JSOML 22

Chapter 22

The sky, which had been clear when he was with Theodore, grew cloudy by the afternoon.

Sonia began to slowly pack their luggage based on what Theodore had told her. After packing Lery’s toys, cat food, and treats, the once-slim bag quickly became stuffed. Still, as if feeling it wasn’t enough, she rested her chin on her hand and pondered for a long while.

“Hmm……. What else should I bring?”

Since it was her first time leaving the palace in a while, and she had to pack not only for Lery but also for Pompom, there were many things to pay attention to.

Perhaps that was why. Sonia felt as if she kept forgetting something.

‘I should help her out a bit.’

As Sonia’s deliberation grew longer, Lery, who had been watching, finally decided to step in. He was worried about Sonia, who stood there blankly just staring at the luggage, and besides, he knew best what he needed for himself.

‘Alright!’

Having made up his mind, Lery immediately went under the bed. That place was like another nest for Lery, or rather, a treasure trove.

When Lery suddenly disappeared under the bed, Pompom, who had been in the middle of a walnut-eating spree, began to show interest. And so, Pompom also abandoned his walnuts and trotted after Lery.

“Chick? (What@#?)”

Despite Pompom’s adorable question, Lery had no time to answer. He merely kept wiggling his plump rear end in the darkness for a long while.

How much time had passed? Having finally found something he liked, Lery emerged from the treasure trove.

With a mouse-shaped toy clamped firmly in his mouth.

“Myaa. (Let’s take this too.)”

After moving the toy to Sonia’s feet, Lery looked up at her with sparkling eyes.

“Oh my, Lord Lery~”

At his triumphant expression, as if saying ‘See? I did well, right?’, Sonia, who had been struck in the heart, clutched her chest and sank down.

How could he be this adorable.

It seemed he understood that they were packing to leave, and seeing him bring the items he wanted to take on his own felt remarkably clever and cute.

Sonia, beaming with a broad smile, continuously stroked Lery’s forehead.

“Yes, Lord Lery~ We’ll take that toy too.”

Satisfied with Sonia’s reaction, Lery immediately went to get the next item.

Sonia smiled warmly, crouched down, and waited patiently for Lery.

“I wonder what he’ll bring this time~”

But she didn’t know.

That praise made Lery dance.

That Lery’s packing, which she thought would end after one or two trips, was only just beginning.

This time, Lery slipped between the display cabinet and came out with something else in his mouth.

Upon closer inspection, it was Theodore’s handkerchief that had gone missing a few days ago.

“Lord Lery……?”

“Meueyang. (Sonia, this too.)”

He had apparently taken a liking to Theodore’s faint lingering scent, often making strange noises like ‘Mya~ Mya~’ while sleeping with it as a pillow. It had disappeared at some point, and seeing it there, it seemed he had hidden it away for fear of it being taken from him.

After that, Lery continued to move busily. From between the curtains, to behind the pillows, and even on top of the wardrobe…….

And so, the items that had vanished over time were neatly stacked one by one in front of her.

“No wonder everything seemed to have disappeared…….”

Sonia, dizzy, buried her face in both hands. For some reason, she could hear the conversations of the maids who cleaned the bedroom echoing in her ears.

—

*’You know, every time I tidy up His Highness’s bedroom, it feels like a treasure hunt.’*

*’What do you mean by that?’*

*’Well, I’m not sure……. I thought it was definitely gone, but one day it’s there, and then when I check again it’s gone……. Isn’t that a bit strange?’*

—

She hadn’t understood the meaning at the time, but seeing Lery’s actions today, she understood instantly.

Among the items Lery had brought were Theodore’s lost fountain pen and the hair tonic Luke had been desperately searching for.

‘But these aren’t things Lord Lery would particularly like…….’

Sonia tilted her head. Especially the hair tonic—she had no idea how it had ended up in Lery’s grasp.

But her bewilderment was short-lived, as a deflated laugh escaped Sonia’s lips.

Lery, completely oblivious to her feelings, was shooting her a gaze filled with starlight.

As if shouting, ‘How about this? Isn’t this enough? Praise me now!’

He was so cute that she couldn’t help but laugh.

“Miyaaong? (Isn’t this enough?)”

“Lord Lery……. That’s too much.”

We don’t need His Highness’s slippers…….

And it was only one slipper—what on earth was she supposed to do with that?

“Chickchikchichi~ (Me too &%*!~)”

As if ignoring Sonia’s outcry, to make matters worse, Pompom joined in as well. Pompom had been watching Lery’s every move with wide, glistening eyes all along.

Pompom emptied out his food storage and began stacking seeds like a tower.

Lery saw this and snorted.

“Miyaaang? (Why are you bringing that?)”

“Chik! Chijitchi? (@#$! Better than those damn slippers &*%^?)”

