The memories flashed before his eyes—choking down garbage scraps to survive, being yanked around like some rag toy, locked away in a cramped storeroom, and getting smacked with a broom every time he tried to escape.
At the same time, Diana’s face drifted through his mind—her innocent, radiant smile etched into his memory. More than her expression, it was the words that had come with it that echoed the loudest.
“Want to go for a walk?”
As all the fury he’d been bottling up came crashing down, a sudden, vivid realization struck him like lightning.
This might be it—the once-in-a-lifetime chance that would never come again.
He swallowed hard.
Strawberry decided, then and there, to run away again.
Three days later…
“Alright, Strawberry! Let’s go for a walk!”
“Myaaang!”
Diana kept her word. The grand, vibrant garden—once a beautiful picture he could only stare at from afar—was now right before his eyes.
His heart pounded in his chest, his spirits soared, and his tail stood so high it didn’t seem like it would ever come back down. Half of him was struck by awe at finally seeing the outside world, and the other half trembled with excitement—it was time. The moment he’d been waiting for had finally arrived.
Well… almost.
“Tsk, Strawberry, you can’t touch that. I know it’s annoying, but just hang in there a little longer, okay?”
The leash. That damn leash around his neck.
He subtly scratched at the end of it with his claws but got caught right away. With Diana firmly telling him no, he had no choice but to stop. Still, Strawberry was watching for the perfect moment to ditch this ridiculous thing.
Of course, he didn’t have to take it off himself. He glanced over at Diana.
The leash was gripped tightly in her pale hands. If he could just get her to let go of it on her own, making a run for it would be a piece of cake.
First, I need to figure out where to run.
Strawberry zipped around the garden, pretending to be excited, all the while scouting the area. A tiny flicker of guilt stirred as he looked back at Diana trailing behind him, smiling brightly. But he quickly brushed it off.
Sure, she was the only one who’d ever treated him with kindness—but she was still an outsider. He wasn’t about to hang around this godforsaken place just because of one decent human being.
Unless some miracle happened and he suddenly learned how to speak so he could yell, “Help! The Marilon family is abusing me!”—but yeah, not happening.
Forget the front gate.
He didn’t know the way out, and even if he did find it by dumb luck, the guards stationed at the entrance would definitely catch him.
The best bet would be a hole in the wall. But… none were in sight. Unless…
Strawberry slowly lifted his head.
You’re not seriously thinking about climbing over that, are you?
His eyes landed on a wall built high with white marble. It wasn’t just tall—thick thornbushes had grown across the top, like some natural defense system.
If he couldn’t jump high enough to clear the thorns, he’d end up looking like a giant furball of needles. Definitely not ideal. Best to let that one go.
…So why do I feel like I can actually do it?
There was a tree nearby, growing right next to the wall.
If he climbed it and timed his jump just right, maybe—maybe—he could make it over the wall without touching the thorns.
Strawberry thought it over and decided to save that plan as a last resort. For now, he’d search for a small hole he could squeeze through.
…But of course, things never go according to plan. He ran all over the garden, combing every corner, but no hole in sight. Not even close.
“Strawberry, should we head back?”
Worse yet, the walk seemed to be ending. No way!
In a panic, Strawberry searched for something—anything—to keep Diana from calling it quits.
That’s when he spotted it: a slender tree branch. He could almost hear his last shred of human dignity shattering… but whatever. Desperate times.
He picked up the branch in his mouth and trotted over to Diana. Her eyes widened.
“You’re giving this to me?”
No, not that—
“…Wait. Do you want me to throw it?”
YES! THAT!
Looking unsure, Diana took the branch and tossed it. Strawberry darted after it and brought it right back.
Her confused expression melted into awe. Her pink eyes sparkled.
“Strawberry, you’re so smart!”
The pure, glowing praise made him feel a bit weird inside, but at the moment, this was the best play. More importantly, getting her to let go of the leash on her own was a huge win.
“Okay, go fetch!”
