Antagonized Bachelorette Enjoying a Simple Life - Chapter 11
Catherine left Roze engrossed in her newspaper and stepped out to feed the cat. She'd felt guilty for the past two days, unable to give it even a single meal amid the relentless storm.
Perhaps starved during that time, the cat was calling to her from its usual spot amid the weed pile, as always.
Nyaaaoong.
"How do you keep getting... ten times, no, eleven times bigger every day?"
She popped open the can and eyed the cat's size. When she'd first arrived here, it had looked like a mere four-month-old kitten. Yet in less than a month, it had grown to a bulk that absolutely rivaled her own.
From kitten to human-sized in a single month. It was downright astonishing.
Did normal cats grow like this? Hmm. Definitely not.
Nyaaaoong.
"Hey."
But as long as it was healthy, that was what mattered. She felt an odd swell of pride as the person who'd faithfully fed it despite it being nothing special.
"Miss?"
She'd been around ten when her mother had said something similar to her. How her little child had grown so big already.
"Miss, hello?"
'I miss Mother. Once the cat eats, I'll go up and look at Mother's portrait...'
Wait. Mother's portrait?
"Ah."
That's when it hit her. Why Chezare's borrowed book had looked so familiar.
It was the very book where she'd tucked away her mother's portrait!
No way. Even if this mansion didn't have many books to read, out of the dozen or so, how had he picked that one?
"This can't be... my book!"
"Hey, miss! Answer me!"
Catherine shot to her feet, only to clutch her head in pain as something smacked her crown.
"Ow!"
"Ugh."
She wiped away the tears welling up and looked. The man she'd collided with was the imperial knight who'd broken into the mansion at dawn.
"Why are you here...?"
His name was Demian, right? The knight who'd taken a punch from Chezare. Rubbing his bruised jaw, Demian replied.
"His Highness... no, Lord Chezare sent me here."
"You didn't ring the bell again this time."
Had he already forgotten getting beaten for trespassing? Demian pointed at the door with the most aggrieved expression imaginable.
"The mansion's bell is broken! I waited out front for a whole two hours today!"
She had no time to listen to his excuses when she needed that book back now. What if Chezare carelessly lost her mother's photo?
"Fine, whatever. Hurry up and say what you came to say, then leave. I'm really busy right now."
But how was she supposed to summon Chezare? Their connection wasn't built on promises or chance meetings. It had all hinged on whether he showed up at the mansion or not.
She never imagined she'd be the one seeking him out first.
As Demian hemmed and hawed, Catherine lost her patience.
"I said spit it out!"
"...I'm here to serve a ten-day punishment."
"What punishment? For breaking in?"
"Yes."
She'd guessed at random, but it had actually hit the mark. Demian ruffled his hair and continued in a half-resigned tone.
"So... damn, this is embarrassing. You just have to give me chores for ten days, miss."
"Perfect. Then tidy up the garden."
Could a duke really commandeer imperial knights at will? She had no idea what authority Chezare had wielded to punish him. But Catherine had more pressing matters than prying into that.
"Pardon?"
Demian blinked blankly and surveyed his surroundings—the field of weeds reaching up to his knees.
"This mess? By myself? All alone?"
Catherine nodded and headed for the mansion. The only way she could think to call Chezare right now was the magic circle in the basement.
That first day they'd met, she'd definitely gone down there because of that suspicious magic circle.
"You're really gonna waste an imperial talent like this? Are you insane?"
She went up to her bedroom, grabbed the basement key, and headed back down. Demian trailed after her, yapping nonstop.
"Fine, I'll give it a shot. A mansion this big must have a gardener, right? Should I help him?"
She was already in a rush, and his babbling wasn't helping—her head felt ready to explode.
"Huh? That's the plan? So where's the gardener?"
"Sigh. We don't have one."
"What? No gardener in this huge mansion? You're kidding."
Were all imperial knights like this? Had they tossed dignity, discipline, and seriousness to the dogs?
Catherine hurriedly blocked Demian from following her into the basement.
"Don't come in!"
"Why not?"
"Didn't you hear me say go trim the garden?"
"I can't promise I'll pull weeds barehanded."
Argh, my neck.
It was clear now. Chezare had sent this guy just to watch her die of frustration.
"Then wait here a sec."
"Why? Can't I go down?"
That damn why! ...But on second thought, there was no real reason not to bring him.
