It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 12

It seemed like hardship had become ingrained in me. After resting comfortably for a few days in the luxurious Gridwolf mansion, I woke up feeling refreshed.

I stretched and then tapped the bell embedded in the wall, just as Lena had told me. As the bell rang, someone knocked on the door.

“It’s Lena, miss. May I come in?”

“Yes!”

Lena instructed another maid and then entered the room. I was so happy that I wagged my tail, then startled myself.

‘When did that pop out?’

I wasn’t yet skilled at hiding my tail and ears because I was still a young beast-kin. Lena looked at me, giggling, and asked in surprise,

“Oh my, even though you’re a baby wolf, you don’t sleep much?”

“Of course. Real babies sleep a lot, but I’m practically an adult! I’ll be a perfect adult as soon as I see the Tooth Fairy.”

There was a reason why I, as a baby cat, didn’t sleep much.

In Jerian’s territory, cats who didn’t work weren’t given food rations. Eventually, it became my daily routine to go to work early in the morning from the age of three.

There were no holidays or paychecks, but I couldn’t complain. For some reason, I followed Jerian around and did easier work than the other baby cats.

“Kittyia. Touch this jewel. How does it feel? Does it feel special?”

“No…”

“Tch, wrong again.”

I still couldn’t understand what Jerian was trying to do, but my heart raced whenever I thought of his face or voice.

‘Bad cat. My mother’s enemy. I’ll get my revenge for sure.’

No matter what I was thinking, Lena smiled kindly and washed and dressed me. After getting cleaned up, it was time for breakfast.

“The young masters are still asleep since it’s early. I’ve ordered food to be brought to your room, so it should be here soon.”

“Lena eat togeda [together]!”

“I’ve already had breakfast. I can’t steal our young lady’s food.”

As soon as Lena finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. Shortly after, Lena placed the dishes on the table, explaining each dish one by one.

Thick bacon and chewy dried salmon. Vanilla-scented muffins and warm milk were too much for one person to eat.

There were also several kinds of tarts and pies with shiny surfaces, and cute little desserts.

“Am I supposed to eat all this?”

“You need to eat a lot. If it’s too much, just focus on the meat and milk until you’re full.”

Being able to eat so lavishly every meal was truly amazing. I carefully continued my meal, and Lena occasionally corrected my improper use of utensils.

After finishing the meal, I sat in a chair. It was finally time to get my hair cut. Lena fiddled with the glasses perched on her nose.

“Lena, how much do you have to cut off to get rid of all the damaged parts of my hair?”

“To cut off all the damaged hair, we’d have to shave your head, wouldn’t we?”

“Hmph…”

Seeing me sulk at the thought of becoming a chestnut head, Lena chuckled and carefully examined my hair.

“If we layer it and trim it, it’ll be okay. We can cut off the rest after your hair grows longer. If we cut it into a bob, we won’t be able to handle your voluminous hair.”

“Dat [That] would be nice. I had a bob before, and it puffed up like a mushroom every morning. It was so funny.”

Even though my mom brushed it every day, my hair wouldn’t calm down, and every morning was a struggle until it grew long enough to be tied up.

Mom said that I was small and my hair was light, so I looked like an enoki mushroom [a type of long, thin mushroom].

After boldly cutting off the ends, Lena carefully continued cutting. Each time the scissors moved, my hair fell onto the large cloth that Lena had laid down.

After washing it twice, it’s almost silver. It wasn’t wolf-colored at all, but thankfully, my cat ears and tail were gray.

“Okay, all done.”

Lena took off the cloth that had been placed on my shoulders and lifted me up to the mirror. My hair, which had originally covered my waist, was now just barely covering my shoulder blades.

“Thank you, Lena. My head feels lighter.”

“I’ll tie it up nicely, so go play until it’s time to fit your clothes. Baby wolves need to run around a lot to build muscle. What did you used to do when you were younger?”

I tried to remember what I did after finishing work before my mom, eating half of the dry bread I received.

“I sat on the wall and felt the sunlight.”

“Sunbathing is good for you. What else?”

“Ah, that’s the end. If I run around, I get hungry too quickly.”

“…”

Lena’s hand, which had been brushing my hair, paused for a moment. Lena, reflected in the mirror, looked very sorry for me.

“There’s plenty to eat at the Gridwolf mansion. Run around hard, and when you get hungry, run to the dining room. You can eat and then play again.”

“Yes!”

While chatting, Lena tied my hair up nicely. Looking in the mirror, I looked much neater than before.

It was a high pigtail hairstyle, and thanks to the layers Lena had cut, the wavy hair looked twice as pretty.

The pink ribbon that tied my hair was also shaped very beautifully, making it look like two butterflies were sitting on my head.

