chapter 13
I waved my front paw in response to the greeting I heard.
‘Hello.’
“Oh my. Are you the famous cat? You’re even more beautiful in person. You’re much cuter than what we saw on the video orb. How can a creature from the surface be this adorable? If the cat asks the world to fold itself in half, it probably would.”
The woman spoke with a dreamy, dazed voice and eyes that looked half-lost in a trance. For a moment, I thought I saw something like madness flicker in her gaze—but surely that was just my imagination.
The staff member standing beside her couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The madam’s cheeks were flushed red with faint excitement.
This was someone who had always been completely indifferent, working in a strictly businesslike, mechanical manner no matter who came in.
‘I thought she had no interest in anyone.’
It was the first time he had seen her like this in nearly ten years—no, since the day he started working here.
In truth, Haela didn’t place much importance on clothing itself.
For Haela, making dresses for other noble ladies was just a repetitive process.
“Boss, Lady Serdihan says she wants to purchase a dress.”
“Good. Schedule a time.”
“What should we do about Lady Fleur’s dress?”
“Add an extra layer of fabric underneath here. That should work.”
In the beginning, all orders were the same—except for the Duchess of Cadelion, who had been the first to visit her before anyone even knew of her boutique.
Even Ian Cadelion, once called the “muse of everyone,” had been no different.
Just another face in the crowd.
‘Ah, ridiculously handsome.’
That was all.
After Ian Cadelion became the head of the Cadelion House, their family only ordered clothes at specific times.
“Boss, the Cadelion family has requested custom clothing along with a video orb recording.”
“Alright.”
‘It’s not time for Cadelion orders yet.’
Despite her calm reply, Haela’s mind was full of questions.
Had the head of Cadelion changed? No, that couldn’t be it. As far as she knew, Ian Cadelion was still the head.
Then why now? Why a custom order? And why request a video orb?
‘There’s no way Ian Cadelion would send a recording of himself.’
Curiosity got the better of her.
And when she finally watched the video…
The cat inside it was too—
[Ariel, your hand.]
[Oh dear. Ariel, I didn’t mean your hind leg.]
[It seems Ariel is looking at us like we’re saying something ridiculous. Truly a dignified cat.]
It was… adorable.
[Ariel, is that my hair you’re holding?]
[Ariel, are you planning to boil and eat Lord Ian’s hair?]
[A witch cat? That would be troublesome. I intended to raise a cat, not a witch.]
[Ian, Ariel is giving you a look that clearly says “stop talking nonsense.”]
[Huh? Ariel, my hair is slipping from your paw.]
[As expected of the cat—everything she does is cute.]
[Did Lady Mari just say something like that?]
And it was fascinating.
‘How can such a small cat not be intimidated by Ian Cadelion?’
Who in the world would grab Ian Cadelion’s hair and tug at it, or place their paws on his hand like that?
At that moment, a bell rang inside Haela’s mind.
She had been sitting alone in her workshop, losing track of time as she watched the video, when she suddenly murmured:
“I think I’ve fallen for it.”
“…No, I definitely have.”
The way the cat treated even a tiger-like man as something insignificant—it was irresistible.
Looking around her desk, she realized she had unconsciously filled pages with design sketches.
And then she understood.
That cat—whether a beastkin or just a stray from anywhere—was her muse.
‘Black cats shouldn’t be symbols of misfortune. They should be symbols of luck.’
This was what a muse felt like. Her heart swelled.
‘To think I’d ever use a cat as inspiration…’
She loved it.
“Lady Haela, this d—”
“Stop. Prepare to produce this design immediately.”
“What about the other orders…?”
“This is a more important request. Handle this first.”
And so, Haela plunged into a storm of designing and tailoring.
In less than two weeks, she had produced enough garments to fill the entire reception room of the Cadelion estate.
‘What do I do? Seeing it in person is completely different.’
She wanted to make more.
Better clothes than anything currently displayed.
Her heart pounded with excitement.
“Introduce yourself first.”
