“You can go now. Good work.”
The suffocating pressure that had been weighing down on her vanished in an instant. With her breath finally easing, Melissa stood there blinking blankly before managing a clumsy reply.
“Y-yes… I’ll see you next time…”
She didn’t even have time to check whether she’d bowed properly. It wasn’t until she’d awkwardly shuffled out of the Duke’s office that her senses finally returned.
“Ah…”
She glanced back over her shoulder. The tightly shut door no longer looked as towering or intimidating as before.
…Was he being considerate?
His tone had been stiff, but it was clear he’d reined in his temper. She’d been bracing herself for a harsh scolding for failing to protect Ries—but all he said was, “Good work.”
He really does seem like a good person.
Melissa, with her wide social network, knew all too well the rumors about the Duke that floated among the estate staff. Most painted him as cruel and monstrous. But lately, more and more people had started questioning the truth behind those stories—even if only a little.
And it was all thanks to Lord Ries. The affection the Duke showed when petting that tiny cat was too genuine to hide. Seeing that, Melissa had slowly come to accept it—this was a man who could care deeply for someone.
That alone was enough to shake his cold-blooded image, even if just a little.
She clenched her fists with determination.
I’m the only one who can help him.
It felt like a calling. Of everyone in the Duke’s household, she was probably the one observing him most closely right now. So she made up her mind—to tell others what kind of person he really was. She couldn’t speak to his past, but one thing was clear: he was a far better employer than the Count.
Still terrifying, though.
Gulp. She swallowed hard.
Lord Ries will be proud of me.
He’d called her clever—maybe he’d even praise her for this. Melissa’s eyes lit up with excitement.
I have to ask him—just once, let me pet that belly!
Meanwhile, back in the office after her departure, Justyn showed no trace of the murderous aura he’d briefly released.
“Myaa~…”
He’d held back for Ries’ sake, worried his companion might be uncomfortable. The little cat still had his face buried against Justyn’s firm chest, showing no signs of moving. As he gently stroked him, Justyn began organizing his thoughts.
“A vassals’ meeting, huh.”
“It’s a bit overdue. Your return was quite sudden, after all. They probably needed time to figure out your intentions.”
“Hmph…”
A heavy sigh escaped but was muffled by his mask. His hand slowed as it continued to pat Ries. Ketir, sensing the weight behind the silence, added quietly:
“We’ve already set trusted people on the task, but separating the Count’s loyalists from the rest will take time. This meeting could become a key turning point.”
“Right. It’s not often I get a chance to see them all in one place.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“Throw in a stone.”
Just showing up in person would be like tossing a rock into a still pond—it would ripple all on its own. The place had been stagnant for far too long, and even this small disruption could spark real change.
The next step was simple: sit back, watch the ripples spread, and separate those who needed to be removed from those who could be kept. It would take time, but for Justyn—who lacked a proper power base and had only his name to stand on—this was the most critical phase.
By then, Ries had started to regain his senses. Still nestled against Justyn’s solid chest, he didn’t lift his head but mentally replayed the conversation he’d just overheard.
It sounded like there was going to be a major meeting among the Duke’s key retainers, sparked by his sudden return.
If it’s the Count’s faction… then they’re the bad guys, right? So they’re the ones who need to be weeded out.
He blinked slowly.
That kind of thing…is exactly what I’m good at.
From everything he’d seen so far, the Count definitely wanted Justyn out of the picture. Anyone aligned with the Count probably felt the same way. That kind of intent—it might as well be malice.
If that was the case, then just tagging along and watching could be enough to sniff out the ones with something to hide.
The moment he came to that conclusion, all the complicated thoughts that had been building in his mind—ghosts suddenly appearing, Sefiut’s eerie silence—melted away like mist. He focused on what mattered. Then, with renewed resolve, he gave a firm tug with the paw that was still clutching Justyn’s collar.
“Mya. Myaong.”
Take me with you.
Ries’s eyes shimmered like they’d gathered every star in the sky. His soft little mewl bewitched Justyn, who instinctively glanced down—only to freeze like a statue.
Inside, Ries grinned. Got him. With a face this cute, how could anyone say no? His excitement buzzed as he waited for the answer.
“…Alright.”
Justyn shut his eyes tight for a second, then nodded. Behind his mask, his eyes curved faintly, forming the shape of a crescent moon.
“We’ll talk about this later.”
“Understood~ You want some quality alone time, huh? I’ll take a walk.”
…Huh?
Ketir bowed out gracefully, closing the door behind him. Ries sat there dazed, silently watching him leave.
Now left alone in the room, Justyn turned to him with soft, affectionate eyes and whispered,
“Let’s take care of you first. Now… where did I put it…”
He opened a drawer and pulled out an orange brush—one that matched Ries’s fur perfectly. The rounded, densely packed bristles were gentle but thorough. It was Justyn’s favorite.
“…Nya?”
Wait. This isn’t what I meant.
Before he could stop it, Justyn began brushing him. A shiver of pure bliss ran up Ries’s spine, making him tremble.
He quickly turned his head to signal this was not what he wanted—but Justyn didn’t budge.
“It’s alright. You matter more to me than any of that. Don’t worry.”
He thought Ries was feeling guilty about interrupting his work.
Ries was momentarily speechless. He could just feel Sefiut watching from somewhere, smugly snickering at his predicament.
“Eeeehhhng…”
Right. Like a single mewl was going to get him what he wanted… He’d gotten his hopes up just because Justyn usually understood him so well.
Still, he wasn’t about to give up.
Once the brushing ended, Ries racked his brain for a better way to communicate.
There were limits to body language. So he grabbed Justyn’s fountain pen in his mouth.
Spirit beasts can write too, you know.
Sure, it might raise some eyebrows—but after everything with the Count, Ries didn’t have the patience to care.
He fiddled with the pen, trying to find the right angle, when Justyn suddenly began sorting through his paperwork.
Moments later, he pulled out a crisp sheet of paper and placed it neatly in front of Ries, his movements gentle and practiced.
“Here. It’s just scrap. Use as much as you like.”
“Mwung.”
Ries gave a grateful grunt and got to work, jaw moving with effort. Wobbly lines danced across the page.
Luckily, he could read and write in this world—maybe a benefit of reincarnation. If not, this would’ve been a disaster. He sent a quick mental thank-you to whatever god was responsible.
Still, this was harder than expected. It felt like trying to write with your non-dominant foot while holding the pen in your teeth. His jaw ached.
Thankfully, he finished before it cramped. Thunk. He spat the pen out without hesitation, narrowed his eyes, and studied the result.
[Tak
me
meeeting]
“……”
There was no saving the handwriting.
Even for his usual scribbles, this was abysmal. And yet…
It’s… sort of legible?
And not just because he wrote it himself—this was an objective assessment.
It would do. He planted a paw proudly on the paper and looked up at Justyn, eyes sparkling.
“Hmmm…”
Justyn stared at it like an appraiser examining a priceless artifact. He was silent for a long while, studying every letter.
Then, finally—
“Ah.”
A soft breath. He’d deciphered the mess. Ries’s tail wagged with pride.
Justyn smiled warmly.
“So this is a drawing of us together, huh? What a cute little picture.”
“?”
