“Who doesn’t know that? I’m just so frustrated.”

The vendor ran his hand through his hair and sighed loudly.

“It’s all because the Holy Maiden stirred up unnecessary trouble.”

‘…Me?’

My eyes widened in surprise. I couldn’t understand why they were talking about me. Just as I was about to go over and ask what was happening, Richard firmly grabbed my wrist.

“You almost got lost. Come this way.”

“But, Richard…”

Now that I looked around, there were strangely few beast-folk in the streets. Considering their population ratio, it was unnatural to see so few of them here.

I was about to ask what had happened in this area when an unfamiliar voice interrupted us.

“Oh, if it isn’t Richard.”

I turned my head. Standing there was a neat-looking man with the same hair color as Richard. He bowed with a friendly smile.

“Hello, Holy Maiden. This is our second meeting. I’m Richard’s brother, Noel Ferol.”

It was Marquis Noel Ferol himself.

I had been disappointed that we only exchanged brief greetings last time before parting. I quickly bowed my head in return.

“Pleased to meet you, Lord Marquis.”

“Please don’t. I’m too honored.”

“Not at all. It’s only proper that we both observe courtesies.”

Besides, beyond being a marquis and the chancellor of this country, he was Richard’s family.

‘Come to think of it, this is my first time meeting Richard’s family.’

Since Richard was entrusted to the temple during childhood due to circumstances in the Ferol family, I had mistakenly assumed he had no family like me. Though he occasionally mentioned the marquis after becoming an adult, he was very careful because of the hostile relationship with the temple.

‘Looking at his face, I can see the resemblance to Richard. Brothers really are brothers.’

For someone like me with no thoughts about family, this was quite fascinating. After examining every detail of Noel’s face with sparkling eyes, I smiled broadly and said:

“So the Lord Marquis comes all the way to the central temple area. How interesting.”

The reason I found it interesting was because Marquis Noel Ferol was precisely the representative figure that Pope Incensino was hostile toward.

Originally, the empire’s capital and the city where the central temple was located were about two hours apart by horseback. But as the capital expanded and forests were developed, the city where the central temple is located is now broadly considered part of the capital.

That’s why this area is sometimes classified as a “street” and sometimes as a “city.”

‘But he shouldn’t be walking around so naturally here.’

Even though the whole area is collectively called the capital, this vicinity is essentially a self-governing district under the temple’s jurisdiction. This means that if anything were to happen to the marquis here, it would be entirely up to the temple to decide his fate.

‘Of course, I don’t think His Holiness would attack a marquis who’s just walking around.’

But I found it hard to be confident in my judgment. Recently, the temple’s direction had become more radical and difficult for me to understand.

As I was looking at Noel with a serious expression, he surprised me with unexpected words.

“Ah, I happen to love cats.”

This was something I hadn’t anticipated at all. Cats!

All my serious thoughts vanished instantly as I asked with sparkling eyes:

“Cats? Do you keep cats?”

Suddenly the man standing before me felt incredibly familiar. Seeing my sudden enthusiasm, Noel answered with a slightly flustered expression.

“I’d really love to, but my wife has cat allergies, so I can’t keep any.”

“Oh, you’re married.”

“Yes. My wife rarely goes out in public, so most people don’t know about her.”

“I see.”

Even if she had been active in public, I probably wouldn’t have known. I simply nodded. Noel seemed to have a friendly personality like Richard, as he continued the conversation smoothly despite my minimal responses.

“My wife has been frail since birth. She’s recovered her health several times through priests’ healing, but she’s still much weaker than ordinary people, so she mostly stays at home.”

After sharing that much about his wife, Noel smiled brightly and returned to the topic of cats.

“Instead, I come this way to see cats. There’s even a cat daycare center here that takes care of cats. Did you know that?”

“A cat daycare?”

I opened my eyes wide at this term I’d never heard before. Noel nodded and pointed to a building not far from where we stood.

“Yes. I heard it opened recently, so I came to check it out of curiosity. When you’re away from home for travel or business trips, you naturally worry about your pets. The cat daycare takes care of such cats, I’m told.”

