Chapter 6

Sisford snapped his fingers lightly.

—At that moment.

A gentle breeze swirled, and his body was enveloped in sparkling light.

Cheers rose throughout the venue.

The scene of light particles dancing was so beautiful that I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"

But when I saw what appeared after the light dispersed, I let out another exclamation, "Wow!?"

"S-Sisford-sama!? Why!?"

What emerged from the light was the fluffy fur I loved so much.

The black-striped, dignified cat.

The one that had been by my side for five years, the one I cherished...

"K-Kitty with the black stripes...!?"

There, as usual, was the cat with its calm face.

My thoughts couldn't keep up, and I forgot to breathe, completely transfixed by the cat.

Sisford, as the cat, paid no attention to me.

He walked around me with his usual cool gait, making a full circle.

"What!? Why!? S-Sisford-sama is a black-striped cat...!?"

"I like cats."

The cat spoke! In Sisford's voice...

The conversation didn't seem to make sense, but I was too flustered to point it out.

Shocked, I forgot how to move, and just stood there, dazed.

Turning his back to me, the cat—Sisford—continued speaking to Ruruna.

"Being chased by you saying you would 'kill me' was quite a nuisance, to be honest. Calling me a 'damn cat' is not something a baron's daughter should do. And most of all, when you shouted, 'I'll burn off your balls!' and chased me with fire magic at night, I was genuinely frightened. To break curfew, sneak out of the dorm, and attack my sleeping quarters, demanding castration... You have quite an unusual and un-ladylike hobby."

I was taken aback.

I had never heard of such an incident. ...I'll ignore the strange words for now.

Sisford probably wasn't lying, I guess.

Ruruna seemed to have been chasing the cat, spouting insults, and trying to do cruel things. ...I guess.

Now that I know he was a human adult male, her actions were completely those of a deranged stalker.

Immediately after he said this, Ruruna's face turned an indescribable shade of red or blue.

Sweat dripped down her dress, creating stains.

Her makeup-stained sweat dyed her pure white wedding dress in patches.

Ruruna began to clutch her head, her mouth opening and closing.

She muttered something under her breath.

"Why... Why... This world... In this world, I'm... the heroine...! ...This isn't part of the script... Just because a background cat... Why...? ...At that time... Did I mess up the event...? ...Hey... Wait... What will happen to me after this...?"

Sebastian, as if protecting the strange Ruruna, shouted.

Despite being so close just a moment ago, there was now a noticeable distance between them.

"I won't allow you to insult Ruruna!!"

"Insult?"

Sisford was once again enveloped in magical light, returning to his human form.

In the sparkling light, with a voice even deeper than before, he said to Sebastian,

"You, who have continuously insulted Lady Melusia, my fiancée, have no right to speak. Indulging in affairs in public and then leaving her alone to enter the ball, causing her embarrassment, and breaking the engagement to marry your mistress in front of everyone—such actions are not those of a sane person. As a man and a human, I deeply despise you. Know your shame, fool!"

I was surprised to see him raise his voice.

I couldn't help but gape.

Then I reconsidered.

...No, this was the second time.

This was the second time he had shown anger.

He had also stood up for me when Sebastian tried to hit me.

To see him, who always had a calm face, show emotion was strange enough, but to see him react because of me made my heart flutter.

What was this indescribable feeling?

My chest felt full, ticklish, warm, and restless...

Sebastian, trying to respond, mumbled with his mouth half-open.

Ignoring him, Sisford turned to me as if the conversation was over, and extended his hand as if nothing had happened.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we go?"

"E, ah... Yes...!"

I took his hand, and we started walking together this time.

The nobles who had been watching the bizarre drama parted to make way, and showered us with enthusiastic voices.

"What a show! The best party ever! Thank you!"

"Congratulations!"

"I thought that cat was ignoring me when I tried to feed it. It was a human all along. Makes sense."

"I actually liked your evil laugh quite a bit!"

Amid the chaos, I heard some strange comments, but I decided to ignore them.

Sebastian and Ruruna, still left on the stage, were also being bombarded by the nobles' murmurs.

"Castration... What a scary woman. Gives me chills..."

