Chapter 19
If Raul feels jealous of me, then I’ll only make sure to provoke him even more.
They say that when a cat wants to thank its owner, it brings them something it hunted.
Usually that means a mouse or a bird, but since I can’t catch those here, I’ll just have to find something else.
“Around here… Ah, found it!”
Before my eyes, a pale turquoise rose was giving off a faint fragrance.
It was a cultivated variety, so there were no thorns—perfect for biting with my teeth.
The stem was tougher than expected, so I had no choice but to pull it out, roots and all.
“Lady Lisette, what are you… Oh.”
“Mew!”
“Ah, ah… I just finished grooming you so nicely, and now this—oh dear.”
Sophie, who had hurried after me, looked close to tears at the sight of me covered in dirt.
I did feel sorry for her, but since this was all for Eloise’s sake, she would surely understand.
With the dirt-caked rose in my mouth, I trotted back to the pergola.
“Well, well. What a pretty little troublemaker you are again.”
“My goodness, Lisette.”
When I proudly laid the rose before Eloise, she let out a short laugh.
Then, without hesitation, she picked me up along with the dusty flower, unbothered by the mess.
The Duchess looked a little surprised, while Raul’s face twisted into a deep scowl.
“That cat…”
“Meow.”
I stuck out my tongue at the fuming Raul. If you’re jealous, then treat Eloise better yourself.
Our snack time in the pergola ended quickly, ruined by Eloise’s dirtied dress.
Bath Time Trouble
“Mrrrow! Mrrrowr!”
“You say you hate baths, so why do you keep getting yourself covered in dirt?!”
Sophie scolded me with teary eyes as she scrubbed me furiously, and I wailed under the assault.
Eloise chuckled softly at the sight, then quickly composed her face again.
“What can you do? Lisette doesn’t allow anyone but you to handle her like this.”
Though I was scooped out of the large basin, my soaked fur was heavy and miserable.
Sophie began carefully drying me with a towel.
At least, when I saw the rosepot now decorating the windowsill, I felt satisfied.
“My lady’s dress was caked in dirt too, I can’t believe this…”
As the usually quiet Sophie lamented, Eloise calmly sipped her tea.
After three towels were soaked through, my fur was finally fluffy again, only for the brushing to begin.
“Please, at the Imperial tea party, behave yourself.”
“Meow…”
Deflated, I let Sophie work on me. An Imperial tea party, huh? Surely nothing dramatic will happen.
Though lately, it felt like I got into trouble every other day. Hopefully this time would pass quietly.
The Imperial Tea Party
A few days later, the day of the Imperial tea party arrived.
Eloise’s dressing room was piled high with newly tailored gowns, while my necklace and cape rested neatly nearby.
From dawn, Sophie and the maids were busy dressing Eloise.
“My lady, which parure will you wear?”
“The sapphire set we bought recently.”
The shimmering sky-blue fabric and white lace formed a voluminous gown.
Her half-up dark hair was adorned with pale blue delphiniums.
And with the sapphire and diamond jewelry set, it was as though a goddess of beauty had descended.
It seemed Eloise had claimed all the beauty in the world for herself.
“Shall we match Lisette’s necklace with sapphires as well?”
“Yes. There should be lace for her cape to match the gown too.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Once Eloise’s adornments were finished, it was my turn.
Since my fur had already been brushed that morning, all I needed was the cape and necklace.
Now, it was truly time to head for the Imperial Palace. I hope I’ll get to see Marcel and Étienne there.
“You’re late, sister.”
When we stepped outside, Raul—already dressed and waiting—stood by the carriage.
“You must have too much time on your hands today.”
“When Mother commands, I have no choice but to obey.”
Their sibling sparring began bright and early.
Still, Raul escorted Eloise better than I expected, despite her being taller than him.
Soon, the carriage halted in front of the palace.
“Welcome, Lady Monclaire. We’ll escort you to the gardens.”
The palace maid greeted us politely.
Cradled in Eloise’s arms, with Raul at her side, we arrived at the Imperial gardens.
“Shall I take care of the cat for you?”
One of the attendants pointed toward an enclosed area nearby, surrounded by a magical barrier. Inside, various pets roamed about.
It looked like the handiwork of the Duchess and Lady Fenel.
“No, I’ll hold her.”
Among the nobles, some carried pets in their arms or led them on leashes.
“Sister, must you really…” Raul began pointedly, but Eloise pulled her hand from his arm.
“You should go tend to your acquaintances. I must greet my friends as well.”
Though she phrased it politely, she had essentially dismissed him.
Does someone like her even have friends? I wondered idly.
“Lady Monclaire is stunning as always. That necklace alone could buy several estates in the capital.”
“Look at the cat she’s carrying. Could she be imitating Marianne?”
Everyone whispered about Eloise, but none dared approach.
Then, a girl carrying a small dog stepped closer.
“Lady Monclaire. I hope you’ve been well?”
“Thanks to your kind letter, I recovered swiftly.”
“I’m glad my thoughts reached you.”
This girl seemed to be the marquis’s daughter I’d glimpsed in the duchess’s drawing room.
The little dog in her arms panted with its tongue out.
“Woof!”
“What a pretty dog. This animal commotion must be our mothers’ doing.”
“They both take great pride in their noble status, after all.”
As Fenel and Eloise conversed, the surroundings grew noisy.
When I turned, I saw her—
Soft pink hair, clear sky-blue eyes, a delicate frame.
The heroine of this world, Marianne—the one who had soaked my pillow with tears in my past life.
“It seems there’s a girl here who thinks this is Dwaynes.”
Fenel’s smile vanished, leaving only cold disdain.
No wonder she and Eloise get along—they both give off icy gales when they stop smiling.
Dwaynes was where the heroine was born, the slums of commoner life.
“She still doesn’t seem to know her place.”
The heroine, not knowing where to go, looked on the verge of tears.
No matter her influence in society, she was still nothing more than a commoner.
Eloise was pointing out not only her physical place, but her social standing as well.
“Exactly. No matter how one dresses up, their station doesn’t change… Not even their cat.”
“A cat is only as refined as its master. And by the looks of it, hers can’t even keep it under control.”
In Marianne’s hands was a leash, at the end of which a white cat hissed furiously.
The nobles around us began whispering, their eyes darting between me and that cat.
“As expected… His Highness…”
“Indeed. These days, the Crown Prince…”
I caught scattered comparisons between the Crown Prince and Marcel.
The Crown Prince’s already fragile claim to the throne was weakened further by his commoner lover.
He often flaunted his relationship with Marianne to fuel rumors, which would eventually transform into a story of “love transcending class.” For now, though, it was still in its awkward phase.
Don’t tell me I have to see that detestable face today too?
“Oh dear, Marianne. Why the long face?”
“Peace to Calenia. I greet Your Majesty, the Empress.”
“We greet Your Majesty, the Empress.”
At that moment, the Empress entered, and the nobles bowed.
Eloise, with me in her arms, gave only a small curtsy.
The Empress fluttered her lace fan, adorned with white feathers, as she returned the greeting.
“You’ll soon be the daughter of an earl. You must grow used to such occasions.”
With gentle concern, she caressed Marianne’s cheek.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“No need to apologize. You know well how frightening Arnaud can be when he’s angry.”
Though her role in the novel was small, the Empress was always depicted as kind and gentle toward the Crown Prince and Marianne.
Seeing her in person, I agreed, though there was also an undeniable air of quiet authority about her.
She swept her gaze over the nobles, like a predator sizing up prey, before her eyes finally landed on us.
“Oh my. Eloise.”