“That’s wonderful news! I’m curious too!”

A place that takes care of cats! And so close to the temple!

‘I’ll have to go on a provincial pilgrimage soon, so this is perfect timing!’

I had been wondering if I should ask Richard to look after Kyle.

‘I can leave him at the cat daycare instead!’

I smiled broadly and hugged Kyle tightly. Noel’s eyes widened in surprise at my movement.

“By the way, what brings the Holy Maiden here? Or rather… is that a cat you’re holding?”

“Yes, yes! This is Kyle, my cat.”

Though I had to hide him inside the temple, there was no need to hide him here. I smiled brightly and held Kyle up with both hands. True to his word about loving cats, Noel covered his mouth with his palm and gasped in admiration upon seeing Kyle.

“My goodness! This cat should be called His Majesty! Those sturdy shoulders, that upright and dignified face, those intelligent eyes…”

“You really know your cats, Lord Ferol!!”

Kyle yawned indifferently, but I was thrilled. Besides shop clerks at pet stores, this was the first person I’d met who praised Kyle!

“That’s right! Our Kyle is the cutest cat in the world. If we ranked by cuteness, he would easily be an emperor! Absolutely!”

His Majesty! What a fitting nickname for Kyle. I stroked Kyle’s head. Kyle turned his head away with a prim expression.

“Even his primness is adorable!”

No, I can’t even imagine Kyle acting cute and charming! Kyle’s charm lies in his dignity and primness.

‘And when he occasionally licks my fingertips or face, how my heart pounds so loudly.’

Recalling when I first met Kyle in the basement, I rubbed my face against his fur. Just then:

“Kuk.”

A laugh sounded close by. When I looked up with a puzzled expression, Noel was trembling all over with his face bright red, trying to hold back his laughter.

“Ah, no… I’m sorry. It’s just that meeting such a magnificent cat after so long makes me laugh.”

I’ve never met someone who loves cats this much. I smiled broadly.

“Not at all. I’m just so happy to meet someone who appreciates Kyle’s cuteness. Please feel free to laugh!”

“Hehehe, hehe. Ahem, ahem. S-sorry.”

Noel seemed genuinely delighted, unable to contain his laughter for quite some time, trembling all over and making small choking sounds. I looked at him with a slightly sympathetic expression.

‘He could just laugh out loud. I guess he’s restraining his laughter out of politeness because he’s a marquis?’

Living as a noble must be hard too. Of course, living as a priest is also difficult.

I was shaking my head when something unexpected happened.

“Meow!!”

“Ah! Kyle!!”

Kyle, who had been sitting quietly in my hands, suddenly lunged fiercely toward Noel.

Leaping up, Kyle swung his cotton-like paws in succession.

Kyle struck Noel’s cheeks twice in quick succession, neat and nimble. If there were a scoreboard, I’d give it a perfect 10 out of 10—a truly splendid punch.

But how much could it hurt when a baby cat hits with all its might? It barely made a sound. Despite the surprise attack, Noel quickly caught Kyle with both hands as he fell after striking. Then he murmured in an utterly awed voice:

“…So this is the famous kitty punch.”

That’s right! The kitty punch! A rare opportunity to be hit by a cat’s soft, squishy, fluffy paws!

I clenched my fists in excitement and exclaimed:

“Kyle rarely does that! He must really like you, Lord Ferol.”

“Hiss!”

Kyle hissed fiercely and extended his claws, appearing to deny it. Noel, apparently familiar with cats, wasn’t startled by Kyle’s hissing. He smiled gently and said to me:

“You can just call me Noel.”

‘What a nice person!’

Though I often meet nobles for healing purposes, it was rare to find one who treated me so casually.

‘Right. There can’t be bad people among cat lovers.’

Cats are good.

People who love cats are good people.

Having reached this arbitrary conclusion, I smiled brightly and greeted him again.

“It’s nice to meet you, Noel!”

In response to my greeting, Noel returned a silent but warm smile.