BCHG Chapter 42

Startled by his words, I looked at Isaac. I tried to put on the most innocent expression possible and said, “What cat?”

 

“…Never mind. It seems it didn’t come today.”

 

He looked quite disappointed. It seemed like he had been waiting for me.

 

I had no choice but to pretend I hadn’t come today.

 

“Let’s go somewhere safe. Follow me.”

 

“Yes, Master.”

 

I followed him to the study. Isaac dropped himself onto the sofa and motioned for me to sit across from him.

 

“Listen carefully. This place is like a kind of nightmare…” Isaac calmly explained this space to me. Unlike the last time when he was forced to explain things to strangers, his voice was much kinder.

 

Though I already knew everything, I pretended to listen attentively with perked-up ears.

 

After finishing his explanation, Isaac added one more thing. “You’ll be summoned here sometimes at night too. Find me whenever that happens.”

 

Oh, that’s pretty considerate… But since I used the transformation stone, this would be the last time Isaac saw Mia in her human form at night.

 

…Wait. Now that I think about it, the transformation stone said something about the effect wearing off in one hour. If I wasn’t careful, I would turn back into a cat right in front of Isaac. That can’t happen! I’ll be discovered…! But I didn’t have the courage to slip away and be alone.

 

I took out my pocket watch and glanced at it. How much time had passed since I used the item?

 

“Why are you checking the time?”

 

Isaac’s voice startled me, and I quickly put the watch away. He was staring at me intently.

 

“Oh, I just thought time was passing so slowly.”

 

“Just hang in there a bit. When morning comes, you’ll return.” He picked up a book and looked away.

 

My heart was pounding. I needed to leave this place… If I had used the transformation stone 30 minutes ago, I’d need to leave in about 20 minutes. With my heart racing, I kept glancing at the watch, and soon, 20 minutes had almost passed.

 

“Um, Master. I need to step out for a moment.”

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“That… to the bathroom…”

 

Using the bathroom was the best excuse to slip away. He wouldn’t get suspicious with that, right?

 

Isaac closed his book and said, “People don’t need to relieve themselves here.”

 

No wonder I never felt hungry or needed to use the bathroom when I was summoned here. I quickly tried to come up with another excuse.

 

“I have a habit of feeling calm when I’m in the bathroom.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s like a place of comfort for me…”

 

It was humiliating, but I had no choice. He’d surely let me go now.

 

Isaac gave me a bewildered look before he spoke again. “Do you even know where the bathroom is?”

 

“…Isn’t it nearby?”

 

“If you wander around like that, you’ll get eaten. I’ll take you there.”

 

What? He was going to guide me? That would be a problem.

 

I quickly waved my hands and said, “No! Just tell me the general location, and I’ll go alone. It’s embarrassing…”

 

“You really don’t care about your life, do you? Come on. Let’s go to your place of comfort.”

 

My shame was growing, and I had failed to dodge him. Damn, what should I do…? It seemed like my best option was to go along with him for now and wait for an opportunity. I cautiously followed Isaac.

 

Ha, do I have about five minutes left? If this keeps up, I’ll be caught. I’ll have to run away when the time comes…

 

We arrived at a nearby bathroom. The moment he opened the door, I bolted.

 

“Hey!”

 

Isaac’s voice rang out from behind, but I couldn’t stop. I had to hide somewhere, anywhere…! But soon, I heard the sound of footsteps quickly chasing after me. When I looked back, I saw Isaac running after me.

 

Why, why is he chasing me…?! I ran as fast as I could, but Isaac was much faster than me. How much time is left? How much…?!

 

As I turned a corner and veered into a side passage, a notification appeared before my eyes.

 

[The effect of the Transformation Stone is ending.]

 

And in an instant, my body shrank, and I tumbled across the floor. My heart was pounding like crazy, not just from the running. Did Isaac see me? The thought made my heart race.

 

At that moment, Isaac’s face appeared. “Mia?” He looked shocked as he scooped me up.

 

Isaac examined me all over and said, “Mia, are you okay? Why do you look so exhausted? Did you get hurt anywhere?”

 

“Meow…”

 

It’s your fault, you jerk… But I could only meow in response.

 

Isaac hugged me tightly. “I thought you hadn’t been summoned today since I couldn’t find you.”

 

“Meow.”

 

“But, Mia…” He slowly opened his eyes and looked at me. His silver-gray eyes reflected my image. “Did you happen to see a person running this way? A woman in pajamas with long hair?”

 

Oh no, this drives me crazy.

 

From Isaac’s perspective, it would seem like I’d vanished, so it was only natural for him to be curious. I had no choice but to come up with an excuse. Waving my paw, I pointed down the hallway.

 

“Really? Thanks. This place is dangerous, so I’ll have to take you with me.”

 

With that, Isaac started checking each room and opening doors, but of course, they were all empty.

 

“That’s strange. Why can’t I find her?”

 

“Meow…”

 

“…She couldn’t have disappeared that quickly.”

 

It felt like invisible daggers were stabbing me in the chest.

 

Isaac looked down at me and said, “Mia wouldn’t lie to me, so… where on earth did that woman disappear to?”

 

“Me-Meow…”

 

Exactly. I have no idea.

 

As I kept pretending to be clueless, Isaac carefully searched again but found nothing. Eventually, we returned to the study.

 

Ah, my body feels like it’s melting…

 

As I slumped into Isaac’s arm, he spoke. “Mia, don’t you think it’s strange? My maid ran off and disappeared, and then suddenly you appeared.”

 

“…Meow.”

 

It was suspicious, indeed.

 

I felt my mouth go dry as I stared at Isaac.

 

“Are you hiding something from me?”

 

It was indeed a situation that would make anyone suspicious. Despite shaking my head, Isaac didn’t seem convinced.

 

“Are you really not hiding anything?”

 

-Of course not! I’m always honest with you.

 

“…I see.”

 

Ha, it feels like Isaac has figured something out… But in this situation, all I could do was deny it.

 

As I shook my head, Isaac scratched under my chin and said, “That’s right. Mia wouldn’t lie. But if you did…”

 

W-What would you do then…!

 

But he didn’t finish his sentence. He just smiled and patted me. And so, without knowing what he would have said, I greeted the morning.

 

* * *

The clatter of dishes could be heard. The maids were gathered around the table, having breakfast. I, too, was sipping the soup that was served this morning. As I absentmindedly ate, one of the maids I was close to asked.

 

“Mia, what’s wrong? Didn’t sleep well last night?”

 

“Uh, well…”

 

Should I say I slept or not? I had been on edge since morning, worried about what Isaac had said last night. It felt like he had figured something out. If it was revealed that I was Mia the cat, what would happen? Thinking about that made me lose my appetite.

 

Meanwhile, the maid beside me spoke with a thrilled voice. “Were you thinking about master all night?”

 

“So, how are things going between you and master?”

 

“Yeah, Mia, tell us!”

 

Well, there isn’t much to tell… But since they were looking at me with such eager eyes, I felt like I had to say something.

 

“Um… We danced together at a party last time.”

 

“You danced together? Oh my gosh, I’m so jealous!”

 

The maids squealed with excitement. They went on to talk about which boutique I’d visited and what gifts I’d received until the conversation shifted to the fire incident.

 

“It’s no wonder the master treasures Mia. She saved him during the fire.”

 

“That’s right. But why would that man set the fire in the first place…?”

 

A servant who set the fire and ran away the day after he arrived? It was enough to pique anyone’s curiosity.

 

One of the maids then spoke up. “Come to think of it, I heard that servant shouting something during the fire. ‘Die, Isaac Dias’…?”

 

“Dias?”

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