JSOML 10

Chapter 10

Lery, feeling wronged, wriggled his entire body frantically.

It was an unauthorized outing, sure, but he hadn’t even enjoyed his freedom for an hour yet…

He couldn’t let this perfect opportunity slip away because of that blockhead.

And of all times, the timing was impeccable.

‘No! It was *just* about to be revealed! The secret of the Crown Prince, who’s crazy about cats!’

Was this what it felt like to have a cliffhanger in a melodrama cut off? Lery shot Ian a glare.

Then, Ian cupped his own pouty face and spoke.

“Geez. Looks like someone’s feeling resentful.”

“Mmeow. (Then let me go.)”

“Are you rebelling after causing trouble?”

“Mmyah! (Let go of me!)”

Lery kicked his hind legs desperately, struggling to break free.

Even though Ian wasn’t holding him tightly, he couldn’t escape his grasp.

In the end, looking ridiculous like he was swimming through the air, Lery quickly chose to give up.

It was clear he wasn’t going to be let go anytime soon.

‘Ugh. I’ll give up this one time, fine.’

“Yeah, give up.”

As if reading Lery’s mind, Ian said in a softer voice.

He covered Lery’s face with his large hand, blocking his view.

“Mmeow! Myaang! (It’s stuffy! Why are you covering me?!)”

“Alright, alright.”

It was a considerate gesture to prevent Lery from getting wary of strangers, but Lery firmly misunderstood it as Ian trying to stop him from memorizing the way back.

‘He saved me last time, but what’s his deal? Which beat am I supposed to dance to?’

Despite the single ‘like’ heart, he treated him quite kindly. He even tied a ribbon on him!

Lery fumed silently. Ian was a truly incomprehensible man.

‘It doesn’t seem like he hates me… But is he acting this way to avoid getting attached?’

Even though he had a pretty name like ‘Lery’, Ian insisted on calling him ‘cat’. That said it all.

While Lery was lost in thought, Ian began to walk slowly.

‘I don’t want to go like this.’

The world seen through his long fingers was too stifling.

But Ian showed no sign of removing his hand, even if Lery behaved himself.

Feeling annoyance creep up, Lery gently bit Ian’s finger.

“Stay still.”

“Mmmeow! (Take your hand off!)”

“If you keep talking like tha—”

It was then, as they were bickering in the middle of the garden.

“Vice-Commander?”

Someone called out to him from behind.

“……?”

Startled, Ian stiffened.

Hoping he’d misheard, he turned his head, and the man approached him, confirming his fears, and bowed.

The man, with a solid and gentle impression, alternated his gaze between Ian and the cat in his arms, tilting his head.

“Uh… What… are you doing here?”

“……”

“…With the Crown Prince’s cat.”

At his question, Ian couldn’t easily open his mouth.

Lery, too, frozen with Ian’s finger in his mouth, was taken aback by the sudden situation.

The man was Knox, the Vice-Commander of the 1st Knights Division, who served Ian most closely.

Knox scratched his cheek with his finger and asked again.

“Vice-Commander?”

“Speak.”

“You said you were going to see His Highness for a moment…”

“…Yes.”

“But why are you here playing with the cat and…”

“…Playing, you say.”

“Don’t you dislike animals?”

*Hmph.*

Feeling embarrassed, Ian removed his hand covering Lery and turned his head away.

Lery’s eyes sparkled as he looked back and forth between Ian and Knox.

‘Oh? So he has a different image with other people?’

And he dislikes animals, too.

Lery found this situation amusing. Ian’s expression was quite a sight.

Just as Ian was about to open his mouth to say something, members of the Knights Division, all in uniform, came rushing in behind Knox.

“Vice-Commander!”

“Huh? You’re with a cat?”

“The Vice-Commander, with a cat?”

“Are you taking a walk?”

“The Vice-Commander, on a walk?!”

They threw comments one by one, looking at Ian and Lery as if they were a spectacle.

Ian, who was already struggling with just Knox, grew rapidly tired with the addition of so many stares.

He pressed his temples, hardening his expression. And then he sharply cut in.

“Are. you. training. right. now. And. here?”

“…Huh?”

“But you said to rest…”

“You seem well-rested enough, judging by how sprightly you’re walking around.”

At his words, the knights began to exchange nervous glances.

Ian twitched his eyebrows and commanded Knox.

“Take them and train.”

“……”

“I’ll inspect in one hour.”

