chapter 10

A blinding white flash pierced my vision for the briefest moment, making me instinctively squint.

And what I saw afterward was…

“W-What is that?”

Meow.

“…”

The monster had somehow turned into a cat.

The only things that hadn’t changed were its snow-white fur and golden eyes.

With graceful movements, it slipped free from Harry’s hands. Then it quietly folded its paws beneath itself and looked up at me.

What the hell… I don’t even know anymore.

“I’ll keep it.”

There was no helping it. Mentioning cats had been a mistake.

The white cat looked just like the pet cat I’d raised in my previous life.

“Really?”

“Mm-hmm. It’s adorable. Especially its eyes.”

Those golden eyes were creepy, but they were beautiful.

Besides, I’d always loved cats.

Theo’s eyes curved into a smile as he spoke.

“Things like that are only pretty while they’re alive.”

“W-What do you mean…?”

“Eyes like those only look nice when they’re still in someone’s head.”

In other words, Theo was simply trying to say, “Good thing you’re the one raising it,” in the most horrifying way possible.

Because of that, I was reminded once again—

Theo absolutely could not be a character from the original novel.

Maybe I’d believe he was the overworked art teacher, but there was no way someone like him belonged in a wholesome healing childcare story.

“I’ll have the monster sent to the marquis’ estate tonight. I need to report it to the Magic Tower first.”

“Oh… okay. Thanks.”

This is the last one.

The last thing that’s going to interfere with my peaceful transmigration life.

I gave a quiet nod.

* * *

“The princess is really late today.”

While waiting for Shuni in the hallway, Nora and I sat side by side chatting.

“Lady Reina, did they catch your stalker yet?”

“I’ve been asked that three times already today.”

“Maybe for you it’s the third time, but it’s the first time I’ve asked. So tell me.”

After I reported it to the city guard, rumors that I’d been targeted by a dangerous stalker spread through high society at an alarming speed.

At first, I couldn’t understand why.

Then I realized that an unmarried noble lady having a stalker was exactly the sort of gossip the social circles loved.

Mother was probably worried too, even if she pretended not to be.

Just when everyone was hoping I’d marry soon, a rumor like this had to spread.

“Lady Reinaaa.”

Nora continued pestering me.

So I gave the same rehearsed answer I’d been giving everyone.

“They haven’t caught him, the guard hasn’t found any clues, and there haven’t been any new sightings.”

“That’s terrible. Especially since you’re not married yet.”

Marriage.

That word had practically become a trigger for me.

I absentmindedly swung my legs as I answered.

“I know. Honestly, all I can think about is catching that guy, but my parents seem just as worried about my marriage prospects.”

Then an unsettling thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“Wait… does the princess know about my stalker too?”

Nora answered as though I’d asked the obvious.

“Of course not. If Her Highness found out about something so awful, His Majesty would probably execute everyone working in the princess’s palace.”

“…Right. Good point.”

It was a relief that Shuni didn’t know.

Just as I relaxed and tried to change the subject—

“What’s going on with you two?”

Shuni suddenly appeared behind us.

She looked puzzled to see Nora and me getting along so well.

Thinking Shuni might literally kill someone if she learned about the stalker incident, Nora hurriedly improvised an excuse.

“Oh, it’s nothing! I’ve been looking for a marriage partner lately, so I was asking Lady Reina for advice.”

Marriage…

Of all excuses, it had to be marriage again.

“Hmm…”

Although Nora smiled innocently, Shuni still looked suspicious.

Then she declared firmly,

“Nora. Don’t come into my lessons anymore.”

“W-What?! Why?”

Nora looked as though the world had ended after being banned from observing the classes.

“Hmph.”

Crossing her arms, Shuni continued in the same unwavering tone.

“Just like Grace. Starting now, you shouldn’t stay beside me either.”

“B-But…”

“It’s absolutely not because I don’t want to see you and Rena together.”

The future tyrant glanced at me after making an entirely unnecessary clarification.

The moment our eyes met, I hurriedly forced a smile.

Of course, whatever our heroine says.

“So… does that mean Lady Grace will start attending the lessons instead?”

“No. Grace can’t come either. Rena likes making friends, so she’d just become close to Grace too.”

“Ah… okay.”

I answered calmly, but inwardly I couldn’t help laughing at how ridiculous this situation was.

There’s no way she actually likes me.

Something else must have annoyed her, and this is just another one of her hysterical episodes…

Either way, Nora was forbidden from attending the lessons from that day onward.

While Shuni painted, I smiled more brightly than usual.

So much that my face almost cramped.

She seems to be in a particularly bad mood today…

“Rena.”

“Y-Yes?”

