? The Cat’s Hidden Thoughts ?

    “Frey, wake up.”

    “Ummm...?”

    I opened my eyes while feeling minor frustration. I saw Serena shaking me in an attempt to wake me up.

    “You have to leave now.”

    “...Already?”

    When I heard that unexpected remark, I lifted the blanket and glanced at my watch. It was just half past five in the morning.

    “You have to leave before the sun rises.”

    “Oh right.”

    I was going to protest having to leave so early, but I quickly got up. I remembered that Serena’s memories would change after sunrise.

    “Hoot.”

    As I hurriedly wore the coat that had been lying on the floor, I found the white owl with something tucked in its claws.

    “...Oh dear.”

    I approached the owl cautiously, then retrieved the droopy cat doll and muttered to myself.

    “Are you going to be pouting for a while?”

    How could I fix the mood of a cat doll? I wasn’t sure.

    “Serena, I had a good time last night. I’ll be leaving now.”

    “Hold on. I have something to give you.”

    I was about to depart while deep in my thoughts when Serena suddenly put on her clothes and got up.

    “Come here. Take it.”

    I stared at her puzzlingly as Serena offered me something.

    “This...”

    “I made it while you were asleep.”

    Moon-shaped crystals glittered in the palm of Serena’s hand.

    “Um... is it too dull?”

    “...No, it’s a hundred times better than the gifts I’ll receive from those pretentious nobles tomorrow.”

    I quickly received the crystal from her hand as I uttered those words. Serena smiled brightly and spoke again.

    “I’ll guide you outside. I still have enough time for that.”

    “Alright, thanks.”

    I replied with a soft voice and held her hand as we left the room and descended the stairs.

    ‘Somehow, I felt calm...’

    I wasn’t quite sure why exactly, but it felt like fiddling with the moon crystal that Serena had given me soothed my heart.

    Or perhaps it’s because Serena and I were holding hands.

    “Huh...?”

    I descended the stairs and opened the front door. As I fiddled with the moon shaped crystal, a familiar carriage caught my attention.

    “Isn’t that our family’s carriage...?”

    Since I had to move quickly and in secret, I rode a public carriage found passing by on the streets rather than one of my family’s carriages.

    But, why was our family’s carriage there?

    “...Kania?”

    The answer came to me immediately once the door of the carriage opened.

    “Hello, Young Master.”

    I was unsure why, but Kania was sitting inside the carriage.

    “It’s time to return to the mansion.”

    After staring blankly at me for some time, Kania broke the silence with a faint voice.

    “Oh, right.”

    Of course, she wasn’t wrong. I nodded and attempted to climb into the carriage but was abruptly stopped by Serena who blocked my path and spoke with a smile.

    “Please wait just a moment.”

    “Huh?”

    “There’s something us women need to discuss.”

    Serena then shut the carriage door, leaving her and a stone faced Kania inside.

    ....

    “What was that all about?”

    Out of curiosity, I tried to eavesdrop by focusing stellar mana in my ears. Unfortunately, there was a barrier erected with lunar mana and black magic to ensure my eavesdropping attempts failed.

    What could they possibly be discussing?

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    “Ms. Kania seems to be very loyal indeed. You even came to find him at this early hour.”

    “Thank you for the compliment.”

    Even though they were sharing kind words, an uneasy chill engulfed the wagon.

    “Oh, I heard Frey recently found a new pet”

    When that pressure began to overwhelm the inside of the carriage, Serena suddenly raised the corners of her lips and questioned Kania.

    “Are you referring to Lulu?”

    “Yes, that poor girl. How is she doing?”

    “I checked up on her before I came here, and she was sleeping soundly. Of course, there were still some scars remaining from where she tore her own nails.”

    And...

    ‘If I recall his reaction at that time properly, he probably already knew.’

    When he discovered what was hidden in the forest near the mansion, the Young Master himself stated that he had already guessed the truth.

    The horrifying truth about the relationship between my parents and the Young Master’s mother.

    And yet, the Young Master’s affection for me never wavered.

