Just tilting his ridiculously handsome face was surprisingly lethal. The one certainty in this moment was that his expression made it crystal clear he hadn't understood a single damn word I’d said.
“…I can tell you feel wronged,” Lippert murmured, “but after seeing what you just saw, I have no intention of letting it slide—even if you are a cat.”
“Myaa?”
Say what?
“Naughty boys need to be punished, don't they?”
A chill shot straight down my spine at those menacing words. L-Let me go! I thrashed with all my might, but Lippert forced me tightly into his arms.
No, he’s definitely just trying to scare me.
Besides, this wasn't even the first time I’d seen him use that power. He’d used it on me when we first met!
Even assuming he felt embarrassed about a cat witnessing his scamming operation, a cat was entirely innocent. Seriously, he should’ve locked the door properly.
Above all, I relied heavily on the belief that surely he wouldn't treat a harmless, mute cat too harshly, right?
I was naive.
…At the time, I had no idea. I had no idea that a horrific hour of torture awaited me in his room.
Returning to his room, Lippert set me down on his bed.
Why put me here instead of the couch? Just as I grumbled internally and tried to hop down, he spoke.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
His eyes flared, staining a brilliant bloodred. It formed a bizarre contrast with the room, which was just beginning to bathe in the cool blue light of dawn.
“You have to take your punishment.”
Crazy bastard, he's using mind control!
I tried to bolt, but my body froze on the spot, creaking to a halt like a broken machine.
“Lie down.”
I slowly lowered my posture and rolled onto my side, flipping over. …It was the belly-up posture cats assumed when they felt safe and happy.
It obviously wasn't my choice! Controlling my body with a single word—experiencing it firsthand was downright terrifying.
……Is he really punishing me? Th-This is animal abuse!
His face gave away absolutely nothing of what he was thinking. Standing there with those eerie red eyes flashing, he sat on the edge of the bed.
“You know what you did wrong, don't you?”
“Mya… aong.”
A broad hand descended, completely covering my belly. His fingertips began lightly, smoothly stroking my belly fur.
“You have to stay like this until I say 'good boy.'”
Having slapped a brainwashing command on me to keep still, he began thoroughly molesting my stomach to his heart's content.
Lying on my back with my four paws sprawled wide and my belly fully exposed, I had no choice but to endure his touch.
Fuck!!
It was humiliating. The broad hand kneading and stroking my white belly fur moved up to scratch my chest and chin. It felt refreshing, then ticklish, then ticklish, then refreshing again. I—I was losing my mind.
“…Oooong.”
…You want to die? Undo this right now!
“That meow sounds a bit dissatisfied.”
Lippert spouted shameless nonsense, as if my disgruntled grumbling displeased him.
“You should enjoy it when I pet you. You shouldn't dislike it.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a purring sound burst from my throat. This wasn't my choice either!
“Hahaha, does that feel good?”
“…Purrrr.”
“Feeling good during a punishment. Now is that proper?”
You're the one who ordered me to purr!
“Purrrr.”
S-Stop touching me. It feels weird!
Aagh, so refreshing. Scratch a little more over there…!
You son of a bitch! Stop touching me!
It feels good—…no, it doesn't! Fuck!
I was trapped in an infinite loop of ticklishness, soothing scratches, and absolute fury when he suddenly stopped his hand and leaned his head down.
The moment I felt his warm, moist breath through my fur, my mind snapped back to full alertness.
N-N-No! NO!!!!
Every time the sharp bridge of his nose rubbed against my fur, every time his soft lips pressed into my stomach, I suffered violent convulsions on the inside.
Outwardly, my entire body remained frozen like stone, unable to twitch.
Mind control was horrifying.
The moment he issued the order, “Act cute for me, too,” a sound so sickeningly sweet burst from my mouth that I couldn't believe it came from me.
“Kyaarrg!”
Making an affectionate, needy cry like a kitten calling for its mother, I rubbed my head profusely against his hand.
FUUUUCK!!
“Want me to pet you more?”
My powerless body rubbed itself all over the blanket, acting cute. The eyes looking down at me curved in sheer amusement.
And so, I was forced to endure those dreadful hands and lips for a full hour.
…It was the most horrific time of my life, a nightmare I never wanted to experience again.
Ever since that day…
Get lost!! Back off!!!
Whenever he so much as came near me, I hissed and stayed on high alert. Even though he’d used mind control for an hour under the pretext of punishing me, fortunately, he hadn't used the ability again since.
