It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 81

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“Did you hear about the surprise terrorist attack by the leopards in the plaza today?”

Clide’s voice, smooth and sly like a fox, flowed from his lips. Eden seemed to know about the terrorist incident as well, nodding in response.

‘If he knows about that, when did he slip out of the Central Training Grounds?’

Clide couldn’t tell when Eden had arrived in Gridwolf territory, but he was certain of one thing.

That this wolf was more than capable of disrupting his plans tonight.

So, he said,

“The matter was resolved well, but he’s discussing it with Sir Elliot. You know how meticulous the young lady is.”

Clide continued his lie as naturally as water flowing.

“She was wondering if she should spend tonight with Karis. She seems worried about the mistress’s condition after facing the leopards.”

All were actions that the considerate Kitty would likely take. Eden raised an eyebrow slightly and moved further away from Kitty’s room.

Clide, confirming that he was heading towards Elliot, moved with a lighter step.

Returning to his room, he jumped towards the window, where Kitty, cloaked, waved her hand.

“Clide!”

“Shall we go, young lady?”

Clide carefully packed roses and fireworks into a magic bag that could fit any large object.

For him, a magician superior to anyone else, leaping to Kitty’s balcony was not a difficult task.

“It’s too far to walk, so let’s use magic to travel. Come here and hug me.”

“Okay!”

Kitty quickly transformed into a cat. Thanks to the magic Clide cast at Karis’s request, she still wore the thick gray wolf fur cloak even in her cat form.

“Um, young lady. You can hug me in your human form, you know.”

“No, Clide. It’s much more comfortable this way.”

Kitty smiled brightly and jumped into Clide’s arms. It felt like hugging a warm water bottle. The fur from her cloak transferred onto his white jacket.

“……”

Clide tried to ignore the faint scent of jackal and snapped his fingers.

Eden, who had been leaning against a pillar in a deserted spot, watching Clide, straightened up silently.

* * *

“Young lady, this place should be good.”

Clide spread out a mat and patted it. We settled down in a field, quite a distance from the hill where catnip was planted.

Thanks to Clide’s magic, the winter night breeze felt just cool enough, and the sweet scent of catnip wafted through the air.

“Ah… this is nice.”

I lay down on the mat. The sky, filled with stars and a full moon, felt like it was about to pour down.

Well, have I already smelled too much catnip?

I transformed into my human form, which is relatively slow to get affected by catnip, but the moon and stars in the sky still shone brightly.

“Shall we start then?”

Clide snapped his fingers, and silver candlelight-like things began to float around. It looked like several fireflies were drifting leisurely in the air.

I reached out and touched one of the small lights.

“Ah!”

Then, the light popped! with a sound and burst like a firework. It was a very cute firework. Clide raised an eyebrow as if telling me to do more, and I touched them with my fingertips.

Like water droplets splashing from a fish, sometimes like bright roses, pieces of light burst. The sound wasn’t loud, so it was perfect for enjoying secretly.

“Ah… beautiful.”

As I murmured, Clide shrugged and took something out of his bag. It looked like a magic tool made by adding magic to a hollow glass rod.

“Put this in your mouth and blow.”

I carefully put one end of the rod in my mouth and blew. Then, shimmering bubbles floated out.

“Oh my…”

When I popped a bubble with my fingernail, a pretty light burst out like before. I blew and popped bubbles for a long time.

Watching the fantastic scene, a bright smile spread across my face. I laughed as brightly as a six-year-old child.

Clide, who had been gazing at me for some time, also had a gentle curve in his eyes.

“Your eyes shine even more beautifully at night, young lady.”

“That’s because I’m a cat, and I like bubbles.”

I smiled and looked at Clide. His face was closer than I thought. Thanks to the floating bubbles, I could tell that Clide was slightly nervous.

“Clide?”

“I have something to tell you, young lady.”

Seeing Clide, who was never usually nervous, speaking seriously, I swallowed hard.

“…I hope you like what I’ve prepared.”

He rummaged through his bag and took something out. Along with the rustling sound, a strong rose scent mixed with the catnip scent.

Perhaps because of the sensual scent, my heart started pounding. If I hadn’t popped all the bubbles and left a few, wouldn’t Clide have seen my slightly flushed cheeks?

The strange sensation I felt when I saw Eden’s face up close during class came back to life. It felt like time had stopped, and the fur on my tail stood on end.

“Young lady. No, Kittia.”

My pounding heart began to race. It felt like the blood vessels in my face would burst.

“Actually, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a while. Do you remember me saying that you could live in the fox territory when the temporary adoption ends?”

