CHAPTER 03
“But how? All I can do is sit here twiddling my thumbs, hoping for another miracle like magic to happen!”
Just as I was clutching my head in frustration—
Tap, tap.
A tiny hand gently touched my cheek.
It was Aslan’s hand.
When I looked down in confusion, Aslan was staring up at me with teary eyes and his eyebrows drooping into a pitiful shape.
“Mom, are you okay? Did Aslan do something wrong?”
“Huh?”
“Did you not have fun playing hunting earlier, Mom?”
His little face was filled with nervousness and guilt.
As I took in that precious sight, I felt an explosion of emotions inside me.
‘Oh my god… how cute is this!’
I’ve always liked kids, but I never thought anything could beat a cat in cuteness.
But maybe it’s because Aslan used to be a cat? The way this tiny head is worrying about me is so endearing and adorable.
My heart softened like his fluffy hair, and I gently patted his head.
“No, Aslan. You didn’t do anything wrong. Mommy had fun playing hunting too.”
“Really?”
“Of course! Have you ever seen Mommy lie?”
“Yeah. You told me we were going to eat something yummy and then made me get a shot— mmph!”
“Well, I did give you a tasty snack afterward, didn’t I?”
I quickly covered Aslan’s mouth.
Apparently, I’ve lied to him more than I thought. But it was all for his own good. He needed his vaccinations, no matter what.
Maybe to save me from further embarrassment, the servants quickly brought in breakfast.
“Your meal is ready.”
They placed a plate in front of Aslan with a fluffy soufflé omelet and a big sausage.
The sweet and savory smell hit my nose, and I suddenly realized how hungry I was.
‘Okay, let’s think about turning Aslan back into a cat after breakfast.’
So much had happened already this morning, and I was completely drained.
I reached for my favorite omelet, picked up the fork and knife, and was about to take a bite when a question popped into my head.
‘…Wait. Does Aslan even know how to use utensils?’
Even if he’s human now, his instincts are still very much cat-like.
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye—and saw something shocking.
“Nom!”
“Aslan!”
Just like a cat eating kibble, Aslan had buried his face in the plate and was gobbling down the food.
“Nooo! Aslan, no! You have to use a fork!”
I screamed and pulled him away from the plate.
But I was a second too late. His cheeks were already greasy and stuffed, and his eyes sparkled as he munched on the sausage.
“Yum yum! It’s tasty, Mom.”
Anyone seeing this would think something’s wrong!
Worried someone might suspect he used to be a cat, I anxiously glanced at the servants. Imagine that—me, the mistress of the house, nervous around the staff. How pathetic is that?
“Hehe, the young lady is just as lively as ever.”
“…Huh?”
“But perhaps she should start learning to use utensils now.”
“Well, for now, it’s still fine. She’s so adorable.”
The servants smiled warmly at Aslan like this was a daily occurrence.
Seriously? Shouldn’t it seem at least a little weird that a five-year-old is still eating with her hands?
And yet, Aslan once again shoved his face toward the plate.
“Nom!”
“Aslaaan!”
With a second scream, I dragged him away from the plate again. This time, his cheeks and mouth were even messier than before. I practically sobbed as I grabbed a napkin from my lap.
“I can’t take this! I told you to use a fork! Now hold still so I can clean your face!”
“But whyyy? I always eat like this.”
“Because now you’re—!”
A human! I almost said, but then remembered we weren’t alone.
Maybe he took my silence the wrong way, because Aslan dove straight back into the plate again.
He struggled a bit trying to eat the big uncut sausage with just his mouth.
Then, as if he had a great idea, he stared at his own hand, then grabbed the sausage with his chubby fingers and began to eat it like a champ.
I nearly lost it.
“Aslan!”
“Look, Mom! It’s way easier with my hands!”
Now freed from the limitations of paws, Aslan joyfully grabbed food with both hands.
The omelet squished in his little palms, and his clothes got completely filthy.
Anyone could tell this wasn’t how a person eats, but the servants just smiled at him lovingly, not at all weirded out.
I felt like I was the only sane one in the room and finally gave in.
‘Haha… fine. Eat with your hands all you want! Just don’t stick your face in the plate again!’
Kids eating with their hands isn’t that strange.
Okay, maybe not for a five-year-old.
But then… when Aslan finished eating and licked his hand to wipe his face—I broke down in silent tears.
Back in the room, after changing Aslan’s dirty clothes, I collapsed onto the bed.
‘God, I’m exhausted…’
So much had happened since morning, I was still dizzy from it all.
Aslan, oblivious as always, snuggled up beside me like it was naptime after a meal.
I could swear I heard him purring.
‘…Is he a human or a cat?’
His hair felt as soft as cat fur when I unconsciously stroked his head.
I slowly started to calm down and gathered my thoughts.
‘Let’s organize everything.’
Aslan became human.
I recalled the original story I had long forgotten.
This was Aslan’s childhood—who, in the original story, was the villainess Leona.
In the original, Minerva cared deeply for her daughter, and Leona enjoyed a happy childhood under her.
But it didn’t last long.
Just before Leona entered the academy, she lost her mother.
‘The cause was a carriage accident.’
The day Minerva went to the capital to persuade the Emperor to admit Leona to the academy, her twin brother, Prince Mars, killed her.
‘The reason was simple. Mars, unaware of Leona’s existence, assumed the Emperor called Minerva to hand over the throne.’
Leona, who lost her mother overnight, was crushed in despair.
And that’s when a mysterious gentleman appeared before her.
His name was Duke Lloyd Eckhart.
He told her who killed Minerva—and offered her revenge.
Leona accepted, and became the Duke’s adopted daughter.
At the academy, she met Prince Cassius, the Emperor’s heir and male lead.
Leona planned to get close to him, infiltrate the imperial family, and eventually assassinate Mars.
But Cassius fell in love with the female lead, Ayla.
Their engagement talks began, and joy filled the palace.
Leona, furious, wanted to steal everything Mars held dear—Ayla, the source of happiness, and Cassius, his pride and joy.
She schemed to destroy both of them.
But…
‘Leona was revealed to be Minerva’s daughter and was killed by Mars.’
Cassius and Ayla got their happy ending.
A frustrating, maddening tale.
There’s no way I’m letting my child go through that.
‘…Okay. First, I just need to stop Aslan from going to the academy. That alone should prevent most of it.’
Ideally, he should turn back into a cat.
As I held the purring Aslan in my arms, I gently called to him.
“Aslan?”
“Mm?”
He tilted his head at me cutely as our eyes met.
I carefully asked,
“Aslan, would you consider turning back into a cat?”
And just like that, the purring stopped.
Before I could even get anxious, his eyes welled up with tears.
“Why? Do you not like that I became a person, Mom?”
“W-what? No! That’s not it!”
“I became a person so I could protect you, but you don’t want my help?”
His tears fell like fat raindrops.
I panicked and quickly hugged him, patting his little back.
But the more I did, the more pitiful his voice became, and his words slurred through sobs.
“Aslan… because Mommy protected meee… I wanted to protect her toooo…”
“I know, sweetie! Mommy knows you’re doing it for her!”
I didn’t think he’d cry this hard!
I still couldn’t fully accept this situation, but I knew one thing for sure—I owed him an apology.
“Mommy was wrong. Don’t cry, okay?”
Sniff “Really?”
“Of course!”
I spent a long time after that just calming him down.
Something tells me… Aslan’s never turning back into a cat. Ever.
