IBVC 10

Chapter 10

It was a day like any other.

The only difference was that today, a separate steak had been prepared just for me.

I wasn’t sure if it was too soon to move from porridge to meat after only a few days.

“Meeww…?”

Trusting Doctor Etmon, I chewed and swallowed a piece. Contrary to my worries, it went down just fine.

How long had it been since I last tasted meat? I savored the rich juices and devoured the steak happily.

“Lizette, come here.”

When I finished the beef, a pale hand stretched out toward me.

In her palm lay three blueberries.

A fruit I had loved in my previous life…

“Myaa.”

I trotted over to Eloise’s hand and stuffed the berries into my mouth. Sweetness spread across my tongue.

Such a delicious fruit—back then, it wasn’t even that expensive, yet I always hesitated to buy it. Just because of money.

Remembering my past life, a sigh slipped out.

“Meww…”

“Want more?”

Perhaps I looked regretful, because Eloise picked up five more berries and offered them to me.

My stomach was already full of steak, but there’s always room for dessert.

This time I stuffed several berries into my mouth at once.

“Nom.”

Truly, living as a rich family’s pet wasn’t bad at all.

If only my owner weren’t the villainess, it would’ve been perfect.

Honestly, how could anyone not turn into a villain in this environment?

A fiancé who only said things that grated on her nerves, and a cold, unfeeling family.

Not so different from my past life, really—family who didn’t even treat me like a human being, and a gaslighting boyfriend.

At least I’d been able to move out on my own and break up with him.

Only then had I been able to breathe. Though I’d been short on money, of course.

For Eloise, the only way to leave her family would be marriage.

And her prospective husband? A gentlemanly bastard. Truly a dead end.

“Meeww—”

As I sat on my cushion munching blueberries, the table was cleared away.

Eloise, done with her meal, was about to start reading when she heard my sigh and looked at me.

“Lizette?”

“Meow.”

I waved my paw dismissively as if to say “nothing,” and she shrugged.

“You really do seem to understand what I’m saying sometimes.”

“Myaa? Myaa?”

I pretended not to understand, grooming my paw with exaggerated nonchalance.

Maybe I was acting a bit too human?

But what could I do—my soul was human. Sometimes it just slipped out.

“If you were a beastman, Etienne would definitely know…”

So, Eloise also called him Etty. I remembered how much Etienne hated that nickname.

I could already imagine his reaction if he overheard.

It had only been a few days, but I already missed them all.

“Hmm…”

After a short hum, Eloise closed her book and stood.

“Let’s take a walk, Lizette. The entire estate is your territory, after all.”

A walk? I wasn’t a dog, but the idea of exploring the mansion excited me so much that my tail began to wag.

I hurried to Eloise’s side and rubbed against the hem of her dress.

“Myaaoow~”

Yes, let’s go quickly! I hadn’t even gotten a good look at the greenhouse yet.

The Monclairs were a bit intimidating, but who would dare say anything to the villainess’s cat?

Not to mention, I was entrusted by none other than the Second Prince.

“You seem pleased.”

Following Eloise, I trotted out of the room.

Several knights stationed on the second floor and maids busy with chores filled the corridor.

One knight froze upon seeing us.

“My lady, without a maid, where are you going?”

“For a walk. I won’t leave the estate, so there’s no need to ‘watch’ me.”

“It’s not watching… I’ll accompany you.”

“Do as you please.”

When Eloise easily agreed, the knight followed behind.

Going from the second floor down to the first, the maids we passed reacted no differently than those in the imperial palace.

“Ahh, so cute.”

“Look at it toddling along on those little legs.”

Toddl—?!

They whispered quietly to each other, but I could hear it loud and clear.

“You two.”

“S-sorry, my lady!”

The maids addressed immediately bowed their heads.

Eloise stared down at them.

I padded over to their trembling forms and rubbed lightly against their uniforms.

One of them softened at the eye contact.

