The tension in the air melted into a warm, easy calm.
Justyn, who had been absently rubbing his forehead, shifted his focus to work. The pen in his hand swept across the paper with frightening speed.
Ries sat quietly nearby, simply watching him work. Normally, that would’ve made him drowsy in no time. But maybe because he’d already sprawled out earlier and taken a deep nap—sleep wasn’t coming.
Instead, another sensation began to creep in.
…I’m hungry.
Not for a full meal. Just a snack. This damn cat body had adapted far too well to its once-a-day snack time. Like clockwork, his body sent out signals the moment that hour rolled around.
He smacked his lips and leapt down to the floor. The soft carpet squished under his paws. He loitered nearby, pacing in place, and sure enough, Justyn reacted.
“You must be hungry.”
At some point, Justyn had already set his pen aside. He stood up, straightened his posture, and walked out the door.
Ries waited dutifully for his return. From somewhere outside, it felt like he could hear someone howling with joy on the wind…
“Here.”
Soon enough, Justyn returned, holding a small plate of fruit. A sweet, citrusy scent wafted into Ries’s nose.
Apple!
It wasn’t a large portion—probably Justyn being cautious with the amount—but Ries was still grateful. He pounced at once, crunching into the apple slices with gusto.
He didn’t even like apples that much when he was human. So why did they taste so absurdly sweet and delicious now?
Juice burst across his tongue with every bite. He barely managed to swallow it all before it overflowed, then shoved his face back toward the plate—
“……”
Only to bump his nose against the bottom of an empty dish. That was it? Already? Was this what a raccoon felt like when it tried to wash cotton candy in water?
“…Maybe I gave you too much.”
And Justyn—of all things—murmured that while taking the plate away.
What?
That ridiculous statement seared itself into Ries’s brain. The sorrow that had been quietly pooling inside him overflowed all at once.
“MyaaaAAAK!”
“R-Ries?”
A kind owner? A warm bed? Regular meals? All of that was fine. There were even days when Ries thought he could die happy if he just had those things.
But people—no, cats—were creatures of endless greed. Once he had everything he thought he needed, he started wanting more.
Since coming here, almost everything he’d eaten had been the same: boiled meats, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, vegetables, fish… Sure, the care and effort behind the meals showed. And sure, he’d been genuinely touched at first by the simple warmth of freshly cooked food.
But every dish came in strict portions and with barely any seasoning. It didn’t take long before the cravings kicked in and spiraled out of control.
He wanted to eat until he was full. He wanted flavor—real, punchy flavor. Salty, sweet, spicy—whatever. He just wanted to taste something.
The only thing keeping his sanity intact was the tiny portion of fruit he got once a day as a snack. But judging by what Justyn just said, even that might be cut down tomorrow.
No way!
Even imagining it was horrifying.
The truth was, Ries had always taken food seriously. His survival instincts had been the only thing keeping him in check until now. If the food was tasteless, he’d honestly rather starve.
Staring up at Justyn’s confused expression, Ries’s mind kicked into overdrive. He needed a way out of this. If only he could talk. That would’ve been the best-case scenario—his ideal solution. But a cat speaking human language? Not happening. He tucked that dream away without hesitation.
Instead, he thought of a second method.
Shock therapy.
I’m just gonna eat it.
The plan was simple: Eat first. Deal with the consequences later. Sure, Justyn might panic—but once he saw Ries eat and come out fine, it would all work out.
I’m going to get a taste of real food, Ries swore, baring a wicked grin.
***
That evening, just before sunset, at dinner.
Ries put his plan into action. He pretended to be distracted by his own food, then suddenly launched himself onto Justyn’s dining table.
Ketir, who had just placed a dish down, and Justyn, who had glanced away for only a moment, were too slow to react. Well—technically, Justyn could’ve reacted. But he clearly hadn’t anticipated this kind of catastrophe.
Which is why Ries got to savor every last bite of the soup.
This—this is happiness…!