What if that goat-headed monster showed up and wrecked the place? A magic circle might not deter it. Better two than one.
"Fine. Lead the way."
She shoved Demian down the stairs. Having an imperial knight along was somewhat reassuring.
At the end of the long staircase, he halted and muttered softly.
"This place gives me the creeps."
"Spot on."
Good instincts. Guess he didn't fancy going back up to yank weeds barehanded either.
Demian cautiously pushed open the wooden door, revealing a massive, glowing red magic circle.
No time to probe its secrets. Catherine snatched an old mop from the basement corner.
"...Hah. So this is what he meant."
As she dipped the mop into a bucket of foul, stagnant water, a long whistle of admiration erupted behind her.
"Who'd have thought such an incredible magic circle was hidden down here. Just one old wooden door to contain its aura? How?"
She understood his curiosity about the bizarre circle, but she hadn't brought him to sightsee.
"Come here, Sir Demian. Help me wipe this magic circle clean."
Thankfully, there were a couple more dried-out mops in the broken furniture. She soaked one and shoved it at him. Demian's serious expression melted away pathetically.
"You're saying... we should erase this magic circle right now? No way."
"Yes, way."
Ha. He let out a hollow laugh, his face screaming, 'What nonsense is this idiot spouting?'
Demian was turning from useless to annoying, but Catherine held her temper for now.
"If you don't wanna help, go upstairs and pull weeds."
She tossed aside the mop she'd offered him and started scrubbing the circle herself. Rub hard enough, and it did start to fade.
Finally, Demian, who'd been standing there dumbfounded, rushed over in a panic.
"Miss, are you crazy? Do you have any idea how dangerous and powerful this magic circle is? Now I get why he sent us here...!"
Kreeeak.
"Sent us here...?"
That was when it happened. The basement's wooden door creaked open slowly with a loud groan.
Demian flinched, spun around, shielded Catherine, and gripped his sword hilt. The basement's chill carried a rising tension.
And the figure who emerged from beyond the red magic circle was...
"And then?"
It was Chezare, dressed as casually as ever in a shirt and vest.
She hadn't actually expected him to appear. Standing atop the crimson glow, his silver hair looked almost red.
For a fleeting moment, her tense shoulders relaxed. But not Demian—he stood frozen like a mannequin until Chezare approached right in front of him.
Meeting Demian's gaze, Chezare flashed the kindest smile imaginable.
"Why so quiet, Sir Demian? Keep blabbing like you were. Or are you planning to scurry off to that 'lord' of yours and tattle about what's in this mansion?"
"...Haha! No, sir! I saw nothing here at all."
"What are you on about? You're not calling me a mirage right in front of you. Or does 'nothing' mean I don't even register in your eyes?"
"No, sir! I'd never dare say that to you, Lord Chezare! It wasn't meant disrespectfully... I just meant I'll shut up..."
Standing before Chezare seemed to magically cure his stuffy personality.
Chezare glanced at Catherine and patted Demian's shoulder—a casual gesture that made the knight flinch.
"Why don't you go upstairs and pull those weeds barehanded, Sir Demian."
"Yes, sir! Thank you!"
He'd treated it like an impossible task earlier. Demian bowed deeply and bolted from the basement at light speed.
Catherine stared at the doorway where he'd vanished, her unease plain on her face. That guy looked like he'd literally uproot every blade of grass and turn the garden into a dirt patch.
Chezare shrugged at her, gazing steadily.
"It had to be you. You're the only one who'd do something this absurd to a magic circle like that, Miss Panya."
What nonsense! But more surprising than his words was that he'd shown up just because she'd tried to erase the circle.
He wasn't monitoring the mansion, was he? Come to think of it, hadn't she been the one to tell Demian to pull weeds barehanded?
"What's with that look?"
It was reasonable suspicion. Catherine shook her head slowly, narrowing her eyes.
"Nothing. I just didn't think it'd actually summon you."
"...Don't tell me you did that just to call me?"
Chezare's face twisted in embarrassment. More precisely, a mix of awkwardness, amusement, and exasperation.
He leaned against the basement wall, scratching the back of his neck.
"You really keep surprising me every other day. Alright, so why'd you summon me?"
Yes, that's the question I was waiting for!
Catherine clasped her hands, wearing the most desperate expression she'd ever shown him.
"The book you borrowed from me. Could you return it right now, if it's not too much trouble? It has a precious photo inside that's important to me..."