Chapter 12

What Were You About to Do?
“Hey… are you really sure about this?”

“I’m the one saying it’s fine, so of course it’s fine.”

His voice was as sweet as syrup melted over heat. For a moment, I didn’t recognize it.
And when I realized it belonged to my husband, I froze.
I had never heard him speak like that before.

“Mrrr…”

Will, curled in my arms, let out a protesting meow.
He was probably saying, “Put me down already.” I needed to take him back to Lilia and the others soon.

I knew that, yet my legs wouldn’t move.
If I moved, he might hear my footsteps.
And then… he might look at me with those cold eyes again.

I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to be hated by him any more than I already was. The very thought of it terrified me.

“Mrr…”

“Just wait a little, okay…”

I whispered to Will.
He was a kind boy.

Whenever I wandered into the Royal Garden with a heavy heart, it was always Will who quietly came to sit by my side.
That was why he had been the easiest cat to catch earlier.

But surprisingly, Will was a master escape artist.
While we were preparing to wash the caught cats and have them checked by the veterinarian, Will had leapt out the window and disappeared.

Despite his usual gentle, laid-back demeanor, his movements had been shockingly nimble and wild.
The maids were left dumbfounded, staring at him in disbelief.
I, being the one closest to him, had hastily chased after him—
And that led me here.

(You troublesome little thing…)

I gave a wry smile, stroking Will’s forehead.
Content, Will closed his eyes with a peaceful expression.

His fur was soft. Fluffy and warm.
I was relieved we had caught them all before the harsh winter arrived.

I let their conversation drift to the back of my mind, focusing instead on the comforting warmth and fluffiness of Will in my arms.

Then, I heard Veronica’s voice.

“This flower bed… wasn’t it made for Lady Clementina? And yet here you are, whispering words of love to me in this place. You’re such a wicked man.”

“It’s fine. You suit it far better than she does… Ah, should I make you a hair ornament from these flowers? If I use blizzard flowers, they’ll suit you perfectly.”

“Hmm… I’m not so sure. Red flowers like these might suit Clementina’s black hair, but for my blonde hair…”

“You’re right. Dahlia or marigolds would suit you better. Oh, and snowdrops would be perfect too. I’ll have your next hair ornament made with gemstones shaped like them.”

“Really? Oh, I’d love that! You know… Lady Clementina’s eyes are red, right? Black hair and red eyes…”

Her voice dropped.
But the Royal Garden was so quiet, devoid of people, that even her whispers reached me clearly.

“Doesn’t she remind you of the sinner who killed the dragon?”

“Ah…”

“Black is darkness. Red is like blood… It’s frightening.”

“──”

I gasped.
The sinner who killed the dragon.

It was a story every citizen of the Kingdom of Leviathan knew.

Long ago, there were dragons in Leviathan.
But a foolish human killed one of them.
It’s said the dragon had a human companion—a dear friend—who later founded the current royal family.

My chest ached. My heart pounded fiercely.
The anemone flowers in my blurry vision appeared unnaturally vivid.

“… Come to think of it… You’re right.”

My husband agreed. He agreed with Veronica.

“…………”

Stunned, I clutched Will tightly.
Unaware of anything, he looked up at me with innocent eyes.

Emotions swirled violently inside me, tangled and incomprehensible. I didn’t know what to think or what to do.
I was confused.

How long did I stand there like that?
Before I knew it, His Majesty had left.
Only Veronica remained, admiring the flowers blooming in the Royal Garden.

(I can’t let her see me.)

If we met now… I might say something unforgivable.
I tightened my grip on Will and turned to leave, but—

Will suddenly leapt from my arms.

“…!!”

Startled, I looked at him.
Without hesitation, Will dashed toward something. His feline reflexes were remarkable.
All I could do was chase after him.

When I hurried after him—
I saw that Will had run straight to Veronica.

“Ahh!”

Will playfully pounced on the hem of her dress.

(Ah… So that’s what caught his attention…)

The fluttering fabric must’ve enticed him.
I had no choice now. If I wanted to retrieve Will, I had to face Veronica.
Accepting that, I rushed over to him—

“Don’t touch me! Filthy creature!”

Veronica tried to shake Will off with her foot.
Seeing that, a voice close to a scream escaped my lips.

“What do you think you’re doing!?”

Startled by my loud voice, Veronica whipped around to face me.
Seizing the moment, I scooped up the frozen, startled Will and held him close.

“Wha… Why are you here, Lady Clementina…”

“What were you about to do?”

“What…?”

“This cat… you’re the one who brought him here, aren’t you?”

The words that came out were low—so low, I barely recognized my own voice.

Whenever I argued with Veronica, I always tried to avoid provoking her.
Her logic made no sense to me, and every time she ran to His Majesty in tears, I’d end up suffering for it. I’d grown tired of that cycle.

But this time… This time, I couldn’t forgive her.

The cats—she was the one who brought them here.
And now she couldn’t even be bothered to care for them, treating them as filthy and trying to harm them.

It was beyond selfish.

Disgust boiled into rage within me.

What do you think about this chapter?