“What happened here?”
Raymon carefully caught her trembling, fragile shoulders and stepped her back. Aria looked up, her eyes drenched in tears.
“Please help me. That man… he took Roro.”
“…That man? Do you mean the one you told me about yesterday?”
“Yes… sob.”
Aria reached out and grabbed Raymon’s solid forearm. She was so beside herself that she didn’t even realize she was clutching onto him.
“When I opened my eyes this morning, Roro was gone… so I came downstairs. But the shop was a mess, and the window was wide open.”
With a shaking hand, Aria held out the piece of paper she had been gripping.
“And I found this right underneath the window…”
Unneat handwriting was scrawled across the torn paper.
[I WILL GET REVENGE]
That was unmistakably what it said.
While Raymon’s gaze froze over with ice, Aria bit down on her lower lip until it hurt.
The bloodstains smeared across the floor and window frame, and the white fur scattered all over the place.
It wasn't hard to guess what had happened throughout the night. Aria tried desperately to shake off the gruesome images forcing their way into her mind.
She despised herself for sleeping straight through the night, completely unaware of what was taking place downstairs. At the same time, her heart felt as though it were tearing apart at the thought of Roro struggling in that tiny body.
“I will help you.”
Just as another sob was about to slip past Aria’s lips, a reassuring voice rang out.
Raymon supported her and guided her inside the shop. After settling her into a chair so she could calm down, he took off his outer coat and draped it over her shoulders.
“I am going to look around for a moment.”
Raymon swiftly surveyed the interior and exterior of the shop. No matter the incident, thoroughly examining the scene was the most critical step. There had to be a clue somewhere.
Finally, a tiny trail caught his eye. Raymon immediately brought the fact to Aria’s attention.
“There are small animal footprints stamped below the window. They look like the prints left behind when Roro leaped down.”
“…Ah.”
“It is only my guess, but… it seems possible he escaped on his own before that man could catch him. So please, do not worry too much.”
Awkwardly but with all his heart, Raymon tried to soothe her, hoping with all his soul that she would calm down.
“He will certainly be alright.”
Whether his sincerity reached her or not, Aria nodded, letting her silent tears fall.
Felt like I’d been asleep forever.
“…He’s sleeping a long time. Are cats usually this prone to sleeping?”
My ears twitched involuntarily at the sound of a voice close by. As I slowly woke up, I stretched out both legs.
Man, that was a good sleep. The moment I opened my eyes with a huge yawn, the fur on my back stood straight up at the face positioned right in front of my nose.
“…Hyaak!”
You scared the shit out of me, asshole!
The man’s face, which had been close enough for our noses to touch, smoothly drew back.
An amber glow flickered beneath his black hair. A sharp, delicate jawline, and eyes that looked as though blue jewels had been embedded inside them.
The man’s eyes slowly curved.
In the webtoon, there was one more mug that was just as handsome as the male lead: the villain, Lippert.
That’s right. Of all the people who could’ve saved me, the guy who picked me up was the villain of this webtoon.
“Now that you’re up, shall we get to it?”
While I was lost in thought for a second, a huge hand abruptly hoisted me up. Hey, let go! I flailed around, but there was no escaping the guy’s grip.
Lippert opened a door, carried me somewhere, and set me down inside a marble bathtub.
The moment he turned the gold faucet attached like a tub ornament, water came gushing out. It wasn’t too hot or too cold, but panic set in real quick as my paws started getting soaked.
…Is he trying to bath me? I literally just woke up!
While Lippert prepared something outside the tub, I jumped with all my strength to escape the rapidly rising water. The second I hauled myself onto the edge of the tub, I spotted the mirror mounted on the wall.
There was a filthy stray cat staring back at me.
Crusted, dark-brown blood was plastered beneath my ∧-shaped pink mouth, and dirt covered my entire body so thoroughly that you couldn't even tell what color I was supposed to be.
Okay, yeah. This is definitely a visual that needs a bath.
“Oh, my. When did you climb up there?”
Holding something in one hand, Lippert turned back toward me with a faint smile.
“Are you fascinated by the mirror?”
How old do you think I am to be fascinated by a mirror?
“Even you think you need a wash, don’t you?”
“Maong.”
“If you’re a good boy, I’ll finish up quickly.”
Lippert slid his hands under my armpits and dunked me back into the water. Whatever he had mixed into it, a subtle scent of roses immediately filled the air.
Fragrant bubbles bubbled up right to my chest. Lippert shut off the tap, and his hands officially began working me over.