“Yes, Vice-Commander…”

The knights, a far cry from their earlier demeanor, trudged away.

Knox was about to follow them but, feeling uneasy, glanced at Ian.

“Knox.”

“…Ah, yes, sir!”

But he seemed unable to withstand Ian’s cold glare.

Knox ruffled his hair and dashed off in the opposite direction.

‘Pfft.’

Lery, who had been enjoying the amusing scene, let out a snicker.

Once Knox left, Ian finally started walking again, letting out a heavy sigh over Lery’s head.

“Because of this damn cat…”

He seemed full of discontent at having his unexpected side exposed.

—

Before long, Ian and Lery returned to the Crown Prince’s bedchamber.

Jack, who had been dozing off at the sound of someone approaching, sprang to his feet. Traces of sleep still lingered in his eyes.

“V-Vice-Commander!”

“Wipe your mouth.”

At Ian’s sudden appearance, Jack’s button-like eyes grew wide. Embarrassed, Jack rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand.

‘Oh dear. I knew he was like that.’

Lery, who had been brought by Ian, snickered secretly, not even considering his own captured predicament.

“Wake yourself up a bit.”

Ian gestured towards the door with a slight nod of his head. A signal that Jack looked like he needed some fresh air.

Startled, Jack darted out of the room.

Only then was Lery released from Ian’s embrace. He stretched his toes as he touched the floor, forming a cute little fan shape.

Ian, watching the adorable ball of fluff, crouched down and called him.

“Cat.”

What, what now?

Lery looked at Ian with a face like he’d bitten into a sour persimmon.

A silence fell between them for a while. The atmosphere turned icy cold, like the middle of winter.

Ian hesitated for a long moment, as if trying to say something.

“…Uh, um.”

“……?”

His moist lips parted. He hesitated, then reached out his hand.

His large, long-fingered hand was quite refined, unlike a knight commander’s. Though it was covered in scars here and there.

“…Your paw.”

“……”

Lery stared blankly at his hand.

Hadn’t this guy just been complaining a moment ago? When he was nagging about ‘this damn cat’.

His expressionless face was gone. Only his faintly shimmering eyes remained.

“Hmph. Alright, your foot then.”

Still, when Lery didn’t react, Ian cleared his throat awkwardly, looking embarrassed.

‘What a funny fellow.’

Lery scoffed at Ian’s flustered state. At the same time, perhaps because of the earlier treatment, a mischievous streak began to tingle within him.

Alright, let’s have a little fun.

Lery extended his foot near Ian’s hand. And just as Ian tried to grab it,

“…Huh?”

He quickly pulled it back.

As the soft, squishy rice cake paw teased him, coming close but never touching, Ian’s eyes widened horizontally.

“Oh-ho. Cat.”

“Mya. (What.)”

“You seem strangely different.”

The Lery Ian remembered was certainly docile and friendly. But after being sick for a while, he was completely different. As if he’d swapped souls with another cat.

Ian hypothesized reasons why a cat could change overnight.

He was convinced the number one reason, and number two, were the Crown Prince. It was clear he’d spoiled the cat.

Regardless, Lery lightly ignored his words and scratched his neck with his hind foot.

“Hah. What am I even saying to a cat…”

Watching Lery’s nonchalant actions, Ian let out a groan and roughly rubbed his face. Embarrassment washing over him belatedly.

Somehow, he felt afraid he was starting to resemble the Crown Prince, who was foolishly smitten with cats. He chanted a mantra, desperately clinging to any straw.

I hate cats. I probably hate them…

Lery giggled at the sight.

‘He can’t learn his lesson, even after being treated like that earlier.’

As punishment for being forcibly dragged along, Lery had merely shown a bit of defiance. All things considered, he’d handled it quite well, and seeing Ian’s reddened earlobes only made him want to tease him more.

But then, for some reason, Plus-Minus’s famous saying came to min

Show broad generosity, capable of embracing even your enemies.

‘Should I stop teasing him now?’

This is enough payback.

As if granting a favor, Lery gently placed his front paw on top of Ian’s hand.

At that moment,

—

[SYSTEM: Affection with Ian (Commander of the 1st Knights Division) has increased.]

—

A wave of emotion stirred in Ian’s heart.

‘He’s warming up to me.’

Lery smiled contentedly. The twitching of Ian’s lips was proof.

“Don’t cause any trouble.”

Finally, his face burning bright red, Ian left the bedchamber immediately.

Lery rolled around on the carpet, giggling. Until Jack returned.