9: A Duchess Worth Less Than a Cat

The neat handwriting pierced Aella’s heart even deeper.

The words, telling her to live quietly like a breathing doll in the place assigned to her, were colder than any icy remark and dug painfully into her chest.

Though she had walked into this hellfire on her own, Aella couldn’t help but feel the creeping fear rising within her.

The gazes and mocking laughter of the employees from earlier, and especially the malicious maid who seemed eager to devour her, weighed heavily on her mind.

“Ah! Charlotte!”

As Aella stood up in a hurry, Kina, who had approached her, reassured her.

“Your Grace, Miss Laura said she would bring her here herself, so don’t worry.”

“Haa, alright.”

“Your Grace…”

“I’m really fine. Please stop asking, or I’ll get tired of saying it.”

Seeing Kina’s eyes welling up with tears as she barely held back her sobs, Aella stroked her head gently, thanking her.

Bang, bang!

“Your Grace~! So, someone from Count Blueanz’s household brought a little kitten here?”

“That woman… but!”

“Kina.”

“I understand.”

Click.

“I’m not deaf, so you can knock on the door quietly.”

“Oh my, is that so~? Well then, I’ll leave now since I’ve delivered my message.”

“Alright.”

“The daughter of a murderer, acting all noble.”

Even though Rensi’s taunts were loud enough for her to hear, Aella had no choice but to endure them.

No matter how unpleasant the words were, some of them were true.

No matter how much she wanted to deny it, she couldn’t refute the fact. Aella barely suppressed the overwhelming desire to rid herself of the blood of Hans Blueanz flowing through her veins.

“Haa, let’s go, Kina.”

“Yes.”

As Aella patted Kina’s back for holding herself back as much as she had, they stepped into the central hall, where Charlotte was nestled in Laura’s arms. Standing beside her was Kael, who had apparently arrived unnoticed.

Meow~

“Is that your way of greeting me? I’m glad to see you too, Charlotte. I’m happy we’ll be able to live together here. Come here.”

Meow~

Charlotte, who only ever clung to Aella, jumped into Kael’s arms without hesitation, likely because she had been familiar with his face since she was a kitten.

As Charlotte nestled into Kael’s embrace and affectionately nuzzled him, Kael kissed her forehead with a gentle smile. Watching him, Aella found herself smiling faintly, as if the Kael before her was the one she used to know.

“Young lady—no, Duchess.”

“Laura.”

Meeting Laura’s worried gaze, Aella smiled brightly and spoke first.

“Thank you for raising me like a mother all this time. Thanks to you, Laura, I’ve been able to make it this far without any trouble.”

“Duchess…”

Approaching Laura, whose eyes were now glistening with tears, Aella hugged her.

The once endlessly large and warm embrace now felt smaller than her own, making Aella realize just how much time had passed.

‘I’ve become an adult, so it’s only natural that Laura has aged too.’

As she patted Laura’s back, Aella gently urged her to leave, pushing her forward.

“Kina, take good care of the Duchess.”

“Don’t worry.”

“The Duchess, huh.”

“As expected of someone from Count Blueanz’s household.”

“No one can match her shamelessness.”

“Otherwise, how could she boldly take the position of mistress?”

Laura couldn’t believe her ears. Mere maids were gossiping so openly with the mistress standing right before them. If this were the count’s household, she would have punished those women without hesitation.

But Kael, who was focused solely on Charlotte in his arms, paid no attention to the situation. Seeing Aella standing precariously in this place, Laura found it difficult to leave.

“Laura, why are you standing there in a daze? Go back already.”

“Yes, Your Grace. I will take my leave now.”

Kael ignored Laura as well, even though he had always been the first to greet her with a smile. He didn’t even glance at her, much like how he was treating Aella.

After Laura left, Kael also began walking away, still holding Charlotte.

“Charlotte, I’ve prepared a room for you. There will be maids to take care of you, so think of this place as your home and settle in.”

Meow!

Charlotte, unwilling to part from Aella, began to struggle in Kael’s arms, where she had been quietly resting.

“Here.”

Kael carefully set Charlotte down on the floor. Charlotte quickly darted over to Aella, who was standing still, and leapt into her arms.

Meow~

“Charlotte.”

As Charlotte rubbed her face against Aella, Aella pressed her forehead to Charlotte’s small head and closed her eyes.

“Matteo.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Show Charlotte to her room. From now on, she will sleep there.”

“Understood.”

Aella didn’t lift her head until Kael’s heavy footsteps had faded away.

“To think the Duchess is treated worse than a cat.”

“Oh my, lower your voice.”

“Quiet down and return to your places.”

“Yes.”

Aella let out a long sigh and lifted her head.

“Matteo, Charlotte has never slept apart from me. If she’s separated from me, she won’t sleep and will cry all night.”

“…”

Matteo, looking troubled, glanced at Kina instead of Aella and spoke.

“I will inform His Grace. For now, follow me.”