“You look bored. Come assist me on my walk.”

“Y-yes, my lady!”

Far from disliking it, they seemed glad for the task.

So, even though Eloise was the “villainess,” the servants actually preferred accompanying her to doing housework.

In Sophie’s absence, the maids grabbed a parasol and joined the knight in trailing Eloise.

It was almost like we had a little parade.

When we stepped outside, a vast garden spread out before us.

“Myaa~!”

I couldn’t help but let out a cry of wonder.

Under the high autumn sky, flowers of all kinds swayed gently in the breeze.

When I had arrived at the Monclaire estate by carriage, I hadn’t realized—it was even more splendid and majestic than the imperial gardens.

“Meow!”

A yellow butterfly fluttered by, and before I knew it, I leapt after it.

“Lizette!”

At the same time as Eloise’s cry, someone snatched me by the scruff of my neck.

Dangling from the knight’s hand, my body sagged down unpleasantly.

“Nyaa.”

“Oh! My apologies.”

I kicked my hind legs in protest until he shifted me to a proper hold.

Even Sophie had treated me respectfully, and now the knight did too.

All thanks to my owner’s high rank.

“Hand her to me, Whiston.”

“Here you are, my lady.”

Transferred from the knight’s arms into Eloise’s, I shivered slightly at her cool body temperature.

I had noticed before—Eloise’s body was colder than most people’s.

Perhaps it had something to do with the medicine she took every night.

“Lizette, look at this.”

Before my eyes bloomed a pale turquoise rose—its color so strange and mesmerizing.

Its fragrance was unlike any ordinary rose, refreshing yet sweet.

“Meow!”

“Ciel sent it to me as a birthday gift ten years ago.”

“Mew—”

“They developed a new rose cultivar in the palace. He said it reminded him of my eye color…”

Ahh, Marcel, you smooth-talker. Even as a child, he had been flirting like this.

And yet, she ended up taken by the Crown Prince. Tsk.

Eloise would surely have been far happier married to Marcel.

As we strolled the garden, an irritating voice called out:

“My lady.”

Even his smug mustache screamed smarmy butler.

I thought no one would dare talk down to the villainess’s cat—but of course, there was him.

“Butler.”

I hissed at him, but he only clicked his tongue and addressed Eloise.

He didn’t even greet her properly!

“This is the garden Madam so lovingly cultivated.”

“So? Has my mother forbidden me from entering?”

“I meant—why would you bring the cat out here?”

This insolent man!

What had I done?! Sure, I had a history—but today I’d behaved perfectly well!

“Compared to you, Lizette is far more well-behaved.”

“So first the vases, and now you intend to ruin the garden too? These are all things Madam cherishes.”

“Is there anything in this house my mother doesn’t cherish?”

The butler fell silent.

Clouds drifted slowly across the sun, darkening the sky.

Eloise interpreted his silence as an answer.

“Ah, except me.”

Her lonely voice fell upon my ears.

“All thanks to you. I’m very grateful.”

The butler’s gray eyebrows twitched violently.

I knew it! From his very looks to his every action, this man reeked of trouble.

He was the one isolating Eloise from her family.

“My lady only needs to behave properly.”

“Like when you threw away the invitations addressed to me, then told Father I’d pouted and refused to attend?”

“I never did such a thing.”

As I thought! I knew he was up to something!

How dare he treat Eloise like she wasn’t even the master here!

Furious, I used Eloise’s thin arm as a springboard and leapt high.

Today I’d rip out that mustache!

“Kyawww!”

Flying straight at his face, I swiped my claws.

The tang of blood hit my nose as gray hairs scattered to the ground.

Landing lightly on the dirt, I flicked the filthy drops of blood from my claws.

“You wretched cat!”

“M-Master Butler!”

“Lizette!”

I heard their shocked voices as I looked up—only to see a kick coming my way.

I won’t dodge this in time.

“Yaaoww!”