The tender, mashed potatoes. The perfectly salted roast chicken. The broccoli that still had a satisfying crunch. They all danced together on his tongue in perfect harmony.
More than anything, it was the broth that truly elevated the soup—a rich base of onions gave it a subtle sweetness and deep, layered flavor. It was, in every sense, divine.
Chomp chomp chomp chomp.
The sound of enthusiastic eating finally jolted the two men out of their stunned stupor. Justyn shot up from his chair.
“Ries! Stop!”
For the first time, he raised his voice.
It was loud enough to make Ries’s tail shoot bolt upright. Startled, he pulled his face out of the soup bowl in a panic.
His moment of rebellion was coming to an end. Regret wasn’t even the right word—what clung to him now was pure longing, stretching out like a desperate hand refusing to let go. He instinctively scanned the room, eyes darting for an opportunity.
I want one more bite.
They say a ghost who dies from overeating still looks satisfied—no point regretting it now. If he was already headed for punishment, he might as well go all in.
Before Ketir could even react, Ries sprang forward like lightning and snatched a piece of fruit.
“Wait—Ries!”
Someone shrieked behind him. Of course, the culprit in question didn’t so much as blink.
There was no time for hesitation—every second counted. He tore into the stolen fruit with zero remorse. The sweetness was so intense it almost felt like it would attract flies, a burst of sugary perfume that clung to his nose and overwhelmed his mouth.
A firm grip seized the scruff of his neck right after—but it was already too late. Several grapes had safely made it to his stomach. Ries let himself go limp, utterly content.
It’s been a while since I had grapes. Forgot how good they were.
After being teased with tiny bites for so long, being able to gorge like this filled him with pure joy. If he kept pulling stunts like this, surely they’d start realizing how special he was. Maybe then the food would start improving.
But the moment he looked up at Justyn’s face, Ries realized he’d screwed up. Big time.
Only Justyn’s eyes were visible beneath the mask—but that was all it took. He was terrified.
“Cats…”
Justyn’s voice cracked, each word forced out like it was scraping his throat raw.
“If a cat eats grapes… they die, don’t they?”
Ries forgot how to breathe.
Wait—cats can die from grapes?
He knew chocolate was dangerous. But grapes, too?
Sure, he felt totally fine. But he hadn’t meant to throw everyone into a panic—this wasn’t part of the plan. He hadn’t meant to scare them this badly.
He stole a glance at Justyn. Even behind the mask, it was obvious—his expression was drained of all color.
Guilt surged through Ries like a fist to the gut.
“…It’s not always fatal,” Ketir said, his voice grim and laced with tension. “But yes. Grapes can be lethal. I’ll contact a veterinarian and a priest immediately.”
The heaviness in his tone slammed down like a verdict. The whole room felt like a funeral procession.
Should he meow? Do something to show he was okay?
He was still debating it when Justyn took a hesitant step forward—then stopped short, and slowly sank into his chair like all the strength had left him.
“…Right. I’d only get in the way. Take care of Ries for me.”
“Yes, sir.”
But that face…
The way Justyn’s eyes alone conveyed so much despair—it was almost art. Even if the whole world turned its back on him, Ries couldn’t imagine it feeling worse than this.
The raw sorrow and heartbreak were enough to make anyone’s chest ache. Ries couldn’t even open his mouth. Couldn’t meow. Couldn’t move.
“……”
He stayed perfectly still.
Surviving the examination and apologizing like his life depended on it—that was the only option left now.
***
The vet arrived at full speed, visibly shaken, and began the check-up with trembling hands. Whether it was the mansion’s overwhelming atmosphere or the reputation of its owner, the man looked like he might pass out on the spot.
But soon enough, his composure shattered.
“H-He ate nine grapes? Thirty minutes ago?”
“Roughly that,” Ketir replied. “Is it serious?”
Shock. Panic. Resignation. Grim resolve. All of it flashed across the vet’s face in seconds.
“Y-You may already know this, but even a single grape can be extremely toxic to cats. He ate nine, so… A-Anyway, I’ll do everything I can to save him!”
“You’d better.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
