However, as a powerless subordinate, I had to do my best to keep him pleased.
“That…”
“That?”
Ha, finding something good to say about the guy who killed me. After a moment of hesitation, I finally spoke. “C-Cat.”
“Cat?”
“Yes.”
Isaac looked puzzled.
I hurriedly added, “When you talked about the cat you used to have… your expression looked really nice.”
“…”
“It really seemed like you loved that cat a lot.”
Indeed, when he talked about Mia the cat, his expression was unusually soft and gentle. Just based on that expression, he looked like an ordinary person—a person who loves his cat.
Isaac, looking slightly surprised, then smiled softly. “…Yes. I loved that cat.”
“…”
“I loved her very, very much.”
The face he made while talking about his love was so bright and happy that I was momentarily entranced. Just how much did he love Mia? Isaac kept smiling but then his expression hardened again.
“Well, I get it. You can go now.”
He stood up and headed back to the party hall. Then he glanced back at me and said, “…Don’t mention the cat to anyone.” With that one remark, he left.
At the same time, a notification appeared.
[Isaac Blackwood’s affection has increased by 5]
[Current Isaac’s affection: -59]
* * *
After returning from the garden party, Isaac removed his coat and handed it to a maid. Normally, Mia would have taken care of this, but since she had the day off, another maid had to do it. Without saying a word, Isaac dismissed the maid with a single nod. At least when Mia was around, he would speak, but now he said nothing.
Once he was more comfortably dressed, he slumped down on the sofa, feeling quite exhausted from the garden party. What a tiring day. And to think that woman…
Because of Raphael’s whims, he had to bring that woman to the garden party. It would have been fine to leave her alone, but just in case, he kept an eye on her. Then he overheard something unexpected.
“Isaac is just as handsome as Raphael.”
“But his personality is so cold. I tried talking to him last time, and all he did was greet me without saying anything else.”
“That’s true. He even declined all the dance invitations.”
“How aloof…”
That was the usual assessment of him. But what followed was surprising.
“B-But, he does have a kind side.”
A kind side? Did he have one? He couldn’t understand why the woman would defend him. She could have just agreed with the others, so why? Curious, he asked her about it. What part of him was kind?
“When you talked about the cat you used to have… your expression looked really nice.”
“…”
“It really seemed like you loved that cat a lot.”
When he had talked about Mia in the garden with that woman, those thoughts had surfaced. She must have brought up Mia to score some points with him. However, her expression was so innocent, and it had been so long since he had shared Mia’s story with someone that he couldn’t help but feel moved.
…What exactly is that woman? She seemed too naïve to be someone sent by them. If it was an act, it was incredibly convincing. If she hadn’t brought up Mia, he would have thought of her as just an ordinary maid. But now, he couldn’t be sure. If she wasn’t sent by them, then what? Surely, Mia hadn’t become a human…
Knock, knock. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. As Isaac turned, the door opened, and Raphael walked in with a friendly smile.
“Hello, Isaac. Care for a drink?”
“…Yes, Raphael.”
Isaac accepted his offer. Raphael poured wine as red as blood into a glass and handed it to him. The two sat facing each other on the sofa. After a brief, somewhat bleak silence, Raphael spoke.
“Ah, today was really enjoyable. I didn’t expect to see Mia there.”
“Yes. I enjoyed it as well.”
“She’s such a cute and interesting young lady. So, I was thinking…” Raphael swirled the wine in his glass before bringing it to his lips, his eyes glinting ominously. “I want to take Mia with me.”
The surface of the wine in Isaac’s glass rippled. Raphael simply smiled at him.
“Is that okay?”
Under normal circumstances, Isaac would have complied with Raphael’s request—no, his command. But now, he hesitated. He couldn’t easily let go of a woman who might be connected to them. Even if she wasn’t, she was someone who knew about Mia. Isaac’s eyes darkened as he nervously fidgeted with his wine glass before speaking.
“I’m sorry, but that might be difficult, Raphael.”
“Why?”
Raphael still had a smile on his face, but Isaac knew better than to be fooled by it. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Isaac replied,
“Mia… belongs to me.” Technically, she was his maid, so she was his property.
Raphael, hearing this, covered his mouth and began to laugh, his shoulders shaking. What was so funny? Then Raphael stood up and approached Isaac, placing both hands on the sofa’s armrests, effectively trapping him. In the dim light, Raphael’s green eyes gleamed unnaturally bright as he smiled.
“Yours?”
Isaac couldn’t bring himself to look at Raphael.
While Isaac averted his gaze, Raphael looked down at him, still smiling. “Have you ever owned anything that was truly yours?”
Isaac couldn’t deny it. Cold sweat trickled down his cheek. The shadow cast by Raphael was as dark as pitch.
How much time passed? Finally, Raphael stepped back, and the shadow disappeared. With a grin, Raphael spoke.
“Alright. If you insist, I’ll let it go this time.”
“…Thank you, Raphael.”
“Good to know.”
Raphael chuckled, downed the remaining wine, and left. It was only after he was alone that Isaac could finally exhale. The room was filled with a silence that felt almost like relief.
* * *
After returning home from the garden party, I sat in my room, staring at the dress hanging in the closet. Looking at that dress, I felt a mix of emotions. I had both good and uneasy feelings.
[Evening Dress: A dress made from high-quality silk and materials. 5 gold.]
[Evening Shoes: Shoes made by a skilled shoemaker. 3 gold.]
[Pearl Earrings: Earrings made with top-grade pearls and platinum. 2 gold.]
[Pearl Necklace: A necklace made with top-grade pearls. 3 gold.]
The gifts I received today were worth quite a bit. But I couldn’t be completely happy about it. Why was Raphael so generous to someone he had just met?
And not everything about it was good. When I came home dressed like this, half of the employees looked at me with envy and the other half with jealousy. Ugh, being the center of attention like this is uncomfortable… I should get ready for bed.
As I was changing into my pajamas after tidying up, it was almost midnight. Would I be going to the night world tonight? As I lay quietly with my eyes closed, I could hear the clock ticking.
[The night is spreading.]
[The time of darkness has come.]
Ah, so I’m going there tonight.
As I slowly opened my eyes, the Dias mansion came into view. And, as always, Isaac was by my side. As soon as he saw me, Isaac pulled me into a tight hug.
“Mia! Have you been well? I missed you so much… It’s been too long.”
“Meow.”
It has been a while, hasn’t it? I gently patted Isaac’s cheek with my paw. He hugged me tightly and took a deep breath.
“Haa, Mia… my precious cat…”
He held me like that for a long time, but something felt off today. Normally, he would have told me how beautiful I was at least ten times by now, but today he was strangely quiet.
Am I not pretty today? No, that can’t be… I’m always pretty as a cat…
Hi, if you enjoy the story, please leave a review in the Novelupdates. Thank you~
I’m always pretty as a cat. 😂 She kills me. Anyone know how long until Isaac finds out she’s his cat? 😭
Thanks for the tl! ✨