Chapter 7: EBPLB

I jumped in surprise and turned toward the direction of the voice.

And I ended up locking eyes with the very culprit who had brought me here.

He was leaning against the door with his arms crossed, wearing a soft-looking white shirt and comfortable black long pants. A faint, crooked smile hung on one corner of his lips. He seemed freshly washed—droplets of water fell from his hair onto his shoulders, dampening the fabric around them.

He shook out his hair, which was a pale silver with a hint of white.

There was something strangely sensual about him. I quickly averted my gaze and instinctively took a step back… then another… and another.

Memories of our first meeting in Simond Garden resurfaced in my mind. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant memory, and that alone made me wary. My fur bristled, and my tail shot straight up.

But since I was on top of a table, there was a limit to how far I could retreat. If I fell off, with my weaker body compared to other cats, even with decent jumping ability, I would probably break a leg easily.

While I was calculating whether I could safely jump down or not, he walked over and picked up the plate of chocolate cookies.

‘Ah. I didn’t even get to eat a single chocolate cookie. I wanted to.’

If I was going to die anyway, I’d rather die after eating something good. My body’s pain could come later.

I stared longingly at the departing chocolate cookies.

“You shouldn’t eat chocolate, cat.”

‘I’m a beastman. I should be able to eat it.’

I shot Ian a disgruntled look.

I was annoyed enough to explode, but I couldn’t say it out loud.

“Besides, you can barely eat anything anyway.”

Ian rang a bell in the room.

“Bring some plain cookies with nothing in them.”

The servant who had taken the chocolate cookies bowed without a word and quietly left.

I watched the chocolate cookies disappear in vain.

So those snacks weren’t mine after all. It was hopeless. The snacks on the table were clearly meant for that beastman.

Come to think of it, my bowl only had tasteless chopped carrots. I hate vegetables. I hate carrots, and I hate celery even more.

‘But why is he here…?’

Our first meeting, when I begged for my life, hadn’t exactly been pleasant, so all sorts of thoughts swirled in my head. Did he come to kill me? No… he said he’d spare me back then. Then did he come to replace the chocolate cookies? But would a family head really come all the way here just to replace some cookies?

No matter how I thought about it, there was no special reason for him to be here.

‘Or maybe… to see me?’

Ah. That’s a bit too much. I’m getting ahead of myself.

While I was lost in thought, a low voice reached my ears.

“I came because this is my room.”

The answer was surprisingly simple. Right. I almost got embarrassed for overthinking it.

Ian spoke as if stating something obvious—like calling a mountain a mountain or water water.

‘Oh. So it’s your room… wait… huh?’

But the content was anything but light.

“Meow?! (Your room?!?)”

Judging by the fact that he didn’t seem to be lying, this was clearly a truth I didn’t want to believe.

What.

My eyes widened.

No way. He must be joking. Why would I be sharing a room with him? In the novel, the heroine didn’t even share a room with him.

I thought he hated beastmen. No—he didn’t just dislike them, he practically despised them.

‘But he liked animals?’

No. Absolutely not.

Then why?

I tried to deny reality for a moment.

Then I accepted it.

No wonder the room was way too big for just a single cat.

The decorations were overly extravagant too.

Even the bed was too nice.

And the bathroom was ridiculously spacious.

I slowly turned my head, re-examining the room.

Inside were things like a tower stretching up to the ceiling like something out of Disneyland, a squishy cushion that sank when you sat on it, and what looked like a cozy cat house that seemed intimidating at first but probably felt amazing once inside.

Did he really bring all of this into his own room…?

Everything familiar now felt strangely new. Including Ian Cardellion himself.

I couldn’t even imagine him buying things like this.

‘But I never saw you even once in the past week?’

If we were living in the same room, seeing each other at least once should be normal. How could we share a room and never meet?

I clung to the last shred of hope.

‘Maybe not…’

“You always went to bed early and woke up late.”

His casual words cleanly severed my last hope.

‘So he came while I was sleeping?’

“Yes. We shared the bed. In the same room. You just didn’t notice because you were asleep.”

Why am I nodding in acceptance right now?

Wait.

What.

I was sleeping in the same bed as a healthy 18-year-old beastman man? In the same bed?!

