[Popopo: Haha!]

[Plong: Ah, this is hilariousㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[PleaseShakeACarrot: Hans really has a cute side^^]

[Manager: I’ll ban everyone if you keep this up.]

At least the viewers were focused on teasing Hans without any serious intentions.

“I’ll head back to the palace.”

Since I missed Jamon and the situation seemed to have resolved itself, I decided to return to the palace.

My mind was uneasily unsettled.

* * *

Days passed in the palace. Since that day, I hadn’t seen Jamon.

Even when I searched deliberately, I couldn’t find him, which confirmed that Jamon was intentionally avoiding me.

‘It’s a complete mess.’

It was a disappointment. I should have seized the opportunity when I had it.

‘But it was Hans who stopped me, so there was nothing I could do.’

I tried to console my uneasy feelings.

While I was lost in thought, a maid who had been assisting me during my stay in the palace approached.

“Your ladyship, a guest has requested to see you.”

“A guest?”

Who would come to see me in the palace?

As I puzzled over this, the maid continued.

“It’s His Excellency the Grand Duke Heyward.”

Kabir at the palace? I blinked in confusion.

But since he came all this way, I had to meet him.

I followed the maid to the designated location.

As I entered, I saw Kabir already seated and sipping tea.

Seeing him after such a long time, a smile naturally spread across my face.

“It’s been a while?”

“Indeed.”

Kabir responded briefly to my greeting.

I remember going to the Heyward mansion to meet Kabir, but I couldn’t see him as he was out.

“You seemed busy. What’s going on?”

“Managing magical beasts.”

“Why do it so secretly without anyone knowing?”

“…….”

To my question, Kabir shifted his gaze slightly before answering.

“I went alone for some stress relief.”

So that’s how Kabir deals with his stress.

I asked him further.

“Something troubling you?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

Kabir tilted his head, looking bewildered.

Could it be that he was venting his frustration on magical beasts because of my involvement with Jamon?

As if confirming my suspicions, Kabir continued.

“As for the engagement with Jamon, it’s predictable. It must have been coercion from Jamon’s side.”

Just as Kabir had observed Irmin since childhood, he must have observed Jamon too. So, he probably knew quite a lot about Jamon.

I waved my hand to reassure him.

“Don’t worry. His Highness the Crown Prince has promised to intervene on my behalf.”

“Irmin?”

“Yes. But there were conditions.”

At the mention of conditions, Kabir looked at me intently.

“He wants you to protect His Highness the Prince.”

It was the first request Irmin had ever made to me.

Upon hearing this, Kabir let out a cynical laugh.

“He probably wants you to ensure Jamon doesn’t entertain thoughts of rebellion. He’s so stubborn, I’m not sure you’ll manage it properly.”

“…….”

Instead of responding, I just stared at Kabir.

Hearing those words from the person who had influenced me the most was somewhat ironic.

“…Well, you might actually do well.”

Kabir seemed to realize something belatedly and his face reddened as he changed his tune.

“But it’s completely ruined. It’s hard enough to get a glimpse of his face.”

“Is it that difficult?”

“Once I made a verbal misstep, and ever since then, he’s been avoiding me.”

It wasn’t really a ‘misstep.’ It was just something I said.

“What about your former fiancée?”

“Well, we’re getting along well.”

“That doesn’t sound right.”

“We’re living together in my room. Secretly, away from everyone here.”

It would have been impossible for a human, but Hans was managing well, keeping our cohabitation in my room a secret.

Kabir seemed inclined not to dwell on it too much and simply accepted it.

“Your fiancée is quite unique to understand that.”

“That’s why we’re dating.”

“Indeed.”

Kabir nodded immediately.

“If I can’t properly persuade His Highness the Prince, our family will be doomed. And His Highness hates even the sight of my face. It’s a complete disaster.”

“I do know one of Jamon’s weaknesses, though.”

“……?”

I looked intently at Kabir.

* * *

Going to Jamon’s room to meet him had been the problem.

I already knew Jamon’s secret place.

‘But should I really go in uninvited?’

I hadn’t considered the garden before. It was Jamon’s private space, and the thought of intruding made me feel guilty.

But without another option, I had no choice but to enter the garden and wait for Jamon.

“Nemoh―”

I called out, looking for the cat.

The cat came out from the bushes, meowing. It clearly recognized its name.

The cat was so friendly to human touch, it seemed Jamon had taken good care of it.

I wasn’t used to animals cuddling up to me like this.