The feeling of my hair swaying slightly whenever I moved was also pleasant.

“Miss, you’re so cute. Everyone will fall for you. Especially the Gridwolfs.”

Lena said in a happy voice, finding a pink dress in the closet.

It was a cute design with lots of frills on the skirt. The fifth hand-me-down dress I received must have looked like that at first.

‘If it’s that, the tail won’t be seen even if it pops out.’

It also looked light because it wasn’t quilted with multiple layers of fabric. As I stared at the dress, Lena looked apologetic.

“This is a ready-made item that I got in a hurry, so you might not like it. A designer will be visiting this afternoon to make lots of pretty clothes for you.”

“No! I think it’s a really pretty dress.”

“Oh, really? The new clothes that are made to fit you will be even prettier.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to buy more clothes when there are already so many pretty clothes like this?”

Inside the closet, which was slightly visible, was full of clothes similar to the dress Lena was holding. It was empty yesterday, but when did it get so full?

“Of course. The mistress has allocated a huge budget for your new clothes. It’s the combined cost of Theo and Deon’s clothes.”

Theo and Deon’s clothes were incredibly sparkly and cool. I started to worry a little because it seemed like they were spending too much money on me.

‘It’s a temporary adoption, but they seem to be spending too much money on me.’

Lena dressed me in the pink dress, saying, ‘The Gridwolf’s wealth is enormous, so you don’t have to worry.’

I should thank them later for buying me clothes.

Anyway, I loved this pink dress, which was soft and smooth without any lint.

Lena put on long white socks and soft-soled pink shoes, constantly saying how lovely I was.

I wiggled my toes for a long time, fascinated by the shiny shoes that didn’t let my toes stick out. My feet didn’t hurt as much as yesterday, and the bruises and scars on my legs were hidden by the long socks. I smiled with satisfaction.

“How can you be so cute? Everyone will fall for you. Not to mention the Gridwolfs.”

“Um, would Caris have liked it if he saw it?”

He would have definitely said it was pretty, but I was a little upset that I couldn’t show it to him in person. He must have already left for the conference hall.

Lena opened the curtains to check the procession outside the window and smiled at me.

“How about showing it to him in person? The mistress is still getting ready. It’s proof that you woke up too early.”

“But you said he was leaving early this morning?”

“Maybe she said that because you’re a baby wolf. Nine in the morning is still dawn for a baby wolf.”

I looked at the clock. Eight forty-five. My heart pounded at the thought of seeing Caris if I went now.

“Lena, please tell me where Caris is.”

Lena said that the mistress would like it too and left the room with me. As we walked down the hallway, we often encountered the employees I had greeted yesterday, and they all smiled at me, saying I was cute.

‘I’m a little embarrassed.’

After diligently following Lena, I saw the lobby where I had been introduced to the employees yesterday.

Caris, wearing a glossy robe, was stroking Theo and Deon, who had come out in their pajamas, and telling them something.

Sir Jackal, standing next to Caris, looked neat and not at all tired. I guess he doesn’t sleep.

Theo was the first to spot me coming down the stairs, and his eyes widened. His golden eyes grew as if he had found the Tooth Fairy.

“Kitty is here!”

At those words, the other Gridwolf family members turned to look at me. I grabbed the hem of my dress and walked towards Caris.

“Kitty, how can you be so lovely… Did you wake up early because of me?”

“I don’t usually sleep in. But it’s true that I wanted to see Caris.”

I had arrived just in time. I heard Head Maid Flora approaching and saying that they were ready to leave.

Caris opened his arms and hugged me tightly.

Hugs are the best!

“I’ll be back, so take care, Kitty. Thank you for coming out.”

Feeling the texture of the velvet robe and Caris’s body temperature made me smile.

“Have a good trip!”

Caris hugged me so tightly that my feet were off the ground, then sadly put me down.

I felt a little empty because he didn’t kiss me, but I couldn’t show it because Theo and Deon were waiting for their turn to hug behind me.

The mistress hugged Theo and Deon in turn, then approached Sir Jackal, who was standing next to her with an indifferent face.

“Jackal, take good care of our daughter.”

“I will.”

*Chu*

Caris kissed Sir Jackal on the cheek. Watching that, I realized something.

‘I see. That’s the kiss line, and this is the hug line.’

I scurried behind Sir Jackal and stood in line. His large body cast a shadow. Caris, Theo, and Deon looked like they didn’t know what I was doing.

Sir Jackal, who was standing in front of me, found me and stepped aside. I closed my eyes tightly and waited for a kiss.

But Caris only said I was cute and didn’t come closer.

Feeling puzzled, I blinked and tilted my head.

“Um, isn’t this the kiss line?”