It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 53

“Sir Jackal, Lady Caris. My father has returned to the mansion, so I will be visiting for a while.”

Ethan spoke with a dignified demeanor, showing no signs of disarray. Jackal saw no reason to object and immediately gave his permission.

“Do so. According to the letter, Hogwood seems to have prepared a birthday gift for Kitty.”

“My father plans to visit Gridwolf Manor the day before Kitty’s birthday to celebrate with her.”

“I heard. Then we’ll see him then.”

Just as Jackal was patting Ethan’s sturdy shoulder, Kitty cautiously peeked out from behind the curtain.

She was wearing a long dress that accentuated her figure. Long lace gloves reaching above her elbows suited her fair skin remarkably well.

“This dress……”

Kitty trailed off, looking at Ethan. It was a fleeting moment, but her emerald eyes seemed to flicker with a hidden emotion.

“I forgot my bag.”

Kitty said that and quickly disappeared back behind the curtain. It happened before Ethan could even turn around.

However, Caris and Jackal immediately understood the meaning behind Kitty’s actions.

‘Kitty just……’

‘She was definitely conscious of Ethan.’

Two pairs of golden eyes wandered aimlessly, processing this new information.

In the hearts of the Gridwolf couple, Kitty was still the six-year-old who came to the mansion crying, asking to be protected.

For such a child to start seeing the dark wolf before them as a potential partner…

‘Our Kitty is too good for him.’

They concluded without hesitation.

No matter how Ethan was the smartest of the wolves, he had a significant disadvantage in their eyes.

Although it was kept secret from Kitty at Ethan’s request to prevent disruption to her lessons, he was scheduled to go to the Central Training Grounds [a facility where wolves hone their martial arts and scholarship] for training in a few weeks.

Wolves typically spent three years at the Central Training Grounds, honing their martial arts and scholarship.

In other words, if they were to get together now, Kitty would have to endure a long-distance relationship for three years.

‘Absolutely not.’

‘My daughter’s first love being a long-distance relationship? Never!’

The Gridwolf couple began to look at Ethan as if he were a traitor who had seduced their innocent little kitten.

“……”

Ethan easily recognized that the Gridwolf couple’s gaze towards him had changed.

Therefore, it would be wise to leave before the possessive Gridwolf couple found some excuse to detain him.

“Then, I will see you in a few days.”

Ethan replied concisely and left the room. The hem of his well-tailored black coat fluttered lightly.

Only after Ethan disappeared out the door did Kitty peek her head out from behind the curtain.

“Did the teacher leave?”

Caris and Jackal felt a sense of crisis at Kitty’s question, which immediately sought out Ethan.

“Yes, Kitty.”

“He said he had business.”

Kitty came out from behind the curtain, looking slightly disappointed. The mint-colored dress she had worn earlier perfectly complemented Kitty’s figure.

When she walked, her silver hair, tied up in pigtails, swayed, giving her an even more lively impression.

“Does it look okay?”

“You look like an elegant crane, my dear.”

“We’ll get a pink one made separately too.”

Kitty nodded in satisfaction and disappeared behind the curtain again. The Gridwolf couple began an emergency meeting.

Caris was the first to speak.

“There’s not much time left to spend with Kitty, and now she’s interested in romance?”

“Caris.”

Jackal sternly interrupted.

“Romance? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Kitty just left her bag inside.”

Jackal was denying reality with a serious face and voice. But Caris, who had witnessed Ethan trying to assign a skilled maid to Kitty, couldn’t do that.

“Actually……”

Caris told Jackal what she had seen in a tone of someone confessing a difficult past. Jackal’s face twisted strangely.

“Ethan did such meticulous things.”

“His dating style seems similar to Hogwood’s.”

When their thoughts reached that point, Caris and Jackal turned pale. The important fact that the Weebis couple had gotten married due to a speed violation [a rushed marriage] came to mind.

They clearly remembered Hogwood boasting that he was so happy to have brought Ethan as a dowry.

“……”

The Gridwolf couple, who only had two sons, became even more troubled by the new concern. If that Ethan were to commit such an outrageous act…….

“Even if you stop me, I will declare war on Weebis.”

“I’ll take the lead.”

Two pairs of golden eyes blazed fiercely.

Elliot, who had been leaking false information to Anne from afar, was surprised by the sight and approached.

“Are you two alright?”

“Nothing in particular.”

Caris, who was about to send Elliot away with a cold voice, paused and called Anne back.

Even though she had intentionally leaked false information, a maid was still a maid, so she must have seen and heard something. Caris asked in a toneless voice.