The shocking realization made me collapse right where I stood on the table.

How could you do that to me? You shameless tiger! Even if I’m a baby cat, I’m technically 19 years old! I know things! My eyes trembled violently.

I glared at him like he was the most shameless being in the world.

“Why? Got something to say?”

He smiled shamelessly, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed—an expression that made me want to kick him.

‘Y-you… you shameless…!’

I sprang up again, glaring at Ian with narrowed, furious eyes, curling my body as if ready to pounce.

It felt like I was about to fight just a week after begging him to spare my life.

But his handsome face made my glare loosen for a split second.

No. No matter how good-looking he is, I can’t fall for this.

I forced my expression back into anger.

“What.”

As if inviting me to continue, Ian slightly lifted his chin and curved his lips elegantly. His silver hair shimmered as it fell loosely around him. His narrowed eyes clearly showed he was enjoying this situation.

He was definitely enjoying this.

‘Explain yourself.’

Overwhelmed, I forgot my earlier fear and sat down boldly.

I tapped the table with my tiny paw.

‘Explain.’

From the small black fluff of a body came an intense aura of authority.

Pang. Pang. The table made soft sounds as my paw struck it.

Ian sat loosely in the chair in front of the table, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at me.

“I didn’t do anything.”

‘Really?’

I narrowed my eyes and studied his face.

“We just slept in the same bed.”

‘Y-you!!’

My whiskers trembled violently.

I sprang up again, shocked beyond words.

“What?! You said you didn’t do anything!”

“We slept soundly in the same bed.”

‘Hey, say that properly!’

Feeling awkward, I sat back down and curled my tail underneath me.

Fine… I’ll believe you. Even if you’re the kind of person who locks up heroines and does questionable things, you wouldn’t do anything to a kitten you personally brought here.

Honestly, I just wanted to leave the table immediately.

No—this place entirely.

But to get down, I had to cross plates and cups and other obstacles. And to land safely on the floor required serious jumping skill and concentration, so I just stayed still.

“You really thought I was that shameless…?”

I avoided his eyes slightly.

“Wow. That’s harsh.”

He lowered his gaze, eyelashes trembling. His long, pretty lashes cast shadows over his eyes, giving him a sorrowful look like moonlight reflected on a lake.

‘…That face is cheating.’

I glanced at him again, then quickly looked away.

Even though I knew he was probably just teasing me, I felt like I should apologize.

Silence fell between us.

“Cold-hearted cat.”

Still sitting casually in the chair, he muttered suddenly.

“I saved you, and you didn’t even come see your savior.”

That’s because you were the one who tried to kill me first! But yes, I am grateful you spared me.

Countless rebuttals rose in my mind, but I just lowered my head quietly.

If I looked at his face, I’d probably apologize immediately.

“Ungrateful cat.”

‘…Ungrateful cat?’

I may look like this, but I’m a grateful cat. Ever heard of a cat repaying kindness?

I lifted my head indignantly.

And immediately met his insane face head-on.

‘But saying that makes me feel guilty.’

My nonexistent conscience ached just looking at him.

“You look at your owner like he’s a shameless villain.”

‘I’m sorry. I misunderstood.’

In the end, I softened and walked over, pressing my paw onto his palm. Unlike our first meeting, he wasn’t wearing gloves, so I could feel his hand clearly.

‘It’s softer than I expected.’

My little paw touched his warm palm.

The moment our hands met, Ian silently opened his palm in front of me.

‘…What am I supposed to do with that?’

Are we playing rock-paper-scissors?

I narrowed my eyes at him.

He just smiled without saying anything.

After a moment of hesitation, I tried everything—tapping his palm, resting my head on it, shaking his hand like a handshake, carefully placing cookies on it… but he didn’t move at all.

It felt like another infuriating puzzle where only the solver suffers.

Is he telling me to climb onto it…?

No way. That can’t be it.

But… maybe?

I glanced between his hand and face suspiciously.

He only smiled faintly.

…It really does seem like it.

‘And then what? He lifts me up and drops me?’

I don’t want that.

Still, I didn’t sense any murderous intent.

So, carefully… I stepped onto his palm.

Then Ian’s eyes curved into a satisfied smile, like I had done the right thing.