chapter 19
“…El.”
Blink.
It was reality.
“Ariele. Are you okay?”
My unfocused eyes, still wide open without even blinking, slowly regained focus.
Blink. Blink.
I blinked several times, gradually sharpening my vision. Right in front of my face, Ian looked at me with a worried expression.
The warm heat of the banquet hall wasn’t there anymore—only the cold night wind brushed through my fur.
Feeling the chilly breeze finally woke me up properly.
Ah. This isn’t that place.
Not that basement, not that empty snowy field.
The anxiety that had filled my heart slipped away like sand in an overturned hourglass. In its place came relief.
Ian slowly stroked my fur.
Right. There’s even a tiger standing in front of me.
If Ian was going to kill me, he’d do it with his own hands, right? He wouldn’t let someone else do it.
The gentle warmth of his hand calming my fur made me feel at ease. It was absurd—trusting someone who had once tried to kill me. That should’ve been impossible.
I tapped him lightly with my paw.
“Ian.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s go.”
I stretched my paw toward the outside.
“Leave the banquet hall and go home?”
“Mm-hm.”
Ian recalled the fox beastman they had met earlier, and the look on Ariele’s face—like she might run away at any moment.
“Alright. Let’s go home.”
He said it with the hope that the Kadelion estate would feel like her home—that she shouldn’t run away.
A place called “home” should naturally be where she belongs.
So that if she ever tried to escape, those words would make her hesitate.
If that was what it took to keep her from leaving, he would say it as many times as necessary.
As he stroked her fur, the faint refreshing energy that always came from her enveloped him. It was the same cool sensation he had felt since the day they first met.
It calmed his noisy mind and gave him peace.
Even in the famously cold North, Ariele somehow made him feel warm.
Of course… even if you run away, I’ll find you.
His eyes briefly darkened to a deep bluish-black.
But Ariele had no idea what Ian was thinking.
“Home…”
Home.
Where exactly was “home” for her?
A past life? Or the Simond estate where she had spent most of her time trapped in a basement?
Do I even have a home in this world?
Since when did that tiger’s house become my home?
Is it even right to call it my home?
She kept repeating the words “let’s go home” in her mind.
Focus. This is just a book.
For her, home had only ever been the place from her past life. And it should stay that way.
This is just a temporary place. Nothing more.
The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.
It had been a wonderful start… but the day was ending in complete chaos.
“Miss Cat, do you know what happens on the last day of the festival?”
Mary gently brushed my fur.
“What is it?”
I looked at her with curiosity.
“Fireworks. The highlight of the festival.”
Mary set the brush down after finishing.
I looked at my neatly groomed fur with satisfaction.
“Why don’t you go see it with Ian?”
Fireworks… I had barely seen them even in my past life.
At the word, Ariele’s eyes sparkled.
And here, they’re supposed to be amazing.
Especially since in the original story, the festival fireworks were described as something breathtaking.
Fireworks!
Mary. Take me now. To the office.
I dramatically burst into the office—well, technically Mary opened the door, but let’s ignore that—and ran straight toward Ian.
My short legs made it a bit of a waddle, but it was still faster than walking.
When I reached him, he lowered his glasses and looked at me.
Ian!
Fireworks!
Let’s go!
Let’s go to the Free City festival! Release lanterns, watch fireworks, drink beer!
I grabbed the hem of his pants and looked up at him.
“It seems the little cat wants to go to the Free City,” Mary said quickly.
“Then let’s go.”
Ian said it casually while organizing documents.
Allen glanced at the pile of work.
“Sir Ian, then the work—”
“That’s not due today, is it?”
“Well… no?”
“Then we’ll do it tomorrow.”
Just like that, the decision was made.
Yes. Today’s work can become tomorrow’s problem.
I nodded approvingly at Ian’s excellent mindset.
Allen, switching from concern to flattery, quickly said,
“An extremely wise decision. There’s a famous saying: ‘Put off today’s work until tomorrow.’”
I stared at him in disbelief.
Allen sighed and opened the door.
“Let’s go.”
Ariele followed him out.
That day, the two remaining aides reportedly worked until midnight crying, then received a week of paid leave.
What a great workplace.
The Free City was bright like daytime despite it being night.
Because it was the last day of the festival, the streets were even more crowded.
Lanterns were no longer being released into the sky, likely due to the fireworks, leaving the sky empty.
Vendors called out from every corner, and cheerful bargaining filled the air.
“Mom, does that tree god really grant wishes?”
A child’s voice was full of curiosity.
“Yes. If you write your wish and pray sincerely, the tree god will grant it.”
Nearby, a giant willow tree wrapped in lights glowed brightly at the center of a crossroads, with countless wishes written on papers hanging from its branches.
“Write a wish there, and the tree god will make it come true,” Ian whispered, holding me in his arms.
His low voice tickled my ears.
Do you know? There is no tree god.
I wanted to say it, but since I couldn’t humanize myself, I just shook my head.
My innocence is already gone anyway.
Still, Ian carried me toward the wish tree.
“What will you wish for?”
“…”
Seriously? You expect me to write?
I stared at him in disbelief.
But Ian simply spread out a sheet of paper and wrote the beastman alphabet from A to Z.
“Pick a letter.”
Somehow, even though I had never studied this language, I could understand it.
A strange gift from reincarnation, I guess.
I pointed at letters one by one, and Ian wrote them down.
“What did you write?”
“Long life.”
“Wealth and prosperity.”
“Unmatched beauty.”
Three wishes were completed.
I looked at them with satisfaction.
If even one of these comes true, I’ll have no regrets.
Even though I know there’s no tree god… I kind of want to believe anyway.
Ian and Allen looked at me like I was ridiculous, but I didn’t care.
Ian tried to peek at my wish paper, but quickly lifted it away.
“Secret.”
You annoying tiger. You saw all of mine.
But I gave up quickly and just focused on my wishes being hung on the tree.
Long life, wealth, beauty—dangling in the air.
I felt strangely sincere about it all.
As we walked through the festival stalls—
“Souvenir from the wish tree! Come take a look!”
“Sweet fruit juice—3 cooper!”
“Cold beer—2 cooper! Cheap and refreshing!”
Beer.
My ears perked up instantly.
Ian, let’s go there!
I nudged him repeatedly.
Ian’s expression changed slightly.
Then he tapped my nose.
“Drunken cat.”
“Indeed. She loves alcohol so much she might wear Sir Ian’s tie on her head after drinking,” Allen added.
“I don’t think you’re one to talk, Allen,” Ian replied.
“That only happened once!”
One voice suddenly caught my attention—
