Chapter 10: I’m Not Jealous of a Beast (1)
“Meooowww!!”
“What the hell is this beast?!”
“Hisss!”
“Damn it, the fur! Achoo!”
A sigh escaped me as I watched the scene unfolding before me.
A white beast, a blue beast, and a yellow beast. It hardly seemed worth using the word “people” to describe what I was seeing.
“Enough.”
With a sharp clap, I spoke, and the two “humans” froze.
I named the white cat Ruby. Its eyes were a vivid crimson, much like an actual ruby, and it was so pretty I had assumed it was female—but turned out, it was male.
Ruby leapt up onto my lap. The way he nestled his head against my knee was so sweet that I gently patted his back. That earned simultaneous scowls from both Baizen and Ian.
“Get lost, beast! Achoo!”
“The one who should leave is you, Your Highness. You’ve got some nerve showing up again in less than a day.”
I scoffed at the sight of Ian reappearing at House Snifter barely a day after leaving. To top it off, he couldn’t stop coughing—must be allergic to cats.
“Our conversation isn’t over. Have you already forgotten?”
“Forgot what? There’s nothing left to talk about.”
“I haven’t given up on you yet.”
“…Would squeezing breast milk out finally make you give up?”
At my muttered remark, both Baizen and Ian flinched violently. Even Ruby shook his ears like he’d heard something shocking.
“Marquis!”
“Don’t turn this on me! I can’t win either!”
Ian immediately backed away, shifting blame to Baizen. Not that he could get any closer thanks to Ruby.
Baizen, too, flinched and took a step back. When our eyes met, he awkwardly tried to smile.
“Ruby.”
“Meow?”
“Bite.”
“Meowk?”
“Why?”
My command confused both Ruby and Baizen.
It might’ve sounded random, but I had my reasons. One day, I wanted to make up for all the wrongs done to Odelia, even in small, petty ways like this.
Of course, I never actually expected Ruby to attack anyone. Sure enough, he let out a long, tired sigh and turned his head away, eyes closing.
Cats really are mystical creatures. Ruby was no exception.
“Odelia, don’t you know the saying that cats are demons in disguise?”
“How could anyone say that while looking at this adorable face?”
I gently stroked Ruby’s soft, long fur. Ian pressed his lips shut—or at least it looked like he did.
But he couldn’t withstand the power of the fur for long. He sneezed again, this time with a long strand of snot.
“Achoo!”
“…Why is that sneeze weirdly cute?”
“You think so?”
Ian perked up at my murmured comment, lifting his head with a pleased expression. It would’ve been better if he didn’t have that string of mucus hanging from his nose, but he didn’t seem to notice.
“If you like it that much, shall I come a little closer—?”
“Back off—”
“Hiss!”
“Ah—Achoo!”
As Ian tried to come within a meter of me, I held up Ruby. Right on cue, Ruby hissed. That’s my clever little Ruby.
“If you want to stick close to me, I suggest you come back after you’ve cured your allergy.”
“Cold-hearted as ever, Odelia…”
“Yes, cold and cruel Odelia, that’s me.”
Only after thoroughly tormenting Ian did I feel slightly better. Maybe that’s why the jokes were flowing so easily today.
Chuckling, I stood up with Ruby in my arms. Baizen rushed over.
“I didn’t get a chance to ask yesterday—are you feeling better?”
At the mention of “yesterday,” I looked up. His dark purple eyes were filled with concern.
“Worried about me?”
“Of course. I heard you got caught in the rain yesterday too…”
He placed a large hand on my forehead and sighed in relief.
“No fever. That’s good.”
“…I’m not that weak.”
“You used to get sick a lot when you were little.”
At the reminder of Odelia’s weak constitution, I took a step back. The tender gesture made my chest ache, like a real family bond I hadn’t realized I missed.
It reminded me of how I used to take care of my younger siblings in my past life.
“Meooowww!!”
Ruby whined in my arms, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Ruby!”
“Seems like he doesn’t like me.”
“Maybe he just doesn’t like men.”
Since he’s male, maybe that explains it. I picked Ruby back up. As if staking his claim, he rubbed his forehead against my chin and then hissed fiercely at Baizen.
What a little gremlin.
“Ruby seems stressed. I’ll head out to the garden.”
“It rained yesterday. It might be chilly.”
How cold could it be in midsummer? I was about to shrug it off when I remembered the chill I felt that morning. I thought it was from leaving the window open—but maybe it really was cold.
“Still, I don’t want to go back to my room.”
“Then how about the library?”
“Not in the mood to read today.”
“I want to move around a bit,” I said earnestly. Baizen laughed in disbelief.
“Ask a gardener. They’ll show you to the indoor garden.”
“Ooh! Is it warm?”
“Warm even in the middle of winter.”
