Chapter 18
I realized that the cold gaze wasn’t directed at me, but at the jewel.
I straightened my chest proudly and thrust the necklace forward. The gemstone sparkled in the sunlight, dazzling my eyes.
“Not bad. Since there will likely be some refreshments left at the pagoda, stop by before you go.”
“Wouldn’t that be someone else’s tea table? Besides, it hasn’t been long since we had lunch.”
The chill between the mother and daughter threatened to descend once more.
Eloise turned as if to leave.
I bit the hem of her dress and held my ground.
“Lizette?”
“Meow.”
From my past life’s experience, avoiding things was never the answer.
Even if you fight and break apart, you still have to talk. Nothing changes if you only run away.
I had fought, shattered, lost my family, and gained freedom. But Eloise’s path would be different.
In the end, Eloise stood once again before her mother.
When I tapped at the Duchess’s dress with my paw, she covered her lips with a fan and spoke.
“Ahem. There’s no owner of that tea table, so let’s go together.”
Her trembling voice gave her away—it was obvious she was hiding her laughter behind the fan.
It must have been quite amusing for her to see her daughter losing to a cat.
Eloise’s eyebrows twitched when she noticed.
“Yes.”
“Meow!”
Eloise carried me in her arms and followed the Duchess into a round pavilion set up in a corner of the garden.
At the center stood a wide table, already laden with refreshments for more than two people.
As if the Duchess had known Eloise would come along.
“Bring out a chair suitable for Lizette to sit on.”
At her command, a servant quickly brought a chair stacked high with cushions.
Instead of climbing up, I jumped to the ground and glanced around at the servants lined along the pavilion’s edge.
Sophie must have known of the Duchess’s route and suggested the stroll.
That meant the servants under the Duchess had ignored Sophie’s authority.
So—there were servants here who looked down on Eloise and me.
“Mrrrow~”
Half of them met my eyes with faint smiles, while a quarter looked at me with annoyance.
Some even carried the same scent as the butler.
“Ahem.”
If they were close to the butler, then they would have no qualms about belittling the young lady behind her back.
Even kings are slandered when out of sight—how much more so for a scorned young lady.
“Lizette. Come here.”
There were people who angered Sophie, yet nothing could be done about it?
“Meoowrk.”
I hissed at three servants, a petty warning.
If they dared to slander or scheme against Eloise, I would tear them apart like I would rip a butler’s whiskers.
“Oh my, it seems Lizette dislikes more than just the butler.”
At the Duchess’s cold voice, all the servants froze in place.
She seemed perceptive, so why did she let the butler’s arrogance slide?
“Meow.”
First things first: I had to win over the real power here.
I rubbed my head against the Duchess’s hem.
She glanced down at me, her lips curling slightly, even as Eloise’s eyes narrowed.
“As for the butler’s conduct…”
“Eloise, your father said I failed to teach you properly.”
Eloise tried to object, but the Duchess cut her off with rebuke.
At her sharp words, I smacked her dress with my paws.
“Myaang!”
“If this continues, I’ll be disgraced before the Empress—”
“Miyaang!”
“I’m worried—”
“Meow!”
Every time she sharpened her words, I swiped my paw and cried out fiercely.
The Duchess gave a hollow laugh and sipped her tea.
Even Eloise looked bewildered—it was her first time seeing me like this.
“What am I to do with this troublemaker?”
“I’ll be careful.”
“Leave it be. Cats don’t heed warnings. It only acts this way because it trusts its mistress.”
The Duchess broke a cookie into a small piece and offered it to me.
Sophie sometimes brought such cookies, saying cats could eat them.
I snatched it up, sprawled at her feet, and chewed happily.
“Don’t trouble yourself with the butler.”
Eloise’s eyes widened slightly at that.
Though she calmly sipped her tea, her turquoise eyes never left me.
I licked my lips when the cookie was gone. It tasted even better than Sophie’s.
“Does Lizette trouble you more than the butler?”
“She’s only just come to me.”
“Eloise. When the other changes, it’s best to adapt as well.”
Her hand clenched tightly at her dress hem.
It felt like the Duchess was using me as a metaphor for the Crown Prince.
That hadn’t been my intention, but my behavior had touched her sore spot.
Quickly, I leapt into Eloise’s lap.
“Lizette?”
“Meow~”
I’d never sat there before, but it was surprisingly comfortable.
Her cold hand gently brushed over my head.
“A hopeless cat.”
“Truly, a hopeless little one.”
Both mother and daughter wore faint smiles at their lips.
Thankfully, the atmosphere eased.
Eloise finally nibbled at her cookie.
Just then, footsteps approached. Someone else?
“Mother, sister.”
“Raoul. Is your fencing lesson already over?”
“Yes. Mother, are there any cookies left?”
“I was just about to rise, so sit here.”
As Eloise moved to stand, my body tilted precariously.
Raoul instantly pressed her shoulder down. So fast—was that magic?
Come to think of it, this was my first time seeing magic at the ducal estate.
“If my sister leaves, won’t the cat leave as well? As the young heir, I want to judge for myself this cat that has stirred up so many rumors.”
“You think such a small creature could shake the household? Look at it—perfectly fine even after that day.”
“It is not fine… because everything has changed.”
No one said a word after that.
I pressed myself tightly against Eloise, as if I might fall.
“Meowrk.”
“Eloise, were you about to let Lizette drop?”
“Ah.”
In the end, Eloise had no choice but to sit properly again. Phew, saved.
Raoul sat in the chair with cushions that had been meant for me.
A maid quickly brought him a teacup. Silence stretched between us.
It was the Duchess who spoke first.
“Today the invitation to the Imperial tea party arrived. Don’t forget to bring Lizette.”
“Yes. I remember.”
Ever since those noble ladies visited, I had been guessing why they wanted me at the tea party.
The most likely reason: to bury the heroine’s cat within society.
“Raoul, you will escort Eloise to the Imperial tea party.”
“Yes, understood.”
His voice rose slightly at the word escort.
From long experience with romance novels, I could tell—he was pleased.
Eloise, on the other hand, looked displeased.
“I don’t want to trouble the busy young heir.”
“Your father and I have other duties. The two of you must represent House Monclair.”
“I have always been a Monclair worthy of pride, even on my own.”
“It was a place of truly beautiful sunsets. The villa I gifted Lady Crimson, you know.”
Ah yes, the lady who slapped Eloise and received a villa afterward.
Rebuked by her mother, Eloise shut her lips tightly.
“Since the cat will also attend, you must be especially careful, Sister.”
Raoul declared the wrong answer boldly—pouring oil onto the fire.
Perhaps he meant well, but Eloise would never take it kindly.
The atmosphere cooled once again.
“Meow!”
I jumped down from Eloise’s lap and beat my paws against Raoul’s leather shoes.
The boy could only watch helplessly.
Eloise didn’t stop me, and the Duchess looked entertained.
“Sister, please restrain the cat—”
“Meoow!”
“Lizette, that’s enough.”
Only after stamping plenty of paw prints did I stop when Eloise called me back. Ah, refreshing.
I was about to return to her side when a fun idea struck me.
“Lizette, where are you going?”
“She looks ready to cause trouble. I’ll bring her back.”
“Raoul, let her be. I’m curious what amusement she’ll create this time.”
“Myaow.”
With that, I dashed off into the garden.
