“No.”
The voice was firm—surprisingly so, considering the hesitation just moments earlier. He even stepped back, as if making sure there’d be no contact at all.
Strawberry looked up at the man with his big, round eyes. Through the gap in his mask, those crimson eyes wavered with no clear direction.
He definitely thought the cat was cute. But despite that, the man still showed every intention of leaving. So Strawberry dropped the act and switched tactics.
He darted forward and jabbed his claws straight into the man’s pants.
“MyaaAAANG!!”
Take me with you! He screeched at the top of his lungs.
The man froze. His red eyes stared down at Strawberry like he was facing some bizarre, incomprehensible creature.
His hand hovered uncertainly above the cat’s head. He could’ve just nudged him away with a foot, but maybe he was afraid of hurting him—his fingers trembled just out of reach. Knew it. I made the right choice! Strawberry’s eyes gleamed with confidence.
But there was only so much a tiny cat could do against a full-grown man. After a brief pause, the man lifted him up and set him aside.
“No.”
This time, his voice was even firmer. Think that’s gonna stop me? Strawberry charged at him again without hesitation.
The man flinched, clearly caught off guard.
“…You’re hurt.”
Oh, right. His ankle was injured. He must’ve limped without realizing it. He’d thought it was just rotten luck—but now, it seemed like a blessing in disguise.
The man crouched down. Strawberry immediately sensed an opening.
“Nyaaanng. Nyang.”
He rubbed his head against the man’s leg. White and yellow fur clung to the black pants in clumps, but neither the shedding cat nor the man seemed to care.
The man murmured, voice distant and contemplative.
“You’re not afraid of me?”
Afraid? Don’t be ridiculous. Strawberry latched onto the man’s leg with both front paws. He even started licking the small holes he’d torn into the fabric earlier—as if to “fix” them.
“Myang!”
Raise me, human! You’re my servant now!
Despite the proud cry, the man didn’t answer. He stayed silent for a long time. Just as sleepiness began creeping in again, he finally moved.
He shrugged off the robe he was wearing and spread it out on the floor. Instantly catching on, Strawberry leapt right onto it.
Carefully, the man wrapped the black fabric around him. Now only his face peeked out, with his whole body snugly swaddled in the robe. It looked absurd, but it was surprisingly cozy—and he liked it.
The man picked up the bundle of cat in his arms. His movements were awkward, but his touch was unexpectedly gentle.
“…This isn’t a place where you should stay. You’ll stay with me only until your leg heals.”
His low voice carried a clear warning. But Strawberry didn’t even pretend to listen. He flicked his ears and nestled deeper into the man’s chest.
Warmth. A cozy cloak. A steady, rhythmic sway. Everything about it was perfect. The drowsiness that had momentarily lifted now swept over him once more.
A short while later—
“……”
The man glanced down at the bundle in his arms. The scruffy little cat was fast asleep already, mouth slightly open, face completely at peace.
He was small, weak, and soft to begin with. And now, he was sleeping without a care in the world.
“Hmm…”
A quiet sigh escaped the man’s lips. Just how much more… Am I going to melt for this?
***
His eyes fluttered open, slow and half-lidded.
The surface beneath him was soft. The air around him was warm. The moment he became aware of it, he jolted upright.
“Ack!”
The floor dipped under him and he nearly rolled over. He quickly glanced down.
A cushion…
A pale yellow cushion was laid out beneath his feet. Soft and squishy. He pressed down hard with a paw and watched it bounce right back into shape. Must’ve been an expensive one.
That’s when he noticed something white wrapped around his front paw. He lifted it for a better look.
A bandage?
Someone must’ve treated him while he was asleep. Aside from the stiff texture, it looked exactly like the kind of bandage he was familiar with. He started licking it out of habit—then caught himself.
Damn this cat body…
If he didn’t stay hyper-aware, his instincts would take over every time.
He carefully climbed down from the cushion. His injured paw made things a little awkward, but he couldn’t undo the bandaging after someone had gone to the trouble of wrapping it. He’d just have to endure it until it healed.
The carpet under his feet was soft and plush. Judging by the large bed, the sofa, the modest nightstand, and the fireplace, this had to be someone’s bedroom.
