Chapter 17: The Black Cat Named Kuro.

「Long time no see, Rachel-san.」

「It’s been a while, Theodore-sama.」

A few days after that letter arrived, once my condition had stabilized, I welcomed Theodore-sama into the drawing room today.

I don’t know what was discussed between His Highness and Theodore-sama, but His Highness had given his approval for today’s visit.
He had apparently tried to adjust his schedule to come as well, but due to his heavy workload, it proved impossible.

Theodore-sama has tied his long silver hair back with a black cord and is dressed in a black robe.
With his tall, slender frame and sweet features, whenever he stands beside His Highness, every woman’s gaze inevitably turns toward the two of them.

Despite constantly receiving such heated stares from women, he still has no fiancée.
Apparently, since he has a younger brother, he isn’t particularly concerned about marriage.
“That guy’s a weirdo,” His Highness once said.

「You slept well the other day, right?」

「The other day?」

「Yeah. Didn’t you see my face?
When I came last time, you looked like you were suffering, so I cast a forced-sleep spell on you.」

Theodore-sama lifts the cup in front of him, takes a sip, and flashes a mischievous, boyish grin.

Indeed—there was one moment during my illness when the pain suddenly vanished and overwhelming drowsiness took over.
So that was his magic.

「Thank you for the other day.
Coming all this way…」

「No need. I was just tagging along with Louis.」

Calling the Crown Prince by name without honorifics…
Even if they’re close, is that really all right?

My surprise must have shown on my face, because Theodore-sama nods as though he understands.

「With him, I keep things equal in private.
Of course, I don’t speak so casually when others are around.」

「Others…」

Eh? Does that mean I’m an “other”?

「You’re fine, though.
My gut says it’s okay.」

「Your… gut?」

「Yeah, gut instinct.
Trusting it is actually pretty important!
If you’re always serious and stiff, it gets exhausting, right?
For me, for him—and for you too.」

「For… me?」

「Yep.
On the surface you hide it well, but you’ve got this tense, bottled-up aura.
I don’t know what happened, but… why not loosen up a bit?」

「Loosen up…?」

「Exactly.
Live more easily.
Gaining or losing something special—there are things we can’t do anything about anyway.
So why not just live with a smile?」

What is he saying?

This man knows nothing about me.
He doesn’t know what I’ve done, what I’ve caused.
And yet he says it so lightly.

But… perhaps that’s exactly why he can say it.
Because he doesn’t know, maybe he can see something in me that I myself can’t.

And… “live with a smile,” huh.

I know I’ve been too caught up in the past.
But I’ve been so desperate just getting through each day that I never thought about how to change it.

Still, such light words.
Yet somehow… heavy.

His words feel like sunlight melting ice.

The thought crosses my mind unbidden.

My expression must have gone slack in a dazed sort of way, because Theodore-sama doesn’t seem to mind at all.
Instead he picks up one of the madeleines in front of him, pops it into his mouth, chews contentedly, washes it down with tea, and finally speaks again.

「You’re special, you know.」

「Um… special in what way?
Do you mean as His Highness’s fiancée?」

「Well, making him make that face is pretty special already.」

He nods repeatedly with a teasing grin.

「That’s part of it, but… not quite.」

Then he points toward my lap.

「That cat on your lap—it’s yours, right?」

…Huh? Cat?

I look down at my lap where he’s pointing.
Nothing.
Just the fabric of my dress and my own hands, as usual.

「Hm? You can’t see it?」

「Um… is there something there?」

「Ah—right!
You have no mana.
Give it a name and you’ll be able to see it.」

「A name…?」

「Yep.
I almost forgot.
There’s a black cat sitting on your lap right now.
So—what are you going to name it?」

A black cat…

Kuro-neko…

Kuro…?

「Kuro.」

「Kuro! Straight to the point!」

Theodore-sama bursts out laughing at my answer.
It seems to hit just the right spot—he covers his face with his palm, slaps his thigh repeatedly, and roars with laughter, chanting 「Kuro! Kuro!」 over and over.

Even Sara, standing off to the side, turns her face away while her shoulders shake uncontrollably.

It’s not my fault—he asked so suddenly!
I almost puff out my cheeks in protest—you don’t have to laugh that hard.

「Haha—naming a spirit ‘Kuro’… what kind of pet is that supposed to be?」

…Hm?

…Huh?

A spirit?

「There—you can see it now, right? On your lap.」

While questions swirl in my mind at Theodore-sama’s words, I slowly lower my gaze.

And there—

indeed—

『Nya〜』

A black cat is curled up on my lap, purring contentedly as it meows.

Eh… where did you come from?