It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 16

Passing off colored glass as jewels was one of Jerian’s main scams.

Jerian had a knack for turning trash into money. Even the neighborhood cats, who hated him for hogging all the food, had to grudgingly acknowledge his money-making skills.

‘What was he planning to do with all that money?’ I wondered.

The most ridiculous thing was his accessory exchange business. He’d get rich by swapping beautifully crafted fake jewelry for real jewels set in old accessories.

‘Bad cat!’

But after being chased by the leopards and forced to relocate, any cat needing money, regardless of age or gender, had to work for Jerian.

Jerian even hired young children because they were small enough to squeeze into stoves or chimneys for cleaning.

He also preferred young cats for selling things, claiming they were more likely to evoke sympathy.

I wasn’t a salesperson; I mostly stayed by Jerian’s side, doing odd jobs.

Sometimes, when kids my age brought baskets, I was in charge of identifying the jewels inside.

‘Why did he only give me that job?’

For some reason, I was good at telling fake jewels from real ones. Whenever I picked out the real, albeit old, jewels, Jerian would narrow his eyes and mutter something under his breath.

“You seem to have a knack for identifying real jewels…”

He used me like that, and then, just because a mother with kittens stole food…

‘The worst cat in the world. Someday, I’ll learn the worst insults and call Jerian that.’

Of course, to do that, I had to get close enough to Jerian, and to do that, I had to get stronger at the Gridwolf mansion.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts of Jerian.

The employee who had deceived me was being dragged away by the Gridwolf knights. I didn’t feel sorry for him.

‘Hmph, trying to play me for a fool.’

As I sulked, Lena approached me and asked,

“Oh, my lady. Is something bothering you?”

“No, let’s try on the clothes quickly.”

I started changing into the first doll dress behind the screen [a folding screen used as a temporary changing room].

Apparently, Sir Elliot had told Lord Jackal what I said, and my brothers happened to overhear. They had run into him on their way to submit their homework and followed him.

‘Theo and Deon have to submit homework to Lord Jackal every day.’

I wish I could get a teacher soon and start studying too. Lord Karis said he’d look into it, so I have to wait.

As I was thinking this and that, I moved as I was told, and before I knew it, I was wearing the entire first doll outfit.

“Okay, all done. Come on out.”

I walked gracefully out from behind the screen. There was no mirror inside, so I could only see myself in the full-length mirror outside.

“It’s so pretty! And easy to move in…”

As I stood in front of the mirror, turning this way and that to check the clothes, I could feel a stir from the sofa.

“It’s a shame my wife can’t see this.”

“Ahem, there’s a reason why the knights have been praising the young lady’s cuteness for days.”

“What am I going to do with her being so lovely…”

“Malangson, look over here!”

Turning my gaze at Deon’s voice, who spoke last, all four wolves had spaced-out expressions.

Mrs. Weila came to my side and started explaining the clothes. It seemed like she was aware of Lord Jackal’s presence.

“This frilly dress is inspired by a large pumpkin.”

“Next.”

Even though Lord Jackal spoke curtly, Mrs. Weila seemed happy for some reason. The other artisans even slightly opened their mouths as they looked at Lord Jackal.

‘She’s happy even though Lord Jackal cut her off.’

Are they watching him because he’s the head of the wolves?

I changed into the next doll outfit. This time, it was a light, white dress that would be good to wear in the summer.

When I came out from behind the screen, there was even more commotion than before. Theo said with a happy face.

“Kitty. Is that dress comfortable?”

“Yes! And isn’t it a little cute? When I spin like this, the skirt puffs up!”

I spun around in place. The skirt didn’t show anything underneath because of the layers of frills, but the hem puffed up nicely.

“Of course, it is, with who’s wearing it.”

“Overwork, overwork.”

Theo and Deon smiled contentedly, and Mr. and Mrs. Weila looked ten times happier than that.

I tried on a few more outfits, and the four wolves’ reactions were similar each time.

The last thing I wore was a pink dress and adorable enamel shoes. There was also a small handbag.

Peach color is my favorite!

This time, I walked out from behind the screen with a more confident stride.

“Oh my…”

Lena, who was standing next to the sofa watching me, gasped and put a hand to her chest. Lord Jackal and my brothers glanced at me and then started discussing something seriously.

The atmosphere was a little different from just now, when they were clapping and reacting, so I became timid.

“Um… does this outfit not suit me?”

I tilted my head and asked. The large ribbons decorated on both sides of my head drooped down.

Lord Jackal held up five fingers to Mrs. Weila, and Mrs. Weila swallowed hard with a happy face.

