Chapter 5

“Ugh, honestly! Talking to you, Big Sister, is so irritating! And it’s not just me. Everyone says the same thing!”

“Anyway, please don’t cause any trouble for Lord Vincent.”

“Hmph, how self-important. You’re nothing but a fiancée in name!”

Helena was an idiot. What mattered was appearances and contracts. Hearts and feelings were nothing but a waste of time. No matter how much she insisted that she was the one who was loved, Ophelia was undoubtedly the winner at present.

I had no desire to listen to any more of this pointless conversation, so I began squirming just enough in Ophelia’s arms to make a fuss. I never neglected to keep my claws trimmed, ensuring I wouldn’t accidentally hurt anyone. Helena’s dresses were certainly no match for my beautifully shaped claws.

If I wanted to sharpen them, a thick-barked log or a half-rotten tree trunk would do just fine.

“Ah! Hey, Kitty. You’ll hurt yourself if you squirm around like that!”

“Mrrnyaa!”

“I said stop!”

I deliberately opened my mouth wide enough for Helena to see my fangs. The cowardly woman let out a pathetic shriek and stumbled backward.

“If you use that ball of fluff to do anything to me again, you’ll regret it!”

“Be careful on your way back to your room, Helena.”

“Honestly, you’ve made me feel even worse!”

Ophelia set me down, then went so far as to open the door for that irritating, foolish woman. Helena accepted this courtesy as though it were only natural, stuck out her tongue one last time, and left.

“…I’m such a pathetic fool, aren’t I? I can’t even talk back to her.”

I approached Ophelia as she sank limply to the floor, then leaned my body against her feet. Ever since becoming a cat, I had naturally lost the ability to speak.

“Thank you, Kitty. You’re trying to comfort me, aren’t you?”

“Meow.”

“I’ll protect you, no matter what happens, so don’t worry.”

Even so, feelings could still be conveyed. In fact, perhaps it was better not to have words at all, since there was no risk of accidentally throwing out one unnecessary, hurtful remark.

—Anyone who couldn’t obey me wasn’t even worth keeping alive.

As I suddenly recalled my former self, I was once again convinced that words were unnecessary. After all, I had only ever used them as weapons.

Purring contentedly, I relaxed every muscle in my body and flopped onto my back. Since I had no choice, I supposed I’d let her touch my belly one more time today. Just this once.

“Hehe, you’re so cute. If you could talk, Kitty, I’m sure we’d make wonderful friends.”

Ophelia gently stroked my fluffy belly, quietly allowing her feelings to show.

Helena had stolen her close friends from her, and baseless rumors had left her isolated. Lonely and with no one else to turn to, she was clinging to me, a mere cat.

Her behavior was pitiful and ridiculous, and yet I couldn’t help finding it utterly endearing. If we had met when I was still Alexandra, I would have sworn before God that our paths could never have crossed.

Ophelia’s hands were icy cold, making them just right for my warm body. I gently licked away the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Then, unable to do anything but imagine all the ways I’d like to torment Helena, I let out a voiceless meow to conceal my own helplessness.