‘But it’s cute.’

I started to understand why people kept pets.

Seeing the cat approach me so innocently made me feel guilty about my previous thoughts of exploiting it.

‘Even if I’m the worst, I never messed with kids or animals.’

Being in the broadcasting industry for so long, my principles had long since crumbled.

“……”

Still, it felt uncomfortable. If Nemoh had been indifferent to me, it wouldn’t have been so troubling.

‘…I should find another way.’

Even if the future of our family depended on this, there were lines I shouldn’t cross.

Jamon had long since crossed those lines, but that didn’t mean I had to stoop to the same level.

Since Hans was preoccupied and I hadn’t even started the broadcast, leaving without accomplishing anything was acceptable.

I decided to give up and stood up to leave.

“What now?”

It was then that I heard Jamon’s voice.

Damn, he always appears just when I decide to give up. My life has never gone according to my plans.

“Now you just barge in here without permission. You have no manners at all.”

He was openly showing contempt. I had definitely become an object of his disdain.

He baited me into a confrontation. But I had to restrain myself. Being in a weaker position was indeed pitiful.

“If I don’t do this much, you won’t meet with me, will you?”

If he didn’t want me entering, he should have set a guard or something. It was supposed to be a pet’s home, yet there was no security.

My brazen words made Jamon sigh.

“Do I have to tell you again? I despise―”

“You despise me, I know.”

“…Don’t interrupt me.”

I just filled in the blanks for him. It was all too predictable. I shrugged.

“Sorry, but I don’t really get hurt by such words.”

Jamon seemed to be measuring me by his own standards. I wasn’t as sensitive as he thought. At least my mental resilience was stronger than Jamon’s.

Though I hadn’t known Jamon for long, I had a fair understanding of what kind of person he was.

“What do you want?”

Jamon seemed eager to get rid of me.

I took a step closer to Jamon.

“I want to get closer to His Highness the Prince.”

The first step was to get closer. Only then could I attempt to persuade Jamon or do anything else.

Jamon scowled as if he had heard something unbelievable and then, holding the cat, he walked past me.

“Wait, at least give me an answer.”

“There’s no value in answering you.”

He seemed to prefer avoiding uncomfortable situations.

This was another failed attempt. Just as I was about to give up, the cat in Jamon’s arms started to squirm.

Then it approached me.

“……?”

The cat meowed and rubbed against me. Both Jamon and I were baffled.

“Why is it doing this?”

“I’ve never seen it act like this before.”

It seemed that Nemoh had taken quite a liking to me.

Eventually, I crouched down. The cat snuggled up against my touch.

“Seems like it likes me.”

“…….”

Jamon clamped his mouth shut, obviously unwilling to admit it but finding it amusing nonetheless.

“I’ll stay a bit longer to play with Nemoh.”

Jamon was more reliant on his pet than I had anticipated. He had been that way since childhood, it seemed.

And because of that, his weakness was also his dearly beloved pet.

So my plan was to befriend the cat before getting closer to Jamon. I hadn’t expected things to progress this smoothly.

“Did you secretly feed it some treats?”

“I wish I could claim that.”

Why does this cat follow me so willingly? It felt like I was chosen.

“I usually don’t care much for animals, but Nemoh is quite cute.”

It wasn’t pretense. Nemoh was genuinely adorable, even to someone like me.

As I praised Nemoh, Jamon’s lips curved into a slight smile, almost involuntarily.

‘He’s simpler than Irmin.’

I thought they only shared their looks, but seeing this, they were quite similar in certain ways.

“How old is Nemoh?”

“Two years old.”

“Younger than I thought.”

“It’s the granddaughter of a cat I used to have.”

“Oh…”

Is he maintaining a lineage of cats? Jamon’s love for animals was palpable.

Talking about the cat, our conversation flowed smoothly, without any awkwardness.

After chatting for a while, I asked Jamon with a smile,

“Can I come again tomorrow?”

“No.”

Jamon was still as brusque as ever.

At his response, Nemoh made a small cry.

“…….”

Jamon glanced at Nemoh and then subtly averted his gaze.

“Short visits are fine.”

Perhaps it’s okay to see him for a short while, as Nemoh seems to like me. He had his endearing moments.

* * *

After our conversation, I walked back to my room with a lighter step than before.

Just as I arrived at my door, I spotted someone.

“Ah.”

It was a face I hadn’t seen in a very long time. A joyful expression naturally spread across my face at this unexpected reunion.