Chapter 84
As I was about to open the door and enter right away, Chloe's voice leaked from outside the door.
Wondering what was going on, I listened closely.
"Yes, you're doing well, doing well. Now let's try running."
Next, I heard the sound of a kitten meowing.
My heart was pounding even before opening the door.
Just imagining Chloe playing with a kitten makes my heart flutter slightly, no, quite a bit.
It might seem like nothing, but originally when delicious things meet delicious things, they become more delicious.
And when cute things meet cute things, they create a scene dozens of times cuter and more heartwarming.
I opened the door very gently so as not to be noticed by Chloe.
I didn't enter inside the door because I wouldn't be able to engrave this sight in my eyes if I went in.
As I expected, Chloe was playing with the cat in her pajamas.
In one hand she was holding a toy, probably made by someone to let the cat play hunting games, and the kitten was eagerly chasing it.
"Yes, yes, that's right. Well done."
Deliberately letting the cat catch the toy, Chloe was gently tickling the cat's chin and stroking its head.
A look of great satisfaction while also seeming to study something as she watched the cat.
"So cats make this sound when you touch their chin..."
Is she studying even this because I said I wanted to try cat play?
It's so admirable I want to praise her right now.
I think I've seen everything now, should I go in?
"Chloe, I'm back."
Seeing me, Chloe quickly hugged the cat.
It seems she instinctively tried to hide it, but I can see everything.
That's what's cute and nice though.
"When I said I wanted to raise a cat before, you said you didn't like it, but you've already become this close. What happened?"
I have no intention of opposing if Chloe says she wants to raise a cat.
We can leave it to other servants during busy times, and since she's a child who's already suffered big emotional wounds, cuddling a cute cat might help heal her previously wounded heart.
'Even now, Chloe has trouble even talking with men besides me and Sebastian.'
That doesn't mean she can approach women casually either.
According to the head maid, she only exchanges necessary work-related words and doesn't try to converse much unless it's a close maid.
Now, apart from that, I just want to play a bit of a mischievous prank.
Because her reactions are so cute.
'Is this why boys tease girls they like?'
Hearing my words, Chloe lowered her head slightly as if deflated.
Even then, as if not wanting to let go of the cat, she hugged it a little tighter into her arms.
"Well, you said you wanted to raise a cat before, young master?"
"That's right."
I just casually brought it up thinking it might be okay to raise one since we could afford it, but.
"I knew you would still find me cute even if you raised a cat, but I didn't like even a little bit of the attention and love I received going to the cat. Actually, even now I like you so much that I want to be loved 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."
Even parents and children fight if they're together 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Even newlyweds who cherish each other so much they feel like they'd die if one of them disappeared want to take some distance if they're together 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
However, Chloe hasn't shown any signs of feeling burdened by being with me for even a moment since right after we first had relations until now.
Rather, she acts cute asking for more if I stay with her for a long time and keep giving love and attention.
"I was going to act cute like a cat to monopolize even the attention you'd give to a cat. But when I actually thought about it, I didn't know how cats would react."
Usually when men do cat play, there's just one thing they want.
It's enough to just wear cat ear headbands and act a little cute while meowing.
But I'm a man who can read the mood.
I decided to listen to the end about the process Chloe had been working on.
"When I thought about it, I felt like I'd know if I observed cats myself. So I observed cats that sometimes come into the mansion, and went out to the street with Chris to feed and pet stray cats."
Chloe herself wouldn't have told Chris she was observing cats to do 'cat play' well.
But she might have realized that observing cats was somehow related to 'me'.
No, she must have noticed, which is why she said to expect something as Chloe was preparing something as soon as work ended today.
"Then I found an orphaned kitten and went to feed it whenever I had time. Just then, the head butler said they needed cats to catch mice in the mansion, so he told me to raise it well. And since he raises cats at his home too, he shared various toys that cats like."
"I never thought Sebastian would raise cats."
That's how the relationship between subordinates and superiors is.
If you try to know too much privately, the relationship is likely to worsen instead, so it's good to maintain an appropriate line.
'Just attend weddings and funerals in person, and sprinkle lots of condolence and congratulatory money, that's it.'
Give vacations and bonuses for wife's birthday, children's birthdays, and other events.
"So I asked... what to do if you said no."
"You can raise it as much as you want."
If it helps heal Chloe's heart, it's fine even if it's not a cat but an alligator.
No, alligators are a bit much, but I could allow up to a clean crow.
Chloe smiled brightly and hugged the kitten.
Seeing how she controls her strength not to hurt the cat even while hugging it, I can sense how much she cherishes it.
"You name it yourself, Chloe, and take responsibility for raising it."
"Yes, young master."
Then Chloe knocked on the door and entrusted the cat to a servant outside.
"Please take care of our Nero for a moment."
Nero, in Korean it means 'blackie'.
When we have children between us later, I shouldn't let Chloe name them.
After the servant received the cat and left, Chloe lay down on the bed.
Then she moved her hands slightly clenched into fists, wiggling them.
As if she had really become a cat.
Even just seeing her small movements, I could feel how well she had observed cats.
"Meow..."
After making the cat sound, she blushed her face red like an apple.
Then she turned her eyes away from me for a moment.
But when I got on the bed, she clenched her fists tightly as if making a big decision.
What is she trying to do?
"I'm going to get all the love I haven't received from you until now, all at once today, meow."
Then she placed her upper body very slightly on my legs.
I feel the weight, but it's more comfortable than heavy.
Chloe started acting cute like a kitten showing its belly and appealing to its owner.
"Please cuddle me as much as you want, thinking I'm the cat you're raising, meow."
I don't dislike this situation, but I'm really conflicted.
Should I say it feels like coming to a 5-star hotel buffet after starving for days?
Like hesitating over what to eat, I don't know where or how to touch.
As if knowing my dilemma, Chloe slightly raised her chin as if asking to be touched.
As I gently tickled her with my fingers like touching a cat's chin.
"Meow, meow."
Chloe made the cat sound a few times, then started rubbing her face against my hand.
With a satisfied expression as if she had everything in the world.
"Do you like it that much?"
"I like feeling like I'm being cuddled by you, young master, meow..."
I slowly moved my hand down following my desire.
From the collarbone to the stomach.
Usually she shows signs of not wanting to be touched, embarrassed that her stomach sticks out very slightly.
'It's cute how she's conscious of that.'
Just like how men find it cute when women with small breasts are conscious of being small.
A slightly soft and warm belly.
It feels very different from breasts and buttocks, and it feels good touching a part that seems like it shouldn't be touched.
After unconsciously continuing to stroke several times.
Chloe grabbed my hand and removed it.
Then she tightly hugged my body with her arms and whispered.
"Young master, when kittens expose their bellies and lie down, it means they want to play. I didn't know at first either, but I learned that while playing with Nero, meow."
Men are terribly simple beings.
Even if a woman they like is terribly bad at cooking, if she tries hard to even make rice for them, it feels more delicious than something made by a first-class chef.
When she does anything for them, even clumsily, it feels like they have everything.
I'm like that too.
'To research cats to this extent.'
Then she pulled my hand towards her chest.
"Please play with me until I collapse from exhaustion, meow."
The next day I took sick leave, and three days later I was summoned by the Emperor who wanted to hear detailed stories about this matter.
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