“I thought so too when I was hired. But before I knew it, I became a handyman.”
“You should’ve expected that when you followed me.”
Azure replied casually while eating.
Neya looked between them, confused.
‘But I heard Mom was kicked out…’
So did Shane follow her here to this old mansion anyway?
Before she knew it, Neya tilted her head in confusion.
“Are Shane and Mom… in love?”
“……”
Both of them froze immediately.
“That’s a horrifying thing to say.”
“Neya, you shouldn’t say things like that.”
“?”
A question mark formed in Neya’s mind. She had only asked a simple question, but they both looked disgusted.
Soon, the meal ended and Shane began clearing the plates.
Azure spoke.
“Shane, coffee.”
……
Shane glanced at her with disdain, then asked Neya,
“Neya, would you like milk instead?”
“…!”
Neya nodded vigorously. Shane said he would bring it soon and went to the kitchen.
Azure sat at the table reading a book, looking bored.
The sun was setting, and warm orange light filled the mansion.
Azure, with her golden hair swept to one side, looked down at her book as sunlight rested on her eyelashes.
‘Like a princess…’
Neya stared at her blankly.
If princesses from fairy tales existed, they would look like Azure.
Then suddenly—
Knock knock.
A knock sounded from the front door.
“Shane, open the door for me!”
Azure called without looking up from her book. But Shane didn’t respond.
“Guess he can’t hear…”
“I’ll go!”
Neya jumped down from her chair.
She happily went to open the door, eager to be liked by the princess-like Azure.
The mansion was small, so the distance was only a few steps.
As she opened the door, a scent brushed past her nose.
‘Alcohol…’
It smelled similar to what had come from Azure’s room earlier.
Neya slowly lifted her gaze.
After tilting her head up for a while, she finally saw the face of the person standing there.
It was a man.