"Using fire magic on a cat is unbelievable... How cruel..."

"Those two, of all people, managed to anger the Duke of Segrista. Their future looks tough..."

"They said they were getting married. Ha, now his manhood is in danger!"

We emerged onto the balcony, having navigated through the crowd.

The sun had long set, and the sky was covered in deep indigo.

The sound of people faded, and the clear night air quietly enveloped us.

Not knowing what to say, I let my eyes wander.

Being alone with him made me suddenly nervous.

Thinking about it, I don't remember ever being alone with a man like this since I grew up.

The reason is obvious.

Feeling restless, he spoke to me.

He bowed slightly.

"I apologize for not telling you about the cat. It was decided that students should not be informed about the priests using transformation magic for patrols. I couldn't intervene openly... I caused you a lot of trouble and made you suffer, for which I am truly sorry."

"No, no! There's no need to apologize... But I was surprised. The black-striped cat really was you, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was me."

He affirmed it matter-of-factly with a straight face.

I recalled everything that had happened and started to sweat.

At the same time, my face grew hot.

"Um... I'm the one who should apologize... I was quite rude to you, wasn't I...?"

"No, don't worry about it. It was just a cat. ...But, thinking about it, it was quite an experience I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. In many ways."

He seemed to be deep in thought.

I didn't want him to think about it, to remember it.

My face felt like it was on fire...

I slumped against the balcony railing and groaned.

He leaned against the railing next to me.

Then he spoke to me in a gentle voice.

"The five years I spent being drawn to you were both enjoyable and painful. You had a fiancé, so tonight, I intended to enjoy our last encounter as a cat and bury my feelings."

I looked up at him.

He still had his cool face, but his eyes seemed to waver slightly.

He straightened up and stood directly in front of me.

Looking me straight in the eye, he said in a gentle voice,

"I truly love you. I want to be your support and build memories with you. Will you please be by my side?"

By the time he finished speaking, tears had welled up in my eyes.

It felt like a response to the words I had directed at the black-striped cat...

My five years of love had reached my beloved cat...

"I never thought I would get a proper response in human words."

Ignoring the tears streaming down my face, I answered him.

"I also love you. You have always been kind and warm, supporting me. I have been drawn to you since five years ago... and I will continue to be."

With a trembling voice, I answered, and he pulled me into his arms.

"I will take good care of you from now on."

He kissed my cheek and said so.

His face was filled with a sweet and passionate smile.

■

After a six-month engagement, Sisford and I, Melusia, were married.

That day, when I told my parents about the broken engagement and the proposal, they were shocked.

It was understandable, given the bizarre circumstances that led to the connection with the Duke's family.

His mansion has five cats, and I spend my days covered in fur, admiring them.

Sometimes, the dignified black-striped cat is among them.

When I find it, I pet its fluffy fur and hug it tightly.

If I don't, the black-striped cat gets sulky.

A sulky cat demands my evil laugh to cheer up, which is quite a hassle.

So, every day, I give special attention and love to the black-striped cat.

As a side note, Sebastian and Ruruna divorced after about two months.

It seems the party that night had a lasting impact.

The stage play that took place in the middle of the ball became a hot topic in society.

The mix of love, romance, and some lowbrow elements in the gossip hit the sweet spot for the rumor-loving nobles.

Ruruna earned nicknames like "The Ball-Taker Lady" and "The Gold-Target Lady," and ashamed, Sebastian's family side initiated the divorce.

There are also rumors circulating among the nobles about Sebastian.

It's said that he might be infertile.

This rumor is a result of his short-term relationships with two women and Ruruna's nickname.

I heard a rumor that "He had a spell cast on his manhood and can't have children, so he gets rejected by women when he proposes," but of course, it's not true. Rumors tend to get distorted as they spread.

The "Conviction Graduation Party" and the "Days of the Villainess and the Heroine" are still amusingly discussed among the nobles.

Will Ruruna get a second chance, and for Sebastian, a third?

Their future is known only to the gods.

—My husband, the priest, said this with a calm face by my side.

Thank you for reading!

I would be grateful for any reviews or feedback.