“Myak?! Myaang?! (What?! Damn slippers?!)”

Sparks flew between the two animals’ eyes.

In the end, unable to control his temper, Lery tapped Pompom’s seeds with his front paw.

At that, Pompom, annoyed, shielded the seed pile with his entire body and bared his tiny teeth.

It was a case of each ignoring the other’s actions, but from Sonia’s perspective, it was like the pot calling the kettle black.

Sonia shook her head and surveyed the mountain of seeds.

“Lord Pompom, I’ve already packed plenty of seeds…….”

But Pompom didn’t understand Sonia’s words. He simply guarded with his small body, afraid that Lery might touch his seeds.

“You mustn’t fight…….”

Seeing Sonia at a loss, Lery finally came to his senses and haughtily turned his head away, as if graciously letting it slide.

Of course, not forgetting to grumble.

“Myang, miyaaang. (Hmph, anyone would think we’re fleeing into exile.)”

“Tzutz! (Mind your own #@$!)”

Seeing Lery’s back as he left to pack the rest of his things, Pompom, not wanting to be outdone, began stuffing seeds into both cheeks.

Already suffering from ‘insufficient storage space,’ the seeds he stuffed kept spilling out, and he had to keep picking them up again—like pouring water into a bottomless jar…….

Unfortunately, he didn’t seem to realize it himself.

“Miyaaang. (This is really the last one.)”

“Chik! Chick! (&^%! Me too!)”

When both Lery and Pompom pushed their food bowls with their foreheads and brought them over, the situation was concluded.

“Miyaang! (I’m done!)”

“Mumu! (Ready too #@!)”

“Oh dear…….”

The two animals stood in front of their belongings and sent Sonia a completion signal.

The neatly kept rug had instantly become cluttered with odds and ends, turning into a chaotic mess. But Sonia couldn’t help but laugh.

How could she scold such adorable creatures?

It was so harmful to her heart that she could only think she might die young at this rate.

‘What can I do. I’ll just have to take it all.’

Having surrendered to the cuteness of the two animals, she reluctantly brought out another empty bag. And she began to neatly organize the things Lery and Pompom had brought.

The luggage that would have sufficed with just one or two bags had now grown to five.

Sonia surveyed the bags, now too many to carry with both hands, and said firmly:

“This is really the end now!”

“Mya! (Okay!)”

“Chick! (Yes!)”

“Oh my, how well you answer.”

Pompom joined in with Lery’s response and shouted. As if he understood Sonia’s words.

After barely finishing organizing the luggage, Sonia sighed and tidied up the bedroom.

And so, the tumultuous packing came to an end.

Knock, knock.

Just then, at the sound of knocking, Sonia, who had been zipping up a bag, hurriedly stood up.

“It’s Ian.”

“Oh my…….”

When Sonia opened the door, there stood Ian, his hair somehow more disheveled than usual.

The beads of sweat on his forehead proved that he had run all the way here from the training grounds.

Sonia welcomed him with a bright smile.

“Welcome, Marquis.”

“I apologize. My work ran a little late…….”

Just as he was about to step in while wiping his sweat, he suddenly halted.

Two animals staring at him with glistening eyes, and mountains of stacked bags.

Was that really luggage for a one-day trip, or luggage for fleeing into exile in another country?

Rubbing his eyes, which had suddenly grown weary, he asked:

“Surely you’re not planning to take all that luggage.”

“Uh…… well.”

Sonia hesitated, rolling her eyes.

The truth was that it was all the luggage of a cat and a squirrel, and most of it was odds and ends rather than necessities—but she couldn’t bring herself to say that.

‘What do I do…….’

She tried desperately to come up with some excuse, but nothing came to mind. She could only smile awkwardly. If she told the truth and had to leave everything behind, Pompom and Lery might feel hurt.

“That’s impossible.”

Seeing through her predicament, Ian firmly shook his head. At a glance, there were only about two usable bags among them.

Just as he was about to speak again, unwilling to waste time on unnecessary matters—

At that moment, something shot out like an arrow from in front of Sonia.

“Oh my…….”

It was a small, brave animal trying to protect Sonia.

Spreading their bodies wide like a cloth, they fired sharp glares at Ian.

“Myaaa! (That’s my luggage!)”

“Chick! (Mine #!)”

“…….”

“Mi myaaang! (So don’t tell Sonia off!)”

“Chick! Chijit! (Right! Bad @$#!)”

The moment Lery and Pompom shouted loudly, Sonia wanted to hide in a mouse hole right then and there.

Her ears burning, Sonia said in a voice as small as an ant’s:

“Lord Lery, Lord Pompom…….”

Please don’t. This is clearly a nuisance…….

But Sonia’s plea didn’t reach the animals, who were already filled with rage.