“…Alright. Let’s go, Your Grace.”

Aella smiled faintly and began walking slowly.

When they arrived at Charlotte’s room, Aella was stunned to see that it was far more luxurious than the room she had been assigned.

“Hah!”

Kina let out a sound of disbelief, and Aella shook her head at her.

Though Kina pressed her lips together, her eyes burned with anger.

‘This is too much! Did he ever even love her? That bastard! I hope he regrets this later!’

As Kina silently fumed, Aella entered the room with Charlotte.

The room was spacious, with luxurious furniture, a bed, and toys that were all of high quality.

After Matteo left, Kina looked around the room and muttered.

“This is so petty. For someone of his rank, acting like this… he’s worse than a commoner.”

“Kina.”

“There’s no one else here anyway.”

“Remember, this isn’t Count Blueanz’s household. Your careless words could endanger my life.”

Kina knelt and pressed her forehead to the floor.

“Kina, what are you doing? Get up right now.”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. I was so angry… I’m sorry. I never meant to put you in a difficult position.”

Aella set Charlotte down and helped Kina up, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief as she smiled gently.

“How could I not understand your feelings?”

“Your Grace…”

“With you here, I think I’ll be able to endure this place. Please, just stay by my side and be my support, Kina.”

“Of course! I’ll do my best to protect you, Your Grace!”

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

Leaning quietly against the wall, Natasha, who had been listening to their conversation, let out a short sigh and left.

***

When Matteo returned, he relayed Kael’s instructions to Kina: Aella was to remain confined to her room and Charlotte’s room.

At this, Kina became furious but spoke calmly.

“So, Your Grace isn’t allowed to leave the estate at all?”

“…That’s not it. There will be times when she accompanies His Grace outside.”

“Hah! This is too much. It’s truly too much.”

“Kina, that’s enough. Please convey my gratitude to His Grace.”

After Matteo left, Remi, who was close to Rensi, entered the room.

“Come here, dear Charlotte, our noble guest more welcomed than the Duchess herself. Let us clean you up…”

As Remi approached, Charlotte hissed and scratched her hand deeply.

“Ack! This crazy cat!”

“No!”

Seeing Remi about to kick Charlotte, Aella shielded her with her body.

Thud!

“Your Grace! What is this…!”

“Kina!”

“Ugh!”

Kina, trembling with anger, clenched her fists tightly as she approached Aella, who was soothing Charlotte, and dusted off her back.

“Remi, are you okay?”

“You saw that, didn’t you?! I swear, I’ll k*ll that damned cat!”

“How foolish.”

“What did you say?!”

Aella locked eyes with Remi, who looked ready to pounce at any moment.

“You saw with your own eyes how much His Grace cherishes this cat, yet you still say you’ll k*ll her? Your life would be in danger before hers.”

“Hah! You, who are treated worse than an animal, dare talk back?”

“Remi, let’s treat your wound first.”

“If I end up with a scar, I won’t let this slide!”

“I’ll treat it myself, so don’t touch this cat again.”

“Pathetic!”

As silence fell, Aella stroked Charlotte’s head as she hissed at the door.

“Charlotte, you mustn’t do that again, alright?”

Meow~

“Charlotte seems to understand Your Grace’s situation and is crying sorrowfully.”

“…”

Hearing Kina’s words, Aella smiled faintly at Charlotte, who let out a long, mournful meow, and kissed her forehead.

“Thank you, Charlotte. But I’m fine. Truly, I’m fine.”

As Aella repeated these words as if casting a spell on herself, Kina turned away, biting her lip harder.

Because the person who wanted to cry the most right now was none other than the Duchess herself.

***

When a maid rudely informed her that dinner was ready, Aella simply replied that she understood and made her way to the dining room.

Kael, seated far away, was already eating.

“…”

Looking at the soup, stale bread, and salad made from clearly spoiled vegetables placed before her, Aella completely lost her appetite.

“Your Grace, please sit and eat. We prepared these ourselves.”

“That’s right. We can’t guarantee the taste, though.”

The smell alone was nauseating, and Aella couldn’t imagine eating it.

Even the utensils were filthy.

Hearing snickers around her, Aella let out a long sigh.

“Your Grace, how could you disregard our efforts like this? It’s too much. Sob, sob.”

“Rensi, don’t cry.”

“You’re being too noisy.”

“S-sorry, Your Grace.”

The laughter stopped immediately, but Rensi, approaching Aella, who was merely staring at her soup, said she would feed her herself and poured the entire bowl over Aella’s face.

“Ahh!”

“Your Grace!”

Kina glared fiercely at Kael, who didn’t even glance in their direction despite the blatant insubordination happening before him.

Rensi, claiming it was an accident, was pushed aside by Kina, who quickly helped Aella out of the room as she retched.

“Rensi, are you okay?”

“That d*mn…”

“Are my words meaningless to you?”

At Kael’s sharp glare, everyone froze, not daring to breathe.