“Myang, maooong! Waoowwwnnng!”
H-Hey, don't touch me! Where do you think you're putting your hands!
I screamed and thrashed for all I was worth, but it was useless.
“…Haah. You need to hold still.”
If you woke up and immediately had another guy touching every single inch of your body, would YOU hold still?!
“Waoooong!!”
“You’re so filthy. Even if you hate it, you have to get washed.”
I said I’d wash myself!
“I’m sorry for forcing you, but I can’t have you wandering around the room looking like this. I’m a invited guest here, you see. Mind lifting your tail?”
“Weuooong!!!”
“Hmm? I thought you were a female, but you’re a male.”
Get your hands off!!! Don't touch down there!
I raised my hind leg to dodge his hand, but Lippert must have thought I was trying to escape because he started scrubbing even faster.
In the end, even my precious little area got touched by the man’s massive hand. …Fuck me!!
“Weoong…”
Fuck me…
It was a horrific nightmare. Because I’d screamed so much, I had no strength left, I was starving… I just wanted to sleep and forget everything.
As I hung limply after being rinsed in warm water, Lippert scooped me out and wrapped me in a large towel.
Thud, thud. I was carried along, cradled in the man’s arms. When I lifted the towel covering my head and poked my face out, I was already back in the room.
Only now did the landscape of the room, bathed in amber light, register. It was an antique room worthy of noble use.
Lippert, who set me down on the bed, suddenly unbuttoned his shirt. Looking closely now, he was just as drenched as I was from washing me.
He stripped off his top completely, turned around, and walked toward the wardrobe. The man’s broad back, which I unexpectedly got a look at, was packed with muscle.
His heavily shadowed physique was enough to make even another man jealous. But at the same time, it was covered in scars.
Scars that looked like he’d been slashed up with blades and whips… Faded marks that hadn't disappeared despite the passage of time spoke of the man’s past.
Feeling like I’d seen something I shouldn't have, I slily turned my head away, only for footsteps to ring out again.
When he sat on the edge of the bed, my body right beside him bounced once. Lippert picked me up and set me on his lap.
Move the towel!
Because he’d thrown the towel back over my head, I couldn't see a thing in front of me. I yowled for him to get it off, but Lippert just kept rubbing my fur with the towel to dry off the moisture.
He clearly had no idea what I was crying about.
“Weuooowong!”
“Are cats usually animals that cry this much?”
“Weoooong!”
“Hmm, I thought they were quiet animals…”
Lippert muttered to himself in a puzzled voice. I guess it never crossed his mind that he was the one frustrating me.
Aria gets it right on the first try!
I sat there pouting until the towel finally left my body, at which point I jumped right up. Then I gave my body a violent shake, flinging off the remaining moisture.
“Haha, you shouldn't do that when I just changed.”
Lippert spoke after getting hit with an out-of-nowhere shower of water droplets. Man, serves you right.
I was just about to get off his lap when hands suddenly slid under my armpits.
My eyes met Lippert’s as he lifted me up.
“Let’s see. Now that you’re washed, you’re quite a pretty little thing.”
“……”
“Though you do have a bit of a temper.”
What did you just say?
Smiling with satisfaction, the man set me back down on his lap. A large hand tickled under my chin as his eyes met mine.
“What do cats eat?”
Are you asking me that?
“Hmm… I don't know a single thing.”
Muttering with a serious look on his face, the man soon picked me up and stepped out of the room.
Dishes were laid out across a long table. Various meat dishes, soups, ham, cheese, and salads were harmoniously combined.
I wandered around the top of the table, picking and eating like it was a buffet. It was my first feast in a long time.
After stuffing my belly full, I was carried back to the room in Lippert’s arms.
That was delicious.
I smacked my lips, remembering the incredible dishes.
Did I eat too much?
My stomach felt a little round and chubby. Claiming a plush sofa for myself, I settled into a loaf position. Must have gotten a food coma, because I was feeling all drowsy.
I need to go check on the heroine.
She’s probably looking for me right about now.
Since it’s late today, maybe I’ll leave tomorrow morning.
Using the Ground-Shrinking Technique gets me there in no time anyway, so it should be fine to rest up a bit before heading out. Besides, the male lead will be right by the heroine’s side.
Lippert, who seemed to be turning in for sleep now, came into view as he lay down on the bed.
Right. Tomorrow morning, before that guy opens his eyes, I’ll wake up first and make my escape. Having finished rationalizing it like that, I closed my eyes with a purr.