    “Look at yourself. From the look on your face right now, you must be tired... It’s all because you don’t have sufficient life force. Therefore...”

    “...Excuse me for just a moment, Young Master.”

    As my thoughts raced ceaselessly, I stood from my seat and moved beside the Young Master who was still speaking with a worried expression on his face.

    “...Kania?”

    “Apologies, Young Master.”

    As I sat beside the Young Master, I clung to him and fell deep into thought.

    ‘I believed that it was a sin to even have these feelings...’

    My mind was overwhelmed with the feeling of guilt.

    That’s why I decided to confess everything to him and join him just before everything came to an end.

    I believed I had no right to stand by his side, that I just needed to help him silently.

    ‘I guess there’s nothing I can do about my heart.’

    Yet, no matter how hard I try to suppress these feelings, they continue to rise to the surface.

    It’s so sinful and profane, but now that my mind is trying to overcome that guilt.

    “What’s wrong with you? It’s embarrassing.”

    As I stared at the Young Master with such thoughts in my mind, he smiled at me with an awkward expression.

    It was something I had never witnessed in the previous timeline. It was a pure, innocent, and beautiful smile.

    “Can I count on you for the time being, Young Master?”

    “Of course.”

    The Young Master gladly accepted what I said without realising the underlying intentions of my words.

    After a brief moment of hesitation, I leaned my head gently on the Young Master’s broad shoulder. I silently thanked him and came to a conclusion.

    “Thank you, Young Master.”

    ‘You have every right to despise me, yet you care for someone who deserves nothing but misery...’

    ‘I think I’ve fallen in love with you.’

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    “We’re here!”

    “Um...”

    The coachman cheerfully announced the arrival of the carriage at the Starlight Mansion. Kania, who had fallen asleep while leaning on Frey’s shoulder, slowly opened her eyes.

    “I’m so sorry, Young Master!”

    “No, no, no. It can’t be helped since you were exhausted.”

    Shortly after, Kania noticed her drool marks on Frey’s shoulders. She swiftly bowed her head as she blushed in shame.

    “Wouldn’t it be better to receive life force as soon as possible?”

    “N-No!”

    When Frey questioned the anxious Kania, she responded and swiftly waved her hand in denial.

    “I’m unsure why, but my mind suddenly became clear. I think it is fine to skip treatment for this week.”

    “Um... really?”

    “I promise you, Young Master.”

    Frey stared at Kania with a face riddled with suspicion. He muttered to himself with a smile of satisfaction as he quickly departed the carriage.

    ‘I knew you would act like this, so I infused life force while you were sleeping.’

    Frey was very familiar with providing lifeforce to Kania while she was asleep. He was able to stably infuse the necessary life force, only coughing up a minor amount of blood as a result.

    “Ugh.”

    As Frey got off the carriage however, he was suddenly plagued by an unexpected dizziness. He was still not free from the influence of the two penalties and one special penalty.

    “This... I have no choice but to prepare for tomorrow.”

    As Frey stood holding the carriage door while reading Kania’s face, the system window materialised before him.

    Life Force Recovery LV2 (50000pts)

    Description: Permanently slightly increases the life force recovery rate. (Total amount does not increase)

    [Accumulated Points: 85000pts]

    “...I didn’t want to buy it, but I guess I have no choice.”

    Frey muttered under his breath while gazing at the window in front of him. He purchased the skill and suddenly, he felt his heart become rejuvenated.

    “...Ugh.”

    “Young master?”

    Frey grasped his heart and fell to his knees. Kania, who stood beside him, supported him as he wore an expression of embarrassment.

    “Oh, this is a reaction that occurs when I buy the increased life force recovery speed. So you don’t have to be concerned.”

    “Really?”

    “I’m telling you it’s true. Look, I didn’t even cough up any blood.”

    He spoke words to relieve Kania of her concerns as her gaze became increasingly suspicious. Frey began to walk into the mansion with a relaxed expression on his face.

    “No way... Did...”

    Meanwhile, Lulu sat quietly while gazing out the window.

    “...Did you end up like that because of me?”

    She muttered to herself in a trembling voice as she witnessed the scene.