What are they talking about?

“How are the clothes?”

Lord Jackal asked. His voice was stiff, but I looked carefully in the mirror and answered.

“It’s very comfortable and pretty. I like the bag and shoes too. I want this outfit.”

Deon, who was listening, asked back, “Huh?”

“You want this outfit?”

“Now that I’ve tried on a lot of clothes, shouldn’t I start picking out the ones to buy? I like this outfit the most.”

I nodded, showing off my shiny shoe tips, and Theo nodded.

“Father. Ordering five sets of clothes in the same design as that outfit in different colors was an excellent choice.”

“Yes?”

“Kitty, we’ve decided to move all the clothes hanging there to your closet. It’ll be hard to try them all on now.”

They’re buying all of that? I looked at Lord Jackal in surprise.

“Lord Jackal. But Kitty will outgrow all these clothes before she even gets to wear them…”

“Then we’ll just have them resized.”

That seems a bit wasteful. As I hesitated, Lord Jackal asked again.

“You said the one you’re wearing now is your favorite, right?”

I nodded, and Lord Jackal called Mr. and Mrs. Weila again. I tiptoed over to listen to what Lord Jackal was saying.

“Can you do it?”

Lord Jackal asked seriously, and Mr. and Mrs. Weila exchanged a knowing glance and answered.

“So, you’re talking about the matching outfits that the Gridwolf family will all wear when you paint a new family portrait, right?”

“Yes. It’s what my wife wants.”

“Should we make five outfits based on the design that the young lady likes the most?”

“Please do.”

“Let’s see, then the price is roughly this much…”

I stood on tiptoe and looked at the number Mrs. Weila wrote on the bill.

‘Oh my goodness.’

There were so many zeros it was breathtaking. Lord Jackal also shifted his gaze as if he was troubled and added.

“There’s quite a difference from the budgeted amount.”

Mrs. Weila smiled as if she expected it.

“I thought so.”

“By the way, are all the accessories there genuine?”

“Yes, they are. The child that the knights took away earlier was selling items brought in from outside. Everything on display now has been appraised by me and is genuine.”

Even to me, the accessories from Mr. and Mrs. Weila’s trunk all looked genuine.

I was thinking that Jerian would have to work for fifty years to buy all of that when Lord Jackal casually blurted out.

“Since there’s plenty of budget left, buy all of those too.”

…It wasn’t lacking, it was left over?

Theo, Deon, and Sir Elliot didn’t seem fazed at all by this incredible statement. Rather, they looked like they expected it.

I realized something.

‘I see. A cat being rich is a completely different story from a wolf being rich.’

Just how rich is Gridwolf, roughly? Enough to spend more money than what was written on Mrs. Weila’s bill without a second thought.

I was going to rush over and stop him if Lord Jackal trembled or hesitated even a little, but the employees and Gridwolf were all calm.

‘What if Gridwolf suddenly goes bankrupt because of me…’

I sat on the sofa, trying to hide my worries.

I was a little tired from standing for so long. Changing clothes so many times was also surprisingly tiring. Taking the time to watch a fashion show wouldn’t be easy either.

“Thank you for coming, everyone.”

When I said that, Lord Jackal chuckled and stroked my head. I could feel him being very careful not to mess up the butterfly shape of the ribbon decoration on my head.

“Aren’t you going to change your clothes?”

“I like this outfit, so I want to wear it. If Lord Jackal allows it.”

“It’s your clothes, so do as you please.”

I smiled to mean that I would. Lord Jackal, who looked like he was about to return to the office with Sir Elliot, stared at me intently.

“Dinner?”

“I ate a lot of strawberries and cookies. What about you, Lord Jackal?”

“So-so. I think I should go back to the office now.”

It seemed like the conversation was over, but Lord Jackal was still staring at me.

Theo and Deon, who were about to go back to studying, gave me a hint.

“Kitty. Father will be in the office all day today.”

“I took a peek earlier, and he brought something to the office that Malangson would like.”

“Ah!”

I asked Lord Jackal, who was looking at me as if waiting for an answer.

“Lord Jackal, can I come to the office to play?”

“Of course.”

Lord Jackal scooped me up and held me easily in one arm. It was a stable position, enough to convince me that he had held many children my age.

“Elliot. I’ll hear an additional report on the Bluemoon counterfeit case you mentioned earlier later.”

“Understood. Have a good time with the young lady.”

And so, I visited Lord Jackal’s office for the second time. This time, it was a chance to ask Lena about the things I hadn’t gotten answers to.