…He didn’t exactly enjoy being treated like a dog, though. He barely held back the urge to grimace.
Sprinting off to retrieve the stick, one thought stayed in his mind.
Only two options left.
Either go back to the mansion for now and wait for another chance… or go all in and jump that wall. No middle ground. Just one or the other.
Between the two options, the first was by far the safer and more stable choice. If he kept going on walks with Diana, there was a decent chance he’d eventually stumble across a secure escape route. The more often it happened, the more likely he’d find a way out.
But…
Go back?
No. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t.
His heart had already chosen.
He wasn’t the gambling type—he hated uncertainty, and he especially hated unpredictable change. Stability was his comfort zone.
But looking at his current reality? Strawberry had already taken the plunge. Waking up in a strange world, turning into a cat, getting bullied and mistreated left and right—he wasn’t just near the edge. He’d gone off the cliff a long time ago.
In short, whether he moved forward or turned back, both roads led to the same abyss.
And yet…
I can make it.
A strange, quiet confidence surged through him. He truly believed he could get over that wall.
“Should we stop here?”
Right then, Diana gently suggested they head back. She didn’t mean to, but her words sealed his decision.
“Muuung.”
With the branch still in his mouth, he tilted his head, laid on the charm, and poured all his feline cuteness into one desperate look. Diana, unable to resist, sighed.
“Alright, just one more time.”
She threw the stick with all her strength, sending it sailing through the air. The second it left her hand, Strawberry bolted—not after the branch, but toward the tree he’d picked out earlier.
“Wait—Strawberry!”
Her panicked shout rang out behind him. He heard her footsteps chasing after him, the leash dragging along the ground—but those sounds faded fast.
The tree came into view right where he’d left it. Without missing a beat, he dug his claws into the trunk and scrambled upward. It was his first time climbing, and he slipped once, twice—but quickly found his rhythm and clawed his way to the top.
The wall wasn’t far now. Even from this height, it still towered above him, lined with thorny brambles that looked more threatening than ever.
But he didn’t feel fear. No dread. No second thoughts. His mind was buzzing with a single, exhilarating thought—freedom. He was going to make it out.
He steadied his breathing, gauging the distance. Diana’s voice was getting closer again—this was it. His final shot.
Now.
He picked a branch that was solid, long, and angled just right, then sprinted across it with every ounce of strength he had. As he neared the end, he launched himself off it, pushing hard with his hind legs.
His golden body shot through the air, soaring not just over the wall, but clean over the brambles too.
The height, the wind, the sensation of weightlessness—it all made him feel like he was flying. And behind him trailed an overwhelming rush of liberation.
Finally!
The world beyond the estate unfolded before his eyes. His heart swelled, his mouth parted in awe. Then came the fall.
It felt like time slowed.
Strawberry looked down.
It was far. Really far.
Not surprising, since he’d jumped from the top of a tall tree—but even knowing that, a cold sweat trickled down his back.
…I didn’t plan the landing.
Strawberry screamed with all his might.
“WEEEEEEOOOOOONG!”
***
“It’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have taken him outside… I didn’t mean for this to happen…”
The room was dim, the curtains drawn tight. The only light came from a single candle flickering weakly in the corner. In that gloom, Diana wept softly.
Chesif sat beside her, gently patting her back.
“You don’t… hate me?”
“Me? Hate you? Why would I?”
“Because of me… Strawberry…”
“Ah.”
Her tearful, pale-pink eyes stared up at him, filled with guilt. Chesif forced a small, bittersweet smile. His normally composed face crumpled just slightly—like he was trying to hold back his own sadness.
“I did care for that cat. But I care for you too. You’re precious to me. A bond more valuable than gold—one I wouldn’t trade for anything.”
He raised a hand and gently brushed the tears from her cheek. The dampness wasn’t pleasant, but he didn’t mind.
“Chesif…”
“He couldn’t have gone far. I’ll send people to search the area. Don’t worry—we’ll find him soon.”
“…Thank you.”
