IJEBPSCLB 10

‘I never wanted to see this room again….’

I pressed down on the hot pink cushion over and over. I had no idea why, out of all possible colors in the world, it had to be hot pink.

But since it was comfortable, I decided color didn’t matter.

‘Must be that white tiger’s taste.’

I respect all kinds of preferences.

But then—why is that over there?

“…A study room and a bow?”

In one corner of the office, a silver bow and arrows stood out with an intimidating presence. With those arrows, hunting crocodiles might actually be possible.

At that level, maybe even close combat with a bear wouldn’t be an issue.

‘…If you swing that bow wrong a few times, you could probably kill a few people.’

Can he even lift that thing?

A hot pink cushion, and right beside it, a bow and arrows that looked overwhelmingly dangerous compared to ordinary weapons.

‘What kind of combination is that supposed to be?’

Ugh. I don’t get it. That tiger is completely beyond my understanding.

‘He didn’t even need to bring me to the office, but here I am.’

I looked away from the bow and arrows and went back to aggressively pressing the thick, vivid pink cushion.

Barely three seconds after entering the office, I ran out—only to be caught by a brown-haired man and dragged back here.

Even while being dragged, the butler’s voice—full of pride in the mansion—kept replaying in my head.

Thinking of the butler’s face while being hauled away, I focused hard on lifting my paws so I wouldn’t leave a single scratch on the floor.

‘Sigh… why am I stuck in Ian’s office? I was just supposed to tour the mansion.’

Truly a mystery. I was told to look around the rooms, so I did—but why did it end in Ian’s office?

The outcome was so miserable I couldn’t help but feel deflated.

‘Who even designed this route?’

Obviously Ian.

There was no doubt—the smart tiger had planned all this.

‘Otherwise there’s no way there’d be a cushion perfectly sized for me to lie down here.’

Come to think of it, they were awfully eager to let me tour the mansion. Now that I think about it, when I tried to head back after looking around a bit, the head butler had been desperate to show me this room.

I glanced secretly at Ian, who was busy working.

Ian picked up papers from the towering stack, signed them with a scratch of his fountain pen, and with his other hand, covered my eyes.

“Kitty, don’t make such ugly wide-eyed expressions.”

He was clearly looking at documents, yet somehow his big hand perfectly blocked my eyes.

It covered my entire face.

When I shifted my head to regain my view, his hand followed.

“…?”

I tilted my head slightly.

His hand tilted with it.

There was no doubt about it—this tiger definitely had eyes in the back of his head.

‘Ugh, annoying.’

Every time I moved, the palm followed. Eventually, I gave up trying to dodge it.

I turned my head sharply toward the brown-haired assistant who had dragged me here earlier.

‘Right. I don’t like him either.’

The assistant, who had chased me down at terrifying speed, shouted “I’m sorry!” and grabbed my paws again, dragging me into the office like I was a criminal resisting arrest.

I was hauled in front of everyone like that.

‘Though judging from his desperate eyes, he probably had some circumstances.’

What I didn’t know was that those “circumstances” were a bonus payment.

‘Ugh. Embarrassing.’

Just remembering it made me uncomfortable.

If you’re going to drag me, at least do it properly. Why drag me like a criminal?

“Cat-nim, if you stare at me like that, my fragile heart might suffer.”

Allen clutched his chest dramatically. Somehow, his heart must be made of steel.

He looked like he would live a long life.

Probably extremely healthy.

“I won’t be able to work if you keep looking at me so frighteningly, Cat-nim.”

His tone was light as a feather, while he continued working completely unfazed.

‘Sorry, but can you slow down your hands before you say that?’

I glanced at the rapidly disappearing documents, then looked at him in disbelief.

“Kitty, he said he can’t work.”

Ian gently turned my face toward him again. When he confirmed I was looking, he smiled.

A faintly irritated smile.

Was something bothering him? Was he annoyed because the assistant couldn’t work properly? But he didn’t seem like that type. So what exactly was irritating him?

‘Right. Tigers aren’t meant to be understood.’

Ancient wisdom was never wrong.

Ian, having turned my face back, still covered my cheek with his hand and said:

“Don’t look at him. Look at me.”