“Anne. Have you ever seen Kitty alone with Ethan?”

“Ah…… During lessons, they are always together.”

“What about after the lessons?”

“I remember Master Ethan leaving first.”

She was satisfied that they didn’t spend much time alone together, but she didn’t like that Ethan had left Kitty behind.

Caris pressed her fingertips to her furrowed brow and asked irritably.

“What was Ethan’s complexion like?”

“That’s……”

“Anne, I don’t like wasting time.”

“He, he was a little flushed, so the young lady sent him medicine.”

“Flushed.”

Jackal took over Caris’s questioning. Anne had to endure intense questioning from the Gridwolf couple for a long time.

The Gridwolf couple’s fierce questioning stopped when Kitty, who had finished changing, approached.

“Um…… Are you in the middle of an important conversation?”

As the clear voice was heard, Jackal and Caris became gentle as if they had never been fierce.

“Are you done, dear?”

“I’m glad there are many nice clothes this year too.”

“You must be tired, let’s have a snack. Let’s have tea time together for the first time in a while.”

“Sit here, Kitty.”

Anne was momentarily stunned by the Gridwolf couple, who had become kind as if flipping their palms [changing their attitude completely].

* * *

Finally, the day had come for my brothers at the Central Training Grounds to return. I changed into new casual clothes early in the morning and waited for them.

It had been almost a year since they last took a vacation around my birthday last year.

‘If they come this time, they can stay together until the memorial service.’

I had exchanged letters with my soft paw print stamped on them very often, but I was a little worried that it might be awkward when we actually met.

It was a reunion after a year.

“Young Lady, the young masters have arrived.”

Anne, who was in charge of afternoon service, said. At that, I jumped out of the room like a doll with a spring.

The first-floor lobby was already full of people welcoming Theo and Deon. Theo and Deon getting off the carriage were faintly visible through the wide-open door of the mansion.

“Brothers!”

I stood behind Lady Caris and Sir Jackal, who were already out, and waved my arms.

Lady Caris and Sir Jackal, seeing me impatient, stepped back.

“You’re still good at standing in line, Kitty.”

“I’ll give way, so go ahead.”

“Thank you!”

I smiled brightly and ran towards Theo and Deon. Theo, who was one step ahead, found me first and held out his arms.

“Kitty!”

“Brother Theo!”

Whack—

I quickly transformed into a cat and charged into Theo’s arms.

Theo picked me up high and spun me around once. Now he was as tall as Sir Jackal, so his posture was stable.

His golden eyes were still welcoming me. I had worried for a moment that it might be awkward, but it was all for naught [useless].

“Soft paw, Brother is here too!”

Deon, who was one step behind Theo, opened his arms towards me. I jumped into Deon’s arms.

“Brother Deon!”

“Oh, our soft paw. You’ve become even fluffier in the meantime!”

Deon pressed his face against my fluffy cheeks and hugged me tightly.

I grabbed Deon’s now sleeker jawline with my soft paw and lightly brought my pink nose and mouth to his cheek.

Whenever Dad and my brothers returned from missions far away, I would always greet them like this.

Deon groaned and muttered, ‘Ah, I want to bite you…….’ Theo, who was next to him, slyly offered his cheek to me.

“Kitty, give me a kiss too.”

Kiss—

When I brought my pink nose close and kissed him lightly, Theo also became limp. Meanwhile, the two of them, holding me, came inside the mansion.

“Mother, Father. We’re back.”

“Have you been well?”

The two straightened their broad shoulders and greeted Sir Jackal and Lady Caris in a very dignified manner.

“Yes. I’m glad you seem healthy.”

“We were fine.”

While the Gridwolf family was exchanging greetings, I quickly returned to my human form.

Theo and Deon widened their eyes as they looked at me, who had grown so much.

“Oh my gosh. Our youngest has grown so much. No wonder she was so fluffy even in her animal form.”

“Soft paw, you’ve been doing stretching exercises really hard?”

As expected, the two recognized my efforts. I couldn’t hide my happiness and said with a proud smile.

“Of course! There’s not much time left until I become an adult, right? I’ll grow up quickly before leaving the mansion so you can part with me with peace of mind.”

I said that because I thought that my family would be less anxious at the moment of parting only if I grew up strong and had the ability to live on my own.

However, the friendly atmosphere that had been so warm just a moment ago suddenly sank.

“Kitty……”

“You’re too much, soft paw……!”

For some reason, Theo and Deon, who had been so dignified, looked at me with tearful faces.