I imagined one of those gorgeous glass conservatories you see in romance-fantasy novels. Nice!
“Then I’ll go play there. Call me when it’s time to eat!”
“Sure. Be careful out there.”
“Do I look like a kid? I’ll be ba—Agh!”
“Meow!”
I tripped on my skirt in my hurry, almost fell, but caught myself just in time. I managed to grab Ruby before he could fall too, and dashed down the hallway.
Ugh, that was embarrassing.
On the way, I ran into Lucy and Annie and headed to the indoor garden with them.
“Did you know the garden was created by the first marquis?” Annie asked.
“Really?”
I popped a chocolate in my mouth as I listened. Lucy had made it, and it was delicious.
Annie, cheeks stuffed with snacks, didn’t stop talking.
“Yes. He made it after he met the first marquis’s wife.”
“Oh, that’s kind of romantic.”
“No, not really.”
Annie shook her head.
“He wasn’t a romantic at all. You’ll see. It’s not even that beautiful. It’s more kept up now than it used to be.”
“Huh?”
“Look over there.”
I turned my head and immediately saw a scene completely unlike the elegant glass garden I’d imagined.
My first thought was that it looked more like a prison.
Jet-black walls that seemed to swallow light, a massive door too heavy for any woman to open alone, and only one side of the room letting sunlight in through tall glass windows.
Annie continued.
“They used to call the first marquis’s wife ‘the flower.’ She was locked in there until the marriage was approved.”
“…Sounds like their whole bloodline was doomed from the start.”
I couldn’t help thinking that Odelia’s father, though not described in the book, might have been a little twisted himself.
And at the same time, I became determined—at the very least, Baizen had to grow up normal.
‘…What a cursed family.’
“This way, please.”
Following Lucy, we arrived at the massive door.
“Can this even be opened?”
“Of course,” Lucy replied, tilting her head like I’d asked something odd. She pulled a rope hanging nearby.
With a mechanical rumble, the enormous iron door—tall as two Baizens—swung open.
“Ooh!”
As the door opened, a fresh scent greeted us.
There were no extravagant flowers like in novels, but the greenery and trees were neatly arranged.
“No flowers?”
“We mostly grow herbs here. The young master sometimes comes to rest.”
The refreshing scent clearing my sinuses was definitely herbal. Somehow, it swept away all my stress.
“Shall I prepare refreshments?”
Lucy pointed to a large couch and table set up in the center.
Why even ask?
“My answer is always yes!”
You should never say no to free snacks. This kind of leisurely life was unimaginable in my past life.
Today, I’m going full lazy mode.
“Meowww—”
“Ruby, did you really have to beat me to the couch?”
“Meow!”
I stroked his head as he sprawled out like a little prince. His content purring made him even more lovable.
When I sat down, he curled up in my lap and soon fell into a deep sleep.
“Ruby really is… like a dog.”
“…You mean like a puppy, milady,” Lucy sighed as she poured tea.
But seriously, he’s more dog than cat. Not just playful like a puppy—he had the dignified calm of someone at least three years old.
“It wasn’t an insult.”
“I know. Just… try to word things more delicately.”
Her words made me recall how foul-mouthed I’d been lately—not just with Baizen and Ian, but in general.
Sure, part of it was acting tough to avoid seeming weak, but I’d also always had a sharp tongue. My college friends even gave me the nickname “Lee Jangbal”—literally “mouth like a curse.”
Still, I kept it classy enough in the workplace. I was just another wage slave masking my nature to survive capitalism.
“I’ll behave when I meet important people.”
“…I’d recommend not speaking at all, if possible.”
Wow. That was brutally honest.
I pouted and collapsed onto the couch. Fine. I won’t talk pretty.
After rolling around a while, my back started to ache.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“No, the couch is fine.”
“Still, I’ve noticed—you don’t seem the type to sit still,” Annie said.
I clapped lightly. She might look like a kid, but she had good instincts.
“Exactly!”
“Huh?”
“Sitting around just doesn’t suit me—”
“If you’re thinking of putting on a maid outfit again, forget it!” Lucy yelped before I could even finish. Her reaction speed made me wonder if she was the real cat here.
“…I wasn’t going to.”
Only for now, I muttered. Lucy finally relaxed.
“Just… please don’t pull any weird pranks.”
With a glare that felt like a silent curse, Lucy turned away. Rude.
Still, I had no intention of dressing up and working again. I just wanted to move around a little.
But now I kinda do want to rebel a little.
“Oh, then why don’t you check out the Garden?” Annie suggested.
“Outside?”
“No, the one I mentioned earlier. Where the first marquis’s wife stayed.”
I sat up at her words, and Ruby rolled off my lap and onto a cushion. Still sound asleep.
“It’s deep inside this indoor garden. Most of it’s changed over time, but that part remains just as it was.”
