The Duke’s Companion

Aryl shook her head. ‘No, it can’t be. That’s really bad.’

Even if she tried to, there’s no place she could possibly hide it in the first place. For sure she’d be found out soon.

Although this is now my territory, Mamela has been occupying this for a long time.

And most of all, I didn’t want to lie to Mamela.

‘I can’t keep doing this. The longer I hide it, the more Mamela might hate me…’

In the end, I lowered my head and gently pushed the fish in my arms toward Mamela. 

 Mamela turned her head immediately, “Huh? What’s wrong?”

“Meow…“

Aryl licked the doll fish with its tail ripped off horribly. Mamela’s eyes widened when she saw the condition of the doll.

“Did Aryl do this?”

“…”

Aryl stopped her dangling tail with her paws. Trembling, Aryl couldn’t raise her head to face Mamela.

What if Mamela doesn’t like me anymore and throws me out of the window? What if she kicks me and pushes me into the fireplace?

And then kick me out for good?

Negative thoughts followed one after another. With my eyes closed, I shivered as I contemplated.

“Huh?”

At that time, Mamela pressed my cheek and lifted my head, then our eyes met.

Her golden eyes, which I had expected to be as cold as a dagger, were shining as if expecting something.

“Do you know what you did wrong, Aryl?”

“Meow…”

As her hands pressed down on the cat’s cheeks, a muffled cry was heard.

I guess Mamela’s questioning my faults now. Not knowing what to do, I tried to look elsewhere. There’s no way that she wouldn’t get disappointed in me as I tossed the miserable doll.

But beyond my expectations, I heard her brightly say,

“Wow, that’s amazing! Is our Arly a genius?”

I was rather embarrassed by her reaction, Mamela rubbed my cheeks and laughed bashfully.

“Didn’t Aryl like this fish doll?”

“Meow.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll bring you some new fish. Wait a minute!”

At the end of those words, Mamela quickly disappeared.

Being left alone, I stared blankly at the door where she went out. What? Aren’t you mad?

Should I be relieved?

When I lowered my head in a daze, I could barely see a fish with a torn tail. I felt a little sorry to see that it was kneaded like this.

Shortly thereafter, Mamela returned.

“Aryl, give it to me.”

Mamela took the fish from my feet. I gazed curiously at the fish as it moved away. It was a doll that I’ve been with since the first time I came here.

As I lowered my head in regret, something was laid in front of me. A fish with a familiar appearance came into view.

To be exact, it was a fish that looked the same as the one whose tail was torn but had a slightly different color.

‘Did you bring a new doll? For me…?’

I lifted my head with eyes filled with emotion. Mamela sat next to me and smiled.

“Aryl is a baby, so I kept several of them just in case. I did a good job, right?”

I guess that’s right. Guess you brought it for me!

“Meow!”

I bit the new doll fish and dug into Mamela’s arms. Mamela giggled and patted me on the back.

After all, it was clear that Mamela was the nicest human being in the world.

ꕥ

Finally, my body recovered enough to be able to move actively. 

I happily ran around Mamela’s room and played. I jumped and attacked each unfamiliar object in front of me, and then ran again as if hunting, knocking down everything.

I flipped over what was standing and rolled what was upside down. It was so much fun!

“It’s very distracting…” Mamela said in a sullen voice. 

The brown-haired woman next to Mamela nodded her head.

From what I’ve observed, she was a human being who always followed and helped Mamela. Was her name ‘Jonah’?

Jonah looked around the messed-up room and she said, “The doctor said it would take months for the cat to get better, but it’s only been three weeks.”

“I think he was a quack.”

“Oh, my lady! Where did you learn to say such vulgar words?”

“Why? My brother used it.”

“The Master…”

Jonah, who had muffled her speech, let out a brief sigh.

“Lady, you shouldn’t learn anything bad from the Master.”

“Yes.”

I ran with a ball of wool in my mouth to ask Mamela to throw it. 

It was the moment when Mamela tried to receive the ball with a smile. Jonah said, “Lady, have you finished your homework?”

“Oh, I think there’s a bit left…” Mamela answered.

“Since there’s not much time left until class, homework comes first.”

“…Okay. I’m sorry, Aryl, let’s play later.”

Mamela only stroked my head sadly. I smiled brightly as I shook my head.

‘Mamela, play with me!’

I handed a ball of wool over, but Mamela only pulled out her hand. She scuttled away from me and sat down at her desk. Jonah watched the scene and left the room.

I still looked at Mamela with the ball in my mouth.

Come to think of it, she spent most of her time at her desk, except playing with me and reading books.

‘What is she doing?’

Why does she always lose energy when she’s just holding the pen?

I watched Mamela foolishly and started playing ball by myself. She looked busy, but I didn’t want to bother her.