Side Story: Mythia Picks Up A Kitten

It happened after I, as a first-rate agricultural worker, had loaded leafy vegetables onto the carriage I had arranged.

I heard a faint, tiny sound like the whisper of a draft, and tilted my head.

What was that sound?

I thought it might be my imagination, but the sound was definitely coming from somewhere.

I looked around and inspected the area carefully. I listened closely and checked the direction the sound was coming from.

(Is it over this way, perhaps?)

It was under the eaves of the shed where the farming tools were stored.

A brown kitten was meowing in the shadow of a pillar.

It looked up at me, its eyes trembling uneasily.

Its large round black eyes reflected the light shining in.

Since I am a splendid villainess with a brilliant mind, I was not moved at all even when I saw the frightened kitten.

I did not think it was pitiful, and I certainly did not think it was cute.

I had no interest in it, so for the time being I decided to bring it home.

I looked up cat food in the library.

I learned that giving it milk was not very good.

I secretly stole some dried small fish from the cupboard at home, crushed them into little pieces so they would not get stuck in its throat, and fed them to it.

The kitten devoured the small fish.

It seemed that it had been hungry.

Its rough tongue touched my finger.

I did not particularly feel anything, but I stole some more small fish, crushed them into little pieces again, and fed them to it.

Its body was dirty, so I wiped it clean.

It was a brown-and-white striped kitten.

If it had been a villainess-like black cat, I would have given it a higher score.

Thinking once again that I really could not take any interest in it, I put it in a wooden box and brought it into the house.

I hid it under the bed in my room.

The kitten seemed thirsty and eagerly drank the water I put in a small dish.

Its body was soft and warm.

Its fur was fluffy and had a toasty smell.

I could feel that a small life was there.

A tiny creature that might die if I tripped and crushed it.

Since I am cool and realistic, I did not empathize with it at all, but I ended up agonizing quite a lot over whether or not to tell Vincent and Ciel about this child.

They might say no.

However, there was clearly a limit to raising it alone in secret.

“A stray cat got in, so I let it back outside.”

If Vincent said something like that, I might end up searching for this child all night long with tears in my eyes.

(I should get the easier one to win over on my side.)

I thought out a strategy.

Compared with Vincent, who felt like a calm partner, Ciel seemed to have a side of her that was enraptured by my charisma.

She had probably had her heart stolen by my evil allure and dangerous atmosphere.

That was only natural.

I decided to win Ciel over.

“There is something I would like to discuss with you a little.”

I said, tugging on her sleeve.

“Eh, precious.”

Ciel said something incomprehensible as usual.

I told her about the kitten. I showed her the wooden box in my room.

Ciel’s face was reflected in the large round black eyes that looked up uneasily.

“W-what unbelievable cuteness,” she recoiled. “We simply have to keep it.” The conquest was completed in an instant.

After creating the favorable situation of two against one, I spoke with Vincent.

“Then let us keep it.” Vincent accepted it readily.

The three of us studied how to care for a cat, while learning toilet training and how to pet it in ways it would like.

Even when cleaning the cat’s litter box, Vincent’s movements were elegant.

His hands moved as though a master sommelier were touching a wine bottle.

Amazing, I thought in straightforward admiration.

And so, a new daily life with the kitten passed by.

However, when one week had passed, a certain rumor reached my ears.

I heard that an eight-year-old girl and her family in the neighboring town were looking for a kitten.

They showed me the flyers they were handing out. Its features resembled our kitten.

The day it disappeared also matched the day I picked it up.

Most likely, it had accidentally gotten mixed in with one of the carriages coming and going to ship vegetables.

I thought about it for a whole day. The kitten looked up at me.

I stroked its soft back. I rubbed my cheek against its little forehead. I pressed my nose into its fluffy fur and breathed in its toasty scent.

Then, I decided to return the kitten.

I visited a small house.

I hoped it was all a misunderstanding.

But the kitten was wagging its tail as if to say, “I know this place!”

I rang the doorbell.

The girl who came out froze when she saw the kitten.

Her eyes wavered as if she could not believe it.

There was hesitation there that said, “Could this be a dream?” and “Is it really all right for something this convenient to happen?”

I hugged the kitten in my arms.

I wanted to stay like this longer.

I wanted to stay like this forever.

The girl looked at me curiously.

I loosened the strength in my arms.

Then, I handed the kitten to her.

Crossing a step that felt infinitely far away, the kitten leaped into the girl’s arms.

Seeing the two of them looking so happy, I thought that this was for the best.

On the way home, I told Ciel and Vincent that I wanted hamburger steak topped with a fried egg.

I ate the one the two of them made for me.

I had a second helping of hamburger steak.

I ate so much that my stomach stuck out.

I cherish the time I spent with the kitten.

It was only for a short while, but that small warmth is surely still alive inside me.

When I grow up, I think I will keep a cat. An exceptionally cute cat that looks like that child.