And so I was forced to “appreciate” Ian’s face.

He wore round silver-rimmed glasses, giving off a scholarly aura while working.

He didn’t smile while working, which made him look cold—like a sharp, distant scholar.

When he did smile, he looked dazzling, but right now he was cold and handsome.

‘He’s ridiculously good-looking. That doesn’t even look like a beastman face.’

No wonder someone once said he was so striking that maids would faint at the sight of him.

‘If you asked who likes that face, half the continent would fold their fingers.’

My gaze drifted from his face to his hands.

‘Wow. His hands are pretty too.’

Unlike our first meeting when he wore black gloves, he now wore white gloves. Long, straight fingers flipped through papers efficiently.

His hands were so large they could probably cover most people’s faces. I had to resist the urge to step forward and place my paw on them.

‘And he’s tall too.’

Big hands, tall height, long legs. What is he, perfect in every way except personality?

I looked down at my own short, fluffy limbs.

‘…….’

Life really is unfair.

‘Does he even know he’s good-looking?’

“No matter how much you like me, staring that intensely is a bit embarrassing.”

Ian spoke casually while signing documents.

He didn’t look embarrassed at all.

‘You don’t look embarrassed at all.’

“Are you capable of feeling embarrassment, Lord Ian?”

The brown-haired assistant asked seriously, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Ian smiled faintly, then stopped signing and spun his pen.

Then he flicked it.

Like tossing a paper airplane.

Whoosh—

The pen flew at terrifying speed toward Allen.

Allen tilted his head slightly while continuing to sign documents.

Thunk.

The pen narrowly missed him and embedded itself in the wall.

Yes. It stabbed into the wall.

Deeply.

Was that even possible?

The previously smooth, flawless wall now had cracks radiating from the pen.

I froze, mouth hanging open.

If someone tapped my head right now, I’d probably faint on the spot.

Ian smiled lightly.

“Allen.”

“Yes, my lord. Though that was really hard to dodge.”

“Too bad. I missed.”

He clicked his tongue calmly.

“You almost killed a talented man,” Allen sighed. “Do you know how rare I am?”

Apparently, ordinary pens and objects became lethal weapons in Ian’s hands.

If that pen had hit him… he might’ve been hospitalized for days.

Allen shrugged and went back to his documents.

‘He almost had his head pierced and he’s still working…?’

Around me, everyone else continued working calmly, as if nothing had happened.

If you asked them “What just happened?” they would probably reply, “What happened?”

Ian opened a drawer full of pens, picked one out, and continued working as if nothing had occurred.

Allen sighed once and buried himself back into paperwork.

It seemed this wasn’t unusual.

Like it was part of everyday life.

Pens flying into walls as routine.

I was the only one whose heart had nearly stopped.

Yes. This place is weird. Nothing here is normal.

After about five minutes of peaceful silence—with a pen still stuck in the wall—Allen suddenly looked up.

“By the way, Lord Ian. Do you know the cat’s name?”

“No.”

“You kidnapped her without even knowing her name?”

Silence followed.

Then Allen smiled.

“Wow. I didn’t know you were this bad. Kidnapping someone without even knowing their name.”

What kind of logic is that?

“That’s not how kidnapping works.”

Before I could even process it, Allen continued:

“At least you should know who you’re kidnapping.”

Ian replied calmly:

“I don’t usually kidnap people.”

‘Hey! That’s the strange part!’

I stood up abruptly, tail stiff with disbelief.

Allen nodded.

“Ah, right. Lord Ian doesn’t usually kidnap people.”

‘Then what does he do?!’

A chill ran down my spine.

I really didn’t want to know.

While I was thinking, someone poked my head.

“This is her first kidnapping.”

‘Congratulations on becoming the first hostage.’

My forehead was pushed back by his finger.

Then my body tilted backward.

Because of everything that had just been said, even my glare turned polite.

“Kitty.”

Ian called me while petting my head.

‘What.’

I looked up blankly.

“What’s your name?”

Suddenly?

‘Why are you asking that now?’

I shook my head.

‘I don’t have a name.’

And at that moment, both Allen and Ian froze.