It was then, as Clide’s gentle voice softly tickled my ear.

“Uh, I remember.”

A rough and familiar voice came from behind. I was so surprised that I turned my head towards the sound.

I put the glass rod I had briefly placed on the ground back in my mouth and blew, illuminating the surroundings with shining bubbles.

Eden was approaching, frowning as if the bubbles flying towards him were annoying.

I rubbed my eyes slightly and looked again, but it was definitely Eden, who should have been training with my brothers at the Central Training Grounds.

“Teacher?”

“Long time no see, Kitty.”

Eden raised one corner of his mouth in a smile and headed towards Clide. The looks they exchanged were so fierce that it seemed like they would fight at any moment.

“Lord Weebis, long time no see.”

A vein popped out on Clide’s forehead. Eden also spoke with a face that looked like he could easily devour a fox.

“Is this my welcome gift?”

Clide let out a hollow laugh and handed me a large bouquet of roses.

“It’s a gift for our young lady. It’s to commemorate her successful demonstration in the plaza after a long period of preparation.”

“Kya―!”

I unconsciously exclaimed and accepted the bouquet Clide offered. Clide’s expression, which had seemed slightly angry, quickly softened.

“Are you already drunk on catnip?”

Eden noticeably frowned and sat next to me. I ended up 끼이게 [wedged] between the wolf and the fox, who were exchanging ominous glances.

“Thank you, Clide.”

“It’s nothing. By the way, young lady, aren’t you curious how Lord Weebis came to be here?”

Clide was right. Considering my brothers’ schedules, Eden should be continuing his training without even being able to rest properly, let alone take a vacation.

“Eden, what’s going on? Hogwood said you wouldn’t be able to take a vacation for a while.”

Eden was uncharacteristically silent. It seemed that this grumpy wolf had somehow left the Central Training Grounds through some improper means.

“It’s none of your business, meow.”

Hing…….

I lowered my gaze to the bouquet of roses to hide my sulkiness. Baby’s breath and roses were harmoniously arranged, making it lush and vibrant.

As I turned the bouquet around and admired it, Eden blurted out.

“I could have come a little earlier, but Clide Foxstein was acting like a fox.”

“……?”

I looked at Clide. Clide avoided my gaze, as if he felt guilty about something. Eden said as if spitting out the words.

“Thanks to him, I got to greet Sir Elliot after a long time.”

“Thanks to me, you’ll be remembered as a polite head of the family.”

“They were urgently looking for you regarding the magic chain used during the Delta capture.”

“…….”

Eden was the one who said it, but for some reason, Clide was watching my reaction. I tilted my head and said.

“Clide, shouldn’t you go?”

“Ah…….”

“I had fun playing thanks to you, so let’s clean up quickly.”

Clide smiled as he looked at me packing up the glass rod and other items.

“Yes, let’s go back quickly. Lord Weebis, who has committed unauthorized leave, should also be returning soon.”

“Unauthorized leave?”

I was surprised and looked at Eden. He always taught me that I should diligently attend classes…….

“Adults can do this.”

Eden replied shamelessly.

* * *

Clide, with the face of a loser, trudged towards Elliot. Eden watched the sight with satisfaction.

Clide was falling for his trick. Elliot would hold onto Clide for quite a long time after he arrived.

It was because Eden had instructed his subordinate, Cale, to take action.

Kitty, unaware of the fierce battle of wits between Eden and Clide, stopped in the hallway and asked.

“Um, Teacher? Shall we go greet Hogwood?”

“No. He wouldn’t want to see a guy who took unauthorized leave. More than that, I’m cold.”

Kitty’s eyes widened as she hugged the bouquet. Her kind heart took over, and she opened the door for the wolf.

“It’ll be a little warmer inside. Ah.”

Kitty, who had entered the room, discovered Vaniel, who was widening her eyes even more than she was. She was tidying up Kitty’s bed according to the maid’s duties.

It was suspicious that the head of the Weebis family, who should have been at the Central Training Grounds, had appeared at the mansion, and even more so that he had naturally entered the young lady’s room.

Vaniel was able to grasp the situation by using her rabbit-like quick intuition. That dark wolf seemed to want to be alone with the cat young lady.

‘The bouquet the young lady put down smells strongly of fox…….’

At this point, Vaniel became troubled.

Eden spoke to the rabbit, who seemed to have many thoughts.

“Your name is Vaniel, right.”

“Yes, yes…….”

“My subordinate Cale is in the garden, so go see him.”

Eden didn’t explain in detail, but Vaniel had no way to disobey the wolf family head’s order.

As she stepped back, Eden’s eyes deepened even more.