Chapter 80

I hadn’t expected to feel so empty from something missing beside me—but to feel that even in my sleep?

Fumbling, I waved my arm to the side with my eyes still closed. When I felt nothing, I shot up in bed.

“El!”

I blinked a few times, and only then did the forgotten truth slowly surface.

‘Oh, right. El’s sleeping downstairs now.’

It had been days, but I still hadn’t gotten used to it. Even though it was me who had heartlessly sent him away when he whined about not wanting to go.

‘But I had no choice.’

I couldn’t tell anyone that the more I looked at El, the more he reminded me of Esadien. Not even Ramande.

Even I thought I must be crazy—how could I expect anyone else to understand? I didn’t want anyone looking at me with pity, either.

But I was afraid that if I just left things as they were, I’d end up startling myself over nothing and taking it out on El.

That’s why I’d sent him away. But if I was going to keep waking up startled by his absence… maybe keeping him away wasn’t worth it after all.

“El…”

I sighed and rolled across the bed, reaching out my hand. I expected the feel of short, soft fur—but all I caught was air.

‘N-no way!’

The first thought that hit me was that El had gone out again and collapsed somewhere.

Just as I was about to leap up, something finally brushed my fingertips.

‘Huh?!’

But it was a wet nose. It was Meommu’s.

“Meommu, come here.”

Instead of soft El, I hugged firm, solid Meommu and asked, “Where’s El?”

“Woof?”

“Do you know where the big yellow cat went?”

“Woof!”

Unlike before, Meommu barked clearly and began to wriggle out of my arms. I set him down, and he dashed to the door, then looked back at me.

“You want me to follow?”

“Woof!”

“R-right…”

The sun was about to rise anyway, so it didn’t really matter.

As I followed where Meommu led me, I was impressed—how were animals these days so clever?

‘I thought El was the genius…’

Maybe when others say someone’s extraordinary, they’re gifted—and when they can’t even wrap their heads around it, they’re a genius.

I was this close to becoming one of those annoyingly proud pet owners.

Meommu led me to a place quite far from my room. I mean, my room was on the third floor, and this was the first.

“Here?”

“Woof!”

“Thanks.”

I patted his head, but he didn’t seem impressed.

“Woof…”

“What? What is it?”

I soon figured it out: I hadn’t brought any treats. Praise without snacks? Unforgivable.

“I should carry some jerky around from now on. Don’t get the wrong idea, Meommu—I’m not the type to skimp out.”

Feeling guilty, I decided I’d ask for something extra tasty to give him later.

After making that promise to Meommu, I carefully opened the door, wondering if El might be sleeping inside—and froze.

“Oh, Minuelle. You’re up early.”

Ramande greeted me as I stood there dumbfounded. When I turned my head, I saw a bowl of food and water in his hands—El’s kind of bowls.

“Minuelle?”

“Ramande, did you move El here?”

“Yeah. Just temporarily.”

“Temporarily? Until when? And why move him all of a sudden?”

His nonchalant answer irritated me, so I asked sharply. But Ramande just looked at me curiously and asked, “We’re going to Roquate today, remember? So just until today.”

“Today?”

Was it already that day?

“Yeah, today.”

“Ah…”

I’d checked the date several times, but somehow I hadn’t realized today was the day. I’d grown numb to the passage of time.

“You look really tired, Minuelle.”

Ramande set down the bowls and closed the door, gently touching my forehead. His divine power flowed through me, clearing my fatigue like peppermint oil seeping into every ache.

“…Thanks.”

But gratitude aside—

“Even if it’s temporary, isn’t this too much?”

“What is?”

What is, seriously?

“This is a supply closet. How could you let El stay here?”

A cramped space by the stairs to the basement, filled with cleaning tools. No windows, barely any room.

But Ramande didn’t seem to get the seriousness of it—or just didn’t care.

“Cats like small spaces.”

“He’s not a cat!”

“He’s feline-adjacent. Tigers like boxes too, you know.”

Sure, that’s cute. Cute enough to smash apartment buildings.

“Even if I overlook the small space—how could you move him without telling me?”

Ramande finally crossed his arms and tilted his head. I swallowed hard reflexively.

“When did you realize El wasn’t in your room?”

