220: The Kitten and the Married Couple
A few days later, Avril spotted a small ball of fur sitting in front of the door to Dylan’s study while walking through the main house.
“Blue!”
She hurried over and picked up the kitten. It then nestled into Avril’s arms where it made a tumbling purr in its throat.
“What are you doing in a place like this? Coming all the way here must have quite difficult.”
“Myaa.”
Smiling at the kitten’s affectionate-sounding response, Avril opened the door to the study.
The kitten Samuel found that night had recovered completely thanks to the veterinarian’s examination and Samuel’s care. After drinking the milk prescribed by the veterinarian and spending time wrapped in a blanket in a warm room, the kitten had changed so much it was almost unrecognizable.
Samuel named the kitten “Blue” because of its fur. Although it looked dark gray when wet, it was actually a beautiful gray tinged with blue.
Avril entered the study while stroking Blue.
“Lord Dylan, you have a guest.”
“Avril—oh, Blue is with you too?”
Dylan’s face stiffened slightly when he saw Blue.
Sensing her husband’s concern, Avril quickly explained.
“The kitten was waiting in the hallway for the door to open as though it wanted to enter this study. Ah, don’t worry! I’ll take Blue to another room so that your work doesn’t get interrupted. There are a lot of important documents here, after all.”
“It’s not that I dislike it because it would interfere with my work. Still, you doing so would help.”
Dylan, with a wry smile, stroked Blue while also placing a kiss on Avril’s bangs.
Even though Chris was present, the gesture was so natural that it made her heart skip a beat. Yet, for her husband, the act seemed to be something entirely ordinary, and just like that, he continued the conversation.
“How are preparations for the music festival? Are they going well?”
“Yes! We just so happened to have received a few replies to our invitations, here you are.”
Tightly clasped within Avril’s hand, while also carefully holding Blue to herself, were several letters. Among them was a letter bearing the crest of the Kingdom of Claughton. Dylan narrowed his eyes at it.
“They’ll be attending?”
“Yes! As might be expected, His Majesty Listeard won’t be coming, but Her Highness Princess Emilia shall graciously be in attendance!”
…Indeed. That royal princess would probably come no matter what she had to set aside…”
Avril couldn’t help but laugh when she saw Dylan’s distant gaze. Since invitations could not be extended to the royal capital for this music festival, only nobles who had withdrawn to their territories would be invited instead. That said, due to the heightened caution surrounding the current epidemic and the fact that the social season was coming to an end, many nobles had already returned to their territories. The event looked like it would be a lively one.
“We’re grateful. It seems that many people besides Her Majesty Emilia will be coming. A reply offering cooperation from Samuel’s Marquis of Brandner has also been received.”
“I see.”
Dylan smiled as he nodded.
What Brandon had said was certainly concerning, but restoring the honor of the Duke of Lancester’s family was more important. Even with the support of the crown prince and princess, dispelling the terrible rumors left by the previous duke would still take time to. Furthermore, the lingering and widespread rumor that Dylan was fond of villainess was also a cause for concern. Dylan himself didn’t seem to mind it much, if anything there were signs that he enjoyed it, but the reason this rumor had spread was Avril herself.
As she had been fortuitously granted the opportunity to host an event as the Duchess of Lancaster, she had to use this to do something about it.
I’m truly grateful to be receiving such assistance from the Marquess Brandner like this.
“Well then, I shall excuse myself here.”
“Ah. I’ll see you then.”
As Avril turned on her heel while being seen off by Dylan, Blue let out a small, “Myaa,” from within her arms. The kitten didn’t seem to want to be separated from Dylan. She recalled how it had been meowing in front of this very room earlier.
“Blue, you’ll be able to see Lord Dylan again tonight. How about we prepare for the music festival together with Samuel?”
When she stroked the kitten’s bluish-gray fur to comfort it, the kitten let out another sorrowful cry.
That night, Avril, having finished preparing for bed, was sitting on the large bed in the duke and duchess’ bedroom like always. Just like the previous night, she wasn’t alone either. Blue was on her lap. Just then, the door opened, and Dylan entered. As usual, he gave a wry smile upon seeing Avril and Blue sitting on the bed.
“Again?”
“Well, it can’t really be helped.”
Avril also smiled wryly as she set the kitten onto the bed.
Then, Blue walked across the fluffy bed with unsteady steps and sprawled down in the middle of the bed as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
When Dylan sat down next to Blue, the kitten quickly lifted its body, began purring loudly, and rubbed itself against Dylan.
“He’s adorable.”
“He is adorable, except…”
Dylan had a reason to be casting a troubled look toward Blue. That reason was that this Blue was far too fond of Dylan.
“From the day after Samuel rescued Blue, this kitten’s following of you, Lord Dylan, has been quite intense.”
“I don’t understand why I’m liked this much.”
“Your gentle presence must be coming through to him, Lord Dylan.”
Blue blinked as if to say “Right,” at those words and once again nestled himself against Dylan’s body.
“Still, why does he refuse to sleep unless I’m with him…?”
Avril couldn’t help but laugh at Dylan’s baffled tone.
In fact, with permission from the Marquis of Brandner, it had been decided that Samuel would keep Blue. After the half-year period of etiquette training ended, Samuel would be taking the kitten home. However, at present, for some reason Blue simply would not sleep unless it was with Dylan.
From how Blue had wanted to enter the study during that day, anyone could tell that the kitten absolutely adored Dylan.
Once, as a test, Samuel tried sleeping with Blue in his bed, but the kitten cried and clamored with a tone far from normal until Samuel, looking apologetic, brought it back to Dylan.
Of course, once Blue had settled in beside Dylan, it grew so quiet it was hard to believe it had been the source of all that earlier commotion. Before long, it was sleeping soundly.
Since then, the three, two people and one cat, had been sleeping side by side on the large bed in the duke and duchess’ bedroom of the main residence.
Dylan gazed off into the distance.
“I tried moving it to the cat bed in the middle of the night, but it woke up right away and started crying…”
“Lord Dylan, you did something like that?”
“Yeah, I did. I thought I’d try just in case.”
Avril burst with laughter at the behavior that was so unlike Dylan.
“I don’t think that will work. Even during the day, when I was making arrangements for the music festival with Samuel, I had to keep it from leaving the room to go to you, Lord Dylan…! After all, I couldn’t let it interfere with Lord Dylan’s work.”
“No, if anything, even if it’s just for one day, I’d accept it being with me in the study and to have it refrain from sleeping beside me at night.”
“Eh?”
As Avril tilted her head in confusion, Dylan leaned in and pressed her with a light kiss. As she accepted it, she felt something soft and fluffy near her hand.
Looking down, she saw Blue trying to climb up Dylan’s arm. The kitten was desperately pressing with its front paws, doing its best to get closer to the person it loved the most.
A smile blossomed across her face.
“You’re trying so hard, Blue.”
“Yeah… Shall we sleep?”
“Yes, let’s.”
The two of them lay down together on the large bed.
Dylan, Blue, and Avril.
Once the lights went out, Dylan’s wry voice could be heard.
“…Come to think of it, here was a time I slept together with a stuffed cat in this main residence. I never imagined a day like this would come again…”
“True, although this time, it’s the real thing.”
And so, the peaceful night passed.
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