Ian, leaning lazily on the sofa beside Ariel, spoke in a flat voice while idly stroking her fur.
He looked unusually relaxed—dangerously so. If children saw him like this, it would be inappropriate.
‘Someone really should put Ian to sleep.’
His loosened tie and reclined posture made him look decadent.
But Haela ignored him completely and focused only on Ariel.
“Oh my, I forgot to introduce myself. Of course I did—with such an adorable cat here. I am Madam Haela.”
‘Haela… that name sounds familiar.’
Something the butler had once said during a tour of the mansion flashed through Ian’s mind.
A dress made as a pair with jewels… something crafted with diamonds… presented to the previous Duchess of Cadelion.
“Yes, I am the owner of Boutique Serian.”
Haela gracefully lifted her skirt and bowed.
She looked like a swan gliding across still water.
Then she straightened and gave Ariel a wink.
“Madam, if your eyesight is poor, you should visit a physician later.”
Ariel stared blankly, Ian’s voice fading into the background.
‘Wow… she’s so beautiful.’
Haela was like a rose with thorns.
Fiery red hair that curled like burning flame.
Mysterious crimson eyes that seemed to enchant anyone who looked at them.
Her dress—black and deep red, embroidered with roses along the hem—enhanced her striking presence even further.
She was exactly like a rose you knew was dangerous, yet couldn’t resist touching.
And she wasn’t intimidated by Ian at all.
That alone made her extraordinary.
‘She’s definitely going to become someone important.’
Pretty and rich—those kinds of people always ended up important.
“Hello, I’m Ariel. I guess I’m that tiger’s—”
I glanced at Ian and pointed at myself with my fluffy paw.
“…pet cat, I suppose.”
I nodded and finished my silent introduction.
Haela looked deeply moved, as if she had witnessed something miraculous.
Her expression screamed, “Oh my goodness!”
She swept her red hair back, unable to hide her excitement.
‘To think Ian Cadelion picked this up himself…’
She had already thought the cat was clever and adorable from the video—but seeing it in person was something else entirely.
‘I want to redesign everything.’
Her previous work suddenly felt inadequate.
The soft fur, the slender body, and especially those glowing pale green eyes—it was mesmerizing.
She had recently had a fortune reading that predicted a fated encounter.
This must be it.
‘I want to try something completely new.’
Her creative instincts were ignited.
“May I pet it just once?”
“No.”
Ian cut her off immediately.
‘I don’t mind…’
Why are you deciding that for me?
I gave him an incredulous look. He just smiled.
“I brought her here.”
More like dragged me.
Annoyed, I bit down on his gloved hand.
He calmly removed the other glove and pressed his bare finger forward instead.
“Ariel, don’t chew things like that. Eat properly. It’s bad for your health.”
‘I don’t eat leather anyway.’
When I looked up, I saw bite marks on his finger.
“So, is my finger tasty?”
‘What is he even saying…’
I turned away toward Haela.
“Which is better, leather or my finger?”
‘Neither is good!’
“I like that it has Ariel’s mark on it.”
‘Stop saying weird things.’
Haela, watching this exchange, finally spoke:
“Oh my! How adorable. This cuteness could shake the universe!”
“Our cat is a genius. She can even insult people with her expression. There’s nothing she can’t do.”
Allen puffed out his chest proudly.
‘I don’t think “can insult with expressions” is a compliment…’
And I wasn’t even sure whether that was praise or an insult.
I frowned.
“It’s true. She’s a genius among geniuses.”
Ian spoke slowly, his voice suddenly tired and mellow.
‘How does his mood change so fast?’
He looked like he could charm anyone like this.
Please, someone put him to sleep—for the sake of world peace.
“What genius cat…”
Don’t say strange things.
Just moments ago he was asking whether leather or fingers tasted better.
‘I think someone really needs to put him to bed.’
I turned away from his sleepy nonsense and looked at Mari.
But seeing Mari nod seriously behind him made my head hurt even more.
‘Oh my head…’
A dull pain throbbed at my temples.
I pressed my paw against my forehead.
And sighed.