“…Just now.”

No way to answer that without sounding like a bad owner. Sure enough, Ramande’s sigh hit me right in the guilt.

“I moved him two days ago.”

His eyes seemed to say, And you call yourself a good owner?

I lowered my head in shame.

“And it wasn’t my decision alone. El wanted it.”

Wait—what?

That bombshell made me forget my guilt and go into full interrogation mode.

“You can understand El? I thought you were joking…”

“To some extent.”

An animal communicator?! Ramande was full of surprises.

Hands clasped, I nervously asked,

“Then… why doesn’t El want to be with me?”

“It’s not that he doesn’t want to…”

“Then what?”

But Ramande shook his head and changed the subject.

“Ask him yourself.”

What the—why the sudden retreat?

I tried grabbing his sleeve, but he easily slipped away.

“I can’t understand him! Help me, please?”

“Sorry, I prefer not to get involved.”

With that, he scooped up Meommu and left, saying, “Let’s go eat, pup.”

I stared blankly after my would-be savior, then cautiously opened the closet door again.

Even if El could stretch out inside, the space was still oppressively cluttered.

“El.”

“…”

He didn’t respond, but his ears twitched at the sound of my approaching steps.

“Are you mad because I told you not to come up on the bed?”

“…”

Still no answer.

I stopped halfway to him, then stepped closer—slower this time.

“If not, did I do something wrong again?”

“…”

“El, don’t just talk to Ramande. Talk to me too.”

Even as I wrapped my arms around his big head, El remained as still as a statue.

“I want to know too.”

“…”

“We’re going to keep living together, right?”

Then, finally, El opened his eyes—tears welling up just like the last time I’d teased him about being fed up with me.

“Don’t cry. That hurts.”

I tried to comfort him, but not knowing the cause made it impossible.

Tears the size of fingernails trickled down every time he blinked.

He never growled, not once. All I could do was hug my big, young beast until his sobs stopped.

After spending the morning like that, by the time we arrived at the Grand Duke’s estate in Roquate, I was completely spent—even though the sun hadn’t yet set.

Even my sister, Juela, who greeted us despite her busy schedule, commented,

“Oh my, our darling youngest looks like she’s about to melt. Your face is practically green.”

Everyone around us froze instantly. It felt like the background changed to a blizzardy wasteland. I quickly shook my head.

‘Why is my sister so cheerful today?’

Too cheerful just for our return. Even her husband, Gideon, was whispering in a panic.

“Darling, that might not be the best thing to say…”

But my sister didn’t care. She winked mischievously, clearly enjoying herself.

“Go on up, Minuelle.”

She urged me with suspicious enthusiasm. I exchanged a look with Ramande and shrugged.

I really just wanted to go lie down, but the way she said it made me uneasy.

Even dragging my feet didn’t help—I was practically pushed upstairs.

“I’ve never seen her this excited… that’s what’s scary.”

Especially since she sent me alone—without even Ramande.

“What is it? What could it be?”

I hesitated in front of the door, but El gently nudged me with his head.

“That’s right. You’re here.”

Things were still awkward between us since the morning, but I still leaned on him. I stroked his forehead and knocked—on my own door—before opening it.

And, of course. Inside stood a stranger, clearly waiting for me.

“Good day.”

He bowed slightly, letting his shoulder-length pale green hair fall forward.

“I am Clidane Olce. I’ll be serving as your knight from now on.”

“…Knight? Then, are you a proper knight, Sir Olce?”

“Yes, my Lady. Please call me Dane.”

Well-groomed, polite. I didn’t know his skill level, but his first impression was solid. He wasn’t even fazed by El.

But I couldn’t relax just yet.

“I wasn’t told that someone named Olce would be…”

Ah.

I hadn’t been told, but—

– I’ve prepared a gift for our baby sister.

So this was why my sister had been in such a good mood.

‘A person was the gift? Seriously? Nobles…’

Suddenly filled with revolutionary indignation, I couldn’t calm my mind.

‘This guy… looks just like Esadien.’

Especially the eyes and nose.

It had to be on purpose. I clutched my forehead in disbelief.

But with my body now stronger thanks to Gabbie’s bond, even surprises like this weren’t enough to make me swoon like before.