If he’d used that garbage ability one more time, I was planning to bite off one of his fingers.
I spent the whole day curled up on the couch like a ferocious wild beast ready to pounce the second it was touched.
As if he had already gotten his fill of entertainment from harassing me, Lippert didn't make a point to touch me anymore. Nor did he provoke me while I was angry.
Personally, I figured he’d stroked me enough to lose interest…. Either way, it worked out great for me.
“I’m heading out. If you’re hungry, eat what I set out for you.”
On top of that, Lippert was frequently invited to meals and gatherings hosted by the count’s family lately. Considering a daughter who had been sick for over a decade had miraculously recovered overnight, it was only natural they treated him like a living god.
Thanks to his busy schedule, I was able to rest comfortably by myself in the room.
Today was no exception; Lippert left the room, leaving me behind. The instant he closed the door and disappeared, I climbed down from the couch and headed to the table.
Stepping onto a chair, I hopped right onto the table.
It was packed with dishes radiating delicious aromas. They were probably prepared with care for Lippert to eat, but he never ate a single bite, so they always ended up being mine.
I trotted between the plates and scarfed down the food.
Phew, that was a good meal.
Since I was eating with a cat’s mouth, it only looked like someone had picked at a few spoonfuls, but having filled my stomach comfortably, I went back to the couch and lay down.
On a quiet afternoon, as I was lying groggily on the couch after eating my fill as usual, Lippert approached.
Perhaps because my stomach was full and sleep was creeping in, I didn't feel particularly guarded.
Aren't you going out today?
I simply opened one eye sullenly and looked up at him. Lippert reached out his hand toward me. Glaring at that hand, I snapped both eyes wide open.
In his hand was a bell collar. As he tried to fasten it around my neck out of nowhere, I planted my front paw firmly against his hand.
“Waong, maoong.”
Put it away. I’m not going for a walk.
I pushed back hard with my paw, but his hand refused to give up.
“Good boy. We have to put on your collar.”
I pushed against the back of his hand with both paws while pulling my neck far back.
I have no intention of going for a walk, so go by yourself. Just as we were locked in this battle of wills…
“We need to get you back to that person named Aria, don't we?”
What?
I scrambled up and stared straight at him. What did you just say?!
“Myaarg-myaong?”
Aria?
“You react instantly to the name Aria, don't you? How cold.”
Lippert stroked me smoothly from head to back before fastening the collar around my neck.
Holding me in his arms, he stepped out of the room. A carriage was waiting in front of the mansion.
The coachman opened the door, and Lippert boarded. The moment he sat down on the carriage seat and set me on his lap, I immediately hopped over to the opposite seat.
Then, resting my front paws on the window frame, I stared out at the scenery passing by.
“Is that comfortable?”
Lippert covered his mouth with one hand and chuckled softly. Watching me stand on two paws while clinging to the window frame must have looked hilarious to him.
“Myaarg!”
What're you looking at!
“Haha, come here.”
He patted his thighs, signaling for me to return to his lap. But I ignored him completely and turned my head back out the window.
He kept throwing intense gazes at the side of my face, but I acted like I didn't notice.
An hour and a half passed before we arrived at a village I knew all too well.
Passing through the village streets at a leisurely pace, the carriage finally came to a halt at its destination.
“Father. We have arrived.”
The moment the carriage door opened, I wanted to leap straight out, but two large hands caught me.
“Hold on a second.”
“Oooong….”
What. Why.
Setting my sullen self down on his lap, he unfastened the collar around my neck.
“There’s a good boy. Now you can go.”
His hands released me. Possessing absolute freedom at last, I leapt out the open carriage door without looking back.
[Aria’s Teahouse]
Trotting toward the two-story building adorned with the familiar wooden sign, I paused, turned around, and looked back.
The man dressed in a neat, white priest’s robe was still sitting inside the carriage. His blue eyes softened gracefully as he watched me.
He wasn't a ruthless villain like the ones I read about in webtoons.
Even though he’d done something that awful to me… and thinking back on it still makes me kinda pissed off….
On a human level, Lippert was a pretty decent guy. I’d give him that much.
Still, considering the target of his revenge was the male lead, making him someone who would put the heroine in danger in the future, it was best not to get close to him.
…Thanks for everything, it was disgusting, and let's never see each other again.
Leaving him a silent farewell he couldn't hear, I dashed toward the shop.