Chapter 4
The Villainous Family’s Munchkin
Before breakfast even began, countless servants finished organizing all the luggage, bowed deeply to me, and left my room.
Even as they left, they couldn’t resist sneaking glances back at me.
‘Why are their faces so red?’
I didn’t have time to dwell on it.
The three maids who had stayed with me all night were still there, neatly holding their hands together as they approached.
“Marie, I’ll brush your fur for you.”
“It’s breakfast time. After your meal, the Duke suggested a walk.”
During the night, they had carefully brushed my fur, which had gotten all tangled around my tail, making it shine beautifully.
I had planned to sneak off and transform back into human form to eat, but there was no need—they cut my food into bite-sized pieces and even fed me with a spoon.
Judging by how they arrived according to my wake-up time and helped with washing and meals, these maids were likely assigned specifically to me.
‘Wait… I’m a cat right now?’
Even if they intended to raise me as a pet, why treat me with such formality, like a noble young lady?
No, even a noble young lady wouldn’t have servants feed her like this. She would eat with her own hands.
In the Fontine household, I only had one personal maid—Becky.
Even Becky had been hard-won as my only helper.
So I knew something was strange, but…
“Nyam.”
I chewed on the finely chopped meat. Despite acting shy, it was a good sign that the Kavelug household was showing me kindness.
Even mentioning a “walk” after breakfast despite my timid behavior.
‘Let’s get as close as possible, figure out an escape route, and get out of here.’
I deliberately made eye contact with the maids one by one.
Unaware of my scheming, they cooed and fussed over me as if I were a baby.
After finishing my meal, the head maid carefully extended both hands toward me.
“It’s time for a walk with the Duke, Marie.”
From observing her since yesterday, I knew she cleaned the Duke’s room personally and instructed the other maids on tidying mine. She had even placed a cushion for me, touching my backside.
The fact that she was even trying to pick me up meant she wasn’t just any maid.
Someone whom the Duke would personally introduce must be influential within the household.
Showing off my fluffy, clean fur, I let her hold me.
“My… you’re letting me hold you?”
The head maid seemed unprepared for me to immediately go into her arms. Her excited sniff settled on my back fur.
I laid my paw on her arm, pretending not to mind, and wagged my tail.
This was part of my strategy to get closer to her.
“My name is Flan, Marie. I will be your head maid from now on.”
She whispered this close to my ear, as if I could understand.
‘Alright, Flan. Let’s become friends quickly.’
I deliberately blinked my blue eyes up at her, hoping she’d be more charmed by my cuteness.
…but befriending Flan would not be smooth sailing.
Earlier, the Duke had been shocked by my fake potatoes in the morning, and now, he looked displeased as he watched me in Flan’s arms.
This person… didn’t seem like the cold Northern Duke at all. His expressions had varied wildly in just a day.
Strangely, I could feel Flan trembling slightly in my arms.
Sensing something ominous, I clutched Flan’s sleeve tightly.
“Marie. Come to me.”
“Oh, yes!”
It was clearly directed at me.
Perhaps Flan didn’t notice my desperate gesture, because she tried to hand me straight to the Duke.
No, I like Flan…! I stretched my tiny paws as much as I could, but with such short legs, it didn’t help.
Soon, I ended up clinging to the Duke’s arm, nestled in his chest like a baby.
Annoyed, I tapped him with my tail. He seemed to take it as pleasure, curling the corners of his mouth.
“Today, I’ll show you the mansion.”
Ah, pick one—treat me like a human or a cat!
I swatted his arm with my paw jelly. He didn’t even flinch.
…Or maybe it was just my imagination. His body seemed to twitch every time our eyes met.
“This is the garden that connects to the outside.”
“….”
‘He really plans to show me the entire mansion.’
How many hours has this been?
The library, dining room, the Duke’s study, even the large bathhouse… every room with a door, I had entered, all while being cradled like a baby.
Now that we reached the external garden, this might finally be the last stop—but why show me all of this?
To intimidate me with the size of the mansion? To imply, “Even if you know the layout, you’ll never escape”?
‘Who would treat a cat like this?’
Maybe the Duke had wanted a cat in life but couldn’t have one, and now the ghost of that wish lingered.
Otherwise, I couldn’t believe someone like him would obsess over a cat this much.
Still, the external garden would be near the main gate, so maybe there’s a way out… but knights were lined up thickly.
Of course, the main gate was firmly shut.
‘…It’s okay. I can escape.’
Still, it gave me hope compared to being trapped in the room. I had a solid idea of the mansion layout and the servants’ movements.
Getting past the knights might be tricky—they were trained to face humans, not small, nimble animals like me.
The Duke, perhaps sensing my gaze toward the main gate, stopped and scanned the surroundings.
I followed his glance, assessing the area.
Flowers bloomed abundantly, and a soft carpet of grass stretched beneath. A perfect spot for a walk.
“It’s lunchtime, so let’s eat here.”
At a snap of his fingers, a table and dining setup appeared instantly beside us.
He placed me on his lap, and before I could react, secured a bib around my neck.
‘…Huh?’
I was trapped in his strong arms, unable to do anything. Everything happened so fast I couldn’t resist.
“….”
Why did the Northern Duke have a pink, polka-dotted bib? Why was it tied around my neck?
Even if I cried out, it would just sound like a cat, leaving me helpless on his lap.
Meanwhile, servants placed steaming soup, steak, mashed potatoes, and vegetables on the table.
Apparently, he didn’t notice my expression. The Duke picked up a spoon…
“Ah.”
Then switched to a knife and finely chopped the steak.
He scooped the meat and potatoes onto the spoon and… brought it directly to my mouth.
At that moment, my stomach growled.
I thought I heard a suppressed laugh behind me.
Embarrassed, yet defiant, I opened my mouth. After all, I am a cat.
‘Cats are carnivores. No meat, no eating.’
Technically, I was human—but I didn’t protest. I just ate. Chew, chew. The portions were large for a cat, so it took time.
“Marie, you eat well.”
As he stroked my head, I felt oddly like I was truly being raised.
Yet, eating delicious food brought clarity back to my weary mind.
‘Right. Now isn’t the time to be leisurely eating with the Duke.’
I tried lifting my head over his arms to see the main gate.
His forearms were so thick, even with a long neck, I couldn’t see the gate.
The polka-dot bib, his forearms… utterly unhelpful.
Frustrated, I tapped his arm with my paw jelly, then stood on it to stretch my neck.
Finally, my sight cleared, and I saw… could it be?
‘Could that be a portal over there?’
I felt the mark on my hand react, and stared intently beyond the main gate.
Last time, I hadn’t noticed it in my escape attempt.
The mark glowed faintly blue, pointing in a certain direction, indicating the portal’s location.
…It’s a portal. The portal!
The one that could take me south—the portal I had mistakenly come through before!
It wasn’t right in front of the main gate.
Still, it was close enough to see with the naked eye.
‘If I can just get past the main gate, I can escape south!’
Hope that had felt distant now flooded through me, coursing through my entire body.
I laughed as if I had already succeeded in escaping.
Climbing the main gate would be easy for my form.
Figuring out how to get past the dense line of knights ahead would be another matter.
At that moment, I was so focused on the portal that I didn’t notice Tionis Kavelug looking down at me.
Golden eyes, glinting with intense obsession, not just looking at a pet cat.