The place wasn’t as grand or extravagant as the Marquess Marilon’s estate, but it had everything one might need. Clearly, a lot of money had gone into it.
Is he a noble?
Strawberry pictured the man in his mind again—cloaked in darkness, always dressed in black. A noble? Or just a rich eccentric? Either way, the image didn’t quite match.
Not that it mattered for long. Whatever rank or title his future owner might have, who cared? The only thing that mattered was that Strawberry was officially done being a stray.
The man had said he’d have to leave once his leg healed, but that warning had long since been filed away as irrelevant.
I’ll win him over before I’m healed.
He’d make it so the man wouldn’t want to let him go.
As if on cue, heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway, followed by the creak of the door opening.
“…You’re awake.”
The man’s gaze flicked briefly over Strawberry, who sat properly on the cushion, then down to the neatly wrapped bandage. He crouched—but kept his distance.
Strawberry lifted his head to observe him. Still dressed in black, still shrouded in gloom.
Judging by the outfit, he had changed clothes at some point, but the style remained the same. Dark, somber, completely covering his skin. The mask that hid everything but his eyes was unchanged.
Their eyes met—deep red and intense. Strawberry blinked slowly, deliberately.
“……”
Silence stretched between them, long and awkward. It felt like minutes. The man seemed hesitant to speak… or maybe he just had nothing to say. He kept his lips sealed.
Then finally, he spoke.
“…Since we’ll be staying together, I suppose I should introduce myself. I’m Justyn Laufe.”
Never mind that he was introducing himself to a cat. Strawberry’s jaw dropped.
Justyn… Laufe?
A name he never expected to hear.
Laufe. He’d heard that name plenty of times back at the Marquess Marilon’s estate.
The Cursed Duke. The man said to be driven mad by blood. The only human forsaken by Thalassa, the Sea God. Diana had always spoken of him with a mix of duty and fear.
Strawberry had always imagined “Duke Laufe” as someone terrifying—dark, merciless, and inhuman.
But this?
This didn’t match the image at all.
Sure, he dressed entirely in black even in broad daylight. Sure, he covered every inch of his body and wore a mask. That all aligned with the rumors about his curse…
But Justyn Laufe was also the man who worried about a stray cat, fed him, carried him home, and treated his wounds with care.
He didn’t seem frightening at all.
As Strawberry quietly watched him, Justyn suddenly muttered,
“That expression…”
His voice was quiet, almost fascinated. A glimmer of curiosity lit up his red eyes. Strawberry quickly adjusted his face.
Right. I forgot I was making a face.
He’d been staring, eyes wide and jaw slack—basically broadcasting I’m shocked to the world. He glanced up nervously, but thankfully, Justyn just looked intrigued, not suspicious.
Gotta be more careful. He mentally scolded himself.
That thought lasted all of two seconds—until he noticed Justyn’s hand, hovering awkwardly in midair.
Is he trying to pet me?
He was clearly pretending not to, but it was obvious. Thrilled, Strawberry subtly leaned his head toward the outstretched hand.
But no matter how long he waited, the hand never moved closer. When he peeked up again, it was still frozen in place, just like before.
He stared up at the masked face. Justyn’s jewel-toned eyes glimmered—like he was thinking about something he couldn’t quite say—then slowly dimmed again.
Is this guy… really okay? Doubt crept in.
Just when the silence began to stretch too long, Justyn moved—stiff and slow, as if something inside him was stuck.
“…You really don’t find me scary.”
Same words as before. Though this time, it wasn’t a question. It was a quiet, bewildered murmur—more to himself than anyone else.
I was scared, Strawberry admitted silently.
Especially at first. His appearance alone would’ve sent anyone running if they saw him in the dark.
But now? Not so much.
He still looked scary on the outside, sure—but from what Strawberry had seen so far, Justyn was a hundred times kinder than the Marquess Marilon. Just remembering how differently the two had treated him said it all.
“Meow.”
He let out a soft chirp and padded closer, circling Justyn once, twice. His tail swept gently against the man’s boots with every pass.
Cute cute cute cute so cute(>♡<)