I stammered as though I’d been caught doing something wrong.

Shuni studied me for a moment before asking an unexpected question.

“Aren’t you curious?”

“Curious about what?”

“Why I’m always late for our lessons.”

“…?”

Why is she asking me that all of a sudden?

Judging by the original story, she was probably busy preparing her exile plans or plotting revenge against the people who had framed her in her previous life…

“Not really.”

Despite the way she sounded as though she wanted me to ask, I gave the exact opposite answer.

“It’s your private life, after all.”

Honestly, I wanted to stay as far away from anything related to the original story as possible.

I was just an extra.

Sometimes ignorance really was bliss.

The more I knew, the more likely I’d be dragged into the plot and end up in danger.

“Hmm.”

At my polite but unmistakable refusal, Shuni narrowed her eyes for a moment.

Then, without warning, she smiled brightly.

“That’s why I like you, Rena.”

“…Pardon?”

“You’re always like this. Whenever possible, you live quietly, have an ordinary life, and try to stay on good terms with everyone.”

…Was that an insult?

Well, it was true that my life motto was to maintain good relationships and live a long, peaceful, uneventful life if possible.

Shuni continued naturally.

“But when it really matters, you’re more proactive than anyone else. Like when you went to the Magic Tower because Grace asked you to. I like that you’re both strong and kind.”

“…Um…”

Her sudden praise left me completely at a loss.

Was she genuinely complimenting me?

Or was this some incredibly sophisticated form of sarcasm that I simply wasn’t clever enough to catch?

I only wanted to avoid getting tangled up in the original plot…

Unable to tell, I simply smiled in silence.

The only thought filling my head was that I needed to hand in my resignation as soon as possible.

* * *

After the lesson ended, I returned to the marquis’ estate.

For some reason, I felt especially exhausted today.

I skipped dinner and lay down on my bed to rest when I heard a faint whining sound from somewhere nearby.

“Grrk.“

It was Hayangi.

That was the name I’d given the monster myself.

When I first announced it, Ritsa said it was a terrible name, Rose burst into laughter, and the creature itself showed no reaction whatsoever.

The moment our eyes met, Hayangi flinched.

Then, after a slight delay, it let out a soft meow.

You don’t have to keep pretending to be a cat…

“Come here.”

For some reason, Hayangi was utterly terrified of me, despite the fact that I was the one it had formed an imprint with.

It had been like that ever since arriving at the marquis’ estate.

“I’m not going to hurt you. Though I don’t know if you can understand me.”

Honestly, I’d assumed Hayangi liked me.

Everyone said it was so ill-tempered that it gave every mage headaches, yet it behaved quietly only around me.

And that had certainly been true.

But perhaps that didn’t mean it trusted me.

“I really want us to get along.”

Even after hearing my sincere words, Hayangi only growled.

There wasn’t the slightest sign that it intended to open its heart to me.

In the end, I smiled bitterly.

“I see. If you’re scared, then I can’t force you.”

Shaking my head, I picked up the letter lying on my desk and read it again.

It had arrived together with Hayangi, sent by the director of the Animal Protection Department.

First: This creature is an extremely rare species and has not yet been given an official scientific name. Please treasure it.

Second: It can safely eat any food that humans eat. It possesses enough intelligence to understand simple commands and can accurately perceive emotions that people do not attempt to hide.

Research on this species is still ongoing, so little else is known. However, it appears to share behavioral traits with dragons, so information about dragons may prove helpful.

Third: This creature has a habit of approaching magical formulas and magic circles whenever it sees them. Therefore, please refrain from casting magic in its presence.

Since I’d already decided to raise it, I wanted to do it properly.

Unfortunately, the information I’d been given was painfully scarce.

Still, knowing it could eat human food, I cooled down a bowl of cream soup and left it for Hayangi.

It didn’t even glance at it.

This won’t do. Becoming friends with it has to come first.

Otherwise, it might starve to death before the Magic Tower came to retrieve it.

They said its habits are similar to a dragon, right?

To learn more, I went to the library in the marquis’ estate to look for books about dragons.

There wasn’t a single one.

In fact, there wasn’t even a book about taming animals.

Well, I suppose that makes sense.

Hayangi is the only animal living in the marquis’ estate.

So, accompanied by Ritsa, I headed to the largest bookstore in the capital.

I hesitated outside before finally pulling open the door.

Jingle.

The shopkeeper greeted us warmly.

“Can I help you find something?”

“Yes… um… do you happen to have any books about… dragons?”

Even as I asked, I felt embarrassed.

Dragons? Really?

I wouldn’t have blamed the bookseller for thinking I was suspicious.